NPR Music

On this week's show: Music to cleanse the brain! 1. Shogu Tokumaru: "Lita-Ruta," 2. Penguin Cafe: "Contorum," 3. Tom Adams: "Sparks," 4. Lana Del Rey: "Love," 5. Violents & Monica Martin: "How It Left," 6. Bonnie "Prince" Billy: "Treasure Map," 7. Colin Stetson: "Spindrift"

Ahead of the release of his newest record, Ryan Adams sits down with NPR Music's Bob Boilen to consider his favorite love songs, including Springsteen, Dylan and Sonic Youth.

It's starting to feel like every show this year is going to have music inspired or shaped in some way by social and political unrest. This week, that means a dark and gritty new cut about greed and corruption from The Black Angels, and singer David Bazan's (relatively) uplifting plea for empathy in his new song, "Care." But we've also got plenty of other music to lift you up, including the wistful but celebratory new song from Future Islands called "Ran," and an epic, shape-shifting rock cut from the Athens, Ga. band Oak House. NPR Music's Lars Gotrich and Marissa Lorusso stop by the studio to turn us on to a couple of their favorite new discoveries, including some pure pop joy from a New York group called Charly Bliss, and the Japanese experimental psych-rock band Sundays & Cybele. 1. Future Islands, "Ran," 2. The Black Angels, "Currency," 3. David Bazan, "Care," 4. Charly Bliss, "Glitter," 5. Sundays & Cybele, "Chaos & Systems," 6. Oak House, "Esque," 7. Jacaszek, "Soft Music," 8. Johnny Flynn, "Heart Sunk Hank."

We premiere a very cheery-sounding piece of music from Swedish songwriter and singer Jens Lekman, though the story behind it is decidedly dark at the same time.

"I feel like this is my lane, guitar-based pop music." Martin Courtney and his band Real Estate's fourth album In Mind, takes cues from one of the great albums of all time, The Beatles Abbey Road.

This episode of All Songs Considered covers the very ends of spectrum, from carefree celebration to soul-baring sadness. Hear new tracks by Missy Elliott, Mount Eerie, Young Fathers, and more: 1. Valley Queen, "Stars Align," 2. Mount Eerie, "Real Death," 3. Nick Hakim, "Bet She Looks Like You," 4. Missy Elliott, "I'm Better (feat. Lamb)," 5. Young Fathers, "Only God Knows (ft. Leith Congregational Choir)," 6. A Winged Victory For The Sullen, "Metro Part Three," 7. Sampha, "(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano"

The performance artist reflects on Philip Glass' generous spirit, his perpetually fresh ideas and the grand experiments hatched in the lofts of SoHo in the '70s

Here's something rare these days: an instrumental guitar-rock record that's actually a joy to listen to. This Is Steve is by the artist Delicate Steve, otherwise known as Steve Marion, who plays all the instruments on this incredibly fun (and sometimes funny) album. On this episode of All Songs Considered, host Bob Boilen talks with Delicate Steve about the guitar music Steve loves, including music from Red Hot Chili Peppers and Sly and the Family Stone, as well as the singers who inspire his lyrical guitar styles, which he describes as "cartoon rock."

On this week's All Songs Considered: Musicians face personal challenges, political uncertainty, the state of humanity — and rally.1) MILCK: "Quiet"2) Angel Olsen: "Fly On Your Wall"3) Charlotte Day Wilson: "Work"4) Jesca Hoop: "Memories Are Now"5) Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: "Down (Is Where I Want to Be)"6) Tim Darcy: "Still Waking Up"7) Father John Misty: "Pure Comedy"8) Overcoats: "Hold Me Close"

Our first new mix of 2017 features songs that are both big and hopeful, and crushingly sad, from the politically charged music of Run The Jewels and Timber Timbre to the joyful bliss of Lowland Hum.