NPR Music

Ella Langley. Wesley Joseph. The spellbinding Juni Habel. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with Chloe Kimes from WMOT in Nashville about their favorite albums out Friday, April 10. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round.

The Starting 5

(00:00) Ella Langley, 'Dandelion'
(08:24) Tenille Townes, 'The Acrobat'
(15:53) Wesley Joseph, 'Forever Ends Someday'
(21:22) Brown Horse, 'Total Dive'
(27:03) Juni Habel, 'Evergreen In Your Mind'

(32:31) The Lightning Round

- Gracie and Rachel, 'If We Could, Would We'
- Melanie Baker, 'Somebody Help Me, I'm Being Spontaneous!'
- upsammy & Valentina Magaletti, 'Seismo'
- Spirit Adrift, 'Infinite Illumination'
- Drivin N Cryin, 'Crushing Flowers'

Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org

Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Chloe Kimes, WMOT
Audio Producers: Noah Caldwell, Alina Edwards
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Lars Gotrich, Ann Powers and Hazel Cills

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

Listen to this episode out in the springtime air. It starts with a bucolic jaunt through Brazilian guitarist Fabiano do Nascimento's latest orchestral project, then finds La Plazuela's fresh Spanish funk and Macha's irreverent side project. Other sounds along the way: Caribbean pop from Venezuela, feel-your-feels indie from northern Mexico and an electronic spin on the indigenous Náhuatl language.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

The British act Jungle had a big hit with “Back on 74” — and its unforgettable dance video — in 2023. Now, the group is back with “Carry On,” a breezy, sun-dappled song about surviving a broken heart. We give it a spin to open the show, along with a study on optimism from one of José González’s best albums, a celestial ambient cut from throat singer Tanya Tagaq and more.

NPR classical critic Tom Huizenga joins host Robin Hilton as they update their running list of the year’s best songs.

(00:00) Intro

(01:03) Jungle: “Carry On” from ‘SUNSHINE’

(07:42) Gabriel Kahane & Roomful of Teeth: “Not Even the Dead” from ‘Elevator Songs’

(14:23) Quiet Light: “Self Tape” from ‘Blue Angel Sparkling Silver 2’

(23:34) Tanya Tagaq: “Imiq” from ‘Saputjiji’

(31:13) José González: “Etyd” from ‘Against the Dying of the Light’

(37:49) Giya Kancheli: “Middelheim” from ‘Kancheli: Ex contrario, Middelheim & Tsutisopeli’

Support the show with a review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend!

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]


See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

Thundercat. Arlo Parks. Devotional belters from Dermot Kennedy. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with Erin Wolf from Radio Milwaukee about their favorite albums out Friday, April 3. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round.

The Starting 5

(00:00) Introduction & Bon Iver, 'VOLUMES: ONE"
(01:57) Arlo Parks, 'Ambiguous Desire'
(07:29) Dermot Kennedy, 'The Weight of the Woods'
(14:15) Thundercat, 'Distracted'
(19:53) Joe Pernice, 'Sunny, I Was Wrong'
(26:44) Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE & Surf Gang, 'POMPEII // UTILITY'

(31:30) The Lightning Round

- Maria Taylor, 'Story's End'
- Wendy Eisenberg, 'Wendy Eisenberg'
- Sunn O))), 'Sunn O)))'
- Roomful of Teeth & Gabriel Kahane, 'Elevator Songs'
- Sofia Rei, 'Antónima'

Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org

Credits: 
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Erin Wolf, Radio Milwaukee
Audio Producers: Noah Caldwell, Alina Edwards
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Felix Contreras, Lars Gotrich and Tom Huizenga

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

Two phrases spoken during this week’s episode stand out because they represent how Ana and I approach our searches for new music. The first: “The only limit is the imagination.” In my constant hunt for the sound I have never heard, this thought is my mantra. The new music we’re bringing this week really steps up to that challenge, from young upstarts like Broke Carrey to beloved veterans like Draco Rosa.

The second phrase? “Latin music is a geography not a genre.” Ana put into words something she and I talk about often, the idea that the term “Latin music” is no longer adequate to reflect that amazingly eclectic forms of musical expression in the Spanish-speaking world. This episode features musicians from Argentina, Peru, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere -- but what they share is a distinct artistic expression that consistently blows our minds.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

More than 6,000 artists entered this year’s Tiny Desk Contest, hoping to win their very own performance behind the actual Desk. We’ll announce the winner soon, but in the meantime, we’re sharing some of our favorite entries, from the riff-rock group Pump Action, to soul singer Les Greene, loop artist Jackie Marchal, singer-songwriter Yuri Shin and more.

Tiny Desk series producer Bobby Carter joins All Songs Considered host Robin Hilton. (They’re also the two lead judges for the Contest.)

Featured entries:

(00:00) Intro

(00:51) Pump Action: “Supernova”

(03:34) Lily Talmers: “The Big Idea”

(07:18) Walker Burroughs: “Open Skies”

(10:53) Les Greene & the Swayzees: "Long Story Short"

(14:08) Nicolosi: “Are You Coming To The Ivy?”

(17:20) Jackie Marchal: “Excavate The Girl”

(21:43) the King will come: “welcome”

(24:33) Yuri Shin: “Falling Rabbit”

(27:54) Lauren Frihauf: “One Thing Always Leads To Another”

(31:41) Meira: “Make Me Go”

Support the show with a review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend!

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

Robyn. RAYE. A jazzy left turn from Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with Alisa Ali from WFUV in the Bronx about their favorite albums out Friday, March 27. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round. 

The Starting 5

(01:42) Robyn, 'Sexistential'
(07:15) RAYE, 'This Music May Contain Hope'
(14:21) Courtney Barnett, 'Creature of Habit'
(20:20) The New Pornographers, 'The Former Site Of'
(25:32) Flea, 'Honora'

(32:08) The Lightning Round

- Connie Converse, 'How Sad, How Lovely' (Reissue)
- Snail Mail, 'Ricochet'
- The Philharmonik, 'Transcendentalism I' EP
- Irreversible Entanglements, 'Future Present Past'
- Sluice, 'Companion'
- Charlotte Cornfield, 'Hurts Like Hell'

Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org.

Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Alisa Ali, WFUV
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Bobby Carter, Sheldon Pearce and Ann Powers

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

From the very beginning of Alt.Latino, female vocalists have captivated us the most -- and New York-based Argentine vocalist Sofia Rei has been high on our list of favorites for a while. She uses the human voice like paint on a canvas, layering voices to create choirs that take flight at the mere suggestion of a melody. On her new album Antónima, she not only creates magic with her own voice but also collaborates with some Alt.Latino favorites: Gaby Moreno, Daymé Arocena and Xenia Rubinos, among others. As we revive our Guest DJ series, we asked her to bring on some of the songs she loves, for an insider's perspective of the art behind the human voice. 

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

Our latest mix of the best new songs out now includes a stunning live version of Bon Iver’s “Heavenly Father,” a track the band originally wrote for the 2014 film Wish I Was Here, but never made available to stream before now. We’ve also got a stirring new ballad from Tori Amos, Luxembourg indie rocker Francis of Delirium (who assures us this is, in fact, a beautiful life), the long-awaited (if complicated) return of influential metal band Neurosis and more.

NPR Music’s Lars Gotrich joins host Robin Hilton.

(00:00) Intro

(01:41) Bon Iver: “Heavenly Father” from VOLUMES: ONE (SELECTIONS FROM MUSIC CONCERTS 2019-2023)

(08:25) Souled American: “Freeing Wheels” from Sanctions

(13:58) Francis of Delirium: “It’s a Beautiful Life” from Run, Run Pure Beauty

(20:28) Tara Clerkin Trio: “Somewhere Good” from Somewhere Good

(28:58) Tori Amos: “Stronger Together” from In Times of Dragons

(35:36) Neurosis: “Untethered” from An Undying Love for a Burning World

Support the show with a review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend!

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]


See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

In this special episode, the beloved singer-songwriter performs four songs live and speaks with Raina Douris of NPR's World Cafe about her acclaimed new album, 'Nothing's About To Happen To Me.'

Follow the World Cafe podcast for more live performances and interviews every week.

Featured performers:

• Mitski: vocals
• Patrick Hyland: electric, acoustic guitars
• Bruno Esrubilsky: drums
• Jeni Magaña: bass, backing vocals
• Emily Moore: guitarist, keys, backing vocals
• Ty Bailie: keys

Thanks to the production team at Power Station: Neal Shaw, Omisha Chaitanya, Grace Leckey and

Ben Miller.

This episode of World Cafe was produced and edited by Kimberly Junod.  Our digital producer is Miguel Perez. World Cafe's engineer is Chris Williams. Our programming and booking coordinator is Chelsea Johnson and our line producer is Will Loftus.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy