All Songs Considered

Joan Shelley, Lola Young and the return of Sarah McLachlan. Kyle Meredith from WFPK in Louisville joins Stephen Thompson to chat about their favorite albums out Friday, Sept. 19.The Starting 5:- Joan Shelley, 'Real Warmth'- Lola Young, 'I'm Only F****** Myself'- Wednesday, 'Bleeds'- Sarah McLachlan, 'Better Broken'- Yasmine Hamdan, 'I remember I forget بنسى وبتذكر'The Lightning Round:- Kieran Hebden & William Tyler, '41 Longfield Street Late '80s'- Nine Inch Nails, 'Tron: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)'- Lawrence Matthews, 'Between Mortal Reach & Posthumous Grip'- Joy Crookes, 'Juniper'- Joanne Robertson, 'Blurrr'See the long list of albums out Sept. 12 and sample dozens of them via our New Music Friday playlist on npr.org.CreditsHost: Stephen ThompsonGuest: Kyle Meredith, WFPKAudio Producer: Noah CaldwellDigital Producer: Elle MannionEditor: Otis HartProduction Assistant: Dora LeviteExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Bad Bunny's months-long residency in Puerto Rico is coming to an end. The shows brought in hundreds of millions of dollars to the island, and sparked new debates about Puerto Rican identity and politics.For this week's episode, Alt.Latino's Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras traveled to San Juan to take in one of the final performances, and interview both locals and tourists about the musical and cultural impact of the summer of Bad Bunny.This podcast was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We’ve got six must-hear songs to add to our running list of the year’s best tracks, including some shredding from The Beths, a gorgeous solo piano piece from Dustin O’Halloran, sublime jazz from Nicholas Payton and more.Featured artists and songs:1. The Beths: “No Joy,” from ‘Straight Line Was A Lie’2. Nate Smith & Saje: “Big Fish,” from ‘Live Action’3. Dustin O’Halloran: “Gold” (Single)4. Dara Starr Tucker: “Pure Imagination,” from ‘Time Wouldn’t Wait’5. Grumpy: “Crush,” from ‘Piebald’6. Nicholas Payton (with Esperanza Spalding and Karriem Riggins): “Let It Ride,” from ‘Triune’Weekly reset: A late-summer day at the playgroundEnjoy the show? Share it with a friend and leave us a review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.orgSign up for the Pod Club newsletter: www.npr.org/podclubLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We enter the stomp-clap era as we look back at our number one songs from 2009.Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show's 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Guerilla Toss. Die Spitz. The return of Spinal Tap. Raina Douris from WXPN's World Cafe joins Stephen Thompson to discuss their favorite albums out Friday, Sept. 12.The Starting 5:- Spinal Tap, 'The End Continues' (Stream)- Guerilla Toss, 'You're Weird Now' (Stream)- Die Spitz, 'Something to Consume' (Stream)- Frost Children, 'Sister' (Stream)- Mark William Lewis, 'Mark William Lewis' (Stream)The Lightning Round:- Sophie Ellis-Bextor, 'Perimenopop'- Asher White, '8 tips for full catastrophe living'- Jade, 'THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY!'- Fruit Bats, 'Baby Man'- Kassa Overall, 'CREAM'See the long list of albums out Sept 12 and sample dozens of them via our New Music Friday playlist on npr.org.CreditsHost: Stephen ThompsonGuest: Raina Douris, WXPNAudio Producer: Noah CaldwellDigital Producer: Elle MannionEditor: Otis HartProduction Assistant: Dora LeviteExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This week's episode of Alt.Latino is a tribute to host Felix Contreras, who just received the Hispanic Heritage Award for Journalism from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. Co-host Anamaria Sayre and the Alt.Latino team surprised Felix with guest appearances from Juanes, Daymé Arocena, Chucho Valdés, Dolores Huerta and more.This podcast was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Hear the songs we just had to share this week. NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton to update our running list of the year’s best songs, with head-spinning, shape-shifting wonders from Asher White, transcendent ambient sounds from Early Fern, the first new solo album from Neko Case in eight years and more.Featured artists and songs:1. Asher White: “Beers with my name on them,” from ‘8 Tips for Catastrophe Living’2. Neko Case: “Wreck,” from ‘Neon Grey Midnight Green'3. caroline: “Total Euphoria,” from ‘caroline 2’4. Sturle Dagsland: “Hugging Horses,” from ‘Dreams And Conjurations’5. Model/Actriz: “Doves,” from ‘Piourette’6. Early Fern: “Teasel,” from ‘Wetland Interiors’Weekly reset: Horses are really having a momentEnjoy the show? Share it with a friend and leave us a review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.orgLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

What songs take us back to 2008? Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson recall a pretty folk-heavy year with lots of groundbreaking debuts.Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show's 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Big Thief. David Byrne. El Michels Affair. WFUV's Alisa Ali joins Stephen Thompson to discuss their favorite albums coming out Friday, Sept. 5.The Starting 5:• Big Thief, 'Double Infinity'• El Michels Affair, '24 Hr Sports'• Curtis Harding, 'Departures & Arrivals: Adventures of Captain Curt'• Lucrecia Dalt, 'A Danger to Ourselves'• David Byrne, 'Who Is The Sky?'The Lightning Round: • Saint Etienne, 'International'• james K, 'Friend'• Ivy, 'Traces of You'• Anaïs & The Hoops, 'Growing Pains'• V/A, 'I Will Swim To You: A Tribute to Jason Molina'See the long list of albums out Sept. 5 and sample dozens of them via our New Music Friday playlist on npr.org.CreditsHost: Stephen ThompsonGuest: Alisa Ali, WFUVAudio Producer: Noah CaldwellDigital Producer: Elle MannionEditor: Otis HartProduction Assistant: Dora LeviteExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Felix shares the music that's helped him recover from a serious illness. Anamaria shares some new exquisite (and, in one case, slightly toxic) love songs.Featured artists and songs:• Blood Orange, "I Can Go" (feat. Mabe Fratti & Mustafa)• Draco Rosa, "Quiero Vivir"• Caetano Veloso, "Voce E Linda" (Remixed Original Album)• Tim Bernardes, "BB (Garupa de Moto Amarela)"• Tim Bernardes, "Última Vez"• Santana, "Goodness and Mercy"• Xavi, "Ojitos de Miel"• Los Lobos, "Bertha" (Live at the Carefree Theatre, 1992)This podcast was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We get a jump on the upcoming fall releases we’re most excited about, including new ones from Skullcrusher, S. Carey, Silvana Estrada and more. Featured artists and albums:1. Snōōper: ‘Worldwide’ (Oct. 3)2. Sudan Archives: ‘The BPM’ (Oct. 17)3. Claire Rousay: ‘Little Death’ (Oct. 31)4. Crushed: ‘No Scope’ (Sept. 26)5. Cate Le Bon: ‘Michelangelo Dying’ (Sept. 26)6. S. Carey: ‘Watercress’ (Oct. 3)7. Emily Sprague: ‘Cloud Time’ (Oct. 10)8. Skullcrusher: ‘And Your Song Is Like A Circle’ (Oct. 17)9. Silvana Estrada: ‘Vendrán Suaves Lluvias’ (Oct. 17)Weekly reset: Walking through the woods on an autumn afternoonEnjoy the show? Share it with a friend and leave us a review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.orgLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The songs that take us back to 2007, the golden age of indie pop and rock.Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show's 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Sabrina Carpenter. The Beaches. Margo Price. This week, Stephen Thompson chats with NPR Music's Hazel Cills and WMOT's Jessie Scott about the best new albums out this new music Friday.The Starting 5:• The Beaches, 'No Hard Feelings'• The Beths, 'Straight Line Was A Lie'• Margo Price, 'Hard Headed Woman'• Rodney Crowell, 'Airline Highway'• Anna Tivel, 'Animal Poem'Read more about WMOT's live webcast from AMERICANAFEST 2025.The Lightning Round:• Blood Orange, 'Essex Honey'• Jaelee Roberts, 'Let Me Be Lonely'• Brad Mehldau, 'Ride Into the Sun'• CMAT, 'EURO-COUNTRY'• Tiwa Savage, 'This One Is Personal'See the long list of albums out Aug. 29 and sample dozens of them via our New Music Friday playlist on npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This week, NPR Music reporter Isabella Gomez-Sarmiento is back on the mic, bringing host Anamaria Sayre new music in the vein of her 2010s Tumblr era. Think emo bangs, bright blue skinny jeans and a Warped Tour T-shirt. Sonically, this week’s picks run through bedroom pop, sultry balladry and Bronx-Dominican rap over post-punk basslines.Featured artists and songs:• Titanic (I. la Católica and Mabe Fratti), “Escarbo dimensiones"• Mon Laferte, “Esto Es Amor"• Planta Industrial, “Teteo in The Bronx”• Santi Muk and Zenon Pereyra, “seu carinho,” “CUÁNTO FALTA PARA CONOCERTE?” and “ANA BAILABA”• Maria Usbeck, “Mar”• LATIN MAFIA and Omar Apollo, “Hecho para ti”This episode was produced by Noah Caldwell and edited by Otis Hart. Suraya Mohamed is the Executive Producer of NPR Music and the madrina of Alt.Latino.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We update our running list of the year’s best songs with a bunch of glitched-out ear candy, raging rock, and tracks that seek real, human connections in an increasingly artificial landscape.Featured artists and songs:1. Disiniblud: “Give-upping (feat. Julianna Barwick),” from ‘Disniblud’2. ear: “Fetish” (single)3. Emily Yacina: “Talk Me Down,” from ‘Veilfall’4. Anamanaguchi: “Rage (Kitchen Sink),” from ‘Anyway’5. james K: “Play,” from ‘Friend’Weekly reset: A day at the county fairEnjoy the show? Share it with a friend and leave us a review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.orgLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The songs that take us back to 2006.Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show’s 25th anniversary. A shortened version of this episode ran earlier in the year.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Nourished By Time. Mac Demarco. Earl Sweatshirt. Stephen Thompson and Vermont Public's Tad Cautious discuss the best new albums out this new music Friday.The Starting 5:• Nourished By Time, The Passionate Ones (Stream)• Pino Palladino & Blake Mills, That Wasn't a Dream (Stream)• Greg Freeman, Burnover (Stream)• Kathleen Edwards, Billionaire (Stream)• Mac DeMarco, Guitar (Stream)The Lightning Round:• Laufey, A Matter of Time• Sombr, I Barely Know Her• Ami Taf Ra, The Prophet and the Madman• Deftones, private music• BigXthaPlug, I Hope You're Happy• Teyana Taylor, Escape Room• Night Owls, Versions II• Kid Cudi, Free• Earl Sweatshirt, Live Laugh Love• Ghostface Killah, Supreme Clientele 2See our long list of albums out Aug. 22 and sample dozens of them via our New Music Friday playlist on npr.org.CreditsHost: Stephen ThompsonGuest: Tad Cautious, Vermont PublicAudio Producer: Noah CaldwellDigital Producer: Elle MannionEditor: Otis HartProduction Assistant: Dora LeviteExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

What songs take us back to 2005?Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show’s 25th anniversary. A shortened version of this episode ran earlier in the year.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On Alt.Latino we often discuss the way that traditions are recognized and expanded upon. Usually it’s when we’re talking about new artists. But this week we are spending time honoring two legends: Tex Mex accordion player Flaco Jimenez and Latin jazz pianist/composer Eddie Palmieri each died within the last few weeks. They were foundational to their respective musical cultures, products of two distinct Latino cultural and musical traditions who also expanded the idea of tradition with their musical visions. Tune in this week to see how Felix connects the dots between these two seemingly dissimilar icons — and hear some new music that also blends tradition with modernity.    Music heard in this episode:Orquestra Afro-Brasileira, “Saudação ao Rei Nagô” and “Obaluayê”Doctor Nativo, “Caminantes” feat. Roco PachukoteBikôkô, “The Other” feat. Isaiah Hull and “La Mano” feat Crystal Murrayday2k, “OBSSD” and “más q todoooooo”Flaco Jimenez, “Lucerito”Eddie Palmieri, “Una Rosa Española”  Audio and production for this episode was done by Noah Caldwell.Suraya Mohamed is Executive Producer for NPR Music.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A nostalgic look back at the most memorable songs that defined All Songs Considered in its first five years. Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show’s 25th anniversary. A version of this episode originally ran on March 4, 2025Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy