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  • 4.5 (275)
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Welcome to your all-in-one destination for every NPR Music podcast. We break down the best new albums to hit streaming each week on New Music Friday; we share the latest songs worthy of your playlists on All Songs Considered; there’s off-the-rails conversations (and chisme!) about Latin music on Alt.Latino. The NPR Music channel is your hub for new records, iconic artists and cult heroes, free of algorithms and full of surprises.

  1. 2 hrs ago

    Alt.Latino: The best Latin music of 2026 (so far)

    It’s that time of the year again: a mix between Christmas and Halloween for me and Felix. We gift you our best album picks of the year so far — and there’s nothing spookier for us than having to choose. So here it is, the music we’ve loved and listened to the most in the first half of 2026, some of the best (in our opinion) from all of Latin America and its diaspora. — Anamaria Sayre Artist and albums featured in this episode: (02:15) Trueno - 'TURR4ZO'(07:06) Jonathan Suazo - 'Ricano Vol. 2: Fruto de mi Corazón'(11:16) Broke Carrey - 'HIJO DEL PAÍS'(15:48) X Alfonso - 'AIRE'(22:28) Silvia Pérez Cruz - 'Oral_Abisal'(29:30) Nuevos Rios - 'Nuevos Rios'(32:17) Criolo, Amaro Freitas & Dino d'Santiago - 'CRIOLO, AMARO E DINO'(37:33) Sofia Rei - 'Antónima' This episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music. 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

    41 min
  2. Summer’s simple pleasures: Roséwave

    1d ago

    Summer’s simple pleasures: Roséwave

    Roséwave is a feeling more than a singular sound or genre. It’s the kind of sweetness and sadness that underscores the long, languid days of summer.  Long drives with old friends, watching your kids at the pool, backyard barbecues while the sun slowly sets.  On this episode we share a mix of songs that offer the perfect soundtrack for your roséwave days and nights, from Linda Ronstadt’s “How Do I Make You” and Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t That Peculiar,” to Katie Gavin’s “Aftertaste,” Waxahatchee’s “Much Ado About Nothing” and more. NPR Music’s Lars Gotrich and contributor Marissa Lorusso join host Robin Hilton. (00:00) Intro and “Summertime, Summertime” by The Jamies (01:57) Wednesday: "Elderberry Wine" (04:34) The Lijadu Sisters: "Come on Home" (07:35) Katie Gavin: "Aftertaste” (12:17) Marvin Gaye: "Ain't That Peculiar" (15:46) Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra: “Gayane Ballet Suite: Adagio” (17:02) Haku.: "Looking Through My Subtle Double Eyelids" (19:46) Labi Siffre: "My Song" (22:45) Azymuth: "Faça de Conta" (25:09) Waxahatchee: "Much Ado About Nothing" (27:35) Linda Ronstadt: "How Do I Make You" (30:29) Addison Rae: "Diet Pepsi," from 'Addison' (34:56) Amerie: "Why Don't We Fall in Love" Reviews help!  Leave us one on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts.  Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org Note: A version of this episode originally ran in July 2025. 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

    37 min
  3. The best albums of 2026 (so far)

    5d ago

    The best albums of 2026 (so far)

    On a special mid-year episode of New Music Friday, host Stephen Thompson and a lineup of NPR Music writers and critics reflect on their favorite albums of the year so far.  Albums featured in this episode: (01:14) Album No. 1- Noah Kahan, 'The Great Divide' (07:16) Album No. 2- underscores, 'U' (14:00) Album No. 3- Cécile McLorin Salvant, 'With Every Breath I Take' (20:13) Album No. 4- Neurosis, 'An Undying Love For A Burning World' (27:18) Album No. 5- Tiffany Day, 'HALO' (33:46) Album No. 6- Metropolis Ensemble, Erik Hall & Sandbox Percussion, 'Canto Ostinato' Credits:Host: Stephen ThompsonGuests: Hazel Cills, Ann Powers, Lars Gotrich, Sheldon Pearce, Tom HuizengaAudio Producer: Noah CaldwellDigital Producer: Dora LeviteEditors: Otis Hart, Elle MannionExecutive Producer: Suraya Mohamed 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

    41 min
  4. NPR Music+: “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service

    6d ago

    NPR Music+: “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service

    The origin story of The Postal Service is as simple (and twee) as they come: An electronic music producer (Jimmy Tamborello) and an indie rock singer-songwriter (Ben Gibbard) decide to collaborate on a few songs, sending each other music via snail mail. But The Postal Service’s only album, Give Up, eventually went platinum, and the band is selling out arenas decades later. It’s a record that seems to have captured how rapid advances in technology would change how we communicate and even love, bridging the distances that separate us.   This week, NPR Music critic Ann Powers and editor Daoud Tyler-Ameen discuss lead single “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service, from 2003.   This NPR Music podcast series with Ann and Daoud is usually just for NPR+ supporters. To listen to the rest of the episodes in the series and support public media, sign up for NPR+ at plus.npr.org. Follow NPR Music coverage and the Tiny Desk Concerts at npr.org/music 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

    36 min
  5. Alt.Latino: Mon Laferte's captivating coda

    Jul 1

    Alt.Latino: Mon Laferte's captivating coda

    On this week’s Alt.Latino, Anamaria and I both gush about 'Femme Fatale Vol. 2,' the new album from Chilean-Mexican singer Mon Laferte, who is on one of the more amazing creative streaks I've witnessed in a while. Also, Ana and I sometimes unintentionally align when picking new music for the show, and that took place this week with a couple of Brazilian highlights: I chose an artist who records as MOMO., while Ana brought in music from São Paulo-based artist Tijolo. Also this week, Chicago-based artist Sparklmami and an EP from Texan-Mexican singer Iveth Luna that got me thinking about the world of Spanish-language Christian music. — Felix Contreras Artists & albums featured in this episode: (01:31) Sparklmami, 'in this body' (06:36) The Animeros, '¡Qué Bárbaro!' (09:51) Mon Laferte, 'Femme Fatale Vol. 2' (16:47) Iveth Luna, 'Making Ways' (21:34) Tijolo, 'Y' (25:37) MOMO., 'Tum Tum Tum' This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell and edited by Otis Hart. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music. 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

    29 min
  6. The year’s best songs (so far)

    Jun 30

    The year’s best songs (so far)

    It's the midway point of 2026, and it's safe to say that when it comes to the best songs of the year, there's not really any consensus to be found. So we’ve assembled our personal Top 10 list of the most memorable songs to cross our paths, from the outlaw country of Charley Crockett to the glam rock of Friko, Lana Del Rey’s twisted ode to love, Vince Staples' "White Flag" and more. NPR Music’s Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton. Featured artists and songs: (00:00) Intro (01:38) Mandy, Indiana: “try saying” (05:09) Aldous Harding: “Coats” (09:28) Vince Staples: “White Flag” (14:25) Yebba: “Yellow Eyes” (18:04) Friko: “Seven Degrees” (22:01) Charley Crockett: “Kentucky Too Long” (26:03) Lana Del Rey: “White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter” (32:07) Baby Rose: “Friends Again" (feat. Leon Thomas) (37:59) Mumford & Sons: “Rubber Band Man" (feat. Hozier) (42:58) Irreversible Entanglements: “Don’t Lose Your Head" (feat. MOTHERBOARD) Reviews help! Leave us one on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts.  Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org 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

    47 min
  7. New Music Friday: The best albums out June 26

    Jun 26

    New Music Friday: The best albums out June 26

    Beth Orton. Chanel Beads. Cécile McLorin Salvant. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Ayana Contreras from KUVO in Denver about their favorite new albums out Friday, June 26. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) Introduction- Roberta Flack, 'The Montreux Years' (02:01) Album No. 1- Cécile McLorin Salvant, 'With Every Breath I Take' (09:11) Album No. 2- Ibeyi, 'Offering' (15:57) Album No. 3- Chanel Beads, 'Your Day Will Come' (21:52) Album No. 4- Beth Orton, 'The Ground Above' (28:34) Album No.5- ALIA, 'Where the Echoes Bloom' (33:59) The Lightning Round - Andrew Sa, 'American Rough'- Tasha, 'You Are Spring!'- Madeon, 'Victory'- Rodney Crowell, 'Then Again'- Downtown Boys, 'Public Luxury' Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org. Credits:Host: Stephen ThompsonGuest: Ayana Contreras, KUVOAudio Producer: Noah CaldwellDigital Producer: Dora LeviteEditors: Otis Hart, Elle MannionExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedSpecial thanks to Lars Gotrich 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

    42 min
  8. Alt.Latino: They opened for Miles Davis and Sly Stone, then disappeared

    Jun 24

    Alt.Latino: They opened for Miles Davis and Sly Stone, then disappeared

    This week's episode is a musical time machine. In the late 1960s, the band Zapata sprang out of a street gang in northwest Washington, D.C., with a sound that combined a variety of contemporary styles: Afro-Caribbean rhythms, soul jazz and the golden era of American R&B. The mixture worked. For a few years, Zapata opened for an astonishing number of A-list acts passing through the city, like Miles Davis, Sly and the Family Stone, Herbie Hancock and The Isley Brothers. But the band would break up in 1974, and for years their recorded material was believed to be lost. Now, surviving member Pepe Gonzalez has restored a cassette tape of Zapata's music from 1971, and is releasing it for the first time. In this episode, Felix chats with Gonzalez about the origins of the band, and how they tried to unify the Black and Hispanic musical scenes in the city at the time. The podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell and edited by Otis Hart. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music. 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

    24 min
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Welcome to your all-in-one destination for every NPR Music podcast. We break down the best new albums to hit streaming each week on New Music Friday; we share the latest songs worthy of your playlists on All Songs Considered; there’s off-the-rails conversations (and chisme!) about Latin music on Alt.Latino. The NPR Music channel is your hub for new records, iconic artists and cult heroes, free of algorithms and full of surprises.

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  • Channel
    NPR Music
  • Creator
    NPR
  • Years Active
    2005 - 2026
  • Episodes
    422
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2011-2026 NPR - For Personal Use Only
  • Show Website
    NPR Music
  • Provider
    NPR

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