All Songs Considered NPR Music

The genre commonly referred to as "Chicano soul" has that "you know it if you hear it" kind of sound.

It's a bicultural interpretation of late 1950s and early '60s African American R&B ballads by Mexican American youth, influenced by the operatic style of Mexican rancheras. Broken hearts, unrequited love and loving the wrong person are often the main themes.

Real talk: it's the smooth, bilingual vocals of Malo's 1972 hit "Suavecito" expressing the thrill of a new love that is still heard at lowrider car shows or the pleas of "You're Still A Young Man' by Tower of Power, to name a few examples.

This week Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre unpack the genre and how the tradition is being reborn by a crew of young artists making it sparkle anew.

Songs featured in this episode:

•Malo, "Suavecito"•Joe Bataan, "I Wish You Love, P1. 1"•Tower of Power, "You're Still A Young Man"•Thee Sacred Souls, "Can I Call You Rose?"•The Altons, "Soon Enough"•Thee Sinceers feat. Joey Quinones, "Seems Like"•Mikey Jimenez, "Takin' All My Lovin'"

Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Suraya Mohamed, with editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

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We update our running tally of the year's best songs with a return from Moses Sumney, 2022 Tiny Desk Contest winner Alisa Amador, Orville Peck's collaboration with Beck and more.

Featured songs and artists:1. Orville Peck and Beck: "Death Valley High," from Stampede2. Nilüfer Yanya: "Call It Love," from My Method Actor3. Alisa Amador: "Woke Up Today," from Multitudes4. Moses Sumney: "Gold Coast," from Sophcore5. Neil Young and Crazy Horse: "Helpless," from Early Daze6. Rema: "YAYO," from HEIS

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Questions, comments, suggestions and feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org

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This week on New Music Friday from All Songs Considered, NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Stephen Thompson listen to a grab bag of new releases out on July 19, including what's being called the last Childish Gambino album ever, returns by public radio faves Los Campesinos and Dr. Dog and a vibe-heavy follow-up made by the creators of one of the longest-running Billboard singles of all time, just in time to greet the the heat waves of summer 2024 (sorry).

Then, one of the week's biggest albums sends Daoud and Stephen down a rabbit hole in which they attempt to figure out what happened to the blockbuster soundtrack and why, in the aftermath of an exceptional example from 2023, there might be an opportunity to revive the form.

Featured albums• Childish Gambino, 'Bando Stone & the New World'• Los Campesinos, 'All Hell'• Denzel Curry, 'King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2'• Glass Animals, 'I Love You So F****** Much'• Dr. Dog, 'Dr. Dog'• Jimin, 'Muse'• Various Artists, 'Twisters: The Album' OST

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We pause to take a deep breath this week and chill out with a mix designed to slow the blood and calm the nerves, including the one song scientists say can reduce anxiety by up to 65%.

Note: This episode originally ran on March 26, 2024.Featured songs and artists:• Marconi Union: "Weightless"• Mary Lattimore: "Wawa by the Ocean" from 'Collected Pieces'• Van-Anh Nguyen and Noshika Masuda: "Spiegel im Spiegel" by Arvo Pärt• Brian McBride: "Girl Nap" from 'The Effective Disconnect' • Laraaji: "Meditation No. 1" from 'Day of Radiance'• Arooj Aftab: "Saans Lo" from 'Vulture Prince'• Eluvium: "One" from 'Talk Amongst The Trees'• Enya: "Watermark" from 'Watermark'• Adele: "Somoene Like You" from '21'• Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, John Pritchard & London • Philharmonic Orchestra: "O Mio babbino caro" from 'Kiri Te Kanawa Sings Puccini and Verdi'• Yo La Tengo: "Our Way To Fall" from 'And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out'• Cassandra Jenkins: "Hard Drive" from 'An Overview of Phenomenal Nature'• Ruth Laredo: "Clair de Lune" from 'My First Recital'• Rachika Nayar: "Our Wretched Fantasy" from 'Heaven Come Crashing'• Radiohead: "Everything in its Right Place" from 'Kid A'• Clem Snide: "Nick Drake Tape" from 'A Beautiful EP'

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NPR Music's Ann Powers and Daoud Tyler-Ameen present the noteworthy albums out July 12, including new releases by Nashville iconoclast Sturgill Simpson, poignant lyricist Cassandra Jenkins, pop rebel Remi Wolf and more.

Visit npr.org for the long list of albums out July 12 and playlists of their top songs.

Read Ann Powers' review of Zach Bryan's The Great American Bar Scene here.

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Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre round up their favorite new tracks, including heartbroken music from Omar Apollo, a mix of jazz and Afro-Puerto Rican sounds from Papo Vazquez and a controversial new merengue electrónico track from Karol G.

Songs featured in this episode:

•Omar Apollo, "Empty"•Los Cenzontles, "Different Drum"•Mabe Fratti, "Oidos" and "Intento fallido"•Karol G, "Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido"•Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Hamilton de Holanda, "Mandalagh"•Papo Vazquez and Mighty Pirates Troubadours, "Plena Pa'Los Apache"

Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Joaquin Cotler, with editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

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