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Music Commentary

Updated twice weekly
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Music

Music

Updated 14/04/2022
Music

Music

Every two weeks

19 Jun

New Music Friday: The best albums out June 19

Tierra Whack. The War and Treaty. A plethora of new jazz releases. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Nate Chinen from WRTI in Philadelphia about their favorite new albums out Friday, June 19. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (01:17) Album No. 1- Tierra Whack, 'Whack's Museum' (06:43) Album No. 2- The War and Treaty, 'The Story of Michael and Tanya' (15:39) Album No. 3- Micah Thomas, 'Lucid' (20:40) Album No. 4- Your Brother's Keeper & Gary Bartz, 'Where Rivers Meet' (26:21) Album No. 5- Sam Barsh, Keyon Harrold & Mark Guiliana, 'Straight08' (32:30) The Lightning Round - Tucker Zimmerman, 'Dream Me A Dream'- The Phoenix Trio, 'Tomorrow is Today'- Janus Rasmussen, 'Inert'- Daniel Lanois, 'Belladonna Nocturne'- Wild Up, 'Gay Guerilla Vol. 5' Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org Credits:Host: Stephen ThompsonGuest: Nate Chinen, WRTIAudio Producer: Noah CaldwellDigital Producer: Dora LeviteEditors: Otis Hart, Elle MannionExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedSpecial thanks to Robin Hilton 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

19 Jun

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40 min
4 days ago

Beck's 'Odelay' at 30, Mitski covers One Direction, more

We share our picks for the best new tracks of the week, including Mitski’s surprising cover of One Direction’s “Fireproof.” But first, we remember Beck’s still-mind-blowing Odelay, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary. NPR Music’s Lars Gotrich joins host Robin Hilton. Featured artists and songs: (00:00) Beck’s Odelay at 30 (03:39) Perennial: “What’s New On The Beat Scene” (08:55) Mitski: “Fireproof” (13:50) Sarah Davachi: “Songs of the Smile’s Fig: III. Follies” (21:56) Shearwater: “Daydream Unbeliever” (32:33) Sleep: “Have Spacesuit Will Travel” (41:39) L’Rain: “soulless cycle” 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

4 days ago

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47 min
26 May

What’s the defining Millennial song?

We weigh the options and attempt to pick the one song that best captures the Millennial generation's experience, from the dizzying highs of the dot-com boom, when anything seemed possible, to the post-9-11 bust, the hope of the Obama years, and prolonged period of generational disillusionment. NPR Music millennials Hazel Cills and Sheldon Pearce join host Robin Hilton. A good review helps! So, leave us one on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend to listen! 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

26 May

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1hr 4min
14 Jan

Alt.Latino: Our Love Letter to Bob Weir

Over the weekend, we lost a musician who shaped the lives of countless people: the late, great Bob Weir. He was a founding member of the Grateful Dead who played guitar, wrote and sang in the band for 30 years. After Jerry Garcia died and the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir kept the spirit of the music alive for three more decades, creating new Deadheads for generations to come — he brought John Mayer, Billy Strings and even the National Symphony Orchestra into the Grateful Dead universe. The Deadhead slogan proved to be true: Weir everywhere. At Alt.Latino, we’re big fans of Bob Weir and his immensely cosmic musical legacy. Over the years, we’ve learned that many Latin musicians are also, metaphorically speaking, on the bus. Today on the show, we celebrate Bob Weir’s life by hearing some of his past interviews on NPR, exploring the Grateful Dead’s influence on artists like Devendra Banhart, and of course, revisiting his magnetic Tiny Desk concert from 2019. We’re incredibly grateful that Bobby came down to this world for a little while to tell us his stories – we hope to see him in the next one. (00:00) Intro(01:38) Bob Weir's early life and Grateful Dead career(08:05) Grateful Dead at the National Symphony Orchestra(14:30) Felix and Isa reflect on 'American Beauty'(20:35) Grateful Dead's impact on Latin musicians(26:33) Bob Weir at the Tiny Desk This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is 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

14 Jan

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28 min
16 Jun

Songs for any road trip

It’s the season of road trips -- and nothing goes better with those long and winding roads than music. This week we share our picks for the perfect playlist, breakdown what works best when, and consider some ground rules -- does the driver always have the final say? 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 Featured artists and songs: (00:00) Eric Burdon and War: “Spill the Wine”(03:09) Stromae: “Santé”(04:57) Broadway Cast: “Alexander Hamilton”(07:53) Joe Iconis / Broadway Cast: “Michael in the Bathroom”(10:14) Abiotic: “Vermosapien”(12:02) Wipers: “Mystery”(13:36) Steely Dan: “My Old School”(17:28) Tunde Olaniran: “Namesake”(19:54) Shania Twain: “Man, I Feel Like a Woman!”(22:37) Pat Travers: “Amgwanna Kick Booty”(26:27) Anthrax & Public Enemy: “Bring The Noise”(27:49) Unwed Sailor: “Monster Collecting”(29:46) The Allman Brothers Band: “Midnight Rider” and “Southbound”(33:12) Lakestreet Dive: “You Go Down Smooth”(35:41) Black Sabbath: “Turn Up The Night”(37:19) Simple Minds: “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” Note: A version of this episode originally posted in August 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

16 Jun

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41 min
17 Jun

Alt.Latino: The sounds of Cuban resilience

We're living in a moment when the geopolitical intersects with the personal in a profound way. The relationship between the United States and Cuba is once again in the news, and it happens at a time when there are a handful of new releases from Cuban artists on the island and around the world. The sounds of the albums are vastly different, but they all draw from the same deep well of inspiration that has always fueled Cuban music: a deep love for the intersection of cultures. The music we share this week is a reminder of the very real lives of the people caught in the middle of a situation with an uncertain outcome. It is joyous, contemplative, rhythmically sophisticated and lyrically profound. Just like all Cuban music. Artists & songs featured in this episode: (00:52) OKAN, "Ajé (Owo Nla Nla)"(03:30) Ibeyo, "Aset"(06:45) Orquesta Akokán, "No Me Voy" (11:50) Cimafunk, "Cocinarte"(15:47) X Alfonso, "Unicornio" This podcast 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

17 Jun

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22 min
16/04/2025

Alt.Latino: A Banjo, Bomba, Bardo y Más

Anamaria continues to impress Felix with new female voices, while he shares more jazz and Puerto Rican bomba fusion. Featured artists and songs: • Queralt Lahoz, "LA FE" • Bardo, "Renacer" (feat. Combo Chimbita) • Vanessa Zamora, "GRAVEDAD" (feat. Çantamarta) • BEATrio, "Archipelago" • Mon Laferte, "Otra Noche de Llorar" • El Laberinto del Coco, "Todo Se Nubla" Credits Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins. 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

16/04/2025

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24 min
12 Jun

New Music Friday: The best albums out June 12

Olivia Rodrigo. P***y Riot. Hayley Kiyoko. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Nastia Voynovskaya from KQED in San Francisco about their favorite albums out Friday, June 12. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) Songs of the Summer (01:59) Album No. 1• Olivia Rodrigo, 'you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love' (10:01) Album No. 2• P***y Riot, 'CYKA' (17:31) Album No. 3• YHWH Nailgun, 'Magazine' (22:01) Album No. 4• Hayley Kiyoko, 'girls like girls (the album)' (28:31) Album No. 5• Six Sex, 'ULTRA' (34:10) The Lightning Round • Kelsey Lu, 'So Help Me God'• Ambrose Akimusire & Mary Halvorson, 'Slo-Mo Neon Luminate Hoverings'• Diles Que No Me Maten, 'Escrito en Agua'• Horse Lords, 'Demand To Be Taken Alive!'• Mon Laferte, 'Femme Fatale Vol. 2' Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org. Credits:Host: Stephen ThompsonGuest: Nastia Voynovskaya, KQEDAudio Producer: Noah CaldwellDigital Producer: Dora LeviteEditors: Otis Hart, Elle MannionExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedSpecial thanks to Robin Hilton, Lars Gotrich and Isabella Gomez Sarmiento 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

12 Jun

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42 min
6 Jan

The best 2026 albums we've heard so far

We look ahead to some of the albums we’re most excited about for the new year, from sure bets like Dry Cleaning and Beverly Glenn-Copeland to rumored releases from some pretty big names. (00:00) Intro (01:26) Dry Cleaning: “Cruise Ship Designer,” from ‘Secret Love’ (05:03) Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore: “Perpetual Adoration,” from ‘Tragic Magic’ (07:48) Ásgeir: “Smoke,” from ‘Julia’ (12:27) Joyce Manor: “All My Friends Are So Depressed,” from ‘I Used To Go To This Bar’ (17:45) Beverly Glenn-Copeland: “Laughter In Summer (with Elizabeth Glenn-Copeland),” from ‘Laughter In Summer’ (21:06) gobbinjr: “Just a dream,” from ‘crystal rabbit moon’ (24:59) Danny L Harle, Oklou & MNEK: “Crystallise My Tears,” from ‘Cerulean’ (28:08) August Ponthier: “Handsome,” from ‘Everywhere Isn’t Texas’ (31:14) Mumford & Sons: “Rubber Band Man (with Hozier),” from ‘Prizefighter’ Support the show by leaving 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: 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

6 Jan

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38 min
10 Jun

Alt.Latino: A Tejano masterclass with El Gato Negro, Ruben Ramos

Ruben Ramos' life story mirrors the history of what we now know as Tejano music. His family's musical roots in Texas go back to 1918, and as a boy he was brought into the family bands, first as a drummer and then as a vocalist. He's been playing big band-inflected Tejano music now for more than six decades, and just released a tribute album tracing that musical lineage, called 'Los Días de Calor.' In this episode, Felix chats with "El Gato Negro" Ramos about the history of Tejano music across the twentieth century, and how his own story fits inside of it. This podcast 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

10 Jun

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27 min

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