All Songs Considered NPR

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week, including the calming sounds of Ballaké Sissoko, the plainspoken wisdom of singer Faye Webster and more.

Featured Songs:
1. No-No Boy: "The Best God Damn Band in Wyoming," from 1975
2. Faye Webster: "Cheers," from I Know I'm Funny haha
3. Tōth: "Guitars Are Better Than Synthesizers for Writing Through Hard Times," from You And Me And Everything
4. Ballaké Sissoko: "Kadidja," from Djourou
5. Lau Noah: "Las Siete Lágrimas," 3
6. Manchester Orchestra: "Telepath," from The Million Masks of God

NPR Music's shortlist for the best albums out on April 23 includes Nashville singer and rapper Houston Kendrick's technicolor pop, Malian Kora player Toumani Diabaté, Dinosaur Jr. and more.

1. Houston Kendrick — Small Infinity
Featured Song: "Ugly Vybes"
2. Hannah Jadagu — What Is Going On?
Featured Song: "Sundown"
3. Dinosaur Jr. — Sweep It Into Space
Featured Song: "And Me"
4. Arooj Aftab — Vulture Prince
Featured Songs: "Suroor" and "Baghon Main"
5. Toumani Diabaté and The London Symphony Orchestra — Korolen
Featured Songs: "Elyne Road" and "Cantelowes"
6. Hasaan Ibn Ali — Metaphysics: The Lost Atlantic Album
Featured Song: "El Hasaan"

Other notable releases for April 23: Alfa Mist — Bring Backs; Ethel Cain — Inbred; Jupiter Okwess — Na Kozonga

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tunes of the week including a "Hot and Heavy" track from Lucy Dacus, and Beatles producer George Martin's little-known side project, Ray Cathode.

1. Lucy Dacus: "Hot & Heavy," from Home Video
2. Uwade: "The Man Who Sees Tomorrow" (Single)
3. Field Music: "When You Last Heard From Linda," from Flat White Moon
4. Ray Cathode (George Martin and Maddalena Fagandini): "Time Beat" (Single)
5. Ray Cathode (George Martin and Maddalena Fagandini): "Waltz In Orbit" (Single)
6. Rosie Tucker: "Barbara Ann," from Sucker Supreme
7. Smoothboi Ezra: "Stuck" from Stuck EP

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out on April 16 include the latest from UK rapper AJ Tracey, Norah Jones' first ever live album, a feast of wonders from Son Lux and more.

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new songs of the week including an ambient track from Sufjan Stevens, solo work from Phish's Page McConnell, Squirrell Flower and more.

1. Charlotte Jacobs: "Where You Want Me To," from The Shape of Wandering EP
2. Damien Jurado: "Tom," from The Monster Who Hated Pennsylvania
3. Squirrel Flower: "Hurt A Fly," from Planet (i)
4. Jess Locke: "Tell Me I'm Okay," from Don't Ask Yourself Why
5. Mabe Fratti: "Hacia el Vacío," from Será Que Ahora Podremos Entendernos
6. Sufjan Stevens: "Meditation V," from Convocations
7. Page McConnell: "Radio Silence," from Maybe We're The Visitors

A deeply personal and revealing record from Brockhampton, Dutch artist Benny Sings, breakout rapper Lakeyah, the Vijay Iyer Trio and more make NPR Music's picks for the best albums out on Apr. 9.

Featured Albums:
1. Benny Sings — Music
Featured Song: "Nobody's Fault"
2. Brockhampton — Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine
Featured Song: "The Light"
3. Lakeyah — In Due Time
Featured Song: "Look At Me"
4. claire rousay — A Softer Focus
Featured Song: "Peak Chroma"
5. Mon Laferte — Seis
Featured Song: "Se Me Va Quemar El Corazon"
6. Matthew E. White & Lonnie Holley — Broken Mirror: A Selfie Reflection
Featured Song: "Broken Mirror: A Selfie Reflection"
7. Sheep, Dog & Wolf — Two Minds
Featured Song: "Two Minds"
8. Cehryl — Time Machine
Featured Song: "Outside the Party, Inside the Dream"
9. The Vijay Iyer Trio — Uneasy
Featured Song: "Children of Flint"

Other notable releases for April 9: Ballaké Sissoko — Djouro; Damon Locks Black Monument Ensemble — Now; Max Richter — Voices 2; Rhiannon Giddens & Francesco Turissi — They're Calling Me Home; Taylor Swift — Fearless (Taylor's Version); Yaya Bey — The Things I Can't Take With Me.