NPR Music's Ann Powers and Lars Gotrich are your guides to this week's new releases.Featured albums:• Arooj Aftab, 'Night Reign'• Shaboozey, 'Where I've Been, isn't Where I'm Going'• Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Nathan Salsburg & Tyler Trotter, 'Hear the Children Sing The Evidence'Other notable albums out May 31:• Richard Thompson, 'Ship To Shore'• Dos Monos, 'Dos Atomos'• Anna Tivel, 'Living Thing'• Beak>, '>>>>'• Swamp Dogg, 'Blackgrass'• Thou, 'Umbilical'• Chris Housman, 'Blueneck'• Psychic Temple, 'Doggie Paddlin' Thru the Cosmic Consciousness'• John Muq, 'Flying Away'• Robin Holcomb, 'One Way or Another, Vol. 2'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Library of Congress' National Recording Registry is more than just a collection of music and sound — it's a reflection of who we are as a country. In April, two new Spanish language songs were added to the registry: Juan Gabriel's "Amor Eterno" and Héctor Lavoe's "El Cantante."This week on Alt.Latino, Felix and Ana take the opportunity to dive into the Spanish language songs that have made it into the historic collection, as well as share their dream picks for what should be chosen next.Songs featured in this episode:•Héctor Lavoe, "El Cantante"•Juan Gabriel, "Amor Eterno (En Vivo [En el Palacio de Bellas Artes])"•Buena Vista Social Club, "Chan Chan"•Buena Vista Social Club, "Orgullecida"•Buena Vista Social Club, "El Carretero"•Santana, "Oye Como Va"•Lydia Mendoza, "Mal Hombre (Cold-Hearted Man)"•Dizzy Gillespie feat. Chano Pozo, "Manteca"•Ivy Queen, "Quiero Bailar"•Jose Feliciano, "El Reloj"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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Our biweekly update of the year's best tracks is a mix full of "the hurries and the worries" from Alkaline Trio, wistful reflections from Lake Street Dive, Cindy Lee's sprawling double album and more.Like the show? Tell your friends and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.Feedback always welcome: allsongs@npr.orgFeatured artists and songs:1. Alkaline Trio: "Teenage Heart," from 'Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs'2. Lake Street Dive: "Twenty-Five," from 'Good Together'3. Les Savy Fav: "Void Moon," from 'OUI, LSF'4. La Luz: "Poppies," from 'News of the Universe'5. Cindy Lee: "Wild Rose," from 'Diamond Jubilee'6. Four Tet: "Loved" from 'Three'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On our survey of the week's most exciting new albums, WRTI's Nate Chinen and NPR Music's Sheldon Pearce get all wrapped up in the amniotic embrace of a new album by a guru of the L.A. ambient-jazz scene.The new album by Carlos Niño & Friends is called Placenta. If you know anything about Niño, you'll probably be able to guess that the subject that title suggests — pregancy and childbirth — are taken very seriously. Those "Friends" are crucial too: Niño has become a central figure in a scene whose reverberations are starting to be felt well beyond the community itself, and are drawing more artists in. You can hear Niño on André 3000's flute album New Blue Sun, and André returns the favor here.Also this week: The fourth album by DIIV sees the indie rock group leaning into shoegaze-inspired sounds, and Andrew Bird creates an album in tribute to the "Golden Era" jazz tunes of the 1930s and '40s he heard on Sunday morning radio shows as a young adult in Chicago.Featured Albums:• Carlos Niño & Friends, Placenta• DIIV, Frog in Boiling Water• Andrew Bird Trio, Sunday Morning Put-On Other notable albums out May 24: • Tiny Habits, All For Something• Vince Staples, Dark Times• Alex Sipiagin, Horizons• Machinedrum, 3FOR82• Joshua Moshier, semipermanence• Nathy Peluso, GrasaLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We asked listeners to tell us about a song they ugly cried to or just couldn't stop playing. On this episode, we share some of their picks and the stories behind them.Note: This episode originally ran on Dec. 26, 2023Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and Hazel Cills discuss new releases by Billie Eilish, Portishead's Beth Gibbons and Rapsody.Featured albums:- Billie Eilish, 'Hit Me Hard and Soft'- Rapsody, 'Please Don't Cry'- Beth Gibbons, 'Lives Outgrown'Other notable albums out May 17:- Shellac, 'To All Trains'- The Avett Brothers, 'The Avett Brothers'- V/A, 'Everyone's Getting Involved: A Tribute to Talking Heads' Stop Making Sense'- Mach-Hommy, '#RICHAXXHAITIAN'- Cage the Elephant, 'Neon Pill'- of Montreal, 'Lady on the Cusp'- Wu-Lu, 'Learning To Swim On Empty'- Michael Head & The Red Elastic Band, 'Loophole'- The Lovely Eggs, 'Eggistentialism'- Kaia Kater, 'Strange Medicine'- Álvaro Díaz, 'SAYONARA'- ZAYN, 'Room Under the Stairs'- One Step Closer, 'All You Embrace'- A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, 'Better Off Alone'- Crumb, 'AMAMA'- Lightheaded, 'Combustible Gems'- Pallbearer, 'Mind Burns Alive'- Joywave, 'Permanent Pleasure'- Blitzen Trapper, '100's of 1000's, Millions of Billions'- Payroll Giovanni, 'Have Money, Have Heart' EP- UFOmammut, 'Hidden'- SQÜRL, 'Music for Man Ray'- pub, 'process the wise'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ana and Felix collect their favorite recent releases from the past few months, including new material from the breakout regional band Grupo Frontera, a country/Latin cross-over in the music of Wyatt Flores, a new song from groundbreaking rapper Mala Rodriguez and more.Songs featured in this episode:•Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66, "Mas Que Nada"•Luis Muñoz, "Crescent Moon"•Mala Rodriguez, "Casi Nada [Explicit]"•Alih Jay, "Bang Bang (Mi Baby Me Mató)"•Cher, "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)"•Grupo Frontera, "Me Hizo Un Favor"•Wyatt Flores, "Half Life"•Danny Ocean, "Cero Condiciones [Explicit]"•Fabiola Méndez, "Lamento en Celinés"•Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, "EL ÚNICO"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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

We update our running list of the year's best songs with new ones from Dominic Fike, WILLOW, Kamasi Washington, Illuminati Hotties and more.Featured artists and songs:1. WILLOW: "run!" from 'empathogen'2. Dominic Fike: "hi grace" from '14 minutes'3. Kamasi Washington, George Clinton & D Smoke: "Get Lit," from 'Fearless Movement'4. Illuminati Hotties: "Can't Be Still" (single)5. Caroline Shaw & Sō Percussion: "To Music," from 'Rectangles and Circumstance'6. Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross: "L'ouef" from 'Challengers' OSTLike the show? Tell your friends and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts!Feedback always welcome: allsongs@npr.orgLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This week's episode of New Music Friday from All Songs Considered showcases artists stretching limits across a wide spectrum of genres. NPR Music editor Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Alt.Latino host Anamaria Sayre dig into the most exciting albums out May 10, 2024, from a juggernaut of the Mexican regional scene experimenting with song forms and sounds from across Latin America to an R&B singer getting loose after portraying a jazz icon to a blockbuster collection of contemporary indie artists pulled together for the soundtrack of a discombobulating movie rooted in the 1990s. Featured Albums:• Grupo Frontera, Jugando a Que No Pasa Nada• Andra Day, Cassandra (cherith)• Various Artists, I Saw the TV Glow Original SoundtrackOther notable albums out May 10:• Yaya Bey, Ten Fold• Les Savy Fav, OUI LSF• I. Jordan, I Am Jordan• Ryan Castro, El Cantante del Ghetto• Amen Dunes, Death Jokes• Arab Strap, I'm totally fine with it don't give a f*** anymore• Brad Mehldau, After Bach II• Brad Mehldau, Après Fauré• Chick Corea & Béla Fleck, Remembrance• Chief Keef, Almighty So 2• Conway the Machine, Slant Face Killah• Dehd, Poetry• Gunna, One of Wun• How To Dress Well, I Am Toward You• Jim White and Marisa Anderson, Swallowtail• Kelsey Waldon, There's Always a Song• Kings of Leon, Can We Please Have Fun• Mick Harvey, Five Ways to Say Goodbye• Morgan Guerin, Tales of the Facade• Myriam Gendron, Mayday• Orville Peck, Stampede, Vol. 1• Shannon & the Clams, The Moon Is In The Wrong PlaceLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Get your hanky out. With Mother's Day nearing, listeners share the songs that remind them of their moms and the deeply moving stories behind them.Featured songs and artists:1. Hoagy Carmichael: "Stardust"2. Christina Aguilera: "Beautiful"3. Jeannie C. Riley: "Harper Valley PTA"4. Stevie Wonder: "Isn't She Lovely"5. Kermit the Frog: "Rainbow Connection"6. Phyllis Hyman: "You Know How to Love Me"7. MILCK: "Oh, Mother"8. Christina Perri: "You Are My Sunshine"9. The Tokens: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"10. Four Tops: "Reach Out I'll Be There"11. Sweet Honey in the Rock: "Wanting Memories"Enjoy the show? Tell your friends and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts!Feedback? Drop us an email: allsongs@npr.orgLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On the May 3 episode of New Music Friday, NPR Music's Hazel Cills and WRTI's Nate Chinen discuss the week's essential new albums, including Radical Optimism, from the dance-pop superstar Dua Lipa. The songs on Radical Optimism are mostly in the vein of Dua Lipa's earlier work, but that itself might be reason to keep a militantly sunny attitude: A parade of hits from her last album, Future Nostalgia, proved to have incredible staying power — "Levitating" hung around in the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100 chart for nearly a year — and she contributed to last year's cultural juggernaut Barbie with "Dance the Night." Still, Hazel and Nate say the new album offers hints of a few surprising artistic developments in her sound.Radical Optimism isn't the only album out this week that demands attention. New records by the inimitable folk songwriter Jessica Pratt and the always ambitious jazz maestro and saxophonist Kamasi Washington focus their own sounds in new and highly rewarding ways. Featured Albums:• Dua Lipa, 'Radical Optimism'• Jessica Pratt, 'Here in the Pitch'• Kamasi Washington, 'Fearless Movement'Other notable albums out May 3:• Willow, 'empathogen'• Mdou Moctar, 'Funeral for Justice'• Steph Richards, 'Power Vibe'• Charlotte Day Wilson, 'Cyan Blue'• Luke Stewart's Silt Trio, 'Unknown Rivers'• 4batz, 'u made me a st4r'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It's the 10th annual Tiny Desk contest and there's been a strong showing of Latin artists behind desks across the United States and Puerto Rico.Felix and Ana sifted through all the entries and pulled their favorites from artists with roots all across the Americas. And if one of them ends up winning, you can thank us for the introduction.Songs featured in this episode:•Cathia, "Taza de Café"•Manu Manzo, "Celos"•Mireya Ramos and the Poor Choices, "Quiero Volver"•Flaco el Jandro, "Lluvia Pesada"•Los Quinceañeros, "Guero"•La Doña, "Loser Girl"•Alejandro Aranda, "Pieces"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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Brittany Luse, host of NPR's It's Been A Minute, joins All Songs Considered's Robin Hilton to update our running list of the year's best songs. Featured artists and songs:1. Ekko Astral: "Baethoven," from 'pink balloons'2. Nubiyan Twist: "Carry Me (feat. Seun Kuti)," from 'Find Your Flame'3. T-Bone Burnett: "He Came Down," from 'The Other Side'4. Bien et Toi: "So Long (feat. Paris Texas)," from 'London Safari II'5. Bnny: "Missing," from 'One Million Love Songs'6. Chanel Beads: "Unifying Thought," from 'Your Day Will Come'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Sheldon Pearce discuss new albums from St. Vincent, Charley Crockett, Iron & Wine and more.Feature Albums:• St. Vincent, 'All Born Screaming'• Charley Crockett, '$10 Cowboy'• Iron & Wine, 'Light Verse'• Maria Chiara Argirò, 'Closer'Other notable albums out April 26:• Neil Young and Crazy Horse, 'FU##IN' UP'• PartyNextDoor, 'PartyNextDoor 4'• Justice, 'Hyperdrama'• Anitta, 'Funk Generation'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Is April, as T.S. Eliot put it, the cruelest month? We reflect on the question with a mix that's both cringe-inducing and hilarious, from the cruelest takedowns to the most insidious earworms.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

NPR Music's Ann Powers and Hazel Cills dig into Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department,' which hit streaming services last night, and share a handful of other new albums out Friday, April 19.Featured Albums:• Taylor Swift, 'The Tortured Poets Department'• Bbymutha, 'Sleep Paralysis'• claire rousay, 'sentiment'• Pearl Jam, 'Dark Matter'Other notable albums out April 19:• Stephanie Lambring, 'Hypocrite'• Cadence Weapon, 'ROLLERCOASTER'• Tei Shi, 'Valerie'• Ekko Astral, 'pink balloons'• Bill Frisell, 'Orchestras'• BIG|BRAVE, 'A Chaos of Flowers'• Blue Lab Beats, 'Blue Eclipse'• Chanel Beads, 'Your Day Will Come'• Local Natives, 'But I'll Wait For You'• Gangrene (The Alchemist & Oh No), 'Heads I Win, Tails You Lose'• Brian Eno, 'Eno'• Cloud Nothings, 'Final Summer'• Melvins, 'Tarantula Heart'• Mozzy, 'CHILDREN OF THE SLUMS'• Lucy Rose, 'This Ain't The Way You Go Out'• Pillow Queens, 'Name Your Sorrow'• A Certain Ratio, 'It All Comes Down To This'• Cavalier, 'Different Type Time'• Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds, 'That Delicious Vice'• T Bone Burnett, 'The Other Side'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras round up their favorite new music, from Puerto Rican rapper Young Miko's boundary-pushing new music, to Alejandro Escovedo's genre-bending rock and Angelica Garcia's electro-cumbia.Songs featured in this episode:• Young Miko, "Tamagotchi"• The Mavericks, "Moon & Stars (with Sierra Ferrell)"• Angelica Garcia, "Juanita"• Alejandro Escovedo, "Castañuelas"• Nella, Yendry, "Veinte Años"• Sheila E., "Bemba Colorá (ft. Gloria Estefan and Mimy Succar)"Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This week's update to our list of the year's best songs includes thunderous shoegaze from Wisp, a classic Cuban piano piece from Dánae Olano, a deeply moving story from Pedro The Lion and more.Featured artists and songs:1. Pedro The Lion: "Modesto," from 'Santa Cruz'2. Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti & Frank Rosaly: "Destejer," from 'Mestizx'3. Sheila E.: "Bemba Colorá (feat. Gloria Estefan)," from 'Bailar'4. Lizzy McAlpine: "I Guess," from 'Older'5. Dánae Olano: "Danzón para la abuela" from 'Children's Corner'6. Wisp: "Pandora" from 'Pandora' EPQuestions, comments, feedback, suggestions? Emaill us: allsongs@npr.orgSign up for our newsletter to keep up with the latest from NPR Music, including Tiny Desks, new playlists, features and more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

NPR Music's Sheldon Pearce and WRTI's Nate Chinen take you through the biggest new releases of the week, including Maggie Rogers, Shabaka Hutchings and more.Featured albums:- Shabaka, 'Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace'- Maggie Rogers, 'Don't Forget Me'- Lizz Wright, 'Shadow'- Leyla McCalla, 'Sun Without the Heat'Other notable albums out April 5:- METZ, 'Up On Gravity Hill'- Caroline Davis & Wendy Eisenberg, 'Accept When'- girl in red, 'I'M DOING IT AGAIN BABY!'- Future & Metro Boomin, 'We Still Don't Trust You'- Nia Archives, 'Silence is Loud'- V/A, 'My Black Country - The Songs of Alice Randall'- Still House Plants, 'If I don​'​t make it, I love u'- Clarissa Connelly, 'World of Work'- Meshell Ndegeocello, 'Red Hot and Ra: The Magic City'- Bad Bad Hats, 'Bad Bad Hats'- Dave Douglas, 'GIFTS'- BODEGA, 'Our Brand Could Be Yr Life'- English Teacher, 'This Could Be Texas'- James Elkington & Nathan Salsburg, 'All Gist'- Mark Knopfler, 'One Deep River'- The Ophelias, 'Ribbon' EP- Tusks, 'Gold'- Raphael Schön, 'Heart Times'- Sunburned Hand of the Man, 'Nimbus'- Rejoicer, 'This Is Reasonable'- Aaron Lee Tasjan, 'Stellar Evolution'- Dolo Percussion, 'DOLO 6'- Baby Blue, 'Of My Window'- The Reds, Pinks & Purples, 'Unwishing Well'- Water Damage, 'In E'- Will Hoge, 'Tenderhearted Boys'- Jess Ribeiro, 'Summer of Love'- Sunbeam Sound Machine, 'Soft Signal' EPLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

"Weird Al" Yankovic helps curate a mix of some of the funniest songs of all time, from classics like Tom Lehrer's "The Elements," to more fringe discoveries from The Hazzards, Tonio K. and more.Featured artists and songs:1. Tonio K: "H-A-T-R-E-D"2. Robbie Fulks: "Fountains of Wayne Hotline"3. Tenacious D: "Tribute"4. Spike Jones: "Der Fuehrer's Face"5. Bill Oddie: "BLIMPHT"6. The Hazzards: "Just A Temp"7. Garfunkel and Oates: "Google"8. Tom Lehrer: "The Elements"9. Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Erika Henningsen, Ashley Park & Busy Philipps: "Famous 5eva"10. Flight of the Conchords: "Hiphopopotamus Vs. Rhymenocerous (featuring Rhymenocerous And The Hiphopapoatumus)"11. Shel Silverstein: "Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take The Garbage Out"12. Weird Al: "One More Minute"13. Weird Al: "The Saga Continues"14. Bad Lip Reading: "Seagulls! (Stop It Now)"15. Fun With Animals: "Goin' To Pasadena"16. Spinal Tap: "Big Bottom"17. The Lonely Island: "Lazy Sunday"Feedback, questions, comments, suggestions? Email us: allsongs@npr.orgGet the NPR Music newsletter to keep up with the latest Tiny Desks, playlists, features and more.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy