All Songs Considered

You know that mind-expanding feeling when an album — even one that fits solidly in a familiar genre — gives you something that feels brand new? This week on New Music Friday from All Songs Considered, NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Ann Powers find an abundance of brand new records that push boundaries.These ambitious albums, all out on August 30, 2024, represent a range of styles, energies and motivations, from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' sweeping rock epic Wild God to the irrepressible bounce of Doechii's shape-shifting Alligator Bites Never Heal to Laurie Anderson's Amelia, obsessed with the minutia of flight mechanics but capable of inducing swooning emotions as it puts the listener in the cockpit for the final flight of the album's namesake aviation pioneer.Plus: In the face of all these huge artistic swings, Ann and Daoud consider the state of art-rock, a musical category that has meant many different things to many different listeners over the years.Featured Albums:• Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Wild God• Doechii, Alligator Bites Never Heal• Enumclaw, Home In Another Life• Ellen Reid, Big Majestic• Laurie Anderson, Amelia• Jon Hopkins, RitualOther notable albums out August 30:• Emily D'Angelo, Freezing• Big Sean, Better Me Than You• Shemekia Copeland, Blame It on Eve• Tycho, Infinite Health• Zedd, Telos• Tank & the Bangas, The Heart, The Mind, The Soul• Caleb Caudle, Sweet Critters• Amy Rigby, Hang in There With Me• Noah Kahan, Stick Season (Live From Fenway Park)Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The latest update to our running list of the year's best songs includes tips for staying engaged, being happy and letting go from Arooj Aftab, Great Grandpa, Japandroids and more.Featured artists and songs:1. Arooj Aftab: "Raat Ki Rani," from Night Reign2. The Smile: "Don't Get Me Started" (Single)3. Japandroids: "D&T," from Fate & Alcohol4. Peter Cat Recording Co.: "I Deny Me," from Beta5. Great Grandpa: "Kid" (Single)6. Yasmin Williams: "Virga (feat. Darlingside)," from AcadiaLike the show? Tell a friend and leave us a review in Apple podcasts or wherever you listen. Questions, comments or any other feedback always welcome: allsongs@npr.orgLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and Sheldon Pearce are your guides to seven anticipated albums out Aug. 23. During the second half of the episode, the two dig into the mercurial nature of the album format in 2024.Featured albums:- Sabrina Carpenter, 'Short n' Sweet'- Lainey Wilson, 'Whirlwind'- Illuminati hotties, 'POWER'- Fontaines D.C., 'Romance'- Heems, 'Veena'- Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, 'Woodland'- Magdalena Bay, 'Imaginal Disk'See the longer list of albums out August 23 and stream our New Music Friday playlist at https://npr.org/music.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Over the past month thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets to protest the disputed election of president Nicolás Maduro, while Venezuelan artists like Danny Ocean use music to reflect on this political moment. But Ocean's work is just one data point in a long history of music from Venezuela that embodies the political opinions and emotions of those within the country and the diaspora.On this week's episode, Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre are joined by producer Isabella Gomez Sarmiento to walk through crucial moments in Venezuela's political history over the last 30 years, and the music that soundtracked it.Songs featured in this episode:•Yordano, "Por estas calles"•Carlos Baute, "Yo me quedo en Venezuela"•Canserbero, "Es Épico"•Danny Ocean, "Me Rehúso"•Apache, "Rompiendo el Hielo"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Taylor Haney, with editorial support from Hazel Cills, Zach Thompson, Tony Cavin and Didi Schanche. 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

On August 30, the Australian-born rock titan Nick Cave will release Wild God, a new album with his band The Bad Seeds. It's a high point in Cave's career, and NPR Music's Ann Powers spoke with him about the struggles — personal, musical and religious — he faced on the road to making the album. Wild God is filled with songs about encounters with the divine, which does not always take a benevolent form. And it follows a decade in which Cave, having publicly faced tragedy in his own life, has evolved from post-punk's louchest fallen angel into a revered figure among his audience in a new way: a dignified seeker whose courage and wisdom resounds beyond musical boundaries thanks to advice he has shared in interviews, writing projects and public appearances. Perhaps it's not surprising that so many of the songs reckon with the moment of revelation or transformation, or the demand for conversion from what Cave describes as "a suffering god ... a god that is embedded in the world."As for the state of his own religious conviction, Cave says that the struggle is the point: "I would say I'm in the process of conversion," he tells Powers. Wherever he is on that road, he's found something ecstatic to share.Click here to read a transcript of this interview and hear songs from the album Wild God.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Hazel Cills give you a quick rundown of the most notable albums out Friday, Aug. 16, including Post Malone's country project, F-1 Trillion, Tinashe's seventh LP Quantum Baby, and Charly Bliss's first new record in five years.Featured Albums:- Tinashe, Quantum Baby- Post Malone, F-1 Trillion- Charly Bliss, Forever- Morgan Wade, Obsessed- Starflyer 59, Lust For Gold- Palehound, Live at First Congregational ChurchVisit https://npr.org/music to see the longer list of Aug. 16 releases and stream our New Music Friday playlist.Learn 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.Note: This episode originally ran on Apr. 9, 2024.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Ann Powers survey the new albums out August 9, ranging from Ravyn Lenae's focused R&B to King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard's scuzzed-up glam-rock and an elegant solo piano album recorded by Japanese pop star and composer Ryuichi Sakamoto just months before his death in 2023. Plus: A new album made by 39-year-old American bassist esperanza spalding and 81-year-old Brazilian singer Milton Nascimento leads to a discussion of collaborations across generations.Featured Albums:• Ravyn Lenae, Bird's Eye• Beabadoobee, This Is How Tomorrow Moves• King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Flight b741• Latto, Sugar Honey Iced Tea• Ryuichi Sakamoto, Opus• Oso Oso, Life Till Bones• Thee Marloes, Perak• Milton Nascimento & esperanza spalding, Milton + esperanzaLinks: • Sidney Madden's interview with Latto from season 2 of Louder Than A Riot• Ann Powers reviews Zach Bryan's Springsteen-mythologizing album The Great American Bar Scene• Watch a Tiny Desk (Home) concert by Milton Nascimento and esperanza spalding recorded in Nascimento's living room in Rio de JaneiroLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre run through their favorite new music, including new work from Venezuelan artist Danny Ocean in the midst of the country's political crisis, Girl Ultra leaning into her techno side, funky, electro-cumbia from Superfónicos and more.Songs featured in this episode:•Superfónicos, "Renaceré"•Girl Ultra, "lalala"•Fuerza Regida, "TUQLO"•Danny Ocean, "por la pequeña Venecia"•Lisa Morales, "Hermanitas in the Rain"•Jazz Orishas, "Deniye"Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Taylor Haney, 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

Thirty years after the release of Beck's "Loser," we look back at its impact on the rise of slacker rock and how we still hear its influence today.Note: This episode originally ran on Feb. 27, 2024.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Sheldon Pearce dig deep into the latest release by bassist Meshell Ndegeocello, who, more than 30 years into her career, continues to melt the boundaries between genres. Her latest album, No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin, is being released on the centennial of the birth of the author and activist, and overflows with musical, political and historical ideas.Daoud and Sheldon also share new albums and EPs by Khalid, Orville Peck, Moses Sumney, Maren Morris, Smashing Pumpkins, Killer Mike and more. Featured Albums:• Meshell Ndegeocello, No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin• Khalid, Sincere• Orville Peck, Stampede• Moses Sumney, Sophcore• Maren Morris, Intermission• Killer Mike, Songs for Saints and SinnersOther notable albums out August 2:• Smashing Pumpkins, Aghori Mhori Mei• Chrystabelle and David Lynch, Cellophane Memories• JPEGMAFIA, I Lay Down My Life For You• Brigitte Calls Me Baby, The Future Is Our Way Out• Los Lonely Boys, Resurrection• Tones and I, Beautifully Ordinary• X, Smoke & Fiction• WHY?, The Well I Fell IntoLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

These aren't the big bangers and Top 40 hits designed to capitalize on the typical summer vibes. We instead play the songs that feel like summer or say summer to us.Featured artists and songs:1. Kaytranada and Rochelle Jordan: "Lover/Friend," from 'Timeless'2. HUGEL: "Patadas de Ahogado / LATIN MAFIA (Rework)" (single)3. Keaton Henson: "Sandwalking," from 'Somnambulant Cycles'4. Tems: "Love Me Je Je," from 'Born in the Wild'5. Karol G: "Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido" (single)6. Mary Lattimore: "I Spent the Day Inside" (single)Enjoy the show? Tell a friend and leave us a review in Apple podcasts or wherever you listen. Questions, comments, suggestions and any other feedback always welcome: allsongs@npr.orgLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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 HEISLike the show? Tell a friend and leave us a review in Apple podcasts or wherever you listen.Questions, comments, suggestions and feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.orgLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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' OSTLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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'Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

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.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The latest update to our running list of the year's best songs includes new ones from Wilco and Omar Apollo, an ode to friendship from Charli XCX and Lorde and more.Featured songs and artists:1. Wilco: "Hot Sun," from 'Hot Sun Cool Shroud'2. Charli XCX and Lorde: "The girl, so confusing version with lorde" (single)3. Sondre Lerche: "You Are Impossible," from 'Two Way Monologue (20th Anniversary Edition)'4. Omar Apollo: "Plane Trees" (feat. Mustafa), from 'God Said No'5. Remy Bond: "Summer Song" (feat. Air) (single)6. Cassandra Jenkins: "Petco," from 'My Light, My Destroyer'Like the show? Tell a friend and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.Questions, comments, suggestions or any other feedback always welcome: allsongs@npr.orgLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

With the Fourth of July week here, we look at an album all about the messy, complicated and wonderful culture of America: Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A., which recently turned 40 years old.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy