New Music Friday: The best albums out Aug. 1
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Newcomer Emily Hines. Hardcore collective The Armed. A Susumu Yokota boxset. WDET's Liz Warner joins...
Alt.Latino: It's a Bad Bunny summer in Puerto Rico: Ana recaps 2 of his shows
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Global superstar Bad Bunny is hosting an unprecedented 30 concert residency in San Juan, Puerto Rico...
Roséwave: Summer's Simple Pleasures
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You asked, we listened: Roséwave is back! Our summer playlist series returns with syrupy sweet song...
New Music Friday: The best albums out July 25
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tyler Childers. Patty Griffin. Indigo De Souza. Joe Kendrick of WNCW in North Carolina joins us to d...
Alt.Latino: Bad Bunny residency prep, new guitar tracks and Latin genre benders
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Before Ana heads off to see Bad Bunny's unprecedented residency in Puerto Rico, we chat a little abo...
The Contenders, Vol. 16: Jay Som, Jeff Tweedy, Kassa Overall, more
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can music save the world? The songs in this week's mix consider the power of creativity as we update...
Congress has voted to eliminate government funding for public media
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Act now to ensure public media remains free and accessible to all. Your donation will help this esse...
New Music Friday: The best albums out July 18
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alex G. Paramore's Zac Farro. Lord Huron. It's a packed release week, and we've got Chelsea O from B...
Alt.Latino: Joy and resistance, plus Felix shares some of his favorite playlists
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Ana and I share some of our long time favorites. While Ana leans into music discovery, I t...
What makes for a summer song?
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Robin Hilton, Anamaria Sayre and Hazel Cills gather to share songs that feel like summer — and tha...
Is John Williams the GOAT?
13 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With strains of John Williams' music once again animating and inspiring the summer blockbuster seaso...
New Music Friday: The best albums out July 11
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is back with Celia Gregory of Nashville public radio station WXPN to ta...
Alt.Latino: Bad Bunny gets political, Brazilian grooves from Brooklyn and more
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ana and Felix break down Bad Bunny's latest political video. Hear their failed attempt at a blindfol...
The Contenders, Vol. 15: Wisp, Blonde Redhead, Sherelle, more
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brittany Luse, host of NPR's It's Been A Minute, joins us to update our running list of the year's b...
New Music Friday: The best albums out July 4
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kesha. Kae Tempest. Nilüfer Yanya. It's an abbreviated Independence Day edition of New Music Friday...
Alt.Latino: Isabella Lovestory, Vicente García, more
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our selections this week feature a crate diggers' delight from Colombia and the sound of modern rap ...
2025's best songs (so far)
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week we share our wildly incomplete list of the year's best tracks so far, including bangers fr...
New Music Friday: The best albums out June 27
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Madison McFerrin. Adrian Quesada of Black Pumas. Durand Jones & The Indications. KALW's Wonway Posib...
Alt.Latino: Karol G's 'Tropicoqueta'
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Karol G leans into a Pan-Latin approach on her latest album. Jazz vocalist Roxana Amed reimagines cl...
The Contenders, Vol. 14: Upchuck, Just Mustard, Brandon Woody, more
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week's update to our running list of the year's best songs includes some scorchers from Atlanta...
New Music Friday: The best albums out June 20
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
HAIM. Hotline TNT. Yaya Bey. World Cafe's Raina Douris joins Stephen Thompson to give you a quick to...
Alt.Latino's Favorite music of 2025 (so far)
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the most intriguing music released during the first six months of the year.Learn m...
Fever Ray, The Beaches, Patrick Watson, more: The Contenders, Vol. 13
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The latest additions to our list of the year's best songs include a joyful new banger from The Beach...
New Music Friday: The best new albums out June 13
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brandee Younger. The Cure. Annahstasia. WRTI's Nate Chinen joins Stephen Thompson to discuss our fav...
Alt.Latino: Bruce Springsteen, Louie TheSinger, more
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Anamaria Sayre continues to scour her part of the internet for great new tracks that will ...
Summer '25 Album Preview
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We look at the most anticipated albums coming this summer, from Wet Leg, Big Thief, Superchunk, Lucr...
New Music Friday: The best albums out June 6
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pulp. Turnstile. Little Simz. It's a packed release week, and NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is here t...
Alt.Latino: Accordions!
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The influence of Eastern Europe immigration in Latin America can be heard in the way the accordion w...
Little Simz, Ty Segall, yeule, more: The Contenders, Vol. 12
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We update our running list of the year's best songs with old-school guitar rock from Ty Segall, a pl...
New Music Friday: The best albums out May 30
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The National's Matt Berninger. Low's Alan Sparhawk. yeule. KXT's Jackson Wisdorf joins NPR Music's S...
Alt.Latino: Our favorite Latin bands from the Tiny Desk Contest
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alt.Latino host Felix Contreras was a Tiny Desk Contest judge this year, and on this episode, he bri...
10 years later, Sufjan Stevens offers a startling reevaluation of 'Carrie & Lowell'
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In a conversation with All Songs Considered's Robin Hilton, Stevens shares a complex and conflicted ...
New Music Friday: The best albums out May 23
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stereolab. Ganavya. Marc Ribot. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes Robert Moore, host of 'Sonic S...
Alt.Latino: Paloma Morphy, rusowsky, Pachyman
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre share six new songs from across the spectrum of Latin music.Featu...
Laufey, Fiona Apple, Lord Huron, more: The Contenders, Vol. 11
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've got another update to our running list of the year's best songs with the return of Fiona Apple...
New Music Friday: The best albums out May 16
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tune-Yards. Aminé. Lido Pimienta. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and KCRW's Ro "Wyldeflower" Contrera...
Alt.Latino: Guitarricadelafuente, Lido Pimienta, more
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Co-host Anamaria Sayre finally gets to share the new Guitarricadelafuente album with the world, and ...
Natalia Lafourcade, Chris Staples, more: The Contenders, Vol. 10
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We update our running list of the year's best songs with a plainspoken but moving story from Chris S...
New Music Friday: The best albums out May 9
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes WXPN's John Morrison to discuss billy woods, Thom Yorke, PinkP...
Alt.Latino: The Mars Volta, Argentine Beatles covers, and more
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The music this week comes from a variety of countries and genres, some of it sounds like music you'v...
Perfect Sunday morning albums
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you prefer solitude, get-togethers with family or friends, or steeling yourself for the week...
New Music Friday: The best albums out May 2
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is joined by Julie Bee of Marfa Public Radio to talk through the best a...
Alt.Latino: Rapper PJ Sin Suela on Puerto Rican hip-hop and more
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anamaria Sayre talks about the history of Puerto Rican hip-hop with rapper PJ Sin Suela. Featured ar...
The music of 'Sinners,' hyper-pop and more: The Contenders, Vol. 9
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We update our running list of the year's best songs with a staggering cut from the new 'Sinners' fil...
New Music Friday: The best albums out April 25
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Coco Jones. Samia. Fly Anakin. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes Ayana Contreras from Denver pub...
Alt.Latino: Natalia Lafourcade, Eladio Carrión, more
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alt.Latino hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre talk artistic growth and precocious talent.Featu...
Songs that hit you hard
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We asked listeners to tell us about the one song they couldn't stop listening to because of how it m...
New Music Friday: The best albums out April 18
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Julien Baker & Torres. Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson. TV On The Radio's Tunde Adebimpe. NPR Mus...
Alt.Latino: A Banjo, Bomba, Bardo y Más
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anamaria continues to impress Felix with new female voices, while he shares more jazz and Puerto Ric...
Stereolab returns and more: The Contenders, Vol. 8
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stereolab is back with its first new music in 15 years. We give it a spin on this week's show, along...
New Music Friday: The best albums out April 11
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bon Iver returns. Valerie June branches out. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes Erin Wolf of Radi...
Alt.Latino: Bad Bunny's Tiny Desk
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bad Bunny's Tiny Desk concert was the most watched premiere in the series' history. In this episode,...
Even more songs to calm the nerves
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our third installment of calming songs includes Max Richter's tribute to the Universal Declaration o...
New Music Friday: The best albums out April 4
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Hold Steady's Craig Finn. Momma. Newcomers Lily Seabird and duendita. NPR Music's Stephen Thomps...
Alt.Latino: New music and a psicodélico explainer
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alt.Latino hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre play the new music that caught their ears this w...
New Wet Leg, Sufjan Stevens, more: The Contenders, Vol. 7
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wet Leg is back with another burst of wildly infectious, frenetic rock. We've got that, the original...
Special announcement
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A quick note about today's episode from All Songs Considered.Learn more about sponsor message choice...
New Music Friday: The best records out March 28
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lucy Dacus. Perfume Genius. Destroyer. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes Colorado Public Radio's...
Alt.Latino: Songs To Move By
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hosts Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras discuss the best music Felix unearthed while moving out of ...
Saying 'goodbye' to SXSW Music
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We look at how and why SXSW, once the world's largest music festival, is being scaled back to a shel...
New Music Friday: The best albums out March 21
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Japanese Breakfast. My Morning Jacket. Greentea Peng. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes Izzi Bav...
The most anticipated spring albums
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We look ahead to the most anticipated albums due out this spring, including Rico Nasty's LETHAL, the...
New Music Friday: The best albums out March 14
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Charley Crockett. Twin Shadow. Throwing Muses. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is joined by Matt Reilly...
Alt.Latino: A Latin Jazz survey, plus Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alt.Latino hosts share six songs that they've had on repeat over the past month.Featured artists and...
The Contenders, Vol. 6: The songs we can't stop playing this week
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We've got just what you need for that stubborn case of existential dread in a looming dystopia as we...
New Music Friday: The best albums out March 7
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lady Gaga. Jason Isbell. Newcomer Annie DiRusso. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes Celia Gregory...
Alt.Latino: New Music + Violeta Parra
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week Alt.Latino hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre balance their passion for new discover...
All Songs Considered At 25
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As we celebrate a quarter century of music nerdom and buffoonery, we remember the songs that shaped ...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 28
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Animal Collective's Panda Bear. Nicolás Jaar's DARKSIDE. Newcomer Hope Tala. NPR Music's Stephen Th...
Alt.Latino celebrates Black History Month
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alt.Latino host Felix Contreras speaks with Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican saxophonist Miguel Zen...
The Contenders, Vol. 5: The songs we can't stop playing this week
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We update our running list of the year's best songs with the cinematic pop of Oklou, Icelandic compo...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 21
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sam Fender. The Drive-By Truckers' Patterson Hood. Jesse Welles. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson discus...
And the Oscar for Original Song goes to...
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With Oscar season here, we review the nominees for Original Song and Original Score, prognosticate w...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 14
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bartees Strange. Denison Witmer. The Sun Ra Arkestra's Marshall Allen. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson ...
Alt.Latino: New Music Roundup
12 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
'Alt.Latino' hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre are back with six new songs that span the spec...
The Contenders, Vol. 4: The songs we can't stop playing this week
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The latest update to our running list of the year's best songs includes the shredded guitars of girl...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 7
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sharon Van Etten headlines this week's new releases, but she's just the tip of the proverbial iceber...
Alt.Latino's best new music round-up: Jessie Reyez, Arturo O'Farrill and Astropical
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we hear from a Colombian-Venezuelan super group, a new Afro-Brazilian band, and Ana gets ...
Lesser-known love songs
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Making a playlist or mixtape for that special someone? We've got you covered this Valentine's Day wi...
2025 Grammys Recap
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We break down the winners, surprise shutouts and more from what's billed as "music's biggest night,"...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Jan. 31
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Weeknd may be the biggest release of the week, but is it the best? We run down five other albums...
Alt.Latino: Why we love Joaquina. Plus, Felix is chismeless
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Do not come on Alt.Latino if you don't have good chisme! Ana and Felix talk about their favorite son...
The Contenders, Vol. 3: The songs we can't stop playing this week
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We update our list of the year's best songs with a Tamino-Mitski collaboration, Son Lux's first new ...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Jan. 24
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
FKA twigs. Central Cee. It's a big week for new releases, and we've got you covered. Host Stephen Th...
Alt.Latino: New songs for New Year's resolutions
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras share their goals for 2025 and the new songs that reflect them.Le...
2025's most-anticipated albums
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We highlight some of the most anticipated albums of the year, including upcoming ones from Perfume G...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Jan. 17
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes aboard Kara Manning of New York City public radio station WFUV...
A moment for Los Angeles
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Los Angeles is home for me and always in my heart. Watching the fires from afar in my current city, ...
The Contenders, Vol. 2: The songs we can't stop playing this week
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Japanese Breakfast (Michelle Zauner) is back with her first new album since her memoir, Crying in H ...
New Music Friday: The best albums out Jan. 10
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is joined by KCRW's Travis Holcombe to run down their four favorite alb...
Bad Bunny's 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos,' Explained
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alt.Latino hosts Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras, and NPR reporter Isabella Gomez Sarmiento break...
The Contenders, Vol. 1: The songs we can't stop playing this week
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new year means a new running list of our favorite songs, from the transfixing voice of Anna B Sava...
New Music Friday: The best albums you missed from December
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There's been some great music released since the last New Music Friday episode in late November. So,...
Viking's Choice: The year in catharsis and calm
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich turns us on to lesser known corners of music from 2024: blooming dro...
Songs that hit hard in 2024
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We asked listeners to tell us about the one song they couldn't stop listening to in 2024 because of ...
Secret Santa Song Exchange
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to music, December is overflowing with gifts, but we aren't quite done with the presen...
Alt.Latino's 'Music We Missed In 2024'
18 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
'Alt.Latino' hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre do their best to keep up with new releases, bu...
A very tolerable Christmas, with All Songs Considered 2024
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our annual attempt to throw a holiday party for the ages continues with a tolerable mix of songs for...
Hip-hop in 2024 was on a wild ride
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Record-breaking mainstream hits. A new generation of artists rising to seize their moment. Rappers i...
Alt.Latino's favorite songs of 2024
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Felix Contreras, Anamaria Sayre and Isabella Gomez Sarmiento run through their favorites in a crowde...