All Songs Considered

How to love the Grateful Dead

Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest places, if you look at it right. And if you get confused, just listen to the music play. This week, resident Deadheads Isabella Gomez Sarmiento and Felix Contreras help host Robin Hilton hear what he’s been missing in the music of the Grateful Dead.Are you a Deadhead? Share your memories of the Grateful Dead and we may include them in a big series we're launching about the band on Aug. 1.Support the show with a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.orgFeatured songs:(00:00) Intro and “King Solomon’s Marbles”(08:54) “China Cat Sunflower / I Know You Rider” Alpine Valley, WI 7.17.89(11:03) “Help On the Way / Slipknot / Franklin’s Tower”(16:39) “Ripple”(23:34) “Morning Dew (Europe ‘72)”(26:17) “I Shall Be Released (Live)” (30:05) “Black Muddy River”(31:34) “One More Saturday Night”(32:09) “Sunrise”(33:21) “Shady Grove”(39:14) “Birdsong”(41:45) “Uncle John’s Band”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

Sylvan Esso, Phoebe Bridgers, feeble little horse, more

We share our picks for the best new tracks out now, including the laid-back dystopia of Sylvan Esso’s “Concrete Glen,” an acoustic take on Phoebe Bridgers’ “Lost Boys,” the glitched-out chaos of feeble little horse and more.NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton.Support the show with a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.orgFeatured artists and songs:(00:00) Intro(01:28) Sylvan Esso: “Concrete Glen”(07:49) feeble little horse: “DMT”(14:07) Phoebe Bridgers: “Lost Boys (Acoustic)”(22:15) Snõõper: “RECESS”(26:50) The Olivia Tremor Control: “Garden of Light”(33:53) @: “Autosmile”   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

beabadoobee, The Rolling Stones, Four Tet, more

On her stellar new single, “Switchblade,” beabadoobee shreds ‘90s style. The Rolling Stones have still got it on their latest album, Foreign Tongues. And Four Tet surprises us with a new “wingdings” project. We’ve got all that and more as we share our picks for the best new songs of the week.NPR Music’s Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton.Featured artists and songs:(00:00) Intro(01:20) beabadoobee: “Switchblade” from Pylon(08:31) Bonobo & Arooj Aftab: “Fire on the Water” from Distance in Static(15:09) The Rolling Stones: “Ringing Hollow” from Foreign Tongues(25:31) L’rain: “borderline” from fata morgana(33:02) Four Tet: "track 3"(40:35) Ela Minus, Nick León: “espiral” from qué les pasó a mis amigos?Support the show with a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.orgSee 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

Summer’s simple pleasures: Roséwave

Roséwave is a feeling more than a singular sound or genre. It’s the kind of sweetness and sadness that underscores the long, languid days of summer.  Long drives with old friends, watching your kids at the pool, backyard barbecues while the sun slowly sets.  On this episode we share a mix of songs that offer the perfect soundtrack for your roséwave days and nights, from Linda Ronstadt’s “How Do I Make You” and Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t That Peculiar,” to Katie Gavin’s “Aftertaste,” Waxahatchee’s “Much Ado About Nothing” and more.NPR Music’s Lars Gotrich and contributor Marissa Lorusso join host Robin Hilton.Featured artists and songs:(00:00) Intro and “Summertime, Summertime” by The Jamies(01:57) Wednesday: "Elderberry Wine"(04:34) The Lijadu Sisters: "Come on Home"(07:35) Katie Gavin: "Aftertaste”(12:17) Marvin Gaye: "Ain't That Peculiar"(15:46) Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra: “Gayane Ballet Suite: Adagio”(17:02) Haku.: "Looking Through My Subtle Double Eyelids"(19:46) Labi Siffre: "My Song"(22:45) Azymuth: "Faça de Conta"(25:09) Waxahatchee: "Much Ado About Nothing"(27:35) Linda Ronstadt: "How Do I Make You"(30:29) Addison Rae: "Diet Pepsi," from 'Addison'(34:56) Amerie: "Why Don't We Fall in Love"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.orgNote: A version of this episode originally ran in July 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

The year’s best songs so far

Consensus has been hard to find in 2026, but we’ve assembled our top-ten list of the most memorable songs of the year at this midway point, from the outlaw country of Charley Crockett to the glam rock of Friko, Lana Del Rey’s twisted ode to love, Vince Staples’ “White Flag” and more.NPR Music’s Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton.Featured artists and songs:(00:00) Intro(01:38) Mandy, Indiana: “try saying”(05:09) Aldous Harding: “Coats”(09:28) Vince Staples: “White Flag”(14:25) Yebba: “Yellow Eyes”(18:04) Friko: “Seven Degrees”(22:01) Charley Crockett: “Kentucky Too Long”(26:03) Lana Del Rey: “White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter”(32:07) Baby Rose: “Friends Again (feat. Leon Thomas)”(37:59) Mumford & Sons: “Rubber Band Man (with Hozier)”(42:58) Irreversible Entanglements: “Don’t Lose Your Head (feat. MOTHERBOARD)”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.orgSee 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