NPR Music

New Music Friday: The best albums out April 3

Thundercat. Arlo Parks. Devotional belters from Dermot Kennedy. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with Erin Wolf from Radio Milwaukee about their favorite albums out Friday, April 3. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round.The Starting 5(00:00) Introduction & Bon Iver, 'VOLUMES: ONE"(01:57) Arlo Parks, 'Ambiguous Desire'(07:29) Dermot Kennedy, 'The Weight of the Woods'(14:15) Thundercat, 'Distracted'(19:53) Joe Pernice, 'Sunny, I Was Wrong'(26:44) Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE & Surf Gang, 'POMPEII // UTILITY'(31:30) The Lightning Round- Maria Taylor, 'Story's End'- Wendy Eisenberg, 'Wendy Eisenberg'- Sunn O))), 'Sunn O)))'- Roomful of Teeth & Gabriel Kahane, 'Elevator Songs'- Sofia Rei, 'Antónima'Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.orgCredits: Host: Stephen ThompsonGuest: Erin Wolf, Radio MilwaukeeAudio Producers: Noah Caldwell, Alina EdwardsDigital Producer: Dora LeviteEditors: Otis Hart, Elle MannionExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedSpecial thanks to Felix Contreras, Lars Gotrich and Tom HuizengaTo manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: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

Alt.Latino: Dominican indie, Peruvian cumbia and experimental Argentine pop

Two phrases spoken during this week’s episode stand out because they represent how Ana and I approach our searches for new music. The first: “The only limit is the imagination.” In my constant hunt for the sound I have never heard, this thought is my mantra. The new music we’re bringing this week really steps up to that challenge, from young upstarts like Broke Carrey to beloved veterans like Draco Rosa.The second phrase? “Latin music is a geography not a genre.” Ana put into words something she and I talk about often, the idea that the term “Latin music” is no longer adequate to reflect that amazingly eclectic forms of musical expression in the Spanish-speaking world. This episode features musicians from Argentina, Peru, the Dominican Republic and elsewhere -- but what they share is a distinct artistic expression that consistently blows our minds.To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

All Songs Considered: Our favorite Tiny Desk Contest entries

More than 6,000 artists entered this year’s Tiny Desk Contest, hoping to win their very own performance behind the actual Desk. We’ll announce the winner soon, but in the meantime, we’re sharing some of our favorite entries, from the riff-rock group Pump Action, to soul singer Les Greene, loop artist Jackie Marchal, singer-songwriter Yuri Shin and more.Tiny Desk series producer Bobby Carter joins All Songs Considered host Robin Hilton. (They’re also the two lead judges for the Contest.)Featured entries:(00:00) Intro(00:51) Pump Action: “Supernova”(03:34) Lily Talmers: “Big Idea”(07:18) Walker Burroughs: “Open Skies”(10:53) Les Greene and the Swayzees: "Long Story Short"(14:08) Nicolosi: “Are You Coming To The Ivy?”(17:20) Jackie Marchal: “Excavate The Girl”(21:43) the King will come: “welcome”(24:33) Yuri Shin: “Falling Rabbit”(27:54) Lauren Frihauf: “One Thing Always Leads To Another”(31:41) Meira: “Make Me Go”Support the show with a review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend!Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.orgTo manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

New Music Friday: The best albums out March 27

Robyn. RAYE. A jazzy left turn from Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with Alisa Ali from WFUV in the Bronx about their favorite albums out Friday, March 27. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round. The Starting 5(01:42) Robyn, 'Sexistential'(07:15) RAYE, 'This Music May Contain Hope'(14:21) Courtney Barnett, 'Creature of Habit'(20:20) The New Pornographers, 'The Former Site Of'(25:32) Flea, 'Honora'(32:08) The Lightning Round- Connie Converse, 'How Sad, How Lovely' (Reissue)- Snail Mail, 'Ricochet'- The Philharmonik, 'Transcendentalism I' EP- Irreversible Entanglements, 'Future Present Past'- Sluice, 'Companion'- Charlotte Cornfield, 'Hurts Like Hell'Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org.Credits:Host: Stephen ThompsonGuest: Alisa Ali, WFUVAudio Producer: Noah CaldwellDigital Producer: Dora LeviteEditors: Otis Hart, Elle MannionExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedSpecial thanks to Bobby Carter, Sheldon Pearce and Ann PowersTo manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Alt.Latino: Songs she loves: Sofia Rei and the magic of the human voice

From the very beginning of Alt.Latino, female vocalists have captivated us the most -- and New York-based Argentine vocalist Sofia Rei has been high on our list of favorites for a while. She uses the human voice like paint on a canvas, layering voices to create choirs that take flight at the mere suggestion of a melody. On her new album Antónima, she not only creates magic with her own voice but also collaborates with some Alt.Latino favorites: Gaby Moreno, Daymé Arocena and Xenia Rubinos, among others. As we revive our Guest DJ series, we asked her to bring on some of the songs she loves, for an insider's perspective of the art behind the human voice. To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy