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Cyrena Touros

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New Music Friday: The Top 7 Albums Out On May 7

The Essex singer Dodie. Her debut full-length, Build A Problem, tops our shortlist of the best new albums out on May 7. Parri Thomas/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Parri Thomas/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The Top 7 Albums Out On May 7

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include the intricately detailed pop of Dodie, a posthumous release from legendary drummer Tony Allen, a mind-blower from Daniel Bachman and more.

New Music Friday: The Top 7 Albums Out On May 7

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Three Songs For Staring Out The Window

Some of us feel like we're in a waiting period of sorts, so we have three songs to keep you company while you wistfully look out a window. Angela Hsieh/NPR hide caption

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Angela Hsieh/NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Three Songs For Staring Out The Window

NPR Music has song recommendations for every occasion, from major life events to moments when all you want to do is stare blankly into the middle distance. Right now, so many of us feel stuck in a holding pattern, as we wait for our lives to resume. Maybe we're passing time until our vaccinations kick in, or maybe we're daydreaming about the possibility of safe summer travel. Today, we're recommending three songs to help cope with pent-up, restless boredom.

Three Songs For Staring Out The Window

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Beyoncé to Bruce Springsteen: Our Favorite Concert Films

HOMECOMING: A film by Beyoncé captures the artist's process of putting on headlining appearances at the 2018 Coachella Music Festival. Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment hide caption

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Courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Beyoncé to Bruce Springsteen: Our Favorite Concert Films

It's been more than a year since live concerts were a safe way to experience music. We miss the roar of a blissed-out crowd and experiencing art at the moment of its creation. Therefore, it feels like a good time to talk about some of our favorite concert films from Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, and Aretha Franklin.

Beyoncé to Bruce Springsteen: Our Favorite Concert Films

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Our 2021 Grammys Recap

Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion accept the best rap performance award for "Savage" during Sunday's Grammy Awards. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy hide caption

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our 2021 Grammys Recap

After a six week delay due to COVID-19, we did finally have a Grammys ceremony, hosted by Trevor Noah, with loads of socially distanced performances and big wins for Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Megan Thee Stallion, and Billie Eilish.

Our 2021 Grammys Recap

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20 Years Later, 'Almost Famous' Is Still A Golden God

Patrick Fugit and Kate Hudson in Cameron Crowe's 2000 film Almost Famous. Neal Preston/Dreamworks Llc/Kobal/Shutterstock hide caption

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Neal Preston/Dreamworks Llc/Kobal/Shutterstock

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

20 Years Later, 'Almost Famous' Is Still A Golden God

The film Almost Famous recently turned 20. Writer and director Cameron Crowe looks at the ecosystem surrounding a rising rock band in the early '70s. Starring Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, and so many more, it's a coming-of-age story that touches on journalism, sex, rock and roll, parenthood, and the perils of trying to be cool.

20 Years Later, 'Almost Famous' Is Still A Golden God

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The 'Happiest Season,' With a 'Dash' of Dolly And Gay

Mackenzie Davis and Kristen Stewart star in Hulu's holiday film Happiest Season. Hulu hide caption

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Hulu

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The 'Happiest Season,' With a 'Dash' of Dolly And Gay

Everybody from basic cable to streaming services have started to roll out their holiday fare. We're going to survey the tinsel-strewn landscape to bring you the brutal truth about some of this year's holiday offerings, including Happiest Season, Hallmark's A Christmas House, Dash & Lily, and Dolly Parton's Christmas On The Square.

The 'Happiest Season,' With a 'Dash' of Dolly And Gay

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NPR Music's No. 1 Albums And Songs Of August

Clockwise from upper left: Bartees Strange, Kelly Lee Owens, Bright Eyes, Victoria Monét. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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All Songs Considered

NPR Music's No. 1 Albums And Songs Of August

On this edition of All Songs Considered, we pick our favorite music released in August 2020, featuring everything from the genre-busting indie rock of Bartees Strange and Victoria Monét's layered R&B to the return of Bright Eyes.

NPR Music's No. 1 Albums And Songs Of August

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New Mix: Ólafur Arnalds, First Aid Kit, More

Clockwise from upper left: First Aid Kit, Ólafur Arnalds, Anjimile, Pillow Queens, Sonny Singh Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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All Songs Considered

New Mix: Ólafur Arnalds, First Aid Kit, More

On this week's All Songs Considered, The Swedish duo First Aid Kit covers Willie Nelson's "On The Road Again," reminding host Bob Boilen of how long it's been since he's seen a live show (159 days).

New Mix: Ólafur Arnalds, First Aid Kit, More

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NPR Music's No. 1 Albums And Songs Of July

Top row, left to right: Madeline Kenney, Christian Sands, Gabriel Garzon Montano; Bottom row, left to right: Taylor Swift, Maria Schneider, Nubya Garcia Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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All Songs Considered

NPR Music's No. 1 Albums And Songs Of July

The musical tastes of the NPR Music crew are a delightful jumble. On this edition of All Songs Considered, we pick our favorite music from July 2020, featuring Madeline Kenney, Nubya Garcia and Taylor Swift.

NPR Music's No. 1 Albums And Songs Of July

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A Different Kind Of Pride: Perspectives On 50 Years Of Celebration, Part 1

Janelle Monáe's coming out as a "free-ass motherf*****" "helped me carve space for myself," says Cyrena Touros. Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

Music Features

A Different Kind Of Pride: Perspectives On 50 Years Of Celebration, Part 1

This year, Pride feels a little different. We asked music writers in the LGBTQ+ community to reflect on the changing relationship between celebration, protest, music and LGBTQ+ activism.

It 'Feels Like A Graduation': Phoebe Bridgers On 'Punisher'

Phoebe Bridgers is one of the most prolific young songwriters to emerge in the last several years. Her second solo album, Punisher, is out now. Frank Ockenfels/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Frank Ockenfels/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

It 'Feels Like A Graduation': Phoebe Bridgers On 'Punisher'

The LA singer-songwriter talks about her second solo album, which includes guest appearances from peers like Conor Oberst, copying ideas from her heroes and the way lyrical specificity mimics poetry.

It 'Feels Like A Graduation': Phoebe Bridgers On 'Punisher'

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New Mix: H.E.R., Shamir, Gracie And Rachel, More

Clockwise from upper left: Gracie and Rachel, A.O. Gerber, Shamir, Hania Rani Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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All Songs Considered

New Mix: H.E.R., Shamir, Gracie And Rachel, More

This week's must-hear mix from All Songs Considered includes music inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, a quarantine anthem, a track that draws on field recordings of bats and more.

New Mix: H.E.R., Shamir, Gracie And Rachel, More

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