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The Contenders, Vol. 20: The Beths, Dustin O’Halloran, Nicholas Payton, more

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The Contenders, Vol. 20: The Beths, Dustin O’Halloran, Nicholas Payton, more

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We’ve got six must-hear songs to add to our running list of the year’s best tracks, including some shredding from The Beths, a gorgeous solo piano piece from Dustin O’Halloran, sublime jazz from Nicholas Payton and more.

The Contenders, Vol. 20: The Beths, Dustin O’Halloran, Nicholas Payton, more

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Our No. 1 songs: 2009

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Our No. 1 songs: 2009

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We enter the stomp-clap era as we look back at our number one songs from 2009.

Our No. 1 songs: 2009

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The best new albums out Sept. 12

New Music Friday

The best new albums out Sept. 12

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Guerilla Toss. Die Spitz. The return of Spinal Tap. Raina Douris from WXPN's World Cafe joins Stephen Thompson to discuss their favorite albums out Friday, Sept. 12.

New Music Friday: The best albums out Sept. 12

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Alt.Latino: A Tribute to Felix

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Alt.Latino: A Tribute to Felix

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This week's episode of Alt.Latino is a tribute to host Felix Contreras, who just received the Hispanic Heritage Award for Journalism from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. Co-host Anamaria Sayre and the Alt.Latino team surprised Felix with guest appearances from Juanes, Daymé Arocena, Chucho Valdés, Dolores Huerta and more.

Alt.Latino: A Tribute to Felix

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The Contenders, Vol. 19: Neko Case, Asher White, caroline, more

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The Contenders, Vol. 19: Neko Case, Asher White, caroline, more

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Hear the songs we just had to share this week. NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton to update our running list of the year’s best songs, with head-spinning, shape-shifting wonders from Asher White, transcendent ambient sounds from Early Fern, the first new solo album from Neko Case in eight years and more.

The Contenders, Vol. 19: Neko Case, Asher White, caroline, more

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Our No. 1 songs: 2008

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Our No. 1 songs: 2008

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What songs take us back to 2008? Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson recall a pretty folk-heavy year with lots of groundbreaking debuts.

Our No. 1 songs: 2008

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The best new albums out Sept. 5

New Music Friday

The best new albums out Sept. 5

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Big Thief. David Byrne. El Michels Affair. WFUV's Alisa Ali joins Stephen Thompson to discuss their favorite albums coming out Friday, Sept. 5.

New Music Friday: The best albums out Sept. 5

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The most anticipated fall '25 albums

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The most anticipated fall '25 albums

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We get a jump on the upcoming fall releases we’re most excited about, including new ones from Skullcrusher, S. Carey, Silvana Estrada and more.

The most anticipated fall '25 albums

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The best new albums out Aug. 29

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New Music Friday

The best new albums out Aug. 29

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Sabrina Carpenter. The Beaches. Margo Price. This week, Stephen Thompson chats with NPR Music's Hazel Cills and WMOT's Jessie Scott about the best new albums out this new music Friday.

New Music Friday: The best albums out Aug. 29

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The Contenders, Vol. 18: Disiniblud, Anamanaguchi, more

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We update our running list of the year’s best songs with a bunch of glitched-out ear candy, raging rock, and tracks that seek real, human connections in an increasingly artificial landscape.

The Contenders, Vol. 18: Disiniblud, Anamanaguchi, more

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The best new albums out Aug. 22

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New Music Friday

The best new albums out Aug. 22

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Nourished By Time. Mac Demarco. Earl Sweatshirt. Stephen Thompson and Vermont Public's Tad Cautious discuss the best new albums out this new music Friday.

New Music Friday: The best albums out August 22

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Flaco Jimenez and Eddie Palmieri: Why Their Music Mattered

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All Songs Considered

Flaco Jimenez and Eddie Palmieri: Why Their Music Mattered

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On Alt.Latino we often discuss the way that traditions are recognized and expanded upon. Usually it’s when we’re talking about new artists. But this week we are spending time honoring two legends: Tex Mex accordion player Flaco Jimenez and Latin jazz pianist/composer Eddie Palmieri each died within the last few weeks. They were foundational to their respective musical cultures, products of two distinct Latino cultural and musical traditions who also expanded the idea of tradition with their musical visions. Tune in this week to see how Felix connects the dots between these two seemingly dissimilar icons — and hear some new music that also blends tradition with modernity.    Music heard in this episode:Orquestra Afro-Brasileira, “Saudação ao Rei Nagô” and “Obaluayê”Doctor Nativo, “Caminantes” feat. Roco PachukoteBikôkô, “The Other” feat. Isaiah Hull and “La Mano” feat Crystal Murrayday2k, “OBSSD” and “más q todoooooo”Flaco Jimenez, “Lucerito”Eddie Palmieri, “Una Rosa Española”  Audio and production for this episode was done by Noah Caldwell.Suraya Mohamed is Executive Producer for NPR Music.

Flaco Jimenez and Eddie Palmieri: Why Their Music Mattered

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Dijon has returned with highly acsophomore album, Baby.

Dijon, the Maryland musician who sits squarely at the intersection of R&B and rock, has returned with a surprise album titled Baby. Zachary Harrell Jones hide caption

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New Music Friday

The best new albums out Aug. 15

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KAYTRANADA. Dijon. Molly Tuttle. We discuss the best new albums of the week with arts critic Amelia Mason from WBUR in Boston.

New Music Friday: The best albums out Aug. 15

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Robin Hilton

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What's the perfect road trip playlist?

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Before summer disappears, we share our favorite songs for your long and winding drives, plus a list of ground rules (does the driver always have final say?), and a breakdown of what works best when.

What's the perfect roadtrip playlist?

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Ethel Cain's new album, Willoughby Tucker, I'll Always Love You, is out now.

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Dollie Kyarn

New Music Friday

The best new albums out Aug. 8

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Ethel Cain. Charley Crockett. J.I.D. Plug in to the week's top new releases with NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and guest DeShun Nance of WJSU's The Sipp in Jackson, Miss.

New Music Friday: The best albums out Aug. 8

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The Contenders, Vol. 17: Keaton Henson, Arvo Pärt, Julia Hamos, more

Julia Hamos' cover of the song "Ellis Island" is one of the songs we can't stop playing this week. Emma Wernig hide caption

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The Contenders, Vol. 17: Keaton Henson, Arvo Pärt, Julia Hamos, more

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We update our list of the year’s best songs with new obsessions from The Antlers, polymath Keaton Henson, pianist Julia Hamos, Estonian composer Arvo Pärt and more.

The Contenders, Vol. 17: Keaton Henson, Arvo Pärt, Julia Hamos, more

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Roséwave: Simple Pleasures

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Roséwave: Simple Pleasures

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You asked, we listened: Roséwave is back! Our summer playlist series returns with syrupy sweet songs from the likes of Amerie, Wednesday, Addison Rae, Marvin Gaye, and more.

Roséwave: Simple Pleasures

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