All Songs Considered

So, I was away for a bit and the new music just piled up during the holidays, and while we were watching Bad Bunny make headlines at the Grammys and the Super Bowl. Our first new music episode of the new year has quite a variety of styles from lots of different countries. We could say that about just about every new music show we produce. But what are we to do when the amount of creativity that comes our way pretty much overwhelms us? Jump in for a summertime journey through the many sounds of Brazil, a fusion of indigenous and contemporary styles, and a lost relic of Mexican rock from the 1970s. 

- Felix 

Artists and albums:

(00:00) Introduction
(01:20) Amaro Freitas, Criolo, and Dino D'Santiago, 'CRIOLO, AMARO E DINO'
(09:19) Javier Jara, 'Our Rhythms, Our Voices'
(13:19) Infinito Latente, 'Sem Início Nem Fim'
(19:19) Ernan Roch Con Las Voces Frescas, 'La Onda Pesada'
(24:52) João Menezes &  Paulo Novaes, 'Coisa Híbrida'
(30:02) Líber Terán, 'Canciones Del Desierto'

This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.

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If you watch HBO’s The Pitt, you might have heard the gorgeous new song called “Need Someone” that Andrew Bird wrote for a recent episode. We’ve got that on this week’s show along with reflections on fitting in by letting go, from Gia Margaret and Ratboys; shoegaze from Draag, the twitchy glitchy sounds of Mandy, Indiana and more.


NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton to share the best new songs they’re obsessing over this week.


Featured songs and artists:

(00:00) Intro

(02:18) Draag: “Finding Fear,” from ‘Miracle Drug’

(09:35) Mandy, Indiana: “Try Saying,” from ‘Urgh’

(14:59) Andrew Bird: “Need Someone” (single as featured in ‘The Pitt’)

(20:38) Ratboys: “Open Up,” from ‘Singin’ To An Empty Chair’

(28:49) Gia Margaret: “Everyone Around Me Dancing,” from ‘Singing’

(35:30) By Storm: “Can I Have You For Myself,” from ‘My Ghost Go Ghost’


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Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org

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August Ponthier. Brent Faiyaz. Jill Scott's first album in more than a decade. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is joined by Nastia Voynovskaya from KQED in San Francisco to chat about their favorite albums out Friday, Feb. 13.

The Starting 5

(00:00) Introduction & Charli xcx, 'Wuthering Heights'
(03:06) August Ponthier, 'Everywhere Isn't Texas'
(09:38) Brent Faiyaz, 'Icon'
(15:29) Jill Scott, 'To Whom This May Concern'
(21:09) STAYC, 'Stay Alive'
(25:57) The Paranoid Style, 'Known Associates'

(32:01) The Lightning Round:

- The Olympians, 'In Search of a Revival'
- Hemlocke Springs, 'the apple tree under the sea'
- Neba Solo & Benego Diakité, 'A Djinn and a Hunter Went Walking (The Complete Sessions)'
- Aaron Shaw, 'And So It Is'
- Ásgeir, 'Julia'

Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist on NPR.org/allsongs

Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Nastia Voynovskaya, KQED
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed

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Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show was many things: a time-traveling journey through the history of Puerto Rico, a statement of pan-American unity, and a masterpiece of cultural expression. This week, co-hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre are joined by Isabella Gomez Sarmiento — who brings on-the-ground reporting from San Juan — to unpack the symbolism embedded in Bad Bunny's performance.

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With the arrival of the Geese Tiny Desk, we thought we’d try to break down what it is about this band that has made them one of the most talked about and polarizing acts of the past six months.

Host Robin Hilton is joined by NPR Music's Ann Powers and host of The Ringer's Bandsplain podcast Yasi Salek to make sense of all the fuss. (Full disclosure: We all love Geese.)

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.org

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