Los Angeles is home for me and always in my heart. Watching the fires from afar in my current city, New York, has me thinking a lot about what makes my hometown great: breathtaking mountains, stunning beaches and above all a hodgepodge, tapestry community that comes together in powerful ways during a painful moment.

The good and bad of LA's history ? redlining and rebuilding, previous fires and displacement, immigration and annexation ? have all been building blocks for an exchange of culture that shows up in layers in its music and art. This week on Alt.Latino, we've decided to shine a light on some of the sounds that feel most quintessentially LA, while also specifically honoring the creativity that has come from communities most affected by the fires.

We're thinking of family and friends, and the beating heart of the city as a whole. There's nothing quite like LA and we hope this episode is an intro to some and an invitation for others to celebrate what makes it so special. ?Anamaria Sayre

Songs featured on this episode:

?José Feliciano, "California Dreamin"
?Ry Cooder feat. Lalo Guerrero, "Barrio Viejo"
?Banda MS feat. Becky G and Snoop Dogg, "Que Maldicion"
?Jasper Bones, "Amor de mis sueños"
?Gerardo Ortiz, "Dámaso"
?Empress Of, "For Your Consideration"

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Japanese Breakfast (Michelle Zauner) is back with her first new album since her memoir, Crying in H Mart, blew up. We've got the first single from it, plus a Sufjan Stevens-produced Denison Witmer track and more.

Enjoy the show? Tell a friend and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]

Hear the songs in our Apple and Spotify playlists.

Featured artists and songs:
1. Deep Sea Diver: "Shovel," from Billboard Heart
2. SPELLLING: "Portrait of My Heart," from Portrait of My Heart
3. Japanese Breakfast: "Orlando in Love," from For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)
4. Derya Y?ld?r?m & Grup ?im?ek, "Hop Bico" from Yar?n Yoksa
5. Denison Witmer: "A House With," from Anything At All
6. DARKSIDE: "S.N.C," from Nothing


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NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is joined by KCRW's Travis Holcombe to run down their four favorite albums out today, as well as the revamped version of SZA's 'LANA' project.

Featured Albums:

? SZA, 'SOS Deluxe: LANA'
? Franz Ferdinand, 'The Human Fear'
? Ethel Cain, 'Perverts'
? zzzahara, 'Spiral Your Way Out'
? Moonchild Sanelly, 'Full Moon'

See the long list of albums out January 10 and stream our New Music Friday playlist on npr.org/music.

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Alt.Latino hosts Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras, and NPR reporter Isabella Gomez Sarmiento break down what exactly makes the record so Puerto Rican and why its Bad Bunny's most reflective, ambitious and ingenious album yet.

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A new year means a new running list of our favorite songs, from the transfixing voice of Anna B Savage and FKA Twigs' moody club beats to the '80s-influenced rock and pop of Sharon Van Etten and more.

Featured artists and songs:
1. Ela Minus: "Broken," from DIA
2. Anna B Savage: "Lighthouse," from You & i are Earth
3. Horsegirl: "2468," from Phonetics On and On
4. Miya Folick: "This Time Around," from Erotica Veronica
5. FKA Twigs: "Perfect Stranger," from EUSEXUA
6. Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory: "Afterlife," from S/T

Enjoy the show? Tell a friend and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]

Hear the songs in our Apple and Spotify playlists.


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There's been some great music released since the last New Music Friday episode in late November. So, on this slow January release day, NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and WRTI's Nate Chinen catch you up on the best albums we heard in December in between "All I Want For Christmas Is You" and "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer."

Featured Albums:
? ROSÉ, 'rosie'
? Lauren Mayberry, 'Vicious Creature'
? Brad Mehldau, Mark Turner & Peter Bernstein, 'Solid Jackson'
? The Innocence Mission, 'Midwinter Swimmers'
? SAULT, 'Acts of Faith'

Visit npr.org/music to see the long list of albums you might have missed in December, and stream our New Music Friday playlist.

CREDITS:

Host: Stephen Thompson, NPR Music
Guest: Nate Chinen, WRTI
Producer: Simon Rentner
Editor: Otis Hart
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Vice President, Music and Visuals: Keith Jenkins

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NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich turns us on to lesser known corners of music from 2024: blooming drone-folk, richly textured jazz, Somali garage-rock, medieval metal and a bittersweet farewell from a beloved Athens psych-pop band. You can find more adventurous music and mixtapes via Lars' newsletter, vikingschoice.org.

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We asked listeners to tell us about the one song they couldn't stop listening to in 2024 because of how it made them feel. On this episode we share some of their picks and the stories behind them.

Enjoy the show? Tell a friend and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]


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When it comes to music, December is overflowing with gifts, but we aren't quite done with the presents. This time, the NPR Music team is giving ... to each other! On this episode of All Songs Considered, our hosts, writers and editors get into a sort of chain-letter, Secret Santa-type gift exchange. The rules were simple: Pick a song from 2024 specifically for one of your colleagues, who then has to pick a song for someone else, and so on, until the gift train comes full circle.

What songs did we pick? How well do we really know each other's taste? You'll have to listen to hear the surprise, just like we did.

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'Alt.Latino' hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre do their best to keep up with new releases, but sometimes great music evades their radar. On this episode, the duo highlight some of the best songs they never got a chance to share during the year.

Music We Missed in 2024

? Sanje, "Buen Fantasma" (from 'De Repente Otra Vez')

? David Lindes, "Te Vengo A Perdonar" (from 'Peace With A Lion')

? Yung Dupe X Kimmø X PUGSPUGSPUGS, "Nube Negra" (from 'Políticamente Correcto')

? Benjamin Walker, "Libre" (from 'LIBRE')

? Lhasa de Sela et Yves Desrosiers, "El Cosechero" (from 'First Recordings')

? Dom La Nena, "Pierre et les fleurs" (from 'LA VIE DE MA MÈRE')

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Our annual attempt to throw a holiday party for the ages continues with a tolerable mix of songs for the season and, as always, some very special guests.

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Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]


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Record-breaking mainstream hits. A new generation of artists rising to seize their moment. Rappers in and out of courts. A pair of the biggest names in the game transforming their careers by taking their rivalry to sometimes bitter new heights. In 2024, hip-hop brought us wave upon wave of massive, surprising, culture-shifting moments.

NPR Music's Sheldon Pearce, Sidney Madden and Rodney Carmichael were watching and listening all year long, and they've gathered together to explain the most important stories of hip-hop's 51st year. There was the ascendance of new dominant voices in Southern rap, many of them female, along with the noticeable resonance, for many artists in the genre, with country music. The disconcerting trial of Young Thug left a void in Atlanta ? the longtime hip-hop capital ? for much of the year, before it ended suddenly and dramatically. And yes, there was the remarkable show put on by Kendrick Lamar in his sustained attack on Drake.

Plus: Rodney, Sidney and Sheldon share their favorite hip-hop albums of the year. Hip-hop may have celebrated its landmark 50th anniversary in 2023 by looking back at its own history, but in 2024, it shot forward like a cannon blast.

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Felix Contreras, Anamaria Sayre and Isabella Gomez Sarmiento run through their favorites in a crowded year for excellent songs, from innovative Spanish hip-hop to distinctive jazz.

Songs featured in this episode:

?Çantamarta, "MOTORIZADO"
?Mala Rodriguez, "Casi Nada"
?Zaccai Curtis, "Maple Leaf Rag"
?Ca7riel y Paco Amoroso, "DUMBAI"
?Melissa Aldana, "A Purpose"
?Residente, "313"

Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

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Our special coverage of the year in music continues with a look at the best songs of 2024, featuring Clairo, Tinashe, Chief Keef, Laura Marling and more.

See NPR Music's complete list of the 124 best songs of the year.

See NPR Music's list of the 50 best albums.

Enjoy the show? Tell a friend and leave us a review wherever you get podcasts.

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]

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Our look back at the best albums of 2024 continues, with Tyler, The Creator, Cassandra Jenkins, The Cure and more.

See NPR Music's complete list of the 50 best albums of the year.

And be sure to check out our list of the 124 best songs of 2024.

Enjoy the show? Tell a friend and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]


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It's that time of the year ? figuring out the best Latin music of 2024. And every year, it gets harder and harder (seriously, it's difficult!) for Ana and Felix to narrow down their extensive lists. Joined by NPR culture reporter Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, the three round up the best albums of this year.

Songs featured in this episode:

?Angélica Garcia, "El Que" from Gemelo
?Hinds, "Coffee" from Viva Hinds
?Spanish Harlem Orchestra, "Lluego El Caballero (feat. Gilberto Santa Ross)" from Swing Forever
?Latin Mafia, "tengo mucho ruido." from TODOS LOS DÍAS TODO EL DÍA
?RaiNao, "readysita" from CAPICÚ
?Orquesta Akokán, "Caracoles" from Caracoles

Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

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Our annual look back at the year in music begins with the first of a two-part episode highlighting the year's best albums, with Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Waxahatchee and more.

Look for Part 2 on Friday, Dec. 6.

See NPR Music's complete list of the 50 best albums from 2024.

Enjoy the show? Tell a friend and leave us a review wherever you get podcasts.

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]

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Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre continue their discussion on the 25th anniversary of the Latin Grammys and the industry's changes, featuring insight from Nathy Peluso, Rauw Alejandro and more.

Songs featured in this episode:

?Fuerza Regida, "TQM"
?Fuerza Regida, "Que onda"
?Fuerza Regida "HARLEY QUINN"
?Latin Mafia, "y como te digo que"

Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

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Hosts Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson share stories and songs of gratitude from NPR listeners.

Featured songs and artists:
1. Yo-Yo Ma and Alison Krauss: "Simple Gifts," from Classic Yo-Yo
2. Bill Withers: "Lean On Me," from Still Bill
3. The Mountain Goats: "This Year," from The Sunset Tree
4. Crosby, Stills & Nash: "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes," from Crosby, Stills & Nash
5. Louis Armstrong: "What A Wonderful World"
6. John Williams: "End Credits," from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Music from the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
7. Blackalicious: "Make You Feel That Way," from Blazing Arrow
8. Tyler Childers: "Space and Time," from Rustin' in the Rain
9. Nina Simone: "Isn't It A Pity," from Emergency Ward! (Live)
10. Bob Marley & The Wailers: "Three Little Birds," from Exodus

Enjoy the show? Tell a friend and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]

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NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Ann Powers are your guides to the last big Friday of 2024. Plus a deep dive into an epic new Red Hot compilation titled TRA??A.

Featured albums:
? Kim Deal, Nobody Loves You More
? Father John Misty, Mahashmashana
? Say Lou Lou, Dust
? Michael Kiwanuka, Small Changes
? Various Artists, TRA??A (Red Hot)

See the long list of albums out Nov. 22 and stream our New Music Friday playlist at https://npr.org/music.

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The Latin Grammys recently marked its 25th anniversary. Alt.Latino's Anamaria Sayre was in Miami to talk to some of Latin music's most influential artists to understand some of the trends that are shaping Latin music today, shared over two episodes.

Songs featured in this episode:

?Juanes, "Fíjate Bien"
?Juanes, "Vida Cotidiana"
?Álvaro Díaz, "Quien Te Quiere"
?Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera "Bebé Dame"

Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

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In the final update to our running list of the year's best songs, we've got the cathartic rock of Kassie Krut, a nerve-settling collaboration between the singers SOAK and Gordi, Ethel Cain and more.

Featured songs and artists:
1. Kassie Krut: "Reckless," from Kassie Krut
2. Gordi: "Reverie," from Lunch At Dune
3. Katy J Pearson: "Save Me," from Someday, Now
4. Freak Slug: "Ya Ready," from I Blow Out Big Candles
5. Hildegard: "Bach In Town," from Jour 1596
6. Ethel Cain: "Punish" (single)

Enjoy the show? Tell your friends and leave us a review wherever you listen go podcasts.

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]


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NPR Music's Ann Powers and Daoud Tyler-Ameen are your guides to the most compelling releases out on November 15.

Featured Albums:
? FLO, Access All Areas
? Dwight Yoakam, Brighter Days
? Ganavya, Daughter of a Temple
? Wussy, Cincinnati Ohio

Check out the longer list of albums out Nov. 15 and stream our New Music Friday playlist at https://npr.org/music.

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Alt.Latino hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre recorded their latest new music guide on the streets of Spain.

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We update our running list of the year's best songs with more calming sounds from Sigur Rós frontman Jónsi, the electronic artist Jon Hopkins, Muno singer Katie Gavin's new solo album and more.

Featured artists and songs:
1. Jónsi: "Flicker," from First Light
2. Katie Gavin: "Aftertaste," from What A Relief
3. Jon Hopkins: "part viii - nothing is lost," from RITUAL
4. Katie Malco: "Fatal Attraction (feat. Laura Stevenson)" (Single)
5. Clairo: "Add Up My Love," from Charm
6. Max Richter: "Movement, Before All Flowers," from In A Landscape

Enjoy the show? Tell a friend and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcats.

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]


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NPR Music's Ann Powers and Daoud Tyler-Ameen are your guides to the most compelling albums released this Friday.

Featured albums:
? Ab-Soul, Soul Burger
? Jamey Johnson, Midnight Gasoline
? Our Girl, The Good Kind
? Various Artists, Like Someone I Know: A Celebration of Margo Guryan

Check out the longer list of albums out Nov. 8 and stream our New Music Friday playlist at https://npr.org/music.

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Alt.Latino hosts Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre are in Spain for a music conference. On this episode, they share their favorite discoveries from Bilbao, San Sebastián and beyond.

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In our second installment of blood-slowing songs we take a deep breath and let it out with the music of Max Richter, Hania Rani, Fleet Foxes, Yasmin Williams and more.

Featured artists and songs:
1. Joan Shelley: "Easy Now," from Over and Even
2. Fleet Foxes: "Helplessness Blues," from Helplessness Blues
3. Theo Alexander: "re; Waiting," from Animadversions
4. Hania Rani & Dobrawa Czocher: "There Will Be Hope," from Inner Symphonies
5. Nicholas Britell: "Eden (Harlem)," from If Beale Street Could Talk
6. Max Richter: "Dream 3 (in the midst of my life)," from From Sleep
7. Stars of the Lid: "Even If You're Never Awake," from And Their Refinement of the Decline
8. Iron & Wine: "Passing Afternoon," from Our Endless Numbered Days
9. Yasmin Williams: "Juvenescence," from Urban Driftwood
10. Gidon Kremer & Keith Jarrett: "Fratres (for violin and piano)," from Arvo Párt: Tabula Rasa

Enjoy the show? Tell a friend and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Question, comments, suggestions and feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected].


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NPR Music's Ann Powers and Daoud Tyler-Ameen are your guides to the most compelling new releases of the week, including the first album in 16 years by The Cure and a surprise release by Tyler, the Creator.

Featured albums:
? The Cure, 'Songs of a Lost World'
? Tyler, the Creator, 'Chromokopia'
? Willie Nelson, 'Last Leaf on the Tree'
? Haley Heynderickx, 'Seed of a Seed'

Check out the longer list of albums out November 1 and stream our New Music Friday playlist at https://npr.org/music.

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Over half a century, hip-hop has grown into a globally dominant musical and cultural force while remaining stubbornly, vitally local.

When DJ Kool Herc spun records at a small party in the Bronx in August of 1973, no one would have predicted his unique style would give birth to the most influential and dominant music in the world: hip-hop. In this special episode, NPR Music editors Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Sheldon Pearce are joined by contributor Christina Lee to look at how and why the music has managed to remain a local phenomenon, even as it's taken hold of the world.

Note: This episode original ran in Aug. 2023 for our special coverage of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.

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NPR Music's Ann Powers and Hazel Cills are your guides to the week's most compelling new releases.

Featured albums:
? Amythyst Kiah, Still + Bright
? Soccer Mommy, Evergreen
? Laura Marling, Patterns in Repeat
? Elmiene, Anyway I Can
? Anna Butterss, Mighty Vertebrate

Plus: A discussion of unconventional album release strategies.

Check out the complete list of albums out Oct. 25 and stream our New Music Friday playlist at https://npr.org/music.

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Anamaria Sayre brings some exciting new sounds coming out Mexico City (while recording from Mexico City) including sweet new music from Colombian artist Elsa Y Elmar, while Felix Contreras shares new jazz-classical out of Barcelona and more.

Songs featured in this episode:

?Elsa y Elmar, "Palacio"
?Alih Jey, "Luz de Gas"
?Little Jesus, "Tierra Llamando A Sant"
?Lucia Fumero, "Folklore II"

Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

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We debate the pros and cons of small-town living through the music of Christian Lee Hutson, Youth Lagoon, Bartees Strange and more in our biweekly update of the year's best songs.

Featured artists and songs:
1. Christian Lee Hutson: "Carousel Horses," from Paradise Pop. 10
2. Youth Lagoon: "My Beautiful Girl" (single)
3. Memorials: "Cut It Like A Diamond," from Memorial Waterslides
4. Bartees Strange: "Sober," from Horror
5. Sam Phillips: "I Wanted To Be Alone," from A Boot And A Shoe (20th anniversary edition)
6. Immanuel Wilkins: "MOTION" (feat. June McDoom) from Blues Blood

Enjoy the show? Tell a friend and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Questions, comments, suggetions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]

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NPR Music's Ann Powers and Sheldon Pearce are your guides to this week's most compelling new musical offerings. For October 18, their selections include an array of ambitious, melodic and emotional new albums spanning genres.

Plus: celebrating the arrival of a new music website and considering what drives us to write and talk about music in the first place.

Featured albums:
? Joy Oladokun, 'Observations From a Crowded Room'
? CKay, 'EMOTIONS'
? Kelly Lee Owens, 'Dreamstate'
? Porridge Radio, 'Clouds In The Sky They Will Always Be There For Me'
? Bon Iver, 'SABLE,'

Check out our longer list of albums out Oct. 18 and stream our New Music Friday playlist at https://npr.org/music.

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To celebrate the release of a new book from NPR Music, How Women Made Music, as well as the 50th anniversary this year of the album Celia & Johnny, Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre walk through their favorite songs by the legendary Celia Cruz, alongside the artist's niece Linda Pritchett.

Songs featured in this episode:

? Celia Cruz, "Bemba Colorá"
? Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, "Yiri Yiri Bon"
? Celia Cruz, "La Negra Tiene Tumbao"
? Celia Cruz, "Quimbara"
? Celia Cruz, "Cuando Salí de Cuba"
? Celia Cruz, "La vida es un carnaval"

Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

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We celebrate spooky season with an unnerving mix of songs from our favorite horror movie scores, including The Shining, Under The Skin, Hereditary and more.

Enjoy the show? Tell a friend and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]

Featured songs and films:
1. Wendy Carlos and Rachel Elkind: "Main Title" and "Clockworks (Bloody Elevators)," from The Shining
2. Mark Korven: "The Goat & The Mayhem," from The Witch
3. Goblin: "Sighs," from Suspiria
4. Hildur Gu?nadóttir: "The Door," from Chernobyl
5. John Carpenter: "Main Title," from Halloween
6. Colin Stetson: "Mothers & Daughters," from Hereditary
7. Mica Levi: "Lipstick To Void," from Under the Skin
8. Cristobal Tapia De Veer: "Laura Smile," from Smile
9. Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow: "The Alien," from Annihilation
10. Bobby Krlic: "Gassed," from Midsommar


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The rapper-turned-country star Jelly Roll, who has had a major breakthrough in Nashville in the last couple of years, leads the pack of the most exciting albums out on Friday, October 11.

As NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and WRTI's Nate Chinen discuss, his new album Beautifully Broken is a powerful (and sometimes overwhelming) portrait of recovery and empathy for those grappling with addiction.

Also on the show this week: The second album from punk teens The Linda Lindas feels like confirmation of a promising career; Samara Joy and Immanuel Wilkins put two different approaches to the modern jazz vocal album on display; E L U C I D combines influences from Miles Davis to Public Enemy into a harrowing experience of modern indie rap and Charli XCX's remix album leads us to consider the tradition of artists reworking their own songs.

Featured albums:
? Jelly Roll, 'Beautifully Broken'
? The Linda Lindas, 'No Obligation'
? Samara Joy, 'Portrait'
? Immanuel Wilkins, 'Blues Blood'
? E L U C I D, 'REVELATOR'

Check out our long list of albums out Oct. 11 and stream our New Music Friday playlist at npr.org/music.

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Felix Contreras and Anamaria Sayre are back with a new music show, featuring Rosalía, Helado Negro, Wyatt Flores and more.

Songs featured in this episode:

? Twanguero, "Rumba #2"
? Twanguero, "La Leyenda de Cañaveral"
? Rosalía, "Omega (feat. Ralphie Choo)"
? Wyatt Flores, "Oh Susanna"
? Helado Negro, pablopablo, "Lejos De Más"
? Troker, "El Novio (Versión Mariachi)"
? Los Sufridos, Bad Gyal, "Duro de Verdad pt. 2"

Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Simon Rentner. Editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

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Reflections on regret from beabadoobee and Bon Iver, deep sonic meditations from Nala Sinephro and Jill Fraser, and more updates to our running list of the year's best songs.

Featured songs and artists:
1. beabadoobee: "California," from This is How Tomorrow Moves
2. Bon Iver: "S P E Y S I D E," from SABLE
3. Mabe Fratti: "Kravitz," from Sentir que no sabe
4. Jem: "Come On Closer," from Finally Woken (20th Anniversary Remastered Edition)
5. Nala Sinephro: "Continuum 3," from Endlessness
6. Jill Fraser: "Beautiful Summer," from Earthly Pleasures

Enjoy the show? Tell a friend and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]

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NPR Music's Lars Gotrich and Sheldon Pearce round up the most exciting albums out this Friday, and reflect on the history of instrumental music as protest.

Featured albums:
? The Smile, 'Cutouts'
? Blood Incantation, 'Absolute Elsewhere'
? Half Waif, 'See You At The Maypole'
? Darius Jones, 'Legend of e'Boi (The Hypervigilant Eye)'
? Yasmin Williams, 'Acadia'
? Godspeed You! Black Emperor, 'NO? ?TITLE AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2024 28?,?340 DEAD'

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]

For a longer list of new albums out Oct. 4 and to stream our New Music Friday playlist, visit https://npr.org/music.

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Alt.Latino is usually all about sharing new music across Latin America, but what about the older cuts Ana and Felix are obsessed with?

On this episode, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras share the music they've been playing on repeat, from beloved classics by greats like Ella Fitzgerald to surprising new discoveries out of Mexico like Paloma Morphy.

Songs featured in this episode:

?Paloma Morphy, "me faltas tú"
?George Shearing Quintet, "Juana Palangana"
?Carin León and Bolela, "Aviso importante"
?Chick Corea Trio, "Spain"
?Alex Ferreira, "Un Cariñito"
?Alex Ferreira, "Un Cariñito (Versión Acústica)"
?Ella Fitzgerald, "Angel Eyes"

Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Taylor Haney. Editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

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How Women Made Music, a new book out now from NPR, considers what the canon of popular music would look like without men.

On this episode, we dig into the book and talk about the greatest albums and songs by women and other marginalized voices, with NPR Music's Ann Powers, contributor Marissa Lorusso and host Robin Hilton.

Questions, comments, suggestions and feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]

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As NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Ann Powers discuss on this week's episode, there's a thread of loss running through some of the most notable, thrilling albums out on September 27.

From the self-titled, posthumous album by the Scottish electronic producer SOPHIE to the harsh, alien sounds created by Alan Sparhawk on White Roses, My God, his first solo album following the death of his wife Mimi Parker, who was also his musical partner for decades in the great band Low, tributes to loved ones lost and voices from the beyond abound.

Plus: The star-studded debut album from Toronto poet and songwriter Mustafa, an adventurous bluegrass album (emphasis on grass) by roots champ Billy Strings, reliably adventurous R&B from Bilal and another posthumous release, the final release from the beloved electronic act Broadcast.

Feedback, questions, comments or any suggestions always welcome: [email protected]

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Wait a minute ? does Alt.Latino actually agree with a lot of the Latin Recording Academy's nominations this year?

Felix Contreras, Anamaria Sayre and reporter Isabella Gomez Sarmiento run through as many of the whopping 58 categories as they can in this episode dissecting the nominations for the upcoming ceremony.

Songs featured in this episode:

?Grupo Frontera, "CANSADO DE SUFRIR"
?Grupo Frontera and Yahritza y Su Esencia, "LAS FLORES"
?Grupo Frontera and Christian Nodal, "Ya Pedo Quién Sabe"
?Dayme Arocena, "A fuego lento"
?Hamilton de Holanda, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, "Saudade, Saudade"
?Kali Uchis and Karol G, "Labios Mordidos"
?Karol G, "MI EX TENÍA RAZÓN"
?Latin Mafia, "Julieta"
?Kevin Aguilar, "Bonita"
?Nicolle Horbath, "Carmen"
?Nicole Horts, "Bitch3"
?Ana Frango Elétrico, "Dela"
?Angélica Olivo, Juan Pablo Contreras, and Orquesta Latino Mexicana, "La Minerva - III. Himno a la Mujer"

Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Suraya Mohamed. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

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We update our running list of the year's best songs with a slice of pop perfection from Oso Oso, harrowing sounds from Colin Stetson, a blissful journey with composer Christopher Rountree and more.

Featured songs and artists:
1. Oso Oso: "dog without its bark," from life till bones
2. Christopher Rountree: "Almanac," from 3BPM
3. Colin Stetson: "Hollowing," from The love it took to leave you
4. Emily D'Angelo: "Freezing," from Freezing
5. Lia Kohl: "Tennis Court Light, Snow," from Normal Sounds
6. Gabriela Ortiz: Kauyumari, from Revolución Diamantina

Questions, comments, suggestions or any feedback at all always welcome: [email protected]

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NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Lars Gotrich provide a guide the most exciting new releases out today. This week, the selections include some recordings that are new and some that are as much as a half-century old, verging on mythological.

The producer Jamie xx began his career as a teenager making beats for the moody electronic band The xx. His solo recordings, including the new album In Waves, have tapped into a higher energy and a wider range of sounds. The saxophonist Nubya Garcia's new album, Odyssey, is as adventurous as the title sounds. And the Kansas City-based Blackstarkids swing between electronic pop, hip-hop and indie rock sounds that feel like they stepped off a time machine directly from the 1990s.

Plus: A pair of releases that package previously unreleased material by Bob Dylan and Galaxie 500 sparks a conversation about bootlegs, alternate versions and other rare and unreleased favorites.

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This week on Alt.Latino, Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras talk about an exciting new album from Manu Chao on the way ? his first in 17 years ? and their favorite recent songs from artists like the Dominican indie rock band Solo Fernández, ethereal pop from Tiny Desk Contest Winner Linda Diaz and more.

Songs featured in this episode:

?Janiero feat. André Viamonte, "LEGO"
?Manu Chao, "São Paulo Motoboy"
?Solo Fernández, "TELESCOPIO"
?Solo Fernández, "BROOKLYN"
?Solo Fernández, "TÚ NUNCA DEJARÁS DE SER POESÍA"
?Linda Diaz feat. Solomon Fox, "Watching Ourselves Die"
?Julieta Rada, "Baile del Candombe"
?Amaia Miranda, "Mientras vivas brilla"
?Nick Drake, "Pink Moon"

Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Suraya Mohamed. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

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We look back at Arcade Fire's monumental debut album, why it was so special, the ways it changed the musical landscape, and how it sounds two decades later.

Questions, comments or any feedback at all always welcome: [email protected]

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NPR Music's Ann Powers and Hazel Cills are your guides to the best music out this Friday, Sept. 13, including the 10th studio album by Miranda Lambert. Postcards From Texas is a new chapter for the onetime Nashville Star contestant who has become one of that industry town's most reliable songwriters and stars ? and also a return to her home state.

There's more, including a album by Robyn Hitchcock made up mostly of covers of songs from 1967, a year he describes as "a portal between childhood and the adult world." Plus: three ambitious albums by indie faves stretching their sounds, and a consideration of the way the classic "outlaw" label applies to the careers of women who break the rules.

Featured albums:
? Miranda Lambert, Postcards from Texas
? Nilüfer Yanya, My Method Actor
? Foxing, Foxing
? Robyn Hitchcock, 1967: Vacations in the Past
? My Brightest Diamond, Fight the Real Terror

For the complete list of albums out Sept. 13 and to stream our New Music Friday playlist, visit https://npr.org/music.

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'El Tiny' season at the Tiny Desk launches next week and this year it's all about love ? familial and romantic, with drama fit for a telenovela. Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras preview this year's line-up, sharing a sneak peek at what 2024's 'El Tiny' has to offer.

Songs featured in this episode:

?Juanes, "Mala Gente"
?Juanes, "A Dios Le Pido"
?Ivan Cornejo, "Ya Te Perdí"
?Okan, "La Reina Del Norte"
?Eladio Carrión, "Mama's Boy"
?Daniel, Me Estás Matando, "Lo Hice, Te Dejé"
?Danny Ocean, "Me Rehúso"

Audio for this episode of Alt.Latino was edited and mixed by Taylor Haney, with editorial support from Hazel Cills. Our project manager is Grace Chung. NPR Music's executive producer is Suraya Mohamed. Our VP of Music and Visuals is Keith Jenkins.

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