NPR Music

The Durutti Column. Arca. MOLIY. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Olive Kimoto of member station KCRW in Los Angeles about their favorite albums out Friday, July 31. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round.

The Starting 5

(01:34) Album No. 1
- The Durutti Column, 'Renascent'
 
(08:49) Album No. 2
- Arca, 'XXXXX'

(17:20) Album No. 3
- DOMi & JD Beck, 'WHO ASKED?'

(22:17) Album No. 4
- Shearwater, 'The New World'

(29:13) Album No. 5
- MOLIY, 'BADDIES <3 MOLIY'

(34:52) The Lightning Round

- Shaboozey, 'The Outlaw Cherie Lee & Other Western Tales'
- Perfect Person, 'Some Kind of Life' EP
- Wyatt Flores, 'Scared of Heights'
- Family Stereo, 'The Thread'
- Ed Askew, 'The Final Painting'

Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org.

Credits
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Olive Kimoto, KCRW
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Special thanks to Lars Gotrich, Felix Contreras and Ann Powers

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Bill Evans might not be techno. But in this week's episode, the slow-building angst and tension of electronic producer Debit's new music reminded Ana of the beloved jazz piano master. And that kind of genre cross-pollination is everywhere in this week's showcase of new music: Brazilian field recordings remixed for the club, multiple reinterpretations of the Cuban guaguancó, and Spanish producers channeling -- as Ana puts it -- "experimental Boricua stuff."

Featured artists and albums:

(00:45) Various Artists, 'Candomblé: Sacred Rhythms in Brazil'
(04:24) Ítallo, 'CATATAU'
(11:25) Debit, 'Potpourri'
(16:41) Calequi y Las Panteras, 'TRES'
(21:07) Carolina Oliveros, 'Oye Camina'
(24:35) BLAYA, 'Your lesbian neighbour is playing music next door'

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

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest places, if you look at it right. And if you get confused, just listen to the music play. This week, resident Deadheads Isabella Gomez Sarmiento and Felix Contreras help host Robin Hilton hear what he’s been missing in the music of the Grateful Dead.

Are you a Deadhead? Share your memories about the Grateful Dead and we may include them in a big series about the band we're launching Aug. 1.

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

Featured songs:

(00:00) Intro and “King Solomon’s Marbles”

(08:54) “China Cat Sunflower / I Know You Rider” Alpine Valley, WI 7.17.89

(11:03) “Help On the Way / Slipknot / Franklin’s Tower”

(16:39) “Ripple”

(23:34) “Morning Dew (Europe ‘72)”

(26:17) “I Shall Be Released (Live)” 

(30:05) “Black Muddy River”

(31:34) “One More Saturday Night”

(32:09) “Sunrise”

(33:21) “Shady Grove”

(39:14) “Birdsong”

(41:45) “Uncle John’s Band”


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Charli xcx. Tyla. Shania Twain. Guest host Ann Powers chats with Nastia Voynovskaya of member station KQED in San Francisco about their favorite albums out Friday, July 24. Plus, some NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round.

The Starting 5

(02:06) Album No. 1
- Charli xcx, 'Music, Fashion, Film'

(08:16) Album No. 2
- Willow, 'The Thread'

(14:59) Album No. 3
- Tyla, 'A*Pop'

(20:39) Album No. 4
- Shania Twain, 'Little Miss Twain'

(27:50) Album No. 5
- Portraits Of Tracy: 'Q: From Where Do Our Primal Instincts Originate? A: MTV!'


(33:23) The Lightning Round

- Creekbed Carter Hogan, 'PEASANTS REVOLT!'
- Rico Nasty, 'RX'
- Amy Shark, 'soft pop'
- Josaleigh Pollett, 'If I Let It Quiet'

Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org.

Credits
Host: Ann Powers
Guest: Nastia Voynovskaya, KQED
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion, Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Stephen Thompson and Lars Gotrich

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We'll take any excuse to talk about the insane quality of music coming out of Spain these days. This week, we got one: Spain defeated Argentina on Sunday to win the 2026 World Cup Final. So, this episode is a celebration of the multitude of music scenes across Spain that we can't get enough of. Catch boundary-pushing electronic and hip hop producers in Madrid, indie rockers and songwriters in Barcelona, and some old favorites whose voices never stop (looking at you, Buika!). 

Artists featured in this episode:

(01:22) C. Tangana
(04:19) Ralphie Choo
(06:28) Mora
(10:10) Bikôkô
(13:52) Buika
(16:04) Repion
(20:42) Lucia Fumero
(23:12) Maestro Espada

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

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