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Friday

New Music Friday: The best albums out July 19

The soundtrack to the new film Twisters features literally dozens of names across the contemporary country music spectrum. Courtesy of Atlantic Records hide caption

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Courtesy of Atlantic Records

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best albums out July 19

This week on New Music Friday from All Songs Considered, NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Stephen Thompson listen to a grab bag of new releases out on July 19, including what's being called the last Childish Gambino album ever, returns by public radio faves Los Campesinos and Dr. Dog and a vibe-heavy follow-up made by the creators of one of the longest-running Billboard singles of all time, just in time to greet the the heat waves of summer 2024 (sorry).

New Music Friday: The best albums out July 19

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Friday

New Music Friday: The best albums out July 12

Sturgill Simpson Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best albums out July 12

NPR Music's Ann Powers and Daoud Tyler-Ameen present the noteworthy albums out July 12, including new releases by Nashville iconoclast Sturgill Simpson, poignant lyricist Cassandra Jenkins, pop rebel Remi Wolf and more.

New Music Friday: The best albums out July 12

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Tuesday

Mavis Staples on Prince, MLK and a life onstage

Grammy award-winning soul singer Mavis Staples Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images

It's Been a Minute

Mavis Staples on Prince, MLK and a life onstage

This week, the legendary singer and civil rights figure Mavis Staples is turning 85 and there's no sign of her slowing down: She released a new song, "Worthy," and a children's book, Bridges Instead of Walls: The Story of Mavis Staples.

Mavis Staples on Prince, MLK and a life onstage

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The Contenders, Vol. 13: The songs we can't stop playing this week

Omar Apollo's latest album, God Said No, includes "Plane Trees (feat. Mustafa)," one of the songs we can't stop playing this week. Aitor Laspiur/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Aitor Laspiur/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

The Contenders, Vol. 13: The songs we can't stop playing this week

The latest update to our running list of the year's best songs includes new ones from Wilco and Omar Apollo, an ode to friendship from Charli XCX and Lorde and more.

The Contenders, Vol. 13: The songs we can't stop playing this week

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Wednesday

Megan Thee Stallion sheds her skin on 'Megan'

Megan Thee Stallion performs during the 2022 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival. Rich Fury/Getty Images hide caption

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Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Megan Thee Stallion sheds her skin on 'Megan'

A lot has happened to rapper Megan Thee Stallion over the last couple of years including a highly publicized trial after being shot by a former friend, a messy breakup, and a feud with artist Nicki Minaj. She confronts all of that and more on her boastful and vulnerable new album Megan. But she also has fun on playful tracks like 'Down Stairs DJ' and 'Otaku Hot Girl' that are odes to self-pleasure and her anime nerddom.

Megan Thee Stallion sheds her skin on 'Megan'

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Friday

New Music Friday: The best albums out June 28

Omar Apollo's new album, God Said No, is one of our favorite releases this week. Aitor Laspiur/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Aitor Laspiur/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best albums out June 28

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and Anamaria Sayre give you the lowdown on Omar Apollo's new LP, Lil Yachty's collaboration with James Blake, and the fourth album by Hiatus Kaiyote.

New Music Friday: The best albums out June 28

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Tuesday

The Contenders, Vol. 12: The songs we can't stop playing this week

Nathy Peluso Ivan Resnik/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Ivan Resnik/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

The Contenders, Vol. 12: The songs we can't stop playing this week

Our updated list of the year's best songs includes a sweet reflection from beabadoobee, Nathy Peluso's wildly infectious "Aprender A Amar," the mind-blowing virtuosity of pianist Yuja Wang and more.

The Contenders, Vol. 12: The songs we can't stop playing this week

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Monday

Friday

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best albums out June 21

The first half of 2024 has been stuffed with blockbuster albums, and as we reach the midpoint of the year, we've got one more to add to the list. On this week's episode of New Music Friday from All Songs Considered, Hazel Cills and Anamaria Sayre discuss the new album from the breakout star of the Mexican Regional movement. Peso Pluma's new Éxodo sees the singer branching out with new sounds and new collaborators.

New Music Friday: The best albums out June 21

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Tuesday

The best songs of 2024 (so far)

Helado Negro Sadie Culberson Studio/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Sadie Culberson Studio/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

The best songs of 2024 (so far)

With the first half of the year almost behind us, we hit pause to reflect on some of the best tracks we've gotten so far, from Chappell Roan, Brittany Howard, Pedro The Lion and more.

The best songs of 2024 (so far)

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Friday

New Music Friday: The best albums out June 14

Luke Combs's new album, Fathers & Sons, is his first since his cover of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" became a pop smash in 2023. Zach Massey/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Zach Massey/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best albums out June 14

This week, NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Ann Powers steer the New Music Friday podcast straight into the oncoming Father's Day weekend, following the lead of country superstar Luke Combs, whose new album Fathers & Sons is a heartfelt meditation on what it means to fill both of those roles. It's Combs' first album since his cover of Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" landed him on the pop charts last year.

New Music Friday: The best albums out June 14

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Tuesday

The Contenders, Vol. 11: Jason Mantzoukas

Actor, comedian and music superfan Jason Mantzoukas Matt Doyle Photo/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Matt Doyle Photo/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

The Contenders, Vol. 11: Jason Mantzoukas

Actor, comedian and music superfan Jason Mantzoukas joins us to update our running list of the year's best songs, with lots of crate-digging curiosities. With host Robin Hilton and NPR Music's Lars Gotrich.

The Contenders, Vol. 11: Jason Mantzoukas

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Monday

Friday

New Music Friday: The best albums out June 7

Kaytranada's new album, Timeless, is out Friday. Jevi Emir/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jevi Emir/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best albums out June 7

NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Hazel Cills shepherd you through the many huge albums out today, including new records by Kaytranada, Charli XCX and so much more.

New Music Friday: The best albums out June 7

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