Radical Optimism, the further adventures in the pop music time machine.'/> On the May 3 episode of New Music Friday, NPR Music's Hazel Cills and WRTI's Nate Chinen discuss the week's essential new albums, including Radical Optimism, from the dance-pop superstar Dua Lipa. The songs on Radical Optimism are mostly in the vein of Dua Lipa's earlier work, but that itself might be reason to keep a militantly sunny attitude: A parade of hits from her last album, Future Nostalgia, proved to have incredible staying power — "Levitating" hung around in the top 10 of Billboard's Hot 100 chart for near ..read more

Brittany Luse, host of NPR's It's Been A Minute, joins All Songs Considered's Robin Hilton to update our running list of the year's best songs. Featured artists and songs: 1. Ekko Astral: "Baethoven," from 'pink balloons' 2. Nubiyan Twist: "Carry Me (feat. Seun Kuti)," from 'Find Your Flame' 3. T-Bone Burnett: "He Came Down," from 'The Other Side' 4. Bien et Toi: "So Long (feat. Paris Texas)," from 'London Safari II' 5. Bnny: "Missing," from 'One Million Love Songs' 6. Chanel Beads: "Unifying Thought," from 'Your Day Will Come ..read more

All Born Screaming is out April 26.'/> NPR Music's Daoud Tyler-Ameen and Sheldon Pearce discuss new albums from St. Vincent, Charley Crockett, Iron & Wine and more. Feature Albums: • St. Vincent, 'All Born Screaming' • Charley Crockett, '$10 Cowboy' • Iron & Wine, 'Light Verse' • Maria Chiara Argirò, 'Closer' Other notable albums out April 26: • Neil Young and Crazy Horse, 'FU##IN' UP' • PartyNextDoor, 'PartyNextDoor 4' • Justice, 'Hyperdrama' • Anitta, 'Funk Generation' (Image credit: Alex Da Corte ..read more

Record and email us a voice memo telling us about a song that reminds you of Mom. We'll share select stories and songs on an upcoming episode of All Songs Considered. (Image credit: Express ..read more

Is April, as T.S. Eliot put it, the cruelest month? We reflect on the question with a mix that's both cringe-inducing and hilarious, from the cruelest takedowns to the most insidious earworms. (Image credit: Keystone Features ..read more

The Tortured Poets Department, immediately became one of the most anticipated releases of 2024 when she announced it on stage at the Grammy Awards in February.'/> NPR Music's Ann Powers and Hazel Cills dig into Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department,' which hit streaming services last night, and share a handful of other new albums out Friday, April 19. Featured Albums: • Taylor Swift, 'The Tortured Poets Department' • Bbymutha, 'Sleep Paralysis' • claire rousay, 'sentiment' • Pearl Jam, 'Dark Matter' Other notable albums out April 19: • Stephanie Lambring, 'Hypocrite' • Cadence Wea ..read more

This week's update to our list of the year's best songs includes thunderous shoegaze from Wisp, a classic Cuban piano piece from Dánae Olano, a deeply moving story from Pedro The Lion and more. Featured artists and songs: 1. Pedro The Lion: "Modesto," from 'Santa Cruz' 2. Ibelisse Guardia Ferragutti & Frank Rosaly: "Destejer," from 'Mestizx' 3. Sheila E.: "Bemba Colorá (feat. Gloria Estefan)," from 'Bailar' 4. Lizzy McAlpine: "I Guess," from 'Older' 5. Dánae Olano: "Danzón para la abuela" from 'Children's Corner' 6. Wisp: "Pandora" from 'Pandora' EP Questions, comments, feedback, sugges ..read more

NPR Music's Sheldon Pearce and WRTI's Nate Chinen take you through the biggest new releases of the week, including Maggie Rogers, Shabaka Hutchings and more. Featured albums: - Shabaka, 'Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace' - Maggie Rogers, 'Don't Forget Me' - Lizz Wright, 'Shadow' - Leyla McCalla, 'Sun Without the Heat' Other notable albums out April 5: - METZ, 'Up On Gravity Hill' - Caroline Davis & Wendy Eisenberg, 'Accept When' - girl in red, 'I'M DOING IT AGAIN BABY!' - Future & Metro Boomin, 'We Still Don't Trust You' - Nia Archives, 'Silence is Loud' - V/A, 'My Black C ..read more

"Weird Al" Yankovic helps curate a mix of some of the funniest songs of all time, from classics like Tom Lehrer's "The Elements," to more fringe discoveries from The Hazzards, Tonio K. and more. Featured artists and songs: 1. Tonio K: "H-A-T-R-E-D" 2. Robbie Fulks: "Fountains of Wayne Hotline" 3. Tenacious D: "Tribute" 4. Spike Jones: "Der Fuehrer's Face" 5. Bill Oddie: "BLIMPHT" 6. The Hazzards: "Just A Temp" 7. Garfunkel and Oates: "Google" 8. Tom Lehrer: "The Elements" 9. Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Erika Henningsen, Ashley Park & Busy Philipps: "Famous 5eva" 10. Flight of ..read more

It's a big week for fans of early aughts rock bands, with new releases from The Black Keys and Vampire Weekend hitting streaming services. Kick back with NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and World Cafe host Raina Douris as they run through the new albums you need to know about. Featured albums:1. The Black Keys, 'Ohio Players' 2. Vampire Weekend, 'Only God Was Above Us' 3. Katie Pruitt, 'Mantras' 4. Khruangbin, 'A La Sala' Other notable releases for April 5, 2024:• Phosphorescent, 'Revelator' • Grace Cummings, 'Ramona' • Young Miko, 'att.' • Adam Wiltzie, 'Eleven Fugues For Sodium Pentothal ..read more