On Feb. 21, the musical world lost a legend and pioneer of salsa: Willie Colón. The trombonist, songwriter, producer and arranger was a key part of the transition of Afro-Caribbean dance music from regional traditions to worldwide popularity. For an insider’s perspective on that history, this week we speak to trombonist and bandleader Angel “Papo” Vázquez, a Philadelphia-born musician who was not only inspired to play the trombone by Willie Colón, but also played on some historic recordings by Colón and other Fania Records notables. The best music tells great stories, and the same can be said about musicians. Vázquez brings along five tracks by Willie Colón that set him, and the rest of the world, on a path of deep appreciation for Colón’s contributions to salsa. This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Our third installment of calming songs includes Max Richter’s tribute to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, ambient sounds from Ryuichi Sakamoto, Brazilian jazz from Wayne Shorter and more. Note: This episode originally ran in April, 2025 Artists and songs featured on this episode: (00:00) Intro (02:20) The Choir: “You Don’t Have To Smile,” from ‘Translucent’ (05:58) Orbital Patterns: “Can’t Tell If I’m Awake,” from ‘Extended Impostor Syndrome’ (10:11) Ryuichi Sakamoto & Alvo Noto: “Logic Moon,” From ‘Insen’ (15:46) Lea Bertucci: “Vapours,” From ‘Of Shadow And Substance’ (20:25) Hayden Pedigo: “Long Pond Lily,” From ‘I’ll Be Waving As You Drive Away’ (25:57) Max Richter: “All Human Beings,” from ‘Voices’ (31:17) Wayne Shorter: “Tarde,” From ‘Native Dancer’ (36:15) Mabe Fratti: “El Sol Sigue Ahí,” From ‘Pies Sobre La Tierra’ (41:08) Ida: “Don’t Get Sad,” from ‘Will You Find Me?’ (46:10) David Zinman, Dawn Upshaw & London Sinfonietta:  “Lento,” from Henryk Górecki’s ‘Symphony No. 3, Op. 36 - Symphony Of Sorrowful Songs’ 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 To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Bruno Mars. Mitski. Grief and celebration from Gorillaz. Robin Hilton welcomes Raina Douris from WXPN in Philadelphia to chat about their favorite albums out Friday, Feb. 27. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in the lightning round. The Starting 5 (00:00) Introduction & Bruno Mars, 'The Romantic' (03:54) Mitski, 'Nothing's About to Happen to Me' (09:44) Gorillaz, 'The Mountain' (15:04) Heavenly, 'Highway To Heavenly' (20:34) Voxtrot, 'Dreamers in Exile' (27:12) Nothing, 'a short history of decay' (32:52) The Lightning Round - Buck Meek, 'The Mirror' - Maria BC, 'Marathon' - Bill Callahan, 'My Days of 58' - GENA, The Pleasure is Yours' - Sarah Kirkland Snider, 'Forward Into Light' Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org. Credits: Host: Robin Hilton Guest: Raina Douris, WXPN Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell Digital Producer: Dora Levite Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed Special thanks to Hazel Cills, Ann Powers, Sheldon Pearce and Tom Huizenga To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

When the dust of 2025 settles, what songs are still in heavy rotation from the year? We look back at a dizzying amount of music and share some of our picks for the best tracks of 2025. This is an incredibly incomplete list that obviously just scratches the surface of all the incredible music that came out this year.  For a more comprehensive breakdown of what we loved in 2025, check out NPR Music’s list of the 125 best songs.  Artists and songs featured on this episode: Dijon: “Yamaha,” from ‘Baby’ Nourished By Time: “Max Potential,” from ‘The Passionate Ones’ Patrick Watson: “Peter and the Wolf,” from ‘Uh Oh’ FKA twigs: “Room of Fools,” from ‘EUSEXUA’ PinkPantheress: “Stateside,” from ‘Fancy That’ Asher White: “Beers with my name on them,” from ‘8 Tips for Full Catastrophe Living’ Wednesday: “Townies,” from ‘Bleeds’ Gabriel Jacoby: “the one,” from ‘gutta child’ Olafur Arnalds, Talos: “We Didn’t Know We Were Ready (feat. Niamh Regan & Ye Vagabonds),” from ‘A Dawning’ Enjoy the show? Share it with a friend and leave us a review on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.  Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

This week on Alt.Latino, it's another new music episode with a global panorama: Canary Islands merengue, Chicano soul, Afro-Brazilian roots and more. Plus, a percussion supergroup that Felix could listen to for hours. Featured artists and albums: (00:00) Introduction (01:05) Quevedo, 'NI BORRACHO' (05:12) Joey Quiñones, 'In a Soul Situation' (12:34) Carolina Mama, 'Amina' (15:41) Elipsis, 'Elipsis' (19:32) Da Cruz, 'Som Sistema' (23:56) Sofía Rei, 'Antónima' This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music. To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

This week on All Songs Considered: U2 surprise-dropped a new EP that opens with a scorching critique of the government crackdown on immigration; Lana Del Rey inched closer toward releasing her long-awaited album with a haunting and strange ode to love and obsession, while singer Arlo Parks takes a bold step out onto the dance floor. All that and more as host Robin Hilton and NPR Music’s Sheldon Pearce share their picks for the best new songs of the week. Featured artists and songs: (00:00) Intro (01:50) U2: “American Obituary,” from ‘Days Of Ash’ (10:24) Arlo Parks: “Heaven,” from ‘Ambiguous Desire’ (17:37) Lana Del Rey: “White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter” (Single) (25:22) Baby Rose & Leon Thomas: “Friends Again” (Single) (31:58) James Blake: “I Had a Dream She Took My Hand,” from ‘Trying Times’ (39:08) Bella Kay: “Steady,” from ‘a couple minutes out’ And here's a link to Sheldon's piece on Jill Scott and Brent Faiyaz that was discussed during the show's intro: https://www.npr.org/2026/02/19/nx-s1-5713600/jill-scott-brent-faiyaz-rnb-review 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 To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Host Robin Hilton shares an update about some cosmetic changes coming to the 'All Songs Considered' podcast feed. To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

WILLOW. Altin Gün. Fugazi alumni smashing punk into jazz. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is joined by Evan Miller from WYSO in Yellow Springs, Ohio to chat about their favorite albums out Friday, Feb. 20. The Starting 5 (00:00) Introduction & WILLOW, 'petal rock black' (03:29) Pekka Kuusisto, 'Willows' (08:59) Manu Delago & Max ZT, 'Deuce' (16:21) The Messthetics & James Brandon Lewis, 'Deface The Currency' (21:29) Hen Ogledd, 'DISCOMBOBULATED' (27:19) Altin Gün, 'Garip' (32:41) The Lightning Round - Megan Moroney, 'Cloud 9' - Chris Forsyth's WHAT IS NOW, 'Both / And' - Choker, 'Heaven Ain't Sold' - MX LONELY, 'ALL MONSTERS' - Mumford & Sons, 'Prizefighter' Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist on NPR.org/allsongs Credits:  Host: Stephen Thompson Guest: Evan Miller, WYSO Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell Digital Producer: Dora Levite Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

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. To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

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’ 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 To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy