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New Music Friday: The best albums out July 31 Jul 31, 2026

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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
(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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Alt.Latino: Is Bill Evans techno? Jul 29, 2026

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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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How to love the Grateful Dead Jul 28, 2026

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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.
Support the show with a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts.
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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New Music Friday: The best albums out July 24 Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

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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Alt.Latino: Spain wins (at music, too) Jul 22, 2026

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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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Sylvan Esso, Phoebe Bridgers, feeble little horse, more Jul 21, 2026

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We share our picks for the best new tracks out now, including the laid-back dystopia of Sylvan Esso’s “Concrete Glen,” an acoustic take on Phoebe Bridgers’ “Lost Boys,” the glitched-out chaos of feeble little horse and more.
NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton.
Support the show with a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts.
Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org
Featured artists and songs:
(00:00) Intro
(01:28) Sylvan Esso: “Concrete Glen”
(07:49) feeble little horse: “DMT”
(14:07) Phoebe Bridgers: “Lost Boys (acoustic)”
(22:15) Snõõper: “RECESS”
(26:50) The Olivia Tremor Control: “Garden of Light”
(33:53) @: “Autosmile”
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New Music Friday: The best albums out July 17 Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

Gracie Abrams. Nia Archives. Steve Lacy. On a release day full of catchy earworms, host Stephen Thompson chats with Tshego Letsoalo of KALW in San Francisco about their favorite albums out Friday, July 17. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round.
The Starting 5
(00:58) Album No. 1
- Gracie Abrams, 'Daughter from Hell'
(08:13) Album No. 2
- Steve Lacy, 'Oh Yeah?'
(16:38) Album No. 3
- Nia Archives, 'Emotional Junglist'
(22:27) Album No. 4
- Lido Pimienta, 'Caribenya'
(28:04) Album No. 5
- Swapmeet, 'Mount Zero'
(33:13) The Lightning Round
- Catherine Moan, 'CM Ultra'
- Helado Tropical, 'Helado Tropical'
- Orquesta Akokán, 'América!'
- Nao Yoshioka, 'Self'
- Quicksand, 'Bring On The Psychics'
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: Tshego Letsoalo, KALW
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Elle Mannion, Otis Hart
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Felix Contreras, Lars Gotrich and Ann Powers
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Alt.Latino: Country twang, Brazilian flow Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

With last week's best-of show behind us, we've got a clean slate to dive into our favorite new music kicking off the second half of the year. Felix brings a batch of country tracks, while Ana -- to absolutely no one's surprise -- continues her exploration of Brazil's endless supply of captivating music. Catch a mesmerizing indie-ambient album from João Carvalho, some posthumous crooning from Raul Malo, the twangy return of Oklahoma's rising star Wyatt Flores, and much more.
Artists and albums featured in this episode:
(01:13) Cruz Contreras & The Black Lillies, 'Gold and Roses (Live)'
(06:15) João Carvalho, 'Uma Festa no Centro do Vazio'
(13:02) Raul Malo, 'Bella Ciao: Raul Malo Live In Nashville'
(17:14) Rincon Sapiência, 'Um Corpo Preto'
(24:13) Wyatt Flores, 'Scared of Heights'
(27:50) Cupido, 'Maldito Cupido'
This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.
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beabadoobee, The Rolling Stones, Four Tet, more Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

On her stellar new single, “Switchblade,” beabadoobee shreds ‘90s style. The Rolling Stones have still got it on their latest album, Foreign Tongues. And Four Tet surprises us with a new “wingdings” project. We’ve got all that and more as we share our picks for the best new songs of the week.
NPR Music’s Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton.
Featured artists and songs:
(00:00) Intro
(01:20) beabadoobee: “Switchblade”
(08:31) Bonobo & Arooj Aftab: “Fire on the Water”
(15:09) The Rolling Stones: “Ringing Hollow”
(25:31) L’rain: “borderline”
(33:02) Four Tet: "track 3"
(40:35) Ela Minus and Nick León: “espiral”
Support the show with a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts.
Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org.
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New Music Friday: The best albums out July 10 Jul 10, 2026

Show notes

Jack White. Baby Rose. Suki Waterhouse. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Maggie Brennan of WCBE in Ohio about their favorite albums out Friday, July 10. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round.
The Starting 5
(02:00) Album No. 1
- Jack White, 'Frozen Charlotte'
(07:28) Album No. 2
- Baby Rose, 'YEARNALISM'
(15:23) Album No. 3
- Suki Waterhouse, 'Loveland'
(22:17) Album No. 4
- Allison Russell, 'In the Hour of Chaos'
(28:22) Album No. 5
- Houndmouth, 'Lordy'
(32:46) The Lightning Round
- Bella Kay, 'My Reckless Abandon'
- Luluc, 'Sweet Thief'
- The Temper Trap, 'Sungazer'
- Kelela, 'new avatar'
- Tracey Nelson, 'Hercules'
- Ultra Lights, 'Pleasure's All Yours'
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: Maggie Brennan, WCBE
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Daoud Tyler-Ameen, Elle Mannion, Otis Hart
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Sheldon Pearce and Lars Gotrich
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
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