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Alt.Latino: New songs from Spain, the D.R. and more Sep 24, 2025

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The way new music comes to Alt.Latino World Headquarters says a lot about our slight age difference. I still get CDs in the mail, with an occasional music file sent via email. Ana is constantly playing me audio files she gets vial email or texts from her new music sources, very rarely on CD. So while we were busy putting the finishing touches on our fist annual El Tiny takeover of the Tiny Desk Concert series, our mail piled up. Which means we had lots to choose from for this week's new music episode. There's bound to be something that catches your ear and makes you think: 'How did I live without that in my life?"
Featured artists and songs:
- Making Movies, “La Marea” ft. Mireya Ramos
- Teo Planell, “El Mundo Delante de Ti”, “Como Pensarte Mal”
- Ramona and the Holy Smokes, “Esta Herida”, “I Want You To Be My Man”
- Lorea, “Se me ve la cabeza”, “Mi alma sobre la mesa”
- Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Yainer Horta and Joey Calveiro, “Quizás, Quizás, Quizás”
- Martox, “Enganchao de Ti”
This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.
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Why Wilco's Jeff Tweedy still finds joy in troubled times Sep 23, 2025

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The Wilco frontman talks about his new triple solo album, 'Twilight Override,' an enthralling opus on the miracle and wonder of life, and why he can't get enough of it, even when everything seems bad.
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Our No. 1 songs: 2010 Sep 22, 2025

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It was a year of both soaring euphoria and quiet calm, with lots of sonic adventures.
Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show's 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year.
Tell us what you think: allsongs@npr.org
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The best new albums out Sept. 19 Sep 19, 2025

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Joan Shelley, Lola Young and the return of Sarah McLachlan. Kyle Meredith from WFPK in Louisville joins Stephen Thompson to chat about their favorite albums out Friday, Sept. 19.
The Starting 5:
- Joan Shelley, 'Real Warmth' (Stream)
- Lola Young, 'I'm Only F****** Myself' (Stream)
- Wednesday, 'Bleeds' (Stream)
- Sarah McLachlan, 'Better Broken' (Stream)
- Yasmine Hamdan, 'I remember I forget بنسى وبتذكر' (Stream)
The Lightning Round:
- Kieran Hebden & William Tyler, '41 Longfield Street Late '80s'
- Nine Inch Nails, 'Tron: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)'
- Lawrence Matthews, 'Between Mortal Reach & Posthumous Grip'
- Joy Crookes, 'Juniper'
- Joanne Robertson, 'Blurrr'
See the long list of albums out Sept. 12 and sample dozens of them via our New Music Friday playlist on npr.org.
Credits
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Kyle Meredith, WFPK
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Elle Mannion
Editor: Otis Hart
Production Assistant: Dora Levite
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
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Alt.Latino: Bad Bunny Closes Out His Residency Sep 17, 2025

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Bad Bunny's months-long residency in Puerto Rico is coming to an end. The shows brought in hundreds of millions of dollars to the island, and sparked new debates about Puerto Rican identity and politics.
For this week's episode, Alt.Latino's Anamaria Sayre and Felix Contreras traveled to San Juan to take in one of the final performances, and interview both locals and tourists about the musical and cultural impact of the summer of Bad Bunny.
This podcast was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.
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The Contenders, Vol. 20: The Beths, Dustin O’Halloran, Nicholas Payton, more Sep 16, 2025

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We’ve got six must-hear songs to add to our running list of the year’s best tracks, including some shredding from The Beths, a gorgeous solo piano piece from Dustin O’Halloran, sublime jazz from Nicholas Payton and more.
Featured artists and songs:
1. The Beths: “No Joy,” from ‘Straight Line Was A Lie’
2. Nate Smith & Saje: “Big Fish,” from ‘Live Action’
3. Dustin O’Halloran: “Gold” (Single)
4. Dara Starr Tucker: “Pure Imagination,” from ‘Time Wouldn’t Wait’
5. Grumpy: “Crush,” from ‘Piebald’
6. Nicholas Payton (with Esperanza Spalding and Karriem Riggins): “Let It Ride,” from ‘Triune’
Weekly reset: A late-summer day at the playground
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Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org
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Our No. 1 songs: 2009 Sep 15, 2025

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We enter the stomp-clap era as we look back at our number one songs from 2009.
Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show's 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year.
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The best new albums out Sept. 12 Sep 12, 2025

Show notes

Guerilla Toss. Die Spitz. The return of Spinal Tap. Raina Douris from WXPN's World Cafe joins Stephen Thompson to discuss their favorite albums out Friday, Sept. 12.
The Starting 5:
- Spinal Tap, 'The End Continues' (Stream)
- Guerilla Toss, 'You're Weird Now' (Stream)
- Die Spitz, 'Something to Consume' (Stream)
- Frost Children, 'Sister' (Stream)
- Mark William Lewis, 'Mark William Lewis' (Stream)
The Lightning Round:
- Sophie Ellis-Bextor, 'Perimenopop'
- Asher White, '8 tips for full catastrophe living'
- Jade, 'THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY!'
- Fruit Bats, 'Baby Man'
- Kassa Overall, 'CREAM'
See the long list of albums out Sept 12 and sample dozens of them via our New Music Friday playlist on npr.org.
Credits
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Raina Douris, WXPN
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Elle Mannion
Editor: Otis Hart
Production Assistant: Dora Levite
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
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Alt.Latino: A Tribute to Felix Sep 10, 2025

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This week's episode of Alt.Latino is a tribute to host Felix Contreras, who just received the Hispanic Heritage Award for Journalism from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. Co-host Anamaria Sayre and the Alt.Latino team surprised Felix with guest appearances from Juanes, Daymé Arocena, Chucho Valdés, Dolores Huerta and more.
This podcast was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.
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The Contenders, Vol. 19: Neko Case, Asher White, caroline, more Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

Hear the songs we just had to share this week. NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton to update our running list of the year’s best songs, with head-spinning, shape-shifting wonders from Asher White, transcendent ambient sounds from Early Fern, the first new solo album from Neko Case in eight years and more.
Featured artists and songs:
1. Asher White: “Beers with my name on them,” from ‘8 Tips for Catastrophe Living’
2. Neko Case: “Wreck,” from ‘Neon Grey Midnight Green'
3. caroline: “Total Euphoria,” from ‘caroline 2’
4. Sturle Dagsland: “Hugging Horses,” from ‘Dreams And Conjurations’
5. Model/Actriz: “Doves,” from ‘Piourette’
6. Early Fern: “Teasel,” from ‘Wetland Interiors’
Weekly reset: Horses are really having a moment
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
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