All Songs Considered

With Mother’s Day nearing, listeners share the songs that remind them of their moms and the deeply moving stories behind them.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.orgNote: A version of this episode originally ran in 2024Featured artists and songs:(00:00) Intro / “Stardust Memories” by Hoagey Carmichael(01:52) Christina Aguilera: “Beautiful”(06:06) Jeannie C. Riley: “Harper Valley P.T.A.”(10:09) Kermit the Frog: “Rainbow Connection”(13:50) Phyllis Hyman: “You Know How To Love Me”(17:16) MILCK: “Oh, Mother”(21:58) Christina Perri: “You Are My Sunshine”(25:33) The Tokens: “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”(29:16) Four Tops: “Reach Out I’ll Be There”(33:43) Sweet Honey In The Rock: “Wanting Memories”See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Our latest mix of the best new songs out now includes a scorching new cut from Jack White, a surprise (and breathtaking) return of electronic legends Boards of Canada, outlaw country from Charley Crockett and more. NPR Music’s Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton.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.orgFeatured artists and songs:(00:00) Intro(01:22) Jack White: “G.O.D. and the Broken Ribs” (Single)(08:38) Kelela: “idea 1” (Single)(16:13) mary in the junkyard: “Crash Landing” from Role Model Hermit(24:59) Charley Crockett: “Kentucky Too Long” from Age of the Ram(32:33) Boards of Canada: “Tape 05” (Single)(40:09) Purity Ring: “lemonlime” (Single)See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

We celebrate spring and new beginnings with a perfect mix of songs for starting over. This can take many forms: songs that spark a good, cleansing cry; songs that offer wisdom, or just a sure-fire jolt of adrenaline. But in the end, all of the tracks can help reconfigure your mood, your day or even your life. Host Robin Hilton is joined by NPR Music’s Noah Caldwell and Dora Levite.Featured artists and songs:(00:00) Intro(02:05) Nina Simone: “Feelin’ Good” from I Put a Spell on You(06:02) Cassandra Jenkins: “Hard Drive” from An Overview of Phenomenal Nature(10:29) Cajmere: “Brighter Days” from Brighter Days(15:42) Beastie Boys: “Sabotage” from Ill Communication(18:54) Wednesday: “Reality TV Argument Bleeds” from Bleeds(22:43) Gregory Alan Isakov: “Second Chances” from The Weatherman(27:09) Bob Marley: “Three Little Birds” from Exodus(30:56) LCD Soundsystem: “Oh Baby” from American Dream(35:18) Ryuichi Sakamoto: “Zure” from async(41:02) Amy Shark: “Amy Shark” from Cry Forever(45:26) Sluice: “Beadie” from Companion(50:05) The Allman Brothers Band: “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More” from Eat a PeachSupport 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.orgSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

More than 6,000 artists entered this year’s Tiny Desk Contest, hoping to win their very own performance behind the actual Desk. We’ll announce the winner soon, but in the meantime, we’re sharing some of our favorite entries, from the riff-rock group Pump Action, to soul singer Les Greene, loop artist Jackie Marchal, singer-songwriter Yuri Shin and more.Tiny Desk series producer Bobby Carter joins All Songs Considered host Robin Hilton. (They’re also the two lead judges for the Contest.)Featured entries:(00:00) Intro(00:51) Pump Action: “Supernova”(03:34) Lily Talmers: “Big Idea”(07:18) Walker Burroughs: “Open Skies”(10:53) Les Greene and the Swayzees: "Long Story Short"(14:08) Nicolosi: “Are You Coming To The Ivy?”(17:20) Jackie Marchal: “Excavate The Girl”(21:43) the King will come: “welcome”(24:33) Yuri Shin: “Falling Rabbit”(27:54) Lauren Frihauf: “One Thing Always Leads To Another”(31:41) Meira: “Make Me Go”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.orgSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

We check back in with our running list of the best songs of the week, including Olivia Rodrigo’s cover of The Magnetic Fields classic “The Book of Love,” Noah Kahan’s anthemic new single “Porch Light,” one of Aldous Harding’s boldest songs to date and more. NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton.(00:00) Intro(01:29) Noah Kahan: “Porch Light” from ‘The Great Divide’(09:09) Olivia Rodrigo: “The Book of Love” from ‘Help (2)’(16:48) Ages and Ages: “Feel Amazing” from ‘Fine Thanks and You’(24:30) Aldous Harding: “One Stop” from ‘Train on the Island’(31:23) Ryan Lott: “Discontent” from ‘Marathon’ (38:20) underscores: “Tell Me (U Want It)” from ‘U’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.orgSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

This week we're obsessing over the hilarious and harrowing “Where’s My Phone,” from Mitski, a slightly softer solo cut from Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, the confounding but wondrous wordplay of Father John Misty and more.NPR Music editor Hazel Cills joins host Robin Hilton.Featured songs and artists:Mitski: “Where’s My Phone,” from ‘Nothing’s About to Happen to Me’Robber Robber: “The Sound It Made,” from ‘Two Wheels Move the Soul’Tinariwen: “Sagherat Assani (feat. Sulafa Elyas),” from ‘Hoggar’Kim Gordon: “NOT TODAY,” from ‘PLAY ME’Father John Misty: “The Old Law” (single)Vero: “100 Calls,” from ‘Razor Tongue’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.orgSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.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.orgSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

The Beck rarity “Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime” has finally hit streaming services and we can’t get enough of it. We’ve also got new (not-yet-announced) projects from Friko and Asher White, a witchy new cut from the duo Sibyl, the Polish composer and guitarist Szymon Wójcik and more.NPR Music’s Lars Gotrich joins host Robin Hilton.Featured songs and artists:(00:00) Intro and The Grammys(03:31) Beck: “Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime,” from ‘Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime’(12:29) Rat Penat: “Kijiji,” from ‘Over Easy’(18:26) Friko: “Seven Degrees,” from ‘Something Worth Waiting For’(25:27) Sibyl: “Witch Wife,” from ‘Sibyl’(30:42) Asher White: “Casper,” from ‘Jessica Pratt’(38:22) Szymon Wójcik: “it’s only begun,” from ‘when you rub your eyes, you see things you can’t describe’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.orgSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

Reports from late last year about the demise of MTV were overstated; but it got us thinking about the network’s legacy and most memorable moments. So, on this episode, we remember the best of MTV with a list of our top 20 videos from its golden era.Support the show by leaving 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.orgSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

We look ahead to some of the albums we’re most excited about for the new year, from sure bets like Dry Cleaning, Ásgeir and Beverly Glenn-Copeland to rumored releases from Noah Kahan, Robyn, The xx and more.Dry Cleaning: “Cruise Ship Designer,” from ‘Secret Love’Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore: “Perpetual Adoration,” from ‘Tragic Magic’Ásgeir: “Smoke,” from ‘Julia’Joyce Manor: “All My Friends Are So Depressed,” from ‘I Used To Go To This Bar’Beverly Glenn-Copeland: “Laughter In Summer (with Elizabeth Glenn-Copeland),” from ‘Laughter In Summer’gobbinjr: “Just a dream,” from ‘crystal rabbit moon’Danny L Harle, Oklou & MNEK: “Crystallise My Tears,” from ‘Cerulean’August Ponthier: “Handsome,” from ‘Everywhere Isn’t Texas’Mumford & Sons: “Rubber Band Man (with Hozier),” from ‘Prizefighter’Support the show by leaving 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.orgSee pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy