With the end of 2025 in sight, we pause to update our running list of the year’s best songs. Our latest adds include the (possibly twisted) dance pop of JADE, a brutal but affecting story song from S.G. Goodman, power pop from the band Liquid Mike and more. But we open with a question: Benson Boone... kinda awesome?Featured artists and songs:1. Liquid Mike: “Double Dutch,” from ‘Hell Is An Airport’2. Cleo Reed: “Always the Horse, Never the Jockey (feat. IWEWE),” from ‘C**try’3. JADE: “Plastic Box,” from ‘THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!’4. S.G. Goodman: “Snapping Turtle," from 'Planting by the Signs’5. Ken Pomeroy: “Stranger,” from ‘Cruel Joke’Weekly reset: A breezy, Sunday morning in a small townEnjoy the show? Send it to 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.orgLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A Pulitzer Prize-winning hip-hop album, a crushing elegy to a lost love, a reevaluation of Kesha, "melodrama" from Lorde and more.Note: This is a recurring series in celebration of All Songs Considered’s 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Mavis Staples. Young Miko. A jaw-dropping project from Rosalía. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is joined by Alt.Latino's Anamaria Sayre and Liz Felix from WYEP in Pittsburgh to discuss their favorite new albums out November 7.The Starting 5:- Rosalía, 'Lux'- Young Miko, 'Do Not Disturb'- Various Artists, 'All Things Go: 10 Years'- Portugal. The Man, 'Shish'- Mavis Staples, 'Sad and Beautiful World'The Lightning Round:- Juana Molina, 'DOGA'- Liam Kazar, 'Pilot Light'- The Mountain Goats, 'Through This Fire Across From Peter Balkan'- The Cranberries, 'MTV Unplugged'- Sarathy Korwar, 'There Is Beauty, There Already'See the long list of albums out Nov. 7 and sample dozens of them via our New Music Friday playlist on NPR.orgCredits:Host: Stephen ThompsonGuests: Anamaria Sayre and Liz Felix, WYEPAudio Producer: Noah CaldwellDigital Producer: Elle MannionEditor: Otis HartExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Ever since I heard the Argentine saxophonist Gato Barbieri back in the Seventies, I’ve been fascinated by musicians from South America who found their way to jazz.Lately there seems to be a strong showing of contemporary musicians from various Latin American countries who not only play jazz but also mix certain Latin American folk traditions into their sound.So, this week I spoke with six of them: vocalist Claudia Acuña from Chile, Argentine vocalists Sofia Rei and Roxana Amed, Mexican vocalist Magos Herrera, guitarist/vocalist Camila Meza and tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana.Each has a story about identity, living the jazz dream and how they came to jazz.Hopefully you’ll use this roadmap to start your own journey into jazz, if you haven’t already.- FelixMusic heard in this episode:Claudia Acuña - “Prelude To A Kiss”Sofia Rei - “El Gavilán”Gato Barieri - “To Be Continued”Roxana Amed - “Corazón delator”Mangos Herrera - “Luz de Luna”Camila Meza - “Utopia”Melissa Aldana - “A Purpose”Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Our fourth installment of music to slow the blood is a mix of all-new releases from this year, from the world-building, ambient sounds of Ozbolt and Klein to the hope, optimism and good company found in the music of Samia, Hand Habits, KeiyaA and more.NPR Music’s Dora Levite and Sheldon Pearce join host Robin Hilton.Featured songs and artists:1. Kieren Hebden & William Tyler: “Secret City,” from ‘41 Longfield Street Late ‘80s’2. Cassandra Jenkins: “Only Relaxation,” from ‘My Light, My Massage Parlor’3. David Cordero & anthené: “Humedal,” from ‘Let One Bird Sing’4. KeiyaA: “stupid prizes,” from ‘hooke’s law’5. Annahstasia: Unrest,” from ‘Tether’6. Klein: “it is what it is in d minor,” from ‘sleep with a cane’7. Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke: “The Spirit,” from ‘Tall Tales’8. Hand Habits: “Jasmine Blossoms,” from ‘Blue Reminder’9. Ozbolt: “Harkerville Coastal Trail,” from ‘Chasyng Drakens’10. Samia: “Pool (Stripped),” from ‘The Baby (5th Anniversary Edition)’11. The Armed: “I Steal What I Want,” from ‘The Future Is Here And Everything Needs To Be Destroyed’12. Stars of the Lid: “Goodnight,” from ‘Music for Nitrous Oxide (30 Year Anniversary 2025 Remaster)'Enjoy the show? Send it to 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.orgLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It was a year of staggering losses, from David Bowie and Prince to Leonard Cohen and George Michael. But it was also a year of monumental new music, including Beyonce’s 'Lemonade' and a mountain-sized rock anthem from Mitski.Note: This is a recurring series in celebration of All Songs Considered’s 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

A Waxahatchee side project. Guided By Voices. keiyaA. Marfa Public Radio's Julie Bee joins NPR Music's Stephen Thompson to break down the best albums out on Halloween. The Starting 5:- Snocaps (Katie and Allison Crutchfield), s/t (Stream)- Guided By Voices, Thick Rich and Delicious (Stream)- Chat Pile & Hayden Pedigo, In The Earth Again (Stream)- keiyaA, hooke's law (Stream)- Anna von Hausswolff, Iconoclasts (Stream)The Lightning Round:- Florence + The Machine, Everybody Scream- The Charlatans, We Are Love- Saintsenaca, Highwalllow & Supermoon Songs- Hilary Woods, Night CRIÚ- Lily Lyons, Re-Open The WorldSee the long list of albums out Oct. 31 and sample dozens of them via our New Music Friday playlist on NPR.org. Follow Julie Bee's weekly Marfa Public Radio show on Mixcloud.Credits:Host: Stephen ThompsonGuest: Julie Bee, Marfa Public RadioAudio Producer: Noah CaldwellDigital Producer: Elle MannionEditor: Otis HartExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Not to sound like a broken record, but I'll say it again: the variety of creative expression in what is inadequately labeled "Latin music" continues to astound me.From the bossa nova-by-way-of-Guatemala of Fabuloso and Los Skeepers, to the evolving torch singing of the Chilean-via-Mexico vocalist Mon Laferte, to the ‘Western noir’ of California singer Andrés Miguel Cervantes, to Nathy Peluso’s Argentine take on Seventies New York City salsa, to jazz from southern Spain’s Chano Domínguez... how do we even try to keep up with this kind of output?Someone has to do it, and we’re glad it’s us. Featured artists and songs:- Milo J, 'OLIMPO', 'Bajo De La Piel', 'Jangadero'- Fabuloso & Los Skeepers, 'Si Te Gusta'- Mon Laferte, 'Las Flores Que Dejaste En La Mesa', '1:30'- Chano Domínguez & Emaginario, 'March Of The Siguiriyas'- Nathy Peluso, 'ÁNGEL'- Andrés Miguel Cervantes, 'Dreams of Jacumba'This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It’s a week of surprises as we update our running list of the year’s best music, with a mix of songs that refuse to be any one thing. Plus, singer Brandi Carlile drops a stunning, stadium-sized rock anthem.NPR Music editor Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton.Featured artists and songs:1. Brandi Carlile: “Church & State,” from ‘Returning to Myself’2. Hannah Frances: “The Space Between (feat. Daniel Rossen),” from ‘Nested in Tangles’3. Kelly Moran: “Don’t Trust Mirrors,” from ‘Don’t Trust Mirrors’4. Blood Orange: “The Last of England,” from ‘Essex Honey’5. Magdalena Bay: “Second Sleep” (single)Weekly reset: A family of bears rummage through a forest on an autumn afternoon.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.orgLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Guitar rock comes roaring back, a monumental tear-jerker wrecks legions of fans, hip-hop hits Broadway and more.Note: This is a recurring series in celebration of All Songs Considered’s 25th anniversary. A shorter version of this episode ran earlier in the year.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy