NPR Music

01/04/2025

There were several great new albums released in December, after all the list-making had ceased. Here’s five you don’t want to miss.

There's been some great music released since the last New Music Friday episode in late November. So, on this slow January release day, NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and WRTI's Nate Chinen catch you up on the best albums we heard in December in between "All I Want For Christmas Is You" and "Grandma Go...

12/31/2024

The southern rappers GloRilla, Latto and Doechii proudly displayed their heritage and made sure it bubbled up in everything they released.

In 2024, GloRilla, Latto and Doechii all delivered landmark rap albums. Not just because they had the best bars, but because each trusted themself enough to make an artistic and commercial leap.

12/31/2024

Viking's Choice: The year in catharsis and calm, from All Songs Considered

NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich turns us on to lesser known corners of music from 2024: blooming drone-folk, richly textured jazz, Somali garage-rock, medieval metal and a bittersweet farewell from a beloved Athens psych-pop band. You can find more adventurous music and mixtapes via Lars' newsletter...

12/30/2024

‘90s alt-rockers Cake took part in Texas Public Radio’s ‘Freight Elevator’ series and performed a new song. 👂 👀

Ahead of their show in San Antonio, indie rock legends CAKE stopped by Texas Public Radio to record a song for another session of Live From the Freight Eleva...

12/24/2024

We heard so many great albums in 2024, none more imaginative or compelling than Blues Blood, by alto saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins.

We're looking back at the stories, themes and other highlights from a jam-packed year — including Blues Blood, an album by our guest, alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins.

12/23/2024

Earlier this month, the BLACKPINK member Rosé and the girl group TWICE, two of the genre's towering figures, released new English-language music on the same day — the former dropping her solo debut, rosie, and the latter releasing a mini-album led by the Megan Thee Stallion-featuring title track, "Strategy."

Cultural differences are a key charm of Korea's exploding pop market. When its stars start directly courting American listeners, is it even K-pop anymore?

12/23/2024

Our annual memorial to the music makers we lost over the past year.

It takes a village to make the music we love. We remember the singers, songwriters, composers, instrumentalists, producers and journalists that we lost in 2024.

12/21/2024

The team that produces, films and edits our Tiny Desk series shared their favorite concerts of 2024. Please enjoy these incredible performances with your friends and family this holiday season.

We asked 10 members of our Tiny Desk team to pick a favorite concert of the year.

12/20/2024

NPR Music critic Ann Powers' favorite albums of the year know no boundaries. The list's 15 records span genres, geography and much more.

NPR Music's pop critic says her favorite albums of this tumultuous year demonstrated the value of embracing fragility and vulnerability.

12/20/2024

Sabrina Carpenter performed the final Tiny Desk of 2024. And she brought her hits.

2024's breakout star reimagines her biggest hits from her Grammy-nominated album Short n' Sweet, while sharing stories of how the tracks came to life.

12/20/2024

NPR Music critic Sheldon Pearce listened to more than 200 albums this year. Here are his favorite 20 of 2024.

For NPR Music's hip-hop and R&B editor, no list could capture an accurate picture of the year, yet there's still value in calling out the albums that felt unignorable.

12/16/2024

NPR has confirmed the death of master tabla player Zakir Hussain. He died Sunday from a rare form of lung disease.

Hussain's career spanned over five decades, during which he was revered as both a national treasure in India and admired worldwide.

12/13/2024

French pianist Martial Solal, who among many other things composed the score to Jean-Luc Godard's 'Breathless,' died Thursday at the age of 97.

A brilliant French jazz pianist who led a distinguished 75-year career, Martial Solal is also known for composing the score for Jean-Luc Godard's first film. Solal died on Dec. 12 in Versailles, at 97.

12/12/2024

Billie Eilish at the Tiny Desk!

The pop star effortlessly illustrates in her music what it means to love and lose simultaneously.

12/06/2024

The breakout rapper of the year brought her rapid-fire skills to the Tiny Desk.

The Grammy-nominated rapper moved throughout her Tiny Desk with purpose — knowing exactly what she wanted and how to achieve it.

12/05/2024

12/05/2024

WXPN in Philadelphia is counting down its listeners' 885 greatest songs of the 21st century! Follow along by following their page.

Throughout the 885 Greatest Songs of the 21st Century countdown, we’re taking you into a deep dive of select songs that made the countdown each day. Today we're looking at "This Mess We're In" by PJ Harvey ft. Thom Yorke, which sits at no. 884 on the .

This song is not about a love song about long-term commitment, it’s about right now and likely never again, and it’s about finding the beauty in a fleeting connection before the next daylight breaks and the chapter turns. Between fervent minor chord guitar strums, an icily minimal hi-hat snare rhythm, and two beautiful voices intertwining in and around one another, the song is simple in its arrangement but packs a punch.

Learn more about the song, and the : https://xpn.org/2024/12/05/no-884-pj-harvey-thom-yorke-885-countdown/

12/04/2024

We are so thrilled to share the 124 Best Songs of 2024, as selected by NPR Music and our public radio station partners. Check out the link in the comments and find something new to love.