NPR Music

James Blake. Kim Gordon. Sturgill Simpson's country-funk alter ego. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with Amelia Mason from WBUR in Boston about their favorite albums out Friday, March 13. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round.

The Starting 5

(00:00) Introduction & Oscars predictions
(02:15) Johnny Blue Skies & The Dark Clouds, 'Mutiny After Midnight'
(08:50) James Blake, 'Trying Times'
(17:04) Anjimile, 'You're Free To Go'
(22:53) Kim Gordon, 'Play Me'
(27:52) Blessing Jolie, '20nothing'

(35:15) The Lightning Round

- Morgan Nagler, 'I've Got Nothing To Lose, and I'm Losing It'
- Tinariwen, 'Hoggar'
- Jorge Drexler, 'Taracá'
- The Tallis Scholars, 'Nico Muhly: No Resting Place'
- Fugazi, 'Albini Sessions'

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: Amelia Mason, WBUR
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Felix Contreras, Tom Huizenga and Lars Gotrich

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International Women's Day is more than a perfunctory holiday in many parts of Latin America. In Mexico City, for example, more than 120,000 people turned out on Sunday to protest femicide and celebrate the ongoing fight for basic rights for women in the country. In honor of the holiday, this week's episode debuts our female power anthems hall of fame, highlighting women in Latin music whose art challenged the status quo of their time. Plus, some on-the-ground reporting from Anamaria Sayre at the march in Mexico City.

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Will this finally be Diane Warren’s year at the Oscars, when she goes up against “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters and “I Lied to You” from Sinners? (Probably not.)

Host Robin Hilton is joined by New Music Friday’s Stephen Thompson to cruelly rank those nominees along with “Train Dreams” from Train Dreams and “Sweet Dreams of Joy” from Viva Verdi!.

(00:00) Intro
(02:37) Fifth place
(08:45) Fourth place
(16:55) Third place
(24:25) Second place
(33:31) First place and our pick to win the Oscar

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.org


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Flying Lotus. waterbaby. The groovy affirmations of Joshua Idehen. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson chats with Nate Chinen from WRTI in Philadelphia about their favorite albums out Friday, March 6. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer personal picks in our lightning round.

The Starting 5

(00:00) Introduction & Harry Styles, 'Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally.'
(03:18) Flying Lotus, 'BIG MAMA' EP
(08:34) waterbaby, 'Memory Be a Blade'
(15:20) Shabaka, 'Of The Earth'
(20:51) Joshua Idehen, 'I know you're hurting, everyone is hurting, everyone is trying, you have got to try'
(27:09) The Scythe, 'Strictly 4 The Scythe'

(31:37) The Lightning Round

- Cece Coakley, 'Pleasant Attack' EP
- Terrace Martin, 'Purpose'
- Various Artists, 'HELP(2)'
- Alice Sara Ott, 'Jóhann Jóhannsson: Piano Works'
- Macha & Bedhead, 'Macha Loved Bedhead'

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: Nate Chinen, WRTI
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Ann Powers, Tom Huizenga and Lars Gotrich


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On Feb. 21, the musical world lost a legend and pioneer of salsa: Willie Colón.

The trombonist, songwriter, producer and arranger was a key part of the transition of Afro-Caribbean dance music from regional traditions to worldwide popularity. For an insider’s perspective on that history, this week we speak to trombonist and bandleader Angel “Papo” Vázquez, a Philadelphia-born musician who was not only inspired to play the trombone by Willie Colón, but also played on some historic recordings by Colón and other Fania Records notables.

The best music tells great stories, and the same can be said about musicians. Vázquez brings along five tracks by Willie Colón that set him, and the rest of the world, on a path of deep appreciation for Colón’s contributions to salsa.

This podcast episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. The executive producer of NPR Music is Suraya Mohamed

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