It's another packed release week; Lil Nas X's debut EP is finally here, along with a posthumous release from Prince, a solo album from producer Mark Ronson, the return of The Raconteurs and more. FEATURED ALBUMS: Black Pumas: Black Pumas; Bedouine: Bird Songs of a Killjoy; The Raconteurs: Help Us Stranger; Prince: Originals; Hatchie: Keepsake; Mark Ronson: Late Night Feelings; Lil Nas X: 7. OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES FOR JUNE 21: Blick Bassy: 1958; Cassius: Dreems; Black Midi: Schlagenheim; Buddy and Judy Miller: Breakdown on 20th Avenue South; Fruit Bats: Gold Past Life; Gucci Mane: Delusions of Grandeur; Mannequin Pussy: Patience; Pell: Gravity; Titus Andronicus: An Obelisk; Willie Nelson: Ride Me Back Home.

The first half of 2019 has given us a lot of emerging artists to celebrate, from Lil Nas X and his insanely catchy (and endlessly meme-able) "Old Town Road" remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, to the Irish punk group Fontaines D.C. On this episode of All Songs Considered we count down the top ten most-mentioned new artists as selected by listeners in our recent online poll.

Our list of the week's best new albums includes Bruce Springsteen's wistful ode to orchestral pop, the rock artistry of Baroness, DMV rapper Goldlink, the spoken-word artist Kate Tempest and more. FEATURED ALBUMS: 1. Baroness: Gold & Grey; 2. Bruce Springsteen: Western Stars; 3. Kate Tempest: The Books of Traps and Lessons; 4. Bill Callahan: Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest; 5. Calexico + Iron & Wine: Years to Burn; 6. House and Land: Across the Field; 7. John Luther Adams: Become Desert; 8. Goldlink: Disaspora. OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES FOR JUNE 14: Another Sky: Life Was Coming in Through the Blinds; Bad Books: III; Cigarette: Light Blues; Dressy Bessy: Fast Faster Disaster; Julia Shapiro: Perfect Version; Kaleidoscope: After the Futures; Keb' Mo': Oklahoma; Luxury: Trophies; Madonna: Madame X.

Host Bob Boilen is joined by NPR Music's Lyndsey McKenna and Marissa Lorusso for an essential mix that includes the honey-sludge pop of Haybaby, cathartic rock from the Shreveport band Seratones, dancer-turned singer-songwriter Jordan Moser and more. PLAYLIST: 1. (Sandy) Alex G: "Gretel," 2. Haybaby: "Animosity," 3. Seratones: "Power," 4. Outer Spaces: "YMLGOML," 5. Jordan Moser: "The Devil," 6. Joan Shelley: "Coming Down For You."

Our shortlist for the best new albums out on June 7 includes the roots-rock duo Ida Mae, new gospel from disco legend Gloria Gaynor, the ruminative rock of Palehound, Santana, Stef Chura and more. FEATURED ALBUMS: 1. Ida Mae: Chasing Light; 2. Jamie Cullum: Taller; 3. Gloria Gaynor: Testimony; 4. Santana: Africa Speaks; 5. Jake Xerxes Fussell: Out of Sight; 6. Jon Mueller: Canto; 7. Palehound: Black Friday; 8. Stef Chura: Midnight. OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES FOR JUNE 7: Aurora: A Different Kind of Human; Avicii: Tim; Bob Dylan: The Rolling Thunder Review - The 1975 Live Recordings; Cave In: Final Transmission; Dylan Leblanc: Renegade; Earthen Sea: Grass and Trees; Future: Save Me; Jonas Brothers: Happiness Begins; Neil Young: Tuscaloosa; Perry Farrell: Kind Heaven; Rickie Lee Jones: KICKS; Silversun Pickups: Widow's Weeds; Yeasayer: Erotic Returns; Tim Heidecker: What the Brokenhearted Do.

Jessi Whitten of Colorado Public Radio's Open Air co-hosts this week's All Songs Considered and turns me on to the Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, the funnest band name of the year with music all the way from Perth, Australia to match. All of Jessi's picks are laced with fun, including French Vanilla's new-wave, early-'80s sound, reminiscent of the British punk band X-Ray Spex. She also brings us music from Colorado by Kiltro, a band with one foot in Colorado and another in Chile. I also have a noisy band called Wives., These folks are from Queens, New York and have a five-minute-plus, Velvet Underground-inspired tune called "Workin'." I also play one of Bon Iver's newest songs that's a nod to the past and to a mother's love. And my favorite new discovery is Kate Davis, a singer who co-wrote Sharon Van Etten's song "Seventeen." The same talented lyricism can be found in Kate's song, "rbbts."

Our list of the best new albums out this week includes Kishi Bashi's moving remembrance of Japanese internment camps during World War II, R&B singer Raveena, solo piano from Eluvium, Skepta and more. FEATURED ALBUMS: Kishi Bashi: Omoiyari; Raveena: Lucid; Eluvium: Piano Works; Daniel Wohl: État; Skepta: Ignorance Is Bliss; Christelle Bofale: Swim Team. OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES FOR MAY 31: Apex Manor: Heartbreak City; Denzel Curry: Zuu; Fujiya & Miyagi: Flashback; The Gotobeds: Debt Begins at 30; Lee Scratch Perry: Rainford; Pip Blom: Boat; Sinkane: Dépaysé; Soundwalk Collective with Patti Smith: The Peyote Dance; Thomas Rhett: Center Point Road.

This week's All Songs Considered features a gorgeous, solo piano instrumental from Rhye, Tiny Desk contest winner Quinn Christopherson's unique look at male privilege, psych-pop via Ari Roar and more. 1. Ari Roar: "Let Out" from 'Best Behavior;' 2. Quinn Christopherson: "Erase Me" from his winning entry for the Tiny Desk contest; 3. Rhye: "Malibu Nights" from 'Spirit;' 4. T?th: "When I Awoke" from 'Practice Magic and Seek Professional Help When Necessary;' 5. Joanna Sternberg: "For You" from 'Then I Try Some More;' 6. Another Sky: "The Cracks" from 'Life Was Coming in Through the Blinds;' 7. Marika Hackman: "I'm Not Where You Are" from 'Any Human Friend.'

The best new albums out this week include a stirring call for social justice from soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples, rapper YG's remembrance of Nipsey Hussle, lo-fi rock veteran's Sebadoh and more. 1. Mavis Staples: We Get By; 2. Justin Townes Earle: The Saint of Lost Causes; 3. Lucky Daye: Painted; 4. YG: 4REAL 4REAL; 5. Billy Ray Cyrus: The Snake Doctor Circus; 6. Flying Lotus: Flamagra; 7. Sebadoh: Act Surprised. OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES FOR MAY 24: Cate Le Bon: Reward; Fay Webster: Atlanta Millionaires Club; Hayden Thorpe: Diviner; Honeyblood: In Plain Sight; Middle Kids: New Songs for Old Problems; Sean Nelson: Nelson Sings Nilsson; Steve Lacy: Apollo XXI; Stray Cats: 40.

On this edition of All Songs Considered, Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood joins us to talk about two of his classical compositions we've just premiered on our Tiny Desk series. He also shares some of the music that's inspired him over the years by other artists and explains how he came to love such a rich and diverse tapestry of sounds.

Our shortlist of the best new albums out this week includes a visionary work from The National, the pop wisdom of Carly Rae Jepsen, Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion and more. FEATURED ALBUMS: 1. The National: I Am Easy to Find; 2. Duckwrth: The Falling Man; 3. Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram: Kingfish; 4. Carly Rae Jepsen: Dedicated; 5. Megan Thee Stallion: Fever; The Head and the Heart: Living Mirage. OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES FOR MAY 17: Alex Lahey: Best of Luck Club; DJ Khaled: Father of Asahd; Injury Reserve: Injury Reserve; Josephine Wiggs: We Fall; Olden Yolk: Living Theater; Slowthai: Nothing Great About Britain; Steel Pulse: Mass Manipulation; Tyler, The Creator: IGOR.

On this Guest DJ edition of All Songs Considered a conversation with Joe Talbot. Joe is a passionate force behind the British band IDLES. They are a band that at once are both fierce and compassionate. IDLES are one of the best live rock bands I've seen, creating mosh pits and community with their noise and humanity. They have two albums out, Brutalism from 2017 and the summer of 2018, the beautifully titled, Joy As An Act of Resistance. The band was in D.C. and just played a Tiny Desk Concert. I begin our conversation with Joe Talbot curious what music plays in their van as they tour around the U.S. That conversation has us playing everything from old soul music to modern British hip-hop with Radiohead in between.

Our shortlist of the week's best new albums includes a career-defining release from singer Jamila Woods, the sparkling guitar rock of Charly Bliss and Holly Herndon's genius work with the AI "Spawn."FEATURED ALBUMS: 1. Charly Bliss: Young Enough; 2. Holly Herndon: Proto; 3. Jamila Woods: Legacy! Legacy!; 4. HÆLOS: Any Random Kindness; 5. Tim Hecker: Anoyo; 6. Lowland Hum: Glyphic. OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES FOR MAY 10: A.A. Bondy: Enderness; Ciara: Beauty Marks; Dehd: Water; Lydia Ainsworth: Phantom Forest; Mac Demarco: Here Comes the Cowboy; Maps: Colours, Reflect. Time, Loss.; Radiator Hospital: Sings Music for Daydreaming; The Get Up Kids: Problems; Mourning A BLKstar: Reckoning.

This week's episode of All Songs Considered is a show of contrasts ? cotton-candy pop one moment (from mxmtoon), raging punk sung in Farsi the next (from Khiis) ? and then calming, instrumental, prog rock courtesy The Quiet Temple. For All Songs Considered's nearly 20 years, we've tried to live up to our namesake and on this show, we consider more drastic ends of the song spectrum than we have in recent memory. This week I'm joined by NPR Music's Lars "Vikings Choice" Gotrich and Joshua (cotton candy) Bote for five tunes that explore the rich polarity of making music in 2019. ? Bob Boilen

Host Robin Hilton is joined by NPR Music's Lars Gotrich and Stephen Thompson as they share their picks for the week's best new albums. FEATURED RELEASES: 1. Judah & The Lion: 'Pep Talks,' 2. Caroline Spence: 'Mint Condition,' 3. Big Thief: 'U.F.O.F.'; 4. SYML: 'SYML,' 5. Vampire Weekend: 'Father of the Bride,' 6. Joy Williams: 'Front Porch,' 7. Rhiannon Giddens: 'There is no Other,' 8. Unwed Sailor: 'Heavy Age,' OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES FOR MAY 3: Barrie: 'Happy to Be Here;' Empath: 'Active Listening, Night on Earth;' Fury: 'Failed Entertainment;' Jesse Mac Cormack: 'Now;' L7: 'Scatter the Rats;' Lucy Spraggan: 'Today Was a Good Day;' Protomartyr: 'No Passion All Technique;' Tacocat: 'This Mess is a Place;' Tank and the Bangas: 'Green Balloon.'

Have you ever had Persian cotton candy? It looks like Muppet hair and tastes like pistachio ? well, at least the one we ate in the studio. We begin our show with one of the great poets of the day, Kate Tempest. The British playwright, novelist and spoken word artist has a new record coming called The Book of Traps and Lessons. We play "Firesmoke," a song dedicated to her lover. We also have new music from Japanese Breakfast, and as NPR Music's Marissa Lorusso tells us, the entire song was written and recorded by Michelle Zauner in a hotel in Bali.NPR Music's Lyndsey McKenna brings us music from Mannequin Pussy and a song about what happens on the downside of romance, called "Drunk II." Lyndsey also brings us "Emotional Bachelor" from Future Teens, a band that calls its style "Boston bummer pop." And I have the shortest song in recent memory from a new trio I love called Patio. This 1:35-minute gem takes inspiration from a dream and features the winning line, "I think I'm gonna go home and listen to Washer / Instead of spending any more time with you."

FEATURED ALBUMS: Nick Murphy: Run Fast, Sleep Naked; Rodrigo y Gabriela: Mettavolution; Jackie Mendoza: LuvHz; Josh Ritter: Fever Breaks; The Mountain Goats: In League With Dragons; SOAK: Grim Town; OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES FOR APRIL 26: Aldous Harding: Designer; Bailen: Thrilled to Be Here; Bear's Den: So That You Might Hear Me; The Cranberries: In the End; Craig Finn: I Need a New War; Kevin Morby: Oh My God; King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard: Fishing for Fishies; Local Natives: Violent Street; Marissa Nadler & Stephen Brodsky: Droneflower; Otoboke Beaver: Itekoma Hits; Schoolboy Q: CrasH Talk; Sunn O))): Life Metal

Kevin Morby's new album is unlike anything he's done before. Gone is the guitar (for the most part) from his earlier recordings. In its place are more droning instruments ? sounds more suited for church than the concert hall, including a recurring, small choir. The subject for the album is God and our culture's relationship with God, from deep introspection to the trivial, everyday use of that ever-present expression "oh my God."The origins of his album Oh My God began in 2016 with events at the forefront of American politics, including mass shootings at the Bataclan and Pulse nightclubs, the death of Freddie Gray and, for Kevin Morby, the day-to-day news, including the Presidency of Donald Trump. (Kevin Morby wrote a one-off song about the heartbreak of the world called "Beautiful Strangers," and donated proceeds to charity.)On this edition of All Songs Considered we look at the origin story behind Oh My God, including Nina Simone's cover of Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne," music from Ethiopia and the quirky, groundbreaking New York duo Suicide.

Our list of the best albums out this week includes Lizzo's long-awaited debut, the rousing, infectious anthems of Johnnyswim, new music from The Tallest Man On Earth, Loyle Carner and more. FEATURED ALBUMS: Lizzo, Cuz I Love You; Johnnyswim, Moonlight; Kelsey Lu, Blood; The Tallest Man On Earth, I Love You. It's A Fever Dream.; Loyle Carner, Not Waving, But Drowning; Wand, Laughing Matter. OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES FOR APRIL 19: Anna Tivel, The Question; Cage the Elephant, Social Cues; Diane Coffee, Internet Arms; Drugdealer, Raw Honey; Fat White Family, Serfs Up; Heather Woods Broderick, Invitation; Jade Bird, Jade Bird; The O'Jays, The Last Word; Sad Planets, Akron, Ohio.

Don't worry! Everything's going to be alright. But if you need more reassurance than that, look no further than "Set of Stairs," from the Amsterdam-based band Pip Blom. It's a burst of frenetic joy to lift you up whenever life deals you a bad hand. Its singular message: You got this!That's just one of the songs we're featuring on this week's show. We've also got wild and wonderful new music from former Tiny Desk contest winners Tank and the Bangas, gorgeous harmonies and an uplifting message of unity from Jesca Hoop with Lucius, and the singer known as Sevdaliza has a dark and mysterious reflection on love gone bad.All that plus singer-songwriter Chris Staples announces his new album Holy Moly and shares a tale of young love called "Everybody Said;" and singer, multi-instrumentalist and poet Vera Sola pairs with Kenneth Pattengale of The Milk Carton Kids on "Loving, Loving (Acoustic Reprise)."

Anderson .Paak drops his followup to Oxnard, Norah Jones collaborates with Jeff Tweedy, and Sia joins Labrinth and Diplo for "LSD." Those and more make our shortlist of the week's best new albums. FEATURED: Shovels & Rope: By Blood; Damien Jurado: In the Shape of a Storm; Norah Jones: Begin Again; Anderson .Paak: Ventura; Glen Hansard: This Wild Nothing; Odonis Odonis: Reaction; LSD: Labrinth, Sia, Diplo Present LSD. OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES FOR APRIL 12: BTS: Map of the Soul; The Budos Band: V; Chris Forsyth: All Time Present; Emily Reo: Only You Can See It; Fontaines D.C.: Dogrel; Inter Arma: Sulphur English; John Paul White: The Hurting Kind; Jeff Tweedy: Warmer (vinyl only); Melissa Etheridge: The Medicine Show

On this episode of All Songs Considered, Bob Boilen and Lars Gotrich talk about the music released in the first part of 2019 that for Lars soundtracked nap time, quick rides to the grocery store for eggs (and an excuse to get out the house) and whatever else perked my ears while blissfully stuck to the couch with a sleeping babe. There are buzzing Ethiopian hymns and Tuareg folk songs, but also white-hot psych-rock and anguished black metal when I just needed some paternal catharsis. Psychedelic Speed Freaks "Redline"? Sosena Gebre Eyesus "Aser Awetar": Catherine Watine "Verrophone" (Géométries sous-cutanées) Keith Fullerton Whitman "Apollo Museumhotel Generators" (Generatorss) Griefloss "Anneliese" (Griefloss) Ahmed Ag Kaedy "Akaline Kidal" (Akaline Kidal)Ronin Arkestra "Redeye Reprisal" (First Meeting)

Host Robin Hilton, NPR Music's Lyndsey McKenna, Ann Powers and Stephen Thompson run through their picks for the best new albums out on April 5. FEATURED ALBUMS: Martha: Love Keeps Kicking; Khalid: Free Spirit; Lee Fields and the Expressions: It Rains Love; Weyes Blood: Titanic Rising; PUP: Morbid Stuff; Molly Tuttle: When You're Ready; Ages and Ages: Me You They We. OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES FOR APRIL 5: Brooks & Dunn: Reboot; Girli: Odd One Out; Idlewild: Interview Music; Lady Lamb: Even in the Tremor; Lissie: When I'm Alone: The Piano Retrospective; Priests: The Seduction of Kansas; Reba McEntire: Stronger Than the Truth.

Songs includeNatural by Julia ShapiroSIDEWINDER by Cautious ClayThe River St. Johns by Jake Xerxes FussellHenryk Górecki: Symphony No. 3 sung by Beth GibbonsThe Weight of Things by The GloamingTorched and Wrecked by Third Coast Percussion

FEATURED ALBUMS: Mekons: Deserted; Billie Eilish: When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go? Quelle Chris: Guns; Shafiq Husayn: The Loop; Marvin Gaye: You're The Man; Fennesz: Agora; Son Volt: Union.OTHER NOTABLE ALBUMS OUT MARCH 29: Beth Gibbons & The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra: Henryk Gorecki: Symphony No. 3; Billy Woods & Kenny Segal: Hiding Places; Choosey & Exile: Black Beans; DJ Muggs & Mach-Hommy: Tuez-Les Tous; Joni Void: Mise En Abyme; Karyyn: The Quanta Series; Laura Stevenson: The Big Freeze; MED & Guilty Simpson: Child of the Jungle; Mdou Moctar: Ilana; Saweetie: Icy; Small Feet: With Psychic Powers; Steve Earle & The Dukes: GUY.

Songs for this Episode"Summon the Fire" by The Comet Is Coming"Weird Little Idea" by Radiator Hospital "Give A Chance" by Jesse Mac Cormack"Daylight Matters" by Cate Le Bon"House Of Angels" by Lee "Scratch" Perry"Outside" by Mormor

It's a packed release week with a whole bunch of notable albums to highlight, including the rock guitar heroics on Ex Hex's It's Real, the wistful wisdom of Jenny Lewis, Andrew Bird's "finest work yet," mind-blowing sonics from the genre-bending composers Emily Wells and Lafawndah, the German electronic artist Apparat and much more. Hosts Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson share their top picks for the best albums out on March 22 on this episode of New Music Friday. FEATURED ALBUMS: Ex Hex: It's Real; Jenny Lewis: On The Line; American Football: American Football; Lafawndah: Ancestor Boy; Andrew Bird: My Finest Work Yet; Emily Wells: This World Is Too ______ For You; Apparat: LP5; Lambchop: This (Is What I Wanted To Tell You). OTHER NOTABLE ALBUMS OUT MARCH 22: Bill McKay: Fountain Fire; Dean Lewis: A Place We Knew; Ibibio Sound Machine: Doko Mien; Lucy Rose: No Words Left; Nilufer Yanya: Miss Universe; Rich The Kid: The World Is Yours 2; Strand Of Oaks: Eraserland; Wallows: Nothings Happens

We've returned from our weeklong grind through the South by Southwest music festival happy, though a little dazed, with ringing ears, and a whole bunch of incredible discoveries. On this All Songs Considered we run through some of the most memorable music and performances, from the shredded noise rock of Rev Rev Rev and thundering soul of Yola Carter to the Afro-Cuban grooves of Cimafunk and the remarkable voice of Tamino. Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson and I each saw around 100 different shows in just a few short days, way more than we could ever share in a single episode. But you can hear more in our Late Night Dispatches from SXSW, including a playlist of songs, and the Austin 100. You can find our complete coverage of the SXSW festival here, including video highlights from our first-ever Tiny Desk Family Hour, a series of Tiny Desk alums performing at Austin's Central Presbyterian Church, including Wyclef Jean, John Paul White and more. -- Robin Hilton

With another SXSW in the books, a truncated and reconstituted All Songs Considered gang ? Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson and Jessi Whitten of Colorado Public Radio ? gathered late Saturday night (early Sunday morning, really) for one last joyous huddle to share notes on the day's highlights. Since Jessi wasn't on the night before, she had to share at least one major discovery from Friday: The Jazzrauch Bigband, who put on one of the best shows she'd seen in years. (On Saturday, she loved the singer who goes by the name Del Water Gap, as well as Dreamer Boy and Ings.) Bob had raves for Indigo Sparke, THERE and the ever-evolving Miya Folick, while Stephen recommended Jerusalem-based composer and looper ORI, skirts and the soul singer Celeste.

Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson regale each other with tall tales about Friday night's escapades at SXSW.

For the third installment of All Songs Considered's late-night dispatches from SXSW 2019, the gang gathered in a hotel lobby to avoid the cold and sing the praises of Thursday's standout performances. Bob Boilen loved seeing Lonnie Holley with Mary Lattimore, KOKOKO!, John Vanderslice and David Keenan; Robin Hilton sang the praises of Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, Durand Jones & The Indications and perennial SXSW favorite Calliope Musicals; Katie Presley reveled in performances by Fatai, Xenia França, King Princess and the mighty Lizzo; and Stephen Thompson couldn't say enough nice things about Another Sky, Bixiga 70, Fanclub and Mourning [A] BLKstar.

This week's somewhat abbreviated edition of New Music Friday includes an ambitious collaboration between Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer Karen O and producer Danger Mouse; the British electronic duo The Cinematic Orchestra returns with its first new album in more than a decade, featuring singer Moses Sumney, rapper Roots Manuva and other guests; and Pavement's Stephen Malkmus injects his woozy rock with a strange jolt of electronica. Host Robin Hilton is joined by NPR Music's Stephen Thompson as they share their picks for the best new albums out on March 15. FEATURED ALBUMS: Karen O & Danger Mouse, Lux Prima Featured Songs: "Woman" and "Lux Prima;" The Cinematic Orchestra, To Believe Featured Songs: "A Caged Bird/Imitations of Life," "To Believe" and "The Workers of Art;" Stephen Malkmus, Groove Denied Featured Songs: "Rushing the Acid Frat" and "Belziger Faceplant;" Finn Andrews, One Piece at a Time Featured Song: "One Piece at a Time;" CHAI, Punk Featured Song: "CHOOSE GO!" OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES FOR MARCH 15: Koffee, Rapture EP; Matmos, Plastic Anniversary; The Comet Is Coming, Trust in the Lifeforce of the Deep Mystery; Todd Snider, Cash Cabin Season Vol. 3.

Our discoveries for today include Sir Baby Girl, Tamino, Laura Stevenson, Be Forest, Josin, Taimane and so much more. Look for a playlist on our website, npr.org/allsongs

Our first dispatch of discoveries from the SXSW Music Festival includes a recap of NPR Music's Tiny Desk Family Hour - an evening of Tiny Desk alum playing the Central Presbyterian Church in Austin. Also our first encounters with artists Elisapie, an Inuk singer and the Beths, Ellis, Illuminati Hotties and Rosie Tucker.

Juice WRLD, the reigning prince of emo rap, is back with a follow up to last year's Goodbye & Good Riddance. Deathrace for Love is bleak, brutal and the rare sequel that lives up to the original. The Oxford rock band Foals takes a big swing in one of the group's most ambitious albums to date; and singer Patty Griffin has a beautiful and profoundly moving, new self-titled album on growing old, the frailty of life and perseverance. On this week's New Music Friday host Robin Hilton talks about those albums and more with NPR's Rodney Carmichael, Felix Contreras and Stephen Thompson. FEATURED ALBUMS: Foals: Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Pt. 1; Helado Negro: This Is How You Smile; Patty Griffin: Patty Griffin; Sasami: Sasami; Maren Morris: GIRL; William Basinski: On Time Out Of Time; Juice WRLD: Deathrace For Love; OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES OUT MARCH 8: Dido: Still on My Mind; Stella Donnelly: Beware of the Dogs; David Gray: Gold in a Brass Age; Flight of the Conchords: Live in London; Amanda Palmer: There Will Be No Intermission; Townes Van Zandt: Sky Blue; The Wild Reeds: Cheers.

The annual South by Southwest music festival is our personal endurance challenge to discover as many great unknown and often unsigned bands as possible in just one week. To train for the event, Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson and I listen to more than a thousand songs by bands playing the festival, from all over the world, and try to map out a calendar to see our favorites. On this edition of All Songs Considered we play some of the standout songs ahead of the 2019 festival, including the Ghanian artist Jojo Abot, garage rock from Blushh, the Japanese pop group CHAI, music made by robots (I'm not making that up) and much, much more. ? Robin Hilton

Our sprint through this week's best new albums includes Grey Area from the UK rapper Little Simz, Weezer's self-titled "Black Album," the foot-stompers of Hozier, country crooner Dee White and more. Host Robin Hilton is joined by NPR Music's Stephen Thompson, Sidney Madden and Jewly Hight as they share their picks for the best albums out on March 1. FEATURED ALBUMS: Little Simz: Grey Area; Hand Habits: Placeholder; Weezer: Weezer (The "Black Album"); Hozier: Wasteland, Baby!; Dee White: Southern Gentleman; Living Hour: Softer Faces OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES FOR MARCH 1: 2 Chainz: Rap or Go to the League; Delicate Steve: 'Til I Burn Up; Durand Jones & The Indications: American Love Call; The Japanese House: Good At Falling; Sun Kil Moon: I Also Want to Die in New Orleans; Westkust: Westkust; Yves Jarvis: The Same But Different.

On this Guest DJ edition of All Songs Considered, Nilüfer talks of learning the guitar lines in songs by The Libertines as a kid, hearing her Turkish dad's love for Turkish music, her artist mom's encouragement to be a musician and the school where Nilüfer and her friends became musical companions. Nilüfer Yanya's debut album Miss Universe is out March 22 on ATO Records.

Our picks for the best albums out this week include an epic treatise on Americanism from Gary Clark Jr., the delicate and beautiful sounds of Julia Jacklin, Atlanta rapper Gunna, a gorgeous study in the healing powers of restraint from Lowland Hum, and more. Host Robin Hilton is joined by NPR Music's Rodney Carmichael and Stephen Thompson as they share their top picks for Feb. 22. FEATURED ALBUMS: Gary Clark Jr., This Land; Adia Victoria, Silences; And The Kids, When This Life Is Over; Bayonne, Drastic Measures; Gunna, Drip Or Drown 2; Higher Brothers, Five Stars; Julia Jacklin, Crushing; Lowland Hum, Glyphonic; OTHER NOTABLE ALBUMS FOR FEB 22: The Claypool Lennon Delirium, South of Reality; Half Japanese, Invincible; James Yorkston, The Route to the Harmonium; Kehlani, While We Wait; Lily & Madeleine, Canterbury Girls; Nakhane, You Will Not Die; Our Native Daughters, Songs of Our Native Daughters; Telekinesis, Effluxion; Yola, Walk Through Fire.

On this week's All Songs Considered we premiere new music from Aldous Harding. The artist from New Zealand made Bob Boilen's number two album from 2017 (Party) and her latest song, "The Barrel," indicates that she'll be another year-end favorite of mine in 2019. Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna join Bob as co-host for the first time together and fill out the show with some new, great unknowns, including Sweden's Westkust and an artist who goes by the name Ellis. Ellis is the musical project of Linnea Siggelkow (the name is a play on her initials, L.S.), an Ontario-based singer who recently opened for Snail Mail. She proves to be a perfect musical pairing with Westkust. We've also got new music from a band we all love, Palehound. Marissa describes the new music from Ellen Kempner as suave and spooky. We get loud with the angular and stuttering sounds of Sego, then quiet with Mountain Man's Molly Sarlé. But we start the show off with a surprise you may or not love.

Our list of the best albums out this week includes the first new music from funk and R&B legend Chaka Khan in 12 years, the cinematic, transporting sounds of Yann Tiersen, bubblegum punk from Sir Babygirl and more. Host Robin Hilton is joined by NPR Music's Lauren Onkey and Stephen Thompson as they share their top picks for Feb. 15. FEATURED ALBUMS: Chaka Khan: Hello Happiness; RY X: Unfurl; Yann Tiersen: All; Sir Babygirl: Crush on Me; J.S. Ondara: Tales of America; Robert Ellis: Texas Piano Man OTHER NOTABLE ALBUMS FOR FEB. 15: Avril Lavigne: Head Above Water; Betty Who: Betty; Dale Watson: Call Me Lucky; Florida Georgia Line: Can't Say I Ain't Country; Jonny Nash: Make a Wilderness; Ladytron: Ladytron; Natti Natasha: Illuminati; Tedeshi Trucks Band: Signs

This week's show is made possible by a generous amount of existential anxiety. This includes the ego-destroying rock anthem "I Don't Matter At All," from the Toronto band Pkew Pkew Pkew, and an epic life manifesto from Amanda Palmer called "The Ride" ? a ten-minute oration about the crippling effects of unbridled and rampant fear.But we've also got some horn-powered instrumental rock from New York's Afro-soul group The Budos Band, and a beautiful, blood-slowing song from the Swedish singer Daniel Norgren, an artist who takes inspiration from the sounds of a creaking floor in an old flour mill.

Our list of the best albums out this week includes delicate piano pieces from Hauschka, the brilliantly burning rock of Bob Mould, songs inspired by the film Roma, Mercury Rev's remake of Bobbie Gentry's country opera The Delta Sweete and much more. Host Robin Hilton is joined by NPR Music's Felix Contreras, Tom Huizenga and Stephen Thompson as they sprint through their top picks for Feb. 8. FEATURED ALBUMS: 1. Bob Mould: Sunshine Rock; 2. Jessica Pratt: Quiet Signs; 3. Hauschka: A Different Forest; 4. Various: Music Inspired by the Film Roma; 5. Said the Whale: Cascadia; 6. Mercury Rev: Bobbie Gentry's The Delta Sweete Revisited; 7. Joszef Van Wissem and Jim Jarmusch: An Attempt to Draw Aside the Veil. OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES FOR FEB. 8: Ariana Grande: thank u, next; Cass McCombs: Tip of the Sphere; The Lemonheads: Varshons 2; Panda Bear: Buoys; Talos: Far Out Dust

On this week's show, artists battle their inner demons ? the kind that come out a night when you're alone in bed, trying to find sleep ? speak truth to power, celebrate love, dig into complicated characters with troubled pasts and much more.This includes a kind of demented nursery rhyme from singer Billie Eilish; the London-based duo Tender and their deep reflection on ruinous self-indulgence; and producer T Bone Burnett's new album with a prayer to overcome fear.Also on the show: The artist known as Many Rooms confronts organized religion; New York singer-songwriter Laura Stevenson has a new album inspired by the inevitable end of the universe; Lucy Dacus reimagines the French love song "La Vie En Rose" as a driving anthem to love; and producer and musician John Vanderslice returns from a five-year break from making music with a new solo album called The Cedars and a complicated tale of bent love

On this sprint through the week's best new albums, host Robin Hilton is joined by NPR Music's Lyndsey McKenna and Stephen Thompson for a whole lot of guitar rock, with a little bit of melancholy, acoustic beauty on the side. This includes Spielbergs, a group from Oslo, Norway, that makes its US debut with a fantastic squeal of feedback on This is Not the End; the L.A. quartet Cherry Gazerr, which just dropped its most emotionally potent and fully formed album ever; Girlpool, Le Butcherettes, the beautifully transporting songs of Tiny Ruins and more. FEATURED ALBUMS: Spielbergs: This is Not the End; Cherry Glazerr: Stuffed and Ready; Girlpool: What Chaos is Imaginary; Beirut: Gallipoli; Le Butcherettes: bi/MENTAL; Tiny Ruins: Olympic Girls; OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES FOR FEB. 01: Boy Harsher: Careful; Deer Tick: Mayonnaise; Guided by Voices: Zeppelin Over China; Emily King: Scenery; Mandolin Orange: Tides of a Teardrop; David Meade: Cobra Pumps; Nina Nesbitt: The Sun Will Come Up, the Seasons Will Change; Unloved: Heartbreak

Ken Mansfield was the U.S. Manager for Apple records when the Beatles played their final gig on a rooftop in London ? and one of the few people who was actually with the band to witness it.

On this edition of All Songs Considered I'm joined by Marissa Lorusso our Tiny Desk Contest leader and also a critical contributor to NPR Music's Turning the Tables project.Marissa plays music from the '90s San Jose trio, Duster. They're getting back together but not before a boxed set of their storied past comes out. Marissa is also a fan of Bellows, the music of Oliver Kalb, who we also know from the band Gabby's World (formerly Eskimeaux and O). And we hear music from Heather Woods Broderick, a songwriter and singer we've featured not only for her own music but for being a stage and studio partner with Sharon Van Etten. I play music from Tiny Desk Contest entrant Jackie Mendoza who performs a stripped-down, more focused remake of the song she submitted to our contest called "De Lejos" about loving from afar. We also hear great trance guitar from a Tuareg musician from the Saharan region. It's a recording he made in Detroit after a chance meeting with a producer who shared his love of ZZ Top's Tres Hombres record. But first, I open the show with my current 2019 favorite album, one that came out as huge surprise just last week, by Conor Oberst and Phoebe Bridgers. They call their project the Better Oblivion Community Center.

On this week's program, host Robin Hilton is joined by NPR Music's Rodney Carmichael, Sidney Maden and Stephen Thompson to talk about the must-hear albums out on Jan. 25. This includes hard-driving riff rock with a healthy sense of humor from FIDLAR and Mike Krol, the Compton rapper Boogie, woozy synth-pop from The Dandy Warhols, the shape-shifting sounds of New Orleans singer DAWN and more. Featured Albums: FIDLAR: Almost Free; Mike Krol: Power Chords; Boogie: Everything's For Sale; The Dandy Warhols: Why You So Crazy? Rat Boy: Internationally Unknown; DAWN: New Breed; Other Notable Releases For Jan. 25: Backstreet Boys: DNA; Better Oblivion Community Center: S/T; Bring Me The Horizon: AMO; Rosie Carny: Bare; Toy: Happy In The Hollow; Vangelis: Nocturne; William Tyler: Goes West

Today on All Songs Considered, hear a conversation about the record's production, the logistics of performing live as a seven-piece band and, at long last, the meaning behind FOTB, the mysterious album-title acronym that turned fans into code-crackers early last week.

A lot has changed in Sharon Van Etten's life since she put out her last album, Are We There, in 2014. Over the past five years she's gotten into acting, she went back to school to get a degree in Mental Health Counseling, she's worked on some film scores and, the biggest change: She's a mom, now. But through it all she eventually found herself coming back to her first love: music. Sharon Van Etten has a new album out called Remind Me Tomorrow and it's unlike anything she's ever done before. Largely seen as an acoustic singer-songwriter up to now, her new album is full of pulsing synths, big beats and lots of strange, dark textures made with the help of producer John Congleton. The result is a stunning achievement for Van Etten. Remind Me Tomorrow is her most ambitious and adventurous album to date. For this edition of All Songs Considered, Sharon Van Etten and host Robin Hilton listened to her whole new album together, front to back. She reflects on motherhood, shares stories about the new songs and explains why she decided to blow up nearly everything fans have long loved about her music.