Sometimes a cover song is so good, so singular that it completely eclipses the original version.  Think Sinéad O'Connor doing The Family's “Nothing Compares 2 U,” Jimmy Hendrix lighting up Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” or, of course, Whitney Houston’s defining take on Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.”  On this week’s show, we share some of our picks for cover songs that are better than the originals, talk about why, and what, exactly, a cover song needs to become a classic.NPR Music’s Dora Levite and Lars Gotrich join host Robin Hilton.Leave us a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected] artists and songs:(00:00) Intro and the G.O.A.T.s (06:06) Al Green: “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”(09:58) Björk: “It’s Oh So Quiet”(12:28) Aretha Franklin: “Respect”(16:22) Low: “Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me”(19:45) Andrew Paul Woodworth: “Fight For Your Right to Party”(25:10) Yaeji: “Passionfruit”(28:13) Shonen Knife: “Top of the World”(32:06) Wednesday: “She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Double)”(34:54) Low: “Fearless”(36:37) Harry Nilsson: “Without You”(39:57) Beyonce: “Before I Let Go (Homecoming Live Bonus Track)”(42:35) Gary Jules: “Mad World”(49:19) Chaka Khan: “I Feel For You”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 open this week’s show by reflecting on the loss of Glen Hansard, an artist who was critical to shaping the sound and spirit of All Songs Considered in its earliest days. We then share some of our favorite new tracks of the week, including a King Princess cover of Neil Young’s “Helpless,” cheeky pop from Coco & Clair Clair, a stunning ambient track from Adam Wiltzie and the late composer Jóhann Jóhannsson and more.NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton.Support the show with a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected] artists and songs:(00:00) Intro and remembering Glen Hansard(03:24) Coco & Clair Clair: “Coldplay”(08:34) Claudia Isaki: “Origami”(15:30) Slayyyter: “brand new chanel$”(23:17) King Princess: “Helpless”(31:01) Dawuna: “I am a woman too...”(36:50) Adam Wiltzie & Jóhann Jóhannsson: “White Gloves & Turtlenecks”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

Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest places, if you look at it right. And if you get confused, just listen to the music play. This week, resident Deadheads Isabella Gomez Sarmiento and Felix Contreras help host Robin Hilton hear what he’s been missing in the music of the Grateful Dead.Are you a Deadhead? Share your memories of the Grateful Dead and we may include them in a big series we're launching about the band on Aug. 1.Support the show with a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected] songs:(00:00) Intro and “King Solomon’s Marbles”(08:54) “China Cat Sunflower / I Know You Rider” Alpine Valley, WI 7.17.89(11:03) “Help On the Way / Slipknot / Franklin’s Tower”(16:39) “Ripple”(23:34) “Morning Dew (Europe ‘72)”(26:17) “I Shall Be Released (Live)” (30:05) “Black Muddy River”(31:34) “One More Saturday Night”(32:09) “Sunrise”(33:21) “Shady Grove”(39:14) “Birdsong”(41:45) “Uncle John’s Band”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 share our picks for the best new tracks out now, including the laid-back dystopia of Sylvan Esso’s “Concrete Glen,” an acoustic take on Phoebe Bridgers’ “Lost Boys,” the glitched-out chaos of feeble little horse and more.NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton.Support the show with a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected] artists and songs:(00:00) Intro(01:28) Sylvan Esso: “Concrete Glen”(07:49) feeble little horse: “DMT”(14:07) Phoebe Bridgers: “Lost Boys (Acoustic)”(22:15) Snõõper: “RECESS”(26:50) The Olivia Tremor Control: “Garden of Light”(33:53) @: “Autosmile”   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

On her stellar new single, “Switchblade,” beabadoobee shreds ‘90s style. The Rolling Stones have still got it on their latest album, Foreign Tongues. And Four Tet surprises us with a new “wingdings” project. We’ve got all that and more as we share our picks for the best new songs of the week.NPR Music’s Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton.Featured artists and songs:(00:00) Intro(01:20) beabadoobee: “Switchblade” from Pylon(08:31) Bonobo & Arooj Aftab: “Fire on the Water” from Distance in Static(15:09) The Rolling Stones: “Ringing Hollow” from Foreign Tongues(25:31) L’rain: “borderline” from fata morgana(33:02) Four Tet: "track 3"(40:35) Ela Minus, Nick León: “espiral” from qué les pasó a mis amigos?Support the show with a review on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected] 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

Roséwave is a feeling more than a singular sound or genre. It’s the kind of sweetness and sadness that underscores the long, languid days of summer.  Long drives with old friends, watching your kids at the pool, backyard barbecues while the sun slowly sets.  On this episode we share a mix of songs that offer the perfect soundtrack for your roséwave days and nights, from Linda Ronstadt’s “How Do I Make You” and Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t That Peculiar,” to Katie Gavin’s “Aftertaste,” Waxahatchee’s “Much Ado About Nothing” and more.NPR Music’s Lars Gotrich and contributor Marissa Lorusso join host Robin Hilton.Featured artists and songs:(00:00) Intro and “Summertime, Summertime” by The Jamies(01:57) Wednesday: "Elderberry Wine"(04:34) The Lijadu Sisters: "Come on Home"(07:35) Katie Gavin: "Aftertaste”(12:17) Marvin Gaye: "Ain't That Peculiar"(15:46) Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra: “Gayane Ballet Suite: Adagio”(17:02) Haku.: "Looking Through My Subtle Double Eyelids"(19:46) Labi Siffre: "My Song"(22:45) Azymuth: "Faça de Conta"(25:09) Waxahatchee: "Much Ado About Nothing"(27:35) Linda Ronstadt: "How Do I Make You"(30:29) Addison Rae: "Diet Pepsi," from 'Addison'(34:56) Amerie: "Why Don't We Fall in Love"Reviews help!  Leave us one on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]: A version of this episode originally ran in July 2025.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

Consensus has been hard to find in 2026, but we’ve assembled our top-ten list of the most memorable songs of the year at this midway point, from the outlaw country of Charley Crockett to the glam rock of Friko, Lana Del Rey’s twisted ode to love, Vince Staples’ “White Flag” and more.NPR Music’s Sheldon Pearce joins host Robin Hilton.Featured artists and songs:(00:00) Intro(01:38) Mandy, Indiana: “try saying”(05:09) Aldous Harding: “Coats”(09:28) Vince Staples: “White Flag”(14:25) Yebba: “Yellow Eyes”(18:04) Friko: “Seven Degrees”(22:01) Charley Crockett: “Kentucky Too Long”(26:03) Lana Del Rey: “White Feather Hawk Tail Deer Hunter”(32:07) Baby Rose: “Friends Again (feat. Leon Thomas)”(37:59) Mumford & Sons: “Rubber Band Man (with Hozier)”(42:58) Irreversible Entanglements: “Don’t Lose Your Head (feat. MOTHERBOARD)”Reviews help!  Leave us one on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected] 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 share our picks for the best new tracks of the week, including Mitski’s surprising cover of One Direction’s “Fireproof.” But first, we remember Beck’s still-mind-blowing Odelay, which just celebrated its 30th anniversary. NPR Music’s Lars Gotrich joins host Robin Hilton.Featured artists and songs:(00:00) Beck’s Odelay at 30(03:39) Perennial: “What’s New On The Beat Scene” (08:55) Mitski: “Fireproof” (13:50) Sarah Davachi: “Songs of the Smile’s Fig: III. Follies”(21:56) Shearwater: “Daydream Unbeliever”(32:33) Sleep: “Have Spacesuit Will Travel”(41:39) L’Rain: “soulless cycle”Reviews help!  Leave us one on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected] 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

It’s the season of road trips -- and nothing goes better with those long and winding roads than music.  This week we share our picks for the perfect playlist, breakdown what works best when, and consider some ground rules -- does the driver always have the final say?Reviews help!  Leave us one on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected] artists and songs:(00:00) Eric Burdon and War: “Spill the Wine”(03:09) Stromae: “Santé”(04:57) Broadway Cast: “Alexander Hamilton”(07:53) Joe Iconis / Broadway Cast: “Michael in the Bathroom”(10:14) Abiotic: “Vermosapien”(12:02) Wipers: “Mystery”(13:36) Steely Dan: “My Old School”(17:28) Tunde Olaniran: “Namesake”(19:54) Shania Twain: “Man, I Feel Like a Woman!”(22:37) Pat Travers: “Amgwanna Kick Booty”(26:27) Anthrax & Public Enemy: “Bring The Noise”(27:49) Unwed Sailor: “Monster Collecting”(29:46) The Allman Brothers Band: “Midnight Rider” and “Southbound”(33:12) Lakestreet Dive: “You Go Down Smooth”(35:41) Black Sabbath: “Turn Up The Night”(37:19) Simple Minds: “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”Note: A version of this episode originally posted in August 2025.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

NPR listeners share the songs they reach for when they need to reset the mood, their day or even their life.This is a followup to our April episode on songs for starting over.  NPR’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton.A good review helps! Leave us one on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And tell a friend to listen!Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]  Featured artists and songs:(00:00) Intro(01:13) Quincy Jones: “Dead End”(02:12) Bill Withers: “Lovely Day”(04:51) Florence + the Machine: “Shake It Out”(08:06) Jacob Collier: “Something Heavy”(11:24) Des’ree: “You Gotta Be”(16:32) Peter Gabriel: “Washing Of The Water”(19:57) Cat Power: “Nothin But Time”(23:02) John Denver: “Sweet Surrender”(27:46) Isley Brothers: “Summer Breeze”(31:22) Green Day: “Still Breathing”(34:10) Vienna Teng: “Level Up”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