The Contenders, Vol. 19: Neko Case, Asher White, caroline, more

We enter the stomp-clap era as we look back at our number one songs from 2009.Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show'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

Guerilla Toss. Die Spitz. The return of Spinal Tap. Raina Douris from WXPN's World Cafe joins Stephen Thompson to discuss their favorite albums out Friday, Sept. 12.The Starting 5:- Spinal Tap, 'The End Continues' (Stream)- Guerilla Toss, 'You're Weird Now' (Stream)- Die Spitz, 'Something to Consume' (Stream)- Frost Children, 'Sister' (Stream)- Mark William Lewis, 'Mark William Lewis' (Stream)The Lightning Round:- Sophie Ellis-Bextor, 'Perimenopop'- Asher White, '8 tips for full catastrophe living'- Jade, 'THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY!'- Fruit Bats, 'Baby Man'- Kassa Overall, 'CREAM'See the long list of albums out Sept 12 and sample dozens of them via our New Music Friday playlist on npr.org.CreditsHost: Stephen ThompsonGuest: Raina Douris, WXPNAudio Producer: Noah CaldwellDigital Producer: Elle MannionEditor: Otis HartProduction Assistant: Dora LeviteExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

This week's episode of Alt.Latino is a tribute to host Felix Contreras, who just received the Hispanic Heritage Award for Journalism from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation. Co-host Anamaria Sayre and the Alt.Latino team surprised Felix with guest appearances from Juanes, Daymé Arocena, Chucho Valdés, Dolores Huerta and more.This podcast 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

Hear the songs we just had to share this week. NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton to update our running list of the year’s best songs, with head-spinning, shape-shifting wonders from Asher White, transcendent ambient sounds from Early Fern, the first new solo album from Neko Case in eight years and more.Featured artists and songs:1. Asher White: “Beers with my name on them,” from ‘8 Tips for Catastrophe Living’2. Neko Case: “Wreck,” from ‘Neon Grey Midnight Green'3. caroline: “Total Euphoria,” from ‘caroline 2’4. Sturle Dagsland: “Hugging Horses,” from ‘Dreams And Conjurations’5. Model/Actriz: “Doves,” from ‘Piourette’6. Early Fern: “Teasel,” from ‘Wetland Interiors’Weekly reset: Horses are really having a momentEnjoy 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: [email protected] more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

What songs take us back to 2008? Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson recall a pretty folk-heavy year with lots of groundbreaking debuts.Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show'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

Big Thief. David Byrne. El Michels Affair. WFUV's Alisa Ali joins Stephen Thompson to discuss their favorite albums coming out Friday, Sept. 5.The Starting 5:• Big Thief, 'Double Infinity'• El Michels Affair, '24 Hr Sports'• Curtis Harding, 'Departures & Arrivals: Adventures of Captain Curt'• Lucrecia Dalt, 'A Danger to Ourselves'• David Byrne, 'Who Is The Sky?'The Lightning Round: • Saint Etienne, 'International'• james K, 'Friend'• Ivy, 'Traces of You'• Anaïs & The Hoops, 'Growing Pains'• V/A, 'I Will Swim To You: A Tribute to Jason Molina'See the long list of albums out Sept. 5 and sample dozens of them via our New Music Friday playlist on npr.org.CreditsHost: Stephen ThompsonGuest: Alisa Ali, WFUVAudio Producer: Noah CaldwellDigital Producer: Elle MannionEditor: Otis HartProduction Assistant: Dora LeviteExecutive Producer: Suraya MohamedLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Felix shares the music that's helped him recover from a serious illness. Anamaria shares some new exquisite (and, in one case, slightly toxic) love songs.Featured artists and songs:• Blood Orange, "I Can Go" (feat. Mabe Fratti & Mustafa)• Draco Rosa, "Quiero Vivir"• Caetano Veloso, "Voce E Linda" (Remixed Original Album)• Tim Bernardes, "BB (Garupa de Moto Amarela)"• Tim Bernardes, "Última Vez"• Santana, "Goodness and Mercy"• Xavi, "Ojitos de Miel"• Los Lobos, "Bertha" (Live at the Carefree Theatre, 1992)This podcast 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

We get a jump on the upcoming fall releases we’re most excited about, including new ones from Skullcrusher, S. Carey, Silvana Estrada and more. Featured artists and albums:1. Snōōper: ‘Worldwide’ (Oct. 3)2. Sudan Archives: ‘The BPM’ (Oct. 17)3. Claire Rousay: ‘Little Death’ (Oct. 31)4. Crushed: ‘No Scope’ (Sept. 26)5. Cate Le Bon: ‘Michelangelo Dying’ (Sept. 26)6. S. Carey: ‘Watercress’ (Oct. 3)7. Emily Sprague: ‘Cloud Time’ (Oct. 10)8. Skullcrusher: ‘And Your Song Is Like A Circle’ (Oct. 17)9. Silvana Estrada: ‘Vendrán Suaves Lluvias’ (Oct. 17)Weekly reset: Walking through the woods on an autumn afternoonEnjoy 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: [email protected] more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The songs that take us back to 2007, the golden age of indie pop and rock.Note: This is a recurring feature in celebration of the show'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

Sabrina Carpenter. The Beaches. Margo Price. This week, Stephen Thompson chats with NPR Music's Hazel Cills and WMOT's Jessie Scott about the best new albums out this new music Friday.The Starting 5:• The Beaches, 'No Hard Feelings'• The Beths, 'Straight Line Was A Lie'• Margo Price, 'Hard Headed Woman'• Rodney Crowell, 'Airline Highway'• Anna Tivel, 'Animal Poem'Read more about WMOT's live webcast from AMERICANAFEST 2025.The Lightning Round:• Blood Orange, 'Essex Honey'• Jaelee Roberts, 'Let Me Be Lonely'• Brad Mehldau, 'Ride Into the Sun'• CMAT, 'EURO-COUNTRY'• Tiwa Savage, 'This One Is Personal'See the long list of albums out Aug. 29 and sample dozens of them via our New Music Friday playlist on npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy