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Tuesday

More cover songs that are better than the originals

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NPR Music

More cover songs that are better than the originals

We share more reimagined and reinterpreted songs that rival the originals, including Janis Joplin’s iconic take on Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee,” a reggae version of The Beatles' “Don’t Let Me Down,” and more.

More cover songs that are better than the originals

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Tuesday

Cover songs that are better than the originals

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NPR Music

Cover songs that are better than the originals

Sometimes a cover song is so good, so singular that it completely eclipses the original version.  Think SinÃĐad O'Connor doing Prince’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.

Cover songs that are better than the originals

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Tuesday

King Princess covers Neil Young's "Helpless."

King Princess covers Neil Young's "Helpless." Connor Cunningham hide caption

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Connor Cunningham

NPR Music

Slayyyter, King Princess covers Neil Young, and remembering Glen Hansard

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 JÃģhann JÃģhannsson, and more.

Remembering Glen Hansard, plus Slayyyter, King Princess covers Neil Young, more

Listen · 41:16
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Tuesday

Sylvan Esso, Phoebe Bridgers, feeble little horse, more

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Eve Alpert

All Songs Considered

Sylvan Esso, Phoebe Bridgers, feeble little horse, more

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.

Sylvan Esso, Phoebe Bridgers, feeble little horse, more

Listen · 41:53
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Sylvan Esso, Phoebe Bridgers, feeble little horse, more

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Eve Alpert/Saddle Creek

NPR Music

Sylvan Esso, Phoebe Bridgers, feeble little horse, more

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.

Sylvan Esso, Phoebe Bridgers, feeble little horse, more

Listen · 41:53
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Tuesday

NPR listeners share the songs that help reset their mood

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NPR Music

NPR listeners share the songs that help reset their mood

NPR listeners share the songs they reach for when they need to reset the mood, their day or even their life.

Need (another) reset?

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Tuesday

All Songs Considered: Gracie Abrams hits a wall, more best new songs

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Julie Greve

NPR Music

All Songs Considered: Gracie Abrams hits a wall, more best new songs

Our latest mix of the week’s best new songs includes a moody reflection on burnout from Gracie Abrams, rising L.A. duo Evening Elephants, the elusive electronic collagists Ear and more.  

All Songs Considered: Gracie Abrams hits a wall, more best new songs

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Tuesday

Need a reset?
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All Songs Considered

Need a reset?

We celebrate spring and new beginnings with a perfect mix of songs for starting over.  This can take many forms: songs that spark a good, cleansing cry; songs that offer wisdom, or just a sure-fire jolt of adrenaline. But in the end, all of the tracks can help reconfigure your mood, your day or even your life.   

Need a reset?

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All Songs Considered: Need a reset?
Sabine Dobel/Picture Alliance via Getty Images

NPR Music

All Songs Considered: Need a reset?

We celebrate spring and new beginnings with a perfect mix of songs for starting over.  This can take many forms: songs that spark a good, cleansing cry; songs that offer wisdom, or just a sure-fire jolt of adrenaline. But in the end, all of the tracks herein can help reconfigure your mood, your day, maybe even ... your life. 

All Songs Considered: Need a reset?

Listen · 52:49
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Monday

Friday

The headliners for the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival are Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Karol G. But with more than 130 other acts, almost all of them streaming live, the festival offers many different experiences.

The headliners for the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival are Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber and Karol G. But with more than 130 other acts, almost all of them streaming live, the festival offers many different experiences. Arturo Holmes/Getty Images hide caption

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Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

Music

Coachella 2026: A hand-picked guide to the best of the fest

With well over 100 acts on eight stages, almost all of them streaming live, Coachella can be overwhelming. Here's a day-by-day guide to the can't-miss music at the season's biggest musical gathering.

Friday

Tuesday

All Songs Considered: Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan, and more of the week's best songs

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Patrick McCormack

NPR Music

All Songs Considered: Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan, and more of the week's best songs

We check back in with our running list of the best songs of the week, including Olivia Rodrigo’s cover of The Magnetic Fields classic “The Book of Love,” Noah Kahan’s anthemic new single “Porch Light,” one of Aldous Harding’s boldest songs to date and more. 

All Songs Considered: Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan, and more of the week's best songs

Listen · 43:19
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Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan, and more of the week’s best songs

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Patrick McCormack

All Songs Considered

Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan, and more of the week’s best songs

We check back in with our running list of the best songs of the week, including Olivia Rodrigo’s cover of The Magnetic Fields classic “The Book of Love,” Noah Kahan’s anthemic new single “Porch Light,” one of Aldous Harding’s boldest songs to date and more. 

All Songs Considered: Olivia Rodrigo, Noah Kahan, and more of the week’s best songs

Listen · 43:19
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Tuesday

Andrew Bird on ‘The Pitt,’ Gia Margaret, and more of the best new songs

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Rachel Winslow

NPR Music

Andrew Bird on ‘The Pitt,’ Gia Margaret, and more of the best new songs

If you watch HBO’s The Pitt, you might have heard the gorgeous new song called “Need Someone” that Andrew Bird wrote for a recent episode. We’ve got that on this week’s show along with reflections on fitting in by letting go, from Gia Margaret and Ratboys; shoegaze from Draag, the twitchy glitchy sounds of Mandy, Indiana and more.

Andrew Bird on ‘The Pitt,’ Gia Margaret and more of the best new songs

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Tuesday

Friday

Tuesday

Songs that hit hard in 2025

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Sub Pop Records

NPR Music

Songs that hit hard in 2025

NPR listeners share the one song that hit them the hardest this year, and tell us why they laughed, cried, or simply couldn’t stop listening to it.

Songs that hit hard in 2025

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Tuesday

New songs to calm the nerves: 2025

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Andrew Woodley/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

NPR Music

New songs to calm the nerves: 2025

Our fourth installment of music to slow the blood is a mix of all-new releases from this year, from the world-building, ambient sounds of Ozbolt and Klein to the hope, optimism and good company found in the music of Samia, Hand Habits, KeiyaA and more.

New songs to calm the nerves: 2025

Listen · 46:05
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Tuesday

The Contenders, Vol. 22: Geese, Dijon, Juana Molina, more

"Islands of Men," from the Geese album Getting Killed, is one of the songs we can't stop playing this week. Lewis Evans hide caption

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Lewis Evans

NPR Music

The Contenders, Vol. 22: Geese, Dijon, Juana Molina, more

We’ve got two of the most-talked-about albums of the year, the return of electro-folk wonder Juana Molina, guitar rock from Alien Boy, Agriculture and more.  NPR Music’s Dora Levite joins host Robin Hilton as we update our running list of the year’s best songs.

The Contenders, Vol. 22: Geese, Dijon, Juana Molina, more

Listen · 47:51
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Tuesday

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

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Jessica Dunn Rovinelli

NPR Music

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

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.

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

Listen · 43:39
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Friday

Thursday

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