Due out this Friday, July 29, Beyoncé's Act I Renaissance has generated a massive wave of anticipation. In this round-table discussion, we breakdown why we're excited, why it matters and what we might expect.

All Songs Considered

The power of Beyoncé is about to change music... again

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include new ones from Flo Milli, Jack White, Rico Nasty, Joey Bada$$, The Sea And Cake's Sam Prekop and John McEntire, and more.Featured Albums:1. Flo Milli — You Still Here, Ho?Featured Tracks: "Conceited," "Pay Day," "On My Nerves"2. Jack White — Entering Heaven AliveFeatured Tracks: "I've Got You Surrounded (With My Love)," "A Tip from You to Me," "Taking Me Back (Gently)," "Queen of the Bees"3. Rico Nasty — Las RuinasFeatured Tracks: "Skullflower," "Messy," "Gotsta Get Paid," "Easy"4. Joey Bada$$ — 2000Featured Tracks: " Eulogy," "Show Me"5. Sam Prekop & John McEntire — Sons OfFeatured Tracks: "A Ghost At Noon," "A Yellow Robe"Lightning Round: Beach Bunny — Emotional CreatureJitwam — ThirdThe Koreatown Oddity — ISTHISFORREAL?Other notable releases for July 22:Ben Harper — Bloodline MaintenanceChannelers — Time, Space and ThoughtDawes — Misadventures Of DoomscrollerImperial Triumphant — Spirit of EcstasyThe Kooks — 10 Tracks to Echo in the DarkNina Nastasia — Riderless HorseOceans of Slumber — Starlight and AshODESZA — The Last GoodbyePool Kids — Pool KidsRafael Anton Irisarri - Agitas Al SolRZA & Bobby Digital — RZA Presents: Bobby Digital and the Pit of SnakesThe Sadies — Colder StreamsShe & Him — Melt Away: A Tribute To Brian WilsonTanya Tagaq — Tongues North Star RemixesThor Harris — Doom Dub IITy Segall — "Hello, Hi"See more of the best new music out now via NPR Music's #Nowplaying 

New Music Friday: The best releases out on July 22

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite tracks of the week, including new ones from The 1975, Tiny Desk Contest contestant Danielle Ponder, The Black Angels and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Madi Diaz: "Hangover" (Single)2. Danielle Ponder: "So Long," from Some of Us Are Brave3. King Princess: "Cursed," from Hold On Baby4. The Beths: "Expert in a Dying Field," from Expert in a Dying Field5. The 1975: "Part of the Band," from Being Funny In a Foreign Language6. The Black Angels: "Firefly," from Wilderness of MirrorsWatch videos for each track and more at the All Songs Considered website.

New Mix: The 1975, The Beths, King Princess, Danielle Ponder, more

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include Lizzo's Special, the ramshackle pop of Superorganism, beabadoobee, a genre-defying solo release from The Internet's Steve Lacy and more.Featured Albums:1. Lizzo — SpecialFeatured Songs: "About Damn Time," "Grrrls"2. beabadoobee — BeatopiaFeatured Songs: "10:36," "See You Soon," "Ripples," "Talk"3. Steve Lacy — Gemini RightsFeatured Songs: "Mercury," "Helmet," "2geteher (Enterlude)"4. Superorganism — World Wide PopFeatured Songs: "Flying," "Teenager," "Black Hole Baby"5. Adrian Younge & Ali Shaheed Muhammad with Katalyst — JID 013Featured Songs: "Juneteenth," "Summer Solstice"Lightning Round: Attia Taylor — Space Ghostblack midi — HellfireLil Silva — Yesterday is HeavyInterpol — The Other Side of Make-BelieveOther notable releases for July 15:The A's — FruitAmirtha Kidambi & Luke Stewart — Zenith/NadirArp — New PleasuresElf Power — Artificial Countrysidesj-hope — jack in the boxJoVia Armstrong — The Antidote SuiteM. Geddes Gengras — Expressed, I Noticed SilenceOzomatli — Marching OnRonnie Foster — Reboot

New Music Friday: The best releases out on July 15

All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen's favorite new tracks of the week include a stirring collaboration with Margo Price, Mavis Staples and Adia Victoria, a "training montage" from The Mountain Goats and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Margo Price: "Fight to Make It (feat. Mavis Staples & Adia Victoria)" (Single)2. The Mountain Goats: "Training Montage," from Bleed Out3. Tianna Esperanza: "Princess Slit and the Raincoat Prince" (Single)4. renforshort: "i miss myself," from dear amelia5. Wilder Maker: "Against Numbers (feat. Katie Von Schleicher)," from Male Models6. Indigo Sparke: "Pressure in My Chest," from Hysteria

New Mix: Margo Price, renforshort, The Mountain Goats, Tianna Esperanza, more

R&B singer Brent Faiyaz's reflective Wasteland, Metric's epic Formentera, a meditative instrumental record from producer Apollo Brown and more make our shortlist for the best albums out this week.Featured Albums: 1. Brent Faiyaz — WASTELANDFeatured songs: "PRICE OF FAME," "GRAVITY," "DEAD MAN WALKING"2. Metric — FormenteraFeatured songs: "Doomscroller"3. Apollo Brown — This Must Be The PlaceFeatured songs: "Catching Moments"4. Anna Butterss — ActivitiesFeatured songs: "Doo Wop" 5. renforshort — dear ameliaFeatured songs: "better off" Lightning Round: Burna Boy — Love, DaminiNoSo — Stay Proud of Merei brown — XenoWu-Lu — LOGGERHEADOther notable releases for July 8:Delicate Steve — After HoursEmmanuel Jal — ShangahThe Faim — Talk TalkKaty J Pearson — Sound of the MorningLaura Veirs — Found LightMegadeth — The Sick, The Dying... and the Dead!Neil Young & Crazy Horse — ToastRae Morris — Rachel@FairylandRapport — Floating Through the WonderwaveTye Tribbett — All Things NewTyshawn Sorey Trio — Mesmerism Vancouver Sleep Clinic — Fallen ParadiseWet — Pink Room

New Music Friday: The best releases out on July 8

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares his favorite tracks of the week, including a surprising new single from Sylvan Esso, the L.A. rock duo known as Momma, the singer-songwriter Ondara and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Sylvan Esso: "Your Reality" (Single)2. Nora Brown: "Little Satchel," from Long Time To Be Gone3. Lindsay Clark: "Evening Star," from Carpe Noctem4. Yard Act & Elton John: "100% Endurance" (Single)5. Momma: "Motorbike," from Household Name6. Ondara: "An Alien In Minneapolis," from Spanish Villager No. 3

New Mix: Sylvan Esso, Ondara, Momma, Nora Brown and more

June brought us The Suffers' socially conscious party music, Saya Gray's headphones-worthy debut, GIVĒON's R&B ballads, Regina Spektor's elaborate songwriting and Petrol Girls' amped-up punk.Featured Tracks and Artists:1. The Suffers: "Don't Bother Me" and "Yada Yada" from It Starts with Love2. Saya Gray: "I FOUND A FLOORBOARD UNDER THE SOIL!" from 19 Masters3. GIVĒON: "Scarred" from Give Or Take4. Regina Spektor "One Man's Prayer" from Home, before and after5. Petrol Girls: "Preachers" from Baby Our panel's additional recommendations for June:• S.G. Goodman, Teeth Marks• Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler, For All Our Days That Tear the Heart• Beyoncé, "BREAK MY SOUL" • SZA, "Jodie" • Linda Ayupuka, God Created Everything Discover NPR Music's favorite albums and songs of 2022 (so far).

The Best Music of June

The singer explains why Blue Note Records rejected her first version of the beloved album and shares her original, previously unheard tracks, now released for a 20th anniversary edition of the record.Plus a deep dive on the album with NPR Music's Ann Powers, WBGO and Jazz Night In America's Nate Chinen and host Robin Hilton.

Norah Jones reflects on 20 years of 'Come Away With Me'

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include new ones from the electro-pop band MUNA, R&B singer GIVĒON, country star Jimmie Allen, Soccer Mommy and more.Featured Albums:1. MUNA — MUNAFeatured Song: "What I Want"2. GIVĒON — Give or Take Featured Song: "Lost Me"3. Soccer Mommy — Sometimes, Forever Featured Song: "Don't Ask Me"4. Jimmie Allen — Tulip Drive Featured Song: "what i'm talkin' 'bout"5. Lupe Fiasco — DRILL MUSIC IN ZIONFeatured Song: "AUTOBOTO (feat. Nayirah)"Lightning Round• Ella Fitzgerald — Ella at the Hollywood Bowl: The Irving Berlin Songbook• Katie Alice Greer — Barbarism• Dear Silas — It's Giving SELF LOVE!• Regina Spektor — Home, before and after• Luke Combs — Growin' Up• Arooj Aftab — Vulture Prince (Deluxe Edition)• Zola Jesus — Arkhon• Various Artists — Elvis (OST)• Joan Shelley — The Spur

New Music Friday: The best releases out June 24

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares an anthemic call to action from Jesca Hoop, a song for a stressed-out brain from Dry Cleaning, and two tunes inspired by television shows.Featured Tracks And Artists:1. Jesca Hoop: "Hatred Has a Mother," from Order of Romance2. Jake Blount: "Didn't It Rain," from The New Faith3. Alex G: "Runner," from God Save the Animals4. Rubblebucket: "Morning in the Sun" (Single)5. Marlon Williams: "Thinking of Nina," from My Boy6. Dry Cleaning: "Don't Press Me," from Stumpwork

New Mix: Dry Cleaning, Jesca Hoop, Alex G, Rubblebucket, Jake Blount, Marlon Williams

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include new ones from R&B singer Yaya Bey, the shape-shifting rock of Bartees Strange, Perfume Genius, DJ and producer J. Rocc and more.Featured Albums:1. Yaya Bey — Remember Your North StarFeatured Songs: "alright," "rolling stoner," "meet me in brooklyn"2. Bartees Strange — Farm to TableFeatured Songs: "Mulholland Dr.," "Hold the Line," "Hennessy," "Cosigns"3. Wild Up — Julius Eastman, Vol. 2: Joy BoyFeatured Songs: "Stay On It," "Touch Him When (Heavy)," "Joy Boy"4. J. Rocc — A Wonderful LetterFeatured Songs: "Keep On (Yeah)," "Pajama Party," "Dancing With the Best"5. Perfume Genius — Ugly SeasonFeatured Songs: "Teeth," "Cenote," "Scherzo"Lightning Round: Erica Banks — Diary of The Flow QueenHarkin — Honeymoon SuiteKevin Gates — KhazaRY X — Blood MoonOther notable releases for June 17:Alanis Morissette — The Storm Before the CalmCarlos Simon & Marco Pave' — Requiem for the EnslavedFlasher — Love is YoursFoals — Life is YoursHercules & Love Affair — In AmberInfinity Knives & Brian Ennals — King CobraLogic — Vinyl DaysMt. Joy — Orange BloodSound of Ceres — Emerald Sea

New Music Friday: The best releases out on June 17

All Songs Considered's Bob Boilen shares new tracks from Belgian-Egyptian singer Tamino, Sylvan Esso's Amelia Meath and Daughter of Sword's Alexandra Sauser-Monnig together as The A's and more.Featured Tracks And Artists:1. The A's: "He Needs Me," from Fruit2. S.G. Goodman: "Dead Soldiers," from Teeth Marks3. The Beths: "Silence Is Golden," from Expert In A Dying Field4. Madison Cunningham: "Hospital," from Revealer5. Katie Bejsiuk: "Olive, Ny" from The Woman on the Moon6. Tamino: "The First Disciple," from Sahar

New Mix: S.G. Goodman, The A's, The Beths, Tamino, more

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include Nature's World from the Chicago hip-hop duo Mother Nature, FKJ's VINCENT, a meditative album from Japanese composer Midori Takada and more. Featured Albums:1. FKJ — VINCENTFeatured Songs: "Let's Live," "Greener"2. ELUCID — I Told BessieFeatured Songs: "Ghoulie," "Smile Lines"3. Nick Mulvey — New MythologyFeatured Songs: "Mecca," "Star Nation"4. Mother Nature & Renzell — Nature's WorldFeatured Song: "Midnight Garden"5. Midori Takada — You Who are Leaving to Nirvana and Cutting Branches for a Temporary ShelterFeatured Songs: "Kannon Daiji," "Cutting Branches for a Temporary Shelter (In the Morning)"Lightning Round:BTS — ProofFlora Purim — If You Will (physical release)Julius Rodriguez — Let Sound Tell AllShearwater — The Great AwakeningOther notable releases for June 10:Bloomsday — Place to LandCarrie Underwood — Denim & RhinestonesFree the Robots — KaduwaGeorge Ezra — Gold Rush KidJoyce Manor — 40 Oz. to FresnoJudah & The Lion — RevivalMapache — Roscoe's DreamMax Richter — The New Four SeasonsMoonchild Sanelly — PhasesVance Joy — In Our Own Sweet TimeYann Tiersen — 11 5 18 25 18

New Music Friday: The best releases out on June 10

All Songs host Bob Boilen shares his favorite new tracks of the week including the return of Death Cab for Cutie, a rare demo from Lou Reed, the singer-songwriter known as NoSo, Sylvan Esso and more.Featured Songs And Artists:1. Sylvan Esso: "Sunburn" (Single)2. Annie Hamilton: "Exist," from the future is here but it feels kinda like the past3. Death Cab for Cutie: "Roman Candles," from Asphalt Meadows4. NoSo: "Parasites," from Stay Proud of Me5. Tess Parks: "Wow," from And Those Who Were Seen Dancing6. Lou Reed: "I'm Waiting for the Man - May 1965 Demo," from Words & Music, May 1965

New Mix: Death Cab For Cutie, Sylvan Esso, Lou Reed, NoSo, more

Hosts/nerds Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton are your friendly music buddies with the week's best new music discoveries, including conversations with emerging artists, icons and more. Hear songs that can completely change your day, with humor, heart and (sometimes) a whole lot of noise. Directions for use: Morning commute, the gym, or alone time. (If rash persists, discontinue use.)

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All Songs Considered

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