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Kraftwerk And Our Computer World

Kraftwerk, photographed in 1977. From left: Florian Schneider, Karl Bartos, Ralf Hütter and Wolfgang Flür. Gilbert Uzan/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images hide caption

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Gilbert Uzan/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Music Interviews

Kraftwerk And Our Computer World

In a new book, writer Uwe Schütte takes up a close examination of the unique context that gave rise to one of the century's most influential art projects.

Kraftwerk And Our Computer World

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The Best Music Of May: NPR Staff Picks

Top left, clockwise: Sinéad Harnett, Olivia Rodrigo, The Zolas, Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen, Bill Laurance, Sound Prints. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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All Songs Considered

The Best Music Of May: NPR Staff Picks

In May, we swooned to Olivia Rodrigo's Sour, marveled at Sharon Van Etten and Angel Olsen, went back to the '90s with The Zolas, bathed in the opulent luxury of Sinéad Harnett's voice, got lost in Bill Laurance's piano universe, and jazz group Sound Prints expanded its possibilities.

The Best Music Of May: NPR Staff Picks

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New Music Friday: The Top 6 Albums Out On May 28

Mereba's new EP, Azeb, is out now. Breyona Holt/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Breyona Holt/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The Top 6 Albums Out On May 28

NPR Music picks the best new albums out this week, including new releases by DMX, Bachelor, Mustafa, Natalia Lafourcade and more.

New Music Friday: The Top 6 Albums Out On May 28

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On 'Leftover Feelings,' John Hiatt And Jerry Douglas Work Their Magic In Unison

John Hiatt Patrick Sheehan/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Patrick Sheehan/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

On 'Leftover Feelings,' John Hiatt And Jerry Douglas Work Their Magic In Unison

XPN

Two legendary musicians, John Hiatt and Jerry Douglas, team up on a new record called Leftover Feelings.

John Hiatt On World Cafe

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Olivia Rodrigo's 'Sour' Is Pretty Sweet

Olivia Rodrigo's debut album Sour is a follow-up to her singles "drivers license" and "deja vu." Grant Spanier/Geffen Records hide caption

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Grant Spanier/Geffen Records

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

Olivia Rodrigo's 'Sour' Is Pretty Sweet

When this year began, Olivia Rodrigo hadn't even released a single as a recording artist. But by mid-January, she was setting streaming records and sitting atop the Billboard Hot 100. "Drivers License" was an instant sensation and one of this year's biggest songs. And now, Olivia Rodrigo has her first full-length album, called Sour.

Olivia Rodrigo's 'Sour' Is Pretty Sweet

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On 'Surrounded By Time,' Tom Jones Goes Beyond Simply Covering Others' Songs

Tom Jones Rick Guest/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Rick Guest/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

On 'Surrounded By Time,' Tom Jones Goes Beyond Simply Covering Others' Songs

XPN

Whatever you do, do not call Tom Jones' latest album a "covers album."

Tom Jones on World Cafe

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On 'Sour,' Olivia Rodrigo Is A Lowercase Girl With Caps-Lock Feelings

Olivia Rodrigo's debut album, Sour, is out May 21, less than six months after she shattered streaming records with the breakthrough single "drivers license." Renee Klahr/NPR hide caption

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Renee Klahr/NPR

Review

Editors' Picks

On 'Sour,' Olivia Rodrigo Is A Lowercase Girl With Caps-Lock Feelings

The debut album by the "drivers license" phenom plays like one bottled-up soliloquy after another, bursting from a quiet observer who has been paying closer attention than you think.

Dawn Richard Documents Her Mother's Dreams

Dawn Richard takes a selfie with her mom Debbie after NPR Music's Listening Party for Second Line. Courtesy of Dawn Richard hide caption

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Courtesy of Dawn Richard

All Songs Considered

Dawn Richard Documents Her Mother's Dreams

WNXP's Jewly Hight shares a conversation with electronic dance artist Dawn Richard and her mom Debbie. Her new album, Second Line, grew out of Dawn's desire to better understand where her mom came from and what matters to her.

Dawn Richard Documents Her Mother's Dreams

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What The Radio Sounded Like In 1971

Los Angeles, January 1971: A pre-glam David Bowie jams at a party. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

World Cafe

What The Radio Sounded Like In 1971

XPN

NPR broadcast its first on-air original programming 50 years ago today: May 3, 1971.

Celebrating NPR's 50th On World Cafe

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The Best Music Of April: NPR Staff Picks

Top row, left to right: Rita Payés, ILoveMakonnen, Flock of Dimes, Zao, Toumani Diabaté, Pom Pom Squad. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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All Songs Considered

The Best Music Of April: NPR Staff Picks

In April, we adored biting and beautiful indie rock from Pom Pom Squad and Flock of Dimes, witnessed Zao's metallic brutality, were transported by Catalan multi-instrumentalist Rita Payés and kora player Toumani Diabaté, and were reminded why we love ILOVEMAKONNEN.

The Best Music Of April: NPR Staff Picks

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Marie Ulven, 'Girl In Red,' Talks Fame, Sexuality And Her New Album

Marie Ulven, who records under the name girl in red, performing in 2019 in Oslo, Norway. PYMCA/PYMCA/Avalon/Gonzales Photo/Univ hide caption

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PYMCA/PYMCA/Avalon/Gonzales Photo/Univ

Music Interviews

Marie Ulven, 'Girl In Red,' Talks Fame, Sexuality And Her New Album

NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with Marie Ulven, who calls herself "girl in red," about her new album if i could make it go quiet.

Marie Ulven, 'Girl In Red,' Talks Fame, Sexuality And Her New Album

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Rickie Lee Jones Shares The Soundtrack To Her Youth

Rickie Lee Jones and Tom Waits as seen in Last Chance Texaco: Chronicles of an American Troubadour. Sal Sdestro/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Sal Sdestro/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

Rickie Lee Jones Shares The Soundtrack To Her Youth

XPN

Rickie Lee Jones opens up about the stories and characters of her own story in her new memoir.

Rickie Lee Jones on World Cafe

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Money Mark, Beastie Boys Keyboardist, Has A Timeless Reminder

Money Mark, a still from the documentary The Sound of Toys. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Morning Edition Song Project

Money Mark, Beastie Boys Keyboardist, Has A Timeless Reminder

As part of Morning Edition's Song Project, Mark Ramos Nishita revisited the songwriting routine he implemented at the beginning of lockdown, and which changed dramatically throughout it.

Money Mark, Beastie Boys Keyboardist, Has A Timeless Reminder

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