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On 'Who By Fire,' First Aid Kit Stage A Love Letter To Leonard Cohen

First Aid Kit Olof Ringmar/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Olof Ringmar/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

On 'Who By Fire,' First Aid Kit Stage A Love Letter To Leonard Cohen

XPN

It takes a whole lot of courage to dedicate an entire tribute album and live concert to a master of songwriting and performance. On their live tribute album to Leonard Cohen, Who By Fire, First Aid Kit is up for the task.

First Aid Kit On World Cafe

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Goat Girl's Punk Rock Self-Care

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Holly Whitaker/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

Goat Girl's Punk Rock Self-Care

XPN

In 2021, "punk" can mean a lot of different things. It's an attitude, a viewpoint – it can even be a music genre. But the South London band Goat Girl embodies its own version entirely.

Goat Girl on World Cafe

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Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Strokes Rock Vaccinated New Yorkers In June

Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, seen here in the "Vax Live" fundraising concert held in May, performs at Madison Square Garden in June. VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

Music News

Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Strokes Rock Vaccinated New Yorkers In June

Well ahead of a celebratory Central Park concert announced by Mayor Bill de Blasio for August, New York City's venues are coming back in June for vaccinated audiences.

Samantha Crain Thought She'd Never Make Music Again
Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

Samantha Crain Thought She'd Never Make Music Again

XPN

Samantha Crain rose above a string of misfortune to release a celebrated album in 2020, called A Small Death – and is back this year with a fabulous new EP, I Guess We Live Here Now.

Samantha Crain on World Cafe

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On 'Jubilee,' Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner Enters The Springtime Of Life

Japanese Breakfast Peter Ashley Lee/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Peter Ashley Lee/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

On 'Jubilee,' Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner Enters The Springtime Of Life

XPN

Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast performs for a live virtual audience and talks to World Cafe about everything from her recent memoir, to the change in sound on her latest album, Jubilee.

Japanese Breakfast on World Cafe

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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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Courtesy of the artists

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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On 'Delta Kream,' The Black Keys Pay Tribute To Hill Country Blues

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Joshua Black Wilkins/Courtesy of the aritst

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

On 'Delta Kream,' The Black Keys Pay Tribute To Hill Country Blues

XPN

The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney discuss how Delta Kream came together and how the they got interested in hill country blues.

The Black Keys On World Cafe

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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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King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard On Making Microtonal Music During A Pandemic

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard Jamie Wdziekonski/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jamie Wdziekonski/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard On Making Microtonal Music During A Pandemic

XPN

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard's Stu Mackenzie shares new music and knowledge on microtonal music.

King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard on World Cafe

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Fresh Off A Viral Library Gig, The Linda Lindas Get A Record Deal

The Linda Lindas' "Racist, Sexist Boy" went viral last week. The band got a record deal within days from Epitaph Records. LA Public Library/YouTube hide caption

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LA Public Library/YouTube

Asian American And Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Fresh Off A Viral Library Gig, The Linda Lindas Get A Record Deal

After their performance of "Racist, Sexist Boy" at the Los Angeles Public Library went viral late last week, the band has been signed by the LA punk label Epitaph Records.

The Culture Corner: Revisit The Matrix Of Kraftwerk's 'Computer World' 40 Years On

Kraftwerk perform during the Kraftwerk - Retrospective 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8, Autobahn (1974) at The Museum of Modern Art on April 10, 2012 in New York City. Mike Coppola/Getty Images hide caption

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Mike Coppola/Getty Images

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

The Culture Corner: Revisit The Matrix Of Kraftwerk's 'Computer World' 40 Years On

XPN

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, John Morrison revisits Kraftwerk's Computer World and its importance then and now.

The Culture Corner: Kraftwerk's 'Computer World'

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How The Flaming Lips Bring The Warmth Of Concerts To Crowds, Despite The Pandemic

Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips George Salisbury/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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George Salisbury/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

How The Flaming Lips Bring The Warmth Of Concerts To Crowds, Despite The Pandemic

XPN

The Flaming Lips are finding ways to bring grand, life-affirming live performances to audiences in a time when those comforts might be needed more than ever.

The Flaming Lips On World Cafe

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Unreleased Tony Joe White Songs Are Brought To Live, After His Death

Tony Joe White Jim Marshall/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jim Marshall/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

Unreleased Tony Joe White Songs Are Brought To Live, After His Death

XPN

Hear how Tony Joe's son, Jody, took those songs to Dan Auerbach and how they, together, released a new album, Smoke From The Chimney.

Dan Auerbach And Jody White on World Cafe

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