NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is joined by Julie Bee of Marfa Public Radio to talk through the best albums released on May 2.

Featured albums:

• Car Seat Headrest, 'The Scholars' (Stream)

• Samantha Crain, 'Gumshoe' (Stream)

• PUP, 'Who Will Look After The Dogs?' (Stream)

• Jenny Hval, 'Iris Silver Mist' (Stream)

• Jolie Laide, 'Creatures' (Stream)

See the long list of albums out May 2 and stream our New Music Friday playlist at npr.org/music.

Credits

Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Julie Bernal, Marfa Public Radio
Producer: Simon Rentner
Editors: Otis Hart and Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Vice President, Music and Visuals: Keith Jenkins

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson is joined by Julie Bee of Marfa Public Radio to talk through the best albums released on May 2.

Nelson's new album, Oh What a Beautiful World — his 77th solo album and 154th overall — doesn't break from convention, but that's exactly why it feels so necessary right now.

A master of vocal jazz, Andy Bey left behind a singular legacy. This tribute revisits his life, music and a rare, reflective interview recorded near his 80th birthday.

"Weird Al" Yankovic has no trouble tapping into his dorkiness. Perhaps that's the secret to his decades-spanning appeal. On this week's Wild Card with Rachel Martin, he talks about aging into his weirdness.

From San Juan to the Tiny Desk, it's hard to catch a moment where the Puerto Rican rapper, doctor and author doesn't smile, laugh or perreo hasta abajo.

It's a slow week on the Billboard charts, but Jack Black breaks a surprising record on the chart. Plus, rapper Doechii lands her first top 10 album and Alex Warren's "Ordinary" continues to move up the Hot 100.

We update our running list of the year's best songs with a staggering cut from the new 'Sinners' film, hyperpop from Jane Remover, the return of Foxwarren and more.

Featured artists and songs:
1. Miles Caton: "I Lied to You," from 'Sinners'
2. Foxwarren: "Yvonne," from '2'
3. Jane Remover: "Dancing with your eyes closed," from 'Revengeseekerz'
4. Mal Blum: "I'm So Bored," from 'The Villain'
5. Men I Trust: "The Landkeeper," from 'Equus Asinus'

All Songs Considered 25th anniversary segment: Our number one songs from 2010

Weekly reset: Dinner and dance performance, Chiang Mai, Thailand

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Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: [email protected]

Hear new songs from past episodes in the All Songs Considered playlists in Apple Music and Spotify.

In a fraught moment for two institutions behind the awards, this year's NEA Jazz Masters ceremony celebrated musicians who have upheld the genre's legacy while looking anxiously toward an uncertain future.

Madison McFerrin, who creates instruments in real-time out of her looped vocals, previews songs from her upcoming album SCORPIO backed by a Chicago-based band and a sister vocal trio.

French violinist and social media influencer Esther Abrami releases her new album, Women, featuring music by female composers in a bid to redress historic biases.

The seven acts voted into the Rock Hall this year include Southern rap and Midwest garage rock duos, pillars of the grunge and English blues rock eras and the '80s most unusual pop star.

A celebration to honor this year's NEA Jazz Masters award recipients, including Marshall Allen, Chucho Valdés, Marilyn Crispell and Gary Giddins. Watch live at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 26.

The Irish folk rock duo talk about their forthcoming record, Forward, plus they perform live in the studio.

The big-voiced, unapologetically frank singer-songwriter refuses to be boxed in by genres, and finds joy in the full expression of self.

As one of the most-performed living composers, the Pulitzer winner insists that her music communicate to everyone — from farmers to children to the classical music intelligentsia.

Coco Jones. Samia. Fly Anakin. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes Ayana Contreras from Denver public radio stations KUVO Jazz and The Drop to discuss the best new albums they heard this week.

Featured albums:

• Coco Jones, 'Why Not More' (Stream)

• Samia, 'Bloodless' (Stream)

• Emma-Jean Thackray, 'Weirdo' (Stream)

• David Murray, 'Birdly Serenade' (Stream)

• Fly Anakin, '(The) Forever Dream' (Stream)

Check out our long list of albums out April 25 and sample more 50 of them via our New Music Friday playlist at npr.org/music.

To learn more about the Tiny Desk Contest artists you heard in this episode, check out Ayana Contreras' Top Shelf special on YouTube.

Credits

Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Ayana Contreras, KUVO Jazz & The Drop
Producer: Simon Rentner
Editor: Otis Hart
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Vice President, Music and Visuals: Keith Jenkins

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes Ayana Contreras of Denver public radio stations KUVO Jazz and The Drop to discuss today's top new releases.

Formed in 1975, Pere Ubu embodied the industrial decay and hardscrabble ethics of Cleveland. Thomas tied together the band's sound with uncompromising vocals that exuded steely menace and unfettered anguish.

Billy McFarland says he will sell the brand "to an operator that can fully realize its vision." The news comes days after the postponement of Fyre Festival 2, which was scheduled for late May.