Bob Boilen

alt-J's new album, Relaxer, is thick with literary allusions and steeped in folk traditions. To get deeper into these inspirations and influences, the trio walks us through the album, song by song.

It's been an amazing ride. And now it's time to say goodbye until next time.

The Paris-based singer channels Billie Holiday and Judy Garland on an album that defies categorization.

On this week's essential new releases Mitski covers One Direction, Kevin Morby pays homage to The Ramones, Wilco's Jeff Tweedy goes solo acoustic, and much more.

Why would anyone remix one of the most important and influential albums of all time? Giles Martin explains how and why he did it for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

A new video from Pokey LaFarge, shot in his adopted home of St. Louis, mines the city's unique landscape to illustrate a song about seeking out who you really are.

On the cusp of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band's 50th birthday, hear the first take The Beatles recorded of a legendary song.

It's true: Harry Styles of One Direction has released a fantastic, solo rock album inspired by The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd. That, the return of Fleet Foxes and more in this week's show.

Tim Darcy of Montreal band Ought brings his mysterious solo work, from the album Saturday Night, to the Tiny Desk. The record he says, was his chance to "get back to my roots, in my own voice."

This week we share the incredible stories listeners shared about the songs that remind them of their mothers, from Ella Fitzgerald to Shania Twain and The Mamas & The Papas.

"This song is called 'You Never Loved Me' — it's another cheery, optimistic number," says Aimee Mann, introducing the second of four songs in this Tiny Desk Concert.

A conversation with music from The Decemberists and British singer Olivia Chaney. Their new project, Offa Rex both honors and rocks the British folk music tradition.

A strange condition hushed the life of Peter Silberman, resulting in what may be the quietest Tiny Desk Concert ever.

Christopher Paul Stelling, a singer and songwriter with a fingerpicked sound and a poetic sensibility all his own, runs through the inspirations of his new record, song by song.

Bob Boilen recaps and recommends his favorite shows from a busy week of concert attendance.

Hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton are joined by NPR Music's Lars Gotrich to share the week's best new music, including another cut from Sufjan Stevens' Planetarium collaboration and Feist.

Chad Clark , the singer of Beauty Pill, interviews Arto Lindsay, a musical hero of his and ours who recently released his first record since 2004, Cuidado Madame.

Special guests from the NPR Music team join All Songs Considered this week to share some of their favorite releases from April.

I have a self-imposed rule for Tiny Desk Concerts: No artist can visit twice unless there's something wholly different about what they're doing. alt-J was happy to oblige.

From Nelsonville, Ohio to the London poetry of Kate Tempest (in Washington, D.C.), it was a week of deep conversations, larks and formative fun.