8 Tracks

Artists like Superchunk, Neurosis, Pixies, Low, Mogwai and Joanna Newsom came to recording engineer Steve Albini when they had something righteous or defiant to proclaim.

Music & Culture

8 Tracks: What was the Steve Albini sound? Almost everything

5:01am May 15, 2024

If an artist was willing to confront their truths, Albini was ready to take them into the gaping maw. The recording engineer, who died last week, left an indelible mark on how we hear music.

Black Thought and Your Old Droog feature on Madlib's new track "REEKYOD."

Music & Culture

8 Tracks: No beef, just a Madlib beat

1:57pm May 06, 2024

by Lars Gotrich

Madlib's music feels like a magic trick. On this edition of 8 Tracks, we bow down to Madlib's mastery, plus check out new music by Charly Bliss, Fana Hues and reminisce on an old Ted Leo record.

Songwriter, out June 28, features early '90s demos by Johnny Cash with new backing tracks.

Music & Culture

8 Tracks: Beyond the grave, Johnny Cash still shows us how to make music

9:33am April 29, 2024

by Lars Gotrich

A new Johnny Cash song got NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich thinking about music released after a beloved artist dies. Check out "Well Alright," plus new music by Arooj Aftab and Tems on 8 Tracks.

Thursday's first song in 13 years, "Application for Release From the Dream," is a soaring, searing return.

Music & Culture

8 Tracks: Post-hardcore band Thursday returns, plus glammy metal and skate-punk

4:37pm April 15, 2024

by Lars Gotrich

Thursday's first song in 13 years leads off this edition of 8 Tracks, which we'll have to call 10 Tracks because there's been too much good music lately.

There's a trio of fantastic records featuring drummer Jim White all out in the first half of 2024.

Music & Culture

8 Tracks: Life's a mess, then it's over

5:28pm April 09, 2024

In Jim White's drumming, there's a restless wonder. On this 8 Tracks, we lead off with a sprawling rocker by his band Dirty Three, but also feature new music by Chappell Roan and Amber Mark.

Sonhos Tomam Conta roughly translates as "dreams take over," which is a perfect way to think of this samba-infused shoegaze project from São Paulo.

Music & Culture

8 Tracks: Samba shoegaze, cherry blossom jazz and an 8-bit K-pop crush

5:47pm April 02, 2024

by Lars Gotrich

Sonhos Tomam Conta captures an oceanic dream, Fuubutsushi soundtracks a pastoral adventure and ILLIT is pure bubblegum. Those and more are the 8 Tracks to know this week.

New Jazz Underground pushes at the corners of hard bop and hip-hop.

Music & Culture

8 Tracks: Viral jazz, fantasy metal and a springtime roséwave jam

6:10pm March 27, 2024

by Lars Gotrich

What do New Jazz Underground, Black Sabbath and Remi Wolf have in common? According to NPR Music producer Lars Gotrich, they put out the best tracks of the week.

Pianist and composer Kelly Moran translates her love of figure skating into the luxuriant "Butterfly Phase."

Music & Culture

8 Tracks: Music that ignites the senses

1:18pm March 05, 2024

by Lars Gotrich

Can you taste color or hear pictures? You might have synesthesia. This week on 8 Tracks: A few songs that pirouette and paint, plus new music by Charli XCX, Mdou Moctar and TikTok shoegazer Wisp.