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The Contenders, Vol. 17: The songs we can't stop playing this week

Colin Steton's "Hollowing," from his latest album The love it took to leave you, is one of our contenders for the year's best songs.
Jonathan Durand
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Courtesy of the artist
Colin Steton's "Hollowing," from his latest album The love it took to leave you, is one of our contenders for the year's best songs.

Our latest update to NPR Music's running list of the year's best songs includes a slice of pop perfection from Oso Oso and a whole bunch of sonic ear candy. There's the instrumental work of saxophonist Colin Stetson, composer Christopher Rountree, cellist and sound collagist Lia Kohl, and more, including the music of Philip Glass performed by mezzo-soprano Emily D'Angelo.

NPR Music's Tom Huizenga joins host Robin Hilton as they share the songs they can't stop playing this week.


Featured songs and artists

  • Oso Oso: "dog without its bark," from life till bones
  • Christopher Rountree: "Almanac," from 3BPM
  • Colin Stetson: "Hollowing," from The love it took to leave you
  • Emily D'Angelo: "Freezing," from Freezing
  • Lia Kohl: "Tennis Court Light, Snow," from Normal Sounds
  • Gabriela Ortiz: Kauyumari, from Revolución Diamantina

Copyright 2024 NPR

Robin Hilton
Robin Hilton is the Senior Podcast Producer for NPR Music. He also hosts the New Music Friday episodes of All Songs Considered.
Tom Huizenga
Tom Huizenga is a producer for NPR Music. He contributes a wide range of stories about classical music to NPR's news programs and is the classical music reviewer for All Things Considered. He appears regularly on NPR Music podcasts and founded NPR's classical music blog Deceptive Cadence in 2010.