New Music

The Contenders, Vol. 20: The songs we can't stop playing this week

By Robin Hilton,

Stephen Thompson

Published November 12, 2024 at 8:02 AM CST

Clairo's latest album, Charm, includes one of the songs we can't stop playing this week, "Add Up My Love." — Clairo's latest album, *Charm*, includes one of the songs we can't stop playing this week, "Add Up My Love."

Every other week or so, we update our running list of contenders for the year's best songs — tracks we love so much, we can't stop listening to them.

Our latest additions include a pastoral instrumental piece from Sigur Rós frontman Jónsi's latest solo album, Flicker. We've also got a deep sonic meditation from electronic artist Jon Hopkins, Muna singer Katie Gavin's reflective solo work, bedroom pop artist Clairo and more.

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson joins host Robin Hilton.

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New Music All Songs Considered

Robin Hilton

Robin Hilton is the Senior Podcast Producer for NPR Music. He also hosts the New Music Friday episodes of All Songs Considered.

Stephen Thompson

Stephen Thompson is a host, writer and reviewer for NPR Music, where he speaks into any microphone that will have him and appears as a frequent panelist and guest host on All Songs Considered. Thompson also co-hosts the daily NPR roundtable podcast Pop Culture Happy Hour, which he created with NPR's Linda Holmes in 2010. In 2008, he and Bob Boilen created the NPR Music video series Tiny Desk concerts, in which musicians perform at Boilen's desk. (To be more specific, Thompson had the idea, which took seconds, while Boilen created the series, which took years. Thompson will insist upon equal billing until the day he dies.)