“29” is an incredibly complex, interesting, and powerful song. If something didn’t upset you in 2020, you weren’t really here, were you? 3:15 0:30. Singer and songwriter, Tim Nelson tells their partner in both art and life, Sam Netterfield, to forget all of the people who were not there, all of the bad memories and just focus on the here and now. Talk about the spectrum of emotion. PRESS PLAY: New Albums Out Today from WXPN. More than anything else “WAP” is raunchy, and we all love it, whether we admit it or not. The song is meditative and peaceful, and counters the songs on Like Nirvana that describe the insecurities relationships can bring. Buckle in and take a spin as we guide you across 30 songs in 120 minutes; read our takes on the music below, and to keep them in your own personal rotation, bookmark our Best Songs of 2020 playlists on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music. Program Guide; XPN Morning Show w/ Kristen Kurtis & Bob Bumbera; Afternoons w/ Dan Reed; XPN Middays w/ Helen Leicht; Kids Corner; The Blues Show Keep tabs on anything you missed with the list below, as well as the playlists on Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube. The list has been tallied. We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. Joining him are two New York City princes of hip-hop A$AP Ferg and Fivio Foreign. × WXPN Open in Spotify. XPN Playlists are curated not encoded. A violin creeps up into the song, and it changes pace as if to signal “hold on, something intense is coming.” And then it does. 's • The Complete Stax / Volt Soul Singles, Vol. The young UK songbird’s voice reminds me of Jazmine Sullivan and the song itself sounds like a little more of an upbeat version of Estelle’s “Come Over” featuring Sean Paul. But where most contemporary artists stumble or fail, Tre Burt surges through to create something of enormous significance. We’re going to keep running collections across multiple streaming services of everything we play during the #XPN2020 — the hits, the deep cuts, the amazing covers and lesser-heard originals. Home; Programs. “And we’re all hanging on, hanging on, trying not to fall through the void. DAILY PLAYLISTS; STUDIO SESSIONS; SESSION VIDEOS; STATIONS; CONTACT; HOME; ABOUT; SHOW. Please wait. I was home recovering from surgery, and every time this song was played on XPN I turned it up…loudly…I needed to hear the music, and the mantra: “Life ain’t always empty / Don’t get stuck in the past / Say your favorite things at Mass / Tell your Mother that you love her / And go out of your way for others / Sit beneath a light that suits ya / And look forward to a brighter future.” – Helen Leicht, XPN Midday Show, You’re lying on your back as the ocean’s tide rolls in, immersing you in a comfortably cool mixture of water, foam and coarse sand. Philadelphia public radio station WXPN is not letting the cancellation of its 2020 XPoNential Music Festival from bringing music lovers an exciting, three-day music festival filled with dozens of hours of live music performances, from Friday night July 24 through Sunday, July 26. It would be pretty hard to wallow with riffs like this, and as the indie-punk song races along, Okusami’s warm and comforting alto spends as much time reflecting on self-care, setting boundaries, and not losing your individuality in the fight. A standout track from the album is its second single “Now That I’m Back,” which takes listeners on a journey in just over three minutes, taking on an almost short-story like timeline. And ferocious. Play on Spotify. “WAP” is ribald. Written in the wake of the murders of George Floyd and Oluwatoyin Salau, ”Song 33” takes aim at the twin evils of racism and patriarchy. bio & videos; tour dates; buy songs; XPoNential Music Festival 2020 Preview. A song like “Lost In Yesterday” beautifully showcases the hypnotic ambience that lures you in and the musical vibrancy that elevates your listening experience. 3:34 0:30. – Ian Zolitor, XPN Folk Show, “WAP” is bold. The Key covers all local music in Greater Philly and beyond. So, watch out! “Standing in the yard, dressed like a kid, the house is white and the lawn is dead,” she rhymes again and again, and now I miss my kid friends more than ever. – Mike Vasilikos, XPN New Music Show, I was randomly scrolling on Instagram the first time I heard “Think About You (Notion Remix)” by Tiana Major9, and since that random scroll I haven’t been able to stop listening. Over a blissful Madlib instrumental, noname lifts up the names of the fallen while conjuring a wave of righteous anger like Christ casting out the wicked from the house of the lord. 3. Live Sessions from artists on the lineup for #XPNFest 2020. XPN Morning Show w/ Kristen Kurtis & Bob Bumbera, 07:25 am Nina Simone - To Be Young, Gifted and Black, 07:14 am Ani DiFranco - Not A Pretty Girl, 07:09 am Florence And The Machine - Shake It Out, 07:04 am Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, 07:00 am Dusty Springfield - Wasn't Born To Follow, 06:50 am Adia Victoria - Dope Queen Blues, 06:46 am Hurray For The Riff Raff - Living In The City, 06:37 am Kacey Musgraves - Follow Your Arrow, 06:34 am Taylor Swift - You Belong With Me. Use our service to find it! World Cafe Playlist for 12/18/2020 - World Cafe Playlists Maybe you remember the viral video that turned Maggie Rogers from a college music student into an overnight success – Pharrell Williams became her first superstar fan when Maggie’s song “Alaska” was played for him in an NYU master class. This is the station that tracked the Woodstock album for the 50th anniversary at the times the event actually happened. When it’s a been long winter’s night, and the sunset was at 5:30; when all you want is to curl up in to a ball because life has dealt you a hand, “WAP” will keep you warm, safe, and calm. Donations from local music fans, like you, are the largest and most reliable source of funding for The Key. 2: 1968-1971. Its rolling piano blistering over drums, handclaps and airhorns, “Shameika” sees Apple’s voice flowing between spoken word, quivering ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs,’ yelps and howls, and a deceptively soft-sung chorus about a childhood classmate (now known to be Virginia-based musician Shameika Stepney) and the power in lifting each other up, even in moments we may have thought fleeting or insignificant. – Yoni Kroll, The Key, That feeling when a song explodes into life and you’re in the middle of it, that’s what happen when Nick Sanborn’s synths kick in. In a scene filled with so many local bands worth listening to, there will always be new music to discover. XPN Best New Music. The Districts | photo by Rachel Del Sordo for WXPN. Built on a fervent rhythm, emphatic acoustic strums, and keyboard starbursts, the single “Pastime” could soundtrack a walk through your own hometown at sundown, and the moments you notice its subtleties that used to be invisible because they were always there. And we're off! – John Vettese, editor, The Key, “Run around, run away from your America While it burns in the streets I been here, standing on top of the mountain Shouting down what I see” A fiery proclamation from a band who released the prescient album There is No Year. Happy New Year! Nas proves that he is capable of holding his own with the new school with his braggy and playful lyricism. It’s a perfect builder. XPN Playlists are curated not encoded. shareshare... add. Jess Cornelius Captures The Uncertainty That Comes With Big Life Changes : World Cafe : World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN After 10 years … Nathaniel Rateliff performs "And It's Still Alright" live for a World Cafe Session with host, Raina Douris. Like what you're hearing? T.N.T. Please wait. Philly's WXPN is currently broadcasting its 2020 countdown of the best songs every as submitted by listeners of the station. On the Floor Perfume Genius • Set My Heart On Fire Immediately. Sung in Finnish, Karina’s “Teko” is, on the surface, entirely incomprehensible for the majority of English speaking listeners. “Think About You (Notion Remix)” is just one of those songs that you hear at a party that can make you want to dance with that person that has caught your eye all night. – Eric Schuman, Indie Rock Hit Parade, The brainchild of canadian musician Keith Boothby, Little Kid have achieved their slow-burn success through a series of spell-binding home recordings, the kind that leads to a simmering cult following. Play on Spotify. Public station WXPN is giving you that with it's top 2020, an eclectic mix of hits and songs only known to music geeks. The Weather Station captures that tension in “Robber”. 5:03 0:30. Follow the 2020 Countdown playlist data in real-time! 02:27 am |World Cafe| - 79rs Gang (2020) 2-16-2021 Hour 2, Part 5. They are doing a top 2020 countdown round the clock. The Key Studio Sessions: Naeemah Maddox. Daily Playlists and more from the World Cafe | NPR Music. World Cafe Playlist for 12/16/2020 - World Cafe Playlists Over the last four decades, Mike Scott’s artistic curiosity has led to all sorts of sounds from his band The Waterboys. Has been an interesting listen, all kinds of genres. Underneath your body, the undertow is more massaging than it is pulling away the beach beneath. Recorded at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia on 2/14/2020. WXPN 88.5 FM playlist; WXPN 88.5 FM playlist. These 30 songs, hand-picked by XPN’s on-air staff and online contributors to sum up the 2020 experience, range from minute-long punk blasts to eight-minute free-jazz-and-revolutionary-poetry epics. Alongside Bomba Estéreo’s Liliana Saumet, Pimienta channels her anger into an energy that can (and will) topple mountains. It’s a common saying, and one that’s held true this year as the wealth inequality gap continues to widen, and tensions continue to grow. Home XPN Playlist World Cafe Listen Live Concert Calendar The Key Program Guide Artist To Watch Contact Us Become a Member. 06:15 am The Velvet Underground - Femme Fatale, 05:54 am Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band - Cherchez la Femme, 05:42 am Anita Baker - Caught up in the Rapture, 05:25 am Tanita Tikaram - Twist In My Sobriety, 05:20 am Barbra Streisand - Don't Rain On My Parade, 05:16 am K. T. Tunstall - Black Horse & The Cherry Tree~, 05:10 am Roberta Flack - Until It's Time For You To Go, 05:08 am The Breeders - Do You Love Me Now? – John Morrison, Culture Cypher Radio, Brooklyn singer-songwriter Elise Okusami could not have been more direct. The Districts | photo by Rachel Del Sordo for WXPN. Donations from local music fans, like you, are the largest and most reliable source of funding for The Key. WXPN 88.5 Home; WXPN 88.5 Home; Listen Live; The XPN Concert Calendar; Playlist; DONATE; The Key . The votes have been cast. About The Key. – Stephen Kallao, World Cafe, Some may argue that Nas was in his prime when he released Illmatic, regardless of what folks think, Nas, pushed through on his single “Spicy”. On her latest album, Miss Colombia, melds traditional instruments with digital experimentation into a dazzling foundation for her performance. We spent the first day of 2021 counting down the top 100 most played songs of 2020 all day on XPN. Pimienta has described her shift to heavier electronic textures as a response to the limited time she can spend in the studio while raising two children. – Stephen Kallao, World Cafe, Fetch the Bolt Cutters arrived on April 17th, 2020, about a month after the coronavirus had officially upended our collective reality, and gave many of us the opportunity to share in something of a communal catharsis in the power of a masterpiece (and fifth studio album) by one of our greatest contemporary artists. WXPN Best of 2020: Songs ... [full playlists] Categorized Under: Tags: WXPN Best of 2020. Support Local Music Journalism It’s only brief enough that’s there’s never a moment of where your next breath will come from. – Melissa Simpson, The Key, noname’s “Song 33” is subtle, understated, and only 1:09 long — and it may be the most poignant and timely piece of music released in 2020. It’s remarkable that the song that may best personify our current collective experience was released just *before* we’d begin our descent into the depths of 2020 together. “I’ll keep trying to keep the skies blue anyway,” she sings, making it clear that “A Crack In The World” is the sound of irrepressible hope. DAILY PLAYLISTS; STUDIO SESSIONS; SESSION VIDEOS; STATIONS; CONTACT; FEATURED on . World Cafe Playlist for 12/21/2020 - World Cafe Playlists Michael Mwenso joins host Raina Douris As a kid, Michael Mwenso befriended James Brown and even got the chance to sing and dance on stage with the soul legend. But sometimes there’s only so much you can do.” That last phrase is key; “so much” does not equal “nothing,” and while Okusami acknowledges all the things in 21st century life that conspire to weigh heavy on our shoulders, she also doesn’t allow them to bring her down to the point of wallowing. – Julian Booker, Sleepy Hollow, The powerful closing track off Phoebe Bridgers’ Punisher, “I Know The End” starts off like a classic Bridgers song: soft, quiet, hypnotic. – Kristen Kurtis, XPN Morning Show, Over ten years and six albums, indie-folk singer-songwriter Samantha Crain has carved out a lane as a compelling voice with a compassionate perspective. And as Parker explores the temptation of nostalgia on “Lost in Yesterday” his real guidance is to embrace progress and a positive outlook. – Bruce Warren, XPN Program Director, The fusion of Japanese Breakfast’s pop sensibilities with the 64-bit punk of Crying created an exciting and unexpected EP from Michelle Zauner and Ryan Galloway, with “You Can Get It” sitting right at the top. Our playlist stores a WXPN 88.5 FM track list for the past 7 days. In the years that followed, a Kurt Vile fan at one of his concerts said “You remind me of John Prine.” Kurt later went on to speak of Prine as “my hero.” When John and Kurt first did “How Lucky” at a New Year’s Eve performance at the Grand Ole Opry, Vile referred to it as “the single most special moment in my (musical) life.” Get ready to enjoy three-and-a-half minutes of clean acoustic Kurt Vile pickin’ and make-you-smile John Prine lyrics. WXPN and its many programs, including: World Cafe, XPN2, the XPoNential Music Festival, and The Key, are made possible thanks to the generous donations of music fans, like you. – Stephen Kallao, World Cafe, There’s so much to love about Kevin Parker and the musical vision he’s created with Tame Impala. Listen closely for a quadruple entendre referencing Nas’s silver screen release, “Belly”. 2. – Regina Schliep, The Key, Listening to “29” from the new Soul Glo EP Songs to Yeet at the Sun you might be struck by a number of things: How does vocalist Pierce Jordan fit so many words into a minute and 15 seconds? Songwriter Tamara Lindeman examines her own relationship with the illusions of capitalism and the way we glamourize the very people who are profiting from the exploitation of resources we need if we hope to continue as a society. Let us know, Copyright WXPN, The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania. This is what public stations can do that commercial stations can't. Please wait. But now it all makes sense, as much as anything with this long-running maverick punk/hardcore/hip hop band makes sense. Please consider a donation to help support our reporting. It’s the greatest songs of all time! XPN Playlist WXPN Radio. 1. – Rachel Del Sordo, The Key, Full of nostalgia for 90s and early 2000s indie rock, Soccer Mommy’s “Circle The Drain” pointedly channels the emotion and grit of pop-rock stars like Liz Phair, Alanis Morissette, and Avril Lavigne. – Maureen Walsh, The Key, The Districts’ show at Union Transfer back in March was my last real concert of 2020, and I think at the time I was in full denial. Among so many slow-turning dreams like “anything” and “zombie girl,” “half return” pushes a backbeat groove alone and awkwardly, like a wheelbarrow through mud. In a scene filled with so many local bands worth listening to, there will always be new music to discover. Brought to you by WXPN, a non-commercial public radio station dedicated to music discovery. I've heard everything from Bing Crosby to Led Zeppelin. How are there so many different parts to a song that’s this short? The song begins a new chapter, the beat unfolding like a slow tornado of swirling strings, horns, and a call-to-arms that eventually engulfs you into its brilliant, powerful cacophony. Since Thursday, WXPN is … On her latest record, this year’s A Small Death, it sounds at first like she’s elevated her game, but it was an awful lot of work getting there. Daily Playlists and more from the World Cafe | NPR Music. Current stats here. This song both IS that feeling, *and* the music therapy you need for it. This website does not rely on corporate funding, because The Key is a nonprofit public service dedicated to supporting the local music that you love with independent reporting. The song has so much hope and energy and promise of something that it’s hard not to latch onto, especially right now. – Sean Fennell, The Key, A writing challenge on stage leads to one of my favorite Nada Surf songs, reminiscent of New Order’s best work and a reminder there’s hope out there. How many of your all time favorites made the list? – Raina Douris, World Cafe, Philadelphia: Home to a rich musical history, a unique musical identity, and one of the nation's most thriving musical communities. WXPN is a member-supported radio station and nationally-recognized leader in Triple A (Adult Album Alternative) music programming. Things are broken, things have been broken for a long time. 4:58 0:30. WXPN, a user on Spotify. 02:39 am |World Cafe| - 79rs Gang (2020) 2-16-2021 Hour 2, Part 6. Philly’s Honeyjar breaks down debut shimmering pop-rock LP Moonbeam track-by-track. Their newest record, Transfiguration Highway, marks their label debut, but loses none of the homespun charm. Her soothing voice beautifully puts words to difficult feelings and emotions, emphasizing the complexities of internal battles and serving as a reminder that you don’t always owe reasoning for the way you feel. – Sarah Hojsak, The Key, Originally appearing on the album Pink Cadillac, “How Lucky” has been a favorite song of mine since I first heard John Prine do it circa 1980. 4. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy. Some seven months and hundreds of listens later, I still get chills every time the song hits the 1:30 mark. Heavy Rotation, HOME TOP. These are not necessarily the songs we had in the heaviest rotation on our airwaves this year — and, full disclosure, I don’t think “WAP” has ever been played on XPN…but that doesn’t mean it’s not amazing. The cracks are showing, but will things actually change? “WAP” is beautiful. “Shameika” is beautiful. – Kyle Whiting, The Key, Adrianne Lenker’s new album songs brought me a heavy calm like nothing else I heard this fall, but the shortest and wackiest track, “half return,” brought me the most bliss. – Matthew Shaver, The Key, A word that has no English equivalent, the French noun “ennui” is defined as a specific feeling of weariness and boredom. Brought to you by WXPN, a non-commercial public radio station dedicated to music discovery. Home XPN Playlist World Cafe Listen Live Concert Calendar The Key ... (2020) 2-16-2021 Hour 2, Part 7. Was this page helpful? You say you want a 2000+ song playlist? So in the same way that Pine Barons have defined “after,” The Districts inadvertently defined “before.” “Velour and Velcro” in particular has been a constant reminder that things will get better. – Rahman Wortman, The Key, South Carolina native and current Nashvillean Adia Victoria has a complicated relationship with the Deep South. They’re songs about losing yourself in uncertainty, and being okay with that; about learning to navigate an unforgiving world; about falling in love, deeply; about exploding with rage and demanding a change. Actually, you’re just lying on your living room floor as Gunn-Truscinski Duo’s beautifully subdued, but never too subtle and extremely evocative Soundkeeper spins “Ocean City,” coming from stereo speakers on each side of you. Nada Lido Pimienta, Li Saumet • Miss Colombia. – Alex Smith, The Key, While the entirety of Finnish duo Karina’s latest album, 2, carries a wide-eyed, freewheeling energy, “Teko” is the peak of their work thus far. Philadelphia: Home to a rich musical history, a unique musical identity, and one of the nation's most thriving musical communities. The Key is your source for finding it. Sharon Van Etten), 03:32 am Santana - Everybody's Everything, 03:11 am Lake Street Dive - Hypotheticals, 03:01 am Aretha Franklin - Baby I Love You, 02:58 am Elvis Costello - Accidents Will Happen, 02:50 am Bruce Springsteen - Letter To You, 02:19 am Groove Merchants - Midnight Mountain Queen, 02:05 am Boxing Gandhis - If You Love Me (Why Am I Dying), 02:00 am Peter Gabriel - That Voice Again, 01:56 am Psychedelic Furs - Into You Like A Train, 01:45 am Billy Joel - Summer, Highland Falls, 01:41 am Greg Sover Band - Feelin' Sumthin', 01:29 am The Honeycombs - Have I The Right, 01:18 am Israel Nash - Down in the Country, 01:13 am Guster - Amsterdam (Gonna Write You A Letter), 01:09 am Adia Victoria - South Gotta Change, 01:06 am Calexico - Quattro (World Drifts In), 01:00 am Big Brother & The Holding Company - Combination Of The Two, 12:39 am Soul Survivors - Expressway To Your Heart, 12:35 am Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings - 100 Days 100 Nights, 12:12 am St. Vincent - Pay Your Way In Pain. Listener votes have been cast. Listen here. – Chuck Elliot, Sleepy Hollow, The rich get richer. WXPN and its many programs, including: World Cafe, XPN2, the XPoNential Music Festival, and The Key, are made possible thanks to the generous donations of music fans, like you. Daily Playlists and more from the World Cafe | NPR Music. ‘Cause “WAP” is coming to save us all. It was upon returning from a rally in support of racial justice that Tre penned “Under the Devil’s Knee” in the lyrical prose styling of Woody Guthrie or Mississippi John Hurt, or any number of influencing folk pioneers who came before. It’s a feeling that was hard to describe until Christine & the Queens gave us “People, I’ve Been Sad” in February. Don’t know what song’s been playing on the radio? Killer Mike and El-P talk about the way RTJ4 has resonated in this moment, the dynamic between the two that allows them to create such compelling stories … The #XPN2020 Countdown has begun! World Cafe Playlist for 10/20/2020 - World Cafe Playlists Nick Lowe has been writing songs for over 50 years, including classics like “What's So Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding” and “Cruel To Be Kind.” Time Is Tight Booker T. & the M.G. There’s no rulebook for how to write about pain, but even if there were, Lido Pimienta wouldn’t have a need for it. Keep tabs on anything you missed with the list below, as well as the playlists on Apple Music, … World Cafe's Best of 2020 By WXPN. Also, are those horns you’re hearing at the 0:50 mark? WXPN in Philadelphia and host Raina Douris present interviews and performances with today's essential and emerging artists. “Losing,” with its ramshackle, blue-sky piano, delicate vocals, and enigmatic sincerity is a perfect representation of Little Kid’s body of work. A collection of some of the best songs of 2020 – as chosen by the World Cafe staff. – Brian Wilensky, The Key, When the uprisings over the state murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Walter Wallace Jr, hit two blocks from my apartment on 52nd Street, when Mayor Kenny ushered in the feds to quell said uprisings, and police helped neighborhood thugs and racist proud boys patrol our streets to combat even peaceful protesters, these moments unfolded in my mind cinematically — they needed a soundtrack. AC/DC • High Voltage. Public Playlists. WXPN Best of 2020: Albums. 3. – Thomas Hagen, The Key, Pain is not a new subject matter for songwriters. Browse daily playlists from NPR Music's World Cafe - Hosted by Raina Douris and produced by WXPN in Philadelphia, PA. HOME; ABOUT; SHOW. The 2020 Countdown #XPN2020 By WXPN. That’s important because I remember seeing pictures from the recording session and being confused where a horn section would fit in. Irreversible Entanglement’s “No Más” is just that, a song equally elegiac, wrapped in the gossamer beauty of its stark minimalism, as it (and its accompanying video) is incendiary. But — I’m glad to have gone out with You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere as a transition into quarantine. This website does not rely on corporate funding, because The Key is a nonprofit public service dedicated to supporting the local music that you love with independent reporting. WXPN out of Philly has been my go-to public radio station since my beloved WNKU went off the air a few years ago. Thanks to all the donors who make our public service … Thanks to all the donors who make our public service possible!GET IN TOUCH, Did you find what you were looking for? And then, at around 2 minutes and 15 seconds in, this moment happens.