NPR Music: All Songs Considered — Bon Iver Talks to God, Plus Tori Amos
Release Date: March 24, 2026
Hosts: Robin Hilton (C), Lars Gotrich (B)
Episode Overview
This episode of “All Songs Considered” on the NPR Music podcast takes listeners on a journey through brand new music releases, unearthing rarities, long-awaited comebacks, and the enduring power of hope and catharsis in song. Robin and Lars offer commentary and personal reactions, starting with Bon Iver’s “Heavenly Father,” highlighting the Midwest’s musical legacy, and exploring artists ranging from cult alt-country pioneers Sold American to powerful new tracks by Francis of Delirium. The episode concludes with a discussion of Tori Amos’s resilience and Neurosis’s cathartic return. Themes of perseverance, healing, and sonic exploration run throughout, with a focus on music’s unique capacity to reflect and transform our inner lives.
Segment Breakdown & Highlights
1. Opening Banter & Podcast Housekeeping
Timestamps: 00:32–02:15
- The episode opens with personal banter about the NCAA tournament before Robin reminds listeners about the new format for NPR Music podcasts, including the “All Songs Considered” release schedule.
- Robin and Lars discuss the variety of NPR Music's offerings, like deep dives on iconic songs (“Fantasy” by Mariah Carey) and the inclusion of cult heroes and new album roundups.
2. Bon Iver — “Heavenly Father (Live)”
Timestamps: 02:15–08:56
3. Sold American — “Freeing Wheels”
Timestamps: 08:56–14:28
4. Francis of Delirium — “It’s a Beautiful Life”
Timestamps: 15:59–22:17
5. Tara Clerkin Trio — “Somewhere Good”
Timestamps: 22:17–30:54
6. Tori Amos — “Stronger Together”
Timestamps: 32:14–38:36
7. Neurosis — “Untethered”
Timestamps: 38:36–45:27
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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Lars on Bon Iver (07:15):
“It sounds like if Sylvan Esso made a heartland rock song… if they had covered, like, John Cougar Mellencamp or something.”
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Robin on Sold American (13:35):
“Being free and wild doesn’t have to be chaos. It can be quiet and simple and restrained. Something as simple as taking a guitar out of its case… is an act of defiance or living free and wild.”
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Lars on Francis of Delirium (20:13):
“That was giving me, like, Swearin’ and, like, Superchunk… Early Charly Bliss. Big, fuzzy, chunky, riffy indie rock.”
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Robin on Tori Amos (33:13):
“I think without Tori Amos, I’m not sure you get Fiona Apple. I’m not sure you get Regina Spektor.”
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Lars on Neurosis (39:33):
“Neurosis has always been about catharsis and has never shied away from pain and struggle. But they understand that… the underlying thing that keeps us moving… is hope.”
Thematic Throughline
Throughout, Robin and Lars highlight a common thread among the selections: artists forging hope from darkness and the persistent act of confronting struggle—whether in Bon Iver’s spiritual wrestling, Sold American’s gentle defiance, Francis of Delirium’s cathartic indie-rock, Tori Amos’s communal optimism, or Neurosis’s sonic purging.
Episode Tracklist
| Artist | Track Title | Album | Release Date |
|---------------------------|----------------------|---------------------------------------|---------------|
| Bon Iver | “Heavenly Father” | Volumes One (Live) | Apr 3, 2026 |
| Sold American | “Freeing Wheels” | Sanctions | Apr 2026 |
| Francis of Delirium | “It’s a Beautiful Life” | Run Run | May 29, 2026 |
| Tara Clerkin Trio | “Somewhere Good” | Somewhere Good | June 5, 2026 |
| Tori Amos | “Stronger Together” | In Times of Dragons | May 1, 2026 |
| Neurosis | “Untethered” | An Undying Love for a Burning World | Out now |
For First-Time Listeners
This episode is a must for music lovers eager to discover new releases with depth, poetic insight, and a throughline of perseverance. The hosts’ banter is grounded in deep musical knowledge and a willingness to reflect on personal biases, guiding listeners with warmth, humor, and genuine curiosity.
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