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New Music Friday: The best releases out on June 16

Killer Mike's first new solo album in more than a decade, Michael, is on NPR Music's short list for the best releases out on June 16. Jonathan Mannion/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jonathan Mannion/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best releases out on June 16

The best releases out this week include Killer Mike's first solo album in more than a decade, the majestic return of Iceland's Sigur Rós, the legendary Bettye LaVette, Asake and more.

New Music Friday: The best releases out on June 16

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Bettye LaVette Might Be Just What You Need Today

Bettye LaVette Joseph Rosen/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Joseph Rosen/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Bettye LaVette Might Be Just What You Need Today

WXPN

LaVette just released Blackbirds, an album of reinterpretations of songs popularized by some of her favorite jazz singers.

Betty Lavette On World Cafe

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'My Fifth Career': Bettye LaVette Reinvents Bob Dylan For Herself

Bettye LaVette's Things Have Changed is out now on Verve Records. Mark Seliger/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Mark Seliger/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

'My Fifth Career': Bettye LaVette Reinvents Bob Dylan For Herself

The 72-year-old soul star reflects on a lifetime of overcoming industry skepticism and making Dylan's lyrics personal on her latest album Things Have Changed, her first major label release in 30 years.

'My Fifth Career': Bettye LaVette Reinvents Bob Dylan For Herself

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New Music Friday: March 30

Hayley Kiyoko's debut album Expectations is out now on Atlantic. Amanda Charchian/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Amanda Charchian/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: March 30

Hear a quick run through the essential new albums dropping this week, from the crazy infectious pop of Haley Kiyoko to the Cuban big band Orquesta Akokán and more.

New Music Friday: March 30

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Bettye LaVette On Mountain Stage

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Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage

Mountain Stage

Bettye LaVette On Mountain Stage

Bettye LaVette began her career in the soul-intensive climate of 1960s Detroit, and recent albums have helped her find a huge new audience. Here, she performs a set with her backing band.

Bettye LaVette On Mountain Stage

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The Dynamites: A Celebration Of Resurrection

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Review

Song Of The Day

The Dynamites: A Celebration Of Resurrection

Soul music is rooted in gritty perseverance, so pairing up stalwarts Bettye LaVette and Charles Walker works on so many levels, it's a miracle it hasn't happened until now. "Yours and Mine" is an exhilarating affirmation of the power to prevail.

'Yours and Mine' by The Dynamites feat. Charles Walker and Bettye LaVette

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Bettye LaVette: Open To Interpretation

Soul icon Bettye LaVette recently performed live on WFUV in New York City. courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Favorite Sessions

Bettye LaVette: Open To Interpretation

WFUV

The soul icon burst back on to the scene this year with Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook, on which she covers classic rock tracks. LaVette joins Claudia Marshall at WFUV to perform two songs from the record and discuss how the project came about.

Bettye LaVette: Open To Interpretation

Bettye LaVette: A Place Of Enlightenment

Soul singer Bettye LaVette takes a George Harrison song and brings out its transcendent serenity. courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Review

Song Of The Day

Bettye LaVette: A Place Of Enlightenment

On her new collection of British rock covers, the soul singer takes a George Harrison song, "Isn't It a Pity," and brings out its transcendent serenity. LaVette was schooled in the tradition of soul music, and her restraint can't disguise the fact that she's heartbroken over humankind's inability to learn from its mistakes.

'Isn't It a Pity' by Bettye LaVette

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This Week's Mix: From Buzzcocks To Bettye LaVette

Review

All Songs Considered

This Week's Mix: From Buzzcocks To Bettye LaVette

This edition of All Songs Considered features Sleigh Bells, Toro Y Moi, Secret Cities, Accordion, Olafur Arnalds, Buzzcocks and more.

This Week's Mix: From Buzzcocks To Bettye LaVette

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Bettye LaVette Re-Imagines 'The British Rock Songbook'

Bettye LaVette didn't grow up listening to the music she reinterprets on her new album. Instead, she listened to R&B. Carol Friedman hide caption

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Carol Friedman

Music Interviews

Bettye LaVette Re-Imagines 'The British Rock Songbook'

The soul singer has performed on Broadway, been nominated for a Grammy and sung for President Obama. On her latest album, Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook, LaVette tackles songs by the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Elton John.

Bettye LaVette Re-Imagines 'The British Rock Songbook'

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Music Interviews

Bettye LaVette's Journey To The National Stage

Fresh Air

If you've never heard of Bettye LaVette, the soul singer who belted out "A Change Is Gonna Come" with Jon Bon Jovi at the Inauguration Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial on Jan 18., you may be wondering why.

Bettye LaVette's Journey To The National Stage

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Review

Song Of The Day

Bettye LaVette Picks Up the Pieces of a Lost Career

The '60s soul singer, newly discovered after decades of disappointment, sounds as if she means every word of Willie Nelson's "Somebody Pick Up My Pieces." Does any indie soul singer bring more guts, more conviction and more emotion to her singing?

'Somebody Pick Up My Pieces' by Bettye LaVette

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Music Interviews

Bettye LaVette Is the Comeback Queen

Fresh Air

After more than 40 years in the music business, Bettye LaVette is finally getting the notice she deserves. Her new album of Southern soul songs, The Scene of the Crime, was nominated for a Grammy and is still getting rave reviews.

Bettye LaVette Is the Comeback Queen

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Music Interviews

Singer Bettye Lavette, Still Raising Hell

Bettye LaVette is currently celebrating her 60th birthday, and her latest album, I've Got My Own Hell to Raise. And as she's done for four decades, she's still raising hell on the concert circuit.

Singer Bettye Lavette, Still Raising Hell

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