Laura Stevenson is your favorite songwriter’s favorite songwriter, so says New Music Friday host Stephen Thompson.
Rachel Brennecke/Rough Trade Records
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Rachel Brennecke/Rough Trade Records
It’s Friday, and if you’re a Bruce Springsteen fan, it probably feels like Christmas morning. The Boss released a 7-disc (or 9-LP) box set today documenting unreleased tracks recorded from 1983 to 2018, titled Tracks II: The Lost Albums. We’ve published a guide to the 83 songs that you might enjoy before tapping play.
If you’re here for new new music, the most anticipated album this week is Lorde’s fourth studio effort, Virgin. While it’s not among our favorite records making their debut today, NPR Music’s Hazel Cills calls it a humanizing album by a pop star who’s just now realizing she doesn’t have it all figured out. Read her review of Virgin here.
As for the records we really loved this week, Wonway Posibul from NPR station KALW in the Bay Area joined NPR Music’s own Stephen Thompson to talk about just that. They listened to dozens of new releases before selecting five to discuss — because a little backstory goes a long way.
Listen to the show below and scroll down to see our long list of albums out June 27.
The Starting Five
Matthew Herbert and Momoko Gill.
Manuel Vazquez/Strut
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Manuel Vazquez/Strut
Our hosts share the backstories and best songs from the following albums:
💿 Laura Stevenson, Late Great (Stream)
- Recommended If You Like: boygenius, Sharon Van Etten
💿 Adrian Quesada, Boleros Psicodélicos II (Stream)
- RIYL: Hermanos Gutiérrez, Khruangbin
💿 Madison McFerrin, Scorpio (Stream)
- RIYL: Hiatus Kaiyote, Little Dragon
💿 Durand Jones & The Indications, Flowers (Stream)
- RIYL: Thee Sacred Souls, William DeVaughn
💿 Herbert & Momoko, Clay (Stream)
New Music Friday is a feature of NPR’s All Songs Considered podcast. Hear the discussion on the NPR App, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
The Lightning Round
Bruce Springsteen.
Danny Clinch/Columbia
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Danny Clinch/Columbia
Bruce Springsteen.
Danny Clinch/Columbia
Six more albums we wish we had time to discuss on the podcast:
💿 Bruce Springsteen, Tracks II: The Lost Albums
💿 Frankie Cosmos, Different Talking
💿 Dana and Alden, Speedo
💿 Brighde Chaimbeul, Sunwise
💿 Mocky, Music Will Explain (Choir Music Vol. 1)
💿 Tim Barnes, Lost Words / Noumena
Listen to each album’s best songs on our New Music Friday playlists on Spotify and Apple, or wherever you stream music.
The Long List
Lorde.
Talia Chetrit/Republic
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Talia Chetrit/Republic
For those who want to dig even deeper, here are the week’s new albums sorted by genre:
Pop
- Lorde, Virgin
- Lizzo, My Face Hurts From Smiling
- Kevin Abstract, Blush
- Lauren Spencer Smith, The Art of Being a Mess
- Russ, W!LD
- V/A, F1 The Album
Country/Folk/Americana
- Willi Carlisle, Winged Victory
- Sister Sadie, All Will Be Well
- Buck Owens, And His Buckaroos Adios, Farewell, Goodbye, Good Luck, So Long: On Stage 1964-1974
- Cole Swindell, Spanish Moss
- Parker McCollum, s/t
- Maoli, Last Sip of Summer
- Jeremy Garrett (of The Infamous Stringdusters), Storm Mountain
- Grant Gilbert, West of Fort Worth
Electronic/Out There
- TDJ, s/t
- Cid Rim, SPRINT
- Black Sites (Helena Hauff & F#X), R4
- Andrew Pekler, New Environments & Rhythm Studies
- Coil, Black Antlers (Reissue)
- Jacaszek, Idylla
- Nick León, A Tropical Entropy
- sofii, I want this feeling to last forever EP
- Stephen O’Malley, But remember what you have had
- Smote, Clyppan
- Jane Sheldon, Flowermuscle
Global
- Konshens, Pool Party
- Akira Kosemura, MIRAI
- Isabella Lovestory, Vanity
- Kadialy Kouyate, Toña
- maye, Música Para Abrir El Cielo
Jazz
- Fred Hersch, The Surrounding Green
- Zoh Amba, Sun
Rock/Alt/Indie
- Ryli, Come and Get Me
- BC Camplight, A Sober Conversation
- Blonde Redhead, The Shadow of the Guest
- Gelli Haha, Funny Music
- Greet Death, Die In Love
- HLLLYH, URUBURU
- Jeanines, How Long Can It Last
- Juan Wauters, MVD LUV
- Lightheaded, Thinking, Dreaming, Scheming
- Mareux, Nonstop Romance
- Pig Pen, Mental Madness
- Royale Lynn, Black Magic
- Sean Nicholas Savage, The Knowing
- Seedbed, Stalemate
- Sharpie Smile, The Staircase
- Smut, Tomorrow Comes Crashing
- Swing Out Sister, Certain Shades Of Limelight (Box Set)
- Teri Gender Bender, TGB
- Wavves, Spun
- Wet Kiss, Thus Spoke the Broken Chanteuse
- CHEER-ACCIDENT, Admission
- late night drive home, as i watch my life online
- Arc De Soleil, Lumin Rain
Rap/Hip-Hop
- B Jack$, No Guest List
- Bekar, Alba
- Bktherula, LUCY
- Pi’erre Bourne, Made In Paris
- Lil Skies, The Evolution of the Rose
- Tech N9ne, 5816 Forest
- DJ Drama, Long Way From Home EP
- Kamaiyah & DJ Idea, First Lady Of The Mob EP
Credits
- Host: Stephen Thompson
- Guest: Wonway Posibul, KALW
- Producer: Simon Rentner
- Editor: Otis Hart
- Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
