Father John Misty, ‘Bored In The USA’
Father John Misty’s new song is a scathing takedown of mindless materialism and overmedicated emptiness in America.
Tag: NPR
Theo Parrish, ‘Be In Yo Self’
A funky tour de force from one of the world’s most revered techno artists.
First Listen: She & Him, ‘Classics’
Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward cover pop standards with the timeless impeccability for which they’re known. Once again, Ward hovers mostly in the background, leaving Deschanel to steal the playful show.
J Mascis: Tiny Desk Concert
The Dinosaur Jr. frontman, one of the world’s loudest musicians, performs unplugged and acoustic in the NPR Music offices.
Viking’s Choice: Cretin, ‘Ghost Of Teeth And Hair’
Cretin returns with a ferocious grindcore chug-a-lug that hits like a steel-toe boot to the shins, complete with guitar and bass solos that blast it wide open.
Song Premiere: SZA, ‘Sobriety’
The singer-songwriter has been resisting the R&B label, but on her new song — ostensibly about a breakup — she sounds like she might be wavering.
A Rational Conversation: Can The Delayed Album Curse Be Lifted?
If we now know about albums languishing in the clutches of major labels, are they more likely to see the light of day? Will they be any good when they get here?
First Listen: Your Old Droog, ‘Your Old Droog’
If this is the first time you’re hearing of somebody called Your Old Droog, don’t even trip.
First Listen: Two Inch Astronaut, ‘Foulbrood’
On its second album, the D.C.-area duo borrows heavily from the legacy of Dischord Records — at times recalling Fugazi, Smart Went Crazy and Shudder To Think — while still sounding fresh and vital.
First Listen: Flake Music, ‘When You Land Here, It’s Time To Return’
Before James Mercer became famous in The Shins, he sang in a like-minded band called Flake Music. Its newly remixed, remastered and reissued 1997 debut contains many ideas he would later revisit.
First Listen: Mr. Gnome, ‘The Heart Of A Dark Star’
Whether its songs are bleak and primal, grandiose or seductively dreamy, the Cleveland duo delights in searching for the unexpected.
First Listen: Bryan Ferry, ‘Avonmore’
The Roxy Music singer channels his classic work while still sounding fresh. Ferry’s sound remains full, clear and direct, with intricate layers of instruments shifting in and out of focus.
First Listen: Robert Wyatt, ‘Different Every Time’
A double-length set provides an ambitious introduction to the prog-rock legend. Selections include songs from Wyatt’s bands Soft Machine and Matching Mole, solo work and unlikely collaborations.
First Listen: Andy Stott, ‘Faith In Strangers’
The Manchester electronic producer alternates between ethereal beauty and viscous sludge, and with vocal assistance from Alison Skidmore, glints of light keep poking through the darkness.
A Rational Conversation: The 20-Year-Old Album That’s MF DOOM’s Missing Link
New information on an album shelved back in 1994 has become fodder for even more discussions of the shadowy rapper — some focused on his murky origins and others about his plausible impact.
First Listen: Big K.R.I.T., ‘Cadillactica’
K.R.I.T. raps about what many rappers probably want to discuss (spirituality, discrimination, insecurity) but are afraid to. This strain of authenticity has cemented his place in the hearts of fans.
First Listen: Bedhead, ‘1992-1998’
A box set collects nearly all the recordings by the 1990s indie rock band that perfected the art of holding back. Bedhead’s minimal, whispered songs made boring beautiful.
First Listen: Hookworms, ‘The Hum’
On its second album, the Leeds band is beholden to a motorik beat and the pulse it leaves behind. But Hookworms’ members also explore the energy and chaos that such a solid anchor can provide.
First Listen: Marianne Faithfull, ‘Give My Love To London’
There’s fire in the rock ‘n’ roll survivor’s delivery, and it’s redemptive. Twenty albums in, Faithfull can still spin the kind of tale that silences a room, then fills it with something unexpected.
First Listen: Damien Rice, ‘My Favourite Faded Fantasy’
After an eight-year break from recording, Rice gives his bold, dreamy, impeccably rendered music plenty of room to breathe and seethe over the course of more than 50 minutes.