First Listen http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98679384&ft=1&f=98679384 This week, preview new albums from Jagwar Ma, Gold Panda, Fat Tony, Surfer Blood, Airhead and more. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:30:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif First Listen http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98679384&ft=1&f=98679384 First Listen: Bosnian Rainbows, 'Bosnian Rainbows' Though both are powerful and iconoclastic performers, The Mars Volta's Omar Rodriguez Lopez and Le Butcherettes' Teri Gender Bender find a way to join together without crowding each other out. Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/16/191298046/first-listen-bosnian-rainbows-bosnian-rainbows?ft=1&f=98679384 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/16/191298046/first-listen-bosnian-rainbows-bosnian-rainbows?ft=1&f=98679384 Though both are powerful and iconoclastic performers, The Mars Volta's Omar Rodriguez Lopez and Le Butcherettes' Teri Gender Bender find a way to join together without crowding each other out.

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]]> First Listen: Mavis Staples, 'One True Vine' Produced by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy,<em> One True Vine</em> radiates reverence while summoning a slow burn well-suited to Staples' rich, dusky voice. Then, as the album blooms into something more celebratory, joy <em></em>peeks through like slivers of sunshine. Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/16/191304072/first-listen-mavis-staples-one-true-vine?ft=1&f=98679384 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/16/191304072/first-listen-mavis-staples-one-true-vine?ft=1&f=98679384 Produced by Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, One True Vine radiates reverence while summoning a slow burn well-suited to Staples' rich, dusky voice. Then, as the album blooms into something more celebratory, joy peeks through like slivers of sunshine.

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]]> First Listen: Smith Westerns, 'Soft Will' The Chicago band's third album unleashes a sparkly charm offensive that practically rolls down your car windows for you. Sweet and dreamy, slick and sunny, <em>Soft Will</em> is the sound of weaponized agreeability. Sun, 16 Jun 2013 22:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/16/191312644/first-listen-smith-westerns-soft-will?ft=1&f=98679384 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/16/191312644/first-listen-smith-westerns-soft-will?ft=1&f=98679384 The Chicago band's third album unleashes a sparkly charm offensive that practically rolls down your car windows for you. Sweet and dreamy, slick and sunny, Soft Will is the sound of weaponized agreeability.

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]]> First Listen: Austra, 'Olympia' The Canadian band's second album showcases Katie Stelmanis' massive voice and increasingly personal lyrics in style, keeping one foot in the conservatory even as both are occupied on the dance floor. Sun, 09 Jun 2013 22:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/09/188981338/first-listen-austra-olympia?ft=1&f=98679384 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/09/188981338/first-listen-austra-olympia?ft=1&f=98679384 The Canadian band's second album showcases Katie Stelmanis' massive voice and increasingly personal lyrics in style, keeping one foot in the conservatory even as both are occupied on the dance floor.

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]]> First Listen: Lemuria, 'The Distance Is So Big' <em></em>The band's third album continues a tradition of songs that unfold like mini-suites, hopscotching from one melodic figure or time signature to the next with a playwright's sense of structure. Sun, 09 Jun 2013 22:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/09/188983536/first-listen-lemuria-the-distance-is-so-big?ft=1&f=98679384 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/09/188983536/first-listen-lemuria-the-distance-is-so-big?ft=1&f=98679384 The band's third album continues a tradition of songs that unfold like mini-suites, hopscotching from one melodic figure or time signature to the next with a playwright's sense of structure.

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]]> First Listen: Primal Scream, 'More Light' Overstuffed at 69 minutes, the Scottish band's 10th album plays out like a larger-than-life celebration of survival. Like the group itself, <em>More Light</em> is erratic and given to excess, but still reaching for transcendence — and vital enough to find what it's looking for. Sun, 09 Jun 2013 22:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/09/189179675/first-listen-primal-scream-more-light?ft=1&f=98679384 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/09/189179675/first-listen-primal-scream-more-light?ft=1&f=98679384 Overstuffed at 69 minutes, the Scottish band's 10th album plays out like a larger-than-life celebration of survival. Like the group itself, More Light is erratic and given to excess, but still reaching for transcendence — and vital enough to find what it's looking for.

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]]> First Listen: Statik Selektah, 'Extended Play' Mutual respect pervades <em>Extended Play</em>, an inviting, prideful album that's never snobby. Statik is something special — he makes functional, real-deal records that sound like the triumphant persistence of New York and the strains of nostalgia in a sunny day. Sun, 09 Jun 2013 22:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/09/189204751/first-listen-statik-selektah-extended-play?ft=1&f=98679384 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/09/189204751/first-listen-statik-selektah-extended-play?ft=1&f=98679384 Mutual respect pervades Extended Play, an inviting, prideful album that's never snobby. Statik is something special — he makes functional, real-deal records that sound like the triumphant persistence of New York and the strains of nostalgia in a sunny day.

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]]> First Listen: Fat Tony, 'Smart Ass Black Boy' Fat Tony calls himself a smart ass, but he's not a showoff. He sounds at ease on the mic, delivering droll and conversational bars with a level stare. Mon, 03 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/03/187326004/first-listen-fat-tony-smart-ass-black-boy?ft=1&f=98679384 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/03/187326004/first-listen-fat-tony-smart-ass-black-boy?ft=1&f=98679384 Fat Tony calls himself a smart ass, but he's not a showoff. He sounds at ease on the mic, delivering droll and conversational bars with a level stare.

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]]> First Listen: Surfer Blood, 'Pythons' On its second album, the beachy pop-rock band balances its fussy, studio-bound side with rich full-band chemistry and songs whose hooks pop into your thoughts days later. <em>Pythons</em> is more streamlined and straight-ahead than 2010's <em>Astro Coast</em>, but it's still catchy as anything. Sun, 02 Jun 2013 22:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/02/187278374/first-listen-surfer-blood-pythons?ft=1&f=98679384 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/02/187278374/first-listen-surfer-blood-pythons?ft=1&f=98679384 On its second album, the beachy pop-rock band balances its fussy, studio-bound side with rich full-band chemistry and songs whose hooks pop into your thoughts days later. Pythons is more streamlined and straight-ahead than 2010's Astro Coast, but it's still catchy as anything.

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]]> First Listen: Conrad Tao, 'Voyages' The 19-year-old pianist has a remarkable resume, but all that matters is what he makes listeners feel — and on <em>Voyages</em>, Tao journeys along varied and alluring pathways that lead to transcendent beauty. Sun, 02 Jun 2013 22:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/02/187291751/first-listen-conrad-tao-voyages?ft=1&f=98679384 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/02/187291751/first-listen-conrad-tao-voyages?ft=1&f=98679384 The 19-year-old pianist has a remarkable resume, but all that matters is what he makes listeners feel — and on Voyages, Tao journeys along varied and alluring pathways that lead to transcendent beauty.

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]]> First Listen: Jagwar Ma, 'Howlin' A duo from Sydney, Australia, Jagwar Ma combines rock 'n' roll signifiers (electric guitars, psychedelic vocals) with pristine dance-music production.<em> Howlin</em> largely nails that sweet spot between singing along to a song and losing yourself in it. Sun, 02 Jun 2013 22:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/02/187299616/first-listen-jagwar-ma-howlin?ft=1&f=98679384 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/02/187299616/first-listen-jagwar-ma-howlin?ft=1&f=98679384 A duo from Sydney, Australia, Jagwar Ma combines rock 'n' roll signifiers (electric guitars, psychedelic vocals) with pristine dance-music production. Howlin largely nails that sweet spot between singing along to a song and losing yourself in it.

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]]> First Listen: Gold Panda, 'Half Of Where You Live' On his second album, British electronic music producer Derwin Panda gets out and explores the world. It's been three years since his debut, and he's spent that time crafting a sort of travelogue. Sun, 02 Jun 2013 22:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/02/187306322/first-listen-gold-panda-half-of-where-you-live?ft=1&f=98679384 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/02/187306322/first-listen-gold-panda-half-of-where-you-live?ft=1&f=98679384 On his second album, British electronic music producer Derwin Panda gets out and explores the world. It's been three years since his debut, and he's spent that time crafting a sort of travelogue.

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]]> First Listen: Airhead, 'For Years' A multi-instrumentalist and DJ, James Blake collaborator Rob McAndrews has an innate understanding of how to use snippets of sad music as shortcuts to emotion. But he also knows when to exude lightness and joy. Sun, 02 Jun 2013 22:30:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/02/187519311/first-listen-airhead-for-years?ft=1&f=98679384 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/02/187519311/first-listen-airhead-for-years?ft=1&f=98679384 A multi-instrumentalist and DJ, James Blake collaborator Rob McAndrews has an innate understanding of how to use snippets of sad music as shortcuts to emotion. But he also knows when to exude lightness and joy.

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]]> First Listen: Eleanor Friedberger, 'Personal Record' As a solo artist, the Fiery Furnaces singer is the epitome of subtle, un-showy cool. On <em>Personal Record</em>, her palette expands to include a wider array of themes and perspectives, while she maintains a minimalist-cool sound that's sweet, simple and timeless. Sun, 26 May 2013 22:35:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/26/186504916/first-listen-eleanor-friedberger-personal-record?ft=1&f=98679384 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/26/186504916/first-listen-eleanor-friedberger-personal-record?ft=1&f=98679384 As a solo artist, the Fiery Furnaces singer is the epitome of subtle, un-showy cool. On Personal Record, her palette expands to include a wider array of themes and perspectives, while she maintains a minimalist-cool sound that's sweet, simple and timeless.

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]]> First Listen: Thundercat, 'Apocalypse' As Thundercat, Stephen Bruner digs into astral soul music that's often both funky and heartbreaking. Co-produced and co-written by Flying Lotus and Mono/Poly, <em>Apocalypse</em> was written after the death of keyboardist Austin Peralta. It can be bittersweet, as if it's an attempt to smile and dance the pain away. Sun, 26 May 2013 22:35:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/26/186438562/first-listen-thundercat-apocalypse?ft=1&f=98679384 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/26/186438562/first-listen-thundercat-apocalypse?ft=1&f=98679384 As Thundercat, Stephen Bruner digs into astral soul music that's often both funky and heartbreaking. Co-produced and co-written by Flying Lotus and Mono/Poly, Apocalypse was written after the death of keyboardist Austin Peralta. It can be bittersweet, as if it's an attempt to smile and dance the pain away.

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