First Listen archive

January 20, 2013 – Blaudzun's songs boom and swoon, even when they bypass strings in favor of a warm, simple sound.

January 20, 2013 – The U.K. trio's latest album is an unabashed venture into warped pop music with luminous synths.

January 20, 2013 – The new album from the alto saxophonist surfs on information overload without drowning in it.

January 13, 2013 – James finds his own voice by paying deep attention to technique without compromising passion.

January 13, 2013 – Widowspeak is a fount of familiar sounds, but its music possesses a dreamy pop sound of its own.

January 13, 2013 – Neville lends his floaty tenor to a handful of unavoidable and unimpeachable doo-wop standards.

January 6, 2013 – Hear warm headphone music that reaches both the heart and the loneliest reaches of the heavens.

January 6, 2013 – A German producer teams up with Norwegian percussionists to make a sweeping composition.

January 6, 2013 – On its debut, the band mixes a catchy roots-pop rumble with emotionally resonant folk-rock belting.

December 30, 2012 – As politically pointed as it gets, Manifestra doesn't lose sight of the singer's springy side.

December 30, 2012 – Broadcast's Trish Keenan died two years ago, but she left behind this gorgeous tapestry of sound.

December 30, 2012 – The documentary film features a mix of traditional sounds and modern Mexican alternative artists.

November 25, 2012 – In nearly three hours of music, impeccable grace never strays far from playful ridiculousness.

November 25, 2012 – The Everything but the Girl singer's holiday album is as warmly rendered as it is bittersweet.

November 25, 2012 – The R&B singer's album — half standards, half originals, all love songs — goes down smooth.