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Stephen Thompson Stephen Thompson is a host, writer and reviewer for NPR Music and Pop Culture Happy Hour. He appears frequently on All Songs Considered and NPR newsmagazines.
Washington, DC - May 03, 2016: Stephen Thompson CREDIT: Matt Roth
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Stephen Thompson

Wednesday

Los Campesinos!: Inventive Invective

Surly and overstuffed, Los Campesinos!'s "Romance Is Boring" takes an unsurprisingly dim view of domestic bliss. Kim Coulour hide caption

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Kim Coulour

Review

Song Of The Day

Los Campesinos!: Inventive Invective

It's fitting that, when the title track to the Welsh group's new album Romance Is Boring gives way to a guitar solo, it's a fractured, discontented mess — all shards and shrapnel, frayed nerves and raw power. Surly and overstuffed, "Romance Is Boring" takes an unsurprisingly dim view of domestic bliss.

'Romance Is Boring' by Los Campesinos!

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Wednesday

The Heligoats: Brainy In The Best Way

In "Fish Sticks," The Heligoats' Chris Otepka can barely keep up with the speed of his own ideas. courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Review

Song Of The Day

The Heligoats: Brainy In The Best Way

"Fish Sticks" requires multiple listens to pin down its meaning; the song churns so urgently — it's so overstuffed — that it can be hard to parse. At its core, though, it's about a guy who starts a biosphere in a swamp, only to discover that doing so alienates him from both the world he's escaping and the one he's made for himself.

'Fish Sticks' by The Heligoats

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Sunday

Tuesday

All Songs Considered

Exclusive Free Download: The Worst Song Ever Written

By Stephen Thompson Last week, I appeared on Morning Edition to ruminate on one of the most significant events of the past decade in music — namely, the debut of American Idol in the summer of 2002. Included in the piece was the chorus of a "son...

Exclusive Free Download: The Worst Song Ever Written

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Thursday

Best Music Of 2009, From 'Song Of The Day'

The Best Music Of 2009

Best Music Of 2009, From 'Song Of The Day'

Though critical consensus formed around some sonically beautiful records, Song of the Day editor Stephen Thompson is far more likely to dwell on albums and songs that exude a fair bit earned insight, even ache. Thompson's Top 10 may be the equivalent of a single teardrop in a vast sea of year-end reflection, but the music is pretty glorious.

'Too Many Birds' by Bill Callahan

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Wednesday

'American Idol' And The Making Of A Star
Jason Merritt/Getty Images

The Decade In Music: '00s

'American Idol' And The Making Of A Star

Launched in 2002, American Idol wasn't the first TV show to make a pop star, and it hasn't been the last. But the show has changed the way the public interacts with the machinery of the music industry. NPR Music's Stephen Thompson looks at the show and describes his own brush with Idol glory.

'American Idol' And The Making Of A Star

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Wednesday

Monday

Friday

Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros: Kindness And Clamor
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Review

Song Of The Day

Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros: Kindness And Clamor

As "Home" grows more clamorous and kind, it gets catchier, building to a freewheeling celebration rooted in unmistakable affection. It sounds terrific here, but when it's blown out in 360-degree live performance, "Home" is enough to make even the tiniest heart grow three sizes.

'Home' by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

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Friday

Wednesday

Monday

Song Of The Day: Kelly Clarkson's 'Since U Been Gone' (2005)

Today in Song of the Day: Our two-week survey of the decade -- one popular song per year, per weekday -- continues with Kelly Clarkson's 2005 hit "Since U Been Gone." photo courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Monitor Mix

Song Of The Day: Kelly Clarkson's 'Since U Been Gone' (2005)

By Stephen Thompson Today in Song of the Day: Our two-week survey of the decade — one popular song per year, per weekday — continues with Kelly Clarkson's 2005 hit "Since U Been Gone." (photo courtesy of the artist) ...

The Decade In Music: Kelly Clarkson's 'Since U Been Gone' (2005)
courtesy of the artist

The Decade In Music: '00s

The Decade In Music: Kelly Clarkson's 'Since U Been Gone' (2005)

In the dynamite 2005 single "Since U Been Gone," Clarkson belts out one of the decade's great pop songs, following a familiar formula — jilted ex-girlfriend indignantly declares independence — but infusing it with energy, charisma and full-throated intensity. Sure, the over-the-top, loud-louder-loudest production helps. But it's an unmistakably great pop-rock song, thanks most of all to an unmistakably great pop-rock singer.

Friday

Tuesday