Cloud Nothings' new album is titled Life Without Sound. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Stephen Thompson Stephen Thompson is an editor and reviewer for NPR Music, where he writes the advice column The Good Listener and fusses over comma placement. He is also a frequent panelist on All Songs Considered, and appears every week on Pop Culture Happy Hour.
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Stephen Thompson
Odetta Hartman was one of NPR Music's favorite discoveries at SXSW 2016. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
All proceeds from Arcade Fire and Mavis Staples' new single will go to the ACLU. Courtesy of the artists hide caption
Japandroids' new album, Near To The Wild Heart Of Life, comes out January 27. Camilo Christen/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Conor Oberst's new album, Salutations, comes out March 17. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Spoon's new album, Hot Thoughts, comes out March 17. Zackery Michael/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Phoebe Bridgers' new single is titled "Smoke Signals." Frank Ockenfels/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
The xx's new album, I See You, is out now. Laura Coulson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
darkDARK. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Craig Finn's new album, We All Want The Same Things, comes out March 24. Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Benedict Cumberbatch plays the famed detective on Masterpiece Mystery! Presents Sherlock. Robert Viglasky/Hartswood Films 2016 and Masterpiece hide caption
San Fermin's new album, Belong, is due out later this year. Denny Renshaw/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Released in December, Little Simz's Stillness In Wonderland is technically a buzzer-beating 2016 album — but NPR Music's Stephen Thompson says it's worth keeping it in mind as we enter the new year. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Erik Walters of Silver Torches. Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Low. Zoran Orlic/Courtesy of the artist hide caption