Stephen Thompson : NPR

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.

Stories By

Stephen Thompson

Monday October 19, 2015

The Giant Foam Finger: What's Your Walk-Up Music?

Russell Martin of the Toronto Blue Jays chose the Nicki Minaj song "Truffle Butter" for his walk-up music. Jason Miller and Ethan Miller/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Jason Miller and Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The Giant Foam Finger: What's Your Walk-Up Music?

October 19, 2015 • Four teams remain in the battle to crown a World Series champion. So it's a natural time for Stephen Thompson and Gene Demby to discuss the songs you hear when different players get up to bat.

The Giant Foam Finger: What's Your Walk-Up Music?

Listen · 7:17 7:17

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/444273365/449242052" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Saturday October 17, 2015

Whatever it is, it's most likely Justin Bieber's fault, right? Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

What's The Matter With Canada?

October 17, 2015 • Why do so many of Canada's most successful musicians shy away from acknowledging their home country?

Wednesday October 7, 2015

Review: Josh Ritter, 'Sermon On The Rocks'

Josh Ritter's new album, Sermon On The Rocks, comes out Oct. 16. Laura Wilson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Laura Wilson/Courtesy of the artist

Review

First Listen

Review: Josh Ritter, 'Sermon On The Rocks'

October 7, 2015 • On his eighth album, Ritter delves into what he calls "messianic oracular honky-tonk." Fortunately, it's an approach that brings out some of the singer's slipperiest, nimblest wordplay.

Saturday October 3, 2015

The Good Listener: How Do We Pick 'Our Song'?

You can tell they both studied lyric sheets before picking their song. iStockphoto.com hide caption

toggle caption

iStockphoto.com

All Songs Considered

The Good Listener: How Do We Pick 'Our Song'?

October 3, 2015 • She listens to lyrics; he prefers rhythms. How do they decide on the first dance at their wedding?

Wednesday September 30, 2015

Saintseneca's new album, Such Things, comes out Oct. 9. Nick Fancher/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Nick Fancher/Courtesy of the artist

Review

First Listen

Review: Saintseneca, 'Such Things'

September 30, 2015 • The Ohio band spends its new album shoehorning deep, dark ideas into pocket-sized pop-rock anthems. Every word and sound feels thoughtfully wrought, but Such Things also exudes freewheeling joy.

Friday September 18, 2015

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Stephen Colbert's Return And Great Talk-Show Guests

Vice President Joe Biden and Stephen Colbert. Jeffrey R. Staab hide caption

toggle caption

Jeffrey R. Staab

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Stephen Colbert's Return And Great Talk-Show Guests

September 18, 2015 • The gang discusses CBS's Late Show With Stephen Colbert and describes what makes a great talk-show guest. And, as always, we run through What's Making Us Happy this week.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Stephen Colbert's Return And Great Talk-Show Guests

Listen · 38:41 38:41

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/441253640/441304405" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Monday September 14, 2015

If Serena Williams Loses, Is It Still The U.S. Open?

Serena Williams serves to Roberta Vinci during their Women's Singles Semifinals match of the 2015 US Open on Friday. Alex Goodlett/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Alex Goodlett/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

If Serena Williams Loses, Is It Still The U.S. Open?

September 14, 2015 • On Pop Culture Happy Hour's sports spinoff, Stephen Thompson and Gene Demby discuss this weekend's U.S. Open final between two women not named Serena.

If Serena Williams Loses, Is It Still The U.S. Open?

Listen · 7:38 7:38

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/440270707/440375188" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Saturday September 12, 2015

When you've got young kids, you've got to take every opportunity to listen. iStockphoto.com hide caption

toggle caption

iStockphoto.com

All Songs Considered

How Can Parents Make Time For Music?

September 12, 2015 • When life gets in the way of a music obsession, how do parents rediscover the mindset to dig deeper?

Friday September 11, 2015

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Labor Pains And Inspirations

Katherine Heigl, Leslie Mann, Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd in Knocked Up. Suzanne Hanover/Universal/The Kobal Collection hide caption

toggle caption

Suzanne Hanover/Universal/The Kobal Collection

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Labor Pains And Inspirations

September 11, 2015 • Thoughts on childbirth and pregnancy in pop culture, plus memories of the ways movies, TV shows, musicals and other moments have shaped our long-term interests. Plus, What's Making Us Happy this week.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Labor Pains And Inspirations

Listen · 48:53 48:53

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/439262068/439345484" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Wednesday September 9, 2015

Review: Glen Hansard, 'Didn't He Ramble'

Glen Hansard's new album, Didn't He Ramble, comes out Sept. 18. Danny Clinch/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Danny Clinch/Courtesy of the artist

Review

First Listen

Review: Glen Hansard, 'Didn't He Ramble'

September 9, 2015 • A veteran of The Frames and The Swell Season, Hansard possesses a worn but wonderfully flexible voice. Throughout his second solo album, his voice conveys kindness and warmth.

Friday September 4, 2015

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Mr. Robot' And Title Sequences

Rami Malek as Elliot Alderson on Mr. Robot. Sarah Shatz/USA Network hide caption

toggle caption

Sarah Shatz/USA Network

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Mr. Robot' And Title Sequences

September 4, 2015 • The gang offers up its thoughts on a much-loved USA Network series and the way movies' opening credits can set the tone for what's to come. And, as always, What's Making Us Happy this week.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Mr. Robot' And Title Sequences

Listen · 41:15 41:15

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/436589091/437364145" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Wednesday September 2, 2015

Low's new album, Ones And Sixes, comes out Sept. 11. Zoran Orlić/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Zoran Orlić/Courtesy of the artist

Review

First Listen

Review: Low, 'Ones And Sixes'

September 2, 2015 • Intimacy, unease and aggression coexist in bracing, beautiful ways throughout Ones And Sixes, which feels as intimate as a whisper over pillows and as obtuse as transmissions from a faraway satellite.

Monday August 31, 2015

Small Batch: The VMAs, From Speeches To Singing To Squads

Kanye West accepts the Video Vanguard award at Sunday night's MTV Video Music Awards. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Small Batch: The VMAs, From Speeches To Singing To Squads

August 31, 2015 • Even if you didn't watch Sunday night's telecast — especially if you didn't watch — we've got good conversation about Kanye's speech, Miley's hosting, and even who won the awards at the awards show.

Small Batch: The VMAs, From Speeches To Singing To Squads

Listen · 8:42 8:42

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/436188683/436334097" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Saturday August 29, 2015

The Good Listener: Should Fans Fear Side Projects?

The National's Matt Berninger (left) has a new band called EL VY. Should fans of his old project fear the new one? Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

The Good Listener: Should Fans Fear Side Projects?

August 29, 2015 • Popular bands like The National, The Black Keys, Wilco and Bon Iver have spawned spin-offs in recent years. Should their fans be nervous, or should they embrace the change of pace?

Wednesday August 26, 2015

Lou Barlow's Brace The Wave comes out September 4. Rachel Enneking/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Rachel Enneking/Courtesy of the artist

Review

First Listen

Review: Lou Barlow, 'Brace The Wave'

August 26, 2015 • Brace The Wave keeps the Sebadoh singer's sound stripped to its barren bones, an approach suited to the pleas and confessions therein.