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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

Sunday

First Listen: Peter Gabriel, 'Scratch My Back ... And I'll Scratch Yours'

Peter Gabriel's new album, And I'll Scratch Yours, comes out Jan. 7. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Peter Gabriel, 'Scratch My Back ... And I'll Scratch Yours'

Four years ago, Gabriel released an album on which he covers some of his favorite songs. Now, the objects of his affection reciprocate, as his material is covered by Lou Reed, Arcade Fire, Randy Newman, Regina Spektor, Bon Iver, David Byrne and more.

Peter Gabriel, 'And I'll Scratch Yours'

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.

Friday

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Time Machines, Time Capsules And A Live Studio Audience
NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Time Machines, Time Capsules And A Live Studio Audience

It's Part 1 of our second-ever live show, a year-in-review episode recorded at NPR's Studio One. What we'll remember from 2013, what's changed in the last 20 years, and, as always, what's making us happy.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Time Machines, Time Capsules And A Live Studio Audience

Listen · 46:48
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Monday

Tuesday

Review

Music

Indie-Pop Albums That Make The Cut Are More Than Mere Collections

This week we're looking back at the year in music with a peek at NPR Music's 50 Favorite Albums of 2013. It's the annual list assembled by our in-house experts, including NPR music writer and editor Stephen Thompson. He tells Audie Cornish about his picks in the world of indie pop.

Indie-Pop Albums That Make The Cut Are More Than Mere Collections

Listen · 5:24
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Monday

Dessa: Tiny Desk Concert

Dessa performs at a Tiny Desk Concert on Sept. 24, 2013. Abbey Oldham/Abbey Oldham/NPR hide caption

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Tiny Desk

Dessa: Tiny Desk Concert

The rapper, singer, poet and songwriter performs three tracks from this year's Parts of Speech with the aid of a full band. With backing vocals from Aby Wolf, Dessa overcame a bad cold to nail this forceful, whip-smart set.

Dessa: Tiny Desk Concert

Listen · 11:06
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Saturday

Sarah Jarosz: Tiny Desk Concert

Sarah Jarosz performs a Tiny Desk Concert in September 2013. Meredith Rizzo/Meredith Rizzo/NPR hide caption

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Tiny Desk

Sarah Jarosz: Tiny Desk Concert

All polished young pros, Jarosz, fiddler Alex Hargreaves and cellist Nathaniel Smith breezed into the NPR Music offices to knock us out with a careful mix of technical proficiency and poppy warmth.

Sarah Jarosz: Tiny Desk Concert

Listen · 11:47
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Monday

The Dismemberment Plan: Tiny Desk Concert

The Dismemberment Plan performs a Tiny Desk concert in October 2013. Meredith Rizzo/Meredith Rizzo/NPR hide caption

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Tiny Desk

The Dismemberment Plan: Tiny Desk Concert

The recently reunited band's funky, fleshed-out sound wouldn't seem to lend itself to vastly stripped-down arrangements. But The Dismemberment Plan exudes playfulness and wry charm throughout these three songs from this year's Uncanney Valley.

The Dismemberment Plan: Tiny Desk Concert

Listen · 12:36
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Thursday

Sunday

First Listen: Shearwater, 'Fellow Travelers'

Shearwater's new album, Fellow Travelers, comes out Nov. 26. James Hamilton/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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James Hamilton/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Shearwater, 'Fellow Travelers'

Each of the 10 songs on Fellow Travelers pays tribute to an artist with whom Shearwater has toured. It's fascinating to hear the band function as a skeleton key that opens up the works of Xiu Xiu and Coldplay and St. Vincent alike.

Shearwater, 'Fellow Travelers'

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Saturday

John Legend: Tiny Desk Concert

John Legend performs at the Tiny Desk Concert on Wednesday, October 23, 2013. Abbey Oldham/Abbey Oldham/NPR hide caption

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Tiny Desk

John Legend: Tiny Desk Concert

The soul singer retains the easygoing grace of a performer fit for any stage — even a tiny one. Here, Legend performs two songs from his album Love in the Future, as well as "Move," one of his contributions to the 12 Years a Slave soundtrack.

John Legend: Tiny Desk Concert

Listen · 15:53
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Friday

Friday

Sunday

First Listen: Soundtrack, 'Inside Llewyn Davis'

Oscar Isaac (left) and Justin Timberlake in a scene from Inside Llewyn Davis. Both are featured on the movie's soundtrack. Alison Rosa/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Alison Rosa/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Soundtrack, 'Inside Llewyn Davis'

Joel and Ethan Coen's new film looks at the early-'60s Greenwich Village folk scene, as populated by a brooding moocher played by singer-actor Oscar Isaac. Its soundtrack, like the movie itself, reflects the way many different strains of folk music collided in the early '60s.

Soundtrack, 'Inside Llewyn Davis'

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.
First Listen: Songs: Ohia, 'Magnolia Electric Co. (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)'

Magnolia Electric Co. (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition), by the late Jason Molina, comes out Nov. 12. Steve Gullick/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Steve Gullick/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Songs: Ohia, 'Magnolia Electric Co. (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)'

Ten years after its release — and seven months after the death of singer Jason Molina — The Magnolia Electric Co is still an ambitious and unsteady beast, strangely graceful and crying out to be explored. Throughout the album, Molina sings of his own smallness and struggle, but also the stubbornness inherent in standing up as the gravitational forces of grief try to pull him down.

Songs: Ohia, 'Magnolia Electric Co. (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)'

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.