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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

Monday

Damien Jurado: Tiny Desk Concert
Abby Verbosky/NPR

Tiny Desk

Damien Jurado: Tiny Desk Concert

Jurado has spent the last decade churning out albums of raw, time-worn, authentically graceful music, and he's always possessed a seemingly innate gift for capturing the intricacies of human behavior. Watch him perform his songs in the NPR Music office.

Damien Jurado: Tiny Desk Concert

Listen · 13:29
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Sunday

First Listen: The Mountain Goats, 'All Eternals Deck'

The Mountain Goats newest album, All Eternals Deck, will be released on March 29. Steven Dewall/Courtesy of Shore Fire Media hide caption

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Steven Dewall/Courtesy of Shore Fire Media

First Listen

First Listen: The Mountain Goats, 'All Eternals Deck'

The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle has aged into a singing poet whose words still hit like punches. His band's new album, All Eternals Deck, will stream here in its entirety for the four weeks leading up to its release on March 29.

Tuesday

The Head And The Heart: One More For Winter

A Seattle sextet with a flair for warm gentility, The Head and the Heart oozes good-natured winsomeness in "Winter Song." Kyle Johnson/Courtesy of Sub Pop Records hide caption

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Kyle Johnson/Courtesy of Sub Pop Records

Review

Song Of The Day

The Head And The Heart: One More For Winter

A Seattle sextet with a flair for warm gentility, The Head and the Heart oozes good-natured winsomeness in "Winter Song," which finds the band likening a fading love to the arrival of a bleak season.

'Winter Song' by The Head and the Heart

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Thursday

Wye Oak: A Combustible Mix Of Bluster And Beauty

Wye Oak's "Civilian" examines the push-and-pull between a complex mind and a desire for the comforts of normalcy. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Review

Song Of The Day

Wye Oak: A Combustible Mix Of Bluster And Beauty

"Civilian" examines the push-and-pull between a complex mind and a desire for the comforts of normalcy. As "Civilian" builds to the point of near-implosion, singer Jenn Wasner searches for certainty, but finds such stability elusive.

'Civilian' by Wye Oak

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Monday

Sharon Van Etten: A Love Song For Everyone

Sharon Van Etten lets a troubled past lay the groundwork for a tiny mantra to live by: "Love More." Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Review

Song Of The Day

Sharon Van Etten: A Love Song For Everyone

"Love More" works in slow motion, but with an uncharacteristically bold and dramatic statement attached: As the song progresses, she lets a bleak and troubled past lay the groundwork for a tiny mantra to live by.

'Love More' by Sharon Van Etten

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First Listen: The Low Anthem, 'Smart Flesh'

Smart Flesh, The Low Anthem's follow-up to Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, will be released in the U.S. on Feb. 22. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen

First Listen: The Low Anthem, 'Smart Flesh'

The follow-up to Oh My God, Charlie Darwin showcases a band that's never been on surer footing. Whereas The Low Anthem's debut let its graceful choral-folk ballads brush up against barroom rock stompers, Smart Flesh veers toward a more consistently melancholy blend of blues, folk and country.

Thursday

Bitter Pills For Bitter Pills: Five Essential Breakup Songs

In the depths of breakup-induced despair, even a trip to Chuck E. Cheese won't cure what ails you. You need songs that understand. Courtesy of Chuck E. Cheese hide caption

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Courtesy of Chuck E. Cheese

Songs Of Love And Loathing

Bitter Pills For Bitter Pills: Five Essential Breakup Songs

Just in time for the clown-show of the heart that is Valentine's Day, choke down these five weepers as you pick through the charred ruins of your life, deface your cherished mementos, and use the absorbent exterior of a Chipotle burrito to soak up your tears.

Monday

Thursday

Stars: Tiny Desk Concert
Abby Verbosky/NPR

Tiny Desk

Stars: Tiny Desk Concert

With only Evan Cranley's acoustic guitar for accompaniment, Stars' Amy Millan and Torquil Campbell take two of the fizziest dance-pop tracks on The Five Ghosts (plus 2005's "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead") and transform them into chiming, charming folk songs, performed live at NPR Music.

Stars: Tiny Desk Concert

Listen · 9:58
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Monday

Basia Bulat: Tiny Desk Concert
Abby Verbosky/NPR

Tiny Desk

Basia Bulat: Tiny Desk Concert

The sweetly engaging Canadian singer-songwriter sings highlights from her two albums at the NPR Music offices. And, as an added bonus, she trots out a surprise from Poland.

Basia Bulat: Tiny Desk Concert

Listen · 15:06
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Friday

Iron And Wine: Tiny Desk Concert
Abby Verbosky/NPR

Tiny Desk

Iron And Wine: Tiny Desk Concert

For those who fell in love with Sam Beam's spare solo work, he plays his new full-band material as a solo performer here. Watch Beam show a fresh side of his new songs at the NPR Music offices, and top them off with his devastating 2004 gem "Naked As We Came."

Iron And Wine: Tiny Desk Concert

Listen · 17:48
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Friday

Blue Water White Death: Grace And Mystery

Blue Water White Death's "Song for the Greater Jihad" captures the soaring majesty of Jonathan Meiburg's work with Shearwater. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Review

Song Of The Day

Blue Water White Death: Grace And Mystery

"Song for the Greater Jihad" allows for stretches of virtual white space and a spot of wrenching noise about halfway through, but Jonathan Meiburg's powerful vocal -- at times reduced to a falsetto whisper, at others shouted past the rafters -- throbs at the song's core.

'Song for the Greater Jihad' by Blue Water White Death

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Friday

The Posies: Hard-Charging Kindness

It's nice to hear a new Posies song sparkle as brightly as "So Caroline," an utterly winning three minutes of love and devotion. Christine Taylor/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Christine Taylor/Courtesy of the artist

Review

Song Of The Day

The Posies: Hard-Charging Kindness

It's nice to hear a new Posies song sparkle as brightly as "So Caroline," an utterly winning three minutes of love and devotion. The track is best summed up by a sweet line about midway through: "With friends like you, who needs anyone else?"

'So Caroline' by The Posies

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