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.

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Stephen Thompson

Thursday February 26, 2015

Purity Ring's new album, Another Eternity, comes out March 3. Renata Raksha/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Renata Raksha/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

Review: Purity Ring, 'Another Eternity'

February 26, 2015 • The Edmonton band mines the built-in tension between its many sources of effervescence and the darker shading in its words and backgrounds.

Sunday February 15, 2015

Review: Screaming Females, 'Rose Mountain'

Screaming Females' new album, Rose Mountain, comes out Feb. 24. Lance Bangs/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Lance Bangs/Courtesy of the artist

Review

First Listen

Review: Screaming Females, 'Rose Mountain'

February 15, 2015 • Compact and intense, the New Jersey band's songs channel the spirit of punk, but also the density of heavy rock that's had the fat cut out.

Saturday February 14, 2015

The Good Listener: Is It OK To Attend A Concert On A First Date?

Jeez, people. The guy with the acoustic guitar is trying to perform right behind you. Get a room, would you? iStockphoto.com hide caption

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All Songs Considered

The Good Listener: Is It OK To Attend A Concert On A First Date?

February 14, 2015 • Thoughts on the collision of concert etiquette and first-date etiquette.

Sunday February 8, 2015

Pops Staples' new album, Don't Lose This, comes out Feb. 17. Paul Natkin/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Paul Natkin/Courtesy of the artist

Review

First Listen

Review: Pops Staples, 'Don't Lose This'

February 8, 2015 • The late icon presided over some of the most crucial music of the 20th century. Fifteen years after his death, his final recordings have been completed with the aid of Jeff Tweedy and Mavis Staples.

Saturday February 7, 2015

The Good Listener: How Can I Avoid Love Songs?

When it seems like every song on earth is about love or its absence, the heartsick need a strategy. iStockphoto.com hide caption

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iStockphoto.com

All Songs Considered

The Good Listener: How Can I Avoid Love Songs?

February 7, 2015 • When it seems like every song on earth is about love or its absence, the heartsick need a strategy.

Saturday January 24, 2015

The Good Listener: If You Don't Like Music, Do You Have A Soul?

Music isn't for everyone. Cristian Casanelles/iStockphoto hide caption

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Cristian Casanelles/iStockphoto

All Songs Considered

The Good Listener: If You Don't Like Music, Do You Have A Soul?

January 24, 2015 • Is it possible for a human being to truly not enjoy music?

Thursday January 22, 2015

Ana Tijoux was a big part of NPR Music's SXSW 2014 coverage. Now, we're preparing for this year's festival. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Playing SXSW 2015? Send Us Your Songs

January 22, 2015 • The festival doesn't start for two more months, but the NPR Music team is already preparing.

Wednesday January 21, 2015

Watch Broad City Interview Sleater-Kinney

Ebru Yildiz for NPR

Music Interviews

Watch Broad City Interview Sleater-Kinney

January 21, 2015 • In a raucous and revealing panel discussion at New York City's Ace Hotel, the stars and creators of Comedy Central's Broad City interview all three members of the newly reunited band.

Sunday January 18, 2015

First Listen: The Lone Bellow, 'Then Came The Morning'

The Lone Bellow's new album, Then Came The Morning, comes out Jan. 27. Steven Sebring/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Steven Sebring/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: The Lone Bellow, 'Then Came The Morning'

January 18, 2015 • The Brooklyn band's music has always had a larger-than-life flamboyance about it. But on Then Came The Morning, it's elevated by nuance that ventures frequently and welcomely into grace.

Then Came The Morning

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

Wednesday January 14, 2015

Thievery Corporation: All Things Considered's In-House Band For A Day

All Things Considered director Monika Evstatieva offers a little last-minute advice to the day's in-house band, Thievery Corporation. Morgan McCloy/NPR hide caption

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Morgan McCloy/NPR

Music

Thievery Corporation: All Things Considered's In-House Band For A Day

January 14, 2015 • Friday's broadcast gets a lively and unexpected twist: interstitial music performed live by the unpredictable, dub-influenced electronic band.

Thievery Corporation: All Things Considered's In-House Band For A Day

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Sunday January 11, 2015

First Listen: Belle And Sebastian, 'Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance'

Belle And Sebastian's new album, Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance, comes out Jan. 20. Søren Solkær/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Søren Solkær/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Belle And Sebastian, 'Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance'

January 11, 2015 • The Glaswegian folk-pop band's ninth album feels light on its feet, but without sacrificing the thoughtful, careful precision for which Stuart Murdoch and his collaborators are known.

Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance

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

Thursday January 8, 2015

Sterling Archer (voice of H. Jon Benjamin) and Lana Kane (voice of Aisha Tyler) rarely look quite this uncomplicatedly happy. FX hide caption

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Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Archer' And The Loud Comfort Of Rhythm

January 8, 2015 • Every character on the animated FX comedy is a creep. So why is the show so pleasant, even relaxing, to watch?

Monday December 22, 2014

Dessa: Something Old And Something New, Suitable For Choir

Dessa recently reworked two of her songs with Minnesota's VocalEssence choir. Kelly Loverud/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Kelly Loverud/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Dessa: Something Old And Something New, Suitable For Choir

December 22, 2014 • Watch the singer and rapper perform "Skeleton Key" and "The Good Fight" with the VocalEssence choir.

Tuesday December 16, 2014

T-Pain's Tiny Desk Concert has been viewed 6.6 million times on YouTube alone. Maggie Starbard/NPR hide caption

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Maggie Starbard/NPR

The Best Music Of 2014

2014: The Year In Tiny Desk Concerts

December 16, 2014 • Surveying a year of concerts that took place behind a desk in NPR Music's offices, we offer up highlights from T-Pain to the Pixies to a 12-piece Balkan brass extravaganza.

Thursday December 11, 2014

Stephen Thompson's Top 10 Albums Of 2014

Beyonce unleashed the year's grandest and most enduring pop juggernaut (even if it technically came out in 2013). Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Stephen Thompson's Top 10 Albums Of 2014

December 11, 2014 • In terms of pop hits, the shadow of 2013 fell over most of 2014. But for NPR Music's Stephen Thompson, there were plenty of winners this year as well.