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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

Thursday

Review

Song Of The Day

Tracy Chapman: The Weary And The Innocent

Chapman's new album mixes low-key message songs with the relentlessly pleasant likes of "Sing for You." A slice of soothing nostalgia, complete with a "doo-doo-doo" chorus, the latter track finds the singer ruminating fondly on "a time when I used to sing for you."

'Sing for You' by Tracy Chapman

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Monday

Review

Song Of The Day

Ra Ra Riot: Poignant And Propulsive

"Dying Is Fine" swipes a line from an E.E. Cummings poem and repurposes it in a catchy chorus. The song has appeared on early Ra Ra Riot singles, but it sounds especially polished and lively here, thanks in part to its sleek production and the surprisingly subtle strings, which add melancholy shading and a jolt of rhythm.

'Dying Is Fine' by Ra Ra Riot

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Saturday

Friday

SXSW Music Festival

At SXSW, Worries Can Wait

A grim economy, with an even lousier forecast for the music industry, hasn't prevented more than 1,800 bands — and their potential fans — from flooding the clubs, bars and streets of Austin, Texas. It's all part of the 23rd annual South by Southwest music festival.

At SXSW, Worries Can Wait

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Thursday

Review

Song Of The Day

Laura Gibson: Muted Beauty In The 'Shadows'

Opening amid feedback squalls, Gibson's "Shadows on Parade" quickly offsets the dissonance with harp-like strums on an acoustic guitar, setting the tone for a somber, dreamlike journey that drifts along gently while retaining its muted beauty.

'Shadows on Parade' by Laura Gibson

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Wednesday

Review

Song Of The Day

Plus/Minus: A Sweetly Infectious Pop Sleeper

As gentle as the song can be, every second of "Snowblind" radiates tension and momentum, even as +/- pulls back the reins and simplifies the arrangement long enough for a memorable closer. The result is a snappy little pop firecracker, but it reveals more depth with each welcome exposure.

'Snowblind' by Plus/Minus

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Tuesday

Review

Song Of The Day

The Thermals: A Generation In 108 Seconds

In "When We Were Alive," The Thermals' members sum up a generation's legacy of timidity and missed opportunities in less than two minutes. Rarely has a song said so much so efficiently, as frontman Hutch Harris spits out bravado ("You should have seen us in our prime") and regret ("We didn't try when we were alive") with the same red-faced ferocity.

'When We Were Alive' by The Thermals

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Monday

Review

Song Of The Day

Tinted Windows: Summery Pop For Springtime

It's hard to deny the playfulness and joy at the heart of "Kind of a Girl," with its "whoa-ooh-oh" choruses and its buzzy guitars. There are far worse things than four polished pop professionals (members of Fountains of Wayne, Hanson, Cheap Trick and The Smashing Pumpkins) who can churn out sunny pop with brutal efficiency.

'Kind of a Girl' by Tinted Windows

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Wednesday

Friday

Review

Song Of The Day

Clem Snide: Pledging Loyalty, With A Catch

In Clem Snide's music, nothing is ever simple: Even its most straightforwardly goodhearted love songs shine a light on the risks involved in revealing your heart. In the deliciously sideways gem "With All My Heart," the band goes to great lengths never to try.

'With All My Heart' by Clem Snide

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