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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: M. Ward, 'A Wasteland Companion'

M. Ward's seventh album, A Wasteland Companion, comes out April 10. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: M. Ward, 'A Wasteland Companion'

M. Ward writes for beat-up transistor radios, as if he were sending his songs hurtling backward through time and space. His seventh solo album, out April 10, mostly marks the singer's welcome return to the dusty shadows.

Hear 'A Wasteland Companion' In Its Entirety

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First Listen: Bear In Heaven, 'I Love You, It's Cool'

Bear In Heaven's new album, I Love You, It's Cool, comes out April 3. Shawn Brackbill/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Shawn Brackbill/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Bear In Heaven, 'I Love You, It's Cool'

Bear in Heaven's songs are sweet, simple and charmingly buzzy, with each whirring synth wrapped around a core of pure pop.

Hear 'I Love You, It's Cool' In Its Entirety

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Saturday

Friday

Now, Now: Perfect Pop In 100 Seconds

A marvel of economy and concision, Now, Now's "Dead Oaks" never wastes a breath. Mike Vorrasi hide caption

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Mike Vorrasi

Review

Song Of The Day

Now, Now: Perfect Pop In 100 Seconds

A marvel of economy and concision, "Dead Oaks" sums up a relationship without wasting a breath.

'Dead Oaks' by Now, Now

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Thursday

Front Row: Polica

Channy Leaneagh of the Minneapolis-based band Polica, at NPR's SXSW day party in Austin, Texas. Katy Hayes Luke for NPR hide caption

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Katy Hayes Luke for NPR

Front Row

Front Row: Polica

Newcomers from Minneapolis, Polica arrived in Austin aloft on a boatload of buzz. Their live show mixed two live drummers and the heavily manipulated vocals of singer Channy Leaneagh.

Front Row: Polica

Listen · 30:34
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Sugar Tongue Slim, Live In Concert: SXSW 2012

Sugar Tongue Slim brought a live band along with samples by Gotye and Kavinsky to his set at The Parish in Austin, Texas. Katie Hayes Luke for NPR hide caption

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Katie Hayes Luke for NPR

Live in Concert

Sugar Tongue Slim, Live In Concert: SXSW 2012

The versatile, playful rapper mixed well-known samples with a live-band bounce that quickly won over the crowd.

Sugar Tongue Slim, Live In Concert: SXSW 2012

Listen · 27:53
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La Vida Boheme, Live In Concert: SXSW 2012

Rafael Perez (left) and Henry D'Arthenay of Venezuelan rock band La Vida Boheme. Katie Hayes Luke for NPR hide caption

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Katie Hayes Luke for NPR

Live in Concert

La Vida Boheme, Live In Concert: SXSW 2012

Wearing paint-splattered shirts, the Venezuelan dance-rock band kicked off NPR Music's day party at The Parish in Austin, Texas with chant-along songs and stage-shaking energy.

La Vida Boheme, Live In Concert: SXSW 2012

Listen · 32:51
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Alabama Shakes, Live In Concert: SXSW 2012

The Alabama Shakes' lead singer, Brittany Howard, onstage at NPR Music's SXSW showcase at Stubb's Wednesday night. Katie Hayes Luke for NPR hide caption

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Katie Hayes Luke for NPR

Live in Concert

Alabama Shakes, Live In Concert: SXSW 2012

Armed with a bright new batch of songs, lead singer Brittany Howard fed off a crowd 2,000 strong.

Alabama Shakes, Live In Concert: SXSW 2012

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Dan Deacon, Live In Concert: SXSW 2012

Dan Deacon plays NPR Music's SXSW showcase at Stubb's Wednesday night. Katie Hayes Luke for NPR hide caption

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Katie Hayes Luke for NPR

Live in Concert

Dan Deacon, Live In Concert: SXSW 2012

Deacon served as ringleader for an orgy of sound and a live act all about barely contained chaos.

Dan Deacon, Live In Concert: SXSW 2012

Listen · 30:54
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Sharon Van Etten, Live In Concert: SXSW 2012

Sharon Van Etten plays NPR Music's SXSW showcase at Stubb's Wednesday night. Katie Hayes Luke for NPR hide caption

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Katie Hayes Luke for NPR

Live in Concert

Sharon Van Etten, Live In Concert: SXSW 2012

The singer-songwriter practically dared her audience to pipe down as she held long, cooing notes.

Sharon Van Etten, Live In Concert: SXSW 2012

Listen · 37:47
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Monday

Real Estate: Tiny Desk Concert
Doriane Raiman/NPR

Tiny Desk

Real Estate: Tiny Desk Concert

Real Estate wears placidity well: It's a band born and bred to convey and celebrate laconic comfort. In its three-song concert in the NPR Music offices, the quintet re-creates its studio sound with airy precision.

Real Estate: Tiny Desk Concert

Listen · 12:41
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Water Liars: Starkly Sweet

On an album of rough-around-the-edges folk-rock, Water Liars' "Dog Eaten" stands out for its airy simplicity. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Review

Song Of The Day

Water Liars: Starkly Sweet

On an album of rough-around-the-edges folk-rock, "Dog Eaten" stands out for its airy simplicity.

'Dog Eaten' by Water Liars

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Friday