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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

Friday

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Sunday

First Listen: Okkervil River, 'The Silver Gymnasium'

Okkervil River's new album, The Silver Gymnasium, comes out Sept. 3. Ben Sklar/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Ben Sklar/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Okkervil River, 'The Silver Gymnasium'

For Okkervil River's Will Sheff, it's been impossible to let go of Meriden, N.H., circa 1986. He pays tribute to that place and time in a nostalgia-fueled album that floats warmly in the soft spots separating childhood from adolescence.

Okkervil River, 'The Silver Gymnasium'

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Thursday

Sunday

First Listen: Neko Case, 'The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight...'

Neko Case's new album, The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You, comes out Sept. 3. Emily Shur/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Emily Shur/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Neko Case, 'The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight...'

Case's gift for disarming commentary carries over to the quotable, thoughtful, frequently lovely songs on The Worse Things Get: She can be bracingly acerbic, boldly inspiring, or achingly tender while conveying equal, virtually boundless charisma.

Neko Case, 'The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight...'

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First Listen: Volcano Choir, 'Repave'

Volcano Choir's new album, Repave, comes out Sept. 3. Cameron Wittig/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Cameron Wittig/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Volcano Choir, 'Repave'

If Justin Vernon never releases another record under the name Bon Iver — and he's publicly suggested that that might be the case — more albums like Repave would render the issue largely irrelevant. His second album with Volcano Choir is just that good.

Volcano Choir, 'Repave'

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Saturday

Mother Falcon: Tiny Desk Concert

Mother Falcon performs a Tiny Desk Concert in July 2013. Hayley Bartels/NPR hide caption

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Hayley Bartels/NPR

Tiny Desk

Mother Falcon: Tiny Desk Concert

What makes the 17-member chamber-rock collective so alluring isn't its size, but rather the way it uses all its members in the service of great, snappy, stirring, frequently uplifting songs.

Mother Falcon: Tiny Desk Concert

Listen · 12:09
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Thursday

Monday

Alpine: Tiny Desk Concert

Alpine performs at a Tiny Desk Concert in June 2013. Chloe Coleman/Chloe Coleman/NPR hide caption

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Chloe Coleman/Chloe Coleman/NPR

Tiny Desk

Alpine: Tiny Desk Concert

The Australian sextet crafts busily impeccable pop music with a danceable sway, prominent synths and the charming shared lead vocals of Phoebe Baker and Lou James.

Alpine: Tiny Desk Concert

Listen · 17:09
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Sunday

First Listen: No Age, 'An Object'

No Age's new album, An Object, comes out August 20. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: No Age, 'An Object'

The arty L.A. noise-rock duo's fourth album seethes stubbornly when it could have far more easily opened up at full blast and stayed there. A compact but searching 30 minutes of music, An Object hammers and wanders while upsetting and upending expectations.

No Age, 'An Object'

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First Listen: Superchunk, 'I Hate Music'

Superchunk's new album, I Hate Music, comes out August 20. Jason Arthurs/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jason Arthurs/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Superchunk, 'I Hate Music'

Infused with winning, strident energy, I Hate Music is the sound of a veteran band with its vitality intact, for which fun and fury are essential components of a life thoughtfully lived.

Superchunk, 'I Hate Music'

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Friday

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'The Bridge' And The Doctor's Many Faces
NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'The Bridge' And The Doctor's Many Faces

With special guest Audie Cornish, the gang discusses a new FX series, roles inhabited by many actors, and an assortment of happy-making things.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'The Bridge' And The Doctor's Many Faces

Listen · 49:10
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Thursday