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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.

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Stephen Thompson

Thursday August 31, 2017

Review: Julie & The Wrong Guys, 'Julie & The Wrong Guys'

Julie & The Wrong Guys' self-titled debut album is out Sept. 8. Scott Wade/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Scott Wade/Courtesy of the artist

Review

First Listen

Review: Julie & The Wrong Guys, 'Julie & The Wrong Guys'

August 31, 2017 • After a prolific solo career, Julie Doiron heads up a new band, whose sound blends summery sweetness with grit and gristle.

Tuesday August 29, 2017

Watch: In 'Day I Die,' 5,000 Photos Depict A Night In The Life Of The National

The National's new album, Sleep Well Beast, comes out Sept. 8. Keith Klenowski/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Keith Klenowski/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs TV

Watch: In 'Day I Die,' 5,000 Photos Depict A Night In The Life Of The National

August 29, 2017 • The band's innovative new video, for the latest song from the forthcoming Sleep Well Beast, is an impressive and slightly unsettling work of time-lapse photography.

Monday August 28, 2017

Jason Isbell: Tiny Desk Concert

Jason Isbell performs a Tiny Desk Concert on June 30, 2017. (Claire Harbage/NPR) Claire Harbage/NPR hide caption

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Claire Harbage/NPR

Tiny Desk

Jason Isbell: Tiny Desk Concert

August 28, 2017 • The Alabama singer-songwriter and his band perform three songs from The Nashville Sound, but their set includes a few surprises, too.

Sunday August 27, 2017

Kendrick Lamar Wins Big In The VMAs' Jarring Jumble Of Moments

Kendrick Lamar won Video of the Year and Best Hip Hop Video, among four other prizes, at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images hide caption

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Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Kendrick Lamar Wins Big In The VMAs' Jarring Jumble Of Moments

August 27, 2017 • Along with performances by Pink and Lorde, Lamar's opening medley provided a clear highlight of a disjointed three-hour telecast, hosted by Katy Perry.

Kendrick Lamar Wins Big In The VMAs' Jarring Jumble Of Moments

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Friday August 25, 2017

Iron & Wine Returns To The Whispers And Hush On 'Beast Epic'

Iron & Wine's new album is titled Beast Epic. Kim Black/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Kim Black/Courtesy of the artist

Review

All Songs Considered

Iron & Wine Returns To The Whispers And Hush On 'Beast Epic'

August 25, 2017 • On Iron & Wine's new album, Sam Beam scales back his sound's lavish orchestration while maintaining a sense of brightness and verve.

MTV Plots A Comeback As The VMAs Bring A Moment Of Relevance

The MTV Video Music Award — renamed this year from the "moon man" to the "moon person." Ian Gavan/Getty Images hide caption

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Ian Gavan/Getty Images

The Record

MTV Plots A Comeback As The VMAs Bring A Moment Of Relevance

August 25, 2017 • Previewing the 2017 Video Music Awards — which remain MTV's biggest event of the year — and other ways the network hopes to lead the cultural conversation.

Thursday August 24, 2017

Bon Iver's S. Carey Makes A Radiant Return With 'Brassy Sun'

S. Carey's new single, "Brassy Sun," is out now. Cameron Wittig/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Cameron Wittig/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Bon Iver's S. Carey Makes A Radiant Return With 'Brassy Sun'

August 24, 2017 • A key member of Bon Iver, Carey flourishes in spare but radiant arrangements that showcase his command of dreamy drama. Hear his new single, which he recorded for the TV show Flaked.

Friday August 18, 2017

50 Years Later, Yusuf/Cat Stevens Reworks A Lost Song

Yusuf/Cat Stevens' new album, The Laughing Apple, comes out Sept. 15. Danny Clinch/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Danny Clinch/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs TV

50 Years Later, Yusuf/Cat Stevens Reworks A Lost Song

August 18, 2017 • The folk-pop legend returns by revisiting an early, unreleased demo. "Mary and the Little Lamb" is gentle but brightly rendered, complete with a new verse.

Wednesday August 16, 2017

If You Feel Like Everything's 'Unraveling,' Frances Cone Has A Song For You

Frances Cone's new song is titled "Unraveling." Geoff Leung/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Geoff Leung/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

If You Feel Like Everything's 'Unraveling,' Frances Cone Has A Song For You

August 16, 2017 • "Unraveling" comes along at the right time, as the Brooklyn band tackles a few of the ways life conspires to overwhelm.

Monday August 14, 2017

ALA.NI: Tiny Desk Concert

ALA.NI performs a Tiny Desk Concert on June 20, 2017. (Photo: Liam James Doyle/NPR) Liam James Doyle/NPR/NRR hide caption

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Liam James Doyle/NPR/NRR

Tiny Desk

ALA.NI: Tiny Desk Concert

August 14, 2017 • ALA.NI captures and conveys a reverent love of early-20th-century music, while injecting those sounds with charisma and charm well suited for any era.

Friday August 11, 2017

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Recommending The Best Of Stephen King

Stephen King. Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Recommending The Best Of Stephen King

August 11, 2017 • We didn't like the new Dark Tower movie, so we opted instead to discuss King's vast and rewarding career. And, as always, What's Making Us Happy this week.

Thursday August 10, 2017

Review: Rainer Maria, 'S/T'

Rainer Maria's new album, S/T, is out August 18. Shawn Brackbill/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Shawn Brackbill/Courtesy of the artist

Review

First Listen

Review: Rainer Maria, 'S/T'

August 10, 2017 • Rainer Maria's first album since 2006 is a natural extension of the band's discography, while staying true to its members' accumulated wisdom and insight.

Wednesday August 9, 2017

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Detroit'

John Boyega plays security guard Melvin Dismukes in Detroit. Francois Duhamel/Annapurna Pictures hide caption

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Francois Duhamel/Annapurna Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Detroit'

August 9, 2017 • With its intense and unsettling depictions of police brutality in the summer of 1967, Detroit got under the panel's skin in different ways.

Monday August 7, 2017

Maggie Rogers: Tiny Desk Concert

Maggie Rogers performs a Tiny Desk concert at NPR headquarters. Liam James Doyle/NPR hide caption

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Liam James Doyle/NPR

Tiny Desk

Maggie Rogers: Tiny Desk Concert

August 7, 2017 • The rising pop star performs three of her best-known songs, including a sweet solo take on her career-making "Alaska."

Review: David Rawlings, 'Poor David's Almanack'

David Rawlings' new album, Poor David's Almanack, is out August 11. Alysse Gafkjen/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Alysse Gafkjen/Courtesy of the artist

Review

First Listen

Review: David Rawlings, 'Poor David's Almanack'

August 7, 2017 • With the help of longtime partner Gillian Welch, Rawlings assembles a sweetly engaging, impressively wide-ranging collection of American roots music.

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