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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

Wednesday

Post Malone, who has spent the year shifting his focus from hip-hop and pop toward country music (scoring a No. 1 single in the process) performs on July 16, 2024 in Nashville, Tenn. His first all-country album, F-1 Trillion, topped this week's Billboard album chart.

Post Malone, who has spent the year shifting his focus from hip-hop and pop toward country music (scoring a No. 1 single in the process) performs on July 16, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. His first all-country album, F-1 Trillion, topped this week's Billboard album chart. Jason Kempin/Getty Images hide caption

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Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Music

It's Post Malone's week at the top of the chart, and he had some help

It's still summer, but signs indicate that the season of Taylor Swift's album chart dominance may be coming to an end. This week's harbinger: a certain face-tattooed rapper-turned-country star.

New No. 1 on the Album Charts

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Music

The Oasis reunion may or may not last long

The British rock band Oasis will be reuniting next year to play a series of shows. It's a joyful moment for fans, but there are doubts about whether it will endure.

The Oasis reunion may or may not last long

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Sabrina Carpenter's 'Short n' Sweet' is smart and silly

Sabrina Carpenter's new album Short 'n Sweet is out now. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Sabrina Carpenter's 'Short n' Sweet' is smart and silly

Sabrina Carpenter has had two of the year's biggest hits with "Espresso" and "Please Please Please." Now, she's released a new full-length album called Short n' Sweet, which serves up more catchy silliness and high drama. But does the album keep that "Espresso" magic alive?

Sabrina Carpenter's 'Short n' Sweet' is smart and silly

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Tuesday

Music News

Sabrina Carpenter releases new music: 'Short n’ Sweet' -- her 6th album

Singer Sabrina Carpenter is having a huge year: Two of her singles have hit the Top 10 this summer -- including the inescapable “Espresso.”

Sabrina Carpenter releases new music: 'Short n’ Sweet' -- her 6th album

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The Contenders, Vol. 15: The songs we can't stop playing this week

The Peter Cat Recording Co. Salihah Saadiq/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Salihah Saadiq/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

The Contenders, Vol. 15: The songs we can't stop playing this week

The latest update to our running list of the year's best songs includes tips for staying engaged, being happy and letting go from Arooj Aftab, Great Grandpa, Japandroids and more.

The Contenders, Vol. 15: The songs we can't stop playing this week

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Friday

New Music Friday: The best albums out Aug. 23

David Rawlings and Gillian Welch. Alysse Gafkjen/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Alysse Gafkjen/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best albums out Aug. 23

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson and Sheldon Pearce are your guides to seven anticipated albums out Aug. 23. During the second half of the episode, the two dig into the mercurial nature of the album format in 2024.

New Music Friday: The best albums out Aug. 23

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Zoë Kravitz's 'Blink Twice' is a very weird and ambitious big swing

Channing Tatum stars as Slater King in Blink Twice. Zachary Greenwood/Amazon MGM Studios hide caption

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Zachary Greenwood/Amazon MGM Studios

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Zoë Kravitz's 'Blink Twice' is a very weird and ambitious big swing

In the new psychological thriller Blink Twice, Naomi Ackie plays a woman who is invited to the private island of a tech billionaire, played by Channing Tatum. He's recently re-entered public life after a scandal and has gathered his friends for a long party. But as the party stretches on, it's clear that something is seriously amiss. Blink Twice is the directorial debut of Zoë Kravitz, and the vibes are definitely pretty weird.

Zoë Kravitz's 'Blink Twice' is a very weird and ambitious big swing

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Thursday

Beyoncé accepts Best Dance/Electronic Music Album for “Renaissance” onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023.

Beyoncé accepts Best Dance/Electronic Music Album for “Renaissance” onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images hide caption

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Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Elections

So, about that special musical guest ... Where was Beyoncé for the DNC's final night?

Instead, the special, previously unannounced guest was … nobody. The night’s headliner, Vice President Harris, had the spotlight to herself — which may have been the point all along.

Musicians Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines and Emily Robison of the Chicks arrive at the David Lynch Foundation Gala Honoring Rick Rubin at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on February 27, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California.

Musicians Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines and Emily Robison of the Chicks arrive at the David Lynch Foundation Gala Honoring Rick Rubin at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on February 27, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California. Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide caption

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Elections

When The Chicks perform the National Anthem tonight at the DNC, they'll bring a complicated history

The Chicks — formerly known as The Dixie Chicks — will sing "The Star Spangled Banner" at the Democratic National Convention Thursday night. That performance, and the group's presence, will provide the latest chapter in The Chicks' long and complicated political history.

Wednesday

Music News

Taylor Swift uses some slick marketing strategies to keep her album No. 1

The album --- “The Tortured Poets Department" -- has now spent 15 weeks at No. 1. Swift’s hold on the top spot is as much about marketing magic as it is music.

Taylor Swift uses some slick marketing strategies to keep her album No. 1

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The reality TV shows we'd actually win

Ted Allen on Chopped. Food Network hide caption

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Food Network

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The reality TV shows we'd actually win

Part of the fun of reality TV is putting yourself in the shoes of the people you're watching. Maybe you'd make a great Real Housewife. Maybe you could win The Amazing Race. Maybe you could even win the fickle hand of The Bachelor. We're not here to make friends, but we are here to pick the reality shows that we think could thrive on.

The reality TV shows we'd actually win

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Tuesday

The artist Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” sits at No. 1 for a sixth nonconsecutive week, tied with Post Malone and Morgan Wallen's hit "I Had Some Help" for "song of the summer."

The artist Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” sits at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a sixth nonconsecutive week, tied with Post Malone and Morgan Wallen's hit "I Had Some Help" for "song of the summer." Dana Jacobs/WireImage hide caption

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Dana Jacobs/WireImage

Music

The ‘song of the summer’ sweepstakes are a tie, at least for now

If you’re one of those people who think there can only be one “song of the summer,” and that the Hot 100 provides a clear-cut metric for determining a winner, then this year’s race is a statistical dead heat.