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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

New Music Friday: The best releases out Sept. 30

Icelandic icon Björk is back with a deeply inventive set called Fossora. Vidar Logi/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Vidar Logi/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best releases out Sept. 30

It's been five years since Björk last released an album, but now the Icelandic icon is back with a deeply inventive set called Fossora. Every sound on the record feels as if it's springing into the mix from a different direction, as her vibrant voice shares space with everything from bass clarinets to the voices of Björk's own offspring. Fossora was inspired, at least in part, by the death of the singer's mother, but joy also abounds.

New Music Friday: The best releases out Sept. 30

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Thursday

'She-Hulk: Attorney at Law' is a smash — SMASHING THE PATRIARCHY, THAT IS!!!

Tatiana Maslany stars in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Marvel Studios hide caption

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Marvel Studios

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'She-Hulk: Attorney at Law' is a smash — SMASHING THE PATRIARCHY, THAT IS!!!

In the Disney Plus series She-Hulk: Attorney At Law, Tatiana Maslany plays Jennifer Walters, an ambitious, eager lawyer. She's also the Hulk's cousin, and accidentally acquires some of his powers after an accident. So now she has to juggle her career as a lawyer with the fact that she sometimes turns into a super-strong green giant.

'She-Hulk: Attorney at Law' is a smash — SMASHING THE PATRIARCHY, THAT IS!!!

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Monday

We talk 'Don't Worry Darling,' this time with spoilers

Florence Pugh stars in Don't Worry Darling. Warner Bros. Entertainment hide caption

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Warner Bros. Entertainment

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

We talk 'Don't Worry Darling,' this time with spoilers

In the new film Don't Worry Darling Florence Pugh plays Alice, a woman living in an idyllic planned community with her husband Jack, played by Harry Styles. But strange things begin to happen that make her suspect that all is not well in the community run by Jack's mysterious employer (Chris Pine). The film is directed by Olivia Wilde and in this spoiler-packed episode, we try to chase some answers down.

We talk 'Don't Worry Darling,' this time with spoilers

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Friday

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend reading, listening and viewing

Group photo of Bakers in the Tent (L to R) (back) Sandro, William, Abdul, Carol, Maisam, Syabira, Maxy (front) James Rebs Janusz, Dawn, Kevin on The Great British Baking Show on Netflix. Mark Bourdillon/Netflix hide caption

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Mark Bourdillon/Netflix

What's Making Us Happy: Recommendations From 'Pop Culture Happy Hour'

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend reading, listening and viewing

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Industry, The Great British Baking Show, and more.

New Music Friday: The best releases out Sept. 23

Beth Orton's new record, Weather Alive, finds the singer taking control of her own sound. Eliot Lee Hazel/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Eliot Lee Hazel/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best releases out Sept. 23

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include veteran folksinger Beth Orton, Malian guitarist Vieux Farka Touré and more.

New Music Friday: The best releases out Sept. 23

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Wedded bliss gets really creepy in 'Don't Worry Darling'

Florence Pugh and Harry Styles star in Don't Worry Darling Warner Bros. Entertainment hide caption

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Warner Bros. Entertainment

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Wedded bliss gets really creepy in 'Don't Worry Darling'

In the new movie Don't Worry Darling, Florence Pugh plays a woman living with her husband (Harry Styles) in an idyllic planned community that looks like it came out of about 1955. But soon, strange things begin to happen that make her suspect that all is not well. Directed by Olivia Wilde, the film is now in theaters after some behind-the-scenes tensions that put it in the public conversation.

Wedded bliss gets really creepy in 'Don't Worry Darling'

Listen · 25:38
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Thursday

Review

Music Reviews

A review of Space Force's new anthem, 'Semper Supra'

The Space Force has released their new anthem, "Semper Supra." NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Stephen Thompson from NPR Music to review it.

A review of Space Force's new anthem, 'Semper Supra'

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Monday

Into the raunchy, violent danger zone of 'Archer'

Lana Kane (Aisha Tyler), Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin) in a scene from the series Archer. FXX hide caption

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FXX

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Into the raunchy, violent danger zone of 'Archer'

The animated comedy Archer explores the exploits of Sterling Archer (H. Jon Benjamin), the world's most dangerous spy. Now in its 13th season, it's a workplace comedy full of guns, sex, and the occasional mad scientist. Created by Adam Reed, the series airs on FXX and streams on Hulu.

Into the raunchy, violent danger zone of 'Archer'

Listen · 16:27
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Friday

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend reading, listening and viewing

Sheryl Lee Ralph accepts the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series for Abbott Elementary onstage during the 74th Emmy Awards. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

What's Making Us Happy: Recommendations From 'Pop Culture Happy Hour'

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend reading, listening and viewing

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Sheryl Lee Ralph, Kenan & Kel, and more.

New Music Friday: The best releases out Sept. 16

BLACKPINK's new album is titled Born Pink. YG Entertainment/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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YG Entertainment/Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best releases out Sept. 16

The superstar K-pop girl group BLACKPINK is one of the biggest pop juggernauts in the world, with billions of streams and massive world tours to its name. Born Pink, its second full-length album — and "full-length" is relative here, since we're talking about eight songs in under 25 minutes — promises to further expedite BLACKPINK's domination of the U.S. charts.

New Music Friday: The best releases out Sept. 16

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'The Woman King' reigns supreme

Viola Davis and Thuso Mbedu star in The Woman King. Sony Pictures hide caption

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Sony Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'The Woman King' reigns supreme

The new movie The Woman King tells the story of the Agojie, a real-life group of women warriors who protected a West African kingdom in the 1820s. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the film stars Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, and John Boyega – and it mixes bloody battle scenes with discussions of leadership and chosen family.

'The Woman King' reigns supreme

Listen · 19:56
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Thursday

Our pop culture picks for this fall

Quinta Brunson and Daniel Radcliffe star in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. The Roku Channel hide caption

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The Roku Channel

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Our pop culture picks for this fall

Today, we're telling you what new shows, movies and albums we're excited about this fall.

Our pop culture picks for this fall

Listen · 16:19
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Monday

'Squid Game' is a bloody worldwide sensation

Lee Jung-jae in Netflix's Squid Game. Noh Juhan/Netflix hide caption

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Noh Juhan/Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Squid Game' is a bloody worldwide sensation

Netflix's Korean drama Squid Game was a worldwide sensation. It's a violent and artful horror series, a survival drama, and a commentary on debt and capitalism. The show earned 14 Emmy nominations, and could make history as the first-ever non-English series to win in the outstanding drama category. In this encore episode, we revisit our conversation about the first season.

'Squid Game' is a bloody worldwide sensation

Listen · 30:32
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Friday

New Music Friday: The best releases out Sept. 9

The new album out this week from Ari Lennox is age/sex/location. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best releases out Sept. 9

NPR Music's picks for the best albums out this week include genre-straddling polymaths Santigold and Sudan Archives, R&B sensation Ari Lennox and more.

New Music Friday: The best releases out Sept. 9

Listen · 28:20
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Wednesday

'Bluey' is a kids show with lessons for everyone

Bluey, Chilli, Bingo, and Bandit Heeler from the show, Bluey. Ludo hide caption

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Ludo

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Bluey' is a kids show with lessons for everyone

The children's TV cartoon Bluey centers on a family of four anthropomorphic dogs. Each episode balances gentle humor with some kind of lesson about emotional intelligence. Bluey is an Australian series that first premiered in 2018, and is streaming in the United States on Disney Plus.

'Bluey' is a kids show with lessons for everyone

Listen · 21:06
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