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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

Tuesday

Travis Scott’s 2014 mixtape Days Before Rodeo leaps from No. 106 all the way to No. 1, thanks to a massive flood of vinyl sales.

Travis Scott's 2014 mixtape Days Before Rodeo leaps from No. 106 all the way to No. 1, thanks to a massive flood of vinyl sales. Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images hide caption

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Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images

Music

Travis Scott finally soars to No. 1 on the strength of vinyl

Since its re-release earlier this month, Travis Scott's album Days Before Rodeo has been bouncing up and down the charts, finally landing at No. 1.

TRAVIS SCOTT'S WILD RIDE TO #1

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Friday

'Transformers One' is an animated origin story with a light touch

Chris Hemsworth voices Orion Pax/Optimus Prime in Transformers One. Paramount Pictures hide caption

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Paramount Pictures

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Transformers One' is an animated origin story with a light touch

The Transformers franchise has been around for decades, and it's brought us many toys, TV shows and movies. Now, in the new animated film Transformers One, the origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron finally gets told. With a voice cast that includes Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry, the movie hopes to offer a fresh entry point for the long-running franchise.

'Transformers One' is an animated origin story with a light touch

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Thursday

The delightful 'My Old Ass' seeks wisdom from hindsight

Maisy Stella as Elliott in My Old Ass. Marni Grossman/Amazon MGM Studios hide caption

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Marni Grossman/Amazon MGM Studios

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The delightful 'My Old Ass' seeks wisdom from hindsight

What would you do if you met your future self, who's a couple of decades older and maybe a little wiser? Would you freak out? In the delightful new movie My Old Ass, a teenager named Elliott (Maisy Stella) faces this very scenario. Her older self is played by Aubrey Plaza, and she's got some advice to impart. But her younger self may or may not take it.

The delightful 'My Old Ass' seeks wisdom from hindsight

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Wednesday

Shaboozey, seen here at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards on September 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York, has spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the pop chart with his first hit, the smash "A Bar Song (Tipsy)."

Shaboozey, seen here at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards on September 11, 2024 in Elmont, New York, has spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the pop chart with his first hit, the smash "A Bar Song (Tipsy)." Noam Galai/Getty Images hide caption

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Noam Galai/Getty Images

Music News

Shaboozey's hit 'A Bar Song (Tipsy)' is No. 1 again, and joins an elite club

A 10th week at the top of the Billboard pop chart is quite an accomplishment. Before the 2000s, that was the rarest of feats. In the days of streaming though, it's become more common.

Shaboozey's hit 'A Bar Song (Tipsy)' just logged its 10th week at No. 1

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The movies, TV and music we're excited about this fall

Colin Farrell in The Penguin. Macall Polay/HBO hide caption

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Macall Polay/HBO

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The movies, TV and music we're excited about this fall

Fall is beginning, and it's the perfect time to talk about all the great things we're excited to watch and listen to between now and the end of the year. Today, we're offering up a guide to spotlight some of the movies, TV, and music we are looking forward to this fall.

The movies, TV and music we're excited about this fall

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Tuesday

Arcade Fire's 'Funeral' at 20
Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Arcade Fire's 'Funeral' at 20

We look back at Arcade Fire's monumental debut album, why it was so special, the ways it changed the musical landscape, and how it sounds two decades later.

Arcade Fire's 'Funeral' at 20

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Wednesday

Sabrina Carpenter, who had multiple hits in contention for the song of the summer, performs at the 2024 Governors Ball held at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on June 8, 2024 in Queens, New York. (Photo by Nina Westervelt/Billboard via Getty Images)

Sabrina Carpenter, seen here performing at the 2024 Governors Ball held at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on June 8, 2024, in Queens, N.Y., had multiple hits in contention for the song of the summer — but neither "Espresso" nor "Please Please Please" was the season's champion. Nina Westervelt/Getty Images hide caption

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Nina Westervelt/Getty Images

Music

Summers may come and go, but the songs of the summer last forever

All summer, a wide range of hits were in the running for the biggest songs of the season — country singalongs, rap diss tracks, pop kiss-offs and rock epics. But two took the race down to the wire.

Summers may come and go, but the songs of the summer last forever

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Monday

Music

Sabrina Carpenter's album fended off a challenge from Travis Scott to debut at No. 1

After scoring two huge hits this summer with "Espresso" and "Please Please Please," Sabrina Carpenter's new album just debuted at number one -- against an interesting challenger.

Sabrina Carpenter's album fended off a challenge from Travis Scott to debut at No. 1

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Thursday

Music News

Sabrina Carpenter's album fends off a challenge from Travis Scott to debut at No. 1

After scoring two huge hits this summer with "Espresso" and "Please Please Please," Sabrina Carpenter's new album just debuted at number one -- against an interesting challenger.

Sabrina Carpenter's album fends off a challenge from Travis Scott to debut at No. 1

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Songs to boost your confidence

The Spice Girls attending the 1997 MTV Video Awards at the Radio City Music Hall. Brenda Chase/Getty Images hide caption

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Brenda Chase/Getty Images

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Songs to boost your confidence

Maybe you're going up for a promotion, or just got out of a bad relationship. Whatever it is, your mood needs a boost. Today, we're recommending three songs that make for great motivators and pick-me-ups when you need them most.

Songs to boost your confidence

Listen · 11:09
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Tuesday

You’d be forgiven for assuming that Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet would top the Billboard albums chart in its first week of eligibility.

You’d be forgiven for assuming that Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet would top the Billboard albums chart in its first week of eligibility. Nina Westervelt/Billboard via Getty Images/Billboard hide caption

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Nina Westervelt/Billboard via Getty Images/Billboard

Music

Sabrina Carpenter has the No. 1 album — and 3 of the week’s top 5 songs

Sabrina Carpenter was expected to have a massive week. Still, her journey to the top of the album charts was fraught right up to its final moments, as she fended off a furious challenge from rapper Travis Scott.

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