Music Reviews : NPR

Mitski's Fiction Is Your Truth On 'Be The Cowboy'

On Be the Cowboy, Mitski attempts to challenge the implicit pressure of her "sad girl" portrayal. Bao Ngo/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Bao Ngo/Courtesy of the artist

Mitski's Fiction Is Your Truth On 'Be The Cowboy'

August 17, 2018 • On her fifth album, Mitski isn't an inconsolable woman, leaking with grief; she's an object of her own artful construction — a woman in control.

Lucie Silvas' E.G.O. comes out Aug. 24. Sonya Jasinski /Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Sonya Jasinski /Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Lucie Silvas, 'E.G.O.'

August 16, 2018 • The British-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter depicts the collision of self-importance and insecurity from an earthier, more conversational angle.

E.G.O.

49:12

First Listen: Nothing, 'Dance On The Blacktop'

Nothing's Dance on the Blacktop comes out Aug. 24. Ryan Lowry/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Ryan Lowry/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Nothing, 'Dance On The Blacktop'

August 16, 2018 • Domenic Palermo channels a lifetime of tragedy into Nothing's blustery distortion, scorching riffs and stirring melodies.

Dance on the Black Top

43:28

First Listen: Dee White, 'Southern Gentleman'

Dee White's debut is called Southern Gentleman. Alysse Gafkjen /Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Alysse Gafkjen /Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Dee White, 'Southern Gentleman'

August 16, 2018 • On his debut, recorded with studio gurus Dan Auerbach and David Ferguson, Dee White does something very different with his vintage country tastes. Alison Krauss guests.

Southern Gentleman

17:29

First Listen: Candi Staton, 'Unstoppable'

Candi Staton's Unstoppable comes out Aug. 24. Drea Nicole Photography/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Drea Nicole Photography/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Candi Staton, 'Unstoppable'

August 16, 2018 • The Southern soul survivor has made an album about strength: a holistic shot in the arm to help you find the fortitude to fight.

Unstoppable

43:41

Two Decades Later, Death Cab For Cutie Wants To 'Thank You For Today'

Death Cab for Cutie Eliot Lee Hazel/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Eliot Lee Hazel/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

Two Decades Later, Death Cab For Cutie Wants To 'Thank You For Today'

August 13, 2018 • On the band's ninth album, Ben Gibbard addresses an array of life's aftermaths, set against propulsive arrangements that know just when to sparkle and sway.

New Music Highlights Show Nuances Of Identity

members of the band Novalima Vito Mirr/Courtesy of the Artist hide caption

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Vito Mirr/Courtesy of the Artist

Alt.Latino

New Music Highlights Show Nuances Of Identity

August 10, 2018 • Summer's almost over so we present new sounds and three premieres from upcoming albums.

New Music Highlights Show Nuances Of Identity

38:19

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Roy Montgomery's Ghostly Disappearing Act

Roy Montgomery's Suffuse is out Aug. 17. Maeve Montgomery-McCarthy/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Maeve Montgomery-McCarthy/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

Roy Montgomery's Ghostly Disappearing Act

August 9, 2018 • Roy Montgomery's ambient guitar symphonies foreground the voices of Circuit Des Yeux's Haley Fohr, Julianna Barwick, Grouper's Liz Harris and others.

As Youth Lagoon's Trevor Powers Goes Solo, 'Mulberry Violence' Expands

Trevor Powers' solo debut Mulberry Violence is out Aug. 17. Chris Shoonover/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Chris Shoonover/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

As Youth Lagoon's Trevor Powers Goes Solo, 'Mulberry Violence' Expands

August 9, 2018 • The solo debut from the Youth Lagoon frontman sounds like nothing Trevor Powers has made yet — gorgeous and ornate while bleakly unsettling.

Liz Cooper & The Stampede's 'Window Flowers' Channels Classic Sounds To Soar

Liz Cooper & The Stampede's new album, Window Flowers, comes out August 10. Lindsay Patkos/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Lindsay Patkos/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

Liz Cooper & The Stampede's 'Window Flowers' Channels Classic Sounds To Soar

XPN

August 2, 2018 • Liz Cooper & The Stampede's debut record features a gorgeously arranged bouquet of psychedelia-tinged folk-rock.

Jason Eady's 'I Travel On' Takes A Deep, Restorative Breath

Jason Eady's I Travel On comes out Aug. 10. Scott Morgan/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Scott Morgan/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

Jason Eady's 'I Travel On' Takes A Deep, Restorative Breath

August 2, 2018 • Now 13 years into his recording career, 43-year-old Eady is a grown-ass man assessing his world, not with angst or regret but with a palpable sense of satisfaction and self-worth.

The War And Treaty's 'Healing Tide' Bares A Powerful Testimony

The War and Treaty's new album, Healing Tide, is out Aug. 10. David McClister/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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David McClister/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

The War And Treaty's 'Healing Tide' Bares A Powerful Testimony

August 2, 2018 • The married duo Michael and Tanya Trotter convey an ecstatic, empowering sense of partnership that serves as the duo's creative engine and core message.

Dirty Projectors' New Album Is A Magic Pop Elixir To Forget Your Troubles

Dirty Projectors' Lamp Lit Prose is available now. Jason Frank Rothenberg/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jason Frank Rothenberg/Courtesy of the artist

Dirty Projectors' New Album Is A Magic Pop Elixir To Forget Your Troubles

July 31, 2018 • Taking notes from Kanye West and Solange Knowles, Dirty Projectors latest album Lamp Lit Prose is for the bounce back after a breakup.

Dirty Projectors' New Album Is A Magic Pop Elixir To Forget Your Troubles

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Christian Tetzlaff: Don't Mind Me, I'm Just The Violinist

Christian Tetzlaff's new album features the two Violin Concertos by Béla Bartók. Giorgia Bertazzi hide caption

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Giorgia Bertazzi

Deceptive Cadence

Christian Tetzlaff: Don't Mind Me, I'm Just The Violinist

July 26, 2018 • The humble German fiddler is in demand around the world. His formidable technique and self-effacing style allow the music to speak volumes.

Christian Tetzlaff: Don't Mind Me, I'm Just The Violinist

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