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First Listen Enjoy select, upcoming albums, in their entirety.
First Listen

First Listen

Hear upcoming albums in their entirety

Sunday

First Listen: Andrew Bird, 'Break It Yourself'

Andrew Bird's new album, Break It Yourself, comes out March 6. Cameron Wittig/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Cameron Wittig/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Andrew Bird, 'Break It Yourself'

Coming from an artist who's become a model of sunny consistency over the course of a dozen albums, Break It Yourself is a quiet, careful grower. Give it time, though, and it blooms into something beautiful.

Listen To 'Break It Yourself' In Its Entirety

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First Listen: The Magnetic Fields, 'Love At The Bottom Of The Sea'

The Magnetic Fields' new album, Love at the Bottom of the Sea, comes out March 6. Marcelo Krasilcic/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Marcelo Krasilcic/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: The Magnetic Fields, 'Love At The Bottom Of The Sea'

If a prevailing concept runs through Love at the Bottom of the Sea, it's the rejection of grandiosity or self-importance. These 15 songs are slight by design, but there's a world of wit in their brevity.

Hear 'Love At The Bottom Of The Sea' In Its Entirety

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Sunday

First Listen: Y La Bamba, 'Court The Storm'

Y La Bamba's new album, Court the Storm, comes out Feb. 28. Sarah Law/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Sarah Law/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Y La Bamba, 'Court The Storm'

Luz Elena Mendoza and her band combine indie-folk and traditional Mexican music on their new album.

Hear 'Court The Storm' In Its Entirety

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First Listen: Fanfarlo, 'Rooms Filled With Light'

Fanfarlo's new album, Rooms Filled With Light, comes out Feb. 28. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Fanfarlo, 'Rooms Filled With Light'

A fundamentally approachable band, Fanfarlo fills its new album with hug-and-a-handshake music.

Hear 'Rooms Filled With Light' In Its Entirety

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First Listen: Robert Glasper Experiment, 'Black Radio'

Robert Glasper Experiment's new album, Black Radio, comes out Feb. 28. Mike Schreiber/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Mike Schreiber/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Robert Glasper Experiment, 'Black Radio'

Black Radio is an album-length statement about the durability of substantive music, and about the possibility of black-origin popular music. It's the product of a band with a jazz pedigree, a Rolodex of R&B and rap stars, and all ears to the street.

Sunday

First Listen: Sinead O'Connor, 'How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?'

Sinead O'Connor's new album, How About I Be Me (And You Be You)? comes out March 5. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Sinead O'Connor, 'How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?'

A disordered personal life, vociferous views on politics and religion and eyebrow-raising genre experiments have turned O'Connor into a side note for many pop fans. But with the release of her 9th album, it's time for everyone to remember how compelling she can be.

First Listen: Grimes, 'Visions'

Grimes' new album, Visions, comes out Feb. 21 in North America. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Grimes, 'Visions'

Visions reveals Grimes (a.k.a. Claire Boucher) to be a promising young artist and producer with a clear vision. Her work from here on out will be worth close attention.

Hear 'Visions' In Its Entirety

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First Listen: Lambchop, 'Mr. M'

Lambchop's new album, Mr. M, comes out Feb. 21. Bill Steber/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Bill Steber/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Lambchop, 'Mr. M'

Mr. M is the sound of a downcast dreamer who, 11 albums and nearly 20 years into his career with Lambchop, is just beginning to find what he's wanted all along.

Listen To 'Mr. M' In Its Entirety

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First Listen: Pallbearer, 'Sorrow And Extinction'

Pallbearer demonstrates just how majestic pain can be on its debut album, Sorrow and Extinction, out Feb. 21. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Pallbearer, 'Sorrow And Extinction'

The Little Rock doom-metal band demonstrates just how majestic pain can sound on its debut album.

Listen To 'Sorrow And Extinction' In Its Entirety

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Sunday

First Listen: Shearwater, 'Animal Joy'

Shearwater's new album, Animal Joy, comes out Feb. 14. Amy V. Cooper/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Amy V. Cooper/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Shearwater, 'Animal Joy'

Shearwater's songs about man's relationship with nature boom and swoop with epic grace and grandeur. The new Animal Joy pairs singer Jonathan Meiburg's brainy proclamations with brawny, searching arrangements.

Listen To 'Animal Joy' In Its Entirety

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First Listen: Brooklyn Rider, 'Seven Steps'

Brooklyn Rider's new album, Seven Steps, comes out Feb. 21. Sarah Small/Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Sarah Small/Courtesy of the artists

First Listen: Brooklyn Rider, 'Seven Steps'

Hear the immensely talented string quartet plumb new depths and play Beethoven, a new piece by Christopher Tignor and a new piece they collaboratively composed.

Hear 'Seven Steps' In Its Entirety

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