First Listen : NPR

First Listen: The New Pornographers, 'Together'

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Jason Creps

First Listen: The New Pornographers, 'Together'

April 25, 2010 • As much as they vary in tone, each song on Together still exudes a familiar sort of fizzy urgency, complete with hairpin turns, weird bits of wordplay, hooks piled atop hooks and layers of vocal harmonies that make each song sound as if it's shellacked in sunshine. Together will stream here in its entirety until its release on May 4.

First Listen: Kris Kristofferson, 'Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends'

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Colin McRae

First Listen: Kris Kristofferson, 'Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends'

April 25, 2010 • The album compiles the previously unreleased late-'60s and early-'70s demos Kristofferson recorded before anyone knew who he was. Its songs include early versions of "Me and Bobby McGee," "Come Sundown" and "Just the Other Side of Nowhere." The album will be heard here in its entirety until its release on May 4.

First Listen: Josh Ritter, 'So Runs The World Away'

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Sam Kassirer

First Listen: Josh Ritter, 'So Runs The World Away'

WXPN

April 25, 2010 • With each new album, the Oberlin-educated, Idaho-born singer-songwriter continues to develop his singular voice. So Runs the World Away, which can be heard here until its May 4 release date, defies categorization as much as it creates its own.

First Listen: The Fall, 'Your Future Our Clutter'

Your Future Our Clutter is Mark E. Smith's 28th studio album with The Fall. Jesse Jenkins hide caption

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Jesse Jenkins

First Listen: The Fall, 'Your Future Our Clutter'

April 25, 2010 • For the British post-punk band, repetition is an enduring philosophy. The Fall has been making jangly punk-rock music for more than three decades, and despite numerous lineup changes, its raucous signature sound has endured. Hear The Fall's 28th studio album, Your Future Our Clutter, in its entirety here until its May 4 release.

First Listen: LCD Soundsystem, 'This Is Happening'

This Is Happening fuses together buoyant dance music, lean synth pop, spiky punk and James Murphy's sly humor. Ruvan Wijesooriya hide caption

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Ruvan Wijesooriya

First Listen: LCD Soundsystem, 'This Is Happening'

April 23, 2010 • This Is Happening album fuses together buoyant dance music, lean synth-pop and spiky punk with sly humor and themes of aging and identity. It may also be the band's best.

First Listen: Broken Social Scene, 'Forgiveness Rock Record'

Broken Social Scene returns with a leaner core of musicians on its latest album, Forgiveness Rock Record. Dave Gillespie hide caption

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Dave Gillespie

First Listen: Broken Social Scene, 'Forgiveness Rock Record'

April 18, 2010 • With a rotating cast that regularly ballooned to 15 or more on stage, the Canadian collective operated like a rock 'n' roll boot camp. Years later, the band carries on with a leaner lineup.

First Listen: The Hold Steady, 'Heaven Is Whenever'

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Mark Seliger

First Listen: The Hold Steady, 'Heaven Is Whenever'

WFUV

April 18, 2010 • Following the departure of Hold Steady keyboardist Franz Nicolay, there was talk that the band might shake things up a bit. A bit, yes, but there's plenty for longtime fans to love on Heaven Is Whenever. Tremendous guitar riffs are still up front throughout these well-written, anthemic songs.

First Listen: Merle Haggard, 'I Am What I Am'

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courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Merle Haggard, 'I Am What I Am'

Folk Alley

April 12, 2010 • Back in January, Vanguard Records signed "the poet of the common man," country-music legend Merle Haggard, to its roster. His new album for the label, I Am What I Am, is his first recording since 2007, as well as an unapologetic declaration of self-awareness.

First Listen: Jeff Beck, 'Emotion And Commotion'

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Ross Halfin

First Listen: Jeff Beck, 'Emotion And Commotion'

April 4, 2010 • Jeff Beck's new album — available here in its entirety until its release on April 13 — is a collection of songs that suit his adventurous style, with some cushioned by a symphony orchestra and another featuring the young soul singer Joss Stone.

First Listen: The Nels Cline Singers, 'Initiate'

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Howard Linton

First Listen: The Nels Cline Singers, 'Initiate'

April 4, 2010 • Nels Cline plays guitar with Wilco, has created a modern version of John Coltrane's Interstellar Space, and has appeared on more than 150 records. His new album Initiate, is a two-disc collection with a distinctly mysterious beauty.

First Listen: David Byrne And Fatboy Slim, 'Here Lies Love'

On Here Lies Love, David Byrne teams up with Fatboy Slim to tell the story of Imelda Marcos. Clayton Cubitt hide caption

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Clayton Cubitt

First Listen: David Byrne And Fatboy Slim, 'Here Lies Love'

March 29, 2010 • Here Lies Love, a musical collaboration between David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, depicts the parallel stories of Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos and her servant, Estella Cumpas. The story is told in 22 songs with 22 singers, who include Sharon Jones, Tori Amos, St. Vincent and Steve Earle. Hear the album in its entirety until its release on April 6.

Lilja Birgisdóttir

First Listen: Jonsi, 'Go'

March 28, 2010 • Jonsi is the nickname of Jon Thor Birgisson, the enigmatic Sigur Ros singer. In Sigur Ros, his music is ethereal, sprawling and mysterious — it's even sung in a language of his own devising. But on the new Go, Jonsi writes songs that can be upbeat, even celebratory, and often sung in English. Hear Go in its entirety until its release on April 6.

First Listen: Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings

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Laura Hanifin

First Listen: Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings

March 28, 2010 • As a studio artist, Sharon Jones tends to let white-knuckle showmanship give way to slick, polished proficiency. Jones and her Dap-Kings spend their new album, I Learned the Hard Way, presiding over a string of confident and universally appealing soul ballads. Hear the record in its entirety here until its release on April 6.

First Listen: Dr. Dog, 'Shame, Shame'

WXPN

March 28, 2010 • The Philadelphia band Dr. Dog makes the sound of tomorrow's classic rock today. The group's latest album evokes the past while still sounding new, and features crafty guitar lines alongside Dr. Dog's signature piano sound. Hear Shame, Shame in its entirety a week prior to its release on April 6.

The Portland, Ore.-based band Black Prairie was founded by two members of The Decemberists. courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: Black Prairie

Folk Alley

March 28, 2010 • Listening to the Oregon band's debut is like walking onto the set of an HBO show about fear, longing, betrayal and loneliness. Black Prairie was founded by two members of The Decemberists, and its songs evoke images of barren Midwestern landscapes. Hear Feast of the Hunter's Moon in its entirety a week prior to its release on April 6.

First Listen

Sunday April 25, 2010

First Listen: The New Pornographers, 'Together'

First Listen: Kris Kristofferson, 'Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends'

First Listen: Josh Ritter, 'So Runs The World Away'

WXPN

First Listen: The Fall, 'Your Future Our Clutter'

Friday April 23, 2010

First Listen: LCD Soundsystem, 'This Is Happening'

Sunday April 18, 2010

First Listen: Broken Social Scene, 'Forgiveness Rock Record'

First Listen: The Hold Steady, 'Heaven Is Whenever'

WFUV

Monday April 12, 2010

First Listen: Merle Haggard, 'I Am What I Am'

Folk Alley

Sunday April 4, 2010

First Listen: Jeff Beck, 'Emotion And Commotion'

First Listen: The Nels Cline Singers, 'Initiate'

Monday March 29, 2010

First Listen: David Byrne And Fatboy Slim, 'Here Lies Love'

Sunday March 28, 2010

First Listen: Jonsi, 'Go'

First Listen: Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings

First Listen: Dr. Dog, 'Shame, Shame'

WXPN

First Listen: Black Prairie

Folk Alley