First Listen : NPR

The Horrors' new album, Skying, comes out August 9. Neil Krug hide caption

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Neil Krug

First Listen: The Horrors, 'Skying'

KCRW

July 31, 2011 • Known for a dark sound rooted in Gothic rock and post-punk, the British band lets a little sunshine in on its third album.

First Listen: Richard Buckner, 'Our Blood'

Richard Buckner's new album, Our Blood, comes out August 2. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: Richard Buckner, 'Our Blood'

July 24, 2011 • The nine songs on Our Blood provide an excellent crash course in Buckner's unlikely combination of gifts, most notably his ability to sound bone-tired and weather-beaten at the same time his songs shimmer agreeably.

First Listen: The Calm Blue Sea, 'The Calm Blue Sea'

The Calm Blue Sea's self-titled album comes out August 2. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: The Calm Blue Sea, 'The Calm Blue Sea'

July 24, 2011 • On the mostly instrumental band's self-titled album, stormy intensity is cut with graceful beauty.

First Listen: Flourishing, 'The Sum Of All Fossils'

Flourishing embraces an undefinable era of music while acknowledging the rich history of extreme sound. Randy Levin hide caption

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Randy Levin

First Listen: Flourishing, 'The Sum Of All Fossils'

July 24, 2011 • The New York City metal trio embraces an undefinable era of music while acknowledging the rich history of extreme sound.

First Listen: Little Dragon, 'Ritual Union'

Little Dragon's new album, Ritual Union, comes out July 26. Courtesy of the artist. hide caption

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First Listen: Little Dragon, 'Ritual Union'

KCRW

July 17, 2011 • On its third album, the Swedish band sharpens its sound without losing the dreamy pop sensibility that makes its songs so addictive. Hear Ritual Union in its entirety.

First Listen: Release The Sunbird, 'Come Back To Us'

Come Back to Us, the first album by Zach Rogue's new band Release the Sunbird, comes out July 26. Andrew Paynter/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Andrew Paynter/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Release The Sunbird, 'Come Back To Us'

July 17, 2011 • There's not a harsh note in the music of Release the Sunbird, an appropriately named side project led by Rogue Wave singer-songwriter Zach Rogue. For all its summery brightness, its music remains as sweet as springtime, while still revealing subtle shades of autumnal melancholy.

First Listen: Pokey LaFarge, 'Middle Of Everywhere'

Middle of Everywhere, Pokey LaFarge's latest album with his band The South City Three, comes out July 19. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: Pokey LaFarge, 'Middle Of Everywhere'

July 10, 2011 • On his new album, LaFarge tears through the sounds of the past with manically skittish energy. Middle of Everywhere sizzles and crackles along with speed, verve and style — as archaic as a megaphone crooner, but timeless like great bluegrass.

Amy LaVere's new album Stranger Me comes out July 19. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: Amy LaVere, 'Stranger Me'

WKNO

July 10, 2011 • The third album from the Memphis singer, songwriter and bass player finds her struggling with loss and emerging more confident.

First Listen: Disma, 'Towards The Megalith'

Disma's new album, Towards the Megalith, comes out July 19. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: Disma, 'Towards The Megalith'

July 10, 2011 • Dredged from the sewers of New Jersey, Disma's death metal is all-encompassing evil.

First Listen: Eleanor Friedberger, 'Last Summer'

Eleanor Friedberger's solo debut, Last Summer, comes out July 12. Michael Rubenstein/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Michael Rubenstein/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Eleanor Friedberger, 'Last Summer'

KUT News

July 3, 2011 • The solo debut from the Fiery Furnaces singer is full of sepia-toned summertime pop. Hear it in its entirety until its release.

First Listen: Ashton Shepherd, 'Where Country Grows'

Ashton Shepherd's album Where Country Grows comes out July 12. Courtesy of the artist. hide caption

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First Listen: Ashton Shepherd, 'Where Country Grows'

July 3, 2011 • On her unforgettable second album, the country singer refreshes listeners' sense of what's real.

First Listen: Pistolera, 'El Desierto Y La Ciudad'

Pistolera's third album, El Desierto y La Ciudad, comes out July 12. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: Pistolera, 'El Desierto Y La Ciudad'

July 3, 2011 • On its new album, the Brooklyn band works modern elements into its traditional Mexican rancheras, polkas and corridos. Hear El Desierto y la Ciudad in its entirety.

First Listen: Gillian Welch, 'The Harrow And The Harvest'

The Harrow and the Harvest, out June 28, is the first new album from Gillian Welch and David Rawlings since 2003. Mark Seliger/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Mark Seliger/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Gillian Welch, 'The Harrow And The Harvest'

Folk Alley

June 26, 2011 • After a long period of intense creative frustration, Welch and creative partner David Rawlings return with their first album in Welch's name since 2003. Hear The Harrow and the Harvest in its entirety.

First Listen: Washed Out, 'Within And Without'

Within and Without, Ernest Greene's first full-length album as Washed Out, comes out July 12. Will Govus/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Will Govus/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Washed Out, 'Within And Without'

June 26, 2011 • Ernest Greene sounds ready for the stage on his first full-length album as Washed Out, which features live instruments and arrangements clearly designed for big venues. Hear Within and Without in full.

First Listen: Samiyam, 'Sam Baker's Album'

Sam Baker's Album, the second full-length record from enigmatic beatmaker Samiyam, comes out July 5. Theo Jemison hide caption

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Theo Jemison

First Listen: Samiyam, 'Sam Baker's Album'

June 26, 2011 • The second full-length record from the Los Angeles beatmaker, Sam Baker's Album is swamped with grated synths and filthy basslines. Stream it here in its entirety.

First Listen

Sunday July 31, 2011

First Listen: The Horrors, 'Skying'

KCRW

Sunday July 24, 2011

First Listen: Richard Buckner, 'Our Blood'

First Listen: The Calm Blue Sea, 'The Calm Blue Sea'

First Listen: Flourishing, 'The Sum Of All Fossils'

Sunday July 17, 2011

First Listen: Little Dragon, 'Ritual Union'

KCRW

First Listen: Release The Sunbird, 'Come Back To Us'

Sunday July 10, 2011

First Listen: Pokey LaFarge, 'Middle Of Everywhere'

First Listen: Amy LaVere, 'Stranger Me'

WKNO

First Listen: Disma, 'Towards The Megalith'

Sunday July 3, 2011

First Listen: Eleanor Friedberger, 'Last Summer'

KUT News

First Listen: Ashton Shepherd, 'Where Country Grows'

First Listen: Pistolera, 'El Desierto Y La Ciudad'

Sunday June 26, 2011

First Listen: Gillian Welch, 'The Harrow And The Harvest'

Folk Alley

First Listen: Washed Out, 'Within And Without'

First Listen: Samiyam, 'Sam Baker's Album'