First Listen : NPR

First Listen: Garotas Suecas, 'Escaldante Banda'

Garotas Suecas. courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Garotas Suecas, 'Escaldante Banda'

August 30, 2010 • Don't call it a throwback: Although its members dance with the ghosts of past funk bands, the Brazilian group is doing its own thing. Garotas Suecas' first full-length album is nothing short of brilliant -- and insanely funky.

First Listen: 'Cantique,' With The Music Of Arvo Part

Estonian composer Arvo Pärt in a recording session. Peter Adamik hide caption

toggle caption

Peter Adamik

First Listen: 'Cantique,' With The Music Of Arvo Part

WQXR

August 30, 2010 • The Estonian composer's evocative music has opened a window into a world of spiritual ideals and aspirations, and attracted many fans along the way. Hear Cantique, the new CD of Pärt's music, in its entirety.

First Listen: The Thermals, 'Personal Life'

The Thermals. Alicia J. Rose hide caption

toggle caption

Alicia J. Rose

First Listen: The Thermals, 'Personal Life'

August 29, 2010 • Personal Life, as the title suggests, finds The Thermals focusing mostly on the matter of relationships. The result is another gloriously glass-half-empty half-hour of fist-pumping anthems about the weaknesses that divide us. Hear the album in its entirety until its release on Sept. 7.

First Listen: Justin Townes Earle, 'Harlem River Blues'

Justin Townes Earle. Joshua Black Wilkins hide caption

toggle caption

Joshua Black Wilkins

First Listen: Justin Townes Earle, 'Harlem River Blues'

Folk Alley

August 29, 2010 • For a guy who grew up in a sort of musical royal family, it's surprising that Earle has only been making music publicly for a little more than two years. On Sept. 14, he'll release his third recording, Harlem River Blues. Until then, hear it here in its entirety.

First Listen: Danilo Pérez, 'Providencia'

Danilo Pérez. Raj Naik hide caption

toggle caption

Raj Naik

First Listen: Danilo Pérez, 'Providencia'

WBGO

August 22, 2010 • He's known as "the galactic ambassador." For one, he's an official cultural emissary for his native Panama; for another, he's an incredible pianist and composer whose all-inclusive Latin jazz bridges vast cultural gulfs. Pérez's new Providencia draws from many disparate styles of improvisation. Hear it in full here until August 31.

Philip Selway, also known as the drummer for Radiohead. Kevin Westenberg hide caption

toggle caption

Kevin Westenberg

First Listen: Philip Selway, 'Familial'

August 22, 2010 • The drummer is usually the last one fans look to for a solo record. But when you hear the beautifully produced pieces Radiohead drummer Philip Selway came up with for his new album Familial, it's easy to see him not as a percussionist, but as a fully formed singer-songwriter.

First Listen: Jenny And Johnny, 'I'm Having Fun Now'

Johnathan Rice and Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis have joined forces to create Jenny and Johnny. Autumn De Wilde hide caption

toggle caption

Autumn De Wilde

First Listen: Jenny And Johnny, 'I'm Having Fun Now'

August 22, 2010 • On their new collaborative project, Johnathan Rice and Rilo Kiley's Jenny Lewis sing with the confidence of a more seasoned songwriting team, trading verses and sharing sweet two-part harmonies in 11 new pop songs. I'm Having Fun Now isn't all joyful, but even the darker lyrics are overshadowed by liveliness. Hear the album in its entirety here until its August 31 release.

First Listen: James Blackshaw, 'All Is Falling'

Don't let the photo fool you: Acoustic-guitar wunderkind James Blackshaw goes all electric for All Is Falling. Fouad Bechwati hide caption

toggle caption

Fouad Bechwati

First Listen: James Blackshaw, 'All Is Falling'

August 20, 2010 • Blackshaw is an exhilarating and thoughtful guitarist with an ever-expanding ear. Though he often deals in labyrinthine patterns and hypnotic repetition, his new album feels more like a collection of individual songs meant to be heard in succession. Hear All Is Falling in its entirety now.

Ra Ra Riot. courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Ra Ra Riot, 'The Orchard'

August 15, 2010 • The Orchard's 10 songs positively burst with sophistication, precision and polish. They add up to a record that feels both big and personal -- just the right recipe for a band looking to jump to arenas in the months and years to come. Hear the album in its entirety until its release on Aug. 24.

First Listen: The Marsalis Family, 'Music Redeems'

The Marsalis Family. Margot I. Schulman hide caption

toggle caption

Margot I. Schulman

First Listen: The Marsalis Family, 'Music Redeems'

August 15, 2010 • In 2009, Wynton, Branford, Jason and Delfeayo made a rare joint appearance to honor their father, the great pianist and educator Ellis Marsalis. Now, the first family of jazz is releasing that recording and sending all proceeds to the New Orleans Musicians' Village. Hear Music Redeems in its entirety here until Aug. 24.

S. Carey, a.k.a. Sean Carey of Bon Iver. Cameron Wittig hide caption

toggle caption

Cameron Wittig

First Listen: S. Carey, 'All We Grow'

August 15, 2010 • When drummers strike out on their own, they often end up producing beat-heavy records where their own percussion work, for better or worse, remains the centerpiece of each track. In the case of Bon Iver drummer Sean Carey, the focus is on melody and voice, with carefully crafted piano lines, sweet harmonies and lots of moody ambience. Hear his solo debut in its entirety until Aug. 24.

First Listen: Ray LaMontagne, 'God Willin' And The Creek Don't Rise'

Ray LaMontagne (second from left) and The Pariah Dogs. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Ray LaMontagne, 'God Willin' And The Creek Don't Rise'

August 8, 2010 • As the title suggests, the singer-songwriter's fourth studio album is a country-tinged record complete with slide guitar and the occasional banjo. LaMontagne isn't necessarily covering new territory, but his music is no less satisfying. Hear God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise in its entirety here.

First Listen: Esperanza Spalding, 'Chamber Music Society'

Esperanza Spalding. courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption

courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Esperanza Spalding, 'Chamber Music Society'

August 8, 2010 • As with all of the jazz bassist and singer's work, there's an ineffable brightness to it: an optimistic attitude, perhaps, or a cheery sensibility. But with a three-piece string section, Spalding's music also takes on a certain sophistication and intimacy. Hear her new album.

courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Bun B, 'Trill O.G.'

August 2, 2010 • The Houston rapper's new album shows him rebounding from the death of his longtime collaborator, Pimp C, and embracing his role as a solo artist. Though Bun B now walks it alone, he laces the record with guest verses, including from-beyond-the-grave appearances by Pimp C and Tupac Shakur.

First Listen: Guillermo Klein, 'Domador De Huellas'

Guillermo Klein. Kimberly Bacon hide caption

toggle caption

Kimberly Bacon

First Listen: Guillermo Klein, 'Domador De Huellas'

August 1, 2010 • The Argentine composer and pianist's new record follows in, then reorients, the footprints of Gustavo "Cuchi" Leguizamón, a fellow idiosyncratic folk-music stylist. As with all of Klein's music, there's engaging, creative jazz in it -- somewhere. Hear Domador de Huellas in its entirety until its release on Aug. 10.

First Listen

Monday August 30, 2010

First Listen: Garotas Suecas, 'Escaldante Banda'

First Listen: 'Cantique,' With The Music Of Arvo Part

WQXR

Sunday August 29, 2010

First Listen: The Thermals, 'Personal Life'

First Listen: Justin Townes Earle, 'Harlem River Blues'

Folk Alley

Sunday August 22, 2010

First Listen: Danilo Pérez, 'Providencia'

WBGO

First Listen: Philip Selway, 'Familial'

First Listen: Jenny And Johnny, 'I'm Having Fun Now'

Friday August 20, 2010

First Listen: James Blackshaw, 'All Is Falling'

Sunday August 15, 2010

First Listen: Ra Ra Riot, 'The Orchard'

First Listen: The Marsalis Family, 'Music Redeems'

First Listen: S. Carey, 'All We Grow'

Sunday August 8, 2010

First Listen: Ray LaMontagne, 'God Willin' And The Creek Don't Rise'

First Listen: Esperanza Spalding, 'Chamber Music Society'

Monday August 2, 2010

First Listen: Bun B, 'Trill O.G.'

Sunday August 1, 2010

First Listen: Guillermo Klein, 'Domador De Huellas'