First Listen : NPR

Wild Flag comes out Sept. 13. John Clark hide caption

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John Clark

First Listen: Wild Flag

August 28, 2011 • The first album from the all-star group, comprising former members of Sleater-Kinney, Helium, and The Minders, is the work of four gifted musicians with a dire need to play.

First Listen: Sonny Rollins, 'Road Shows, Vol. 2'

Rollins (far right) on stage at his 80th-birthday concert in New York City. Also pictured (left to right): Ornette Coleman, Christian McBride, Roy Haynes. John Abbott hide caption

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John Abbott

First Listen: Sonny Rollins, 'Road Shows, Vol. 2'

August 28, 2011 • What's the 80-year-old saxophone colossus up to now? You'd surely find out at one of his live shows. In a special concert captured here, Rollins joins forces with other living legends, including his first-ever performance with Ornette Coleman.

First Listen: Blind Pilot, 'We Are The Tide'

Blind Pilot's new album, We Are the Tide, comes out Sept. 13. Ben Moon hide caption

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Ben Moon

First Listen: Blind Pilot, 'We Are The Tide'

August 28, 2011 • Blind Pilot's hooky, low-key pop isn't the stuff of groundbreaking, boundary-pressing experimentation, but the craftsmanship and consistency at its core should never be minimized, either.

First Listen: Balam Acab, 'Wander / Wonder'

Wander / Wonder, the new album from Balam Acab, comes out August 30. Erez Avissar hide caption

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Erez Avissar

First Listen: Balam Acab, 'Wander / Wonder'

August 28, 2011 • On his first full-length album, the 20-year-old wunderkind producer crafts a sound that's dark, expansive and dripping-wet.

Tinariwen's new album, Tassili, comes out August 30. Marie Planielle hide caption

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Marie Planielle

First Listen: Tinariwen, 'Tassili'

August 21, 2011 • The latest album from the Malian blues-rock ensemble features guest spots from members of Wilco and TV on the Radio. Hear Tassili in its entirety.

First Listen: Pedro Soler And Gaspar Claus, 'Barlande'

Barlande, the new album by father and son Pedro Soler and Gaspar Claus, comes out August 30. Marion Lefebvre/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Marion Lefebvre/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Pedro Soler And Gaspar Claus, 'Barlande'

August 21, 2011 • Pairing an ancient way of playing flamenco guitar with a futuristic approach to cello, a father and son's rich collaboration spans cultures as much as it does generations. Hear it in its entirety.

Andrea Echeverri's new album, Dos, comes out August 30. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Andrea Echeverri, 'Dos'

August 21, 2011 • Echeverri is best known as the no-nonsense frontwoman of the Colombian rock band Aterciopelados. Hear her new solo album, which explores softer themes of love and motherhood, in its entirety.

First Listen: Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks

Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks collaborate with Beck on the new Mirror Traffic. Leah Nash hide caption

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Leah Nash

First Listen: Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks

August 14, 2011 • The former frontman for Pavement returns with his oblique stream-of consciousness lyrics, sardonic wit and off-kilter riffs on the Beck-produced Mirror Traffic.

Courtesy of Disney

First Listen: 'Muppets: The Green Album'

August 14, 2011 • A new tribute to the music of the Muppets features contributions from Andrew Bird, My Morning Jacket, Weezer and more. Hear the entire album a week before its official release.

Chelsea Wolfe's lush, electric, doom-laden dirges find something dark and sinister in Apokalypsis. Charlene Bagcal/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Charlene Bagcal/Courtesy of the artist

Review

Review: Chelsea Wolfe, 'Apokalypsis'

August 14, 2011 • Wolfe's lush, electric, doom-laden dirges find something dark and sinister in reverb.

Beirut's new album, The Rip Tide, comes out August 30. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Beirut, 'The Rip Tide'

WXPN

August 7, 2011 • Zach Condon's ongoing love affair with baroque instrumentation and global influences reaches a new level of focus and restraint on Beirut's latest.

First Listen: Ollabelle, 'Neon Blue Bird'

Ollabelle's new album, Neon Blue Bird, comes out August 16. Ahron R.Foster/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Ahron R.Foster/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Ollabelle, 'Neon Blue Bird'

Folk Alley

August 7, 2011 • Three albums in, the quintet is flirting with contemporary sounds, but its gospel roots stay strong. Hear Ollabelle's latest, Neon Blue Bird, in its entirety.

First Listen: Janacek, The Cunning Little Vixen

'The Cunning Little Vixen' at Avery Fisher Hall, June 21, 2011. Chris Lee/New York Philharmonic hide caption

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Chris Lee/New York Philharmonic

First Listen: Janacek, The Cunning Little Vixen

August 7, 2011 • Still rarely performed, a very adult opera is swaddled in a charming fairy tale setting.

The members of YOB often build on slow, powerful riffs that go fathoms deep, repeating them like metallic mantras. Jonathan McPhail/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Jonathan McPhail/Courtesy of the artist

Review

Review: YOB, 'Atma'

August 7, 2011 • The members of YOB often build on slow, powerful riffs that go fathoms deep, repeating them like metallic mantras.

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

Sunday August 28, 2011

First Listen: Wild Flag

First Listen: Sonny Rollins, 'Road Shows, Vol. 2'

First Listen: Blind Pilot, 'We Are The Tide'

First Listen: Balam Acab, 'Wander / Wonder'

Sunday August 21, 2011

First Listen: Tinariwen, 'Tassili'

First Listen: Pedro Soler And Gaspar Claus, 'Barlande'

First Listen: Andrea Echeverri, 'Dos'

Sunday August 14, 2011

First Listen: Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks

First Listen: 'Muppets: The Green Album'

Review

Review: Chelsea Wolfe, 'Apokalypsis'

Sunday August 7, 2011

First Listen: Beirut, 'The Rip Tide'

WXPN

First Listen: Ollabelle, 'Neon Blue Bird'

Folk Alley

First Listen: Janacek, The Cunning Little Vixen

Review

Review: YOB, 'Atma'

Sunday July 31, 2011

First Listen: The Horrors, 'Skying'

KCRW