First Listen : NPR

Ryan Adams' self-titled 14th album comes out Sept. 9. Julia Brokaw/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Julia Brokaw/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Ryan Adams, 'Ryan Adams'

August 31, 2014 • After a three-year hiatus, the singer's 14th album is the sound of a once-prolific genius who's only recently relearned what it's like to walk on steady footing.

Ryan Adams

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.

Death Blues' new album, Ensemble, comes out Sept. 9. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Review: Death Blues, 'Ensemble'

August 31, 2014 • Jon Mueller is thinking about death. It sounds like a hammer hitting an acoustic guitar. William Ryan Fritch joins the Volcano Choir drummer for a blown-out, hyper-real orchestra of the self.

First Listen: Justin Townes Earle, 'Single Mothers'

Justin Townes Earle's new album, Single Mothers, comes out Sept. 9. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: Justin Townes Earle, 'Single Mothers'

August 31, 2014 • Earle's latest songs have a new angle on the mercurial nature of infatuation; he's acknowledging how taxing it can be to live through youthful cycles of passion that flare up and flame out so quickly.

Single Mothers

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.

Tricky's new album, Adrian Thaws, comes out Sept. 9. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: Tricky, 'Adrian Thaws'

August 31, 2014 • On his 11th album, the Massive Attack star still showcases a brooding, searching spirit and a cinematic sense of atmosphere. But he also plays around with new facets of his persona.

Adrian Thaws

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.

Sean Rowe's new album, Madman, comes out Sept. 9. Anthony Saint James/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Anthony Saint James/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Sean Rowe, 'Madman'

August 31, 2014 • Madman shows Rowe mixing his folk and junk-shop rock styles together with new elements: soul, blues, gospel, R&B. The upshot, surprisingly, is his most coherent record yet.

First Listen: Sean Rowe, 'Madman'

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.

Interpol's new album, El Pintor, comes out on Sept. 9. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: Interpol, 'El Pintor'

August 26, 2014 • The New York post-punk band has aged into its polished sound nicely, maintaining its influences (Joy Division, Echo and the Bunnymen, et al) while sounding more distinct from them than ever.

First Listen: Interpol, 'El Pintor'

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.

Zammuto's new album, Anchor, comes out Sept. 2. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: Zammuto, 'Anchor'

August 24, 2014 • Nick Zammuto, formerly of the art-music duo The Books, takes a crafty, hands-on, spirit-forged approach to sound. The newer band that bears his name never bothers to stay in place for long.

First Listen: Zammuto, 'Anchor'

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.

First Listen: Blonde Redhead, 'Barragán'

Blonde Redhead's new album, Barragán, comes out Sept. 2. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: Blonde Redhead, 'Barragán'

August 24, 2014 • The last decade has seen a marked softening in Blonde Redhead's sound, to the point where the quietest moments on Barragán don't sound like songs so much as vapors infused with tunes.

Barragán

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.

Sinkane's new album, Mean Love, comes out Sept. 2. Martine Carlson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Martine Carlson/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Sinkane, 'Mean Love'

August 24, 2014 • Over memorable hooks and wickedly inventive grooves, Ahmed Gallab sings in an earnest, persuasive voice. Sinkane's music conjures East and West African music, James Brown, free jazz and shoegaze.

First Listen: Sinkane, 'Mean Love'

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.

First Listen: The Gotobeds, 'Poor People Are Revolting'

The Gotobeds' new album, Poor People Are Revolting, comes out Sept. 2. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: The Gotobeds, 'Poor People Are Revolting'

August 24, 2014 • This rowdy, ramshackle party house of a band is built on the intersecting bedrock of post-punk and indie rock. On Poor People Are Revolting, there's something crazy going on in every room.

Poor People Are Revolting

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.

First Listen: Merchandise, 'After The End'

Merchandise's new album, After The End, comes out Aug. 26. Timothy Saccenti/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Timothy Saccenti/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Merchandise, 'After The End'

August 17, 2014 • A DIY spirit pervades Merchandise's dark, well-crafted songs, even if they sound more at home in the gloomy climes of Manchester than in sunny Tampa, where the band is based.

After The End

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.

First Listen: Shovels & Rope, 'Swimmin' Time'

Shovels & Rope's new album, Swimmin' Time, comes out Aug. 26. Leslie Ryan McKellar/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Leslie Ryan McKellar/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Shovels & Rope, 'Swimmin' Time'

August 17, 2014 • It's easy to feel the romance in the musical relationship between Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, who've become musical embodiments of how loving couples make it work.

Swimmin’ Time

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.

First Listen: J Mascis, 'Tied To A Star'

J Mascis' new album, Tied to a Star, comes out Aug. 26. Justin Lapriore/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Justin Lapriore/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: J Mascis, 'Tied To A Star'

August 17, 2014 • Though not entirely unplugged, Tied to a Star showcases the soft intricacy of a veteran craftsman who knows when to hang back and decide to pulverize another day.

Tied To A Star

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.

Ty Segall's new album, Manipulator, comes out Aug. 26. Denee Petracek/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Denee Petracek/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen: Ty Segall, 'Manipulator'

August 17, 2014 • It's a shame that the rock record of the summer had to surface at the end of the season. Segall's lush, panoramic double-album piles on glam-rock excess without ever feeling excessive.

Manipulator

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.

First Listen: The Bug, 'Angels & Devils'

The Bug's new album, Angels & Devils, comes out Aug. 26. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen: The Bug, 'Angels & Devils'

August 17, 2014 • In its outermost extremes, this excoriating, enervating music offers the promise of a cleansing, like greasy hands scoured with gritty soap. But it's got sensitivity and a sense of craft, too.

Angels & Devils

Audio for First Listens is no longer available after the album is released.

First Listen

Sunday August 31, 2014

First Listen: Ryan Adams, 'Ryan Adams'

Ryan Adams

Review: Death Blues, 'Ensemble'

First Listen: Justin Townes Earle, 'Single Mothers'

Single Mothers

First Listen: Tricky, 'Adrian Thaws'

Adrian Thaws

First Listen: Sean Rowe, 'Madman'

First Listen: Sean Rowe, 'Madman'

Tuesday August 26, 2014

First Listen: Interpol, 'El Pintor'

First Listen: Interpol, 'El Pintor'

Sunday August 24, 2014

First Listen: Zammuto, 'Anchor'

First Listen: Zammuto, 'Anchor'

First Listen: Blonde Redhead, 'Barragán'

Barragán

First Listen: Sinkane, 'Mean Love'

First Listen: Sinkane, 'Mean Love'

First Listen: The Gotobeds, 'Poor People Are Revolting'

Poor People Are Revolting

Sunday August 17, 2014

First Listen: Merchandise, 'After The End'

After The End

First Listen: Shovels & Rope, 'Swimmin' Time'

Swimmin’ Time

First Listen: J Mascis, 'Tied To A Star'

Tied To A Star

First Listen: Ty Segall, 'Manipulator'

Manipulator

First Listen: The Bug, 'Angels & Devils'

Angels & Devils