First Listen : NPR

Midland, Connoisseurs Of Country Craft, Evolves Its Vintage Sound

Cameron Duddy (center) says that Midland's new album combines "the powers of the three voices coming together." Harper Smith/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Harper Smith/Courtesy of the artist

Midland, Connoisseurs Of Country Craft, Evolves Its Vintage Sound

August 20, 2019 • Now that the '90s country revival has gone mainstream, Midland's Let It Roll showcases the subtle arts that distinguish the band.

Baby Rose Guides Us Through The Emotional Sludge Of Love

Baby Rose started winning talent shows at 14, but lost a college scholarship and a spot on The Voice before finding her way back to music. Donte Maurice/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Donte Maurice/Courtesy of the artist

Baby Rose Guides Us Through The Emotional Sludge Of Love

August 19, 2019 • Baby Rose's smokey voice evokes a wisdom beyond her years. That's part of what sets the rising singer's debut album, To Myself, apart from the current R&B scene.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's Voice Offers A Sonic Refuge

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and his Party, performing live at the WOMAD festival in 1985. Andrew Catlin/Courtesy of Real World Records hide caption

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Andrew Catlin/Courtesy of Real World Records

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's Voice Offers A Sonic Refuge

July 18, 2019 • Right before he recorded a string of beloved albums for Peter Gabriel's label, the Pakistani vocal master of qawwali gave a milestone performance in 1985. It's now available for the first time.

Brian Eno's 'Apollo' Makes The Music Of Our Spheres

The Apollo 11 mission celebrates 50 years this month. Brian Eno's score for 1983's For All Mankind documentary — released as Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks — has been reissued with brand new music. NASA/Corbis via Getty Images hide caption

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NASA/Corbis via Getty Images

Brian Eno's 'Apollo' Makes The Music Of Our Spheres

July 11, 2019 • We asked an astronomer to listen to Brian Eno's reissued Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks, which features brand new music, to answer the question: "What do we think space should sound like?"

On 'Gold & Grey,' Baroness Becomes A Universe Unto Itself

Baroness' Gold & Grey comes out June 14. Courtesy of Abraxan Hymns hide caption

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Courtesy of Abraxan Hymns

Review

On 'Gold & Grey,' Baroness Becomes A Universe Unto Itself

June 10, 2019 • The hard rock outfit, after years of lineup changes, delivers an expansive, eclectic album to remind us of how limitless electric guitar music can be.

Kate Tempest's 'The Book Of Traps And Lessons' Is A Blissful Antidote To Now

Kate Tempest's The Book of Traps and Lessons comes out June 14. Julian Broad/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Julian Broad/Courtesy of the artist

Review

Kate Tempest's 'The Book Of Traps And Lessons' Is A Blissful Antidote To Now

June 6, 2019 • The London rapper, poet and spoken word artist rips your heart out, offers an assessment, and then returns it with the tools to determine what needs to be done with it.

Calexico And Iron & Wine Return, With 'Years To Burn'

Iron & Wine's Sam Beam teams up with Calexico for Years to Burn, their first album-length collaboration since 2005. Piper Ferguson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Piper Ferguson/Courtesy of the artist

Review

Calexico And Iron & Wine Return, With 'Years To Burn'

June 6, 2019 • Sam Beam and Calexico's first album-length collaboration since 2005 feels most of all like the work of a complete, cohesive band — a group of old friends who've gathered to sing in a single voice.

John Luther Adams' 'Become Desert' Shimmers In Majestic Stillness

One of the many landscapes that inspired John Luther Adams' Become Desert. Courtesy of John Luther Adams hide caption

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Courtesy of John Luther Adams

Review

John Luther Adams' 'Become Desert' Shimmers In Majestic Stillness

June 6, 2019 • The composer's musical evocation of the desert is an expansive journey in symphonic stillness, and a sequel to his Pulitzer-winning Become Ocean.

Bill Callahan's 'Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest' Meditates On Home And Love

Bill Callahan's Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest comes out June 14. Hanly Banks Callahan/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Hanly Banks Callahan/Courtesy of the artist

Review

Bill Callahan's 'Shepherd In A Sheepskin Vest' Meditates On Home And Love

WBGO

June 6, 2019 • On his first album in six years, Bill Callahan ruminates on domesticity, devotion and mortality in his conversational baritone.

Brandee Younger Plucks And Shimmers A 'Soul Awakening'

Brandee Younger's Soul Awakening comes out June 7. Erin Patrice O'Brien/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Erin Patrice O'Brien/Courtesy of the artist

Review

Brandee Younger Plucks And Shimmers A 'Soul Awakening'

WBGO

May 30, 2019 • The jazz harpist's sophomore record is celestial, groove-forward and unabashed about its alchemies of style. Ravi Coltrane guests.

Bob Dylan's 'Rolling Thunder Revue' Revived The Rock Concert Ritual

Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue featured an ad-hoc accidental masterpiece of a band, which played rousing, irreverent versions of songs from his catalog. Ken Regan/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Ken Regan/Courtesy of the artist