Laura Stevenson is your favorite songwriter’s favorite songwriter, so says New Music Friday host Stephen Thompson.
Rachel Brennecke/Rough Trade Records
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Rachel Brennecke/Rough Trade Records
It’s Friday, and if you’re a Bruce Springsteen fan, it probably feels like Christmas morning. The Boss released a 7-disc (or 9-LP) box set today documenting unreleased tracks recorded from 1983 to 2018, titled Tracks II: The Lost Albums. We’ve published a guide to the 83 songs that you might enjoy before tapping play.
If you’re here for new new music, the most anticipated album this week is Lorde’s fourth studio effort, Virgin. While it’s not among our favorite records making their debut today, NPR Music’s Hazel Cills calls it a humanizing album by a pop star who’s just now realizing she doesn’t have it all figured out. Read her review of Virgin here.
As for the records we really loved this week, Wonway Posibul from NPR station KALW in the Bay Area joined NPR Music’s own Stephen Thompson to talk about just that. They listened to dozens of new releases before selecting five to discuss — because a little backstory goes a long way.
Listen to the show beginning at 3 a.m. ET and scroll down to see our long list of albums out June 27.
Matthew Herbert and Momoko Gill.
Manuel Vazquez/Strut
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Manuel Vazquez/Strut
Our hosts share the backstories and best songs from the following albums:
💿 Laura Stevenson, Late Great
💿 Adrian Quesada, Boleros Psicodélicos II
💿 Madison McFerrin, Scorpio
💿 Durand Jones & The Indications, Flowers
💿 Herbert & Momoko, Clay
New Music Friday is a feature of NPR’s All Songs Considered podcast. Hear the discussion on the NPR App, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
Bruce Springsteen.
Danny Clinch/Columbia
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Danny Clinch/Columbia
Bruce Springsteen.
Danny Clinch/Columbia
Six more albums we wish we had time to discuss on the podcast:
💿 Bruce Springsteen, Tracks II: The Lost Albums
💿 Frankie Cosmos, Different Talking
💿 Dana and Alden, Speedo
💿 Brighde Chaimbeul, Sunwise
💿 Mocky, Music Will Explain (Choir Music Vol. 1)
💿 Tim Barnes, Lost Words / Noumena
Listen to each album’s best songs on our New Music Friday playlists on Spotify and Apple, or wherever you stream music.
Lorde.
Talia Chetrit/Republic
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Talia Chetrit/Republic
For those who want to dig even deeper, here are the week’s new albums sorted by genre:
Credits