The best new albums out Oct. 3
dodie. Charlotte Hadden/Fontana/Verve hide caption
It's Friday, and finally, we can all let out a long exhale: Taylor Swift has released her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl. As the devoted "swifties" among us parse the album searching for easter eggs, our hosts shift their attention to the more cinematic, less perfectionist releases of the day.
Molly Nilsson joins Swift's ranks with her 12th album, Amateur, an ode to her artistic journey and making art through turbulent times. Former YouTube star and cult-favorite Dodie follows suit with her vulnerable and optimistic album, Not For Lack Of Trying, a reflection on growing up in the spotlight. And Blue Lake and Leon Vynehall build expansive, textured soundscapes that make you want to "touch grass."
For a proper discussion of Taylor Swift's new Kansas City reign in addition to this week's very best new music offerings, Stephen Thompson welcomes Skylar Rochelle from Kansas City's 90.9 The Bridge to discuss these albums and a couple more favorites. Listen above or via the All Songs Considered podcast feed.
The Starting 5
Molly Nilsson. Dark Skies Association hide caption
Our hosts share the backstories and best songs from the following albums:
💿 dodie, Not For Lack Of Trying
- Recommended If You Like: Laufey, Ben Folds
💿 Blue Lake, The Animal
- RIYL: Jim O'Rourke, Penguin Cafe Orchestra
💿 Snõõper, Worldwide
- RIYL: Delta 5, Vivian Girls
💿 Molly Nilsson, Amateur
- RIYL: Charli xcx, Crass
💿 Leon Vynehall, In Daytona Yellow
- RIYL: James Blake, Burial
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.
The Lightning Round
Ledisi. Ron T. Young/Candid hide caption
Five more albums we wish we had time to discuss on the podcast:
💿 S. Carey, Watercress EP
💿 Ledisi, For Dinah
💿 Alfa Mist, Roulette
💿 Prewn, System
💿 Upchuck, I'm Nice Now
Listen to each album's best songs on our New Music Friday playlists on Spotify and Apple, or wherever you stream music.
The Long List
Taylor Swift. Kate Green/Getty Images hide caption
For those who want to dig even deeper, here are the week's new albums sorted by genre:
Pop
- Taylor Swift, The Life of a Showgirl
- Ink, BIG BUSKIN'
Rap/Hip-Hop
- FearDorian & osquinn, Before You Press Play
- Homeboy Sandman, Tears of Joy EP
- Mick Jenkins & EMIL, A MURDER OF CROWS
- Don Trip, Forgiveness Is God's Job... Part 1
- Kinlaw & Franco Franco, Faith Elsewhere
- Myka 9, Blu & Mono En Stereo, God Takes Care of Babies & Fools
- Niko B, cheerleader
- jackzebra, Hunched Jack Mixtape
Classical
- Daniil Trifonov, Tchaikovsky
Country/Folk/Americana
- Carter Faith, Cherry Valley
- Nicki Bluhm, Rancho Deluxe
- Ole 60, Smokestack Town
- Salt House, scarrow
- Weirs, Diamond Grove
- Kashena Sampson, Ghost of Me
Electronic/Out There
- Nala Sinephro, The Smashing Machine (OST)
- Malibu, Vanities
- Call Super, A Rhythm Protects One
- Ann Annie, El Prado
- Bendik Giske, Remixed
- Kelly Moran, Don't Trust Mirrors
- DJ Babatr, ROOTS ECHOES
- ÈBONY, Shades of Meridian EP
- Klein, sleep with a cane
- Layla Rehana & Sebastian Mullaert, Lullaby For The Wandering Tides
- lil_art_hoe, Call Me EP
- Litania, Litania
- Mark Fell, Psychic Resynthesis
- Marta, Out the Way
- Merzbow, Bernocchi, Cavalera, Nocturnal Rainforest
- Potential Badboy, Elusive
- Powell, We Do Recover
- Superpoze, Siècle
- Tusks, Gold - The Remixes EP
Global
- Adekunle Gold, Fuji
Jazz
- The Cosmic Tones Research Trio, The Cosmic Tones Research Trio
R&B/Soul
- Bryson Tiller, Solace
- Phil Adé, philip
- Say She She, Cut & Rewind
Rock/Alt/Indie
- Worthitpurchase, Worthitpurchase
- Peel Dream Magazine, Taurus
- Rocket, R is for Rocket
- Why Bother?, Case Studies
- AFI, Silver Bleeds the Black Sun
- Agriculture, The Spiritual Sound
- Oasis, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
- Vernon Reid, Hoodoo Telemetry
- aldn, Strung Out Symphony
- Alice Cohen, Archaeology
- Ash, Ad Astra
- Ava Luna, Ava Luna
- Cal in Red, The Days
- Cheap Perfume, Don't Care. Didn't Ask.
- Circuit des Yeux, Halo on the Inside (Director's Cut)
- Coheed and Cambria, The Father of Make Believe (The New Entities Edition)
- Creative Writing, Baby Did This
- Dolo Tonight, DVD Rental Store
- The Dwarfs Of East Agouza, Sasquatch Landslide
- Friendship, Chaos Outside (Free Association Remixes)
- Gatlin, The Eldest Daughter
- Glimmer, Get Weak
- HAERTS, Laguna Road
- Hammydown, Former You
- Idlewild, Idlewild
- Joseph Arthur and Peter Buck, Arthur Buck 2
- Lovejoy, One Simple Trick
- Noah Floersch, Francis Aquarius
- PARENT TEACHER, Doombloomer
- Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Feed The Fire
- Real Bad Man & Genevieve Artadi, Everything Is Under Control
- Ribbon Skirt, PENSACOLA EP
- Social Cinema, Don't Get Lost
- Sparks, MADDER! EP
- Stay Inside, Lunger
- The Hello Crows, The Hello Crows
- The Kyle Sowashes, Start Making Sense
- The Lancasters, The Word of the Mistral
- Thrice, Horizons/West
- vegas water taxi, long time caller EP
- Yowie, Taking Umbrage
- Zachary Cale, Love's Work
- Harrison Storm, Empty Garden
Credits
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Skylar Rochelle, 90.9 The Bridge
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Elle Mannion
Editor: Otis Hart
Production Assistant: Dora Levite
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed