NPR: All Songs Considered

On the day before his album came out, Hobo Johnson joined me to play DJ. We discussed the making of his album and played some of the music that has inspired him over the years. I think you'll be surprised by some of his picks.

The week's best new album drops includes the genre-bending pop of Charli XCX, an ambitious concept record by The Lumineers, the euphoric songs of Emeli Sandé, new Chelsea Wolfe, Sampa The Great, more. FEATURED ALBUMS: 1. The Lumineers - 'III,' 2. Charli XCX - 'Charli,' 3. Bethlehem Steel - 'Bethlehem Steel,' 4. Emeli Sandé - 'Real Life,' 5. Microwave - 'Microwave,' 6. Chelsea Wolfe - 'Birth of Violence,' 7. Sampa The Great - 'The Return,' 8. Jeremy Ivey - 'The Dream and the Dreamer.' OTHER NOTABLE ALBUMS FOR SEP. 13: Alex Cameron — Miami Memory; Belle & Sebastian — Days of the Bangold Summer; Chasity — Homemade Satan; Devendra Banhart — Ma; Goo Goo Dolls — Miracle Pill; Gruff Rhys — Pang; Hobo Johnson — The Fall of Hobo Johnson; Jenny Hval — The Practice of Love ; Joseph — Good Luck Kid; Long Beard — Means to Me; Pixies — Beneath the Eyrie; (Sandy) Alex G — House of Sugar; Shawn Colvin — Steady On 30th Anniversary; Trupa Trupa — Of the Sun.

There's a cinematic theme in the songs on this edition of All Songs Considered , including a new track from Thom Yorke called "Daily Battles" and an instrumental version of it from trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. These two songs were created for the Edward Norton film Motherless Brooklyn. FEATURED SONGS AND ARTISTS: 1. Ride: "R.I.D.E.," 2. Overcoats: "The Fool," 3. Arthur Moon: "Myelin," 4. Lydia Ramsey: "Story Untold," 5. Jim James & Teddy Abrams: "Set it to Song," 6. Thom Yorke & Flea: "Daily Battles," 7. Wynton Marsalis: "Daily Battles"

Our list of the best albums out this week includes The Highwomen's self-titled release, R&B singer Mahalia's remarkable Love and Compromise , new Frankie Cosmos, MUNA, Lower Dens and more. FEATURED ALBUMS: 1. Muna – 'Saves the World,' 2. Tinariwen – 'Amadjar,' 3. Lower Dens – 'The Competition,' 4. Frankie Cosmos – 'Close it Quietly,' 5. The Highwomen – 'The Highwomen,' 6. Mahalia – 'Love and Compromise,' 7. Daymé Arocena – 'Sonocardiogram,' 8. Bat for Lashes – 'The Lost Girls.' OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES FOR SEP. 6: Adam Green — Engine of Paradise ; Alessia Cara — This Summer (EP) ; Chrissie Hynde — Valve Bone Woe ; Crystal Gayle — You Don't Know Me ; Death Cab For Cutie — The Blue EP ; Ghostface Killah — Ghostface Killahs ; Iggy Pop — Free ; Kindness — Something Like War ; Miles Davis — Rubberband

This edition of All Songs Considered has songs of gratitude from Pinegrove, a take on intimacy from Norway's Jenny Hval, a song of quietude from Anna Meredith and the magic of the Mellotron. 1. Sudan Archives: "Confessions," 2. Jenny Hval: "High Alice," 3. Pinegrove: "Moment," 4. Anna Meredith: "moonmoons," 5. Mellotron Variations: "Pulsar," 6. Bonnie "Prince" Billy: "One with the Birds."