NPR Music

Jack White. Baby Rose. Suki Waterhouse. Host Stephen Thompson chats with Maggie Brennan of WCBE in Ohio about their favorite albums out Friday, July 10. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round.

The Starting 5

(02:00) Album No. 1
- Jack White, 'Frozen Charlotte'

(07:28) Album No. 2
- Baby Rose, 'YEARNALISM'

(15:23) Album No. 3
- Suki Waterhouse, 'Loveland'

(22:17) Album No. 4
- Allison Russell, 'In the Hour of Chaos'

(28:22) Album No. 5
- Houndmouth, 'Lordy'

(32:46) The Lightning Round

- Bella Kay, 'My Reckless Abandon'
- Luluc, 'Sweet Thief'
- The Temper Trap, 'Sungazer'
- Kelela, 'new avatar'
- Tracey Nelson, 'Hercules'
- Ultra Lights, 'Pleasure's All Yours'

Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org

Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Maggie Brennan, WCBE
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Daoud Tyler-Ameen, Elle Mannion, Otis Hart
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Sheldon Pearce and Lars Gotrich

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It’s that time of the year again: a mix between Christmas and Halloween for me and Felix. We gift you our best album picks of the year so far — and there’s nothing spookier for us than having to choose. So here it is, the music we’ve loved and listened to the most in the first half of 2026, some of the best (in our opinion) from all of Latin America and its diaspora. — Anamaria Sayre

Artist and albums featured in this episode:

(02:15) Trueno - 'TURR4ZO'
(07:06) Jonathan Suazo - 'Ricano Vol. 2: Fruto de mi Corazón'
(11:16) Broke Carrey - 'HIJO DEL PAÍS'
(15:48) X Alfonso - 'AIRE'
(22:28) Silvia Pérez Cruz - 'Oral_Abisal'
(29:30) Nuevos Rios - 'Nuevos Rios'
(32:17) Criolo, Amaro Freitas & Dino d'Santiago - 'CRIOLO, AMARO E DINO'
(37:33) Sofia Rei - 'Antónima'

This episode was produced by Noah Caldwell. Suraya Mohamed is the executive producer of NPR Music.

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Roséwave is a feeling more than a singular sound or genre. It’s the kind of sweetness and sadness that underscores the long, languid days of summer.  Long drives with old friends, watching your kids at the pool, backyard barbecues while the sun slowly sets.  On this episode we share a mix of songs that offer the perfect soundtrack for your roséwave days and nights, from Linda Ronstadt’s “How Do I Make You” and Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t That Peculiar,” to Katie Gavin’s “Aftertaste,” Waxahatchee’s “Much Ado About Nothing” and more.

NPR Music’s Lars Gotrich and contributor Marissa Lorusso join host Robin Hilton.

(00:00) Intro and “Summertime, Summertime” by The Jamies

(01:57) Wednesday: "Elderberry Wine"

(04:34) The Lijadu Sisters: "Come on Home"

(07:35) Katie Gavin: "Aftertaste”

(12:17) Marvin Gaye: "Ain't That Peculiar"

(15:46) Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra: “Gayane Ballet Suite: Adagio”

(17:02) Haku.: "Looking Through My Subtle Double Eyelids"

(19:46) Labi Siffre: "My Song"

(22:45) Azymuth: "Faça de Conta"

(25:09) Waxahatchee: "Much Ado About Nothing"

(27:35) Linda Ronstadt: "How Do I Make You"

(30:29) Addison Rae: "Diet Pepsi," from 'Addison'

(34:56) Amerie: "Why Don't We Fall in Love"

Reviews help!  Leave us one on Apple or Spotify wherever you listen to podcasts. 

Questions, comments, suggestions or feedback of any kind always welcome: allsongs@npr.org

Note: A version of this episode originally ran in July 2025.

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On a special mid-year episode of New Music Friday, host Stephen Thompson and a lineup of NPR Music writers and critics reflect on their favorite albums of the year so far. 

Albums featured in this episode:

(01:14) Album No. 1
- Noah Kahan, 'The Great Divide'

(07:16) Album No. 2
- underscores, 'U'

(14:00) Album No. 3
- Cécile McLorin Salvant, 'With Every Breath I Take'

(20:13) Album No. 4
- Neurosis, 'An Undying Love For A Burning World'

(27:18) Album No. 5
- Tiffany Day, 'HALO'

(33:46) Album No. 6
- Metropolis Ensemble, Erik Hall & Sandbox Percussion, 'Canto Ostinato'

Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guests: Hazel Cills, Ann Powers, Lars Gotrich, Sheldon Pearce, Tom Huizenga
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed

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The origin story of The Postal Service is as simple (and twee) as they come: An electronic music producer (Jimmy Tamborello) and an indie rock singer-songwriter (Ben Gibbard) decide to collaborate on a few songs, sending each other music via snail mail. But The Postal Service’s only album, Give Up, eventually went platinum, and the band is selling out arenas decades later. It’s a record that seems to have captured how rapid advances in technology would change how we communicate and even love, bridging the distances that separate us.  

This week, NPR Music critic Ann Powers and editor Daoud Tyler-Ameen discuss lead single “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service, from 2003.  

This NPR Music podcast series with Ann and Daoud is usually just for NPR+ supporters. To listen to the rest of the episodes in the series and support public media, sign up for NPR+ at plus.npr.org. Follow NPR Music coverage and the Tiny Desk Concerts at npr.org/music

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