All Songs Considered – New Music Friday: The Best Albums Out Jan. 30, 2026

Podcast: All Songs Considered (NPR)
Hosts: Stephen Thompson & Dre Castillo
Original Air Date: January 30, 2026

Main Theme

This episode of All Songs Considered delivers a curated guide to the most compelling new albums released on January 30, 2026. Hosts Stephen Thompson and guest Dre Castillo (KVNF, Colorado) spotlight fresh releases across folk, R&B, hip-hop, experimental, and ambient genres. Each album discussion highlights distinctive artistry, emotional themes, and notable tracks—creating a must-listen list for adventurous music lovers.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Why January Is a Special Month for Music

• Both hosts discuss the unique nature of January releases: a time for more “heady,” introspective, and intentional albums.
  • “January, I feel like, we’re all still cocooning and releases feel intentional this time of year.” — Dre Castillo [00:50]
  • “A lot of the stuff that I wind up listening to all year comes out right around this time.” — Stephen Thompson [01:09]

2. Featured Albums In-Depth

Emily Scott Robinson – “Appalachia”

• Background: Fifth album by the North Carolina-raised, Colorado-based Americana songwriter, released on John Prine’s label.
• Themes: Resilience, community, connection to place, personal and regional history.
• Notable Tracks Discussed:
  • “Appalachia” (title track): Inspired by Hurricane Helene and grassroots solidarity.
  • “Dirtbag Saloon”: A local dive bar in Paonia, Colorado—moves from celebration to commentary on gentrification.
  • “Time Traveler”: A deeply emotional take on aging and dementia.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “She’s really characterizing people; she doesn’t use stereotypes... so cool to have a song about this place that is just one in a million.” — Dre Castillo [06:16]
  • “She’s always writing about extremely relatable experiences…writing on this record quite a bit about resilience and community.” — Stephen Thompson [02:42]
• Song Excerpts: [01:19–01:42], [03:34–03:47], [05:33–05:54], [07:51–08:16], [08:50]
• Top Moments:
  • Dre describes breaking down in tears at “Time Traveler”: “Listening to this song really intentionally made me cry…touches on something that everyone experiences by growing old, or if you have the luxury of growing old.” [07:13]

Ye Vagabonds – “All Tied Together”

• Background: Fourth record from the Irish folk duo known for their harmonies and spare arrangements.
• Themes: Impermanence, memory, community, weathering life’s storms.
• Notable Tracks Discussed:
  • “The Flood”: Rousing Irish folk with sweeping fiddle.
  • “Forget About The Rain”: Contemplation about difficult times and moving forward.
  • “Mayfly”: Reflecting on transience and cherishing fleeting moments.
  • “Gravity”: Atmospheric, nearly a cappella, emotional weight carried by harmonies.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “Their harmonies almost feel a little bit restrained, which brings more emotional weight…” — Dre Castillo [10:49]
  • “Kind of arranged in such a way that you really stop and hone in on their voices and what they’re saying.” — Stephen Thompson [12:34]
  • “The album was recorded entirely live in a house in Galway…adds a lot of atmosphere.” — Dre Castillo [13:33]
• Song Excerpts: [09:20–09:48], [11:30–11:56], [12:18–12:34], [13:12–13:33], [14:17–14:41]

Jordan Ward – “Backward”

• Background: Second album from St. Louis singer-songwriter, previously a backup dancer for touring acts, now crafting progressive R&B.
• Themes: Emotional fluidity, evolving artistry, confidence and growth, intimacy, and experimentation within R&B.
• Notable Tracks Discussed:
  • “Smoking Patna”: Playful, pitch-shifted duet about sharing weed as a metaphor for intimacy.
  • “High Functioning”: Energetic, warped vocals, pushing R&B boundaries.
  • “Juicy”: Embraces the disposable/functional aspect of being an artist with humor and groove.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “Backward feels emotionally fluid and it’s super groovy…an album that I can definitely find myself going back to just to groove to.” — Dre Castillo [19:23]
  • “He’s taking well-worn materials but finding new angles, new perspectives.” — Stephen Thompson [20:48]
  • “His writing style sort of rejects succumbing to that, like by having this humor of being a disposable joint, you know?” — Dre Castillo [22:43]
• Song Excerpts: [17:52–18:27]

Lord Jamonte Ogbon – “As of Now”

• Background: Underground rapper from Charlotte, NC; first album on a notable label after DIY beginnings.
• Themes: Lyrical cleverness, conversational flow, integrating women’s voices, introspection, surveillance, ambition.
• Notable Tracks Discussed:
  • “Flew Out” (“flewed out”): Wordy, rapid-fire delivery, conversational song structure.
  • “360 Photo Booth”: Anxiety and vulnerability of being seen in a new scene.
  • “Okay, I Know Who My Twin Flame Is”: Song as unfolding conversation, exploring relationships and self-reflection.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “He is just able to fit together these kind of wild, knotty bundles of words that flow together so beautifully.” — Stephen Thompson [26:05]
  • “This is something that you sit down and really engage with, which I love.” — Dre Castillo [25:09]
  • “So much space he gives on this record for perspectives other than his own.” — Stephen Thompson [26:32]
• Song Excerpts: [23:37–24:09], [26:01], [27:34], [28:05]

Orestes Gomez – “No Me Fui Por Que Quise”

• Background: Venezuelan percussionist, now in Mexico City, collaborating with a roster of Latinx rappers and singers.
• Themes: Migration, pride, the environment of sound, percussion as melody, musical conversation.
• Notable Tracks Discussed:
  • “Mata” (feat. Nina Fresh): Vibrant polyrhythms, chanted call-and-response.
  • “Invierno” (feat. Sabino, Fer Casillas, Ferraz): Swapping vocalists, easy groove.
  • “Pagadiera” (feat. RK Wavy): Maximalist, rowdy, frenetic Latin Hip-Hop.
• Memorable Quotes:
  • “The album blurs the line between composition and atmosphere…and percussion as melody.” — Dre Castillo [31:24]
  • “He does such a great job on this album to work with such a diverse arrangement of artists and vocalists…pieces of dialogue between percussion and whoever steps in to sing or improvise or rap.” — Dre Castillo [34:38]
  • “If you’re looking for Orestes Gomez’s…voice on this record, he turns everything over to a huge array of guest rappers and singers…” — Stephen Thompson [30:47]
• Song Excerpts: [32:40], [34:06]

3. Lightning Round: Other Noteworthy Releases ([35:06])

• Don Toliver – “Octane”
  • “This is road trip music whether you want to go fast or not.” — Stephen Thompson [36:16]
• Landy Hecht – “Lucky Now”
  • “Songwriting is so diary level honest, but there’s more air and momentum…indie pop with a punk rock heart.” — Dre Castillo [36:16]
• By Storm – “My Ghosts Go Ghost”
  • (Formerly Injury Reserve, an experimental hip-hop group returning after a member’s passing.)
• Yumizuma – “No Love Lost to Kindness”
  • “Emotionally distant on the surface but quietly deep underneath. The songs sort of linger.” — Dre Castillo [37:47]
• David Moore – “Graze the Bell”
  • “I know y’all need something peaceful and soothing…this is stately and beautiful, built around lush and moody piano.” — Stephen Thompson [38:33]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “You have your own experiences, but you’re also looking around you and seeing things that are bigger than yourself.” — Stephen Thompson on Emily Scott Robinson [04:39]
• “This isn't the type of hip hop that you listen to casually…something that you sit down and really engage with, which I love.” — Dre Castillo on Lord Jamonte Ogbon [25:09]
• “The drums are by far my favorite instrument to admire and you could just tell that Gomez eats, sleeps, and breathes drums.” — Dre Castillo [32:40]
• “He’s taking well-worn materials but finding new angles, finding new perspectives and finding new way to make it sound.” — Stephen Thompson on Jordan Ward [20:48]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Emily Scott Robinson – Appalachia: [01:35]–[09:08]
• Ye Vagabonds – All Tied Together: [09:08]–[14:41]
• Jordan Ward – Backward: [17:44]–[23:22]
• Lord Jamonte Ogbon – As of Now: [23:22]–[28:30]
• Orestes Gomez – No Me Fui Por Que Quise: [29:45]–[35:06]
• Lightning Round (Other Albums): [35:06]–[39:46]

Episode Tone

Warm, deeply conversational, and rooted in personal connection to the music. Both hosts bring passionate, thoughtful insights—balancing musical analysis with emotional storytelling. The episode is an inviting celebration of musical diversity and discovery.

For New Listeners

This episode is an essential guide to the best new music of the week, rich with storytelling, evocative song samples, and sharp commentary. Whether you’re searching for lyrical folk, introspective R&B, boundary-pushing hip-hop, or atmospheric instrumentals, the hosts have you covered, making the show a perfect entry point for anyone eager to expand their musical horizons.