Podcast Summary: All Songs Considered – New Music Friday: The Best Albums Out July 25, 2025

Title: New Music Friday: The Best Albums Out July 25
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Joe Kendrick (WNCW, Spindale, North Carolina)
Release Date: July 25, 2025
Description: A comprehensive roundup of the latest album releases, featuring in-depth reviews, artist insights, and engaging discussions on the current music landscape.

Introduction

In this episode of NPR Music's flagship program, All Songs Considered, host Stephen Thompson welcomes Joe Kendrick from WNCW in Spindale, North Carolina. The duo dives into the latest album releases, offering listeners a curated selection of standout records released on July 25, 2025. They provide both critical analysis and personal reflections, enriched with notable quotes and timestamped insights.

Featured Albums

1. Tyler the Creator – Don't Tap the Glass

Overview:
Stephen Thompson begins by highlighting Tyler the Creator's latest album, Don't Tap the Glass. Released just eight months after Chromacopia, this album marks a significant stylistic shift for the artist.

Key Points:

• Brisk and Brief: The album clocks in at just under half an hour, showcasing a more upbeat and rowdy vibe compared to its predecessor.
• Critical Reception: Recognized as an uncharacteristically brisk and brief offering, it serves as a "hairpin turn" in Tyler's musical journey.

Notable Quote:
Stephen Thompson [00:43]: "It's an uncharacteristically brisk and brief album for Tyler the Creator. It clocks in at just under half an hour, and it's a real hairpin turn."

2. Tyler Childers – Snipe Hunter

Overview:
Shifting focus to country singer Tyler Childers, Stephen and Joe delve into his new album, Snipe Hunter. This release signifies a bold evolution in Childers' sound, combining traditional bluegrass with modern production techniques.

Key Points:

• Production Excellence: Produced by Rick Rubin and co-produced by Sylvan Esso's Nick Sanborn, the album features expansive layers of organ and synth.
• Musical Direction: The record is described as "angry" and more musically diverse, moving beyond Childers' established bluegrass and folk roots.
• Vocal Performance: Childers' vocals are front and center, often "clipping" through the instrumentation to create a raw and powerful effect.

Notable Quotes:
Joe Kendrick [02:48]: "This one produced by Rick Rubin and co-produced by Sylvan Esso's Nick Sanborn, who adds a lot of layers with organ and synth, expanding his sound."
Tyler Childers [04:50]: "If there ever come a time I got Rabies. You're on the biting list."

Highlighted Tracks:

• "Getting to the Bottom": Features Childers' voice "punching through the dining."
• "Biting List": A "kiss-off anthem" with quotable lines and earned profanity.

3. Patty Griffin – Crown of Roses

Overview:
Patty Griffin returns with Crown of Roses, an intensely personal album that explores her relationship with her late mother and her adopted Texan environment.

Key Points:

• Personal Reflection: The album delves into themes of reconciliation, survival, and forgiveness.
• Musical Influence: Incorporates a Southwestern feel, both musically and thematically, with contributions from Robert Plant.
• Vocal Evolution: Griffin, a cancer survivor, showcases a reclaimed and nuanced vocal performance despite the toll cancer took on her voice.

Notable Quotes:
Joe Kendrick [08:10]: "Patty Griffin is legendary. ... Crown of Roses is a beautiful record. It's all about reconciliation with her late mother."
Stephen Thompson [10:08]: "There's a lot of work to do and I'm glad I'm a woman."

Highlighted Tracks:

• "Back to the Start": Sets the tone with a "chugging bluesy vibe."
• "Born in a Cage": Explores her evolving relationship with her mother.

4. Indigo d’ Souza – Precipice

Overview:
Indigo d’ Souza from Asheville, North Carolina, presents her debut album, Precipice. The record melds indie pop vitality with deep emotional undertones, offering both energetic and atmospheric tracks.

Key Points:

• Dual Nature: The album balances "brash pop bangers" with "beautiful atmospheric songs," providing a dynamic listening experience.
• Emotional Depth: Emotion is central to both the musical composition and lyrical content, reflecting on bruised relationships and personal growth.
• Lyrical Prowess: Souza's poetry shines through in tracks like "Be Like Water," showcasing her ability to blend intelligence and depth with catchy melodies.

Notable Quotes:
Joe Kendrick [21:53]: "Now that's closer to poetry than Pablum anywhere on the planet, man."
Stephen Thompson [22:26]: "There are two, like, really mile wide, you know, just pop bangers on this record."

Highlighted Tracks:

• "Heartbreaker": Channels Mitski-like vibes with analytical looks at relationships.
• "Be Like Water": Demonstrates Souza's poetic lyricism and emotional intensity.

5. Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band – New Threats from the Soul

Overview:
Ryan Davis from Louisville, Kentucky, collaborates with the Roadhouse Band to deliver New Threats from the Soul. This album is characterized by its lyrical density and experimental structure.

Key Points:

• Collaborative Excellence: Features appearances from Bonnie Prince Billy and Nathan Salzberg, enhancing the album's depth.
• Lyrical Complexity: Over 3,800 words in the lyrics with minimal repetition, creating a rich and narrative-driven experience.
• Listener Impact: Both hosts recount personal connections to the album, highlighting its memorable and evocative nature.

Notable Quotes:
Stephen Thompson [26:19]: "All right, well. Or driving to work. But this one, I'm washing my car on a sunny day listening to this record going, what the."
Joe Kendrick [42:00]: "The title track to New Threats from the Soul feels like hell is getting higher and the sky's getting."

Highlighted Tracks:

• "Mutilation Springs": A nearly 12-minute epic filled with verses and rhythmic experimentation.
• "Better If You Make Me": Serves as an accessible single with a repeated chorus.

Additional Highlights

Yoshika Caldwell – on the Wing

Overview:
Yoshika Caldwell introduces her debut album, on the Wing, blending her English countryside upbringing with a luminous and expansive sound.

Key Points:

• Instrumental Richness: Combines violin and cello with pedal steel and electric guitar, creating a "luminous" atmosphere.
• Emotional Resonance: Tracks like "In Bloom" offer sunny vibes, while slower songs like "Turn My Face Away" provide introspective depth.
• Artistic Comparison: Caldwell's work is likened to Joan Shelley and Laura Marling, emphasizing her quiet yet powerful delivery.

Notable Quotes:
Joe Kendrick [34:05]: "Quiet people have the loudest minds. I'm pretty sure that Yoshika Caldwell is a quiet kind of person, but man, she can deliver some blows."

Other Noteworthy Releases

• Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist – Alfredo 2: A sequel to the acclaimed 2020 collaboration, featuring guest appearances from Anderson .Paak, JID, and Larry June.
• Corey Hansen – I Love People: Transitioning from his work with Wand, Hansen delivers a velvety, Elton John-esque album.
• Quinny – Paper Doll: Explores themes of alienation and isolation within a bedroom pop framework.
• Unspoken Tradition – Resilience: Western North Carolina’s bluegrass quintet responds to Hurricane Helene with intricate harmonies and traditional instrumentation.
• MC Yala – Gaudencia: Kenyan rapper based in Uganda, collaborating with French producer Deb Master, delivering intense flows across four languages.

Lightning Round

In addition to the in-depth reviews, Stephen and Joe engage in a lightning round, briefly highlighting other remarkable albums released on July 25, 2025. This segment underscores the diverse genres and innovative sounds making waves in the music scene.

Conclusion

The episode concludes with personal reflections from both hosts on their favorite tracks and the overall quality of the week's album releases. Stephen Thompson and Joe Kendrick emphasize the richness and creativity permeating the current music landscape, encouraging listeners to explore these new offerings.

Final Quotes:
Stephen Thompson [43:07]: "That is our show for this week. Thank you, Joe Kendrick, for taking time out of your week at WNCW in North Carolina."
Joe Kendrick [43:36]: "Thank you, Stephen, for having me on. It's been great."

Produced by: Simon Rentner
Edited by: Otis Hart
Executive Producer: Soraya Muhammad

Note: For those interested in exploring these albums further, streaming options are available through various platforms, and additional recommendations are provided in the episode's full transcript.