Transcript
Unknown Artist (0:00)
I want a love that lasts forever.
Stephen Thompson (0:06)
Happy Friday, everyone. From NPR Music, it's New Music Friday. I'm your host Stephen Thompson, with an abbreviated edition. Fridays typically bring a flood of new music with dozens of fresh albums to choose from. But because this Friday is Independence Day, at least in the US that flood slows to a trickle. So we're going to keep this week's episode short and forego the usual guest and lightning round. Appropriately enough, a few of the albums that do drop today celebrate freedom, independence and liberation, so we want to highlight a few of those, starting with Ke$ha. Doll's new album is called Period Bitch.
Unknown Artist (0:43)
I just got a brand new car holds me down at the trailer park we lit up like a bonfire singing pika yay pika yaya the whiskey spilled, it's already gone that dress you bought go wanna put it on Two ways tonight would be criminal Record dancing It rained all year but it's clearing up I'm flying high, it's a miracle I'm drinking spirits and spiritual good goddamn yeehaw. Oh that's what I like. I'm feeling loose, I'm feeling light I'm hella smooth like Miller light I got that moose I'm everybody's type.
Stephen Thompson (1:27)
Ke$ha has had a fascinating career trajectory. She burst onto the scene in 2009 fueled by the song T Tock, which exemplified a sound that's best described as smartly stupid, if that makes sense. Her songs can be big and brash and maximalist, but they're also clever, with impeccable comic timing. In more recent years, as she's been embroiled in lawsuits and controversies involving her former label and producer, Kesha's music has incorporated darker and more serious themes. But her new album, Period is the first she's been able to record and release independently. And appropriately enough, it feels like a celebration. It's full of fun and free, freewheeling songs about boys, bad love and learning to love oneself. In other words, it's a great way to celebrate July 4th with a cocktail of silliness and sweet, sweet freedom. That's Ke$ha new album is Period.
Unknown Artist (2:25)
Turn on the light it's looking me shine. There's a feeling I've been searching for all of my life I've been run, run running to find it I run til but there is a lion you were trying to own what isn't yours. You had a diamond, you had a one, one, one of a kind.
Stephen Thompson (2:49)
Next up, K. Tempest is back with his fifth album, the Title and this is the literal title is self titled.
K. Tempest (2:56)
I draw down from the well where it gathers time is a river that carries and buries. If you wait for the right time you'll never be ready but sometimes every cell of my skin feels too heavy we all know something's go for convenience scapegoats to blame it on with all the problems that we have to contend with why are trans bodies always on the agenda? I'm alive 35 years dying to breathe Was on my knees fighting panic at the back of the stage Looking for salvation in the crowd trying to hold it up but I couldn't hold it down I was swimming but the waters were rising Terrified if I told the truth and stopped hiding and said what I couldn't bear to say to myself I would sacrifice everything I'd made for myself, my family, my friends for more.