New Music Friday: The best albums out May 23

Summary

All Songs Considered - NPR Podcast Summary

Episode: New Music Friday: The Best Albums Out May 23
Release Date: May 23, 2025
Hosts: Stephen Thompson and Robert Moore from Sonic Spectrum on Kansas City's 90.9 The Bridge

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Introduction

In this episode of All Songs Considered, hosts Stephen Thompson and Robert Moore delve into the standout albums released on May 23, 2025. The discussion highlights a significant focus on veteran artists who have spent decades shaping the musical landscape. These seasoned musicians, many in their 60s and beyond, bring a wealth of experience and emotional depth to their latest works, providing a refreshing perspective in the current music scene.

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Featured Albums

1. Stereolab - Instant Holograms on Metal Film

Overview:
After a 15-year hiatus since their last album, Instant Holograms on Metal Film marks Stereolab's return. The album maintains the band's signature sound while showcasing improved production quality.

Key Points:

• Themes: The album explores living in a volatile political climate, reflecting the band's longstanding engagement with political and social issues.
• Creative Rollout: Stereolab announced the album by mailing 7-inch singles to fans, each containing a word search puzzle hinting at the upcoming release.
• Musical Experimentation: Known for their willingness to experiment, Stereolab incorporates new sounds and creative elements, maintaining variety across tracks.

Notable Quotes:

• Robert Moore [02:25]: "I think a lot of seasoned artists feed off that and are inspired by it for better or worse."
• Stephen Thompson [03:30]: "The mix of motoric beats, playful quality, and warmly cool vocals…"

Insights: Robert Forster of Stereolab emphasizes the importance of message in their music, ensuring that it remains more than just beautiful background tunes. Stephen highlights the album's balance of classic Stereolab elements with fresh variations, making it both familiar and innovative.

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2. Ganavya - Nilam

Overview:
Ganavya, born in New York and raised in Tamil Nadu, presents Nilam, a fusion of poetry, jazz, soul, R&B, classical music, and traditional South Asian devotional sounds.

Key Points:

• Cultural Fusion: The album seamlessly blends Eastern and Western musical traditions, creating a haunting and contemplative soundscape.
• Educational Background: Ganavya's lyrics are influenced by Harikatha, a traditional Indian storytelling method. She holds multiple degrees, including in psychology and ethnomusicology from Harvard.
• Collaborative Spirit: Having worked with renowned artists like Quincy Jones and Esperanza Spalding, Ganavya's collaborative approach enriches the album's depth.

Notable Quotes:

• Stephen Thompson [12:48]: "It's your Sunday morning listen. Listen to this record because it is just gorgeous."
• Robert Moore [11:07]: "It's just hypnotizing. Be a great album for your daily meditation for yoga."

Insights: Robert praises Ganavya's ability to spread her message through music, noting the emotional intensity and poetic craftsmanship of her songs. Stephen appreciates the album's calming and expansive qualities, making it ideal for moments of peace and reflection.

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3. Robert Forster - Strawberries

Overview:
Robert Forster of The Go-Betweens releases Strawberries, his first album following personal challenges, including his wife's cancer remission and the passing of his mother.

Key Points:

• Celebration of Life: The album shifts from themes of mortality to celebrating everyday moments and personal stories.
• Family Collaboration: Forster collaborates with his family, including his wife Karen Bromner, adding a personal touch to the album.
• Storytelling: The centerpiece, "Breakfast on the Train," narrates a love story inspired by his son's experience in Scotland.

Notable Quotes:

• Robert Moore [23:14]: "What is ordinary, anyway?"
• Stephen Thompson [25:09]: "No two stories are the same and that feels like kind of a mission statement for this record."

Insights: Forster's songwriting reflects deep personal experiences and observations, transforming them into poignant and relatable narratives. The collaborative nature with his family members enriches the authenticity and emotional resonance of the album.

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4. Mark Rebo - Map of a Blue City

Overview:
Mark Rebo, renowned for his experimental guitar work, ventures into a singer-songwriter role with Map of a Blue City, an album that has been three decades in the making.

Key Points:

• Evolution as an Artist: Transitioning from a revered guitarist to a frontman showcases Rebo's versatility and growth.
• Long-Held Projects: Many songs trace back to the 1990s, with some developed during sessions with the late producer Hal Wilner.
• Poetic and Introspective: The album features a blend of poetic lyrics and profound observations, reminiscent of Lou Reed's storytelling.

Notable Quotes:

• Robert Moore [30:44]: "He never elaborates, but that's a very evocative lyric."
• Stephen Thompson [31:37]: "It's a beautiful record. And, I mean, his guitar playing in the background is just mesmerizing."

Insights: Mark Rebo's Map of a Blue City exemplifies the beauty of long-term artistic projects, resulting in a cohesive and deeply personal album. The integration of poetry and introspection adds layers of meaning, making it a standout piece in his discography.

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5. Thalia Zedek Band - The Boat Outside Your Window

Overview:
Thalia Zedek presents The Boat Outside Your Window, her most stripped-down and accessible album in years, blending cutting lyrics with beautiful melodies.

Key Points:

• Stripped-Down Sound: The album emphasizes raw emotion and simplicity, highlighting Zedek's veteran presence in the music industry.
• Guitar Mastery: Her guitar work is celebrated, placing her alongside esteemed indie rock guitarists.
• Personal and Political Themes: The lyrics balance personal introspection with pointed, heartfelt messages, maintaining her signature dissonant sound.

Notable Quotes:

• Stephen Thompson [39:17]: "Her insights inward…"
• Robert Moore [40:55]: "I believe her guitar playing should be mentioned alongside Mary Timoney, Carrie Brownstein, and Lee Ronaldo as the finest of her generation of indie rock players."

Insights: Thalia Zedek's latest work underscores her enduring relevance and mastery as a guitarist. The album's balance of personal and political themes resonates deeply, appealing to both long-time fans and new listeners.

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Lightning Round: Additional Releases

1. Rosowski - Daisy

   • Genre Fusion: Combines techno, hip-hop, reggaeton, and more with collaborators like Ralphie Chiu and Raven Linne.
   • Highlight: Rosowski's ability to navigate multiple genres, creating a vibrant and eclectic sound.

2. Moontide - I Let the Wind Push Down on Me

   • Classic Indie Pop: A Chicago quartet delivering infectious 90s-style indie pop for their sophomore album.
   • Highlight: The track "Long Country" stands out with its timeless indie charm.

3. Cola Boy - Quit To Play Chess

   • Disability Activism: Matthew Arango, known as Cola Boy, releases a joyful and eclectic set of playful, funky, danceable pop music.
   • Highlight: The album balances catchy melodies with deeply political undertones.

4. Witchcraft Band - Idag

   • Metal Roots: A Swedish band returning to their metal origins, heavily influenced by Black Sabbath and doom metal.
   • Highlight: The track "Dromar" promises to "reap souls and destroy wicked minds."

5. Death and Vanilla - Whistle and I'll Come to You

   • Reimagined Score: A haunting, ambient accompaniment to a 1968 TV show, showcasing their talent in reimagining obscure soundtracks.
   • Highlight: The ability to evoke emotion even for those unfamiliar with the original material.

Favorites:

• Robert Moore: Thalia Zedek Band's "Circus All" [46:57]
• Stephen Thompson: Gnavia's "Song for Sad Times" [46:57]

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Conclusion

The episode underscores the vitality and innovation present among veteran artists releasing new music. From Stereolab's politically charged melodies to Ganavya's cultural fusions and Robert Forster's heartfelt storytelling, the featured albums demonstrate that experience and passion continue to drive the music industry forward. Hosts encourage listeners to explore these releases and share their favorites, fostering a community of music discovery and appreciation.

Final Thoughts: Stephen Thompson emphasizes the importance of supporting these artists and engaging with their music, whether through streaming platforms like Spotify or by sharing personal favorites. The episode wraps up with acknowledgments to Robert Moore for his insights and a preview of future discussions, including upcoming solo albums and more.

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Stay Connected: To discover these albums and more, visit NPR's All Songs Considered on your preferred podcast platform. Share your favorite new tracks and join the conversation about the ever-evolving world of music.

Transcript

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[Stephen Thompson]

From NPR Music, it's New Music Friday. I'm Stephen Thompson here with Robert Moore from Sonic Spectrum on Kansas City's 90.9 the bridge. Hey, Robert. Welcome back.

[Robert Moore]

Hey, Stephen. It's honored to be here again.

[Stephen Thompson]

Sometimes when we're having these conversations and playing these records, I'll realize as we're talking, you know, three, four, five albums in, I'll kind of start to identify some themes about what we're discussing this week. For me, those themes were just immediately apparent. This is a week where we're gonna talk about a lot of veteran artists, a lot of like, musicians who in some cases are like well into their 60s. And that, to me, I don't know, felt really refreshing.

[Robert Moore]

Oh, I agree. And I think they're all observers of life and it really comes across in their lyrics and they're very emotional in their songwriting.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Tell me what you see.

[Stephen Thompson]

We've got new records from Robert Forster of the Go Betweens, a new record from Mark Reebo, Thalia Zedek from bands like cum. Some of these artists have been making music for 40 plus years.

[Robert Moore]

First listen, I dare say, might be some of their best recordings. And I think a lot of it has to do with where the world is at right now. I think a lot of these seasoned artists feed off of that and are inspired by it for better or worse.

[Stephen Thompson]

Speaking of which, first album in 15 years from stereo Lab is out today. It's called Instant Holograms on Metal Film.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Sam.

[Robert Moore]

I think they picked up, honestly right where they left off. It's still just that great standard Stereo Lab sound, but in my opinion, it's the best production of any Stereo Lab album yet. It just sounds more polished.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, I agree with you. Stereo Lab, they've been around since 1990. They took like a 10 year hiatus from 2009 to 2019, but they haven't put out an album of new material since 2010. This album called Not Music. And as you mentioned, like, the production on this album is really smart and thoughtful and those sounds and vibes that Stereo Lab has woven together so effectively over the course of what is now a 35 year career. You get that mix of these kind of motoric beats, but this playful quality and these warmly cool vocals from Leticia Sadie. It all comes together in this very classic, very familiar sound that still has lots of variation from song to song.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Greed is an unfilowable.

[Capital One Ad]

Death.

[Robert Moore]

And I know Sadie said that, you know, they'd never really planned to record new music, but they had gotten back together for the reissues, and playing live kind of inspired that. And she said that the political climate definitely played a part in the band deciding to record again. And the theme of the album, according to her, was how to Live youe Life in such a volatile political climate.

[Stephen Thompson]

These songs are certainly reflecting on the world and everything, but, you know, Stereo Lab has always been a band that was really willing to experiment, really willing to kind of go the extra mile in its recordings and, you know, and try things, incorporate sounds it's never worked with before. Even the kind of rollout of this album, to me, kind of signified maximum effort. They announced this record by mailing 7 inch singles to a bunch of fans on their mailing list and including in it a word search puzzle that was giving people clues as to the fact that this album was coming out. These are people who've always thought so deeply about music. There's a song on this record called Vermona F Transistor that is dropping this mantra, I'm the creator of my own reality. They could have just thrown a bunch of words together for how cool it sounds, but they've clearly thought about every component of it.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

I'm the creator of this reality not the joker who pretends a good to be. I'm the creator of the three added time.

[Robert Moore]

Sadie has always cared about the message. I mean, they could very easily just be another Sergio Mendez. Nice, beautiful background music, but it's always been a message with her music. It's important to her. And I don't think. I don't think she's ever really given up on that.

[Stephen Thompson]

Stereo Lab's origins are extremely political. This band's music, as stylish as it sounds, the messaging has always been extremely direct and leftist to the point of Marxist, certainly kind of manifesto driven. And that is still permeating a lot of these songs.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

The extradition request Blown, the freedom of Conscience. Is there some form of justice possible for so long?

[Robert Moore]

I think of listeners that think of Stereo Lab probably pigeonhole them as a 90s band, but they also just think, oh, yeah, they're fun and cool. But I don't think I would say the vast majority of people that listen to Stereo Lab never get to the lyrics. I think her main message has always been that free will always outweighs the idea of destiny. And it's more obvious, I think, in this album than any of her Prior writing. In my opinion, as you move through.

[Stephen Thompson]

This record, you have all these songs that are hitting these signposts of kind of classic Stereo Lab sound. And sometimes when you listen to it, it's easy to float on the surface. It's easy to think of Stereo Lab as kind of this icy cool band. Everything is so sleek and thought out that you don't necessarily always tap into the emotion of it. There's a song on this record called if youf Remember, I Forgot to Dream, Part one, and it's got horns. It's got almost a power pop vibe to it. There's a radiance and a brightness to it.

[Robert Moore]

For me, the track is Immortal Hands. That's the one that stood out for me. And especially the lyric that grabbed me was swapping ego, skyscraper erect and collapsible, nihilistic and vulgar for love and nature. I mean, that just to me, sums up what she's trying to get at with this recording. And that track I've just had on repeat all week long.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Eagle Skies Greater.

[Stephen Thompson]

That's instant holograms on metal film. First album in 15 years from Stereolab, out today, May 23rd. Next up, oh, another really, really good one. It's by an artist called Ganavya. It's called Nilam. So Ganaviya was born in New York and raised in Tamil Nadu in South India. She mixes poetry, jazz, soul, R and B, classical music, traditional South Asian devotional music. All of these ingredients swirl together in this haunting, beautiful, seductive, just gorgeous contemplative sound. I'm not here to prescribe anything. I'm not here to tell y' all what to do. But to me, this is your Sunday morning listen. Giving it to you as an assignment right now. Just like while you're in your kitchen, making your cup of coffee, making breakfast, kind of settling in on what is hopefully a peaceful and calm and relaxing day of not working. Listen to this record because it is just gorgeous.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

His approach to love is over.

[Robert Moore]

It is just hypnotizing. Be a great album for your daily meditation for yoga. Her lyrics, I read were based on a system called Harikatha, which is a traditional singing poetry in India. So she doesn't consider herself a lyricist, but more so of a poet. But what really impressed me is that she's an educator first and a musician second, according to her several degrees, including psychology, ethnomusicology, critical inquiry from Harvard. She just is impressive on every level. And it's not the music first, she says. It's all about how the artist communicates. The music to the audience and how the audience communicates back to the artist is what she's interested in.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

His approach to Love Is Hard was the.

[Stephen Thompson]

She put out two albums last year. One was called Daughter of a Temple, one was called like the Sky, I've Been Too Quiet. She also had a lot of musical credentials. She's extremely well connected, working with artists from Quincy Jones to Esperanza Spalding to Chewbacca Hutchings to Salt. She's worked with a lot of these grand idea havers and that collaborative spirit comes through here. Compared to her previous recordings, this one really feels like just a pure distillation of her own sound in a way that really, really works.

[Robert Moore]

My thought was it might be the best current example of the possibility of crossover success combining Eastern and Western folk music, because she really does it effortlessly.

[Stephen Thompson]

I'm hesitant to compare her to a Rudjaf Taub who is Pakistani. Obviously Pakistani and Indian, very different. But in terms of what they're bringing together, how they're looking at music as a way of making the world smaller. And my connection to them emotionally was very similar, where I immediately was like, I want to get lost in this music. This music that has a way of kind of unfurling like smoke. There's a track here called Nine Jeweled Prayer that's almost 10 minutes long, and I could have taken 20.

[Robert Moore]

Yeah, and that was the one that really struck me last night. I was listening to it over and over, actually, as I fell asleep to it.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Sam.

[Robert Moore]

She's so rooted in the devotional side of Tamil music, and I wonder how it's taken, how it's accepted in South Asia. When she mixes contemporary Western music, is that a slight to the devotional side? But I just think that her purpose is to just spread the message and spread the music. And she just has so much emotion in her singing. There's a few tracks that remind me a bit of Lisa Gerard's vocal work with Dead Can Dance. Her range is just amazing.

[Stephen Thompson]

I love the idea of listening to this as I fall asleep. I didn't even really think to do that. I was thinking of this as music to wake up to, music to kind of expand your mind and feel a rare moment of being at peace with the world. And that, to me, is just the greatest gift here.

[Robert Moore]

Oh, music can do that for you. It doesn't get much better. The track that really stood out for me was Song for Sad Times. It's just a quiet beauty, almost as if it's just floating in the air of the song, and that's the track that has the most Western side to it, in my opinion. It honestly made me think of Joni Mitchell, but being raised in southern India.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, I think Song for Sad Times may be the best entry point into this record, you know, for those who are curious about trying it out. And maybe that's because it's evoking the most Western music. But that song is an absolute stunner and one that I'm going to be revisiting all year long. That's Nilam, a wonderful new record by gnavia out today, May 23rd. We've got some more great records we're going to be talking about on this installment of New Music Friday, but first, let's take a quick break.

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[Stephen Thompson]

From NPR Music. It's New Music Friday. I'm Stephen Thompson with Robert Moore from Sonic spectrum on Kansas City's 90.9 the bridge. Robert, what are you playing on the show these days?

[Robert Moore]

Definitely the Robert Forster record which we're going to talk about soon, but also the brand new single from Pulp, which means their first album coming up in 24 years. Fontaine's D.C. absolutely. The new Wet Leg and an English band on Domino called Sorry.

[Stephen Thompson]

Nice. So Robert, what is the best way for people who are not in Kansas.

[Robert Moore]

City to listen to sonic spectrum bridge909.org, it airs Central Time Saturdays from 6 to 8pm but it's also archived on the website.

[Stephen Thompson]

Robert, you mentioned Robert Forster and one of the reasons we asked you back so soon is that after we were done taping, our producer Otis Hart and I were talking to you about your favorite music, your all time favorite bands, and you and Otis started gushing and bonding over your shared love of the Go Betweens. And once we saw that Robert Forster from the Go Betweens had a new record out, we realized that we absolutely had to have you back.

[Robert Moore]

Glad to be able to gush on air about my favorite songwriter.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Good to cry yes, Good to cry Suddenly.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Suddenly.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

It's good to cry yeah could you cry?

[Unknown Speaker 2]

It's good to cry.

[Robert Moore]

The Go Betweens, in my opinion, were one of, if not the most underrated band of the 1980s. Forster and his songwriting partner, the late Grant McLennan, were my Lennon and McCartney, to be honest. And unfortunately, his McCartney passed in 2006. But I can vividly remember 1986 at home watching 120 Minutes, when MTV actually was, you know, a strong influence musically. And they played the Go Between Spring Rain, which was a Forester Pen tune.

[Stephen Thompson]

Just like Spring Rain.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Falling down like.

[Robert Moore]

And the very next day I drove straight to Moby Disk Records in Sherman Oaks, California, went straight to their import section, which was always where the good stuff was back then. And I found the CD and paid 25 bucks for it then. I still have that CD and it remains one of my favorite albums to this day.

[Stephen Thompson]

Well, Robert Forster's new album is called Strawberries. Let's hear a little bit of the song. Tell it back to me.

[Robert Moore]

And this track, more than any on the album, harkens back two classic go betweens, in my opinion.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

What do you see in the distance? What do you see through the wall? Fresh love is good love is new love Ah, we see it all he.

[Robert Moore]

Still has his tongue in cheek Stories of love affairs gone by like the great line Fresh love is good love is new love this album comes off as a celebration of life, which it is, because the last album, the Candle and the Flame themes were mortality and survival after his wife's recent cancer diagnosis and the loss of his mother. So this new album was written after his wife, thankfully went into remission. And it celebrates the little things in life, according to Forrester.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Someone ate all the strawberries.

[Robert Moore]

Someone could.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Have been me they tasted out of.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

The ordinary what can ordinary be? What can ordinary be?

[Stephen Thompson]

The title track from this record, Strawberries, is this light and blissful, kind of almost silly duet with his wife, Karen Bromler, about the fact that he had, like, eaten an entire bowl of strawberries.

[Robert Moore]

Without sharing it with her, right and his reply when confronted by her when she came back in from the beach was, they were out of the ordinary. Hence the lyric in the chorus. What is ordinary anyway? Just great poignant lines from. From Forrester. And I also love the line because I think it definitely refers to his wife is the miracle days of happiness the miracle days of togetherness have returned.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Moments of bliss Miracle days of togetherness Filled with your tender kiss we can.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Go back to what we were feeling Something like this.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

We went to the mountain we saw.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

It and we can't resist it took time to recover.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Back from the edge.

[Stephen Thompson]

Of the knife this record was produced by Peter Moran of Peter Bjorn and John. He's also playing guitar in the band. He's got this set of players with him who are so clearly admirers of his people who grew up loving the go betweens and are now, no doubt, totally thrilled to be performing with him.

[Robert Moore]

Right. This is more of a collaborative album, I believe, with these musicians than he has had with his band in the past. So I think it kind of took some of the pressure off of him because it's just much more light hearted. He sounds like he's having absolute fun with these songs.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

They had breakfast on the train.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

The.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Previous night they can't explain There was drizzle, A thread of rain but it held off to the end of the game that's when he saw her on.

[Stephen Thompson]

A bar stool these are not necessarily all diaristic songs. There are also a lot of stories about other people. The centerpiece of this album is this eight minute song called Breakfast on the Train. It's telling this story of, you know, a couple meeting. And there's a fearless quality to the storytelling coupled with such sincerity. And that song includes this line, no two stories are the same and that feels like kind of a mission statement for this record.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

No two stories are the same and love can be a winning game and.

[Robert Moore]

That is inspired by an actual experience his son Lewis had in Scotland. Apparently at a rugby match. He met somebody else who was absolutely not into rugby as well. Kindled this love affair not so casual love affairs according to him.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

Through the night the tightening screws they.

[Robert Moore]

Felt so right that's another point too. Also, that his son and daughter are a play on this album and contribute to the songwriting as well. Which I think gives Robert great joy to have his family around him, obviously with his wife on the duet in the beginning as well.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

I don't know if I can make.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

It.

[Unknown Speaker 1]

The tour went on too long Feel washed out and faded Can't Come back too strong My girlfriend gave up waiting My gardener gave up too Seasons are dry I now know why romance is not in bloom.

[Stephen Thompson]

Robert Forster still making vital music. His new album is called Strawberries. It's out today, May 23rd. Next up, another veteran artist, Mark Rebo. Mark Reebo has a new album called Map of a Blue City.

[Unknown Speaker 3]

When the world's on fire when the world's on fire where will you run? Where will you turn when the world is burning when the world's on fire.

[Stephen Thompson]

So Mark Reebo has been one of New York's great collaborators and guitarists for decades and decades now. But this record is a fascinating entry in his catalog. You know, known much more for, you know, extremely kind of exploratory, experimental guitar sounds. On this record, he is singing on all but one of the songs and really centering his voice in a way that he's never done before. Looking at the history of this record, you know, he's described it as 30 years in the making. Many of these songs he wrote in the 90s. He did a bunch of recording sessions with Hal Wilner, the legendary producer who sadly died in 2020. You know, so this. This album has been kind of percolating in his life for 30 years, and now it's finally out.

[Unknown Speaker 3]

Will a voice come answer from a bush that's burning Calling out the whirlwind when the world's on fire and the flood Water's swirling and the world is burning Will the rock of ages clap for you? Now.

[Robert Moore]

This is the album where he becomes a singer songwriter, quote, unquote, for the first time, really. There's never been any doubt that he's a revered guitarist, but for me, this really ups his game. It's the first album to me, as a front person that I absolutely adore by him. I've always respected him as a side man, especially like Tom Waits and Elvis Costello. But this record really caught me off guard.

[Stephen Thompson]

You know, that song when the World's on fire is from 1930. You know, as you mentioned, it's a Carter Family song. That track, for me, is one of several in this record that really reminded me of Lou Reed and that ability to mix artistic exploration with kind of plain spoken profundity in ways that very few artists have been able to pull off.

[Unknown Speaker 3]

Take back your black vision Tiger, tiger burning burning bright Let this gentle creature breathe through earthly lungs Another hour.

[Robert Moore]

I definitely got a Lou Reed vibe off this entire record as well. And sometimes a little bit of Mark Knopfler just in his delivery and his spoken. It's just a beautiful record. And, I mean, his guitar playing in the background is just mesmerizing.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah. And this record opens with a song called Elizabeth, which, you know, is mourning the death of a loved one. And I immediately. It pulled me back to, like, Lou Reed's song what's good from 1992, which is one of my favorite songs Lou Reed wrote. Of all the brilliant songs he wrote, they're both very directly and explicitly mourning a painful loss in ways that really resonated with me. And that song's gonna stick with me for a long time.

[Unknown Speaker 3]

So we laid our father down Swiftly flows gentle Garden State Parkway river of lost souls Commuting onward through eternal night Remember who drove like you now I was dreaming again Elizabeth.

[Robert Moore]

The track that really stood out for me was Daddy's Trip to Brazil. So kind of a dark bossa nova, which he revisits a bad memory with the lyric, I have nothing to say to the local engaged intellectuals. I don't want to be reminded of what I did here in 1998, which. Which I really want to know what he did.

[Stephen Thompson]

I know exactly.

[Robert Moore]

He does not elaborate.

[Stephen Thompson]

I love a lyric that implies a larger story. And, you know, if you let yourself kind of sit with it for a second, you're suddenly writing a whole story in your head.

[Unknown Speaker 3]

I had nothing to say to the local inquiry. Engage intellectuals.

[Stephen Thompson]

And this record has a bunch of moments like that. It's a bunch of songs that he wrote, in some cases, a long time time ago, while also kind of revisiting other works we. We mentioned when the World's on Fire kind of at the top of the segment. There's also a track that is, like, kind of resetting and recalibrating an Allen ginsberg poem from 1949 called Sometime Jailhouse Blues.

[Unknown Speaker 3]

Sometimes I look up in light.

[Stephen Thompson]

So you get this mix of poetry and observation and, you know, songs that have kind of unfolded slowly over the course of 30 years. Some of these songs are rooted in these home demos he made. Some of these are rooted in sessions he made with Hal Wilner. But they all sound so cohesive once they're kind of completed and put together.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Sometimes the tears of death will blind.

[Unknown Speaker 3]

All that was worldly, wise or fair Sometimes tears of death will blind.

[Robert Moore]

All.

[Unknown Speaker 3]

That was worldly, wise and fair.

[Robert Moore]

It feels like, you know, he's been working on these songs forever because they feel a part of him. Another track, Death of a Narcissist, reminded me of one of my other favorite current singer songwriters, Bonnie Prince Billy just the storytelling and the style and that line lead a life of quiet desperation. Just seems right out of a Bonnie Prince Billy's song.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

That's the way it is as long as time, time itself.

[Stephen Thompson]

Keep.

[Unknown Speaker 3]

Keep running baby.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Keep running.

[Unknown Speaker 3]

Keep running baby.

[Stephen Thompson]

That is Map Map of a Blue City by Mark Reebo. We've got one more record we want to talk about in depth, as well as a lightning round of some of our other favorites. But first, let's take a quick break.

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[Stephen Thompson]

From NPR Music. It's New Music Friday. Next up, Thalia's Zedek Band has a new record called the Boat outside your window.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Holding on fighting like a drowning man pulls us down while we try to keep our heads above. There's a tsunami waiting at the precipice holding back.

[Robert Moore]

Beautiful new record. I think it's her most stripped down and accessible in many years and it's a songwriting masterpiece, balancing her cutting lyrics and beautiful melodies while still containing her signature guitar dissonant sound. Just such an amazing and underrated guitarist, in my opinion.

[Stephen Thompson]

We alluded at the very, very top of this episode to how many veteran artists are putting out vital records this year. The band for which she's probably best known started in 1990 and I remember falling in love with with her music with this record cum put out in 1992. We're talking about 30 plus years. You're listening to this record now and she's grown into that kind of ragged, raspy, weary quality of her voice where like now she's really coming by it honestly and making records full of these kind of searing observations, turning her insights inward in ways that really struck me.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Some people say that this house of cards will follow you collapse around us all. It's hard to believe that we can't agree what's real. Do you feel like you Are.

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She.

[Robert Moore]

Sounds like Marianne Faithfull. Faithfull spent her formative years in the punk rock and no wave scenes, which Zedek did with Live Skull and the no Wave scene. Her lyrics are always very pointed, very heartfelt, but again, oftentimes I'm reminded of Lou Reed and his songwriting as well.

[Stephen Thompson]

There's a track on this record called Dissolve. You're reminded in song after song that she is such a phenomenon guitarist, you know, and she's performing these, you know, these rich, ragged kind of blues rock pocket epics where the intensity is just only growing as the song progresses. It's just this triumphant fire in the belly rock song she like kind of addresses is how long she's been doing this. She sings, I forgot my age even though it's in my face.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

And I forgot my age even though it's in my face Sending love your way from another hiding place.

[Robert Moore]

I believe her guitar playing should be mentioned alongside people like Mary Timoney, Carrie Brownstein and Lee Ronaldo as the finest of her generation of indie rock players.

[Stephen Thompson]

And like several of those artists you mentioned, Mary Timney, I mean, really underappreciated in the mainstream. Certainly have strong. Have built strong, strong followings over the course of decades playing music, but really don't get enough mainstream credit for being just phenomenal instrumental talents.

[Robert Moore]

I also think the drumming of Gavin McCarthy from Karate is absolutely top shelf piece. Just added a whole new sound to.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Her band, making sure they've got somewhere to stay.

[Robert Moore]

The track that really got me was Circus.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Everyone is gathering their papers.

[Robert Moore]

The line, Everyone is gathering their papers just in case. And her motion is always on display in her singing.

[Stephen Thompson]

And again, coming back, recurring themes. Also people with. With pretty intense, in some cases, radical politics, who are making bold statements with their music, who are not running out of source material for songs that have a lot to say.

[Robert Moore]

And that's when the most important artists step up are in times like that.

[Stephen Thompson]

That's Thalia Zedek band. Their new album is called the Boat Outside youe Window. Robert we could not possibly get to every record that is out today, May 23rd, so we wanted to do a quick lightning round of some of the other great albums out today. I'm gonna kick us off. The Spanish singer and multi instrumentalist Rosowski smashes together just about as many genres as you can name. Techno, hip hop, reggaeton, so much more. And does it with the aid of other groundbreaking collaborators, including Ralphie Chiu and Raven Linne on his new album. Rosowski rarely stays in one place for long, but he always lands somewhere worth visiting. Rosowski's new album is called Daisy.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

I Wanna Feel Good.

[Robert Moore]

My first pick is a band called Moontide, a Chicago quartet that's about to release their sophomore full length. It's that classic, infectious 90s style indie pop that I love so much. The band Moon Type, from their album I Let the Wind Push down on Me. The track is Long Country.

[Stephen Thompson]

Matthew Arango, AKA Cola Boy, was a musician and disability activist who died last year. The day he passed, he turned in a new album which is out today. It's a joyful and eclectic set of playful, funky, danceable pop music. Cola Boy described himself as a disabled disco innovator and his music really was innovative. It's catchy and spacey, but also at times deeply political. His new album is called Quit To Play Chess.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

Four Decisions We Made they gonna get.

[Robert Moore]

Me in trouble they gonna get me.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

In trouble.

[Robert Moore]

Well, this may be a little bit out of left field for public radio, but one of my favorite metal bands of the last 20 years is a Swedish band called Witchcraft Band that came on the scene in 2004. Heavily influenced by Black Sabbath and doom and stoner metal, they did record some electric folk albums in between, but have now returned to their metal roots. The new album is Idag. Is it Idag or just letters? The track is in Swedish. Dromar a Vis leader Magnus Pellander said this album will reap souls and destroy wicked minds.

[Stephen Thompson]

That's the dream.

[Robert Moore]

If you're a fan of Black Sabbath.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

You have to love Witchcraft.

[Stephen Thompson]

Finally, I'm going to close us out with an esoteric project worth celebrating. The Swedish band Death and Vanilla specializes in reimagining obscure soundtracks and scores. And I have to say, listening to their new album, I want to hear them make new movie scores because their work is really evocative and compelling. Their new one is a haunting, ambient, folkloric accompaniment to a 1968 TV show called Whistle and I'll Come to youo. And it totally works, Even for the 99.9% of people who've never seen or heard the source material again. That's Death and Vanilla with Whistle and I'll Come to you. Parentheses reimagined score We've talked about a ton of of great stuff. I'm gonna ask you to do the impossible and pick one song that you would say is your favorite song from this week of new music.

[Robert Moore]

It was tough, but I would have to say Talia Zedek Band's Circus all.

[Unknown Speaker 2]

The operators have gone home and the dealers won't pick up their phone. Anyone? That's somewhere to go.

[Stephen Thompson]

That's a great one. I'm gonna go with Song for Sad Times by Gnavia that is going to be part of my Go to Sunday Morning Peaceful Contemplative playlist. Please check out that record if you haven't heard it already. If you're listening to us on Spotify, leave a comment on this episode with the best song that you've heard this week. We love for people to share their own favorites. That is our show for this week. Thank you, Robert Moore, for taking time out of your week hosting sonic spectrum on 90.9 the bridge in Kansas City.

[Robert Moore]

Thank you. It's been quite an honor.

[Stephen Thompson]

It is a pleasure to have you. If you enjoyed this week's show, we always appreciate a positive review on Apple or Spotify or whatever app you're listening to right now. This episode was produced by Simon Rentner and edited by Otis Hart. The executive producer of NPR Music is Soraya Mohamed and her boss is Keith Jenkins, NPR's vice president of music and visuals. We'll be back next week to talk about the new solo album from the Nationals, Matt Berninger and more with Jackson Wisdorf of public radio station KXT in North Texas. Until then, take a moment to be well. Stay mindful of your work life balance and treat yourself to lots of great foreign this message comes From NPR Sponsor 1Password Secure access to your online world, from emails to banking, so you can protect what matters most with 1Password for a free 2 week trial, go to.

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