New Music Friday: The best albums out May 30

Summary

All Songs Considered: New Music Friday - The Best Albums Out May 30, 2025

Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: Jackson Wisdorf from KXT, North Texas
Release Date: May 30, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of All Songs Considered, Stephen Thompson and his guest, Jackson Wisdorf from KXT in North Texas, delve into the standout albums released on May 30, 2025. The discussion centers around themes of introspection, grief, hope, and the blending of diverse musical styles. The hosts provide in-depth analysis of each featured album, highlighting collaborations, lyrical depth, and production nuances.

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1. Matt Berninger – Get Sunk, Put the Powder

Overview: Matt Berninger, best known as the frontman of The National, releases his second solo album, Get Sunk, Put the Powder. This record marks a period of introspection following his move from Los Angeles to Connecticut with his family, resulting in some of his most emotionally resonant work to date.

Key Points:

• Themes of Reflection: The album grapples with personal hardships and acceptance, imbued with an undercurrent of hope.
• Collaborations: Produced by Sean O'Brien, featuring contributions from Meg Duffy (Hand Habits), members of The Walkmen, and Kyle Resnick from The National. Notably, Booker T. Jones adds depth with his organ swell in the final track.
• Notable Tracks:
  • Bonnet of Pins: Begins with a somber tone before building into a more dynamic and hopeful sound.
    • Quote: "Bonnet of Pins starts out seemingly wallowing in that sad dad kind of gloomy guy mode, but then it builds into something with more kind of flow. Fire in its belly." [03:39]
  • Breaking Into Acting: Features a tender collaboration with Meg Duffy, embodying the message of persevering through life's challenges.
    • Quote: "There's a really tender sound to it... telling this message about getting through life, essentially by faking it till you make it." [05:41]

Insights: Jackson Wisdorf remarks on the common critique of The National as "sick, sad dad music," but observes that Berninger approaches these themes with an air of acceptance and grandeur, transforming personal sorrow into a relatable and uplifting narrative.

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2. Yule – Evangelical

Overview: Yule, the pseudonym of Singapore-born Nachmiel, releases their fourth album, Evangelical. Drawing heavy inspiration from video games and internet culture, this record fuses hyper-pop, classical elements, emo, and ’90s alternative rock.

Key Points:

• Musical Diversity: The album is a whirlwind of genres, creating "epic soundscapes" that oscillate between fear and hope.
• Production Choices: Collaboration with producers like AG Cook, with a deliberate move away from AI to preserve the album's human and emotional quality.
• Notable Tracks:
  • Doomsday: Exhibits a mix of dystopian vibes with moments of emotional relief.
    • Quote: "With you I see / Watch the sun to you / Just like a car / Takes away a man from the darks." [10:19]
  • Kissed That Summer: Highlights the calming and hopeful aspects amidst chaotic themes.
    • Quote: "There’s no ordinary way to make it through the fade / Kiss that summer let's get caught / Feel some courage to step into where the dark is not an ending but a start." [37:50]

Insights: Jackson appreciates how Yule integrates "ragged, jagged edges" to maintain a human touch in their music, allowing listeners to navigate through the complex emotions presented. The album's production enhances its thematic depth, making each track a unique journey.

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3. Ben Queller – Cover the Mirrors

Overview: Ben Queller releases Cover the Mirrors, a poignant album processing the tragic loss of his 16-year-old son, Dorian, in 2023. The album features collaborations with notable artists such as Katie Crutchfield from Waxahatchee, the Flaming Lips, and MJ Lenderman.

Key Points:

• Themes of Grief and Healing: The album serves as a musical exploration of loss, community support, and finding hope amidst sorrow.
• Collaborative Depth: The track Killer B, featuring the Flaming Lips, connects Queller with Nell Smith’s grieving parents, showcasing a shared journey through loss.
  • Quote: "Killer B killing me / Toss me like a cast away to hide what I..." [20:48]
• Notable Tracks:
  • Oh, Dorian: Featuring MJ Lenderman, it reflects on cherished memories with his son.
    • Quote: "Dorian, my best friend. I can't wait to hang out in the blue..." [23:23]
  • Letter to Agony: A heartfelt love letter to his wife, Liz, intertwining themes of enduring love and persistent grief.
    • Quote: "All of your sweet talk and fine lines that you walk / Are making me mad at you and I wanna be mean to you..." [24:00]

Insights: Stephen emphasizes the grace and beauty in Queller’s ability to channel personal tragedy into a shared tapestry of community and healing through music. Jackson highlights the Texas music scene's supportive nature, reinforcing how Queller’s work resonates deeply with listeners.

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4. Alan Sparhawk – With Trampled By Turtles

Overview: Alan Sparhawk, known for his work with Low, collaborates with the folk-punk band Trampled By Turtles on his solo album With Trampled By Turtles. This partnership melds Sparhawk’s minimalist, reflective style with the high-energy, bluegrass-influenced sound of Trampled By Turtles.

Key Points:

• Musical Fusion: The album strikes a balance between Low's spare, melancholic tones and Trampled By Turtles' vibrant, fast-paced rhythms.
• Emotional Undertones: Following the passing of Sparhawk’s wife, Mimi Parker, the album serves as a healing journey, with his daughter Hollis contributing vocals on the track Not Broken.
  • Quote: "I'm not angry. It's not broken." [28:43]
• Notable Tracks:
  • Not Broken: Features Hollis Sparhawk, symbolizing the continuation of Low’s legacy.
    • Quote: "I'm not angry. It's not broken. I'm not angry." [28:43]
  • Heaven: Reflects on solitude and the desire to be with loved ones.
    • Quote: "Heaven, it's a lonely place if you're alone / I wanna be there with the people that I love." [28:34]

Insights: Stephen and Jackson discuss how the collaboration provides a warm bed of sound, allowing Sparhawk to express his emotions while honoring his late wife’s memory. The inclusion of his daughter adds a transcendent and personal layer to the album, making it a touching tribute.

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5. Amy Milan – I Went to Find

Overview: Amy Milan, renowned for her role in Stars and Broken Social Scene, returns with her first solo album in over 15 years, titled I Went to Find. The album is a rich tapestry of layered textures and introspective lyrics, reflecting her long-standing experience in the music industry.

Key Points:

• Emotional Depth: The album explores themes of aging, memory, and the enduring impact of time on personal relationships.
• Production and Collaboration: Worked with Jay McCarroll, whose duet reignites her passion and connects her music to her early experiences.
• Notable Tracks:
  • Wire Walks: A reflection on the misconception that time heals all wounds.
    • Quote: "I lied when I said that time would catch your head. I thought about when I was younger, time would mend all wounds, but I was wrong." [35:06]
  • Kissed That Summer: Emphasizes courage and embracing new beginnings.
    • Quote: "Feel some courage to step into where the dark is not an ending but a start." [37:50]

Insights: Jackson praises the layered textures and soundscapes that Amy creates, highlighting how her music serves as a balm for both herself and her listeners. The album’s exploration of acceptance and embracing life's challenges resonates deeply, aligning with the overarching themes of the episode.

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Lightning Round: Additional Noteworthy Albums

1. Obongjayar – Paradise Now

   • Artist Background: London-based Steven Umo blends Afrobeat, soul, reggae, and pop.
   • Highlight: Charismatic energy and genre-defying sounds.
   • Recommendation: Must-watch Tiny Desk Concert.

2. Lion Milk – Debut on Stones Throw Records

   • Artist Background: Moki Kawaguchi delivers a DIY aesthetic with jazzy, cathartic soundscapes.
   • Highlight: Multi-instrumental prowess and emotionally resonant melodies.
   • Recommendation: Comparable to the likes of MF Doom and Madlib.

3. Caroline – Caroline 2

   • Artist Background: English band known for communal spirit and improvisational style.
   • Highlight: Blend of folk, rock, and emo with grand emotional statements.
   • Recommendation: Enjoy their vibrant Tiny Desk concert.

4. Civic Chrome – Dipped Love

   • Artist Background: Australian band revitalizing post and proto-punk with contemporary sounds.
   • Highlight: Energetic tracks reminiscent of early Buzzcocks and the Vibrators.
   • Recommendation: Notable tracks like "Way a Great Track."

5. Kassim Naqvi – Endling

   • Artist Background: Known as the drummer for Dawn of Midi, now an inventive solo composer.
   • Highlight: Haunting, futuristic instrumentals exploring the end of humanity.
   • Recommendation: A blend of darkness and beauty through instrumental storytelling.

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Favorite Tracks Highlight

• Jackson's Pick: Not Broken by Alan Sparhawk featuring Trampled By Turtles. The heartfelt inclusion of Hollis Sparhawk provides a deeply moving experience, symbolizing healing and legacy.

  • Quote: "It's somebody who is related to Mimi Parker, that was a really transcendent experience." [43:57]

• Stephen's Pick: Not Broken by Alan Sparhawk. The realization of Hollis’s voice connecting to Mimi Parker adds profound emotional depth.

  • Quote: "I'm not angry. It's not broken." [28:43]

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Conclusion

The episode wraps up with a reflection on the powerful emotional journeys these albums offer. From Matt Berninger’s introspective musings to the collaborative healing in Alan Sparhawk’s work, and Amy Milan’s layered textures, each album provides a unique avenue for processing and embracing life's complexities through music.

Final Thoughts:

• Stephen Thompson: "I could nerd out with you for hours and I suspect I will."
• Jackson Wisdorf: "Just talking about music. No better way to spend a Friday."

Listeners are encouraged to explore these albums to experience the rich emotional landscapes and musical innovations discussed.

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Produced by: Simon Rentner
Edited by: Otis Hart
Executive Producer: Soraya Muhammad
NPR Music Vice President: Keith Jenkins

Until next week, enjoy your musical explorations and take a moment to reflect and find solace in the power of music.

Transcript

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[Unknown Singer]

My rest, be my fantasy.

[Stephen Thompson]

Happy Friday, everyone. From NPR Music. It's NEW MUSIC Friday. I'm Stephen Thompson here with Jackson Wisdorf from KXT in North Texas. While welcome to the show.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

Jackson hey, thanks so much for having me. Steven. Glad to be here.

[Stephen Thompson]

I'm so glad to have you. Now, if you're listening to the music behind me, you are, of course, hearing the sounds of Sufjan Stevens album Carrie and Lowell.

[Unknown Singer]

I'm light as a feather.

[Stephen Thompson]

I don't know how that's already been 10 years, but if you're interested in that record, you should definitely check out Robin Hilton's interview with Sufjan Stevens, which we just published in this podcast feed. Sufjan Stevens really opened up about the album. As a huge fan of that record. I was surprised to hear how critical he was.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

I'm excited to listen to that interview.

[Stephen Thompson]

This week has a lot of records about embracing hard things head on. And the Sufyan Stevens record, you know, it's reflecting on really poignant things, whether he likes it or not. And Jackson, you've heard, obviously, all the records we're talking about this week. It's remarkable how many are about just like dealing with hardships in your life.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

Some trauma being worked out, certainly on a lot of them, but also some nice themes of hope I've come to find on a lot of these.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah. Well, let's get it started. First record we're talking about out today May 30th. Matt Berninger from the national has a new solo record. It's called Get Sunk, Put the powder.

[Unknown Singer]

In metal water bottle going swimming there in a limestone core. It's Saturday inside of there put the powder.

[Stephen Thompson]

This is his second solo album. He moved from LA to Connecticut with his wife and daughter, which naturally gave him time and space for introspective and I would say sort of a creative awakening. And some of these songs are the best he's done in ages.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

Yeah.

[Unknown Singer]

She sidewinders through the rooms of me with a real cigarette and a Styrofoam coffin. And she's still wearing her father's feather jacket.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

I feel like the national kind of gets dragged by some people for being sick, sad dad music. I've heard that a couple times.

[Stephen Thompson]

As a sad dad, I get it.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

It kind of seems as if he's looking back on his life on this Album Remembering Times, even if they weren't the most amazing times in the world. There's kind of like an air of acceptance to the way life is sometimes on this album. That's kind of what I was picking up on.

[Stephen Thompson]

Even the title of the record, Get Sunk, is kind of reflecting on that need for introspection. But as you kind of alluded to Jackson, there are notes of hope here and sounds that are conjuring a certain amount of grandeur. There's a song on this record called Bonnet of Pins, and it starts out seemingly wallowing in that sad dad kind of gloomy guy mode, but then it builds into something with more kind of flow. Fire in its belly.

[Unknown Singer]

I know that you miss me?

[Stephen Thompson]

I know that you miss me.

[Unknown Singer]

This stuff takes a lifetime. She finishes off my drink? Puts out a bottle of goods and stand aside? Thought I'd find you much quicker than this? You must have thought I didn't exist? Oh, you I do I thought I'd.

[Stephen Thompson]

Find you much quicker than this?

[Unknown Singer]

You must have thought I didn't exist? All for you. I needed a walk? I needed a swim? I flew to Indiana to see your.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

Friend for me, it was inland ocean just is beautiful, you know, the album starts with that, and it kind of just keeps moving.

[Unknown Singer]

Say you're never getting rid of me Wrap me up and bury me.

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And.

[Unknown Singer]

Bury me and bury me.

[Stephen Thompson]

He's not obviously working with most of the members of the national on this record, but he's working with a lot of really interesting collaborators. You know, he's produced by Sean o' Brien, Meg Duffy from Hand Habits, members of the Walkman, Kyle Resnick from the national, you know, and I appreciated hearing some kind of other voices and other sounds woven into what he does.

[Unknown Singer]

Everybody say it's a gift you should use.

[Stephen Thompson]

There's a song called Breaking Into Acting that has this really tender sound to it, and a guest vocal from Meg Duffy from Hand Habits. And you get this song that's coming from this really tender and thoughtful place, telling this message about getting through life, essentially by faking it till you make it.

[Unknown Singer]

Always have a cheat sheet in your jacket. You're breaking into acting? You'll do anything to be discovered. He's getting out of hell. Your mouth is always full of blood packets. Breaking into acting Gonna make me a fan.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

There's something to be said about the folks that are helping them out on this album, too. The ones you listed. I also wanna say Booker T. Jones was involved in the project, which is really cool and something that was unexpected.

[Unknown Singer]

Get Dr. Get Some.

[Stephen Thompson]

You mentioned Booker T. Jones. You know, there's this organ swell right near the end of the record. The last track on this album is called Times of Difficulty. And it's, you know, a really plain spoken kind of examination of life that reminded me of Lou Reed. But just like Lou Reed, it's not all downcast. There's also hope to it. There's also perspective.

[Unknown Singer]

If we're not dying, then what are we?

[Jackson Wisdorf]

I think you hit the nail on the head with that one. A lot of songs about things that may seem like mundane day to day, but if you're looking at it through the lens of someone who's experiencing them, it's just really done well.

[Unknown Singer]

In times of difficulty. In times of Difficulty.

[Stephen Thompson]

Get Sunk is the new album from Matt Berninger of the National. Next up, it is a new record by Yule. It is called Evangelical.

[Unknown Singer]

Dynamite. That breaks me in all of my names that are tears she's dark and.

[Stephen Thompson]

Defined so Yule, for those who don't know, has been around for a while now. This is their fourth album. Yule is a pseudonym for a pseudonym. Nachmiel is the singer born in Singapore, inspired heavily by video games and the Internet. Yule itself is a reference to the video game Final Fantasy, which is how I'm going to get my kid to listen to this record because it is terrific. You know, kind of a mix of hyper and classical music and emo and 90s alt rock.

[Unknown Singer]

Don't go on your thumb. Just pretend to be dead.

[Stephen Thompson]

Songs about love and lust in the modern world. It's just throwing a million ideas at these songs. Just a dizzying and exciting record that just packs an incredible number of ideas into about a half an hour.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

Epic soundscapes on this album. And I like how it kind of goes back and forth scary to, oh, it's a little bit lighter and we're doing okay. And then it's scary again. And then back and forth. An excellent production. Even on those scary songs, Yul's voice still has this kind of calm, airy delivery to it. Kind of like a friendly voice guiding you through these kind of scary moments.

[Unknown Singer]

With you I see Watch the sun to you Just like a car Takes away a man from the darks.

[Stephen Thompson]

You mentioned the production. They're working with a lot of different producers here, including AG Cook, who can kind of make music that feels mechanical in a way. But Yule wanted to get away from some of that. And so they were really like deliberately eschewing AI, which, frankly, everyone should do, and finding these ragged, jagged edges of their voice to give it that human quality time.

[Unknown Singer]

Always a fine spot in Christmas. She looks at me with eyes so full of pain I draw her to the end.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

I find it really interesting. I was reading up on this record and a lot of it was in part influenced by the kind of dystopian surrealist Polish artist. If you look at some of his art and you listen alongside songs like Doo Doo or Skull Crusher on the album, it has that kind of dystopian vibe to it, but there's those little like airy parts that kind of are relief from those scary times.

[Stephen Thompson]

Analyzing these lyrics that fly by, you really get a sense of how Yul is looking at the world and looking at music as a way to reflect on melancholy feelings of discontentment, as a way of finding comfort and a way to sit still with yourself for a.

[Unknown Singer]

Second and why was a real rabbit before I was me? Why was a real rabbit running away with me in all my therapy glory? You shut away, you were shut away, you were shut away In When I'm your best friend it's a. I just.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

Think there's something to be said about just the way that they put everything together.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, and listening to it in totality is a very different experience from having a track pop up here and there on a playlist. And depending on what track you land on, it's going to take you to a lot of different places. That title track is going to take you to someplace very heavy compared to some of these songs that have a lighter touch.

[Unknown Singer]

Honey.

[Stephen Thompson]

That'S Evangelic. Girl is a Gun by Yule One of the terrific albums out today, May 30th. We've got some more albums we're going to get to, but first, 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 here with Jackson Wisdor from KXT in North Texas. Jackson, give us a sense of what you do at kxt because I know you've been around the public radio system for a while.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

Yeah, you know, I've been kind of in it since college. I did college radio and ended up interning way out in far West Texas at MARF Public Radio. Have kind of just been in it ever since then. I'm the manager of radio operations for kera, which is our NPR station. And I also do a nightly Monday through Friday shift, play some tunes on the air on kxt. So it's kind of the the perfect situation for me.

[Stephen Thompson]

We've got a bunch more great records to talk about. Next up is Ben Queller. Ben Queller has a new album called Cover the Mirrors.

[Unknown Singer]

Sitting right here with you, face to face, surrounded by walls holding all the weight inside of us. Never really know what a person can take till the wind is knocked out and you don't want to wait. But you know that you must believe in us. Don't care, don't give in when your heart aches. Don't let the bridge between us break.

[Stephen Thompson]

Apart.

[Unknown Singer]

Your heart is much stronger than your sake.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

Don't cave. 1. From the new album called Cover the Mirrors. Ben is back in fine form on this album. It's some of the best I've heard from him in a while. And you know, something to be said about all the artists that are also featured on this record, too. Katie Crutchfield from Waxahachie got the Flaming Lips making an appearance. MJ Linderman on a song. Absolutely great, especially when you dig into the subject matter, which is pretty heavy.

[Unknown Singer]

Broken bones, broken lies, I've fallen into your loving eyes.

[Stephen Thompson]

Ben queller lost his 16 year old son Dorian to a freak car accident in 2023. And reading what he's written about this record, hearing these songs, there's such useful and beautiful perspective Coming through.

[Unknown Singer]

Every choice So I don't make a noise. Cause you trap me every time all my dreams.

[Stephen Thompson]

You mentioned the collaborations on this record. There's a song called Killer B that he recorded with the Flaming Lips. And the Flaming Lips were working with a singer named Nell Smith, who also died in a car accident. She was only 17. And Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips put Nell Smith's parents in touch with Ben Queller so that they could talk about their shared grief, about the process of losing a child so young, so talented. Both of their children were musicians who had extraordinarily promising futures. And I just found so much grace and beauty in, like, not only writing songs that are grieving the loss of your own child, but songs that are grieving the loss of somebody else's and understanding that you are part of this tapestry, this community. And the way you get through pain and grief and sorrow is to lean on your community and to be available for other people in the crowd, just.

[Unknown Singer]

Taking in the simple pain that strikes again. Killer be killing me Toss me like a cast away to hide what I. I was going to say.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

Ben is a Texas guy, and I know that when Dorian passed, there was, you know, nothing but an outpouring of support for Ben. You know, he's been around the Texas music scene for a long time. I got to just hang out with him a couple times, that he's such a beautiful human and such a good songwriter. And I think all of that is being shown vividly on this album.

[Unknown Singer]

We'll be okay. This town makes your mind melt down.

[Stephen Thompson]

You see it in the collaborators, in a sense. There's a song called Dollar Store that features, as you mentioned, Katie Crutchfield from Waxahachie. Their song together finds a way to lean into this triumphant sound more.

[Unknown Singer]

We're living in a simulation I'll meet you at the dollar store she's looking at the exp. All that you want and more, more, more, more, more, more. I'm looking for some more of patience. I don't know what I'm looking for.

[Stephen Thompson]

A lot of these songs, they're processing grief, but they're also finding something hopeful on the other side, because when you live. Live a life that intersects with a lot of other people, you are going to touch grief. There is absolutely no way around it.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

Ben just has such a knack for, you know, tackling that grief in such a, you know, a great way. I think maybe my favorite on this album is the final song, oh, Dorian, which features MJ Lenderman. Where did you go It's Ben looking back on his time with his son and not being stuck in the sadness, but embracing the love that he had for Dorian's time on this earth.

[Unknown Singer]

Dorian, my best friend. I can't wait to hang out of the blue I feel like I am walking through tunnels down to the door.

[Stephen Thompson]

There's another track called Letter to Agony. And I saw that title and I was like, oh boy.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

Yeah, get ready, get ready.

[Stephen Thompson]

It's a love letter to his wife, Liz.

[Unknown Singer]

I used to have so much.

[Stephen Thompson]

You really get a sense of this deeply hard earned love and a love that forever has threads of tragedy woven into it. But this song, that song is really reflecting on, you know, ways to find peace amid grief and allow your love to deepen as this tremendous pain is inescapable.

[Unknown Singer]

All of your sweet talk and fine lines that you walk Are making me mad at you and I wanna be mean to you but it pains me to say that cause I know it's not real.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

You know, they say people process grief differently. And I think you can pick up on how Ben deals with grief on this album. That theme is there in every single song, but it's the way that he comes out on the other end with this kind of acceptance of such a terrible thing to happen in your life.

[Stephen Thompson]

And clearly part of his coping mechanism was turning to music. Music has been a part of his life since he was a kid. He first emerged as a national figure while a teenager, is the lead singer of a band called Radish. He's clearly somebody who has needed music throughout his life. And this record, in many ways is a celebration of that as well.

[Unknown Singer]

I love you so much It'll push you away Push you away from me and then I will hate hate myself more than I do currently. My love's sick.

[Stephen Thompson]

It'S called Cover the Mirrors by Ben Queller. Next up, Alan Sparhawk from the band Low has a new solo record called With Trampled By Turtles.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

And it's with Trampled by Turtles, if you can believe that.

[Stephen Thompson]

It is. It is a very self explanatory title.

[Unknown Singer]

You gotta put up with strangers. People that you know now gotta go through some danger. Some things than you thought you'd have to. You gotta do a little research before you say that, you know, even then you gotta refir from using your own opinion.

[Stephen Thompson]

It is a collaboration between Alan Sparhawk of Low and another Duluth, Minnesota staple, the band Trampled By Turtles. And there is a lot of distance between the sounds of these two artists.

[Unknown Singer]

There is a part of you that no one knows And I don't need.

[Stephen Thompson]

Alan Sparhawk with Low famously makes really spare, sometimes really dissonant, very slow and sad, reflective music. Trampled By Turtles, by contrast, is like a folk punk, bluegrass band. They've got songs that are setting land speed records for just, like, how much kind of speed and joy and verve is in them. But Alan Sparhawk has been mentoring this band since they started out. I'm fascinated, listening to this record, by how much it meets in the middle between these two styles.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

I think Trample by Turtles just provides such a good bedrock for Alan on this. They're kind of there providing these little flourishes in the background that just work so well with Alan's voice.

[Stephen Thompson]

They put some warmth behind him. And let's address the elephant in the room here, you know. In Low, Alan Sparhawk was teamed up with his longtime wife and partner, Mimi Parker, who died in 2022. Lowe's music, you know, within that band, the juxtaposition between the Their voices, he has kind of a darker, harder voice. And her voice was really swooping and soaring and extremely warm and enveloping. And so giving him collaborators who can create a warm bed for him to set his vocals on is really beautiful. And as a fan of Low, I just found it really moving.

[Unknown Singer]

Heaven, it's a lonely place if you're alone I wanna be there with the people that I love.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

And I think there are some songs where Trampled By Turtles had has that Low vibe going on. Specifically the fiddle on screaming song kind of sounds like it could be in Alfred Hitchcock movie. Almost this suspenseful sound that the fiddle is just making throughout it. And it's not playing really extended lines or anything. It's just more of a flourish and it's adding to this vibe that is being culminated on this album.

[Stephen Thompson]

There is one song called Not Broken. There is a voice that comes in, and my immediate thought was, is that Mimi Parker? And then I was like, no, it sounds a little like her. And it's their daughter, Hollis.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

Wow.

[Stephen Thompson]

And whoo, boy, you could have knocked me over with a feather. Hearing that voice and hearing the continuation of their legacy.

[Unknown Singer]

It's not broken I'm not angry it's not broken I'm not angry it's not broken I'm not angry. Oh, that sound.

[Stephen Thompson]

That's Alan Sparhawk. It's called With Trampled By Turtles. Two great sounds that sound great together. We've got one more record we're going to talk about in depth, as well as a lightning round of some of our other favorite albums out today. May 30 but first, let's take a quick break.

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[Jackson Wisdorf]

Live from NPR News.

[Stephen Thompson]

I'm Lag A living, breathing record of your neighborhood, the country, the world, told by thousands of local journalists who live in the places where stories unfold, backed by a national newsroom that puts it all in perspective. Hear the whole country's story. Hear ways of thinking that challenge your own. Hear the bigger picture with NPR from NPR Music. It's NEW MUSIC Friday, rounding up a bunch of the best new music out today. May 30th, we wanted to talk a little more in depth about one more record. It's by Amy Milan from the band Stars. It's called called I went to find.

[Unknown Singer]

You'D done with all those habits that always get their way. The morning whispers are you gonna let another day slip away? My friends build hope with paper. When we lose another round, the circle might be broken. We were T.R. when we got found this small town.

[Stephen Thompson]

Amy Milan is one of the two singers in one of my favorite bands of all time, Starz, which has been making brilliant, beautiful music for more than 20 years now. Amy Milan is also a member of Broken Social Scene. Just a beautiful voice that always cuts through the din and stabs me in the heart in the best possible way. I just love to hear her back with some of her own music. This is her first solo album in more than 15 years. Another gorgeous record full of insights and reflections that you can only have from being in music as long as she has.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

Yeah. And I gotta say, I think my favorite part about it was the textures that were created through the mix on this album.

[Unknown Singer]

It's not the story.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

It's so layered. It was just really cool to hear Amy doing her thing, you know, making some really cool soundscapes on this album.

[Stephen Thompson]

I loved reading about this record. Amy Milan is a very smart person and a very reflective person and she talks about the way one of her songs is actually a response to a Starr's song called Ageless Beauty, which has a line time will hold its promise. In an interview Amy Milan was talking about her new song Wire Walks, and she said, I referenced Starr's ageless beauty here with the lyric, I lied when I said that time would catch your head. I thought about when I was younger, time would mend all wounds, but I was wrong. It does not. Turns out they stick around.

[Unknown Singer]

I lied when I said that time would catch your head.

[Stephen Thompson]

The perspective that you're getting with this song isn't necessarily like, your problems never go away. You're doomed. It's about learning to embrace the difficulties of life instead of waiting for them to pass. That is such a recurring theme in the albums that we're talking about this week, that this idea that your pain is part of you, you're gonna make it through the troubled times, but you're not actually going to forget them. You're going to carry that with you, and that's okay.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

Yeah. It's a form of acceptance that life goes on and you have to just find out how to deal with it.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah. And she works on this record with a collaborator she hadn't really worked with before. She performed at a benefit and was kind of paired up with a guy named Jay McCarroll. And while they were singing together, she suddenly had this reawaken of, like, a musical memory. Leaning out the window, she talks in this interview in detail about the fact that she lost her father to a car accident when she was 5. And some of her earliest memories were of singing with him. And clearly found that, like, the experience of singing with this guy was tapping into the roots of her love of music.

[Unknown Singer]

Holding on. If only their messages could find their way.

[Stephen Thompson]

To you. That was such a beautiful idea. Music as a balm, music as a curative, Music as a way of accessing who you are and accessing your emotions. She had this full circle moment in the making of this record.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

I have another quote for you, Steven. I was reading it in a press release that Amy put out. It's Just Getting Older is a trip you assume you're gonna grow out of feeling like you might fall down a hole any minute. But for me, the feeling continues to hover. I think that kind of just sums up so much of this album.

[Unknown Singer]

Easy now. My friend Emily says you alluded to.

[Stephen Thompson]

Just how beautiful this record sounds. There's a song called Kissed that Summer, and it just floats like a dandelion spore.

[Unknown Singer]

Then once I know pull me back to bed Instant moment Can we live it? Let's get to it there's no ordinary way to make it through the fade Kiss that summer let's get caught Feel some courage to step into where the dark is not an ending but a start.

[Stephen Thompson]

It is so great to have her voice back in my life. Her new album is called I Went to Find you'd. We could not possibly Jackson get to every great album that came out today May 30, but we did want to touch on some of the other great records that are out today. I'm going to kick us off the Nigerian born Obongjayar.

[Unknown Singer]

I put my hands up I can surrender I'm getting ready to fly.

[Stephen Thompson]

Londoner Steven Umo makes music under the name Obongjayo. And pinning down a single genre with this guy is basically impossible. You get Afrobeat and soul and reggae and pop all swirling together with this great charisma and energy. Do not miss his Tiny Desk concert if you haven't seen it. And don't miss his new album. It's called Paradise Now.

[Unknown Singer]

They Keep Me up all night.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

One of my favorites is this new album from Lion Milk. It's his debut on Stone's Throw Records. I'm a big fan of MF Doom and Peanut Butter Wolf and Mad Lib. You know, all these amazing artists that are on the Stone's Throw label. Moki Kawaguchi is at the head of of Lion Milk and it's really impressive. Total DIY aesthetic on this album. He's playing most of the instruments himself. It has this jazzy inspiration, but it's all kind of brought in from isolation. That leads to these beautifully cathartic soundscapes. One of the best kind of Muzak albums I've heard in a really long time.

[Stephen Thompson]

The English band Caroline performs with a communal spirit. Arty songs that splay out across folk and rock and emo and much more. With an improvisational style with lots of people chiming in to sing. Very hard band to sum up in a single excerpt, but Caroline is always conjuring big emotions and grand statements. They're a huge NPR Music favorite. They've got an amazing tiny Dess concert. Their new album is called Caroline 2.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

I'm just really glad to exist at the same time as all the great rock music we're getting from Australia. I'm thinking Ammo and the Sniffers, the Chats, all these shedrock bands, you know, who are reviving this sound. Civic Chrome, Dipped Love this album. It's the follow up to Taken by Force that came out a couple years ago. It mixes those kind of post and proto punk sensibilities with a lot of really cool contemporary punk sounds as well, there's some songs that remind me of early work by the Buzzcocks and the Vibrators, but there's also just some things that are new, you know, goals Way a great track on there. Big fan, Amazing record.

[Stephen Thompson]

Finally. Kassim Naqvi is probably best known as the drummer in the band dawn of midi, but he's also an inventive composer in his own right. His new solo album is a haunting and futuristic, mostly instrumental take on the end of humanity. As its subject matter suggests, there is a real darkness to it, but also just real beauty. It's called Endling. So, Jackson, before we go, we like to do this quick status check. We've obviously listened to a lot of music to kind of get to this point, and I was just wondering what is your favorite song that you heard that is out today?

[Jackson Wisdorf]

As someone that was borderline addicted to Elder Scrolls, Skyrim, back when it came out, it just made me feel like I was in like a tavern listening to a traveling bard. Bon Fables, the really cool kind of contemporary bard music. The album counterclockwise. I really liked Elfrieda on that album. It's just stuck with me every ever since the first time I listened to it.

[Unknown Singer]

But now it's been so long I have to sing this song and it self freedom long lost lady of the faith so turn on.

[Stephen Thompson]

Boy. Picking one song, especially with so many albums with so much emotion attached to them, it's really hard to narrow it down. I mean, I have to go with Not Broken by Alan Sparhawk from that album with Trampled by Turtles. As soon as I hear Hollis's voice come up and having that realization like this is somebody who is related to Mimi Parker, that was a really transcendent experience and something that I will really celebrate from this week of tremendous music.

[Unknown Singer]

I'm not angry. It's not broken. I'm not angry.

[Stephen Thompson]

That is our show for this week. Thank you so much, Jackson Wisdor, for taking time out of your week at KXT in North Texas.

[Jackson Wisdorf]

Thank you so much for having me, Steven. This has been so much fun, you know, just talking about music. No better way to spend a Friday.

[Stephen Thompson]

I could nerd out with you for hours and I suspect I will.

[Unknown Singer]

Hold it down. Hold it down.

[Stephen Thompson]

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 Muhammad, and her boss is Keith Jenkins. NPR's vice president of Mr. Music and Visuals. We'll be back next week to talk about the new album by Turnstile with Turnstile expert Izzy Bavis of Baltimore public Radio station wtmd. Until then, take a moment to be well, splash around in the nearest body of water and treat yourself to lots of great music.

[Unknown Singer]

It's not broken. Not broken.

[Stephen Thompson]

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