All Songs Considered: New Music Friday – The Best Albums Out Nov. 21, 2025

Podcast: All Songs Considered
Host: Stephen Thompson (NPR Music)
Guest: Justice Sanchez (KNKX, Seattle/Tacoma)
Date: November 21, 2025

Overview

In this episode of All Songs Considered, Stephen Thompson and guest Justice Sanchez dive into the top new album releases as of November 21, 2025. The conversation spans genre-blurring pop, politically charged folk, cinematic jazz fusions, and innovative R&B. The hosts share personal reflections, highlight specific tracks, and discuss the cultural and musical significance behind each work. They finish with a lightning round of additional releases worth your attention, and each select the song they'll remember most from this week's new music.

Key Albums Discussed

1. De La Soul – Cabin in the Sky

[00:44–02:01]

• De La Soul’s first album since 2016, and the first after the passing of Trugoi the Dove.
• Celebrated for reclaiming their catalog, marking a triumphant return amid previous hardships.
• Features a star-studded lineup: Q-Tip, Bilal, Slick Rick, Black Thought, Nas, and more.
• References the historical musical “Cabin in the Sky” (all-Black cast, 1940s), echoing themes of resurgence and legacy.

Memorable Quote:
"There's amazing features. There's a reunion of Native Tongues, Q-Tip is on a song... I'm really excited to dig into this record this weekend." — Justice Sanchez (01:08)

2. Tobias Jesso Jr. – Shine

[02:01–06:41]

• Jesso Jr.'s first solo record in about 10 years; interim years spent writing hits for major artists (Harry Styles, Justin Bieber).
• Won inaugural Grammy for Songwriter of the Year.
• Shine showcases raw songwriting, "timeless pop energy" reminiscent of Springsteen, but mostly just Jesso Jr. and his piano.
• Recorded on his mother’s piano in Vancouver, returning to his roots.
• Standout tracks: “Black Magic,” “Rain.”

Notable Quotes:

• "It's just incredibly raw... The songwriting is beautiful." — Justice Sanchez (03:50)
• "These songs... have the bones of pop music in them." — Stephen Thompson (04:38)

3. Haley Heynderickx & Max García Conover – What of Our Nature

[07:57–13:47]

• Collaboration born from across the country (Maine & Oregon), rooted in respective identities (Heynderickx: half Filipina; Conover: half Puerto Rican).
• Folk record grappling with America’s present and past, identity, and Woody Guthrie's legacy.
• Poignant lyrics reflecting immigrant stories, social struggle, and quiet resilience.
• Standouts: “This Morning I Am Born Again,” and a track using the words of labor activist Carlos Bulosan.

Notable Quotes:

• "Coming from two people of color that are bringing their history and their stories into the folk realm is just really, really awesome to hear." — Justice Sanchez (08:52)
• "This is a record that... could pull a lot of people into classic folk music and make fans of classic, classic folk music wake up and listen to some of the new music that's being made." — Stephen Thompson (12:18)

4. Sholto – The Sirens

[17:09–21:29]

• UK drummer/bandleader creating groove-heavy, cinematic soul-jazz inspired by Greek mythology and Studio Ghibli.
• Songs are described as “big, cinematic” with groove-driven arrangements.
• "Lamia" evokes a fantastical, dreamlike escape; "Purple Flow" is described as sinister and mysterious, perfect for mental world-building.
• Blend of structured composition and subtle improvisation.

Notable Quotes:

• "It feels like a fantasy world, kind of like Hobbit adjacent... you're like kind of a melodic stomp through a dream forest." — Justice Sanchez (19:19)
• "The word cinematic comes up so much—it really feels like you're being transported into a place where you have to make up your own visuals." — Stephen Thompson (20:09)

5. Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest – Somni

[21:29–25:54]

• Ambitious collaboration between Grammy-winning fusion band Snarky Puppy and Dutch symphonic group Metropole Orkest.
• Theme centers on dreams, "dream logic," and liminal headspace.
• 74 musicians, 410 headphones, and 256 audio channels used during live recording.
• Dark, shifting pieces like “Recurrent” reflect recurring dreams/nightmares; “Camaro” features dramatic guitar solos.
• Live video available of the full concert performance.

Notable Quotes:

• "There are huge twists and turns that capture your ear and really draw you in." — Justice Sanchez (22:47)
• "Thematically, this is an album about dreams... Each of these pieces is supposed to represent a different part of the experience of being asleep, but in the most unsettling ways." — Stephen Thompson (23:31)
• "I wrote down: World class shredding." — Justice Sanchez (25:03)

6. Odile – The Fall That Saved Us

[27:08–30:18]

• Odile (Hilary Dennis Oudano), German-Nigerian singer-songwriter, blends R&B and Afrobeat influences.
• Album flows through sensual, atmospheric tracks and explores the concept of “Lustropolis”—a nonphysical place of mind.
• Notable collaborations: Wizkid on “Nights in the Sun.”
• Short but impactful: 9 tracks, 24 minutes.

Notable Quotes:

• "He's definitely given that place a sound. The song Pretty Girls feels like it is emanating from a place called Lustropolis." — Stephen Thompson (28:45)
• "It is a pretty sensual record, and I like the afrobeat sounds. The low end and the bass... really stand out." — Justice Sanchez (29:26)

Lightning Round – Other Essential Releases

[30:18–34:45]

• Keaton Henson – Parader
  "Turns up the volume... rangier, more powerful, more dynamic... still tender and vulnerable." — Stephen Thompson
• John Scofield & Dave Holland – Memories of Home
  "Two legendary jazz musicians, now a duo—perfect for a mellow evening." — Justice Sanchez
• Fabiano do Nascimento – Cave Jazz
  "Blends 7- and 8-string guitar, world percussion, organic and enveloping." — Stephen Thompson
• Magic Fig – Valerian Tea
  "Playful, psychedelic, blissed out... feels like an alternative soundtrack to Adventure Time." — Justice Sanchez
• Max Richter – Hamnet (score)
  "Sad and sweeping and beautiful as you might expect." — Stephen Thompson

Standout Song Picks

[35:56–37:51]

• Justice Sanchez:
  “Fluorescent Light” by Haley Heynderickx & Max García Conover
  "It's talking about America and how we're under fluorescent light a lot of the time. It doesn't really matter if you're in prison or in school..." (35:56)

• Stephen Thompson:
  “This Morning I Am Born Again” by Haley Heynderickx & Max García Conover
  "I kind of had a Ratatouille moment when... suddenly he's a child again. I had [that] experience listening to this song." (36:49)

Memorable Moments, Insights & Quotes

• On the folk record’s echoes of heritage:
  "They're wrestling... with identity and the people who inspired them, and also wrestling with the legacy of Woody Guthrie..." — Stephen Thompson (09:17)
• On Snarky Puppy’s genre-melting:
  "Their sound moves well beyond jazz. They're working with Metropole Orkest, a Dutch group that makes symphonic blends of jazz and classical, pop, and more contemporary sounds." — Stephen Thompson (21:29)
• Distilling the album experience:
  "Nine songs in 24 minutes. There's not really a wasted moment here. It really grabs your attention from the jump." — Stephen Thompson on Odile (30:18)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• De La Soul: 00:44–02:01
• Tobias Jesso Jr.: 02:01–06:41
• Haley Heynderickx & Max García Conover: 07:57–13:47
• Sholto: 17:09–21:29
• Snarky Puppy & Metropole Orkest: 21:29–25:54
• Odile: 27:08–30:18
• Lightning Round: 30:18–34:45
• Song Picks: 35:56–37:51

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode maintains a warm, conversational, and passionate tone. Both hosts share deep respect and excitement for the music discussed, blending personal anecdotes with journalistic analysis. They speak honestly about being moved by the albums (several references to “heavy” or “raw” moments), and there is a palpable sense of discovery and reverence for music’s power to reflect and shape culture.

Conclusion

This episode is a treasure trove for music fans seeking insightful commentary, emotional context, and genuine enthusiasm about new releases across genres—especially if you’re looking for the intersection of artistic innovation, social resonance, and powerful storytelling in modern music.