All Songs Considered – "New Music Friday: The Best Albums Out Oct. 10"

NPR | October 10, 2025
Host: Rodney Carmichael (filling in for Stephen Thompson)
Guest: Celia Gregory (WNXP, Nashville)
Featured Artists: Matty Diaz, Princess Nokia, Madison Cunningham, Makaya McRaven, Mobb Deep (Prodigy & Havoc), Nosso, JSOM, Amber Mark, Black Eyes, Gabriel Kahane

Episode Overview

This week's "New Music Friday" is packed with reflections on classic albums, deep dives into standout releases, and spirited conversation on the ever-changing music scene. Rodney Carmichael and Celia Gregory walk listeners through some of the most exciting albums out this week, explore the legacy of iconic artists, and highlight genre-crossing sounds from heartbreak folk to jazz improvisation and hip-hop veteran returns.

Main Segments & Key Discussion Points

1. Celebrating Patti Smith’s "Horses" at 50

• [00:27–01:54]
• The hosts mark the 50th anniversary of Patti Smith’s seminal 1975 album "Horses."
• Celia Gregory’s favorite: “Gloria” for its raw lyrics, added verses, and Smith’s “snarl.”
  • "I grew up listening to the Van the Man version of that...had such an appreciation for [Patti’s] because of the extra verses and just like her snarl, you know." – Celia Gregory [01:25]
• Rodney’s pick: “Redondo Beach” for its funky bass line reminiscent of Funkadelic, also nodding to "Mothership Connection" turning 50.

2. Matty Diaz – "Fatal Optimist"

• [02:23–07:44]
• Marked as the final chapter in Diaz’s “Heartbreak trilogy.”
• Album Style: Stripped-down, largely solo acoustic with minimal instrumentation, written in isolation.
  • "Her voice is crystal clear...it's almost a solo acoustic record...heartbreak on display." – Celia Gregory [03:42]
• Notable Tracks & Lyrics:
  • “If Time Does What It’s Supposed To” – healing and moving on after heartbreak.
  • “Heavy Metal” – uses a lyrical double entendre: "My heart isn't gold, platinum, or even silver. It's heavy metal." [05:23]
  • “Why Did You Have To Bring Me Flowers?” – explores toxic traits and breakup aftermath. "My toxic trait is holding on. Your toxic trait is showing up." [05:56]
• Journey of Grief: The songs progress from acceptance to revisiting pain, culminating in the more optimistic, uptempo title track, “Fatal Optimist.”
  • "It ends on a high note, so we can thank her for that. Even if the bulk of these songs are tear in your beer, just like we expected and hoped for." – Celia Gregory [06:53]

3. Princess Nokia – "Girls"

• [07:44–13:53]
• A genre-hopping, confrontational record about identity, trauma, empowerment, and joy in womanhood.
• Highlight Track: “Blue Velvet”
  • "Girlhood is a spectrum / Pretty is destruction..." – Princess Nokia [07:55]
• Themes:
  • Defiance against the patriarchy and social boundaries.
  • Balances serious, challenging content with irresistibly fun and pop-inspired tracks.
  • Songs like “Medusa” and “Period Blood” confront taboos and personal trauma with candor and wit. "I am very girly and also very violent. I'm the she devil, the Jezebel and the tyrant." – Princess Nokia [12:29]
• Cultural Reflection:
  • Rodney notes the ongoing “year of the woman in rap” discourse and how Nokia has always defied genre and gender expectations.
  • The production ranges from hip-hop to pop and EDM, working together seamlessly.

4. Madison Cunningham – "Ace"

• [16:51–21:27]
• A lush, elaborate heartbreak album written in a post-breakup creative burst.
• Distinctive Sound: Orchestral, “almost musical theater,” with rich instrumentation that stretches her folk roots.
  • "It is lush. It is almost musical theater. And I mean this in the best way." – Celia Gregory [17:55]
• Features collaborations (notably Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes) and genre references from Beatles-style pop to bluegrass fingerpicking.
• Lyric Highlight:
  • "She said there's no hill steeper than trying to get to equal. And is this as good as it gets when we get it right on a song called Take two?" – Celia Gregory [20:19]
• Standout tracks: “Golden Gate On and On,” “Mummy,” “Take Two.”

5. Makaya McCraven – "Off the Record"

• [21:27–26:05]
• A double LP (20 songs, also as 4 EPs) of mostly live, improvised jazz, infused with hip-hop, soul, and global influences.
  • "Every one of these 20 songs is basically live improvisation. McCraven is leading his band while he's pulling in all of these rhythmic diasporic elements from hip hop and his approach to looping..." – Rodney Carmichael [22:32]
• Emphasis on communal, in-the-moment experience as a response to “digital overreliance.”
  • "He wanted here to, quote, create an energy that amplifies the magic and the underground moments..." – Celia Gregory [24:44]
• Standout: The Hidden Out EP, especially “Away.”

6. Mobb Deep – "Infinite"

• [27:43–32:14]
• Legendary New York hip-hop duo’s first posthumous album since Prodigy’s passing in 2017; billed as their last.
• Historical Context: Ties to the 30th anniversary of "The Infamous"; released on Nas’s Mass Appeal label.
  • "Not just because it's the first release from Prodigy and Havoc since prodigy died in 2017, but also because it's gonna be the last Mobb Deep album." – Rodney Carmichael [28:37]
• Production: Features unreleased Prodigy vocals, curated and finished by Havoc and The Alchemist.
  • "These Prodigy verses are totally unreleased, never heard before...Havoc, the other half...got together, co-produced this album." – Rodney Carmichael [30:23]
• The album maintains their signature sound: dark, hard-hitting, and seamless.
• "It doesn't sound force fit...it doesn't sound like a Mobb Deep album that needs an asterisk." – Rodney Carmichael [30:23]

7. Lightning Round – More Album Picks

• [32:32–37:24]
  • Nosso – "When Are You Leaving" (Celia Gregory): Celebrates new identity amid transition; classically trained, arrangements stand out.
  • JSOM – "Belong" (Hazel Sills): JSOM’s collaborative, indie rock comeback with features from Haley Williams and Jim Adkins.
  • Amber Mark – "Pretty Idea" (Sheldon Pierce): Sunny R&B, “lets light and air into every corner of her sound.”
  • Black Eyes – "Hostile Design" (Lars Gotrich): D.C. punk band returns after 21 years with a heavier, weirder, danceable record.
  • Gabriel Kahane – "Heirloom" (Tom Huizenga): Piano concerto written for his father, blends pop and romantic classical influences.

Notable Quotes

• On Patti Smith’s impact:
  • "She's still telling new stories. She's got a third memoir on the way. So this...anniversary release of Horses almost coincides with this new book." – Celia Gregory [01:54]
• On the evolution of women in hip-hop:
  • "At some point, I feel like we just gotta acknowledge that women have been running the rap game for a while now...and then there's Nokia." – Rodney Carmichael [09:07]
• On genre-blending and boundary-pushing:
  • "It all works because we're not as shocked anymore if women are gonna speak their truth...this is real stuff that she's singing about and rapping about. And it also is a groove." – Celia Gregory [11:24]
• On Makaya McCraven’s process:
  • "He wanted here to...create an energy that amplifies the magic and the underground moments where we come together and we experience something wild, different, off the cuff, human." – Celia Gregory [24:44]
• On the legacy of Mobb Deep:
  • "It's been a year in which a lot of the older cats are driving a lot of the passion and the interest around the genre. And I think this is an album that's going to fit right into that mold, too." – Rodney Carmichael [28:37]

Key Timestamps

• 00:27–01:54 — Patti Smith’s "Horses" at 50
• 02:23–07:44 — Matty Diaz: "Fatal Optimist"
• 07:44–13:53 — Princess Nokia: "Girls"
• 16:51–21:27 — Madison Cunningham: "Ace"
• 21:27–26:05 — Makaya McCraven: "Off the Record"
• 27:43–32:14 — Mobb Deep: "Infinite"
• 32:32–37:24 — Lightning Round Album Picks & Final Thoughts

Tone & Flow

The episode balances warm, personal anecdotes (sad girl fall, club shows, station birthdays), deep appreciation for musical craft, and critical context on the cultural relevance of the new work. The conversation is candid, celebratory, and pulls listeners into both the artists’ journeys and the hosts’ own histories with the music. Celia and Rodney’s rapport keeps things energetic, insightful, and accessible, inviting all to discover and celebrate new music.

Memorable Moments

• Celia cursing out loud at Princess Nokia’s “Blue Velvet” because of its impact.
• Rodney thoughtfully prefaces his commentary on women in rap with, “I don’t want to be guilty of trying to mansplain...”
• The hosts’ shared excitement about Nashville’s music scene and the unusual “double Maddie” folk release day.
• The emotionally rich discussion on how Mobb Deep’s last album feels authentic, not cobbled together from leftovers.

Conclusion

This week’s New Music Friday offers a dynamic journey through musical innovation, legacy, and vulnerability. New releases from Matty Diaz, Princess Nokia, Madison Cunningham, Makaya McCraven, Mobb Deep and more receive careful, passionate attention, making this episode a robust guide for anyone seeking fresh sounds, rich stories, and critical context on today’s most compelling new music.