All Songs Considered – New Music Friday: The Best Albums Out Oct. 17 (2025)

Date: October 17, 2025
Host: Ana Maria Sayer (sitting in for Stephen Thompson)
Guest: Travis Holcomb (KCRW Los Angeles, host of Freaks Only)

Overview

This episode of All Songs Considered dives into the best new albums released on October 17, 2025. Host Ana Maria Sayer, joined by KCRW’s Travis Holcomb, discusses standout albums from established and breakthrough artists from across genres and geographies. The episode spotlights deep artistic evolution, cross-cultural influences, and the joy of musical discovery, with special attention to Latin American music, genre-bending experimentation, and inspirational comeback stories. Timestamps included for easy navigation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Viral “Tiny Desk” Spotlight: 31 Minutos (Chilean Children’s Show)

[00:56 – 02:02]

• Ana Maria and Travis discuss the recent viral success of the Chilean children's show "31 Minutos" on NPR’s Tiny Desk, which set records for most views within nine days.
• Importance to Latin American culture: “It’s a super deeply important cultural institution for Chileans and also a lot of people across Latin America... It’s thoughtful, it’s critical, it’s smart, it’s funny.” — Ana Maria [02:02]
• Travis calls it “the record for the most puppets on a Tiny Desk” [01:34], praising the session’s fun and universality.
• Recommendation: Especially great for families and those interested in international cultural phenomena.

Tame Impala – Deadbeat

[02:57 – 09:23]

• Tame Impala (Kevin Parker)’s fifth album marks a significant shift from psychedelic rock to dance-oriented pop.
• Notable tracks: “End of Summer” (thesis statement of the album), “My Old Ways,” “Ethereal Connection.”
• Artistic Shift:
  “He was once seen as like the savior of psychedelic rock… kind of defined the sound of rock music in the post-Strokes era… Deadbeat is like a clear deviation from psychedelic rock completely.” — Travis Holcomb [04:17]
• The album has been polarizing among longtime fans for its stylistic evolution.
• Less Perfectionism, More Openness:
  “It seems like he’s not taking himself as seriously. There’s less rigidity.” — Ana Maria [05:53]
  “He’s always been known as a perfectionist… but this one does have a looseness to it.” — Travis [06:20]
• Lyrical focus on self-doubt, midlife contemplation, and internal struggle but balanced by a dancefloor energy.
  “He’s externalized the harshest criticisms of himself.” — Travis [06:20]
• Notable Quote:
  “If he was doing the same thing that he started doing 20 years ago, I think we'd be bored with it by now.” — Travis [06:54]
• Style Description:
  • Debut in “emo-house”; “it’s more like an emo house sort of vibe” [08:32]
  • For fans of 4 Tet, Floating Points (“Ethereal Connection” cited as “pure dance music bliss”)

Silvana Estrada – Vendrán Suaves Lluvias

[09:23 – 15:50]

• Mexican singer-songwriter Silvana Estrada releases her highly anticipated second album.
• Intimacy & Emotional Range:
  “She almost like she's in the room with you while she's singing them. And that felt very immediate to me.” — Travis [10:37]
• Contrasts between her two albums:
  “She’s always been really good at being very Mexican… balancing pain and beauty.” — Ana Maria [10:51]
• Influence of personal loss:
  “She lost a very dear friend… she had a lot of trouble talking about until she actually came out with a song on this record… It’s called Un Rayo de Luz.” [12:39]
• Production Journey:
  • Tried producing in Mexico City, was dissatisfied, re-recorded with Lhasa de Sela’s band in Montreal (strings from Macedonia).
  • “It was through working with them… that she was able to fully realize her vision.” — Ana Maria [14:06]
• Notable Moment:
  • The album is described as moving, cinematic, coquettish, and an evolution toward embracing imperfection.

Soulwax – All Systems Are Lying

[17:43 – 22:18]

• The Belgian indie dance duo returns with their first studio record in seven years.
• Behind the Delay:
  • Busy with multiple projects: live shows (Too Many DJs), club installations (Despacio), running a label (Deewee), and in-demand remixing.
  • “They just decide, hey, I like the direction we're going in. Let's just keep doing it until it doesn't feel good. And they just sort of pursue their own muse.” — Travis [21:49]
• Album’s Feel:
  • “It does feel really accessible to me. I find it to be kind of like twisty and mysterious, but oddly comforting in this way that I don't often find dance music to be.” — Ana Maria [21:33]
  • More vocal-forward than previous work; occupies territory between synth pop and electronic.
• Notable Moment:
  • Called themselves a “supergroup of you.” [18:47]

Meme del Real – La Montaña Encendida

[22:42 – 28:36]

• Meme del Real of Café Tacvba releases his debut solo album—a genre-blending sonic journey.
• Artistic Approach:
  • Homages to cumbia, bossa nova, bolero, rancho, but also orchestral, trip hop, and futuristic elements.
  • “He plays a different character really to me, in a lot of the different songs.” — Ana Maria [24:17]
• Melding History & Futurism:
  • “It sounds a lot like Mexico City to me… it invokes this very historic… but then also now you’re in the hottest club in the city all at the same time.” — Ana Maria [26:01]
  • Rather than updating traditional music with contemporary beats, “he’s like creating this sonic landscape where ancestry and whatever spacey futuristic sound world awaits us… can coexist.” [27:20]

Clarice Jensen – In Holiday Clothing, Out of the Great Darkness

[29:29 – 33:44]

• Acclaimed cellist/producer’s fourth solo album, inspired by Bach but with modern experimental flair.
• Production:
  • Known for unconventional use of electronics and effects, but “she kind of stripped all of that that back” for this record — Ana Maria [29:29]
  • Inspiration from Bach’s six solo cello suites, interpreted in a modern, personal way.
• Atmospheric Power:
  • “Just listening to this record will make any mundane task feel incredibly cinematic. So if you want like some extra drama in your life, just put in your ear pods and like go for a walk and like you will feel like the main character of the world.” — Travis [32:01]
• Notable Tracks:
  • “2, 1” and “1, 2”—a call-and-response dynamic between electronic and cello.
  • “In Holiday Clothing Part One”—12-minute opener, described as “beautiful stuff throughout.” — Travis [33:14]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Intro & 31 Minutos Tiny Desk: [00:25 – 02:02]
• Tame Impala – Deadbeat: [02:57 – 09:23]
• Silvana Estrada – Vendrán Suaves Lluvias: [09:23 – 15:50]
• Soulwax – All Systems Are Lying: [17:43 – 22:18]
• Meme del Real – La Montaña Encendida: [22:42 – 28:36]
• Clarice Jensen – In Holiday Clothing: [29:29 – 33:44]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Tame Impala’s Evolution:
  “If he was doing the same thing that he started doing 20 years ago, I think we'd be bored with it by now.” — Travis Holcomb [06:54]
• On Silvana Estrada’s Artistic Growth:
  “She gets kind of playful… transitioning from this really flowery, beautiful lyricism into this really hard, kind of invoking, this drunken New Orleans kind of cabaret.” — Ana Maria [11:36]
• On Soulwax’s Approach:
  “They just decide, hey, I like the direction we're going in. Let's just keep doing it until it doesn't feel good.” — Travis [21:49]
• On Clarice Jensen’s New Record:
  “This record… will make any mundane task feel incredibly cinematic.” — Travis [32:01]

Lightning Round: More New Music [33:44 – 39:31]

Quick Recommendations:

• Nati Peluso – Mal Portada (Argentine-Spanish salsa EP, continuing her genre expansion) [34:50]
• Sudan Archives – The BPM (LA-based violinist branching into electronic/dance) [35:36]
• Skullcrusher – And Your Song Is Like a Circle (Second album, inspired by cinema and visual art) [36:17]
• cym (Chris Baio & Mike Green) – Debut Full-Length (Shoegaze, electronic, krautrock roots) [37:14]
• Sam Wilk – Public Records Performance (Live recorded, experimental, features unique guest challenge) [37:44]
  • Fun anecdote: Guest was only allowed to join if they played a specific guitar harmony on synth, “very Nathan For You.” [38:44]

Final Thoughts

The episode closes with both hosts reiterating the excitement of a week full of long-awaited and surprising releases—across genres and from globally diverse artists. Standout themes include:

• Artists finding new directions (Tame Impala, Sudan Archives),
• Emotional vulnerability and cultural roots (Silvana Estrada, Meme del Real),
• Genre innovation in both pop and the avant-garde (Soulwax, Clarice Jensen).

Ana Maria’s parting advice:
“Go watch the 31 Minutos tiny desk, please, and treat yourself to all kinds of good.” [39:33]

For Further Exploration:

• Read Tom Huizenga’s featured piece on Clarice Jensen (on NPR Music).
• Check out the full Tiny Desk sessions for all featured artists.

This summary provides key takeaways, essential quotes, and pointers for deeper listening and discovery—ideal for anyone who missed the episode or wants a refresher before diving into these new releases.