New Music Friday showcases top album releases for August 28
NPR Music's New Music Friday podcast returned this week to spotlight the strongest album releases arriving August 28. Host Stephen Thompson was joined by Sean Carolan from Brookdale Public Radio's 90.5 The Night to discuss their top selections from dozens of new releases reviewed in advance.
The podcast's main segment, called "The Starting 5," featured in-depth discussion of five albums spanning multiple genres. Heavy metal titans Mastodon delivered Marrow Deep on Loma Vista Records. Beastie Boys member Mike D released his solo effort Thank You through Capitol Records. Alabama Shakes returned with I Must Be Dreaming on Island Records, while New York post-punk veterans Interpol offered This Mirror Weighs a Ton via Partisan Records. Rounding out the core five was punk quartet The Linda Lindas with Gotta Get Out on Reprise Records.
Additional recommendations span diverse genres
The podcast's lightning round segment presented five more albums recommended by NPR Music staff members. Billy Strings contributed So Much For Goodbyes on Reprise. Elephant Stone released ASHA through Little Cloud Records. Poet and musician Saul Williams delivered Leap Life on Big Dada. Indie-folk group Tiny Habits offered Keepers via Mom+Pop. Hip-hop artist Liim released A Sunflower Garden In Harlem Is Hard To Find on three times LOUDER.
Production assistant Dora Levite shared her personal selections in a segment called "Dora's Corner." Her picks included Lex Walton's ULTIMATE LOVE FOREVER on Sub Pop, Cities Aviv's Even Colder Spring on Black Truffle, and Maripool's Rotten Luck released through Smoking Room and Lost Wisdom.
Comprehensive list covers major label and independent releases
The full "Long List" of notable releases published on NPR's website documented over 100 albums across numerous categories. R&B and soul releases included a collaboration between Erykah Badu and The Alchemist titled Before the World Blows: The Abi and Alan Experiment. Country music saw new work from Carly Pearce with Honest Woman and Little Big Town's It's a Dying Art.
Electronic and experimental music offerings featured Floating Points' Mere Motals on Deutsche Grammophon and Sarah Davachi's The Will of Tongues. Rock and alternative selections ranged from Dinosaur Jr.'s There Near on Jagjaguwar to Jim James' Wowed Out on ATO Records. Classical music entries included Anthony Davis' opera The Central Park Five and a Steve Reich compilation performed by Ensemble Signal.
The hip-hop category highlighted Busta Rhymes and J Dilla's DILLAGENCE II alongside Rod Wave's Don't Look. Jazz releases included new recordings from Yoko Miwa, Candice Hoyes and Henry Threadgill Zooid. Pop releases spanned Sara Bareilles' Good Grief on Epic Records to Train's Mad Dog In The Fog on Columbia.
Listeners can access curated playlists featuring singles from featured albums on Spotify and Apple Music. The podcast is available through the NPR app and major podcast platforms. The weekly series aims to help music fans navigate the substantial volume of new releases each Friday.
