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Here are the best new albums out this week
David Murray, almost 50 years into his recording career, has a fiery new album on legendary jazz label Impulse.
(
Gregg Greenwood
/
Verve
)
It's the end of the week, which means if you forgot to pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2 on Thursday, you're going to need to console yourself. Luckily, we've got plenty of new music available immediately that will cost you far less than $450.
NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomed Ayana Contreras of Denver public radio stations KUVO Jazz and The Drop to the New Music Friday podcast to discuss the latest from rising R&B star Coco Jones, revered saxophonist David Murray and much more.
Listen to the episode or stream the recommended albums below.
New Music Friday is a feature of NPR's All Songs Considered podcast! Hear the discussion on the NPR App, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
The Starting 5
Fly Anakin.
(
Will Pippin
/
Lex Records
)
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Stephen and Ayana give you the backstory and best songs on the following albums:
💿 Coco Jones, Why Not More (Stream)
- Recommended If You Like: Victoria Monét, Ashanti
💿 Samia, Bloodless (Stream)
- RIYL: boygenius, Japanese Breakfast
💿 Emma-Jean Thackray, Weirdo (Stream)
- RIYL: Meshell Ndegeocello, Parliament-Funkadelic
💿 David Murray Quartet, Birdly Serenade (Stream)
- RIYL: Eric Dolphy, Ben Webster
💿 Fly Anakin, (The) Forever Dream (Stream)
- RIYL: OutKast, Goodie Mob
-
From our recent screening of Michael Mann’s Collateral, Larry Mantle, critics Tim Cogshell and Claudia Puig, and Barry Shabaka Henley discuss the film's portrayal of L.A. -
Larry Mantle and film critics Peter Rainer and Manuel Betancourt discuss this week's biggest releases, including The Sun Never Sets, The Salt Path and more. -
The inaugural edition of Rodrigo's one-day, women-led concert didn't sideline its stated political mission.
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The Lightning Round
Self Esteem.
(
Aaron Parsons Photography
/
Polydor
)
Five more albums we wish we had time to discuss on the podcast:
💿 Self Esteem, A Complicated Woman
💿 Ledisi, The Crown
💿 Beach Bunny, Tunnel Vision
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💿 Silas Short, LUSHLAND
💿 BRONCHO, Natural Pleasure
Listen to each album's best songs on our New Music Friday playlists on Spotify and Apple or wherever you listen to music.
The Long List
Jensen McRae
(
Caity Krone
/
Dead Oceans
)
For those who want to dig even deeper, here are the week's new albums sorted by genre:
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Rock/Alt/Indie
- Jensen McRae, I Don't Know How But They Found Me!
- Bells Larsen, Blurring Time
- Ida, Will You Find Me (25th Anniversary Edition)
- Deerhoof, Noble and Godlike in Ruin
- Goose, Everything Must Go
- Maria Somerville, Luster
- Mobley, We Do Not Fear Ruins
- The Moonlandingz, No Rocket Required
- Uwade, Florilegium
- Viagra Boys, viagr aboys
- Wishy, Planet Popstar EP
- Cloth, Pink Silence
- Jo Schornikow, Quiet Excerpts EP
- The Golden Dregs, Godspeed
- Fib, Heavy Lifting
- Rialto, Neon & Ghost Signs
- Stereophonics, Make 'em Laugh, Make 'em Cry, Make 'em Wait
- Sunflower Bean, Mortal Primetime
- Tennis, Face Down In The Garden
- Maria Usbeck, Naturaleza
- Deeper, Live in Köln
- Luke Titus, From What Was Will Grow A Flower
Electronic/Out There
- Djrum, Under Tangled Silence
- William Tyler, Time Indefinite
- Salami Rose Joe Louis, Lorings
- JakoJako, Tết 41
- Nazar, Demilitarize
- BIG WETT, RISK IT
- Eliana Glass, E
- Gloorp, Gloorp 'Em Up
- Light-Space Modulator, The Rising Wave
- Lila Tirando a Violeta, Dream Of Snakes
- Natural Information Society & Bitchin' Bajas, Totality
- Stimming, Friedrich
- Rebekka Karijord, The Bell Tower
- Somne, New Energy
- Amanda Mur, Neu Om
Global
- Vendredi sur Mer, Malabar Princess
- Cazzu, Latinaje
- -M-, Fatoumata Diawara, Toumani & Balla Diabaté, Lamomali Totem
- Femi Kuti, Journey Through life
- Satomimagae, Taba
- DJ Dadaman & Moscow Dollar, Kagaza
- Natalia Lafourcade, Cancionera
- I-Octane, God & I
Country/Folk/Americana
- Willie Nelson, Oh What A Beautiful World
- Southern Avenue, Family
- Randy Savvy, Rank Hours EP
- Tucker Wetmore, What Not To
- Joan Osborne, Dylanology
- Mairi Morrison & Alasdair Roberts, Remembered in Exile: Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia
- Samantha Fish, Paper Doll
- Olive Klug, Lost Dog
Rap/Hip-Hop
- thegoodnews. (Del The Funky Homosapien), This Just In! EP
- Niontay, Fada<3of$
- Kai Ca$h, CASH RULES
- MoneySign Suede, Mi Familia Por Vida
R&B/Soul
- Roy Woods, Dark Nights
Classical
- Thomas Newman, Of Mice and Men: Music from the Original Ballet
- Yo-Yo Ma, Shostakovich: The Cello Concertos
- Eugene Ormandy, The RCA Victor Recordings 1935-42
Jazz
- Jeff Goldblum, Still Blooming
- Luke Stewart, Silt Remembrance Ensemble The Order
- Cyrus Chestnut, Rhythm, Melody and Harmony
Pop
- LU KALA, No Tears on this Ride
- d4vd, WITHERED
- Litany, Sadgirl
- Sting, Sting 3.0 Live
- Gigi Perez, At the Beach, In Every Life
- WesGhost, Am I Dreaming?
Credits
- Host: Stephen Thompson
- Guest: Ayana Contreras, KUVO Jazz & The Drop
- Producer: Simon Rentner
- Editor: Otis Hart
- Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
- Vice President, Music and Visuals: Keith Jenkins
Copyright 2025 NPR
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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