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#190: Cate Le Bon, “Reward”

Time for the yearly meeting of the Cate Le Bon Appreciation Society, on the occasion of the release date of the Welsh songwriter’s fifth album, “Reward”. The goddaughter of the 90s Welsh indie pop of Gruff Rhys et al has long outgrown her own scene, and her exquisite avant-pop reached a level of uniqueness that makes it impossible to lump her together with anyone at all. It’s yet another magnificent record from Le Bon and we’re thrilled to live in the same era as she’s making music.

In this week’s playlist: new tracks by Alex Lahey, Lydia Ainsworth, Carly Rae Jepsen, SAMIA, Stef Chura, Los Retros, Faye Webster, Okey Dokey, Night Beats, Amyl and The Sniffers, Institute, Black Mountain, Earth, Bill Callahan (smog), Mavis Staples, Dylan LeBlanc, Frankie Lee, Justin Townes Earle, TK & The Holy Know-Nothings, Jake Xerxes Fussell, Doug Tuttle, and Los Coast.

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#189: The Felice Brothers, “Undress”

In the beginning of the month, Americana heroes The Felice Brothers quietly released “Undress”. Their new collection of songs focuses on, well, 2010s USA, and it turns out to be possibly their most cohesive album – and its fantastic harmonies make it one of the catchiest records of the year so far.

On this week’s playlist: new songs by Ryan Pollie, Olden Yolk, David Berman’s Purple Mountains, Sam Cohen, Mikaela Davis, Pearl Charles, Josefin Öhrn + The Liberation, The National, Lowland Hum, Native Harrow, William Ryan Fritch, Michael Fracasso, Tōth, Luís Severo, Mega Bog, Joseph Shabason, Aviva le Fey, Little Mazarn, Shannon Lay, Matt Kivel, and Siskiyou.

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#188: Jackie Cohen, “Zagg”

If you’re immediately sold on a record just by knowing Matthew E. White has put a finger on it, we don’t need to convince you further. If, on top of that, you’re a fan of Jonathan Rado-produced albums (like the most recent Father John Misty, Weyes Blood, Whitney, or Alex Cameron), you’re in for a treat. Fortunately for everyone else, Jackie Cohen’s debut LP is much more than its indie dream team of producers. We’ve been anxiously waiting for it to drop since we first heard (and featured) “FMK” back in March, and now it’s all ours.

Plus: new songs by Pile, Idles, The Dream Syndicate, Black Mountain, Alex Rex, John Southworth, A.A. Bondy, Kelly Finnigan, The Teskey Brothers, Buddy & Julie Miller, Old Man Luedecke, John Prine, Carl Anderson, Johnathan Rice & Courtney Marie Andrews, Kacy & Clayton, Kassi Valazza, Lola Kirke, Carly Rae Jepsen, Alex Cameron, Olympia, Mara Connor & Langhorne Slim, and Joe Kaplow.

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#187: Big Thief, “U. F. O. F.”

At first listen, Big Thief’s third LP looked like a tough nut to crack, way less immediate than “Capacity”. You won’t find “U.F.O.F.”’s beauty through background listening while you send passive-agressive emails, are stuck in traffic, or go through tons of lines of code. It needs your full attention to be properly rewarding. Try it later today. Plus: new songs by Anna Tivel, Aldous Harding, Aviva le Fey, Kassi Valazza, Frankie Lee, Nataly Dawn, Sam Outlaw, Calexico and Iron & Wine, The Felice Brothers, Fruit Bats, Super Doppler, Nev Cottee Band, black midi, Stef Chura, Titus Andronicus, Tropical Fuck Storm, Altın Gün, Kate Tempest, Cate Le Bon, Julia Shapiro (Chastity Belt), and Vampire Weekend.

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#186: Craig Finn, “I Need a New War”

I need a new playlist. The fourth solo LP by the Hold Steady’s Craig Finn, “I Need a New War”, has won the race to spearhead our playlist, following one of the year’s strongest Release Friday. Ten more sublime songs by one of the greatest songwriters of the century century. Plus: new tracks by Bedouine, Aldous Harding, Honey Harper, Olden Yolk, Lucy Dacus, Kevin MorbyDylan LeBlanc, Starflyer 59, Josh Ritter, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Wand, Psychedelic Speed Freaks, Kyle Craft, Marika Hackman, Jackie Cohen, Better Oblivion Community Center, Esther Rose, I am Oak, Jake Xerxes Fussell, Willie Nelson, and the Mountain Goats.