Stephen Thompson

Radiant warmth meets laconic cool in a breezily beautiful duet between the Mazzy Star singer and the Philly rocker.

The gang discusses a new Western remake starring Denzel Washington, as well as a beloved British TV import starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Plus, as always, What's Making Us Happy this week.

Oberst's distinctive warble is set against a spare patchwork of acoustic guitar, piano and the occasional harmonica, drawing most of the attention to his dark, personal words.

David Longstreth's band returns from a long absence with "Keep Your Name," a song about betrayal and loss with a tortured, deeply conflicted video to match.

An assortment of odds and ends, including an Emmys recap, David Greene's interview with comedian Hari Kondabolu, and Petra Mayer's discussion with English writer Alan Moore.

The singer's voice sounds both human and mechanized, and now it's got a video to match.

NPR Politics Podcast host Sam Sanders joins the gang to discuss the IFC series. Then, we each pick, watch and describe a documentary we'd never seen. And, of course, What's Making Us Happy this week.

The newest project by Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner is a reflective, slyly infectious set of synth-pop songs. Throughout the album, the singer demonstrates her gift for patient, atmospheric slow burns.

On its new album, the Philly rock band rattles the rafters with grace, power and concision. These are songs by and for the alienated, out-of-place, searching and otherwise disconnected.

The former Walkmen frontman records an album with the help of Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij. Throughout, the two surround the singer's voice with surprising, sometimes old-fashioned sounds.

Throughout his third solo album, K. Ishibashi broadens his palette, rendering his sound ever more frantic, unpredictable, digital and danceable.

When Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson settled into the studio for this week's show, a clear theme quickly emerged: They had a whole lot of music by artists they already adore!

The gang discusses a drama-filled FXX comedy as a jumping-off point for a look at the ways humor and seriousness can collide. Then, as always, we close with What's Making Us Happy this week.

Away is a rebuilding-yourself-from-the-ground-up kind of record, and singer-songwriter Will Sheff uses the occasion to take his time and let his songs breathe.

In anticipation of a new album in 2017, Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn have just released "Radio," which matches propulsive electronics with scathing commentary about commodification.

The Kentucky singer-songwriter's 2015 album Over And Even was a year-end favorite. Now, she's got a new 7" single and a gorgeous, subtly animated video for "Cost Of The Cold" to go with it.

This year's VMAs featured Rihanna, Beyonce, Britney Spears, and several minutes of Kanye West doing whatever he wants — all vying for social-media dominance in the hours, days and weeks ahead.

Three Oregon-bred sisters sing lustrous songs about fearlessness, commitment and the pursuit of a life fully lived. On their second album, sweetness and power aren't mutually exclusive.

Kat Chow and Gene Demby join the show for thoughts on a groundbreaking Cartoon Network series and various card and board games. And, as always, we close with What's Making Us Happy this week.

With a quiet assist from The National's Aaron Dessner, At Swim is a triumph of understated versatility led by Hannigan's lushly swooning voice.