You really can’t go wrong with NPR’s First Listen. I’ve discovered gems like Sylvan Esso’s self-titled debut on the site, setting a high precedent for everything to come. NPR still doesn’t fail to impress and is always a safe bet on finding unreleased musical delights.
The first of this week’s First Listen highlights Adult Jazz’s Gist Is. The site describes the debut album: “…filled with intricate, idea-crammed, expectation-defying compositions. It’s a dizzying work that, like jazz itself, doesn’t always charm instantly; it takes a bit of work to warm up to it.” Be bold, be daring and have an open-minded morning with Adult Jazz.
Not for you? Head on over to Spider Bags’ Frozen Letter. This album is more fast-paced and digestible for the casual music listener. With a light, aged garage rock feel, it’s sure to be a go-to summer album for many.
But that’s not all! Also on this week’s First Listen is Christopher Denny’s If the Roses Don’t Kill Us, filled with Denny’s powerful vocals and apparent influences ranging from Willie Nelson to Bob Dylan to the Grateful Dead.
Last up for this week is Panopticon’s Roads to the North, which blends black metal with rarities like the Native American flute and the fiddle. Here’s the kicker: it’s all put together by a single member, the eclectic Austin Lunn.
If you’re still hungry for more, First Listen has plenty of albums still available for streaming from previous weeks, including music from Jenny Lewis, Shabazz Palaces, Wildest Dreams and more!