Introducing NPR Music’s 20|20

Plus, the best albums and songs out in January.

by Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna Mark Guthrie/Courtesy of the artist Album anniversaries are tricky business in our corner of the music world. Record labels love to use them as an excuse for splashy reissues; bands make them a reason to perform old favorites on tour. But journalists and critics don’t revisit a classic just to throw it a birthday party: Ideally, we work to examine how shifts in culture gradually reshape the shadows these works cast on history. The new series NPR Music’s 20|20 was conceived with that goal in mind. Over the course of this year, we’ll publish 20 features about 20 albums released in the year 2000, pulling from all over the musical map — not just the anointed classics (hello, Kid A ) but also the unsung gems, pop blockbusters, bizarre novelties, mid-career pivots and commercial bombs. We’ll interrogate tidy revisionist takes on these records, ask why some found staying power while others vanished, and trace their butterfly effect on the years to come. The series kicked off in January, exploring two very different releases: Sam Sanders, host of NPR’s It’s Been a Minute, pried open D’Angelo’s soul-funk opus Voodoo via an eye-opening conversation with the album’s audio engineer, while critic Matthew Perpetua dug into Primal Scream’s XTRMNTR, whose wild predictions about surveillance states, opioid epidemics and endless war don’t feel nearly so wild today. Stay tuned for more all this year at NPR Music. Everything in its right place, Daoud Tyler-Ameen   Newsletter continues after sponsor message New Music Before January is but a distant memory (much like our New Year’s resolutions), let’s celebrate the great music the first month of 2020 gave us. Our list of the month’s best albums includes debuts from 070 Shake and Squirrel Flower, a posthumous release by Mac Miller, sample-heavy jazz from Jeff Parker and more. And our list of the best songs includes a song that Megan Thee Stallion and Phony Ppl debuted live at the Tiny Desk -- plus new tracks from Thundercat, Marcus King, Waxahatchee and more. (And if that’s not enough new music, check out this week’s edition of New Music Friday, packed with even more great records out this week.) Newsletter editor Marissa Lorusso joined Bob Boilen on this week’s All Songs Considered new music mix. Hear a song you may have missed from reggae singer Koffee (who recently stopped by the Tiny Desk), plus an ode to night terrors from the bouncy duo Diet Cig and glittery tears from the Ohio group Snarls. This week’s Viking’s Choice column honors Sein Reinert of the band Cynic, a metal drummer who, according to our pal Lars Gotrich, “elevated metal drumming from speed-obsessed splatter to progressive — yet still heartfelt — precision.” Featuring Representation is a tricky thing. When does a depiction of culture, history and identity become inauthentic? And according to whom? The publication of American Dirt, a novel about Mexican immigrants, by Jeanine Cummins, has resulted in a firestorm of controversy. Our Alt.Latino broke it all down in its latest podcast episode. Of course you know "Flagpole Sitta," but Harvey Danger is so much more than that song's massive chorus. Morning Edition’s One-Hit Wonders/Second-Best Songs series continues with our own Stephen Thompson explaining why the band's catalog is worth revisiting. Tiny Desk Caitie Dull/NPR Need a little goodness in a world that can seem downright dark sometimes? For more than two decades, Jimmy Eat World has worn its bleeding, beating heart on its sleeve. The band's heartfelt Tiny Desk set, which included the anthemic single “The Middle,” had us all singing along and agreeing that everything will be all right. On Sunday, Koffee became the first woman and youngest artist ever to win the Grammy for Best Reggae Album. Her refreshing Tiny Desk performance proves why she’s one of the most invigorating voices working in the genre today.  Incoming Next week: Your Sound. Your Voice. Our Desk. One More Thing “Rough. Funny. Expansive.” That’s how Greil Marcus described London Calling 40 years ago on All Things Considered. All these years later, he wouldn’t change a thing. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprmusic@npr.org Listen to your favorite NPR Member station live on your Alexa or Google Home device. Just tell your smart speaker to, “Play NPR.” Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Books, Pop Culture, Health and more! Need a new playlist? Follow NPR Music on Spotify and Apple Music! You received this message because you're subscribed to NPR Music emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy