New Music From Bob Dylan, Fiona Apple And More

Plus, musical precedent for pandemics.

by Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna Courtesy of the artist You’ve got a lot on your plate right now. We get it. Trying to keep track of the best new music out each day, or even each week, probably isn’t your top priority these days. We can help. We’ve launched a new cross-genre playlist called Press Pause And Hit Play. Consider it your go-to to catch up on all the great new music that’s been released lately. We’re adding new selections each weekday from both beloved and new-to-us artists. Even Bob Boilen has been listening – on All Songs Considered this week, he highlighted a few of his favorite recent additions and talked to the members of the NPR Music team who nominated them.  And if you’ve got a little time to spare, end your week with New Music Friday, our roundup of the best new albums out each week, hosted by Robin Hilton. This week, we’re especially excited about Lido Pimienta’s Miss Colombia (an album that Alt.Latino’s Stefanie Fernández says “orchestrates the relationship between beauty and violence”). Plus, we’ve been listening on repeat to Fetch The Bolt Cutters, Fiona Apple’s stunning new record – her first in eight years and her most sonically adventurous to date. “Shameika said I had potential,” Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna Newsletter continues after sponsor message Featuring The prolific jazz saxophonist Lee Konitz died this week from pneumonia related to COVID-19. Konitz maintained a singular style and devotion to improvisation throughout his career, which lasted more than 70 years. He was the last surviving musician who played on the sessions that would become Miles Davis' 1957 classic album Birth of the Cool. Indie singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers has long been a devout student of the music of the late songwriter Elliott Smith. This week in NPR Music’s 20|20, we feature a conversation with Bridgers about how Figure 8, the final album of Smith's lifetime, lit a path between basement grit and polished studio splendor. The dreamlike score for the 1999 film The Virgin Suicides sounds the way high school feels: frustrated, isolated, fearful and hopeful all at once. Under social distancing, it’s become something of a quarantine soundtrack for writer Paula Mejía. Though the current coronavirus crisis may feel completely beyond comprehension, there’s musical precedent for pandemics. Throughout history, composers have offered works that comfort and criticize in times of crisis. New Music Once again, Bob Dylan released a new song at midnight with no warning, no hint of a new album and no details about when it was recorded or with whom. “I Contain Multitudes,” his latest, doesn't play on the epic scale of "Murder Most Foul," but it is equally dense and powerful. This week, Bon Iver released “PDLIF” (that’s an acronym for “Please Don’t Live In Fear”), a track which effectively mixes several different Bon Iver aesthetics. 100% of proceeds from the track will be given to the humanitarian-aid organization Direct Relief.  Singer-songwriter Courtney Marie Andrews told us she recommends gardening and poetry to help cope during this stressful time. But if new music is more your style, she also shared a new song, “Burlap String.” Tiny Desk NPR While the coronavirus has us temporarily confined, our Tiny Desk (home) concerts continue to bring you to living rooms across the country – and the world. This week, head to London as Laura Marling delivers a stunning set of songs from her just-released album, Song For Our Daughter.  Meanwhile in Kansas City, Kevin Morby and Katie Crutchfield, aka Waxahatchee, performed tracks from Waxahatchee’s superb Saint Cloud, along with a cover of late songwriter Jason Molina’s song “Farewell Transmission.” And we still have new concerts to share that were recorded at NPR HQ in Washington back in February and March. For her concert, Angelica Garcia decorated the Tiny Desk with colorful flowers and fabrics. The bright flourishes match the technicolor sounds of Cha Cha Palace, her latest record that draws on what she calls her “Salva-Mex-American” heritage.  One More Thing Read a newsletter (wait, you already did!) and ride your bike. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprmusic@npr.org 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