A Tiny Desk Sing-Along From Flock Of Dimes And Friends

Plus, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss reunite, and the latest on festivals and COVID.

View this email online by Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna NPR One of your newsletter editors’ favorite albums of the year (so far) is Flock of Dimes’ Head of Roses. It’s Jenn Wasner’s second record under that moniker, though it represents only a sliver of her musical output; she’s perhaps best known as part of the beloved indie band Wye Oak, had another side project called Dungeonesse, and has played as part of Bon Iver’s touring band. From its lyrical themes, Head of Roses is unmistakably a breakup album. But musically, it’s an incredibly collaborative endeavor, co-produced by Nick Sanborn of Sylvan Esso and featuring contributions from members of Hand Habits, Landlady and Bon Iver.  So it’s only natural that, for Flock of Dimes’ Tiny Desk (home) concert, Wasner invited a few friends over. The set “doesn't merely re-create three of the songs” from Head of Roses, says our colleague Stephen Thompson. Instead, “these acoustic performances actually shed new light, thanks to radiant and radically different arrangements, while fully capturing the warmth we look for from Tiny Desk concerts.”  (If you’re looking for even more Tiny Desks: This week, we also shared a set from Ben Howard and a new episode of Tiny Desk Contest Top Shelf.) “Awake for the sunrise,” Marissa Lorusso and Lyndsey McKenna Newsletter continues after sponsor message New Music This week on New Music Friday from All Songs Considered: The Killers’ Pressure Machine reflects on Brandon Flowers’ small-town roots, athlete Bo Jackson inspires a new album by rapper Boldy James and The Alchemist, and Meet Me @ The Altar’s EP offers a smart update on pop-punk.  This week’s Viking’s Choice playlist update includes Saint Etienne's return to '90s chic, Fluisteraars' vertigo-inducing black metal, Lassie's zippy post-punk, the gooey trip-hop of Hong Kong's 小本生灯 xsgacha and more Fourteen years after Raising Sand, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss have reunited. On the first single from the duo’s forthcoming record, “Can’t Let Go,” Krauss and Plant’s mellifluous harmonies return, filled with the longing of two lovers who face the inevitability of lost love. That, plus Lizzo and Cardi B’s “Rumors,” a new song from Big Thief and a Max Richter track inspired by the writing of Virginia Woolf, are some of the songs our team covered on #NowPlaying this week. Featuring This year, our Turning the Tables series is asking writers one question: What album changed your life? For writer Christina Lee, it’s bbymutha’s Muthaland, an impressive, inventive album filled with reminders to ease off expectations that might read as admirable, but ultimately prove to be unsustainable. The recent COVID-19 surges around the country are putting a damper on the return of live music. Even with vaccination mandates or negative COVID test policies in place at festivals like Lollapalooza and the upcoming fall iteration of Bonnaroo, many in the music industry and the medical community think these kinds of massive gatherings remain unsafe. Paul Thorn’s deeply personal – and much mellower – new record, Never Too Late To Call, has been seven years in the making. Hear a conversation with the former boxer and factory worker-turned-singer-songwriter on Morning Edition. China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism says it will create a blacklist of songs containing “illegal content,” including anything that “endangers national unity, sovereignty or territory integrity,” and ask karaoke establishments to delete them, beginning Oct. 1.  This week, our friends at Pop Culture Happy Hour chatted about the new musical comedy show Schmigadoon! and the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect. Our friends at WMOT shared a live performance by Amythyst Kiah as part of WMOT's Wired In, live from City Winery in Nashville. One More Thing The Golden Gate Bridge? It’s “remarkably musical.” Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WUFT 89.1 (edit station). 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