Top New Albums Released on May 9

It’s Friday, a serene moment to reflect on the week’s music offerings. While anticipation lingered for Atlanta rapper Young Thug’s album, UY Scuti, which has been postponed until June, there’s still joy to be found in the heart of hip-hop this week with billy woods’ GOLLIWOG. NPR Music’s Stephen Thompson, alongside WXPN’s John Morrison, delves into the rich, dramatic nuances of this album and discusses new releases from artists like Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Gen Z pop sensation PinkPantheress.

Feel free to listen to the show and immerse yourself in the soothing sounds of music released this May. New Music Friday invites you to unwind and discover delightful tunes that resonate with your heart and soul.

The Starting Five

Our hosts share insights and delightful tracks from the following albums:

• billy woods, GOLLIWOG – For fans of Saul Williams and Cannibal Ox.
• Mark Pritchard & Thom Yorke, Tall Tales – Resonates with Radiohead and Sweet Exorcist enthusiasts.
• PinkPantheress, Fancy That
• MIKE & Tony Seltzer, Pinball II – Ideal for those who enjoy Lex Luger and Earl Sweatshirt.
• Mclusky, the world is still here and so are we

The Lightning Round

Here are five more albums we wish we could explore further, each offering a calming escape:

• The Head and the Heart, Aperture
• Jazzanova, In Between Revisited: Jazzanova Live
• Cuco, Ridin’
• Andre 3000, 7 piano sketches
• Cole Pulice, Land’s End Eternal

Enjoy soothing melodies from our New Music Friday playlists, available on your preferred streaming platforms.

The Long List

For those looking to explore even deeper, here are the week’s new albums categorized by genre:

Electronic/Out There

• The Vernon Spring, Under a Familiar Sun
• Kara-Lis Coverdale, From Where You Came
• Joe Goddard, Kinetic EP
• Wilson Tanner, Legends
• Chaos in the CBD, A Deeper Life
• Nils Frahm, Night
• M83, A Necessary Escape OST
• V/A, Planet Mu 30
• Dinamarca and Ángel Ballesteros, pachamami
• QUINQUIS, eor
• Nicolas Bougaïeff, Prime Funktion EP
• Ransum, Road Fever EP

Country/Folk/Americana

• I’m With Her, Wild and Clear and Blue
• Blake Shelton, For Recreational Use Only
• Kristina Murray, Little Blue
• Jack Van Cleaf, JVC

Classical

• Barbara Hannigan, Electric Fields
• Bomsori Kim, Bruch & Korngold

Pop

• Erika de Casier, Lifetime
• Kali Uchis, Sincerely
• Maren Morris, D R E A M S I C L E
• Kaleo, Mixed Emotions
• Kevin Olusola (Pentatonix), Dawn of a Misfit

Jazz

• Brandon Woody, For The Love Of It All

R&B/Soul

Rock/Alt/Indie

• Little Feat, Strike Up The Band
• Ringdown (Caroline Shaw), Lady on the Bike
• Arcade Fire, Pink Elephant
• Deradoorian, Ready for Heaven
• Sleep Token, Even in Arcadia
• Moon Rituals, Aura
• Preoccupations, Ill At Ease
• Moin, Belly Up
• Sunday (1994), Devotion EP
• Maia Friedman, Goodbye Long Winter Shadow
• The Wonder Years, Burst & Decay (Volume III)
• Npcede, s/t EP
• Spacey Jane, If That Makes Sense
• Unwed Sailor, Cruel Entertainment
• Xmal Deutschland, Gift: The 4AD Years

Credits

Host: Stephen Thompson
Guest: John Morrison, WXPN
Producer: Simon Rentner
Editors: Otis Hart and Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Vice President, Music and Visuals: Keith Jenkins