First Listen

Enjoy previews of select, upcoming albums, in their entirety on FIRST LISTEN.

1. First Listen: John Prine, 'For Better, Or Worse'
   On the cusp of his 70th birthday, the revered singer-songwriter sets down his pen to explore country classics with some stellar duet partners. More....
2. First Listen: Bob Weir, 'Blue Mountain'
   On this long-awaited solo album, the Grateful Dead veteran showcases his songwriting gifts with the aid of collaborators such as Josh Ritter and The National's Bryce and Aaron Dessner. More....
3. First Listen: Jenny Hval, 'Blood Bitch'
   On her sixth album, the Norwegian singer Jenny Hval aims for impact, surrounding her vulnerable voice with spiky, disarming instrumentation that bolsters the intensity and intimacy of her songs. More....
4. First Listen: Drive-By Truckers, 'American Band'
   American Band, the long-running rock band's 11th album, lives up to its name in how it digests, understands and challenges the notions of what it means to be American. More....
5. First Listen: Pixies, 'Head Carrier'
   The inspired Head Carrier reaffirms all the spark, wit and weirdness, tempered by the occasional burst of emotional rawness, that made people fall in love with the Pixies in the first place. More....
6. First Listen: John Adams, 'Scheherazade.2'
   Violence against women, and a smart storyteller from the Arabian Nights, inspired John Adams' "dramatic symphony," featuring violinist Leila Josefowicz. More....
7. First Listen: Ryuichi Sakamoto, 'Nagasaki: Memories Of My Son'
   The veteran composer crafts a masterfully emotional and poignant score to Yoji Yamada's heartbreaking new film. The 28 tracks here are so patient, they can make the world seem to move in slow motion. More....
8. First Listen: Beach Slang, 'A Loud Bash Of Teenage Feelings'
   On its new album, the Philly rock band rattles the rafters with grace, power and concision. These are songs by and for the alienated, out-of-place, searching and otherwise disconnected. More....
9. First Listen: Dwight Yoakam, 'Swimmin' Pools, Movie Stars...'
   On the 30th anniversary of his debut, the country star releases his first-ever bluegrass album — though this isn't quite the simple, back-to-roots affair the concept suggests. More....
10. First Listen: Flock Of Dimes, 'If You See Me, Say Yes'
    The newest project by Wye Oak's Jenn Wasner is a reflective, slyly infectious set of synth-pop songs. Throughout the album, the singer demonstrates her gift for patient, atmospheric slow burns. More....