All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best albums out Feb. 6

February 6, 2026

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  • The Chicago band Ratboys' new album, *Singin' To An Empty Chair*, showcases an emotionally open sound informed by singer Julia Steiner's therapy experiences, blending crunchy indie rock with a Tom Petty-esque twang. 
  • Beverly Glenn Copeland's album *Laughter In Summer*, a collaboration with his wife Elizabeth Copeland, is presented as a deeply loving and celebratory work created while Copeland is navigating a dementia diagnosis. 
  • The episode reviewed several other new releases, including Daphni's club-centric *Butterfly*, Charlotte Day Wilson's haunting R&B EP *Patchwork*, and John Craigie's humorous yet sweeping folk-pop album *I Swam Here*. 

Segments

Introduction and J. Cole Tease
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(00:00:24)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode of All Songs Considered opens by briefly discussing J. Cole’s new, purportedly final album, The Fall Off.
  • Summary: Host Stephen Thompson welcomes Erin Wolf from Radio Milwaukee to discuss the New Music Friday releases for February 6th. They mention J. Cole’s new album, The Fall Off, noting the cinematic lead-up and the intriguing, deep poetry of the first shared song, ‘My Life, I See It in Reverse.’ The hosts acknowledge they haven’t heard the full record in depth yet.
Ratboys Album Deep Dive
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(00:02:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Ratboys’ sixth album, Singin’ To An Empty Chair, features an emotional openness derived from songwriting informed by therapy techniques and production by Chris Walla.
  • Summary: Ratboys’ new album is their first for the label Home New Rest Records and reunites them with producer Chris Walla. Singer-guitarist Julia Steiner wrote many songs after practicing simulated difficult conversations in therapy, lending the record emotional depth. The band’s sound is characterized as a mix of crunchy indie rock and country twang, drawing comparisons to Tom Petty and Jenny Lewis.
Beverly Glenn Copeland’s New Work
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(00:08:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Beverly Glenn Copeland’s Laughter In Summer is a radical work of joy and celebration, recorded in collaboration with his wife, Elizabeth Copeland, while he manages a dementia diagnosis.
  • Summary: Beverly Glenn Copeland is a classically trained Black trans man in his early 80s with a diverse musical history, including the 1986 electronic album Keyboard Fantasies. The new record is deeply sincere and functions as an antidote to cynicism, offering a time capsule of stored experience. The music features theatricality and community appeal, with songs reportedly recorded in one take.
Mid-Show Sponsor Break
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(00:15:13)
  • Key Takeaway: The show pauses for advertisements from Betterment, LinkedIn Ads, and Lisa mattresses.
  • Summary: The program takes a scheduled break for sponsor messages. Betterment promotes its automated investing tools, LinkedIn Ads highlights B2B targeting capabilities, and Lisa offers a discount on mattresses.
Radio Milwaukee Update
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(00:16:53)
  • Key Takeaway: Radio Milwaukee recently hosted Runo Plum and Lutalo for a Studio Milwaukee session, with upcoming sessions planned for Brother Wallace and Seishishi.
  • Summary: Erin Wolf provides an update on recent activities at Radio Milwaukee, noting a session with Runo Plum (who released Patching last year) and her drummer Lutalo. They mention that Runo Plum’s music is understated and fitting for the current season in Milwaukee. Upcoming guests for the studio sessions include Brother Wallace and Seishishi.
Daphni Album Analysis
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(00:18:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Daphni’s Butterfly showcases Dan Snaith’s club-centric alter-ego, balancing hypnotic repetition with frequent, surprising melodic hooks and structural shifts.
  • Summary: Daphni is the more club-oriented project of Caribou’s Dan Snaith, typically made for DJ sets and characterized by escapist, bass-heavy electronic music. Unlike some techno, this album avoids feeling ‘samey’ due to varied feels and short track lengths, exemplified by the opening track ‘Sad Piano House.’ The song ‘Waiting So Long’ explicitly melds the Daphni and Caribou sensibilities, featuring both personas.
Charlotte Day Wilson EP Review
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(00:22:56)
  • Key Takeaway: Charlotte Day Wilson’s EP Patchwork features haunting, grounded down-tempo R&B tracks, with standout songs co-written by Toronto artist Saya Gray.
  • Summary: Charlotte Day Wilson is known for her deep voice and quiet storm moments, having previously collaborated with artists like BadBadNotGood and James Blake. The EP has a contemporary indie R&B vibe, incorporating elements like saxophone and chopped-up loops. The tracks ‘High Road’ and ‘Selfish’ are highlighted, with the former showing a strong connection to the style of Bon Iver’s contemporary work.
John Craigie Folk Pop
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(00:28:42)
  • Key Takeaway: John Craigie’s tenth album, I Swam Here, blends mellow Laurel Canyon singer-songwriter folk with a deadpan sense of humor and influences ranging from Marty Robbins to the shimmering sound of Cotton Jones.
  • Summary: John Craigie, based in Portland, Oregon, delivers a breezy, vibey sound on his tenth album, which possesses a distinct Pacific Northwest sweep. His style incorporates a deadpan humor, evident in the narrative song ‘Enda Strange,’ where he emulates Marty Robbins’ gunfighter ballads. The sincere moments capture a shimmering, dusty sound reminiscent of Michael Nau’s project, Cotton Jones.
Lightning Round Recommendations
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(00:33:56)
  • Key Takeaway: The lightning round highlighted charming vintage country duets from Melissa Carper & Theo Lawrence, arty folk rock from Alice Costelloe, surreal commentary from Vegas Water Taxi, brooding post-rock from Ulrika Spacek, and punky pop from Music City.
  • Summary: Melissa Carper and Theo Lawrence released Havin’ a Talk, featuring classic-sounding country and Western duets. Alice Costelloe’s solo debut, Move On with the Year, incorporates recorders and synths into arty folk rock. Vegas Water Taxi’s Longtime Caller, First Time Listener offers pop culture commentary on online life, while Ulrika Spacek’s Expo addresses isolation in an online-centric world. Finally, Music City offered punky, soaring songs featuring guests from Gilliband and Sheer Mag.
Show Wrap-up and Credits
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(00:38:26)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode concludes with thanks to guest Erin Wolf and production staff, and announces Nastia Vojnovsky from KQED as the next guest.
  • Summary: Stephen Thompson thanks Erin Wolf for joining the New Music Friday segment. Production credits are given to Noah Caldwell, Elle Mannion, Otis Hart, and Dora Levitt, with Suraya Mohamed as Executive Producer. The hosts encourage listeners to leave positive reviews and announce that Nastia Vojnovsky will be the guest next week.