All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best albums out Oct. 24

October 24, 2025

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The episode focuses on new albums released on October 24th, featuring in-depth discussions on releases from Brandi Carlile, Miguel, Tortoise, Daniel Caesar, and Yasmin Lacey. 
  • Host Stephen Thompson and guest Ayana Contreras (KUVO in Denver) highlighted the thematic introspection of Brandi Carlile's 'Returning To Myself' and the dark, experimental nature of Miguel's 'Chaos' following an eight-year hiatus. 
  • The hosts also covered a 'Lightning Round' of other notable October 24th releases, including albums from iLe, Natural Information Society, Hannah Jadagu, Hether, and Joyer. 

Segments

Sponsor Message and Introduction
Copied to clipboard!
(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The podcast episode opens with sponsor messages and the introduction of host Stephen Thompson and guest Ayana Contreras.
  • Summary: The episode begins with an advertisement for Amazon’s skills training programs. Host Stephen Thompson introduces Ayana Contreras from KUVO in Denver as his guest for the ‘New Music Friday’ segment. The show also issues a warning about explicit language contained within the broadcast.
Bruce Springsteen Biopic Discussion
Copied to clipboard!
(00:00:48)
  • Key Takeaway: The Bruce Springsteen biopic, ‘Springsteen Deliver Me from Nowhere,’ is praised as a surprisingly good music biopic, focusing on his support team.
  • Summary: The music playing at the top of the show is from the extended edition of Bruce Springsteen’s 1982 album, ‘Nebraska,’ coinciding with the new biopic. Ayana Contreras enjoys biopics when they are well-made, noting they always offer entertainment. The film is highlighted for its strong performance by Jeremy Allen White and its focus on the importance of Springsteen’s team, including manager John Landau.
Brandi Carlile Album Deep Dive
Copied to clipboard!
(00:02:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Brandi Carlile’s ‘Returning To Myself’ is an introspective solo album following a busy period of collaborations, reflecting self-examination.
  • Summary: The first featured album is Brandi Carlile’s ‘Returning To Myself,’ her first solo work in four years, following collaborations with artists like Elton John and Joni Mitchell. The title track reflects the process of taking a step back and asking, ‘Who am I?’ The album’s sound is varied, moving beyond roots music to include anthemic rock elements, such as in the song ‘Church and State.’ Collaborator Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) appears on the track ‘A War with Time.’
Miguel Album Deep Dive
Copied to clipboard!
(00:07:48)
  • Key Takeaway: Miguel’s new album ‘Chaos’ is a dark, loud, and experimental return that incorporates themes of immigration and belonging, drawing from his biracial background.
  • Summary: Miguel’s ‘Chaos’ is his first album in eight years, inspired by personal changes, the pandemic, and loss, fitting the album’s title. The opening track is described as an ‘808 big bottom bolero,’ reflecting deep thematic tones related to his Mexican heritage and issues of belonging. The sound is compared to Childish Gambino, blending R&B, rock, and Latin music in a thunderous way, with a retrofuturistic 90s syncopated drum programming feel.
Sponsor Breaks and Station Update
Copied to clipboard!
(00:13:06)
  • Key Takeaway: The show pauses for multiple sponsor messages and updates listeners on KUVO’s 40th anniversary.
  • Summary: The program takes breaks sponsored by Sonos, Schwab, and Betterment. Ayana Contreras shares that KUVO in Denver is celebrating its 40th anniversary, acknowledging its roots primarily in jazz, Latin, soul, and blues music. Listeners can find KUVO online at kuvo.org.
Tortoise Album Deep Dive
Copied to clipboard!
(00:15:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Tortoise’s first album in nine years, ‘Touch,’ maintains their signature instrumental blend of post-rock, jazz, and kraut rock while pushing sonic boundaries.
  • Summary: Tortoise, a long-running Chicago-based band now geographically scattered, releases ‘Touch,’ their first album since 2016. Their music sits at the intersection of post-rock, jazz, and art rock, remaining almost entirely instrumental. Tracks like ‘Vexations’ feature their characteristic motoric throb, while others, like ‘Elka,’ suggest influences ranging from spaghetti westerns to Nine Inch Nails soundtracks.
Daniel Caesar Album Deep Dive
Copied to clipboard!
(00:19:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Daniel Caesar’s ‘Son Of Spergy’ synthesizes his gospel upbringing and recent experiences, incorporating collaborators like Justin Vernon and Sampha.
  • Summary: Daniel Caesar’s new album, ‘Son Of Spergy,’ reflects on his background singing in the Fifth Adventist Church and incorporates his father, Norwell Simmons, on the track ‘Baby Blue.’ The record attempts to reach a spiritual place, opening with the gospel track ‘Rain Down’ featuring Sampha. Caesar blends classic sounds with modern, chopped-up R&B influences reminiscent of artists like Omar Apollo.
Yasmin Lacey Album Deep Dive
Copied to clipboard!
(00:26:29)
  • Key Takeaway: Londoner Yasmin Lacey’s second album, ‘Teal Dreams,’ showcases a genre-diverse sound blending R&B, pop, ska, and Caribbean music, reflecting a ’lived-in’ quality.
  • Summary: Yasmin Lacey began her singing career later in life (age 27), contributing to a ’lived-in quality’ in her music, which follows her debut ‘Voice Notes.’ The album is sonically rangey, incorporating dubby feels (like in ‘Love is Like the Ghetto’) and elements of lover’s rock and 70s juju. Her lyricism is noted as quintessential storytelling, capturing the mashup of sounds and cultures characteristic of London.
Lightning Round Recommendations
Copied to clipboard!
(00:32:26)
  • Key Takeaway: The lightning round featured iLe’s traditional bolero collection, Natural Information Society’s expansive drone, Hannah Jadagu’s incisive lyricism, Hether’s unique blend, and Joyer’s exploration of distance.
  • Summary: iLe released ‘Como las cantoyo,’ a collection of traditional Latin American boleros. Natural Information Society offered ‘Perseverance Flow,’ 35 minutes of evolving, droning experimentation. Hannah Jadagu’s ‘Describe’ deepens the talent shown on her debut, reflecting on relationship strains. Hether’s debut, ‘Holy Water,’ merges Laurel Canyon, Lowrider, and Soul influences. Joyer’s ‘On the Other End of the Line’ explores themes of separation through slinky, catchy indie rock.
Favorite Song Selections
Copied to clipboard!
(00:36:50)
  • Key Takeaway: Ayana Contreras chose Miguel’s ‘Chaos’ as her favorite song for its modern, dark bolero quality, while Stephen Thompson selected Brandi Carlile’s title track for its powerful theme of self-discovery after collaboration.
  • Summary: Ayana Contreras selected ‘Chaos’ by Miguel, describing it as a modern bolero that feels like a ‘sip of mezcal.’ Stephen Thompson chose the opening track from Brandi Carlile’s ‘Returning To Myself,’ emphasizing the power of an artist known for collaboration realizing she doesn’t know herself when alone. The hosts conclude by thanking the guest and promoting the next episode.
Credits and New Podcast Promotion
Copied to clipboard!
(00:39:06)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode credits Noah Caldwell and Otis Hart, and promotes a new sponsor-free podcast series for NPR Music Plus supporters.
  • Summary: Credits list Noah Caldwell (Audio Producer), Elle Mannion (Digital Producer), Otis Hart (Editor), and Suraya Mohamed (Executive Producer). A new bi-weekly series hosted by Ann Powers and Daoud Tyler Amin, focusing on enduring songs, is announced exclusively for NPR Music Plus supporters. Listeners are encouraged to sign up at plus.npr.org/nprmusic.