All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best albums out Oct. 3

October 3, 2025

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  • The episode of "All Songs Considered," "New Music Friday: The best albums out Oct. 3," intentionally sidelines the highly anticipated Taylor Swift album to focus on five other new releases recommended by guest Skylar Rochelle of 90.9 The Bridge. 
  • The featured albums—dodie's 'Not For Lack Of Trying,' Blue Lake's 'The Animal,' Snooper's 'Worldwide,' Molly Nilsson's 'Amateur,' and Leon Vynehall's 'In Daytona Yellow'—share thematic threads concerning vulnerability, embracing imperfection, and personal growth. 
  • The discussion highlights the diverse sonic palettes of the featured artists, ranging from dodie's cinematic songwriting and Blue Lake's ambient Americana to Snooper's frenetic punk energy and Leon Vynehall's experimental electro-pop. 

Segments

Taylor Swift Album Tease
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(00:00:18)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts briefly discuss Taylor Swift’s new album, ‘The Life of a Showgirl,’ noting its return to pop bangers produced with Max Martin and Shellback.
  • Summary: The album is described as a compact, brightly produced record focusing on falling in love, fame, and grievances, fitting thematically with her ‘autumnal era’ albums. Stephen Thompson will provide a more in-depth take on Pop Culture Happy Hour the following Monday.
dodie’s ‘Not For Lack Of Trying’
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(00:02:46)
  • Key Takeaway: dodie’s ‘Not For Lack Of Trying’ continues themes of love, loss, and mental health relevant to growing up in the digital age, informed by her approaching 30th birthday.
  • Summary: The album is compared favorably to the work of Icelandic singer Leve, offering a more personal and less tradition-bound sound. Tracks like ‘I Feel Bad For You’ showcase her musical storytelling with a playful bossa nova style, while ‘The List’ demonstrates grandeur with string arrangements reminiscent of Kate Bush or Tori Amos.
Blue Lake’s ‘The Animal’
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(00:08:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Blue Lake’s fifth album, ‘The Animal,’ blends ambient, Americana, folk, and jazz with a distinct Nordic aesthetic, recorded with a full band for an expansive yet intimate sound.
  • Summary: The music is characterized as contemplative, suitable for ‘Sunday morning listening,’ inviting listeners to feel present and grounded. The track ‘Strand’ builds to a near-cacophony, demonstrating the band’s ability to take the music on a journey to a destination.
Guest Host Background Check
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(00:14:32)
  • Key Takeaway: Skylar Rochelle hosts ‘The Z Show’ on 90.9 The Bridge in Kansas City on Saturday nights, focusing on emerging artists and supporting the local music scene.
  • Summary: Rochelle has hosted the freeform, college radio-vibe show since her senior year of high school. Listeners outside Kansas City can stream the show via The Bridge app or bridge909.org.
Snooper’s ‘Worldwide’ Punk Energy
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(00:15:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Nashville punk band Snooper, recording for Jack White’s Third Man label, delivers supercharged silliness and frenetic energy, often in short, one-to-two-minute tracks.
  • Summary: Their live shows feature theatricality, including giant paper-mâché puppets and a bug mascot called the ‘mosh cuido.’ The music balances intensity with a sing-song quality and gang vocals, exemplified by the blistering track ‘Star 69.’
Molly Nilsson’s ‘Amateur’
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(00:21:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Molly Nilsson’s 12th studio album, ‘Amateur,’ is dubbed a ‘jubilee for losers,’ emphasizing the pursuit of joy without regard for ’excellence,’ rooted in the original Latin meaning of ‘devotee.’
  • Summary: The music features minimalist, dark, retro-inspired synth-pop with an 80s influence and an understated vocal delivery. Tracks like ‘Valhalla’ encapsulate the happy-sad space of embracing mistakes, while songs like ‘Classified’ show sonic expansion with liquid electro-pop elements.
Leon Vynehall’s ‘In Daytona Yellow’
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(00:26:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Leon Vynehall’s third album, ‘In Daytona Yellow,’ embraces vulnerability and the rejection of perfection, incorporating more vocal collaborations and spoken word over an experimental framework.
  • Summary: The album thematically aligns with letting go of a former self, quoting Leonard Cohen’s ’there is a crack in everything, that is how the light gets in.’ It balances upbeat dance tracks like ‘Romantica’ with introspective pieces like ‘A Jagged Promise,’ while still functioning as heady electronic music.
Lightning Round Recommendations
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(00:32:06)
  • Key Takeaway: The lightning round highlights S. Carey’s lush EP ‘Watercress,’ Leisi’s tribute album ‘For Dinah,’ Alpha Mist’s genre-obliterating ‘Roulette,’ Prune’s raw ‘System,’ and Upchuck’s aggressive punk album ‘I’m Nice Now.’
  • Summary: S. Carey’s EP evokes nostalgia for Bon Iver’s debut, while Leisi blends Dinah Washington’s classics with neo-soul jazz. Alpha Mist’s work straddles hip-hop, jazz, and dance music, while Prune’s ‘System’ offers unfiltered honesty about dissociation. Upchuck’s punk is noted for its aggressive energy, led by singer KT Thompson.