All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best albums out Oct. 31

October 31, 2025

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  • The episode of *All Songs Considered*'s *New Music Friday: The best albums out Oct. 31* featured Marfa Public Radio's Julie Bee discussing new releases with host Stephen Thompson, starting with a Halloween theme in Marfa, Texas. 
  • The main focus was on four highly praised new albums: the surprise self-titled release from **Snowcaps** (a Waxahatchee side project), the prolific **Guided By Voices**' *Thick, Rich, and Delicious*, the unlikely collaboration **Chat Pile & Hayden Pedigo**'s *In The Earth Again*, and **keiyaA**'s self-produced *Hooke's Law*. 
  • The discussion highlighted a thematic trend among the new releases where artists employ non-linear song structures, with songs 'containing multitudes' and pivoting between different musical phases. 

Segments

Marfa Halloween Culture
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(00:00:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Halloween in Marfa, Texas, is highly DIY due to a lack of major retail stores, featuring local traditions like Misfits cover bands.
  • Summary: Marfa, Texas, celebrates Halloween with a strong DIY ethos because the town lacks major retail stores for costumes. Local traditions include creative, self-made costumes and performances by a local Misfits cover band called The Nightmares. Candy acquisition relies on limited local options like the Dollar General.
Snowcaps Surprise Debut
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(00:01:58)
  • Key Takeaway: Snowcaps, a new project featuring Katie and Allison Crutchfield (Waxahatchee/P.S. Elliott), released a surprise, unannounced self-titled album rich with upbeat pop and strong songwriting.
  • Summary: Snowcaps released a surprise, self-titled album featuring the Crutchfield sisters, Katie and Allison. The record is characterized by upbeat pop songs, catchy sing-along energy, and strong, smart songwriting with an edge. Tracks like ‘Coast’ and ‘Avalanche’ showcase their excellent songwriting and beautiful sibling harmonies.
Guided By Voices New Album
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(00:07:13)
  • Key Takeaway: Guided By Voices released their 42nd studio album, Thick, Rich, and Delicious, noted as a return to power pop with many hooks.
  • Summary: Guided By Voices released Thick, Rich, and Delicious, their second album of 2025 and 42nd studio album, cementing Robert Pollard’s prolific output. The album is receiving buzz for emphasizing power pop and strong hooks, which Pollard considers the foundation of his songwriting. Key tracks highlighted include ‘You Can’t Go Back to Oxford Talawanda’ and the strange closer, ‘Captain Kangaroo Won the War’.
Marfa Public Radio Update
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(00:15:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Marfa Public Radio successfully completed a fall membership drive under new Executive Director Anne Morosos, and Julie Bee’s show Amplify reached its 100th episode.
  • Summary: Marfa Public Radio recently saw a successful fall membership drive led by new Executive Director Anne Morosos. Julie Bee’s music show, Amplify, celebrated its 100th episode milestone. Listeners can find her show on Mixcloud by searching for DJ Julie B.
Chat Pile & Hayden Pedigo Collaboration
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(00:16:45)
  • Key Takeaway: The unlikely pairing of noise rock band Chat Pile and sparse guitarist Hayden Pedigo resulted in the incredible album In The Earth Again, which effectively blends discordant heaviness with atmospheric rambles.
  • Summary: The album In The Earth Again merges the sludgy, dark noise rock of Chat Pile with the intricate, sparse guitar work of Hayden Pedigo, both hailing from the Oklahoma City DIY scene. The record successfully finds connective tissue between their opposite styles, allowing songs to ebb and flow between atmospheric meanderings and heavy ruckus. The final track, ‘A Tear for Lucas,’ is noted as an intensely emotional and beautiful highlight.
keiyaA’s Daring Second Album
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(00:21:14)
  • Key Takeaway: keiyaA’s sophomore album, Hooke’s Law, is a bolder, self-produced effort blending jazz, hip-hop, and R&B, featuring dissonant sounds alongside themes of self-love.
  • Summary: keiyaA’s Hooke’s Law is her second album, entirely produced by her, where she wrote all songs and played all instruments, making it bolder than her debut. She blends soulful vocals with beats influenced by artists from Shaka Khan to Nirvana, creating a neo-soul style incorporating jazz and hip-hop. The track ‘Be Quiet’ exemplifies her direct demand for space using powerful lyrics.
Anna von Hausswolff’s Iconoclasts
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(00:27:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Anna von Hausswolff’s sixth album, Iconoclasts, features high-profile guests like Iggy Pop and Ethel Kane, showcasing an inventive sound world that works well for Halloween playlists.
  • Summary: Anna von Hausswolff, known for her booming, pipe organ-centric avant-garde sound, returns with the 73-minute album Iconoclasts. The album features collaborations with Iggy Pop and Ethel Kane, meeting at a musical midpoint between the two artists. Tracks like ‘Struggle with the Beast’ and ‘The Mouth’ make the record highly suitable for Halloween listening.
Lightning Round Recommendations
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(00:33:07)
  • Key Takeaway: The lightning round highlighted Florence + The Machine’s dramatic Everybody Scream as a strong addition to the developing Halloween music genre.
  • Summary: Florence + The Machine’s sixth album, Everybody Scream, was praised, with the title track suggested for the developing Halloween music canon due to its drama and horror-evoking elements. The Charlatans released We Are Love, which frontman Tim Burgess claims is their best record, featuring dancey singles like ‘Deeper and Deeper.’ Other notable releases included Saint Seneca’s 21-song Highwalllow & Supermoon Songs and Hilary Woods’ Night Crew, which featured production from David Lynch sound designer Dean Hurley.
Favorite Songs Selection
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(00:38:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Julie Bee chose Guided By Voices’ ‘Tribute to Beetle Bob’ as her favorite track, while Stephen Thompson selected Florence + The Machine’s ‘Everybody Scream’ to champion the growth of Halloween music as a genre.
  • Summary: Julie Bee selected ‘Tribute to Beetle Bob’ from Guided By Voices, celebrating the famous music fan known for his unique dancing and 60s attire. Stephen Thompson chose ‘Everybody Scream’ by Florence + The Machine, emphasizing the positive development of a distinct, non-goth/metal Halloween music genre. Both selections highlighted songs that brought joy and drama to the spooky holiday.