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Tame Impala's new album, Currents, comes out July 17. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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First Listen

Tame Impala, 'Currents'

by Stephen Thompson

July 12, 2015 • Kevin Parker's highly-anticipated new album is finally here. Currents won't be released in stores until Friday, but you can stream the entire record now via our First Listen series.

Hear the album 51:11

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M'Lady's Records, a label based in Portland, Ore., has begun discounting sales to women to protest the gender-based wage gap. Photo by Morgan Walker/Illustration by Julian Ring/NPR hide caption

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Portland Record Label Offers Women A Pay-Gap Discount

by Katie Presley

July 11, 2015 • M'lady's Records will charge women 77 percent of the list price for every purchase made from its website, "to reflect the current gap in wage equality."

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All Songs Considered

The Best Opening Tracks

by Julian Ring

July 10, 2015 • Can you judge an album by its first song? For a handful of classic records, absolutely.

Hear the show 42:36

A crowd gathers at Hollywood's Amoeba Music for a free weekday concert in 2007. A new shift to Friday album releases could spell logistical trouble for independent record stores like this one. Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Morning Edition

Goodbye, Music Tuesday: Albums Now Come Out On Friday

by Leah Scarpelli

July 10, 2015 • Around the world, new albums will now be released on Fridays. While the change is meant to help keep music from leaking early online, it could create some new headaches for music sellers.

Hear the story 3:38

Songs We Love

Handpicked by NPR Music staff and public radio hosts

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Listen Loading… 2:34 All Dogs That Kind Of Girl

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Colin Marshall/NPR

Picked by Katie Presley

The Ohio quartet pairs generous, self-affirming breakup lyrics with youthful, peppy pop-punk.

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Duke Ellington composed "Afrique" as part of The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse, a suite informed by his numerous world tours. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Listen Loading… 5:24 Duke Ellington Afrique (Take 3, Vocal)

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Picked by Patrick Jarenwattananon

Even in his 70s, the Maestro was always looking for new sounds.

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Portland's Liz Vice releases her debut album, There's A Light, this fall. Chimera Rene/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Listen Loading… 4:37 Liz Vice Empty Me Out

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OPB

Picked by David Christensen

A satisfying, gospel-flavored number that conveys vulnerability, hope and conviction.

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First Listen

Hear upcoming albums in their entirety

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Jason Isbell

Something More Than Free

Isbell's voice — as supple, hushed and aching as it's ever been — is wielded with depth and force.

43:35 • Until Jul 17

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Ratatat

Magnifique

What Magnifique lacks in showy flamboyance, it possesses in breezy smoothness that proves versatile.

44:55 • Until Jul 17

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Alan Jackson

Angels And Alcohol

The country star knows exactly what he means to say, and says it without fuss or apology.

38:47 • Until Jul 17

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White Reaper

White Reaper Does It Again

The freewheeling band plays to classic rock 'n' roll ideals while trying to dissolve them in acid.

33:30 • Until Jul 17

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Flying Saucer Attack

Instrumentals 2015

The band's new album feels outside of time, as if its songs began eons ago and could last forever.

57:03 • Until Jul 17

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Tiny Desk Concert with Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad of Girlpool. Maggie Starbard/NPR hide caption

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Tiny Desk

Girlpool

by Bob Boilen

July 10, 2015 • The charming duo performs three of the simple, direct songs from Before The World Was Big.

Watch the video 9:35

Miguel performs songs from Wildheart at Le Poisson Rouge in NYC. Ebru Yildiz for NPR hide caption

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Front Row

Watch Miguel Perform 'Wildheart' In Concert

by Timmhotep Aku

June 22, 2015 • The R&B; star performed songs from his brand new album, Wildheart, during a live webcast from Le Poisson Rouge in New York City.

Watch the concert 1:15:00

Joy Williams performs on Morning Becomes Eclectic at the KCRW studio. Larry Hirshowitz/KCRW hide caption

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Favorite Sessions

KCRW Presents: Joy Williams KCRW-FM

by Jason Bentley

July 9, 2015 • Now solo, the former Civil Wars singer showcases her gorgeous voice in "Sweet Love Of Mine."

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June 23, 2015 • It feels like it's a very constant theme in my songs, anyway, [this] kind of purpose-searching.

Hear the show 47:21

All Songs Considered

Courtney Barnett

Mia Mala McDonald/Courtesy of the artist

July 1, 2015 • That's not my job. My job is not for the radio. My job is not for sales. My job is to keep my sanity. Period. I can't do nothing else.

Hear the interview 1:25:49

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Vince Staples

Vince Staples onstage in Sacramento in May. Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images hide caption

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Alt.Latino

Keep It Moving: New Dance Music From Latin America

by Jasmine Garsd

July 9, 2015 • Guest DJs Sami Yenigun and Otis Hart stop by Alt.Latino to share some of their favorite dance-music finds from across the Spanish-speaking world.

Hear the show 32:38

Amy Winehouse, in an image taken from the documentary Amy, by director Asif Kapadia. Courtesy of A24 hide caption

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Why Films About Musicians Leave So Much Music Off Screen

by Ann Powers

July 7, 2015 • Films about music — including documentaries about Amy Winehouse, Nina Simone and Kurt Cobain — tend to focus on everything surrounding the ineffable art without delving deeply into its core.

Read the essay

Pearl Jam (top left), Missy Elliott (top right), the cover of Nirvana's Nevermind (bottom right), PJ Harvey (bottom left), Jeff Mangum of Neutral Milk Hotel (center). Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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