Alessia Cara's new album, Know It All, comes out Nov. 13. Meredith Truax/Courtesy of the artist. hide caption

itoggle caption Meredith Truax/Courtesy of the artist.

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First Listen: Alessia Cara, 'Know It All'

November 5, 2015 • The 19-year-old is ascending pop music's hierarchy by standing strong in herself.

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Cool Uncle's new album, Cool Uncle, comes out Nov. 13. Supajoe Images/Courtesy of the artist. hide caption

itoggle caption Supajoe Images/Courtesy of the artist.

First Listen

First Listen: Cool Uncle, 'Cool Uncle'

November 4, 2015 • What happens when sexagenarian, Quiet-Storm crooner Bobby Caldwell and thirtysomething hit producer Jack Splash get together? Smooth fireworks!

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Chris Isaak's new album, First Comes The Night, comes out Nov. 13. Andrew Macpherson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

itoggle caption Andrew Macpherson/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Chris Isaak, 'First Comes The Night'

November 4, 2015 • The 59-year-old's tenor has grown rawer, lending his inquiries into heartbreak an air of menace. He can still sing like a dream, but Isaak's gotten better at capturing nightmares, too.

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Alone In The Universe, the new album by Jeff Lynne's ELO, comes out Nov. 13. Rob Shanahan/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

itoggle caption Rob Shanahan/Courtesy of the artist

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First Listen: Jeff Lynne's ELO, 'Alone In The Universe'

November 4, 2015 • Lynne resurrects Electric Light Orchestra with vulnerability and rumpled grace, finding a strange alchemy of melody, harmony and rhythm.

Wolfgang Voigt curates and contributes to Pop Ambient 2016, which comes out Nov. 13. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

itoggle caption Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

First Listen: Various Artists, 'Pop Ambient 2016'

November 4, 2015 • The Kompakt label's series showcases the gentler, more melodic side of ambient electronic music. It may make for a lushly soothing soundtrack, but richly varied and revelatory sounds abound.

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The 'Complete Bee Hive Recordings' Buzz With The Energy Of '70s Mainstream Jazz

Fresh Air

November 2, 2015 • A new 12-CD box set by Mosaic features a number of superior musicians who aren't household names, like saxophonists Nick Brignola and Sal Nistico. Critic Kevin Whitehead has a review.

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Bob Dylan's new compilation, The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12, comes out Nov. 5. Don Hunstein/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

itoggle caption Don Hunstein/Courtesy of the artist

First Listen

Review: Bob Dylan, 'The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series Vol. 12'

October 30, 2015 • The fevered 14 months captured here represent the moment when Dylan became comfortable in his shoes — and, if not yet confident about every decision, at least trusting the authority of his writing.

Three Songs That Expose Frayed Nerves And Yearning

Fresh Air

October 29, 2015 • Critic Ken Tucker considers three songs by three artists: Elvis Costello's "I Can't Turn It Off," Lana Del Rey's cover of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" and Eleanor Friedberger's "Alphabet City."

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