NPR Song Of The Day: Dan Deacon, ‘The Crystal Cat’

Dan Deacon's Spiderman Of The Rings is out now.
Dan Deacon’s Spiderman Of The Rings is out now.

I wrote a short review of Dan Deacon’s bonkers song “The Crystal Cat,” from his album Spiderman of the Rings, for NPR’s Song of the Day. To read the full review and hear the song go here.

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NPR Song Of The Day: Jesca Hoop, ‘Havoc in Heaven’

Jesca Hoop's Kismet is out now.
Jesca Hoop’s Kismet is out now.

I first discovered Jesca Hoop nearly two years ago, as an intern for All Songs Considered — and selected one of her demo songs for Open Mic. (That series was later retrofitted for the daily Open Mic feature and podcast, and later, as Second Stage.)

Hoop’s new album, Kismet, is pretty great all the way through, maybe one of the best new artist debuts this year. So here’s a short write up about the song “Havoc in Heaven” for NPR’s Song of the Day essay. To read the full review and hear the song go here.

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NPR Song of the Day: The Dirty Projectors, ‘Rise Above’

Dirty Projectors' Rise Above is out now.
Dirty Projectors’ Rise Above is out now.

Here’s a piece I wrote about Dirty Projectors’ completely reinvented cover of “Rise Above” — the classic punk anthem by Black Flag — for NPR’s Song of the Day. Check out the song here.

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NPR Song Of The Day: Bowerbirds, ‘In Our Talons’

Bowerbirds' Hymns for a Dark Horse is out now.
Bowerbirds’ Hymns for a Dark Horse is out now.

Here’s a piece about Bowerbirds’ song “In Our Talons” from its album Hymns for a Dark Horse for NPR’s Song of the Day. Check out the song here.

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NPR Song Of The Day: Imperial Teen, ‘Do It Better’

Imperial Teen's The Hair, the TV, the Baby and the Band is out now.
Imperial Teen’s The Hair, the TV, the Baby and the Band is out now.

Here’s another piece for NPR’s Song of the Day about Imperial Teen’s song “Do It Better,” from The Hair the TV the Baby and the Band. Check out the song here.

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NPR Song Of The Day: Jesse Harris, ‘You And Me’

Jesse Harris' Feel is out now.
Jesse Harris’ Feel is out now.

Most may recognize Jesse Harris’ name as one of the songwriters who co-wrote for Norah Jones’ runaway smash debut, but he’s also a fantastic songwriter in his own right. Harris also wrote all the songs for the the upcoming film “The Hottest State” based on a novel by Ethan Hawke. Many of his songs on the soundtrack are performed by the likes of Cat Power, M. Ward, Feist, Willie Nelson and so on.

Here’s my short piece on Jesse Harris’ song “You And Me” from his album Feel, for NPR’s Song of the Day. Check out the song here.

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NPR Song Of The Day: Joan As Police Woman, ‘Real Life’

Joan As Policewoman's Real Life is out now.
Joan As Policewoman’s Real Life is out now.

I saw Joan as Police Woman open for Andrew Bird about a month ago at Washington D.C.’s 9:30 Club, and despite the rather inattentive and talkative crowd — which can ruin a quiet performance — she held it together and put on a great performance. Here’s a short piece about the title track to her album Real Life for NPR’s Song of the Day. Check out the song here.

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NPR Song Of The Day: The Clientele, ‘Winter On Victoria Street’

The Clientele's God Save The Clientele is out now.
The Clientele’s God Save The Clientele is out now.

Here’s a piece on The Clientele’s “Winter On Victoria Street,” from its album God Save The Clientele, for NPR’s Song of the Day. Go here to listen.

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