Sylvan Esso. This Is Lorelei. Ezra Collective. Host Stephen Thompson breaks down the best albums out Friday, Sept. 11 with DJs from around the NPR Music network: Brian Burns from WUNC in Chapel Hill, Celia Gregory from WNXP in Nashville, and John Morrison from WXPN in Philadelphia. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round.

The Starting 5

(00:35) Album No. 1
- Sylvan Esso, 'Ow 8'

(06:57) Album No. 2
- Ezra Collective, 'Here Because of Hope'

(13:36) Album No. 3
- This Is Lorelei, 'The Singer in My Band'

(20:05) Album No. 4
- The Tubs, 'Hard Life'

(27:15) Album No. 5
- Haruomi Hosono, 'Yours Sincerely'

(33:00) The Lightning Round

- Funkadelic, 'Maggot Brain (2026 Remastered)'
- Locust, 'Spectral+'
- Standing On The Corner, 'SOTC II'
- Bri`ghde Chaimbeul & Colin Stetson, 'All the light in the world'
- Angela Autumn, 'Believer'

Sample the albums via our New Music Friday playlist and see our Long List of notable releases on NPR.org

Credits:
Host: Stephen Thompson
Guests: Brian Burns, Celia Gregory, John Morrison
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Elle Mannion, Otis Hart
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Sheldon Pearce, Lars Gotrich and Ann Powers

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