Top new albums released on October 31: All Songs Considered by NPR
It’s an eccentric Friday, with Halloween coinciding on everyone’s preferred music day of the week. Some artists are embracing the spooky season with legitimately chilling new releases, while others are opting for dad-joke titles that are cornier than the controversial candy found at the bottom of your trick-or-treat bag. Speaking of treats, there’s a surprise album by Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield and her sister, Allison, titled Snocaps, which exceeds the standard for side projects. Even though the novelty of new music by Guided By Voices has faded after about two dozen albums, the Dayton, Ohio, legends’ latest release, Thick Rich and Delicious, has a pleasantly vintage feel.
Julie Bee, a GBV superfan and Marfa Public Radio host, joins New Music host Stephen Thompson to dissect the top releases on Oct. 31. Below is a list of our favorites and other notable albums that have hit streaming services this week.
The Twin sisters Katie and Allison Crutchfield come in strong with Snocaps. If you enjoy Waxahatchee and Swearin’, this album is highly recommended. Guided By Voices also impresses with Thich Rich and Delicious, catering to fans of the band’s ’90s style. Other notable releases include Chat Pile & Hayden Pedigo’s In The Earth Again, which is perfect for Nick Cave and John Fahey enthusiasts, keiyaA’s hooke’s law for those who appreciate Nourished By Time and Tirzah, and Anna von Hausswolff’s Iconoclasts for fans of Halloween and Kate Bush.
New Music Friday is a segment of NPR’s All Songs Considered podcast. Tune in on the NPR App, Apple, Spotify, or any platform where you access your podcasts to hear the full discussion.
Five more albums worth mentioning, but unfortunately not covered in the podcast conversation, include Florence + The Machine’s Everybody Scream, The Charlatans’ We Are Love, Saintseneca’s Highwalllow & Supermoon Songs, Hilary Woods’ Night CRIÚ, and Lily Lyons’ Re-Open The World. Check out the best tracks from each album on our New Music Friday playlists available on Spotify, Apple, or any other music streaming platform.
For those looking to delve deeper into the week’s new releases, here is a comprehensive list of albums categorized by genre.