New Music Friday: The best albums out May 22

Aja Monet. Jack Antonoff's Bleachers. Radiohead's Ed O'Brien. Guest host Ann Powers chats with Aurora McGuckin of MVY Radio in Massachusetts about their favorite albums out Friday, May 22. Plus, a handful of NPR Music writers and critics offer their personal picks in the lightning round.

The Starting 5

(00:00) Bleachers, 'everyone for ten minutes'
(06:55) JPEGMAFIA, 'EXPERIMENTAL RAP'
(12:49) Ed O'Brien, 'Blue Morpho'
(19:01) aja monet, 'the color of rain'
(25:19) Lowertown, 'Ugly Duckling Union'

(30:35) The Lightning Round

- Alela Diane, 'Who's Keeping Time?'
- Mexican Institute of Sound & Meridian Brothers, 'Ruido Tovar'
- Balming Tiger, 'Gongbu'
- Bill Orcutt & Mabe Fratti, 'Almost Waking'
- Traumprinz, 'Life'

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

Credits:
Host: Ann Powers
Guest: Aurora McGuckin, MVY Radio
Audio Producer: Noah Caldwell
Digital Producer: Dora Levite
Editors: Otis Hart, Elle Mannion
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Special thanks to Lars Gotrich and Robin Hilton

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