- Dry Cleaning, Jenny on Holiday and Mon Rovîa headline the New Music Friday picks for Jan. 9.
- NPR’s Stephen Thompson and WNXP’s Celia Gregory discuss five standout releases and quick picks.
- Highlights include indie rock, intimate singer-songwriters and an experimental jazz quartet.
- Stream the New Music Friday playlist on NPR, Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube Music.
H2: This week’s roundup — fresh albums to watch
NPR Music’s Stephen Thompson is joined by Celia Gregory from WNXP to run through the best new albums arriving Friday, Jan. 9. Their picks lean into intimate songwriting, jagged indie rock and adventurous jazz; each selection offers a distinct mood for the start of 2026.
H3: The Starting 5 — a closer look
Dry Cleaning — Secret Love
Dry Cleaning delivers taut, talk-sung post-punk on Secret Love. Thompson praises the band’s clipped rhythms and observational lyrics that land with a dry wit.
Jenny on Holiday — Quicksand Heart
Jenny on Holiday offers cinematic pop-prog textures on Quicksand Heart. Gregory highlights the emotional clarity of the melodies and the record’s warm production.
Mon Rovîa — Bloodline
Mon Rovîa makes a quietly powerful debut with Bloodline. The album is introspective and streamlined, giving space to delicate vocal lines and personal storytelling.
Home Star — A Binding Life
Home Star’s A Binding Life brings richly arranged compositions and a contemplative tone, balancing indie folk with chamber-pop touches.
Kris Davis & the Lutoslawski Quartet — The Solastalgia Suite
An adventurous meeting of modern jazz and contemporary classical, The Solastalgia Suite pairs pianist Kris Davis with the Lutoslawski Quartet for a suite that explores environmental unease through dense, expressive arrangements.
H4: The Lightning Round — quick mentions
• Zach Bryan — With Heaven On Top
• The Cribs — Selling A Vibe
• Pullman — III
• Clémentine March — Powder Keg
• Rawayana — ¿Dónde Es El After?
These brief mentions round out the week’s notable releases, covering Americana, indie rock, instrumental collaborations and global pop influences.
H5: Where to listen
Sample the full selection via NPR’s New Music Friday playlist: https://www.npr.org/nx-s1-5671231
Listen directly on streaming platforms:
• Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5X8lN5fZSrLnXzFtDEUwb9?si=7fec5484c8b64001
• Apple Music playlist: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/new-music-friday/pl.c3e48af706dc4ce091ec55bcf58de8b0
• YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/library/podcasts?addrssfeed=https://feeds.npr.org/510019/podcast.xml
H4: Credits and voices
Host Stephen Thompson leads the episode with guest Celia Gregory (WNXP). Audio producer Noah Caldwell, digital producer Elle Mannion and editor Otis Hart round out the production team. For quick access and deeper listening, check NPR’s page and playlist linked above.
H4: Why it matters
New Music Friday continues to be a weekly snapshot of what artists are releasing and what critics are listening to. This Jan. 9 selection balances established acts and rising voices, offering several strong albums worth adding to your rotation as the year begins.
Image Referance: https://www.npr.org/2026/01/09/nx-s1-5671231/new-music-friday-the-best-albums-out-jan-9
