NPR Music New Music Friday: The best albums out April 3
21 snips
Apr 3, 2026 
Erin Wolf, Radio Milwaukee music programmer and broadcaster, guides listeners through new April 3 releases. She spotlights Arlo Parks' dance-leaning pop evolution, Dermot Kennedy's folk-tinged emotive songs, Thundercat's playful, collaborative record, and standout picks from artists like Joe Pernice and Sunn O))). Short, lively takes on the week’s most talked-about albums.
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Arlo Parks Transforms Breakup Into Danceable Catharsis
- Arlo Parks' Ambiguous Desire expands from bedroom folk into danceable, cathartic pop without losing emotional intimacy.
- Stephen Thompson notes the record turns a breakup into celebration, pairing club rhythms with melancholic songwriting and tracks like Get Go that feel soaring.
Dermot Kennedy As Irish Bon Iver With No-Skip Hooks
- Dermot Kennedy's The Weight of the Woods is rooted in Irish folk instrumentation and raw storytelling, leaning into bouzouki, fiddle, and bodhrán.
- Stephen frames Kennedy as part of a 'Northern men of feelings' lineage alongside Bon Iver and Noah Kahan, delivering no-skip, emotionally urgent songs like Refuge.
Thundercat Makes Playful, Collaborative Bass-Forward Pop
- Thundercat's Distracted blends playful, collaborative production with fluid basslines and eclectic guests like Tame Impala and Mac Miller.
- Erin Wolf and Stephen point out textured details (water effects, cat noises) and themes of modern distraction across tracks like Thunderwave.