NPR Music Best new songs: Mitski, Father John Misty, Kim Gordon, more
13 snips
Jan 27, 2026 Hazel Cills, NPR Music editor and critic, weighs in with sharp ears and quick takes. She highlights Mitski’s anxious rocker return, Kim Gordon’s softer, kraut-tinged turn, Father John Misty’s witty wordplay, and a mix of surprising indie and world music finds. Short, lively music talk that jumps between humor, tension, and striking new sounds.
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Mundane Moment As Emotional Amplifier
- Mitski turns mundane anxieties into stadium-sized drama by magnifying small moments like losing a phone.
- The self-censoring bleeps mirror a fractured, racing inner monologue as the character unravels.
Discovering Robber Robber In Vermont
- Hazel discovered Vermont band Robber Robber and instantly felt they fit her musical wheelhouse.
- She likened their discordant instrumentals and monotone vocal to the sound of her times.
Contrast Captures Contemporary Overwhelm
- The contrast of frenetic, industrial instrumentals with calm, speak-sung vocals captures modern overwhelm.
- That tension makes intimate lyrics feel both cozy and unsettling at once.