The best new albums out Feb. 6

Welcome to New Music Friday, NPR Music’s podcast dedicated to sharing the best albums out each week. We listen to dozens of new releases in advance, identify the ones we think you need to hear, and highlight our favorite five in a brisk mix of clips, context and commentary.

The podcast is hosted by NPR Music’s Stephen Thompson, and each episode features a member of the NPR Music Network of public radio stations. This week, our guest is Erin Wolf from Radio Milwaukee’s 88Nine, where she hosts What’s All This: Adventures In New Music.

Scroll down to see which albums we discussed this week, plus Dora’s Corner, where NPR Music production assistant Dora Levite shares her favorite albums that didn’t make the podcast.

New Music Friday is a feature of NPR’s All Songs Considered podcast. Check it out on the NPR App, Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

The Starting 5

Ratboys, Singin’ To An Empty Chair (RIYL: Wednesday, Waxahatchee)
Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Laughter in Summer (RIYL: Laraaji, Mary Lattimore)
Daphni, Butterfly, (RIYL: Caribou, Four Tet)
Charlotte Day Wilson, Patchwork (RIYL: SAULT, KAYTRANADA)
John Craigie, I Swam Here (RIYL: Nathaniel Rateliff, Hiss Golden Messenger)

The Lightning Round

Melissa Carper & Theo Lawrence, Havin’ a Talk (Warner)
Alice Costelloe, Move On With The Year (Moshi Moshi)
vegas water taxi, long time caller, first time listener (PNKSLM)
Ulrika Spacek, EXPO (Full Time Hobby)
Music City, Welcome to Music City (Redundant Span)

Dora’s Corner

Dora Levite is New Music Friday’s production assistant, an occasional All Songs Considered guest, and 17 years old according to her Spotify wrapped. Below are her picks for the best albums not featured on the show.