CD Of The Month

WXPN Radio

The premier guide for new and significant artists in rock, blues, and folk - including NPR-syndicated World Cafe ®

Listen Xpo

24/7 Musical discovery. A unique mix of emerging and heritage blues, rock, world, folk, and alt-country artists.

Singer Songwriter Radio

Featuring classics from heritage troubadours to new musicians and bands in the singer-songwriter tradition.

Folk Radio

Folk music radio streaming on the web; Americana, Roots Music, recordings, and stories from folk's best.
Listen Live

David Bowie - The Next Day

Ok, so we didn't see this coming. First, David Bowie emerged from a near ten year hiatus to offer us a gift (on his birthday) in the form of a brand new song "Where Are We Now." It was followed with the announcement of a completed full new album, The Next Day on Columbia Records. And now that that new album is finally a reality to our ears, all most can say is ... "wow." The Next Day does more than serve as fulfillment for a long absence, it finds this musical icon in a state of creative bliss and incredible ambition.

Truth be told "Where Are We Now," while a gorgeous song, doesn't really speak to the energy that The Next Day offers. The album storms out of the gate with the title-track. It's thrilling to hear the cutting guitars on tracks like this, the next single "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" and "Valentine's Day." There's brilliance in the frantic, almost chaotic "If You Can See Me." And there's delicious grooves on songs like the funky "Dirty Boys" which sees longtime Bowie collaborator Steve Elson on saxophone. He adds almost a Morphine like vibe to "Dirty Boys" dominating the tune.

And speaking of collaborators, Bowie fans won't be surprised but should be excited by the presence of producer and musician Tony Visconti who helped craft The Next Day with Bowie. The two pulled off what most would consider 'the impossible' these days: record an album and make sure no one finds out. Now that the secret of The Next Day is finally out of the bag, enjoy!

Another Way To Support WXPN

Buy The Next Day (Deluxe Edition) from Amazon.com. Your purchase that starts here, supports WXPN Public Radio.


Help Support WXPN

Make Music Philly Spotlight: Sylvia Platypus

If the name alone wasn’t enough to pique your curiosity, then the bagpipes will. Philly’s own six-piece...Read More

Light Heat’s new album now streaming at The New York Times website (appearing on XPN Philly Local...

Light Heat‘s self-titled debut is due out on June 25th via Ribbon Music, but if you’re itching to hear it now, the album...Read More

Folkadelphia Session: Balto (performing at Lickety Split this Wednesday)

Because you love to discover great music, this week we’ll be debuting 3 new Folkadelphia Sessions for you to fall in love with....Read More

How some Philly punk rockers are giving back to the community with the Big Footprints Project

Brendan Lukens is used to watching things grow right before his eyes. The frontman and founder of Philly local pop punk band Modern...Read More

Watch a conversation with instrumental duo El Ten Eleven, shot at the North Star (playing Johnny Brenda’s on...

El Ten Eleven is a duo that doesn’t like to be captured in a label.  They make powerful instrumental music that spans various...Read More