Featured Album

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

God Help the Girl - God Help the Girl - Matador

God Help The Girl is the name of the new project spearheaded and written by Belle & Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch. The narrative of God Help The Girl is scheduled to be produced next year in the form of a musical film, but with the release of this record Murdoch already has his soundtrack ready to go.

Despite the unfinished screenplay, the songs from God Help The Girl take shape as an album quite well. The vocalists on the record were recruited through open casting auditions and are backed by members of Belle & Sebastian. While some of the voices may not be familiar, a few of the songs may be reminiscent including the re-worked version of Belle & Sebastian's "Funny Little Frog".

Although we don't actually hear much of Murdoch on God Help The Girl (he is featured only twice, on the songs "Pretty Eve In The Tub" and "Hiding Neath My Umbrella"), his fingerprints are present throughout the record. His knack for crafting pop gems is not lost and measures up fittingly with his previous work. Take for instance the irresistible title track "God Help The Girl".

For what becomes of the entire God Help The Girl project still remains to be seen. However, Murdoch has carefully crafted a versatile set of songs that are prepared for something much larger, but can equally stand on their own.

listen

NEW - Download and Listen to Mike's review.

Or, read the review.

Help Support WXPN

Folkadelphia Session: Field Report

If you haven’t been listening to Milwaukee’s Field Report by now, here’s your chance to make it up with no hard...Read More

The Week’s Best MP3 Downloads, incl. Literature, Market East, Morning River Band

Photo by Abi Reimold Recent Philly transplants Literature previewed four new tracks in this week’s Key Studio Session. With a...Read More

Tonight’s Concert Picks: Surgeon at Kung Fu Necktie, The Killers at Susquehanna Bank Center, XPN welcomes the Philadelphia...

Philly metal band Surgeon will release their new album tonight at Johnny Brenda’s Kung Fu Necktie (the show was moved due to a...Read More

Watch: Phoenix and Steve Martin & Edie Brickell at Non-COMM

Photo of Phoenix’s lead singer Thomas Mars by Joe Del Tufo | joedeltufo.com Dozens of bands played the WXPN Non-COMMvention this...Read More

Non-COMM Recap: Going introspective with John Murry (photos, audio, setlist)

With just his guitar and his voice, Bay Area by way of Mississippi songwriter John Murry played an emotional, powerful set Wednesday...Read More