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The best new music this week: Sturgill Simpson, Tegan and Sarah, and more

Every week, countless new albums hit your favorite streaming radio stations, and it’s just too much for your two ears to handle. With all those options, you can’t be wasting your time on music that deserves a thumbs-down click. You want to know what the best new releases are this week, so you’re not missing out on something great.

There’s no need to worry. We listen to the most hyped and interesting releases each week and tell you which are worthy of your precious listening time. To find our fresh picks, we scour the internet, listening to everything from popular music blogs and user-uploaded platforms like Soundcloud and Bandcamp to exclusive premieres from major labels. We then pick our favorites based on both their style and substance, rather than simply how many views or plays they may have.

This week: New albums from Sturgill Simpson, Tegan and Sarah, John Coltrane, Moon Duo, The New Pornographers, and Wild Nothing.

Above, you’ll find our constantly updated playlist with the best new albums and singles to stream in 2019. Speaking of which, if you’re a fan of great new playlists, don’t forget to subscribe to our Spotify page for the playlist of our weekly picks, as well as numerous other exciting musical compilations.

Not sure which streaming service is best for you? Check out our post about the best music streaming services, or go in-depth and learn the differences between Apple Music and Spotify to better weigh your options.

In need of some fresh gear to listen to your favorite tunes? We’ve got you covered there, too. Whether you’re in the market for the best Bluetooth speakers, an affordable and great-sounding pair of headphones, or a gorgeous pair of high-fidelity speakers for a dedicated listening room, we’ve checked out all of the finest audio gear on the market and can give you solid recommendations, no matter your listening habits.

And don’t stop with just the best new music. We’ve also got lists of the best Netflix movies and best Netflix shows to stream, as well as what’s new on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO, providing you with plenty of new media to binge-watch, should you get the urge.

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Chill with Spotify for free on Delta Airlines this holiday season
Spotify app icon on iPhone.

There's some good news for Spotify listeners who are planning to take a trip this holiday season on Delta Airlines -- you'll be able to stream as much music as you like without paying the airline's customary fees for Wi-Fi data. Delta won't be playing Santa for long, as the free data period only lasts from December 8, 2021, to January 19, 2022.

To take advantage of the free data, all you need to do is connect your phone or tablet to the in-flight Wi-Fi system and then fire up your Spotify app. There's only one caveat: Your aircraft needs to be equipped with Viasat for its data connectivity, and not every Delta flight has this gear.

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Spotify adds a Netflix hub so you can listen to the chilling sounds of Squid Game
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Spotify has long been the king of the playlists in the streaming music universe, and now that is has partnered with Netflix, you'll also have access to dozens of official playlists and soundtracks for shows like La Casa De Papel (Money Heist), Narcos: Mexico, Outer Banks, Squid Game, tick, tick... Boom!, and Cowboy Bebop. You'll find them starting November 23 on Spotify's new Netflix hub, or simply by searching for "netflix."

The Netflix hub, which is available on both free and premium price plans, will also be home to several Netflix-focused podcasts, like Okay, Now Listen, Netflix Is A Daily Joke, 10/10 Would Recommend, and The Crown: The Official Podcast.

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What is hi-res audio, and how can you experience it right now?
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High-resolution audio, hi-res audio, or even HD audio -- whatever you decide to call it (for the record, the industry prefers "hi-res audio"), it's a catch-all term that describes a type of digital audio that goes well beyond your garden-variety MP3 file. With several music-streaming services like Deezer, Tidal, Amazon Music, and Apple Music all touting their hi-res audio options, more people than ever are taking an interest in it.

But what exactly is hi-res audio? What equipment do you need to listen to it? Where can you download or stream it? And does it actually sound better? These are the burning questions for those just hearing about hi-res audio, and we're here to answer them for you. Here's everything you need to get up to speed on hi-res audio, in plain English so that you can really wrap your head around higher-quality audio formats.
What does the term "hi-res audio" mean?

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