Corb Lund - "Grizzly Bear Blues"

"Grizzly Bear Blues" by Edmonton's Corb Lund is one of my favorite kinds of songs. It's funny and not serious without being too jokey or a novelty song. "Grizzly Bear Blues" is a ramblin' rock and roll meets country song about how to survive a grizzly bear encounter that includes some facts about grizzlies. Even though it's rock and roll meets country, it's not edgy enough to be outlaw country. It's a fun song that's disguised as a great song, and paying attention could actually save your life.

You can listen to "Grizzly Bear Blues" below. Agriculture Tragic, the upcoming album from Corb Lund, will be out June 26 on New West Records. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on Corb Lund, check out his website.

Skullcrusher - "Day of Show"

Photo by Silken Weinberg

Skullcrusher (aka Los Angeles based musician Helen Ballentine) is back with another single that doesn't fit the name of the project at all. "Day of Show" starts off disguised as an indie folk song... until the synths come in. Slowly it morphs into a more dream pop infused with shoegaze song. It creates this dreamy, hazy feel which is kind of perfect for laying around the house in the summer heat while under quarantine.

Ballentine says of the song: "I wrote ‘Day of Show’ on a hot day last summer in my roommate’s bedroom because mine didn’t have AC," explains Ballentine. “I felt dazed and restless from sitting around in the heat all day. It is a song about feeling trapped in yourself, unable to help yourself and reluctant to let others in. It explores the fragmented behavior and thoughts that arise from this feeling: a kind of daydreaming that can be really creative but also the darkness that also exists there. It’s musically inspired by a lot of the shoegaze music I listen to.”

You can watch the video for "Day of Show" below. Skullcrusher's debut self-titled EP will be out June 26 on Secretly Canadian. You can pre-order it here. For more on Skullcrusher, check out the artist's Bandcamp and Instagram.

Eye Witness - "Miss Me"

I've become enamored with Massachusetts's own Sapling this year. Their album No Sequoia is a strong contender for my best of 2020 list, so when I heard that Sapling's Rainy Maple Sugar Candy had another project, I obviously had to check it out. Eye Witness is that project, and it's an indie folk duo consisting of Rainy and Milo. I personally wouldn't have pictured Rainy being in an indie folk duo, but once you listen to "Miss Me," you'll get it. Milo takes vocal duties on the song, and the first thing you'll notice is that he doesn't have a traditional folk voice. It's unique in the way that someone like J Mascis has a unique voice. You wouldn't enjoy him doing karaoke, but his voice fits the music perfectly. "Miss Me" has an intensely dark feel, and despite being indie folk, it simply rocks. 

You can listen to "Miss Me" below. Miss Me is also the name of Eye Witness's upcoming album which will be out on June 3. You can pre-order it now via Bandcamp. For more on Eye Witness, check them out on Facebook.

Katie Malco - "Fractures"

"Fractures," the latest single from Katie Malco, is one of the most lovely songs you'll hear all year. It's not reinventing any genre of music. You've heard songs like "Fractures" before, but none have been done this well. It's a modern day neo-folk/indie rock masterpiece, staying at mid-tempo throughout but somehow feeling more intense as it goes on. Despite not having the cheeriest subject matter, the song comes across as uplifting and as a quiet anthem.

Malco says of the song: 

"Fractures is about coming face to face with a version of yourself you don’t even recognise, and growing into and understanding your true self and figuring out your own needs in life. My ex partner's girlfriend before me was an extremely beautiful, intelligent and, by all accounts, incredibly nice person. She was from the coast and she surfed, skated, hiked, climbed and she was a scientist. I grew up in a rough midlands industrial town and didn't do that well in school, and I always had insecurities about my academic intelligence, so if my partner ever joked about gaps in my knowledge, I didn’t take it well. I just felt like other people seemed to find things easier than I did, like they were all surpassing me in their achievements, him included. All of these things put such a massive strain on our relationship at the time and made me want to make myself into this person I thought he wanted. Someone exactly like his ex – graceful, clever, outdoorsy and good at everything. Someone I didn’t know or recognise in myself, and who just wasn’t me and wasn’t representative of my story up until then, which was a hard thing to explain to him."

You can watch the video for "Fractures" below. Failures, the new album from Katie Malco, will be out June 5 on 6131 Records. The album can be pre-ordered here. For more on Katie Malco, check her out on Facebook and Twitter.

Bee Bee Sea - "Daily Jobs"

Photo by Chiara Gambuto

Hailing from Italy, Bee Bee Sea play a hyped up, fast version of garage-psych rock. Their new single, "Daily Jobs," is as bouncy as it is blistering. It's fast without being heavy. Instead it's just fun. While most alt-rock for the past thirty years alternates between quiet and loud, "Daily Jobs" bounces from fast to slow. It's like The Hives mixed with Arctic Monkeys. 

Bee Bee Sea say of "Daily Jobs": "The prospect of having a shitty job for the rest of our lives can be suffocating. This song, and the album as a whole, are basically the summary of our lives in the last couple of years, split between working in a factory during the day and playing our music at night. Night is a dream and a day... Day Ripper!"

You can watch the video for "Daily Jobs" below. Day Ripper, the upcoming album from Bee Bee Sea, will be out October 9 on Wild Honey Records. For more on Bee Bee Sea, check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

Jess Cornelius - "Kitchen Floor"

Photo by Rachel Pony Cassells

Jess Cornelius started out in Australia as the lead singer of Teeth and Tongue, but now resides in Los Angeles and is set to release her debut solo album. The first single, "Kitchen Floor," hits a lot of our musical sweet spots. The song lives firmly in the current indie rock singer/songwriter world, but Cornelius also dabbles into some 60's doo wop to give it a unique feel. Plus, the song has its very own unique groove. It all feels familiar and fresh at the same time. 

You can watch the video for "Kitchen Floor" below. The video was recorded at 5 a.m. to show an empty Los Angeles. Jess Cornelius says of the video:

“I have a weird fascination with Hollywood Blvd — it’s such a grotesque place most of the time. But I knew we’d have the chance to experience it deserted and empty, and it was like a different place. I’d been watching a lot of  ‘last human on earth’ apocalypse-type films. Mostly, the concept behind the clip was to have this character just owning it. There are so many things pregnant women are not ‘supposed' be doing, like having casual sex with strangers. There’s a loneliness, too, that I wanted to get across in the clip, but ultimately she’s in a state of friendliness with herself and the world.”

Distance, the upcoming album from Jess Cornelius, will be out July 24 on Loantaka Records. You can pre-order the album here. For more on Jess Cornelius, check her out on Facebook and Bandcamp.

Tanya Donelly Covers Yazoo

As we continue our march towards this becoming a Tanya Donelly fansite, this week she has covered Yazoo's classic "Only You." This was one of those songs I didn't immediately recognize by title or band name, but once I listened to the original I recognized it. "Only You" might be one of the lost New Wave classics. It doesn't get the attention or modern day airplay that many of its peers get, but you'll know it once you listen.

Tanya Donelly enlisted Andrea Gillis for vocals on this week's cover. The main difference you'll notice is less synths, more guitar (electric, acoustic, and slide), toy piano, and accordion. It's a gorgeous and fun version of a song that was already gorgeous and fun. 

In the Bandcamp post, Donelly explains the song's meaning to her: "Upstairs At Eric’s was easily one of the most played albums of my late teens, shared with the people I spent every possible waking hour with back then — dancing to it in Dave N’s attic, lying on the sand listening on a Walkman with shared headphones, a boom box on the cliffs at night. The songs on that album hit so many heartstrings: love (of course), hurt (obviously), confusions, kinships, finding a place to land for a while."

You can listen to Tanya Donelly's take on "Only You" below. This week proceeds of the song go to Horizons for Homeless Children. You can get your copy over at Bandcamp. For more on Tanya Donelly (and to suggest a cover you'd like for her to do), check her out on Facebook and Twitter.

Vangarde - "The New Normal"

Vangarde is going to be pure bliss for many of us. It's the pairing of Mr. Lif and Stu Bangas. According to a Facebook post, the project is "In honor of the love we both have for Gang Starr, we have come together to keep the classic combo of MC & Producer alive and well in modern hip hop culture." Mr. Lif working on a project that is in honor of Gang Starr? I'm officially on board. Their first single, "The New Normal," will give you a strong Gang Starr vibe. It's a laid back hip hop song Gang Starr perfected in the 90's. It's almost like Vangarde came together as a Gang Starr tribute band, but are doing originals and not covers. That is not a bad thing.

You can listen to "The New Normal" below. For more on the upcoming Vangarde project between Mr. Lif and Stu Bangas, check out http://www.brutalmusic.org.

First Listen: New Releases for 22 May

Artist: Indigo Girls
Album: Look Long
Quick Description: New album from the folk legends.
Why You Should Listen: I'm not someone who has ever really liked them, and I really liked this.
Overall Thoughts: Everyone likes "Closer to Fine," and I'm very partial to 1994's "Least Complicated," but this is not a duo I've ever really gotten into. No specific reason, just not my style. This, however, is my style. This is a bit of a fun romp in some places, and a serious piece in others, and there are songs like album opener "Shit Kickin'" that just really do it for me. Don't skip out on this one, especially if you have some preconceived notions about the act.
Recommendation: A solid listen this week.

Artist: Steve Earle and the Dukes
Album: Ghosts of West Virginia
Quick Description: Another new album from another legend.
Why You Should Listen: Steve Earle is basically showing us how classic, outlaw country is done.
Overall Thoughts: This album feels like it's from a generation ago, and I assume that's the point. Just pitch-perfect country folk with a message and some heart, and it's probably what we generally expect from Steve Earle at this point. If you were on the fence for whatever reason, give this a spin.
Recommendation: Another great listen this week.

Artist: Badly Drawn Boy
Album: Banana Skin Shoes
Quick Description: First album of new music in nearly a decade.
Why You Should Listen: Badly Drawn Boy had one of the best debuts of the last 30 years, and this is probably his best effort since then.
Overall Thoughts: I was an unabashed fan of Badly Drawn Boy when The Hour of Bewilderbeast came out, and to this day, so much of that album continues to resonate. A solid About a Boy soundtrack, a few middling follow-ups after that (and granted, there was no following up that debut) and then he kind of disappeared to the point where I had no clue this was even coming out. The title track is great, there are some great tunes on here that rival some of his best post-Bewilderbeast stuff... I'm just glad he's back.
Recommendation: A welcome return.

Artist: Carly Rae Jepsen
Album: Dedicated Side B
Quick Description: A new album/collection of music from Canada's best pop star.
Why You Should Listen: It's Carly Rae. Just do it.
Overall Thoughts: Dedicated was pretty great, but I can't say that it was the long-lasting, transformative effort her prior album was. This collection has a lot more stuff I like (although one-off single "Let's Be Friends" isn't here?) and perhaps a couple more memorable bits, but at the end of the day, it's bonus Carly Rae. With that, I am more than okay.
Recommendation: Make time.

Artist: The Mammals
Album: Nonet
Quick Description: Fun, accessible roots music.
Why You Should Listen: This straddles a few genres along the way, and never stops being surprising.
Overall Thoughts: There's a lot to love here, and you can tell The Mammals love what they're doing and what they're making here. There's a lot of competency here throughout this listen, but also a lot of clear joy to go along with it. Good for fans of a lot of the more classic acts we feature around here regularly.
Recommendation: A fun one to put in the rotation.

Artist: Jetstream Pony
Album: Jetstream Pony
Quick Description: Classic indie rock sounds featuring members of some classic indie rock acts.
Why You Should Listen: This is retro in some senses but still feels fresh.
Overall Thoughts: I was not surprised in the least that I enjoyed this. Initially felt like they were channeling Shame About Ray-era Lemonheads, but there's a lot of good stuff here that jumps around to a few concepts and musical ideas. It's maybe the most fun I had with an album this week in terms of the nostalgia hit, but I am very glad this exists.
Recommendation: A great one to add to your list.

Of note:

* Carpenter Brut - Blood Machines - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Awesome synthwave score.)
* Kidbug - Kidbug (Sludgey, grungy goodness. Lots of solid moments here.)
* Damu the Fudgemunk, Archie Shepp, Raw Poetic - Ocean Bridges (Jazzy hip-hop.)
* Marie Dahlstrom - Like Sand
* Katie Von Schleicher - Consummation
* Owen Pallett - Island
* Darren Hayman - Home Time
* Jeff Rosenstock - NO DREAM
* Milk Teeth - Milk Teeth
* Tove Lo - Sunshine Kitty (Paw Prints Edition)
* Emily Keener - I Do Not Have to Be Good


SevenSix Song AlbumsEfforts:

* Old Man Gloom - Seminar VIII: Light of Meaning
* Shaqdi - Daydreaming
* Best Ex - Good At Feeling Bad

EPs:

* Henry Jamison - Tourism (A bunch of good collabs.)
* Zola Blood - Two Hearts
* Cuddle Magic - Working On Me

Also out:

* The 1975 - Notes on a Conditional Form
* Vitskär Süden - Vitskär Süden

Coriky - "Too Many Husbands"

Fugazi fans are obviously going to want to hear anything by Coriky, the supergroup featuring Amy Farina, Joe Lally, and Ian MacKaye. But they're really going to want to hear their latest single, "Too Many Husbands."

The guitar riff that starts "Too Many Husbands" is the most Fugazi thing I've heard since Fugazi went on indefinite hiatus. It's just so Fugazi, it sounds like it could be a lost song from 13 Songs. You know that start stop/jerky feel? Yeah... it's here. But that doesn't mean Coriky are just copying their former selves here. "Too Many Husbands" has a definite Gang of Four post punk feel to it. Plus, there are some elements of soul and some mainstream aspirations hidden deep inside, maybe? 

You can listen to "Too Many Husbands" below. You can pre-order their upcoming self-titled debut album, on Bandcamp. Physical copies will start to ship on May 29. It will be available to stream or download on June 12, and will be available in physical stores on June 26. This is all via Dischord Records, naturally.

ILS - "Whitemeat"

If more metal was like ILS, we'd cover metal a lot of a lot more. The Portland, OR "disaster chic" band has a new single out. "Whitemeat" is this weirdo metal song. It exists in a world where metal isn't trying to posture as being tough guys. ILS don't seem to care about an image. "Whitemeat" is just an impossibly heavy song that doesn't stick to the metal-by-numbers template, which makes it even more metal than most. I'm going to compare it to Refused, but mostly because it makes me feel like the first time I heard "New Noise." And that inspires the thoughts "What the hell is this?" and "Why isn't there more of it?"

You can listen to "Whitemeat" below. Curse, the new album from ILS, will be out July 4. You can pre-order it on Bandcamp. For more on ILS, check them out on Facebook.

Monday Mix: A (Re)Introduction to Kathleen Edwards

With Kathleen Edwards releasing her first album of new music in nearly eight years later this summer, I felt like now was as good a time as any to take a look back at some of her best work so far, so a new Monday Mix for your American Memorial Day is cookout appropriate even if you're socially distancing, and the irony that it highlights a Canadian artist on a national holiday is not lost on me.

Edwards has released four albums up to now, and this mix covers all four plus her new release, "Options Open." The mix is best listened to in order, at least the first time around...

Failer: Edwards's debut album is represented by five songs here. "Six O'Clock News" put her on the map, "One More Song the Radio Won't Like" kept her there, and the rest show some decent range. Don't sleep on "12 Bellevue," which remains a favorite of mine. After listening to this set, make sure to check out this highlight from her debut (and long-lost) EP, Building 55, which has some elements of both "Lone Wolf" and "Bellevue" while giving an early sense of her range.

Back to Me: The follow-up to Failer does not expand things out too too much with one exception in the title track, which is much more of a rock experience than the alt-country we came to expect. Even still, it's a heck of a song. "In State" is the spiritual, if not literal, sequel to "Six O'Clock News," and "Copied Keys" far too often makes things a little too dusty if you catch my drift...

Asking for Flowers: That this album wasn't a serious breakthrough record for her, I have no idea. The title track is gorgeous, lead single "The Cheapest Key" is a lot of fun, but the highlight in a near-perfect album is "I Make the Dough, You Get the Glory," which has so many great lines (I'm always back and forth between "You're the Great One/I'm Marty McSorley" and "Heavy rotation on the CBC/Whatever in hell that really means") and maybe the best, most Canadian music video you can imagine.

Voyageur: This album was the mainstream play, was famously produced in part by Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, was less country and more indie/adult-alternative, and... it has a lot of great moments. As a huge fan, I gave this a lot of time and listens, but a lot of the charm and the wit that made Kathleen Edwards different than every twangy gal with a guitar was a little lost here. And a lot of the baggage that came with this album is why she quit music to begin with, so it's hard not to look back at this album and find a lot of offramps along the way. Still, "Change the Sheets" was a great song, "Empty Threat" probably the most Kathleen Edwards song on the record ("I'm moving to America/It's not an empty threat"), and "Mint," although unlike much else that she has offered up, is an underrated classic from her catalog.

The mix closes with her new song, "Options Open," and it deserves to be among this canon of songs after a week of repeated listens. I'm more excited than ever for the new album, Total Freedom, and hopefully this gets you in the mood for it as well.

Sugar Snow Covers Goffin & King

Sugar Snow is the solo project of Kid Gulliver's Simone Berk. According to the Bandcamp bio, Sugar Snow is "dreamy, melodic, pretty, sad, honest and raw," which sums up the project's latest single. "He Knows I Love Him Too Much" was written by the songwriting pair of Gerry Goffin and Carole King, and popularized by The Paris Sisters. It's a classic early 60's oldie, and the Sugar Snow version stays quite true to the original, with maybe a little more hint of modern folk than the pre-Beatles invasion music scene sound of the original. Interestingly enough, Berk recorded her vocals at Zippah Studios while in her minivan due to social distancing.

You can listen to Sugar Snow's take on "He Knows I Love Him Too Much" below. The song is currently available via Bandcamp. For more on Sugar Snow, check out the artist's Facebook and Twitter.

Wilco - "Tell Your Friends"

Late show live performances are obviously a challenge these days. Most talk show hosts are hosting solo from home with guests on video conference, so it's pretty impossible to actually do any live performance. Wilco were on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert this week with their new single, "Tell Your Friends." Instead of a live performance, the band is shown in home recordings lip synching with their families. Not super cool, but check out the Mass MoCA shirts! "Tell Your Friends" is a laid back, chilled out dreamy folky kind of song that includes a killer lazy electric guitar solo. So... a pretty standard Wilco song these days. The lyrics are a little hokey ("Don't forget to tell your friends / When you see them again / O' I love you"), but we can all use some hokey positivity these days. "Tell Your Friends" may not go down as one of the greatest Wilco songs of all time, but it's the Wilco song we need right now.

You can watch the video for "Tell Your Friends" below. The song is available on Wilco's Bandcamp, with all proceeds going to World Central Kitchen. For more on Wilco, check out their website.

Sharon Van Etten featuring Joshua Homme Covers Nick Lowe

Photo by Ryan Pfluger

It premiered last week on the Hulu show The Great, but now we can listen to this cover on its own. Sharon Van Etten and Joshua Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) have joined together to cover Nick Lowe's iconic "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?" The duo slows the song way, way down into a nearly haunting version with lots of country guitars. Instead of the joyful sound of the original, Van Etten and Homme's version sounds more like a tearful plea.

Homme explains the collaboration: 

“I went to a Courtney Barnett Valentine's Day concert that Sharon Van Etten was playing as one of a veritable buffet of musicians. She opened her mouth and my mind exploded—that voice, like fresh cream... with a hint of fine grit. When a week later the opportunity arose to sing with her, I jumped at it. This was of course  before we had any idea that the world would be going into hiding for months. Recording this song had nothing to do with what we’d be going through... until we started going through it. In these times, it’s a blessing to feel lucky even for a moment... and I feel lucky to have been able to work with Sharon, Zach Dawes, Michael Shuman, Matthew Siskin and our families.
 
When you’re shooting at home you start out shooting only what you love. Then you get tired and stop. This video doesn’t deal with anything outside of what’s happening within its own little world we created -- only what’s happening inside two households connected by what they love the most, nothing more.”

You can watch the video for Sharon Van Etten and Joshua Homme's cover of "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?" below. You can purchase of copy of the song here. For more on Sharon Van Etten, check out her website.

JEUCE - "Hangover"

Photo by Ben Jackson

JEUCE are the kind of band we know we're far too old to love, but when the music is this much fun... how can we not? "Hangover" is this out of control burst of joy trapped in a minute and a half. It's all about having a hangover and the problems this causes. The song is brought in this bundle of garage punk blended with some 60's hipster groove. Plus, the delivery has a more than a little in common with neo-riot grrrl, but more party than politics. "Hangover" is absurdly fun, and it's well worth the ninety seconds it will take to listen.

You can listen to "Hangover" below. introJEUCEing, the debut album (and album title of the year) from JEUCE, will be out May 29 on Delicious Clam. You can pre-order the album on Bandcamp. For more on JEUCE, check out their Bandcamp.

RMBLR - "Machine Gun"

Sometimes you just wanna drop the pretense and just listen to a rock song. Atlanta's RMBLR have you covered. "Machine Gun" was recorded just before quarantine, "Machine Gun" is the kind of garage rock 'n' roll that would have been huge during the garage rock revival of the early 2000's. It's no frills (except for some slick sounding production) punk infused rock without gimmicks. The members have all done time in various Atlanta bands over the years (The Heart Attacks, Ravagers, The Barreracudas, Dinos Boys, and Biters) which makes RMBLR an Atlanta supergroup.

You can watch the video for "Machine Gun" below. RMBLR have a six song EP due out later this year on Spaghetty Town Records. For more on RMBLR, check them out on Bandcamp.

Phoebe Bridgers - "I See You"

Photo by Frank Ockenfels

I was a little late to jump on the Phoebe Bridgers bandwagon, which is something I've been regretting for quite a while now. Luckily, I'm firmly onboard for album two which is due out next month. "I See You" fits right into what we expect from Bridgers while pushing forward. This new single is simply an epic indie rock/folk song, despite being intensely personal. The song feels like being stuck in this intense and otherworldly dream, in the best possible way.

Bridgers explains the song: "It’s about my breakup with my drummer. We dated for a few years, made music every day, and were extremely codependent. We became like family to each other, so our breakup was extremely tough. But if this tells you anything about our relationship, we wrote this song together, just like everything else.” 

You can watch the video for "I See You" below. Punisher, the new album from Phoebe Bridgers, will be out June 19 on Dead Oceans. Bridgers will also be launching her "Phoebe Bridgers' World, Tour" next month, with her playing in different parts of her house, streaming, of course. Dates for that are below the video. For more on Phoebe Bridgers, check out her website.

Madeline Kenney - "Sucker"

Photo courtesy Madeline Kenney

If you haven't discovered the music of Madeline Kenney yet, now is a perfect time to jump on board. Her latest single, "Sucker," is both breezy and contemplative, which might be perfect for the summer of 2020. It's this light, gorgeous song that never gets cheery. Musically, it's not quite folk, and it's not quite indie rock. It leans towards pop but never really commits to that, either. Instead you get a sound that is truly unique to Madeline Kenney, while still feeling comforting and familiar. Plus, it features vocals from Lambchop's Kurt Wagner, which is always a plus.

Madeline Kenney says of the song and video:

"When I lived in Durham, I found myself sitting in the sun on the porch with a musical hero of mine, who was worried about losing their healthcare and not being able to afford to tour. It blew my mind and broke my heart that such a genius had to struggle with uncertainty in trying to make their art. I wrote 'Sucker' when I realized that all of us continue to make art, and fall in love, and attempt things that logically could fall apart at any moment, but we are fools for the game and keep producing, keep pursuing. I asked Kurt Wagner to sing on the track because I feel like he is consistently brave in his songwriting (and I'm a HUGE Lambchop fan). When he sent me the stems, I drank a martini and cried.

I'm a huge fan of con-movies; my favorite film is Paper Moon. I wanted to direct a video that put me as the con-man, whose existence relies on making suckers out of passers-by; but ended with me being the biggest loser of all. I lucked out when my favorite Oakland diner, Lois the Pie Queen, let us film on location."

You can watch the video for "Sucker" below. Sucker's Lunch, the new album from Madeline Kenney, will be out July 31 on Carpark Records. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on Madeline Kenney, check out her website.

New Music from Kathleen Edwards: "Options Open"

I can't be objective about Kathleen Edwards.

I tripped up on Kathleen Edwards shortly after her debut album, Failer, came out in the United States with a profile in the Boston Globe featuring a promo photo of Edwards collapsed in the street among some beer bottles. Pitched in a way as a sort of foul-mouthed alt-country successor to Neko Case, I fell in love with every song on that album, saw her at TT the Bears, fell in love with every other album she put out, saw her in New Hampshire, and waited impatiently for her to become the next big thing.

Then she quit music and opened a coffee shop.

If you've been keeping up with this blog for a while, rarely a month goes by in my weekly new release posts where I don't toss out the idea of an artist filling that Kathleen Edwards-shaped hole in my musical heart. Some have come close, but it's never fully happened. Rumors of her reentering the studio have floated around for a while, but yesterday marked her first release of new, original music since 2012.

"Options Open" is billed as a song for a former love that becomes a song for loving yourself, and I have to say: after eight years off, Edwards hasn't lost a step. The song feels right at home in the In State/Asking for Flowers era, and has the exact addicting, heartbreaking style that Edwards perfected and no one else comes close to. She's a master storyteller whether it's about a fictional criminal who'll end up on the evening news or with something more autobiographical, and this song deserves to be added among her best efforts.

I'm glad she's okay, and I'm glad she's back. Her new album, Total Freedom, is due out in August via Dualtone Records (it's not an empty threat), and the lead single can be found below.

First Listen: New Releases from 15 May

Artist: August, Yours Truly
Album: Something Uncomfortable
Quick Description: Some really great glitchy electronic music.
Why You Should Listen: This is sneaky great with some crossover appeal.
Overall Thoughts: I randomly tripped up on this one this week when doing a little bit of research on the Charli XCX record (also out this week). This came recommended by someone, and wow, is it great. A lot of fun stuff here for those looking for something a little different and a little challenging, and it's almost akin to if the PC Music crowd trapped Ben Frost in a room for a month. Don't miss this one.
Recommendation: Won't be for everyone, but if it's for you...

Artist: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Album: Reunions
Quick Description: Latest from the alt-country masters.
Why You Should Listen: Isbell continues on his run of stellar, superior releases.
Overall Thoughts: It's not often that you listen to an artist's newest release and say "yep, this is some of the best work they've done yet," but here we are with the new Jason Isbell and I feel like I'm saying it yet again. Reunions is a classic Isbell/400 Unit effort on its face, and all the contributions you expect to be excellent are there, but there's just something from the stories he tells and the way he expresses the mood of those tales that just works on such a visceral level. There's no one like him, no one like his band, and we're lucky to have him in these times.
Recommendation: One of the best of the week, if not the year.

Artist: Jess Williamson
Album: Sorceress
Quick Description: Latest from a favorite around these parts.
Why You Should Listen: Jess Williamson has perfected her sound on this album.
Overall Thoughts: I dare you to listen to "Infinite Scroll" and not become obsessed. Ken and I have both been on board for some time, but this album represents a leap in songwriting and performing for Williamson that I didn't see coming, and the result is a deeply compelling record with basically no filler. You can't go wrong with this, even in a busy week, and I fully expect a few of these songs, if not the whole album, on some year-end lists.
Recommendation: Don't miss out on this.

Artist: MAITA
Album: Best Wishes
Quick Description: Debut album from a solid singer-songwriter.
Why You Should Listen: There's an edge here missing from a lot of music like this.
Overall Thoughts: I don't know anything about MAITA, and I confess to missing her EP a few years back. "Someone's Lost Their Goddamn Wallet" hit my radar recently, and it just touched a chord with me in a way I didn't expect, and her full album does a similar thing. Her approach is one that just has a different feel to it, and the result is something that I've been itching to get back to again. There's a lot to love here, and I hope it doesn't get lost in a busy week quarantine shuffle.
Recommendation: A great listen.

Artist: Pharis and Jason Romero
Album: Bet on Love
Quick Description: New roots album from a favorite duo.
Why You Should Listen: This might be my favorite efforts of theirs yet.
Overall Thoughts: I was exposed to this duo on their last album, and quickly went back to their older stuff because of how much I liked it. This album in particular really connected with me on first listen, as it balances that tough line between raw exposure and a more polished approach, and the end result is just a super compelling record from a duo that knows exactly what they're doing and how to make beautiful music together. Can't go wrong with this on a whole, this is a folk record that's perhaps more superior to much else this year.
Recommendation: Another solid entry for the year.

Artist: The Dears
Album: Lovers Rock
Quick Description: New album from the Canadian rockers.
Why You Should Listen: This may be their best effort since their early releases.
Overall Thoughts: I might say this every time there's a new Dears album, but "21: The Death of All Romance" is a top 25 all-time song for me, and I've been chasing that high from The Dears for nearly two decades. While Lovers Rock doesn't get me there, it gets me closer than anything they've done as of late, and the sharp edges of this record come out to play in some pretty interesting ways. If you've fallen off the bandwagon, this is a great place to get back on board.
Recommendation: A solid effort.

Artist: Thao and the Get Down Stay Down
Album: Temple
Quick Description: Latest from some indie favorites.
Why You Should Listen: It's Thao Nguyen at her best.
Overall Thoughts: Thao's been a favorite probably since "Bag of Hammers," and we loved A Man Alive from four years ago. Thao has since put out some solo work, hosted Song Exploder for a year, and now come out with maybe my favorite effort of hers yet. It's a little more mature, a little more direct, but a song like "Temple" leads off and sets the tone so perfectly that it's basically impossible not to fall for this one.
Recommendation: Worth the time.

Artist: Charli XCX
Album: how i'm feeling now
Quick Description: Latest from the weirdest mainstream pop artist going.
Why You Should Listen: Charli is leaning right into what got her into music to start.
Overall Thoughts: I almost feel like the album title is a declaration of intent. If you know Charli XCX, it's because of that infectious Icona Pop song from years ago or from "Boom Clap," arguably her biggest hit. She has, however, her feet at least partially planted in a weirder, glitchy pop area (think Hannah Diamond or Slayyyter) and it appears she's just diving right in with this effort. Predictably, I love every moment and I'm hoping not only that this is a success for her but that the rising tide lifts some other boats in the process.
Recommendation: A must listen if only for the cultural impact.

Artist: Retirement Party
Album: Runaway Dog
Quick Description: Noisy indie alt-rock.
Why You Should Listen: Retirement Party sounds a lot like our recent favorites.
Overall Thoughts: I don't have a ton to say about this, but I didn't want this to fall by the wayside in a busy week. This is great, angsty alt-rock reminscent of the 1990s female-fronted alt-rock we grew up and fell in love with. It's a great listen, and one you don't want to miss.
Recommendation: Worth the time this week.

Of note:

* The Magnetic Fields - Quickies (Some solid, very short songs.)
* The Phenomenal Handclap Band - PHB (Don't sleep on this. Not a lot to say but this is quite good.)
* Perfume Genius - Set My Heart on Fire Immediately (Becoming a TikTok meme hasn't changed him.)
* Sparks - A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip (It's a Sparks album, which is all you may need to hear.)
* Lesley Barth - Big Time Baby
* Orpine - Grown Ungrown
* THICK - 5 Years Behind
* American Trappist - The Gate
* Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith - The Mosaic of Transformation
* Moses Sumney - græ
* DJ Manipulator - Gram Jams
* Emily Wells - In the Dark Moving
* ALMA - Have U Seen Her?

EPs:

* Theia - 99% Angel
* Fever Dream - Baby Girl Vendetta
* Emma Blackery - My Arms Are Open

Also out:

* Sleaford Mods - All That Glue (Odds and sods collection.)
* Stereoma - Ghost Stories From the Recently Deceased
* Western Addiction - Frail Bray
* Moby - All Visible Objects

Vision Video - "In My Side"

Athens, GA is one of those cities with such a rich musical history that you have to give any band from there a listen. The latest we've discovered from that city is Vision Video. Vision Video's first single, "In My Side," is a bouncy post punk song that, despite having a cheery sound, is still quite gothic. To me, it sounds like Joy Division bonded with the more boisterous side of The Cure. Vision Video isn't your typical "woe is me" goth band, either. Frontman Dusty Gannon draws on his experiences as an Army Infantry Officer in Afghanistan and his current jobs as a paramedic and fireman to inspire his writing. 

You can listen to "In My Side" below. The song is available now via Vision Video's Bandcamp. For more on Vision Video, check them out on Instagram.

Grey Bouchard & the Dedications Cover Huey Lewis and the News

Photo by Lauren Piandes

Huey Lewis and the News are just one of those bands I never got into, even at their height in the 80's. I'm sure I knew they were cool, but they just never did it for me. They did it for a lot of people, and still do. Inspired by re-watching Back to the Future, Gray Bouchard & the Dedications have decided to make the latest installment of their quarantunes series be a cover of "Power of Love." Once again, their decision might have been divine intervention. Gray Bouchard & the Dedications are masters of mimicking the huge over the top 80's sound needed for any Huey Lewis and the News cover. Sure, this one might be a little sloppy at times, but it's the kind of fun that's just a little bit silly, and we can all use that right now.

You can watch the video for Gray Bouchard & the Dedications's cover of "Power of Love" below. For more on Gray Bouchard & the Dedications, check out Gray Bouchard's website.

Tanya Donelly Covers Bob Dylan

Photo via Facebook

We're dangerously close to becoming a Tanya Donelly fansite since she's been posting weekly covers lately, but this is Tanya Donelly we're talking about, so how can we resist? This week's entry for her Sunday Series is a cover of Bob Dylan's masterpiece "Knockin' On Heaven's Door." Donelly's version of the classic still has plenty of folk elements but leans more into the dream pop she made famous with Belly back in the 90's. It reminds me a lot of her early solo work, and would have made an amazing closer for Lovesongs for Underdogs.

On the Bandcamp page for the single, Donelly writes: 

"I won’t wax on about Bob Dylan’s impact on my love for lyrics — endless others have expressed what he’s given to us far more eloquently than I ever could — but the leaning reader in this poem pretty well describes how I have always listened to him. Like reading a great book — that rush of receiving a perfect string of words. I always lean in.

This week’s song, Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door, was suggested by our guest artist this week, Lilia Halpern. Lil and I go way back (decades, in fact), and I’ve been a big fan of her band Incinerator, and of her beautiful voice, for many years. (See here: incinerator.bandcamp.com )
Dylan played a large role in both of our childhoods and on, and this is a very natural one for us to sing together."

You can listen to Tanya Donelly's version of "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" below. Any proceeds raised by the cover will go to Rosie's Place and the Boston-Cambridge Musicians Relief Fund. You can get a download of the song and donate via Bandcamp. For more on Tanya Donelly, check out her website.

Threadbare - "Silver Dollar"

Photo by Emerson Hunton

Two genres we don't cover much on If It's Too Loud... are jazz and metal. But jazz metal? Sign us up. Threadbare is the musical project of Jason Stein, Emerson Hunton, and Ben Cruz. The Chicago trio are releasing their debut soon, and if jazz metal sounds like your kind of thing, it probably will be. "Silver Dollar" is an experimental mind fuck of drums, guitar, and bass clarinet. That's right: It's a metal song with a clarinet. "Silver Dollar" plods along in a sludge metal way, but with a clarinet helping to guide you through the darkness. As with a lot of experimental music we bring you, Threadbare are not going to be for everyone. But, if you're at least intrigued by the concept of sludgy jazz metal, you owe it to yourself to check this one out.

You can listen to "Silver Dollar" below. Silver Dollar, the upcoming album from Threadbare, will be out May 29 on NoBusiness Records. For more information, check out NoBusiness Records's website.