If It's Too Loud...: First Listen: New Releases and Missed Music for 24 November and 1 December 2023

Artist: Living Legends
Album: The Return
Quick Thoughts: The closest thing we have to an indie rap supergroup is back for their first proper album in 15 years, and it's great. While the individual members have gotten their share of successes over the interim, this more or less shows that the group of their powers combined makes for a great record. Loved so much of this one this week.
Songs of Note: "Front to Back," "Baggage," "Money 4 Nothin"

Artist: Busta Rhymes
Album: BLOCKBUSTA
Quick Thoughts: Busta Rhymes is legendary for a ton of reasons, and BLOCKBUSTA plays like a victory lap in many regards, but songs like "TINGS" and "MANSA MUSA" provide a great reminder as to why Busta Rhymes is one of the greats. If you've ever been a fan, check this one out.
Songs of Note: "TINGS," "THE RETURN OF MANSA MUSA," "HOLD UP," "IF YOU DON'T KNOW NOW YOU KNOW"

Artist: Holly Walker
Album: Unsung
Quick Thoughts: Wanted to highlight this one as a solid singer-songwriter listen, with "Lucid Dreaming" in particular sticking in my head well beyond my initial listen. Make some time for this one.
Songs of Note: "Lucid Dreaming," "Dead Flies on a Lilo," "Clunk"

Artist: CZARFACE
Album: CZARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Quick Thoughts: Ken warned me that the new CZARFACE record might disrupt efforts to plan out the top ten lists (coming tomorrow!) and he almost wasn't wrong. This record is excellent, and is definitely worth your time both in busy rap weeks and overall, because it is one of the better listens of the year, but it's difficult to listen to this and not be blown away by the whole thing. A mandatory listen.
Songs of Note: "Blast Off," "Mama's Basement," "Frenzy in a Far Off World," "Marvel at That (Road Trip)"

Artist: Miss Chain and the Broken Heels
Album: Storms
Quick Thoughts: Some nice little indie pop for your ears, this album hit me just the right way this week, and I think it'll do the same for you. If you like more melodic, power-pop-adjacent listens, give this a spin.
Songs of Note: "Hunters of Hope," "Caring Wolves," "Uh Uh Uh," "Green and Black"

Artist: Haiku Hands
Album: Pleasure Beast
Quick Thoughts: Haiku Hands ostensibly does dance music, but it's angular and different enough where it doesn't quite scratch the same driving dance itch that you might have by design. "Nunchucka," an early single, was one that I was obsessed with for a lot of this year, and the whole album is a weird little party that you're glad to have been invited to. Check it out.
Songs of Note: "All Around the World," "To the Left," "Grandma, "Ma Ruler," "Nunchucka"

Of note:

* HALEY - Hunca Munca (A solid listen on a whole.)
* Trevor Horn - ECHOES - ANCIENT AND MODERN (Album of music from the well-regarded producer.)
* Raze Regal and White Denim Inc. - Raze Regal and White Denim Inc.
* There Will Be Fireworks - Summer Moon
* Thea Gilmore - Thea Gilmore
* Sarah Goldstone - Waving
* Frida Kill - KILL! KILL!
* House of Harm - Playground
* The Goa Express - The Goa Express
* Harp - Albion
* Hector Tellez Jr. - The Great Unknown
* Melody Fields - 1991
* Bella's Bartok - Apocalypse Wow
* Spunsugar - A Hole Forever
* Joecephus and the George Jonestown Massacre - Call Me Animal
* The Rupert Selection - Crumbs for the Sun
* VoX LoW - Keep On Falling
* Abby Johnson - Abby Johnson
* Witching Waves - Streams and Waterways
* ShitKid - Rejected Fish
* Meitei - Kofu III
* Peter Gabriel - i/o
* Thy Slaughter - Soft Rock
* Evolving Wings - Soul Purpose
* Joshua - 21
* Field Medic - dope girl chronicles
* Wolfy - Midnight Memories
* Biosphere - Inland Delta
* Luther Dickinson - Magic Music for Family Folk
* Adelaida - Retrovisor
* My Morning Jacket - Happy Holiday!
* The Moving Stills - Wabi Sabi
* Clark - Cave Dog
* SOFY - Chaos and Commotion
* Rein - God is a Woman
* Krakow Loves Adana - Nothing's Set in Stone
* Ghost Woman - Hindsight is 50/50
* Bloodshot Bill - Psyche-O-Billy
* Jonathan Rado - For Who the Bell Tolls For
* Summer Set - Summer Set
* Zahn - Adria
* Guided by Voices - Nowhere to Go But Up
* Spector - Here Come the Early Nights
* Acopia - Acopia
* The South Hill Experiment - SUNSTRIKES
* FEYNMAN - Falls: A Gigantic Rebirth