If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Destroy Boys Album : Funeral Soundtrack #4 Quick Thoughts : What a surprisingly awesome alt-punk album from a band we're really starting to love around here. Their first three albums were memorable, to be certain, but this has all the hallmarks of a breakout effort for the band. They've found their footing on songs like "Plucked" and "Shadow (I'm Breaking Down)," and there's a lot of heart and honesty that sometimes gets lost in the shuffle for other bands. Make some time for this. Songs of Note : "Plucked," "Amor divino," "Shadow (I'm Breaking Down)," "Shedding Skin," "Should've Been Me," "You Don't Know," "You Hear Yes" Artist : Amos Lee Album : Transmissions Quick Thoughts : Amos Lee specializes in a soulful roots sound, and Transmissions has a "back to basics" flair to it that feels refreshing. With more than 10 albums under his belt...

Here comes the last third of the year... Album of the Week : Artist : Riley Pinkerton Album : Nothing Ever Is Quick Description : Debut full-length from a favorite here. Why You Should Listen : We've been a fan for a while, and her previous releases have been great. Overall Thoughts : My favorite listen of the week is this rootsy album. It’s rare that an album can feel both vulnerable and fragile while also basically being in your face. So many great songs on this album that we’ve been waiting on since her EP landed a few years back, and the end result is something that feels familiar without feeling derivative. Recommendation : Absolutely worth your time this week. Artist : Juanita Stein Album : Until the Lights Fade Quick Description : New album from a compelling indie artist. Why You Should Listen : It both fits in with some of the alt-rock throwbacks while still feeling new and different. Overall Thoughts : I had a couple of Juanita Stein’s songs hit the Spot...

This might be the biggest new release week of the fall for me, personally, with a lot of long-awaited albums on the docket. Let's get right to it: Lorde - Pure Heroine : By now, you've almost certainly heard "Royals" (which I raved about back in August ), and 16-year-old Lorde's debut album releases today. What I find interesting about Pure Heroine is how quiet and understated it is. It's not a bad album at all, far from it - instead, it's a lot more stark than you might think given the lush vocals in "Royals." I expected a more mainstream Bjork sound, or perhaps some Portishead-style vocals, and instead it's a little safer (being so young and being a mainstream release, this isn't a surprise). It's worth a listen for sure, if only because it's probably the album of the fall, but temper your expectations. V V Brown - Samson and Delilah : V V Brown's first album, Travelling Like the Light , was a revelation in many w...