If It's Too Loud...

Artist : The Smashing Pumpkins Album : CYR Quick Description : Latest effort by the reconstituted alt-rock legends. Why You Should Listen : It's a solid listen on a whole. Overall Thoughts : Listen, Billy Corgan is who he is. The Pumpkins are better than their critics say they are in this new form. This album is absolutely more Adore than Siamese Dream . This is a double album and probably doesn't need to be. Put all that aside, and listen to this, and there's a solid album in here. Some songs are truly great, and a great reminded of how good a songwriter Billy Corgan can be. Hardcore fans might not dig this, and I don't count myself among them, so I may be approaching this differently, but it's a good album with some truly great moments. Recommendation : Check it out. Artist : Billie Joe Armstrong Album : No Fun Mondays Quick Description : Green Day lead singer with a compilation of COVID covers. Why You Should Listen : Cover songs are fun, and...

A slow new release week with the holiday season in play. Billie Joe & Norah - Foreverly : The oddest, best release this week is a team-up between Billie Joe Armstrong (of Green Day) and Norah Jones called Foreverly , a collection of old-time country songs popularlized by the Everly Brothers. As someone who hit his teen years around the same time Green Day's Dookie hit the top of the charts, I didn't really know what to make of this when I first learned of it, and the fact that it's not only competent, but actually pretty great, is a shock to me. Armstrong really turns down the punk affectations and Jones, who has already done some genre hopping of her own, feels as if she's driving the car in this one. This is absolutely worth a listen, it's definitely one of the more interesting pieces of the last year. Ken also noted his surprise at the quality in a post about a month ago given the announcement of the single. Alt-J - Summer EP : Alt-J had my favorit...

I only listened to this song so I could mock it on here. I mean... Billie Joe Armstrong and Norah Jones? I have nothing personally against Norah Jones, I just side with Rodney Anonymous on her music . And Billie Joe Armstrong? Green Day are the most contrived punk band of all time. So when I saw they were releasing an album of Everly Brothers duets? This has the makings of "Accidental Racist." But, it's actually really good. Norah Jones has some country cred with Little Willies, and Billie Joe has a shockingly good twang to his voice. Norah takes the slight lead, but the harmonies are far, far better than they should be. I mean... Norah Jones and Billie Joe Armstrong??? This cynical music snob owes them both an apology for how much I mocked this in my head before actually listening. Foreverly  comes out November 25 on Reprise Records. Check out the first single, "Long Time Gone" below.