If It's Too Loud...

I am aggressively not the target audience for Charli xcx, and brat is arguably the pop star at her least accessible. Which, of course, is why it's the surprise smash hit of the year in general, but also probably why I love it so much. I have a soft spot for the whole A.G. Cook / Hyperpop thing, and Charli XCX has always played in that area even if not fully committing to it. brat is probably the closest thing to merging the two ideas together, and it means a lot of early chaos with "360" and "Club Classics" before getting really personal. "Sympathy is a Knife" is probably about Taylor Swift, "Girl, So Confusing" is definitely about Lorde, and "I Think About It All the Time" about her biological clock. The album runs the gamut between absolute club bangers and devastating confessionals, with layers that only reveal themselves over multiple listens. Given that it's also the current trend to release albums ove...

Artist : Joana Serrat Album : Big Wave Quick Thoughts : This is my favorite listen in a long, long time. Joana Serrat is new to me, even though this is her latest of many records. The level of songwriting here, the instrumentation, the absolute gorgeous music across the board here is incredible, and it's an album that made me stop and pay attention over and over and over. "Freewheel" in particular is one I keep sharing with people because it's that good, but the album is sort of like a folk rock/dream pop hybrid that is unlike anything I've heard of late and yet feels so, so right. One of the best of the year, without question. Songs of Note : "The Cord," "Freewheel," "Sufferer," "Are You Still Here," "Big Lagoons," "Broken Hearted" Artist : AURORA Album : What Happened to the Heart? Quick Thoughts : AURORA's been around for close to a decade now, and this is a pop record of someone confiden...

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 ...

A short week, understandably. With not a lot to say about many of these, we're doing this short-style. * Spose - Humans : rap album made in 24 hours but doesn't feel like it, it has great beats and instrumentation along with some truly solid songs. Best of the week. * Serpent Power - Electric Looneyland : Solid psych rock. I came for the Lovecraftian songs, I stayed for the weird, enjoyable mess this album is. * Charli XCX - Pop 2 : Another mixtape-style album. I'm glad she's spreading her wings, but this doesn't work. * N.E.R.D. - No One Ever Really Dies : I never understood this group when they were somewhat important, and I don't get it now. Also out: * Little Bandit - Breakfast Alone * Pye Corner Audio - Where Things Are Hollow * Eminem - Revival

Slowing down a bit... Album of the Week : Artist : Valerie June Album : The Order of Time Quick Description : Gorgeous folk music. Why You Should Listen : Valerie June is incredibly good and is quickly reaching "criminally underrated" status. Overall Thoughts : I loved her debut album, and it's clear with this new album that she's sticking to a winning formula even while trying a few different things. "Astral Plane" hit a little early and the instrumentation behind the haunting vocals was just so arresting every time it came through. It's a great step forward, perhaps better than her debut, and is absolutely one of my favorite listens of 2017 so far. Recommendation : A must listen, no excuses. Artist : Hurray for the Riff Raff Album : The Navigator Quick Description : A slight shift in sound doesn't change how good an album this is. Why You Should Listen : Hurray for the Riff Raff is a favorite around these parts, and this is a highl...

With 20 albums to cover this week, I think it's worth splitting this into two posts. So here is day one! Co-Album of the Week : Artist : Mothers Album : When You Walk a Long Distance You Are Tired Quick Description : Haunting independent rock. Why You Should Listen : An album that is just going to stick with you from the start and make you wonder when you can listen again. Overall Thoughts : With so much good music this week, it's hard to point to just one thing that stands out, but we have two. Ken said this is already an album of the year candidate for him, and he's not wrong in the assessment. This album demanded my attention almost immediately, and it's the perfect mix of accessible and complicated that I tend to look for in my indie rock these days. I can't say enough about this album, so just listen to it already. Recommendation : One of the best releases of the year. Artist : School of Seven Bells Album : SVIIB Quick Description : Final albu...

With holidays the next two weeks and a slow release schedule, this will be the last First Listen of 2014. I'll be back with the first week of good new releases in the new year. Still, we do have one high-profile release this week: Charli XCX - Sucker : Charli XCX has had a pretty good year, with her work on Iggy Azalea's "Fancy" and "Boom Clap" from The Fault in Our Stars , and this follows her production work with Icona Pop to boot, so she's keeping herself busy. Still, her first release in the United States didn't wow me, and so I went into Sucker with a little bit of caution. It wasn't necessary, though, because it's really a solid pop album from start to finish, with a lot of rock-solid, radio-ready tracks to go along with some interesting deeper cuts. You should listen to this anyway, but with new music being somewhat rare at the moment, it's worth putting into the rotation.