If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Kings of Convenience Album : Peace or Love Quick Thoughts : Kings of Convenience doesn't release music very often, but when they do? Yowza. It's been twelve years since Declaration of Dependence , and the duo is as dependable as ever. This album is pretty great from top to bottom, and it feels like they haven't missed a step in the last decade. A welcome return. Songs of Note : "Rocky Trail," "Catholic Country," "Washing Machine" Artist : The Catenary Wires Album : Birling Gap Quick Thoughts : Amelia Fletcher, when not a member of Parliament (yes really), is an indie twee legend of sorts, with The Catenary Wires being her latest project. This new album is just expert indie pop from beginning to end, and as someone who enjoyed plenty of Tender Trap, Heavenly, and so on, this was just a lovely listen across the board. Songs of Note : "Face on the Rail Line," "Always On My Mind," "Mirrorball" Ar...

Kind of busy this week, along with some catch-up. Artist : Chrysta Bell Album : Feels Like Love Quick Description : Latest from the artsy Lynchian chantreuse. Why You Should Listen : This is the most interesting and compelling release of the week, by far. Overall Thoughts : I’ll admit it: I got into Chysta Bell because of her appearance in the Twin Peaks revival, and I’ve come to really love her music. David Lynch has referred to Bell as his “muse,” and I have to admit that I hear a definite influence in the other direction as well here. Honestly, Chrysta Bell makes me feel the way discovering PJ Harvey almost two decades ago made me feel, and this album gives me true To Bring You My Love vibes in some regards. This album skirts the edges of weird in many ways, and songs like “Everest” and “52hz” are just off enough to be intriguing and different while also feeling fresh and familiar. This is an album I was confident I would enjoy, but this is a definite favorite this week a...

The finale of Twin Peaks: The Return was two weeks ago and my brain is still busted wide open from the entire series. No television show has exercised my brain the way The Return did, and the mysteries that were solved during the season being replaced by new ones has just kept me so engaged in the entire mythology of the Peaks universe up to this point that I see no signs of stopping. I am looking for books that are like Twin Peaks , shows that will somehow fill the orb-shaped void inside of me. While the music of the original series is iconic in its own right, The Return stepped up in an interesting and unexpected way. While the series itself played around considerably both with ethereal whooshing soundscapes and the use of silence, most episodes ended with a scene in the bar, where the music venue, "The Roadhouse," was hosting all sorts of indie artists. It was almost a game in and of itself to see who would be featured along the way. Also related were some of...