If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Madi Diaz Album : Weird Faith Quick Thoughts : Madi Diaz had my favorite album of 2021 with History of a Feeling , so to say that I had high expectations of the follow-up is probably an understatement. What I didn't anticipate is the album more than meeting those high expectations in a way that suggests Weird Faith is the pacesetter for 2024 music. "Same Risk" has the emotional weight of so much of History of a Feeling and sets the tone for an album that's a little more upbeat than the previous while still being super confessional and personal along the way. I can't speak highly enough about this album, it's a mandatory listen this week and the first truly outstanding album of the new year. Songs of Note : "Same Risk," "Everything Almost," "Get to Konw Me," "Kiss the Wall," "Don't Do Me Good," "KFM" Artist : Brittany Howard Album : What Now Quick Thoughts : Brittany Howard (Al...

I feel like this was a slow release week, and yet I wanted to listen to most of what came out. Album of the Week : Artist : Nicole Atkins Album : Goodnight, Rhonda Lee Quick Description : Pitch-perfect classic country-pop. Why You Should Listen : Nicole Atkins is always solid, and this is her best yet. Overall Thoughts : Nicole Atkins is always great, and she goes full retro-country with a pitch-perfect love letter to singers of old. It’s such a fun and refreshing listen with a lot of really great songs on it, and is easily my favorite listen of the week. Recommendation : Just give this a shot. You won't regret it. Artist : Dizzee Rascal Album : Raskit Quick Description : UK grime rapper's latest. Why You Should Listen : I've never really listened before, and if I'm this glad I did... Overall Thoughts : I missed the boat on Dizzee Rascall, so I don’t know how this compares with his albums from his popular prime, but if this is anything close to his b...

Dizzee Rascal might finally be set to break out here in America with his fifth album, The Fifth.  It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since Boy in da Corner  came out, but Dizzee is now a veteran rapper who should be much bigger in the States than he is now. The video for his first single off The Fifth  might just do it. (We'll ignore the fact that he might also break out because of the Will.i.am collaboration .) If this was the 90s, "I Don't Need a Reason" would be in the Buzz Bin in heavy rotation. It might be the most creative video I've seen since "Lucas With the Lid Off."  With it's mind screwing use of video loops and nutso eye animation, it's the increasingly rare video that makes you wonder how they pulled it off. Plus, the song is pretty killer, too. The Fifth  is due out in America on 10/1 on Dirtee Stank/Universal Records. Check out the slightly NSFW video below   and check out Dizzee's website here . Dizzee Rasca...