If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Athen Smith Being Dead is the musical project of Austin, TX based multi-instrumentalists Falcon Bitch and Shmoofy. Their latest single, "Van Goes," has this interesting mix of upbeat fun and darkness. It's a little bit post-punk and a little bit egg punk. There are some pop elements, but "Van Goes" is an odd little song. Imagine a mixture of DEVO and Beat Happening, and you might come close to what this sounds like. As weird and unusual as the song is, there are strong pop elements throughout. Being Dead certainly won't be for everyone, but if they work for you, welcome to your latest musical obsession! The band says of their new video: “Our goal is simple. When you die and your life flashes before your eyes we’d like this video to be included in the reel. (Or at least lay a blueprint for how yours might be). Fast and furious is one's life when betrayed. And in a flash, your whole life before you: everyone you've ever known, everything you...

Artist : Thyla Album : Thyla Quick Thoughts : This album not only came out nowhere for me, but fully and completely blew me away. Thyla is a trio that does some really interesting alt-rock, and does it with some of the catchiest tunes I've heard in some time. This was one that I shot Ken a message a few songs in and told him to look it up, and you have songs like "Amber Waits" that just trap themselves in your head. Yeah, it's early, but this is the first great record of 2022 and I'm really looking forward to spending more time with it. Songs of Note : "Amber Waits," "Breathe," "3," "Echo for Ingrid" Artist : Pinegrove Album : 11:11 Quick Thoughts : This hit my radar because Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie produced it, and it's worth hearing in part because Walla's fingerprints are all over it. This is a definite indie rock record, and feels like it came out of the mid-2000s in many regards, but when it h...

23 new releases plus Wrestling Christmas equals a quick hit version this week. Album of the Week : * Jodee Lewis - Buzzard's Bluff : This is some high-quality roots music from someone who has been under the radar far too long. Maybe her best effort yet. Top Listens : * No Thank You - All It Takes to Ruin It All : Don’t let the super independent-looking cover fool you, this is a solid surprise of an album with some great songwriting and many sneaky moments. * Winter - Ethereality : A solid, sometimes dreamy, always fuzzy alt-rock effort. One of the best of the week. * Eels - The Deconstruction : Eels have been up and down as of late, but this is easily Everett’s best and most accessible effort since Souljacker . * Hop Along - Bark Your Head Off, Dog : Hop Along does their indie rock thing really well, and this is surprisingly infectious. You will be singing some of these songs later. * Sarah Shook and the Disarmers - Years : We love Sarah Shook here, and this album to...

There's literally something for everyone out this week. The question is whether or not you want to cop to it... DConstructed : I suppose we should get this out of the way first. Disney has decided to capitalize on the EDM craze with an album of remixes and reimaginations of classic (and not so classic) Disney tunes. If you needed to hear a club version of "Let It Go," or a dubstep version of "Circle of Life," you've come to the right place. I'm sure there's an audience for this, and, given some of the names they got on board to work on this, it's an impressive attempt even if the end result is, frankly, a little horrifying. For me, the highlight was BT (who I'm a longtime fan of) remixing a song I didn't know from a Toy Story short I didn't see. One's enjoyment of this might ultimately come down to your tolerance of the current state of electronic music or how married to the original Disney songs you are. I don't kno...