If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Brimheim Album : can't hate myself into a different shape Quick Thoughts : Brimheim came as a surprise to me this week. It's an interesting listen rhhat leans in fairly hard into the lower-fi alt-rock territory, but then you get songs like the title track or "hey amanda" and you realize quickly how special this is. On a whole, I really enjoyed this listen, and I'm looking forward to getting back to it. Songs of Note : "can't hate myself into a different shape," "baleen feeder," "hey amanda," "hurting me for fun" Artist : Thank Album : Thoughtless Cruelty Quick Thoughts : In some ways, this is sort of a loud, brash Idles. It's angsty and angry (post?) punk music and I found myself loving it over and over through its entire runtime. I get that this won't be for everyone, and that's fine, but if you're willing to branch out a little bit, there is a lot here to enjoy. Songs of Note : ...

Photo by Bree Marie Fish "Cosmic country" seems like it's going to be the genre we bring you repeatedly in 2022, and we aren't going to be complaining. Our latest cosmic country discovery is the newest single from Erin Rae. "Cosmic Sigh" is a lush and gorgeous song that is equal parts country, psychedelia, and 70's style soft rock. It starts off as a quiet singer/songwriter track, sounding personal and contemplative. It slowly builds into a giant crescendo of strings that stops just shy of over the top. This is what mainstream 70's crossover country could have sounded like if they had all just been a little bit cooler. In a press release, Erin Rae says of the new song: “For me, ‘Cosmic Sigh’ is telling the story of the turning point in healing, in which you start to see the light at the end of the tunnel, or hope that a new way of living is starting to feel more comfortable; that life is expanding. Something I have learned many times now is that when...

Photo by Bridgette Aikens The latest from Erin Rae may perfectly personify the label of "Americana." "Modern Woman" has just enough twang to be a little country, but not enough to be just country. It's a little folk, but it's far too pop to be just folk. And it's poppy, but there is way too much country and folk in here to be a pop song. It's a song that encompasses all of these sounds into a perfectly crafted song. It's a fun, upbeat, and breezy song that is going to suck virtually everyone in with its spell. It reminds me of if Tristen's recent music had a little more roots to it.  You can watch the video for "Modern Woman" below. Lighten Up is due out February 4 on Thirty Tigers. You can pre-order the album here . For more on Erin Rae, check out the artist's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the video. October 24 - Nashville, TN - Girls Write Nashville at 3rd & Lindsley Oct 26 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre+ Oct 27 ...

A slower week after last week's big one. Artist : Soft Science Album : Maps Quick Description : Shoegazey pop rock. Why You Should Listen : This is the best release from last week that we missed? Overall Thoughts : We missed this from last week, and I’m glad I tripped up on it. It has some alt-rock elements mixed with some shoegaze, and there are simply hooks for days on this. In a week where I liked a lot of things but didn’t love anything, this would otherwise be my album of the week. As it stands, though, this is a stellar listen that should have some real longevity in my rotation, and it’s different than a lot of what I’m hearing lately. Recommendation : Worth your time. Artist : Lykke Li Album : so sad so sexy Quick Description : The European alt-popper is back with something truly great. Why You Should Listen : Lykke Li has always pushed boundaries and made some great music. Overall Thoughts : It’s been a while since we heard from Lykke Li, and this is a f...