If It's Too Loud...

After the holiday lull, it appears we are fully and completely back in the swing of things. Artist : Pedro the Lion Album : Phoenix Quick Description : Reunion album from the indie rock favorites. Why You Should Listen : One would assume it would be good, but it turns out it's great. Overall Thoughts : Dave Bazan's solo stuff never 100% grabbed me, and I admit to never quite catching on to Pedro the Lion back in its heyday. This return album may not be a return to form, and might rock slightly harder than expected, but I will say that it was a super compelling release that grabbed me almost immediately. There are a lot of interesting things happening here, and I think it's one of my favorite listens this week. It's just a solid, mature-sounding indie rock record, and I feel like those have been lacking as of late. Recommendation : A must-listen as one of the best of the week. Artist : Neyla Pekarek Album : Rattlesnake Quick Description : Upbeat-sounding ...

A slow new release week for the new year, but there are two interesting releases out there. Guster - Evermotion : Guster is that college band for me. Lost and Gone Forever was a staple for me for a few years back when Guster was trying to break through, and I probably saw them live a dozen times. The band has really changed, both in personnel and in sound, since the early 2000s, but Evermotion is probably their best work in a decade. It's not all perfect, but there are some truly catchy tunes in here. If you're hoping that they go back to their "Happy Frappy" days, you'll have to keep waiting, but in terms of what's essentially become a fairly okay adult alternative rock band? Worth a listen. Catfish and the Bottlemen - The Balcony : I don't know much about Catfish and the Bottlemen except that the album came fairly well-regarded this week after having been out in the UK since September. It's fairly standard modern indie rock fare - certai...

Maybe 10-15 years ago, all the 80s hair metal bands started banding together in package tours, where 4-5 bands well past their prime would reunite (some with only one original member) and head out on the road together. This was done because Poison and Ratt might not be reason enough to shell out for tickets, a babysitter, parking, etc., but Poison, Ratt, Winger, AND White Lion? Now, that’s a bargain! Well, get ready aging Gen-Xers, because we’re now at the age when bands feel the need to do this. I present to you this summer’s 90s package tours.                                                       Summerland 2013: Alternative Guitars Everclear, Live, Filter, and Sponge Probably one of the oddest sets to tour togeth...