If It's Too Loud...

Apologies for not keeping up with this, readers. Hoping November is better! Artist : Izzie Walsh Album : Where Do We Go From Here? Quick Thoughts : A favorite album of mine from many years back was Amy McDonald's This is the Life , which mixed the sort of singer-songwriter aesthetic with an Irish folk sensibility. Izzie Walsh, the Manchester UK native, is not a 1:1 comparison, but it comes close. This album combines the sort of rootsy energy that so much of the folk world ignores with some modern sensibilities, and before long you find yourself singing the chorus to "Human Touch" for days upon days. Don't sleep on this one. Songs of Note : "Where Do We Go From Here," "Human Touch," "British Summertime Rain," "No Hard Feelings," "Took Her Heart" Artist : Julia Jacklin Album : The Gem Quick Thoughts : We've been Julia Jacklin fans around these parts for a while, and her absence since Pre-Pleasure f...

Artist : Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Album : Weathervanes Quick Thoughts : Jason Isbell is considered one of our great modern country songwriters for good reason, but this new album is a real step up across the board. Easily my favorite thing he's put out - if you can't listen to "Death Wish" without feeling something, anything at all, I don't know what to tell you. One of the best of the week, best of the month, maybe even one of the best of the year. Just a tremendous effort. Songs of Note : "White Beretta," "Death Wish," "Save the World," "Cast Iron Skillet," "This Ain't It" Artist : TEKE::TEKE Album : Hagata Quick Thoughts : We've been progressively more obsessed with TEKE::TEKE upon each new release. This latest effort is just wonderful, with a great parade of great songs right off the top that don't let up. TEKE::TEKE is likely one of the best kept secrets in music right now, so don...

Photo by Jackie Lee Young Sometimes there are just artists making straightforward music but have a little extra something that makes them stand apart from their peers. Jess Williamson is one of those artists. Her latest single, "Chasing Spirits," is your standard Americana tinged singer/songwriter releases. But something about the song is just endlessly captivating. Williamson just has something in her delivery that sucks you in. The song is reminding me a lot of other favorites like Nikki Lane or Jenny Lewis' earlier more Americana based solo releases. I can't say "Chasing Spirits" sounds like either of them, but it's more that Williamson shares their innate ability to make you want to listen harder. Jess Williamson says of her newest song: "' Chasing Spirits' opens with a question: are my love songs lies now that the love is gone? You can write a deeply devotional love song about a partner and then one day break up. In that same vein, the ...

Artist : GIFT Album : Momentary Presence Quick Thoughts : A psychy, fuzzy affair that stood out in the early goings this week. This debut checks a lot of specific indie boxes for me, and the result is a truly interesting effort. A great listen, and one worth the time in a busy week. Songs of Note : "Gumball Garden," "Pez" Artist : Plains Album : I Walked With You a Ways Quick Thoughts : Plains is a new roots project from Jess Williamson and Katie Crutchfield/Waxahatchee, and it's great. It's an honest homage to Americana without feeling overdone, and if you didn't know the personalities aligned with this you'd probably think Plains is the Next Big Thing. Don't miss out on this one, it's absolutely one of the best of the week. Songs of Note : "Summer Sun," "Problem With It," "No Record of Wrongs" Artist : PVA Album : BLUSH Quick Thoughts : I can't say I knew who PVA was prior to this week, but this...

Artist : August, Yours Truly Album : Something Uncomfortable Quick Description : Some really great glitchy electronic music. Why You Should Listen : This is sneaky great with some crossover appeal. Overall Thoughts : I randomly tripped up on this one this week when doing a little bit of research on the Charli XCX record (also out this week). This came recommended by someone, and wow, is it great. A lot of fun stuff here for those looking for something a little different and a little challenging, and it's almost akin to if the PC Music crowd trapped Ben Frost in a room for a month. Don't miss this one. Recommendation : Won't be for everyone, but if it's for you... Artist : Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Album : Reunions Quick Description : Latest from the alt-country masters. Why You Should Listen : Isbell continues on his run of stellar, superior releases. Overall Thoughts : It's not often that you listen to an artist's newest release and say ...

Photo by Kathryn Vetter Miller The upcoming album from Jess Williamson is out in two weeks, and today we can share the final single from the album. "Smoke" is everything we loved about the previous two singles, but it does go in a slightly different direction. It's a mainstream modern folk/pop song, except it does lean much more heavily into classic country. Plus, most other mainstream folk/pop doesn't sound quite this dark. Williamson also brings us an insane amount of psychedelia in "Smoke." It all creates this blend of dark folk/pop psychedelia that starts off being a familiar sound and morphs into something completely unique. Jess Williamson says of "Smoke":  “ This song is about a codependent relationship. It’s told from the perspective of the person who keeps giving and giving, and, on some level, they like it." You can watch the video for "Smoke" below. Sorceress , the upcoming album from Jess Williamson, will be out M...

Photo by Kathryn Vetter Miller Our excitement continues to build for the upcoming album from Jess Williamson, especially with the release of her latest single, "Infinite Scroll." The new single is more pop than I normally like, but I could get more into the pop world if it was like Jess Williamson's music. "Infinite Scroll" has a laid back groove to it. It's standing on the line between pure pop music and roots, straddling equally in each without committing to either. This song feels like what it would sound like if Caroline Rose stayed in the Americana world a bit more while exploring dance music. You can watch the video for "Infinite Scroll" below. Jess Williamson says of the video: “We shot this video in early February, when the Coronavirus was a distant murmur and not an immediate threat here in the US. It was lurking in the ether though, and of course on some level we were aware of it, but we couldn't have imagined at the time wher...

Photo by Kathryn Vetter Miller Despite it's airy and upbeat vibe, the latest from Jess Williamson has an otherworldly  backstory. "Wind On Tin" is a gorgeous modern folk song. It's pretty straightforward in sound, the kind of song that NPR should be all over any day now. That's because Williamson does the modern folk thing so perfectly and so beautifully that I can't imagine anyone not enjoying this. Now for the otherworldly part. It's a song about travelling to attend a friend's memorial service and possibly hearing the voice of God. Williamson explains the backstory: “ Grief has a way of making the veil between worlds very thin .  Prior to the memorial service, I was sitting on a porch passing around a guitar and drinking beers with a few very dear people in my life who I look up to greatly and who were very close to the person who had passed. We heard an unexplainable sound in the wind that made us all pause. Like a flute, but more angelic. ...

A slightly calmer week. Artist : Illuminati Hotties Album : Kiss Yr Frenemies Quick Description : Alt-indie debut from a buzzworthy act. Why You Should Listen : You wish your indie music was a lot more fun than it has been lately. Overall Thoughts : This is one of my most anticipated releases of the spring, having been addicted to “(You’re Better) Than Ever” since I first heard it. The album is a fun, raucous debut with plenty of alt-rock notes to go with an indie, almost DIY sensibility. The band isn’t breaking any new ground, but it’s good to hear a band come into the conversation seemingly fully formed. And they have maybe the best band name I’ve ever heard, so there’s that, too. Recommendation : My favorite this week. Artist : Aiden Moffat and RM Hubbert Album : Here Lies the Body Quick Description : An artsy collaboration from some Scottish music icons. Why You Should Listen : You're a fan of Arab Strap or contemplative folkish stuff? Overall Thoughts : This...