If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Olivia Rodrigo Album : GUTS Quick Thoughts : Nothing makes me feel like an old creeper quite like my enjoyment of Olivia Rodrigo. The 20-year-old singer-songwriter is back with a poppy follow-up to SOUR and she basically proves with this album that she wasn't just a flash in the pan. Her songwriting is super-confessional, extremely in-the-moment, and has its share of funny parts to balance from the very direct soul-bearing efforts. She's basically what we all thought Avril Lavigne was supposed to be when she first hit the scene, and I'm here for it. Songs of Note : "bad idea right?" "vampire," "ballad of a homeschooled girl," "get him back!" Artist : Allison Russell Album : The Returner Quick Thoughts : Allison Russell's latest is a bit of an evolution from her very rootsy debut, exploring different themes and songwriting while still staying true to what made her first album so appealing. Songs like "Sprin...

Artist : Field Mouse Album : Meaning Quick Description : New album from indie favorites in these parts. Why You Should Listen : This is a much more introspective, quiet record in many regards. Overall Thoughts : Field Mouse has been a favorite of ours since we tripped up on them. Their first album was in constant rotation, their second a nice sidestep into a more robust, mature sound, and this new album continues that evolutionary trend. Equal parts witty and introspective (not that the ideas are exclusive to each other), the more prominent acoustic guitar combined with a continued separation from the more dreamy alt-rock that put FM on the radar makes for an interesting listen that I fully enjoyed on first listen while wondering what else it will uncover in future rotations. Definitely one of the better releases of the week. Recommendation : A must-listen this week. Artist : Lillie Mae Album : Other Girls Quick Description : Expertly crafted roots music. Why You Should Li...

Photo via Facebook We were huge fans of Lillie Mae's 2017 album Forever and Then Some. Her latest song, "You've Got Other Girls for That," continues her run of great country/roots music, but instead goes slightly more pop. While it does let pop in more than her previous music, she also welcomes more rock elements. Instead of a guitar solo for a bridge, she lets loose of a squall of fiddle and feedback, making an almost roots/noise rock hybrid. It's an intriguing sound that makes her upcoming album one of our most anticipated of the summer! You can watch the video for "You've Got Other Girls for That" below. Other Girls, the upcoming album from Lillie Mae, will be out August 16 on Third Man Records. You can pre-order a copy here . For more on Lillie Mae, check out her website .

Photo via Facebook I don't want to post too many Christmas songs this week, but when I heard Lillie Mae's cover of "The Christmas Letter" I couldn't resist. Recorded for 12 Days of Greyland (which is reaching out to Nashville area artists to create new holiday content) and for the benefit of MusicCares, this is exactly what we want it to be. Lillie Mae does an absolutely gorgeous rendition of this song, which isn't really a shock. Her 2017 album Forever and Then Some  was a hit around these parts. It was throwback country without being hokey and somehow still sounding current. That's what she does with "The Christmas Letter." It's been done by countless country artists and could easily come across as cheesy, but Lillie Mae avoids that and does a perfect version of the classic. You can watch the video for "The Christmas Letter" below. For more on MusicCares, check out their website . For more on Lillie Mae, check out her webs...

This is apparently the week that every single major festival is going to announce their line ups, and most have been rather... underwhelming. I know that middle aged dads aren't exactly the target audience for music festivals, but we like to think we're "with it" here. Regardless, I've only seen about 3-5 artists per festival that I've cared about, and that has gone down as I realize that the Belly they've booked is the wrong Belly. That's why we're excited about Boston Calling this year. The headliners aren't all that thrilling (pretty sure Eminem is playing every festival this year, but yay for Jack White!) and of course The National are playing,  but as you go down the poster we start getting more intrigued. Fleet Foxes, St. Vincent, and The Decemberists are beloved by young and aging hipsters, plus they booked the right Belly and Pussy Riot. You go even further down and find Big Thief and Charly Bliss, who have been two of our favorites...

A short week, likely due to the Easter holiday. Album of the Week : Artist : Lillie Mae Album : Forever and Then Some Quick Description : Your new favorite Third Man roots record. Why You Should Listen : You love good rootsy music with a raw feel to them. Overall Thoughts : Lillie Mae was on my radar due to some sort of Spotify mix. If you see her picture on her album covers, you’re greeted with a very specific expectation of a sort of pop sensibility, with her very modern look and such, but what you get instead is an amazingly solid set of country/roots tunes. I spent most of the album both surprised at its quality and really enjoying what I was hearing, and there might not be a bad song in the bunch. Lillie Mae, unsurprisingly, is signed to Third Man Records, and that probably explains why everything works so well here. She might be the 2017 version of Margo Price, and that wouldn’t be a bad thing. Recommendation : Best release of the week. Artist : Kendrick Lamar Al...

Photo via Facebook Lillie Mae may look familiar, seeing how she plays in Jack White's live band. The two are continuing to work together, as White is releasing her debut album, Forever and Then Some , on his Third Man Records label. The obvious comparison to Lillie Mae is Margo Price. They're both Americana tinged country singers on Third Man Records and produced by Jack White. On "Over the Hill and Through the Woods," the first single from the upcoming album, Mae defines her sound. The song is a more sparse and stripped down version of the retro country thing, but is somehow just as slick as Margo Price's debut. This next part might sound weird, but just go with me on this: It's more raw but somehow more smooth at the same time. I know that makes no sense, but you'll understand when you listen to the song. It's like if 1950s country had 1980s country production values. Lillie Mae's debut album, Forever and Then Some , will be out on April ...