If It's Too Loud...

An interesting release week. Album of the Week : Artist : Frances Album : Things I've Never Said Quick Description : Compelling singer-songwritery tunes. Why You Should Listen : You like arresting music that surprises you. Overall Thoughts : I went in blind on Frances for the most part – I feel like I heard a song once upon a time, but that’s neither here nor there. This album really surprised me, which is why it’s my pick for album of the week. Haunting is the wrong word, because I feel like there’s a connotation to that idea that goes with a darker tone or a more ethereal take on the music. It’s not traditional folk, but it’s not standard/modern singer-songwriter fare, either. On first listen? It just feels different. And immediate. And essential. It’s an album that didn’t want to be in the background and kept commanding my attention, which doesn’t happen a whole lot in this way. I truly loved this, and I look forward to spending more time with it to see where it...

Looks like we might be exiting the summer doldrums. Album of the Week: Artist : Langhorne Slim and the Law Album : The Spirit Moves Quick Description : Latest album from the folk revivalist. Why You Should Listen : You enjoy upbeat folk music with a retro feel. Overall Thoughts : I'm not sure I'm willing to call this Langhorne Slim's best album yet, but it might be in the discussion. "Strangers" in particular is a bit of a barnburner and the whole album feels cohesive and modern while retaining that sort of retro touch. Langhorne Slim doesn't get enough credit for what he's doing, and this should be a mandatory listen. Recommendation : Absolutely the best listen of the week, highly recommended. Artist : HEALTH Album : Death Magic Quick Description : First album in close to 6 years from the noise rock group. Why You Should Listen : Noise rock is your thing; You like music that tries to push boundaries but doesn't really do it. Overall T...

This might be the biggest new release week of the fall for me, personally, with a lot of long-awaited albums on the docket. Let's get right to it: Lorde - Pure Heroine : By now, you've almost certainly heard "Royals" (which I raved about back in August ), and 16-year-old Lorde's debut album releases today. What I find interesting about Pure Heroine is how quiet and understated it is. It's not a bad album at all, far from it - instead, it's a lot more stark than you might think given the lush vocals in "Royals." I expected a more mainstream Bjork sound, or perhaps some Portishead-style vocals, and instead it's a little safer (being so young and being a mainstream release, this isn't a surprise). It's worth a listen for sure, if only because it's probably the album of the fall, but temper your expectations. V V Brown - Samson and Delilah : V V Brown's first album, Travelling Like the Light , was a revelation in many w...