If It's Too Loud...

I know Jeff couldn't get into LONER when it was released way back in February, but he's wrong about this one. While LONER is quite different to Caroline Rose's 2014 release I Will Not Be Afraid , the more I've been listening to both the less it feels like an abrupt change. No one can deny that LONER is far more synth heavy (her live show features three members playing synths during some songs), but both albums are incredibly pop heavy and fun. LONER just wears its fun on its sleeve a bit more. Ok... a LOT more. But these songs are so incredibly well written and all eleven songs have been stuck inside of my brain multiple times in the past ten months. If I Will Not Be Afraid  was all about twang and LONER  is all about synths (sonically at least, for both), I don't think anyone has even the slightest idea of what we should expect out of Rose in the future. Songs of note: "Money," Soul No. 5," "Getting To Me."

We usually try to bring you Friday Freebie fairly regularly, but we've really been slacking lately. In fact, it's been over two months since we brought you anything for Friday Freebie. Sorry about that. Here's some of the stuff we've been sitting on during that time. Caroline Rose - LONER - Singles To say I've been enjoying the new music from Caroline Rose is an understatement. So far she's released three singles from LONER, and I've loved each one. She's completely reinvented her sound to this DEVO meets the Beastie Boys and Missy Elliott hybrid, andI don't think I could be enjoying it more. We still have to wait until February 23 for the new album, but while we wait Caroline Rose has made the first three singles ("Money," "Soul No. 5," and "Getting to Me") available for free via NoiseTrade . Talena Bricker - Drowning Drowning is the debut EP from Talena Bricker. Far too many singer/songwriters (particular...

Photo by CJ Harvey Over the past couple of years there have been a bunch of folky/Americana artists switching up their sounds to varying degrees of success. The biggest change in sound has been Caroline Rose. Her follow up to 2014's country leaning I Will Not Be Afraid has all but abandoned that album's sound, at least from the two songs we've heard so far. Instead, we've been treated to her fantastic new DEVO meets the Beastie Boys crazed frenzy of a sound. The third song from LONER , "Getting to Me," goes back to the previous album's feel. It's not quite as Americana sounding, but compared to "Soul No. 5" and "Money," this song might as well be a Hank Williams cover. It's a ballad that's definitely not country or folk, but has the feel of both. It makes me wonder how it's going to fit into the rest of LONER, and which Caroline Rose will dominate this album. You can listen to "Getting to Me" below. Carol...

Photo by Matt Hogan With "Soul No. 5," Caroline Rose continues her move away from the Americana of 2014's I Will Not Be Afraid to her new sound. And that new sound? It's hard to define. "Soul No. 5" is definitely less in your face and delightfully abrasive as "Money" is. Instead, it's more upbeat and melodic, with Rose rap-singing the verses. The aesthetic, along with Rose's choice of wardrobe in her accompanying videos remind me of License to Ill  era Beastie Boys meets Scottish indie poppers Bis, with some Missy Elliott thrown in. But it's not hip hop at all. It's a confusing mix of contradictions that somehow works to make a near perfect sound. You can watch the video for "Soul No. 5" below. Caroline Rose's new album, LONER , will be out February 23 on New West Records. You can pre-order your copy here . For more on Caroline Rose, check out her website . Her current tour dates are below the video. Th...

Photo by Matt Hogan Back in October, I walked into Great Scott excited to see Caroline Rose's opening slot for Banditos. Considering what I had heard in the past, and the fact that she was opening for Banditos, I expected to see the indie country artist I had come to love. Instead I was surprised (in a good way) to discover this new sound that was much more like DEVO than alt country. With her new single, Caroline Rose proves that new sound wasn't just a fluke. I had compared my surprise to seeing Caroline Rose to when I saw The Fiery Furnaces. Unlike The Fiery Furnaces, this isn't just a band electing to sound like a completely different band on their albums vs their live shows. This is a whole new direction. "Money" has just the slightest hint of twang, and I mean the very slightest. In fact, I could just be imagining it. The song is played at a breakneck speed of synths, like an ultra-fast version of DEVO or the B-52's, but somehow more pop and with a...