If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Me Not You Album : do you feel the same? Quick Thoughts : A friend thinks Me Not You is one of her favorite bands, and I was surprised at first until I realized that they keep putting out effort after effort that impresses. I've been on board since "Julia," which was a great alt-indie song. This sophomore effort feels a lot more polished and mature, and it helps make everything feel a little bigger and better. I get a lot of Juliana Hatfield vibes from this one, and that's a real good thing. A highlight this week. Songs of Note : "california dreamin," "miles and miles," "true blue" Artist : Kelley McRae Album : Can You Change the Heart of Me? Quick Thoughts : Kelley McRae is one of those artists that should really be bigger than she is. This latest effort is roots done right - it's the perfect balance of alt-country and folk that we love around here, and this might be her best overall effort yet. A big fan of th...

There is so much good music out this week. Artist : FKA Twigs Album : MAGDELINE Quick Description : Left-of-center R&B act back with more interesting tunes. Why You Should Listen : FKA Twigs is among the most adventurous artists in her lane. Overall Thoughts : If there’s one thing FKA Twigs is known for, it’s taking chances. No one in the R&B space is quite like her, and her new album, while still delightfully weird, is probably more noteworthy for how relatively accessible it is. Sure, these aren’t Lizzo bangers but they aren’t impenetrable, either, and that makes a difference here. If you’ve held off up to now, this is definitely a worthwhile onramp, but there’s certainly enough here for fans to really enjoy. (Also “fallen alien” is amazing.) Recommendation : A must-hear. Artist : HANA Album : HANADRIEL Quick Description : Sort-of retro pop music. Why You Should Listen : This is one of my favorites of the week. Overall Thoughts : For as much as I like 90s al...

It got way too busy, so here's some quick hits. Must Listens : Lucy Dacus - Historian : Believe the hype. This is not only the best album of this week, but maybe of 2018 so far. It's a brilliant record that combines the best of Margaret Glaspy, Sharon Von Etten, and a ton of our favorite singer-songwriters lately to bring a raw, compelling album that just sticks to your guts. I loved it on first listen, and I put it back on earlier today because I wanted to and it just has so many great layers. Don't miss out on this. Tracey Thorn - Record : If I’m being honest with myself, I’ve liked but haven’t loved Thorn’s solo work. That changed considerably with this latest effort, which feels more essential and urgent than anything she has put out since her Everything But the Girl days. I’d expect things to not be this way given Thorn’s lengthy career up to now, but there are just so many songs on this record that are rock solid. If you’ve jumped off the bandwagon, now i...

Another busy release date means we're splitting this one in two. Album of the Week : Artist : Partner Album : In Search of Lost Time Quick Description : Stoner chicks with a fun and funny debut. Why You Should Listen : This is definitely the most fun you'll have this week from a musical standpoint, but stay for the sharp songwriting. Overall Thoughts : To say that this is probably collectively the most anticipated release of the week for both Ken and I is probably an understatement. Ken has noted that we’re way too old to enjoy this band as much as we do, and this debut album? Basically a direct hit of nostalgia and humor directly into the bloodstream. This duo knows exactly what they’re doing – from the framework of the album itself to their sound to the humor to even the fact that they have skits, this is a heck of a nostalgia trip that still works in a modern context. In terms of solely what they are as a band, this is a great release. Whether the humor and rid...