If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Mason Poole In the world of indie rock and music journalism, the term "mainstream" is typically used in a derogatory manner. Because of that, I tend to try to avoid using it, but sometimes a song is just mainstream and there's nothing wrong with that. Allison Russell's latest single is the pinnacle of what mainstream folk or singer-songwriter can be. "Really Real" also features a verse from multi-platinum artist Norah Jones. The song certainly isn't breaking any boundaries, or rewriting what a song can be. However, it's simply a great song that can be liked by anyone (except for maybe metalheads or indie snobs). Russell and Jones have amazing vocals separately, and magic happens when they harmonize. This is music that any generation can genuinely enjoy, and shows that Russell belongs with the upper echelon of her peers. You can watch the video for "Really Real" below. In the Hour of Chaos is available now via Fantasy Records. For m...

Photo by Henry Wilson I certainly wasn't expecting to hear a shoegaze cover of Norah Jones' megahit "Don't Know Why," but at least this one was a pleasant surprise. New York City's smush has released a cover of the iconic track in their own style. It might seem like a wild choice, but smush are on the poppier side of shoegaze, so it works quite well. It's a fitting cover version that stays true to the original while adding enough of their own style to make it worthwhile. It's a pretty, midtempo version of the original, heavily layered in fuzz and electronic sounding noise. Emily Borrowman's vocals truly add the pop element to the song, and only brings even more beauty out of the cover. smush says of their latest single: "’Don't Know Why’ is a really special song for us because it always reminds us of New York City. When we first started working on our cover of this classic we hadn't yet moved to NYC and it would always bring to mind th...

Photo by Lucy Shaw Jochen Rueckerts is a well known jazz drummer, but when he decides to dabble in electronic music he goes by Wolff Parkinson White. He has released a new single featuring Norah Jones on vocals, "Department of Failure." For those of us that remember the electronic boom of the late 90's, "Department of Failure" is going to feel charmingly familiar. It's a blend of the most chilled out trip hop you've ever heard melded with jazz. Wolff Parkinson White took an old genre we all have intensely warm feelings for but rarely hear these days and updated it just slightly enough to make it sound modern, but like it was still made for us. This is trip hop for music fans with mortgages and who need to really pay attention to what health care plan to choose. You can listen to "Department of Failure" below. Favours , the new album from Wolff Parkinson White, will be out February 7. You can pre-order a copy here . For more on Wolff Parki...

After missing Friday's edition of the Newport Folk Festival, I entered Fort Adams State Park on Sunday determined not to miss a single thing. Of course, with 4 official stages all going at once, such a thing is impossible, as I re-learn every year. Starting the day off at the Quad Stage, The Haden Triplets came on bright and early at 11:05 am. Considering the last time I saw Petra and Rachel perform live, it was at the Middle East in Cambridge with That Dog, the circumstances couldn't have been more different. Instead of 90s post-grunge guitars, they performed beautiful 3 part harmonies over classic country and folk songs. Dedicating their set to their father, the recently departed Charlie Haden, they covered classics like Bill Monroe's "Voice From on High" and The Carter Family's "Single Girl, Married Girl." After The Haden Triplets, I headed down to the Harbor Stage for John Reilly & Friends. Yes, it's that John Reilly of such films a...

A slow new release week with the holiday season in play. Billie Joe & Norah - Foreverly : The oddest, best release this week is a team-up between Billie Joe Armstrong (of Green Day) and Norah Jones called Foreverly , a collection of old-time country songs popularlized by the Everly Brothers. As someone who hit his teen years around the same time Green Day's Dookie hit the top of the charts, I didn't really know what to make of this when I first learned of it, and the fact that it's not only competent, but actually pretty great, is a shock to me. Armstrong really turns down the punk affectations and Jones, who has already done some genre hopping of her own, feels as if she's driving the car in this one. This is absolutely worth a listen, it's definitely one of the more interesting pieces of the last year. Ken also noted his surprise at the quality in a post about a month ago given the announcement of the single. Alt-J - Summer EP : Alt-J had my favorit...

I only listened to this song so I could mock it on here. I mean... Billie Joe Armstrong and Norah Jones? I have nothing personally against Norah Jones, I just side with Rodney Anonymous on her music . And Billie Joe Armstrong? Green Day are the most contrived punk band of all time. So when I saw they were releasing an album of Everly Brothers duets? This has the makings of "Accidental Racist." But, it's actually really good. Norah Jones has some country cred with Little Willies, and Billie Joe has a shockingly good twang to his voice. Norah takes the slight lead, but the harmonies are far, far better than they should be. I mean... Norah Jones and Billie Joe Armstrong??? This cynical music snob owes them both an apology for how much I mocked this in my head before actually listening. Foreverly  comes out November 25 on Reprise Records. Check out the first single, "Long Time Gone" below.