If It's Too Loud...

The summer slowdown is here, but we're finding a lot of stuff to listen to anyway. Album of the Week : Artist : Oliver the Crow Album : Oliver the Crow Quick Description : Edgy, interesting folk music. Why You Should Listen : You have been waiting for the proper Civil Wars torch taker, and this might be it. Overall Thoughts : I will preface this by saying that Brown Bird was a unique occurrence that will never be replicated, but boy do OtC come close. A nice, raw, folk record that includes some front-and-center cello to mix it up, this is definitely a favorite of the week due to its unique nature and the interesting songwriting and sounds coming from this record. Recommendation : A real interesting, pleasant surprise. Artist : T. Hardy Morris Album : Dude, The Obscure Quick Description : Difficult effort from the Dead Confederate lead. Why You Should Listen : Morris has made enough good music so far that he's earned a listen. Overall Thoughts : Morris has be...

The new single from Nashville's Oliver the Crow is truly something special. "Ashes of a Day Gone By" is modern folk. This isn't a throwback by any means. Oliver the Crow make unique, progressive folk/bluegrass, but it's still recognizable as folk/bluegrass. With Kaitlyn Raitz on cello and Ben Plotnik on fiddle (and both providing vocals), they play a very stripped down, minimalist version of modern folk, but somehow still have a full, lush sound. The music isn't truly beautiful or abrasive. Instead, their sound is compelling. In its quiet, it will make you want to listen and focus on what is going on. That's rare and is a gift in a song. You can watch the video for "Ashes of a Day Gone By" below. Oliver the Crow's self titled debut album will be out June 22. You can pre-order their album on Bandcamp . For more on Oliver the Crow, check out their website .