If It's Too Loud...

Another busy release day equals another two-parter. Album of the Week : Artist : Bleached Album : Welcome the Worms Quick Description : Well-crafted indie power pop. Why You Should Listen : Bleached's first album was a favorite of the year for us a few years back, and this is even better. Overall Thoughts : I admit to being a little cold to the lead single, "Keep on Keeping On," upon first hearing it. When I brought this album up, though, it just lodged itself into my head and didn't let go, and took 9 of its friends along for the ride. This is a great power poppy, 80s-alt-tinged record that just scratches all the right itches, and really has no business being as good as it ended up being. A solid follow-up to their first album, and one I'm really loving. Recommendation : Best album of the week, no doubt. Artist : Weezer Album : Weezer/The White Album Quick Description : Tenth album by the alt-rock band. Why You Should Listen : You think their po...

After a few meh weeks, it's good to get some interesting new releases from all corners. We have three eras represented this week: Pet Shop Boys - Electric : From the "80s Pop Royalty" era we get the newest album by the Pet Shop Boys, who haven't quite sounded like they've belonged in close to a decade, but finally seem to match up the electronic styles popular today with their more classic sound. This is definitely my favorite album of theirs in some time, and while there isn't a track that jumps out at me yet as a "don't miss," the fact that the Pet Shop Boys have made an album that sounds relevant is a great reveal on its own. Darren Hayman and the Short Parliament - Bugbears : From the "British Indie Rock Royalty" era, we have the new album from Darren Hayman, former frontman for all-time favorite of mine, Hefner. His post-Hefner work has been dominated by more folky material that doesn't really fit into Hefner's oeuvr...