If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Jillette Johnson Album : It's a Beautiful Day and I Love You Quick Description : Great rootsy rock music. Why You Should Listen : Jillette Johnson has a ton of great songs here. Overall Thoughts : We must have missed her 2017 release if the Google machine is any indication, but Johnson's third album is really great. The production value is high, and some of the songs like "Jealous" and "What Would Jesus Do" are absolutely awesome. I love everything about this album, and it's great for fans of Tift Merritt and the like. Recommendation : Do not miss this one. Artist : K. Michelle Dubois Album : The Fever Returns Quick Description : Criminally overlooked singer-songwriter material. Why You Should Listen : This is Dubois's second album in a row that deserve higher praise and visibility than it gets. Overall Thoughts : Dubois made her musical name as part of a punk-adjacent act in the 1990s, and her solo work has been less rock than ...

A much busier week than we've been used to! Artist : Jain Album : Souldier Quick Description : Second album from the French pop singer is better than the first. Why You Should Listen : Jain is odd and unique and fun all at once. Overall Thoughts : I forget how I tripped up on Jain's last album, but she has a very unique style that is very appealing. Her new album is somehow better than her previous efforts, with "Flash (Pointe Noir)" being an instant classic and a song, "Inspecta," that is sampling Inspector Gadget ? I'm in. This is probably my favorite listen of the week, and there are too many fun things going on here to ignore. Recommendation : A solid pop release with a lot going for it. Artist : Whitney Ballen Album : You're a Shooting Star, I'm a Sinking Ship Quick Description : Debut from a new favorite here. Why You Should Listen : Ballen is upping the singer-songwriter game here. Overall Thoughts : Ken and I have both b...

A slow release week with the holiday, but two major releases combined with a couple I missed this year makes this worth doing. Artist : Run the Jewels Album : Run the Jewels 3 Quick Description : The latest from the popular rap group. Why You Should Listen : RTJ isn't everyone's cup of tea, but El-P knows how to put a beat together and this might be my favorite of theirs yet. Overall Thoughts : I can't say everything RTJ has done has connected, but there's something about this album that was hitting me right in that sweet spot. Maybe it was the Christmas miracle of its surprise release or just that songs like "Legend Has It" are killing it so well, but the result here is an album that just seems to work. It'd be a highlight even in a busy week. And it's a free download, much like their prior stuff, so if you want one of your own, here's a spot to look . Recommendation : Mandatory listen. Artist : Nine Inch Nails Album : Not the Actu...