If It's Too Loud...

For his upcoming covers EP, Taylor Ashton has released a folk version of Alanis Morissette's "Hand in My Pocket." Jagged Little Pill is one of the most iconic albums of the 1990's, and Ashton's cover is a stripped down one featuring a clawhammer banjo. What keeps this version from just being your typical alt-rock hit done as folk novelty song is just how earnest Ashton is in his cover. Plus, his vocals are more along the lines of the pop side of alt-rock than they are with Americana or bluegrass. This is the kind of song that is going to make you want to pre-order the upcoming EP and give Jagged Little Pill a listen, especially if you haven't in a while. Taylor Ashton says of his new cover: " Jagged Little Pill  came out in 1996, probably around the time I started forming permanent memories, and I'm sure that's when I started hearing it. 27 years later, I'm more than 10 years older than Alanis Morisette was when she recorded it, and I'm st...

Taylor Ashton is a Canadian born musician currently living in Brooklyn. For his upcoming covers EP, he recruited his wife for a duet of Cyndi Lauper's iconic "Time After Time." Considering his wife is Rachael Price of Lake Street Dive, you can't go wrong. Their version of the song is a stripped down version of the song accompanied with guitar, piano, and saxophone. "Time After Time" is just one of those songs that you simply can't go wrong with. It's the rare pop song beloved by virtually everyone, and Taylor Ashton and Rachael Price do Cyndi Lauper proud. You don't want to skip this one. Taylor Ashton says of his cover of "Time After Time": “Rachael and I generally keep our musical lives separate, but we’ve been asked to sing together at a few friends’ weddings and 'Time After Time' is a song we love to pull out in that context. I feel like I could live an entire lifetime just inside the phrase 'suitcase of memories.'” ...

Apparently we're going to keep bringing you Christmas music and apologizing that we know it's too early until at least Thanksgiving... The latest is from Taylor Ashton. The Canadian musician who is now Brooklyn based has what is probably the best titled Christmas song of the year: "Santa's Song (I Don't Believe in Myself)." It's a modern folk song that straddles the line between traditional folk and a more mainstream, pop based folk sound. It may lean a bit more into the mainstream side, but just barely. What's great about this song is that it uses jingle bells at a bare minimum and doesn't actually mention Santa by name, so we can almost get away with sharing this one so early. It's a fun little Christmas song that takes mental health seriously. Taylor Ashton says of his new song: “Carving out a music career in this day and age definitely requires a little suspension of disbelief. It's not always easy to believe in your own gifts, or to be...

Here comes the last third of the year... Album of the Week : Artist : Riley Pinkerton Album : Nothing Ever Is Quick Description : Debut full-length from a favorite here. Why You Should Listen : We've been a fan for a while, and her previous releases have been great. Overall Thoughts : My favorite listen of the week is this rootsy album. It’s rare that an album can feel both vulnerable and fragile while also basically being in your face. So many great songs on this album that we’ve been waiting on since her EP landed a few years back, and the end result is something that feels familiar without feeling derivative. Recommendation : Absolutely worth your time this week. Artist : Juanita Stein Album : Until the Lights Fade Quick Description : New album from a compelling indie artist. Why You Should Listen : It both fits in with some of the alt-rock throwbacks while still feeling new and different. Overall Thoughts : I had a couple of Juanita Stein’s songs hit the Spot...