If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Elsy Wameyo Album : Saint Sinner Quick Thoughts : This brings so much Little Simz energy, but less anxious and more soulful. It's so good - sneakily so, with some great flow all throughout. It's one of my favorite rap listens of the recent months, if not the whole year, and I would whole-heartedly recommend it even in a busy week, so a week like this really means this deserves a spin. Songs of Note : "Repercussions," "Umva," "Conquer," "Journey" Artist : MAITA Album : want Quick Thoughts : Why is MAITA so good at this? Seriously. Their last album from a couple years ago was a dark horse sleeper for the year, and this one just has great song after great song on it. There is so much to love here, it's alt-indie done so, so, so right. Songs of Note : "break up song x3," "hotel," "i used to feel different," "violet dream," "happy with you," "almost nothing, keeps...

Detroit's The Doozers have packed a lot into their debut album. In the past four years, the band has experienced multiple moves, college graduations, starting and ending teaching careers, the beginning and ends of romantic relationships, the departure of founding member Charlie Belleville, and, of course, a global pandemic. The latest single from that album, "Start Me Up, My Friend," is going to remind you of The Strokes first album, especially the guitar. The vocals remind me a little more of Stephin Merritt than Julian Casablancas, though. Plus, there ends up being a lot more noise than you would get with either forementioned artist, at times an almost Sonic Youth level of noise. If that sounds like it would be your type of thing, you are in the right place. The Doozers say of their latest single: "'Start Me Up, My Friend' is the second single from our debut LP (out July 26). Inspired, quite apparently, by the beaming energy of The Strokes, this track is dr...