If It's Too Loud...

Photo via Instagram Way back in the 1900s, I absuloutely loved G Love & Special Sauce. He had this bizarro and funky blend of folk, blues, and hip hop. The past twenty years has seen me slipping away from G Love fandom as he seems to be going deeper and deeper into more of a hippie/jam band kind of thing. But "Cold Beverage" will always be a favorite of mine. Which is why I'm thrilled with a collaboration between The Infamous Stringdusters and G Love on a new version of "Cold Beverage." It's a bluegrass version, which ends up being just about perfect. It's something I would have hated in my college years, but in my middle age it hits just right. It keeps the spirit and energy of the original, obviously adding more traditional strings and some punk style gang vocals? Somehow The Infamous Stringdusters and G Love team together and hit the nostalgia button while making a classic sound current. You can listen to The Infamous Stringdusters and G L...

First big new release day of 2017, so let's dive in! Album of the Week : Artist : The xx Album : I See You Quick Description : Long-awaited third album from the minimalist electronic act. Why You Should Listen : The xx has always been essential, and this might be their best yet. Overall Thoughts : My first thought on listening to this was that it felt departure-like. The album still has its minimalist tendencies, but with some different sounds and tones it feels new and fresh while still having the same overall vibe. I figured I'd like this, but I kept being impressed throughout my first listen, and this is absolutely something I'll be revisiting as soon as possible. Recommendation : A must-listen for any music fan this week. Artist : The Flaming Lips Album : Oczy Mlody Quick Description : Latest album by the always-getting-weirder alt-rock group. Why You Should Listen : Even when they fail, it's an interesting failure. Overall Thoughts : The Flaming L...

A pretty loaded new release week! Album of the Week : Artist : The Prettiots Album : Funs Cool Quick Description : Biting anti-folk debut album. Why You Should Listen : You miss The Moldy Peaches but wish they had been wittier. Overall Thoughts : I fell in love with "Suicide Hotline" a while back, and I listed this as one of my most anticipated albums of this year. I thought it was coming out in April, but here we are with a great debut that is witty and interesting and has some of the catchiest songs we're likely to hear this year. Conceptually, this is just a confessional winner and seems like it hits upon the whole "jaded millennial" theme pretty well (especially in the final track, which is less a song than a treatise of sorts). Overall? A must listen and an early contender for a favorite of mine from this year if my immediate enjoyment is any indication. Recommendation : Simply the best album released in 2016 so far. A must listen. Artist :...