If It's Too Loud...

Artist : GIFT Album : Momentary Presence Quick Thoughts : A psychy, fuzzy affair that stood out in the early goings this week. This debut checks a lot of specific indie boxes for me, and the result is a truly interesting effort. A great listen, and one worth the time in a busy week. Songs of Note : "Gumball Garden," "Pez" Artist : Plains Album : I Walked With You a Ways Quick Thoughts : Plains is a new roots project from Jess Williamson and Katie Crutchfield/Waxahatchee, and it's great. It's an honest homage to Americana without feeling overdone, and if you didn't know the personalities aligned with this you'd probably think Plains is the Next Big Thing. Don't miss out on this one, it's absolutely one of the best of the week. Songs of Note : "Summer Sun," "Problem With It," "No Record of Wrongs" Artist : PVA Album : BLUSH Quick Thoughts : I can't say I knew who PVA was prior to this week, but this...

We're getting toward the end of the year and, with Thanksgiving, new releases are slowing down. Artist : GFOTY Album : GTOFYBUCKS Quick Description : Bizarre anti-pop. Why You Should Listen : This is a necessary listen even if you end up not liking it. Overall Thoughts : GTOFY put out an EP last year that intrigued me, and this is closer to a full length than anything else, and it's just weird. There are snippets of covers, strange songs and structures, and yet it's utterly compelling. This is definitely an artistic effort, and it might turn off more people than it turns on, but this is one that I'll be diving back in on. There's just too much going on to ignore. Recommendation : Probably the most divisive release of the quarter. Artist : Pete International Airport Album : Safer With the Wolves... Quick Description : Dandy Warhols side project with some interesting droney rock. Why You Should Listen : We haven't had some good Dandys stuff in a w...

Guys, SO MANY NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK. Albums I Loved : Artist : Mannequin Pussy Album : Romantic Quick Description : Multi-genre indie stuff with a lot of intensity. Why You Should Listen : It's short enough where, even if there's parts you don't like, they won't last long. Overall Thoughts : I think there's one thing keeping Mannequin Pussy from being a great band or Romantic being a great album, and that's the fact that this album ultimately can't decide what it is. Sometimes it has alt-rock trappings, sometimes punk, sometimes hard rock, sometimes emo, but none of it especially flows together. Why, then, did I love this so much? It's so intense and so unlike anything else that it ends up being a really awesome musical adventure. I do hope future albums of theirs picks a sound and sticks with it, but, for now? This is just simply excellent. Recommendation : Definitely give this a listen. Artist : The Brian Jonestown Massacre Album...

A good week for new releases overall. Let's get right to it. Prince/Prince & 3rd Eye Girl - ART OFFICIAL AGE / PLECTRUMELECTRUM : Prince is back this week with two albums - one on his own, and one with his new side group 3rd Eye Girl. Prince is always interesting enough to give a listen to, but, truth be told, only the 3rd Eye Girl album, PLECTRUMELECTRUM , is something I see myself going back to for more. The releases are not nearly as unmemorable as, say, the new U2 from a few weeks back, but the solo piece certainly doesn't have the same flair to it. Give both a listen, but temper your expectations. Kat Edmonson - The Big Picture : Kat Edmonson's new album continues along the fun, jazzy, classic singer path that she's been on for a while now, but this album is definitely a step ahead for her musically. A lot of really good, memorable tracks, and her clear, distinct voice doesn't feel overproduced at all in ways many of these albums tend to go. I gen...