If It's Too Loud...

2026 marks the twentieth anniversary of Free Dirt Records, one of my personal favorite roots/Americana labels. To celebrate, they're releasing The Long Memory: 20 Years of Free Dirt Records , featuring unreleased songs from the label's vault. The first single from that release comes from Viv & Riley and Rachel Baiman, who cover Western Centuries' 2016 song "The Long Game." Knowing the artists involved, it's a safe assumption that the cover will be a little more folky than the original. Western Centuries' original is a little more rock and roll and more upbeat, while the cover is more subdued and more downtempo. It's one of those covers that sees Viv & Riley and Rachel Baiman stay completely true to the original while adding their own unique spin on the song. We're always sure to check out any release from Free Dirt Records, so we're looking forward to checking out the compilation in November. Viv & Riley say of their new cover: “‘Th...

Photo by Saeka Shimada Mei Semones continues to have one of the most unique musical sounds out there today. If you loved her previous releases, you're going to love "Howl." The song, inspired by dogs howling at fireworks on the 4th of July, keeps her trademark sound of jazz and bossa nova meet indie rock intact. The song feels like a dream as it flows seamlessly between styles and tempos, bringing the listener on quite the sonic trip. At times "Howl" sounds like the most complicated and layered pop song you've ever heard, and listening to anything from Semones is a true delight. This is the kind of song that makes me wish The Flaming Lips would revive their Music Against Brain Degeneration Tour, because Semones would fit right in. Mei Semones says of her latest single: "sometimes making music feels like howling into the universe. I make music because I like it, because it feels instinctual — but it also connects me to people close and far. I like to thi...