If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Viagra Boys Album : viagr aboys Quick Thoughts : I'm a big fan of Viagra Boys, I've loved "Man Made of Meat" since it first hit streaming, and given that Cave World was a favorite of 2023 for me, I was looking forward to this one quite a bit. There are definitely some sonic tonal shifts with this one that might rub people the wrong way, but the truly skewed lyrical approach that sets them apart is here and it's delightful. Songs of Note : "Man Made of Meat," "Uno II," "Pyramid of Health," "Store Policy," "You N33D Me" Artist : Leslie Jordan Album : The Agonist Quick Thoughts : Inspired by letters from her late grandfather, this debut solo record from All Sons & Daughters singer / songwriter Leslie Jordan is a beautiful folky listen with a lot going for it. The title track alone won be over, but if you like the more thoughtful, contemplative side of Americana, check this out. Songs of Note : ...

It's somewhat fitting that 2022 was the year that featured an album with a song from the perspective of every conspiracy nut you've encountered on Facebook, and it's both the most punk rock thing since Taylor Swift rerecording her old material to stick it to Scooter Braun and can't be quoted here without putting the blog in danger of being blacklisted. But here we are, "Creepy Crawlers" and all with the latest from Viagra Boys. It was easy for me to sort of write off Viagra Boys as a mclusky-style post-punk act with a better sense of melody after 2019's Welfare Jazz , which was legitimately great but not trying to change the universe. Cave World , in comparison, has a lot to say and isn't trying to play nice while saying it. Whether ranting like Alex Jones in "Creepy Crawlers," describing insurrectionist types in "Troglodyte," or entertaining scientific hypotheses about the origin of man in "The Cognitive Trade-Off Hypot...

Artist : Laura Veirs Album : Found Light Quick Thoughts : It's been a little while since the last album from Laura Veirs, and this latest effort provides more of the great indie songwriting Laura Veirs is so good at. This album retains some of the jagged edges we've come to expect while retaining the unique melodic structures that I fell for way back in the Carbon Glacier era. If you're a fan, you don't want to miss this. If you are new, this is as good a place as any to start out. Songs of Note : "Time Will Show You," "Winter Windows" Artist : The Deslondes Album : Ways & Means Quick Thoughts : Yes, we love The Deslondes here, and yes, this album is a great demonstration of why. This is great roots record with solid songwriting and it is both a serious effort and doesn't take itself too too seriously. The delivery of the whole package sets this apart, and I just found more and more to love during its runtime. Don't ignore thi...

Artist : Ben Kweller Album : Circuit Boredom Quick Description : New album from the indie stalwart. Why You Should Listen : Feels like a nice back-to-basics indie record. Overall Thoughts : I think we all loved Ben Kweller when he started out, and I know I felt like I was losing touch with his music as I got older. This new album, though? A very solid listen that feels like the Weezer-esque indie rock we all fell in love with 20 years ago, but with some modern, mature overtones. As one of the first releases of the new year, it's a pretty great way to kick things off. Recommendation : Give this a listen. Artist : Fantasy Non Fiction Album : Fantasy Non Fiction Quick Description : Lovely genre-hopping indie rock. Why You Should Listen : A number of these songs could easily become favorites. Overall Thoughts : Ken sent this one over not long before the end of the year, and I think I was wholly and fully blown away by the second song. There's something truly special her...

A few new to you, a few new to us... Artist : Viagra Boys Album : Street Worms Quick Description : Oddball (post?)-punk. Why You Should Listen : Defies expectation but might be your favorite anyway. Overall Thoughts : When one of your favorite authors with solid music taste tosses out a couple songs you’ve never heard of, you take notice and listen. This is a terrible band name by all accounts, but when you listen to a song like “Sports” you realize you’re hearing something really odd and unique, and realize its brilliance once you get to songs like “Frogstrap.” I hate that I likely missed this one back when it came out because of the band’s name, as this is definitely a solid listen. Recommendation : Make it a point to listen to this one. Artist : LP Album : Heart to Mouth Quick Description : Ambiguous pop music. Why You Should Listen : LP is a good pop record that you might miss otherwise. Overall Thoughts : Sometimes the pop stuff can get overlooked when it comes to...