If It's Too Loud...

It always sounds like hyperbole when I say it, but there simply isn't a talent out there like Ezra Furman. It's nearly impossible to fit the Boston artist's new album into one, or even ten, genres. Goodbye Small Head is a collection of twelve songs that meander through different styles and sounds, all while still sounding like they belong together. That's probably why Furman gets labelled a singer-songwriter so much. No other description even comes close to her sound. Throughout the album, you get indie rock, folk, pop, electronic music, punk, and many more styles. Plus, there's something so unique about how Furman structures a song. Every song feels so immediate and vulnerable. Goodbye Small Head is one of the most intimate albums I've ever heard, which fits right in with Furman's style. This is a fantastic release by one of the best out there. Songs of note: "Grand Mal," "Jump Out," "Power of the Moon," and "Veil Song...

I will preface this by saying that I don't believe there's a way to be a casual fan of Ezra Furman. She has produced so much great music over the decades that this latest release, Goodbye Small Head , feels less like a release and more like an event. A lot of people will ride or die for Ms. Ezra Furman, and this record shows exactly why. There is a raw, almost feral energy to this record that we haven't seen from Furman at length before. She howls, she growls, she spits out lyrics as angry as anyone (and who wouldn't be angry right now?). This record works because of this ferocity, as the emotion and drive that she puts forth give the extra juice to already great songs to turn this into a great experience. Yes, "Power of the Moon" is the likely highlight here, but it's just as easy to point out the way "Submission" works, the raw emotion of "You Mustn't Show Weakness," the harsh reality of "Grand Mal." It's an a...

Photo courtesy of the artist Earlier this year, Ezra Furman released the excellent Goodbye Small Head , and now the Boston singer-songwriter is back with a new standalone single. Proving she can do pretty much everything, "One Hand Free" musically fits a pretty standard singer-songwriter format. It sounds fairly 70's AM radio to me, and could be the soundtrack to many of our childhoods. But, this is an Ezra Furman song after all, so her vocals and lyrics certainly don't fit the 70's. The song kind of meanders along in  its own way, which is a style only Furman can truly pull off this well. As with any song from Furman, "One Hand Free is endlessly captivating and an instant classic. Ezra Furman says of her latest single: “ This is a jaunty back-porch breakup/depression song about feeling so bad you’re not sure what species you even belong to anymore. We left it off Goodbye Small Head because it was too good. It’s better than Jason Aldean. Better than the Barb...

Photo by Ben Stas A few weeks back or so, Hallelujah the Hills announced that Ezra Furman would be joining them on their DECK album release show and mentioned that she was on one of the songs from the project. That is obviously a dream pairing come true for us, and I'm sure many of you. Now we can hear that song, "Rebuilding Year," which represents the five of diamonds. The song features Furman on lead vocals with Hills singer Ryan H. Walsh on backing vocals. Somehow the song sounds like both an Ezra Furman song and a Hallelujah the Hills song, possibly because both artists cycle through styles so readily and adeptly. Musically it's more of an art-rock version of folk-rock and alt-rock, but in a way that only Furman and Hallelujah the Hills could pull off. If you weren't already ecstatic to hear DECK on Friday, you certainly will be in the next four minutes. You can listen to "Rebuilding Year" below. DECK , the four album project with each song represent...

Artist : billy woods Album : Golliwog Quick Thoughts : billy woods offers a form of modern horrorcore that isn't for everyone, and isn't even for me all the time. GOLLIWOG succeeds in embracing the darkness to an extent while also keeping its somewhat disturbing feel - "Waterproof Mascara" is legitimately one of the uncomfortable listens of recent memory. It's honestly worth the listen, although you'll know quickly whether or not its for you. Songs of Note : "Jumpscare," "Waterproof Mascara," "Misery," "STAR87," "Golgotha," "BLK ZMBY" Artist : Mclusky Album : the world is still here and so are we Quick Thoughts : Mclusky are (finally) back with new music, and it's great. Granted, the venn diagram between Mclusky and Future of the Left may as well be a circle in many regards, but in terms of the Falkous Cinematic Universe, this is the best effort they've collectively put out in a dec...

Photo by Eleanor Petry Every song Ezra Furman releases is completely unique and while they're related to each other, they all have their own sound. Her latest single, "Power of the Moon," is based in 60's pop and psychedelia, but in Furman's own original way. The guitar might be my favorite part of the song. It has such a 60's garage rock sound to it that fits in perfectly with Furman's vocals and the overall groovy sound to the song. The song also has an oddly disjointed quality making it so that it's not a throwback song at all. It has a completely modern sound, with only its roots being in the past. "Power of the Moon" is such an interesting blend of garage rock, power pop, psychedelic rock, and indie rock that I can't imagine this one not winning over any listener. Ezra Furman says of her latest single: “ I took over five years writing this song. I’m not saying that makes it good, but it does mean that it means a lot to me. It’s anoth...