If It's Too Loud...

And the rest of the week: Artist : Future of the Left Album : To Failed States and Forest Clearings Quick Description : A mini companion EP to go along with their new album. Why You Should Listen : It's a smaller dose, and perhaps better? Overall Thoughts : This is music from the same sessions as the album I covered yesterday, and perhaps it's just that it's a much more concise piece that I enjoyed it more. A handful of good songs, the whole is pretty solid, and perhaps jump in on this one first? Recommendation : A great companion to their other album. Artist : Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals Album : Call It What It Is Quick Description : Ben Harper's latest sort of folky sort of funky effort. Why You Should Listen : You probably already know if you'd like this. Overall Thoughts : Ben Harper had a minor hit with "Steal My Kisses" around 15 years ago, and I feel like he's more been on the edges of the sort of jam band thing for a w...

Kind of a weird week, but a lot to get through and not a ton of time, so this will be split into two posts again! Album of the Week : Artist : She Makes War Album : Direction of Travel Quick Description : Smart, interesting indie singer-songwriter rock music. Why You Should Listen : Every so often an artist appears out of nowhere and gives you a fresh-yet-familiar-sounding album. That's She Makes War. Overall Thoughts : This is apparently this artist's third album, but I can't say I've heard of her before, and I can't wait until I have enough time to delve into the back catalog a bit. She Makes War makes some interesting music that both sounds like stuff you've heard before, but still surprises you and stays hooked in your head. "In Cold Blood" grabbed me by the time I was interested in this album, and "5000 Miles" just did not let go one bit. When I finished, I wanted to listen again, because I feel like there are layers here tha...

With word that the trailer for the reboot of Robocop has landed, and with a new song from Future of the Left being released around the same time, it sounded like a good reason to offer up their song about that Robocop film in pre-production in celebration of their new album coming soon, How to Stop Your Brain in an Accident , due out this October. While it's not allowing me to embed, " Bread, Cheese, Bow and Arrow " feels a lot like the themes of their first couple albums with the production of last year's The Plot Against Common Sense . They're still moving away from the McLusky sound, and I mind it less and less every time.