If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Trombone Shorty Album : Lifted Quick Thoughts : Trombone Shorty is legendary in his own right, but I admit that not a lot of his stuff has grabbed me. It's not him, it's me. With that said? Lifted is absolutely incredible, with a lot of great songs and excellent hooks. I loved so much of this album, it's a true unexpected delight. This is a super busy week, but this absolutely and unequivocally deserves your time. Songs of Note : "Lie to Me," "I'm Standing Here," "Everybody in the World," "Lifted" Artist : Erika Lewis Album : A Walk Around the Sun Quick Thoughts : This album was a pleasant surprise. A very rootsy, very folky affair with some gorgeous instrumentation and melodies, it's one of the better Americana releases in a week full of good ones. Give this a listen. Songs of Note : "A Thousand Miles," "Love Song," "Unsatisfied" Artist : Particle Kid Album : Time Caps...

A much more standard week this week. Album of the Week : Artist : Girlpool Album : Powerplant Quick Description : Folk rockers turn up the noise a bit. Why You Should Listen : This is a positive evolution for this duo. Overall Thoughts : Album of the week this week, even though it’s following a trend of a lot of recent releases I’ve loved. 2017 is quickly turning into the year of woman-led rock music with a message, and Girlpool is lining up for their shot at the throne with this effort, which is bigger and grander sounding than their folk-heavy debut from a couple years ago. Truth be told? I like this version of them more, and I suspect you might as well. Great for fans of their old anti-folk-style stuff as well as those who are looking for the next great indie listen... Recommendation : ...this is worth some time in your rotation. Artist : Dharma Bombs Album : Old Time Romance Quick Description : Good ol' jazzy tunes. Why You Should Listen : You miss the Squirr...

A surprisingly great week this week. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - The High Country : I confess to not having followed SSLYBY all that closely, but when did they become a fun power pop band? This is a breath of fresh air from this band - it's very straightforward yet has enough interesting wrinkles to throw some curveballs your way. A really solid album. Girlpool - Before the World Was Big : I love this Girlpool album. It's like a weird, interesting mix of early-aughts anti-folk and Tune-Yards mixed with some real pop sensibility. I found this to be an utterly compelling listen from start to finish, and I'm really looking forward to getting back to it. It's not the best release of the week, but it's absolutely the one everyone should be listening to. Barenaked Ladies - Silverball : It's been roughly a decade since I've really enjoyed much that BNL has done, and especially since Steven Page left, it hasn't really been something intere...