If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Sarah Harmer Album : Are You Gone Quick Description : First new music in nearly a decade from the Canadian folkie. Why You Should Listen : She hasn't missed a beat. Overall Thoughts : Her first album in around a decade, in many ways, picks up where she left off. Maybe a little more adult radio rock in some places than the rootsy folk that made me so interested in her work to start, but that isn’t a bad thing. The layoff didn’t hurt her sound at all, and I’m just glad she’s back. Recommendation : Make time for this. Artist : Grimes Album : Miss Anthropocene Quick Description : New music from the off-center pop songstress. Why You Should Listen : This is kind of epic, and a huge step forward. Overall Thoughts : I’m already a big Grimes guy, so it’s not shocking that I’m really into this for a lot of reasons. Grimes has never shied away from taking a more difficult path in her songwriting, and this album is even more ambitious than Art Angels , yet also acting...

My #8 album is Grimes's Art Angels . If I ever revisit my lists in the future, this might be one I ranked too low. Or maybe too high. That's the magic of Art Angels . Grimes is the true anti-pop pop star, constantly reworking and reinventing herself along the way, doing it largely on her own, and not being tied down nor allowing the trends to define her sound or aesthetic. When " Go ," her Blood Diamonds collaboration, came out last year, I was interested in seeing where this was heading. Then Grimes went, scrapped the whole thing, and went in the direction that resulted in Art Angels . It's kind of a crazed masterpiece, with songs like "Kill V. Maim" sounding mainstream while also being completely ridiculous, "Flesh Without Blood" being a really angry, sassy punch while sounding like it would fit in next to Katy Perry. I have listened to this quite a bit since its release, and I don't even think I've started to figure it out,...

Let's dive right in! Album of the Week : Artist : Ellie Goulding Album : Delirium Quick Description : Third album by the British pop singer. Why You Should Listen : This is allegedly her Big Pop Record, but it's better than that. Overall Thoughts : I've been a fan since "Lights," and this album worried me a bit given some of the advance stuff on this. She's always straddled the EDM line a bit, and I was hoping that she wouldn't stray from that, and, mostly, she doesn't. She definitely brings a Big Pop Record feel to this, but it mostly just feels like an Ellie Goulding album, and one that brings the best parts of her previous work and improves on it. Well done. Recommendation : Probably my favorite album of the week. Artist : Darren Hayman Album : Florence Quick Description : Solo album from the former Hefner frontman, his second this year. Why You Should Listen : Darren Hayman should be required listening for anyone at this stage. O...