If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Destroy Boys Album : Funeral Soundtrack #4 Quick Thoughts : What a surprisingly awesome alt-punk album from a band we're really starting to love around here. Their first three albums were memorable, to be certain, but this has all the hallmarks of a breakout effort for the band. They've found their footing on songs like "Plucked" and "Shadow (I'm Breaking Down)," and there's a lot of heart and honesty that sometimes gets lost in the shuffle for other bands. Make some time for this. Songs of Note : "Plucked," "Amor divino," "Shadow (I'm Breaking Down)," "Shedding Skin," "Should've Been Me," "You Don't Know," "You Hear Yes" Artist : Amos Lee Album : Transmissions Quick Thoughts : Amos Lee specializes in a soulful roots sound, and Transmissions has a "back to basics" flair to it that feels refreshing. With more than 10 albums under his belt...

Sometimes an album comes out of nowhere and catches your ear, and then decides to stay there for a little while and uncover more and more as it sets up shop. Such is the case with Angel Numbers , Hamish Hawk's album that provides a glossy sheen and gorgeous melodies to accompany his distinctive baritone. It's a little bit Britpop, a little bit chamber/artsy, and owes as much to the Smiths and Scott Walker as it does in blazing its own path. The high production values and polished presentation don't make it feel like a perfect and pristine work, but it *is* a high-quality achievement of music in an era where it's more difficult than ever to capture an audience. Songs like "Elvis Look-alike Shadows" and "Angel Numbers" sound both familiar and foreign, and more straightforward forays into pop territory in "Money" and "Think of Us Kissing" feel accessible without being stale. Hawk strikes a great balance on a musical tightrope a...

Artist : Stella Kola Album : Stella Kola Quick Thoughts : Stella Kola is a musical duo out of Massachusetts that might have already made a leading candidate for best debut of 2023. This album leans heavily into the psych-folk past while still feeling incredibly modern and current, with addictive songs and absolutely beautiful instrumentation from start to finish. I did not expect to outright love this album as much as I did, and I want more. Great listen on a whole, make some time for this. Songs of Note : "Rosa," "Epiphany," "Free Afternoon," "November," "The Air We Breathe" Artist : Hamish Hawk Album : Angel Numbers Quick Thoughts : I didn't know Hamish Hawk before this week, but I wish I had, because this is an early favorite for 2023 best of lists. Hamish Hawk is what you've wanted Morrissey post-Smiths to be: a gorgeous baritone with excellent lyrics and a knack for storytelling. I was captivated by this album and...