If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Indigo De Souza Album : Precipice Quick Thoughts : Indigo De Souza is onme of those artists that I feel like everyone who knows her loves her work, but she has yet to have that direct breakthrough that lets everyone else in on the open secret. This album could change that. It's a little more poppy, but still retains the sort of alt-rock edge that sets her apart from many of her peers and made us fall for her to start. One of the best listens of the summer, frankly. Songs of Note : "Crush," "Be Like the Water," "Heartthrob," "Heartbreaker," "Pass It By," Precipice" Artist : Tyler Childers Album : Snipe Hunter Quick Thoughts : I've spent much of the weekend trying to figure out the analogue of Tyler Childers to modern country music with regards to mainstream rock/pop. Like, if Childers isn't country a-list right now, he's damn close, and yet his stuff still feels raw and accessible to people lik...

Photo by Hannah Sommer The latest from Indigo De Souza is a glorious mix of rock and pop music, stirred up in such a unique way. "Heartthrob" is an upbeat song that is guaranteed to make listeners want to dance. As dance focused as the song is, it has such a raw and rough element in its instrumentation that makes it rock based. Then there's De Souza's vocals that truly blend both genres. There's something a little extra rough about her singing that keeps the song from being pop, while she also has a slacker pop thing going on, too. "Heartthrob" might be the greatest definition of alt-pop possible. Indigo De Souza feels like one of those artists that is set to explode at any minute. Indigo De Souza says of her latest single: "I wrote ‘Heartthrob’ as a way to help process something that is often hard to talk about—the harmful ways I’ve been taken advantage of in my physical memory. ‘Heartthrob’ is about harnessing anger, and turning it into something ...

Artist : Nabinah Iqbal Album : DREAMER Quick Thoughts : This album literally made me gasp. I thought it was a solid ambient effort, and then the noisy shoegazey songs came in, and the way that this jumps between concepts and ideas and musical... everything. Wow. It just works, and in a really gorgeous and surprising way. LOVED this album, do not skip it. Songs of Note : "Dreamer," "Sunflower" Artist : Braids Album : Euphoric Recall Quick Thoughts : I've been a fan of Braids for ages, and this latest album feels like a pop-ish turn for the electronic act. It really works well, with the opening track setting the tone for an album with great song after great song. If you haven't gotten into Braids yet, this is as good as any a place to start. Songs of Note : "Supernova," "Evolution," "Millennia" Artist : Indigo de Souza Album : All of This Will End Quick Thoughts : The problem with streaming music and not spending a...

Artist : Suzanne Santo Album : Yard Sale Quick Thoughts : I don't recall how I tripped up on Suzanne Santo, but her song "Ghost in My Bed" from a few years back is an all-time favorite. This new album continues to show how great she is at this sort of alt-country, roots-tinged music, with a number of high points. This is a great listen, and one worth listening to even if it were a busy week. Songs of Note : "Mercy," "Goldrush," "Save for Love," "Afraid of Heights" Artist : Madi Diaz Album : History of a Feeling Quick Thoughts : Madi Diaz is another name I remember, but I don't quite recall my first time listening to her. Still, History of a Feeling gives massive Julien Baker energy, especially on songs like "Do It Now" and "Think of Me," the latter of which is one of the most brutal songs I've heard in a while. This may be one of my favorite listens of the year, never mind the week or summer. ...