If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Nina Westervelt I'm embarrassed to say that I only truly discovered the music of John Prine this year. I knew who he was, and I had heard his music before, but it just never quite clicked for me until earlier in 2021. It was through covers of his brilliant songs that finally made me give him another shot, and I was wrong before because the man is just a true treasure. As part of their "12 Days of Tickmas," Deer Tick have released a cover of "Christmas in Prison." If you're familiar at all with John Prine and Deer Tick, you're going to know what this sounds like. And you'd be correct. It's a classic country/folk ballad from Deer Tick with just enough rock guitar to make it sound like Deer Tick. It's a fantastic cover dripping with adoration of the original. You need to check this one out. You can watch Deer Tick cover "Christmas in Prison" below. For more on Deer Tick, check out the band's website . Current tour dates ar...

We love covers here at If It's Too Loud..., and we're always thrilled when one of our favorites releases a pair of covers. The only exception is when it's done as a tribute to an amazing artist's passing, which unfortunately the case is here. I obviously don't need to explain how legendary John Prine and Bill Withers are as artists and how far their influence is felt on modern music. Prateek has covered one classic from each man and put them up on his Bandcamp as a free download. For John Prine he chose "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness" and Bill Withers's "Ain't No Sunshine." According to a Facebook post, they are his favorite song from each man. Prateek's covers are virtually perfect and his fandom is front and center in both.  You can listen to Prateek's take on "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness" and "Ain't No Sunshine" below. You can download For Bill and John at Prateek's Bandcamp. For more on ...

And the rest! Artist : Bryde Album : Like an Island Quick Description : First proper album from half of Paper Airplanes. Why You Should Listen : It's tricky indie rock with a folk bent. Overall Thoughts : Nearly my album of the week, this is sneaky great. Bryde takes the quiet->loud dynamic and sits directly on the edges of both, providing a surprising style that feels unpredictable even as you hear certain songs multiple times. The entire approach here is familiar, yet has a unique enough spin that you won’t feel bored. Recommendation : Really worth giving a shot. Artist : Mr. Fingers Album : Cerebral Hemispheres Quick Description : The return of a house legend. Why You Should Listen : It's like a time capsule of 1980s dance. Overall Thoughts : It’s been 20-odd years since this important house music artist put anything new together, and this album feels like a dose of retro dance music from start to finish. The problem with it is the overall lack of evol...

Apologies to all for the truncated nature of this week's first listen. It's been a busier past few days than anticipated, and I'm not entirely sure there's any sign of it stopping, so it will be a quick hit version this week and hopefully we're back on track next week. Album of the Week : * Drive-By Truckers - American Band : DBT have always been hit or miss for me, but this album is a musical masterpiece and, for many listeners, will absolutely hit the right lyrical notes in the current political climate. Political music done right by a band that knows what it's doing. Other Quality Listens : * La Sera - Queens * Microwave - Much Love (sounds like if Weezer was just starting out) * Luke Winslow-King - I'm Glad Trouble Don't Last Always (quality classic roots music) * Banks - The Altar * Regina Spektor - Remember Us to Life (her best effort in nearly a decade) * Tami Neilson - Don't Be Afraid (definitely a top listen this week) ...