If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Alyssa Gengos Album : Mechanical Sweetness Quick Thoughts : I did not know of Alyssa Gengos before this week, and I am wholly impressed. There are so many good and interesting songs here, and the top-notch songwriting is just off the beaten path enough to be more compelling than most. She previously released music under the name Kyrthia, so I'll be looking back for that sooner rather than later, but for now, enjoy this. Songs of Note : "Gothenburg English," "Me and My Reflection," "Mechanical Sweetness" Artist : Carson McHone Album : Still Life Quick Thoughts : Carson McHone provides my rootsy favorite of the week, with some tightly wound songs that lean heavily on the country side without stepping fully into the boot. It makes for a listen that is familiar but also its own thing, and there's something to be said about that. If you're into the rootsier side of things, check this one out. Songs of Note : "Hawks Don't...

We love cover songs here at If It's Too Loud..., and when one of our old school alternative heroes covers another old school alternative hero, we're going to pay attention. For Record Store Day, Johnny Marr has a 7" featuring a studio version of Depeche Mode's "I Feel You," which has been popping up at his live shows recently. Marr's version is more vicious and rock than the original synth-heavy version. Both are great, but I might start leaning towards Marr's more. For a B-side, he's offering a live version of The Smith's ultra-classic "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want." With Record Store Day getting more and more watered down with "special editions" of releases you've owned for 20 years, this one will make standing in line early worth it.  Record Store Day is April 18. You can find more information on what is being offered and a list of participating stores here . For Johnny Fucking Marr, go here .

When I first saw Johnny Marr was releasing solo albums and touring as a frontman, I didn't really care. How many guitar players have tried solo careers and embarrassed themselves? Who would go and see that besides Smiths die hards? Then I saw a video of him performing "How Soon Is Now?" and I realized that I wanted to see Johnny Marr live. Playland , his latest solo effort, is absolutely fantastic. It's just a perfect slice of British pop that blends elements of the 80s, 90s, and even sounds completely current. Plus, the songs are fun. And you get that guitar sound that only Marr can get. There's a reason serious music outlets refer to him as Johnny Fucking Marr. If you get a chance, I implore you to see him live. I like to think of myself as above just wanting to hear the big, iconic megahits. But something about hearing those guitar riffs coming from the man who originated them was one of the best concert experiences I've had in years. You can have Morr...

A ridiculous amount of music came out this week, so let's not waste any time. Flying Lotus - You're Dead! : This is my first exposure to Flying Lotus and his brand of electronic jazz/hip-hop. It's not an album I feel like I can give a fair shake to, as it's way outside my areas of knowledge and typical listening, but I will say that I was grooving at a number of points during my initial listen. It's worth tossing in your rotation just to see what the fuss is about. O'Death - Out of Hands We Go : O'Death's third full length album continues to send them along the trajectory of this gothic-style alt-country that they do so well. Filled with a number of memorable songs and providing a bit of a unique atmosphere, this is an album that sounds unlike anything I've heard as of late, and really fits in well with a lot of what we tend to highlight here. Definitely worth a listen. Vashti Bunyan - Heartleap : I remember when Vashti Bunyan's second ...