If It's Too Loud...

It's rare to have a week without any real clunkers, so enjoy! Suz Slezak - When the Nighttime Comes : We've covered this album in more depth than anything else at this blog , so I don't think there's a lot new to say per se, but given that this was my first time listening to it, I was surprised at how much more I liked it than I thought I would have. For an album that's designed, at least in part, to be lullabies for little ones, it's actually a really pretty folk album that reminds me of the earlier Hem albums from long ago. Definitely the release of the week. Damon & Naomi - Fortunes : In a different week without the Slezak album, this would have really blown me away. Instead, we get a really solid folk-style quiet album meant to be a companion to a short film by Naomi , so listening to it independently might miss the point. Overall, though, a really good listen. Elle King - Love Stuff : I won't lie - everything I read about this had me hopi...

Every year the Hot Stove Cool Music benefit takes place during baseball's off season, combining Boston's love of sports and music. I've been a few times, but I always regret not making it which I usually don't. This year I'm truly kicking myself, since it featured the reunited Juliana Hatfield Three's first comeback performance, as well as 3/5 of the original Letters to Cleo (Kay Hanley, Greg McKenna, and Michael Eisenstein were joined by sometimes members Tom Polce and Joe Klompus), Tanya Donelly and Gail Greenwood getting together for some Belly songs, the return of Jen Trynin, and a Cavedogs reunion which brought David Cross back out from LA to introduce the band. Yeah, I'm an idiot for not going.  Letters to Cleo (shot by Steve Latham ( www.stevelatham.net ) ): Jen Trynin: Belly ( shot by Steve Latham ( www.stevelatham.net ) ) : The Juliana Hatfield Three:

Sleater-Kinney - No Cities to Love : Quite possibly the most anticipated album for all critics in 2015 is the comeback from Sleater-Kinney. They're one of those bands that disappears for a few years and then comes back bigger than ever. Their reunion tour pretty much sold out instantly,with them playing larger venues than before. " Bury Our Friends " is the only song I've heard so far, but it's pretty safe to say that this will be great. Lady Lamb the Beekeeper - After : As excited as I am for this album, part of me is a little hesitant. I loved Ripely Pine  so much and gushed about it so heavily, can a second album live up to that for me? But, even if After is merely half as good as her first, it will still be one of the best of the year. Plus, " Billions of Eyes " is a rambling jaunt that sounds like Dylan fronting Neutral Milk Hotel, so it can't be anything short of great. The Juliana Hatfield Three - Whatever, My Love : I mean, h...

We're in a new year now, and there are certainly a few albums coming up that I'm very excited for: Kanye West - TBA : Kanye West has had a few listening parties for his follow-up to Yeezus , and there was a lot of talk about it being released sometime in 2014, but that clearly didn't happen. Will it be more like Yeeus , will we get movement more back toward the mainstream, or will it be something completely different? I enjoy Kanye West in part because of his unpredictability, but also because you know it's going to be an interesting listen. Plus, the idea that this album could drop within hours of this being posted or never get released at all is just as fascinating. Easily the biggest upcoming release for me. The Decemberists - What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World : While the prerelease singles haven't knocked my socks off, considering how great their last album was, I can't help but be excited about this album coming out in a few weeks. A ba...

Obviously, I have no idea what your day looks like, but you need to drop whatever you're in the middle of and listen to this new Juliana Hatfield Three song right now. It's the first single off their first album in over 20 years ( Whatever, My Love  due out February 17 on American Laundromat Records), and it's absolute perfection. I feel almost guilty saying this because it sounds like I don't absolutely love her output since 1993, but it somehow recaptures the magic of 1993's Become What You Are.  It's as if they froze themselves in time 20 years ago, but still were able to mature and grow as artists. There is no possible way to be disappointed by this song. You're obviously going to want to keep track of everything Juliana Hatfield Three related after hearing this. You can do that on her website , with tour dates in February and March to be announced soon.

Yes, you actually read that correctly. The Juliana Hatfield Three, who only released one album ( Become What You Are ) all the way back in 1993 are reuniting to record a brand new album. I never thought I'd see the day when Juliana Hatfield, Dean Fisher, and Todd Phillips recorded together under the old name, but here it is. They just started a Facebook page yesterday, and now have a PledgeMusic campaign to fund the new album. There are the typical levels ($10 for an Access Pass and digital download, $25 for Access Pass and signed CD) but they have some really cool extras, such as vintage Juliana Hatfield Three t-shirts (2 left as of this writing!), 1993 glossy publicity photo, alternate album cover art for Become What You Are , a tourbook from their 1993 tour with Grant Lee Buffalo (only 1!!!!), a Skype guitar tutorial, and more! You know you want to... Go here for The Juliana Hatfield Three's PledgeMusic page. It also looks like they'll be touring in March, so keep...