If It's Too Loud...

kei Photo credit: Boston Calling, Alive Coverage Boston Calling is New England's largest music festival, drawing forty thousand music fans from all over for three days of music. This was surprisingly my first year attending Boston Calling, and there is simply too much for one post, so we're breaking it down day by day. Here are my highlights from day one! Madi Diaz We've been fans of Madi Diaz for a while, so it was great to see the Nashvile singer-songwriter live for the first time. I was also unaware that she spent time in Boston, and she talked about living ten blocks from the venue. Taking the Green Stage with her guitar and only accompanied by a drummer, Diaz was the perfect way to start off my day with her upbeat mix of indie rock, singer-songwriter fare, and pop. I was also pleasantly surprised by how much of her music the crowd knew. I tend to live in my musical bubble, unaware of what's popular or not, and Diaz is much more well known than I thought.  The Wolff...

Just a lot out this week, so we'll do highlights. Artist : Skating Polly Album : The Make It All Show Quick Description : New album from the indie rockers. Why You Should Listen : Skating Polly is similar to Speedy Ortiz in some regards, and they are poised to break out. Overall Thoughts : I liked Skating Polly’s last effort, which was a sort of car crash of musical sounds and styles that had me hooked. Even still, it wasn’t without its flaws, but that was more than okay – it was still a great listen. This new album feels a lot more organized and structured, and the result (while a little less chaotic) is something that really shows growth as a band without losing the sort of manic quality that sets them apart. Recommendation : A favorite this week. Artist : Parker Milsap Album : Other Arrangements Quick Description : New album from a favorite here. Why You Should Listen : You're looking for a little more adult alternative in your life. Overall Thoughts : We’v...

My number 9 album,  Coming Home,  feels like the summer to me. The album stayed in the stereo of a rental car during a family trip to South Carolina, where it flavored our entire stay.  In my opinion, Leon Bridges' Coming Home  is the best of the current soul revival. It doesn't sound like it's mimicking 60s soul, it sounds like it was recorded in the 60s. Right from the opening song, the title track "Coming Home," it pulls you right in with a sound you might not have realized you love. "Lisa Sawyer" is my personal favorite, and is just this beautiful ballad, complete with these layers of backing vocals throughout. His background singers are Bridges' secret weapon. As with any truly great 60s soul song, it's the background singers you end up singing along to more than the lead. "Flowers" shows off the best of his more uptempo sound. He's already gone from playing clubs in 2015 to setting up a large theater tour for 2016. You can...