If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Laura Veirs Album : Phone Orphans Quick Thoughts : Laura Veirs has been a favorite of mine since Carbon Glacier , and I've always enjoyed her back catalog, from the more roots and folk-style early stuff to the more disjointed folk music that felt a decade before it was cool. Phone Orphans isn't exactly a return to the old, but it is a return to a quieter, more deliberate sound than what we're used to, and it is gorgeous . Each song feels fragile and immediate in all the best ways, and it's a favorite of the week. Make some time for this. Songs of Note : "If You Could Hold Someone," "The Archers," "Beautiful Dreams," "Swan Dive" Artist : Little Lizard Album : Big Lizard Quick Thoughts : I didn't know what to make of Little Lizard when I saw the cover, didn't know what to make of the band in the first song, and I still don't know what to make of it now. This is a compliment, because it is a real thin...

I haven't heard a song this weird and fun in a long time. Haling from Minneapolis, Little Lizard just released "Crunchy." It's a bizarre little instrumental song that mixes sparse electronic elements via an 808 drum machine with horns, keyboards, and live bass lines. If you're of a certain age, this is going to remind you of 90's weirdo little side projects like Ad-Rock's BS 2000. This is definitely not going to be for everyone who reads this, but a lot of us are going to find this to be quite a bit of fun. I really hate using the word "quirky" because it can have some negative connotations, but it truly fits "Crunchy." You can watch the live performance video for "Crunchy" below. The song is available now as a single via Guilt Ridden Pop. You can find it over at the band's Bandcamp . For more on Little Lizard, check out their website .