If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Gelli Haha Album : Switcheroo Quick Thoughts : Everything about this package feels unhinged, and yet this is a real favorite of the week. This isn't quite dance / electronic, but it's not your standard listen either. Opening track, "Funny Music," gives a sort of weird dissoance to start us out before it gets rolling; "Piss Artist" is as chaotic as you'd imagine, and the whole package is just one that's a delight. One of the favorites of the week. Songs of Note : "Funny Music," "Spit," "Piss Artist," "Tiramisu," "Pluto is not a planet it's a restaurant" Artist : Vandoliers Album : Life Behind Bars Quick Thoughts : Vandoliers are back and they are Not Happy. This is an overt, angry, political record in so many ways and the sort of rage that streams from its pores is a welcome addition to this summer, and it doesn't hurt that the songs are great, too. Don't skip this one...

Artist : Lorde Album : Solar Power Quick Thoughts : Lorde has made some seriously iconic songs over the years, which makes Solar Power largely a confusing affair. It's not that the album is bad - in fact, on first listen, I might like it more than Melodrama - but that it's very unassuming. It gives a definitive inluenceresque summery vibe, and that was somewhat unexpected from someone who presents as a more oddball dark pop star. Regardless, this album is likely to be divisive, but put me fully on team Solar Power . Songs of Note : "Solar Power," "Stoned at the Nail Salon," "Secrets From a Girl (Who's Seen It All)" Artist : Warp Trio Album : Warp Trio's Pandemic Disco Fantasy Quick Thoughts : I'm pretty sure this contemporary classical act hit my radar thanks to the amount of Attacca Quartet I've been listening to, and this is apparently a concept record that goes along with a multimedia effort. The music, for what it...

This week was sneaky busy, but a lot of good music! Album of the Week : Artist : What Cheer? Brigade Album : You Can't See Inside of Me Quick Description : Marching band music for hipster adults. Why You Should Listen : They may drive your spouse mad, but the musicianship and fun is top notch. Overall Thoughts : Every so often, while listening to something for First Listen, my wife will provide commentary. What Cheer? Brigade are a bunch of punk types who also play brass instruments, so the result is a bit of a sassy, edgy marching band quality. It turned my wife off right quick, but I was into it . It’s reminiscent of a lot of what made Gogol Bordello so awesome when they had their breakthrough, and there’s just something special and exciting about this. While I don’t think this will make it high on my year end list, this is absolutely my favorite thing that I listened to this week, and is my album of the week because of it. I mean, they do a brass version of a Brain...

I mean... seriously? Look at that line up. I don't care what Boston Calling has had before, this roster may never be topped ever again. Plenty for old fogies to check out without feeling self conscious (The Replacements, Neutral Milk Hotel, Nas + The Roots, The Hold Steady, Spoon) plus a chance to see some of the up and comers we've been obsessed with without being the Creepy Old Guy. I've wanted to check out Childish Gambino and Girl Talk for a while now, and this may be the chance! And you can check out this Lorde character without being the only adult without a child. Plus, I mean, The Replacements! Neutral Milk Hotel! Nas + The Roots would be kick ass enough by themselves, but Nas with The Roots as his backing band???? Insane. I think The National might be the weak link as far as headliners go, but considering they curated the thing, I can let it slide. The September 2014 edition of Boston Calling takes place in City Hall Plaza on September 5, 6, & 7. 3 Day and ...

This might be the biggest new release week of the fall for me, personally, with a lot of long-awaited albums on the docket. Let's get right to it: Lorde - Pure Heroine : By now, you've almost certainly heard "Royals" (which I raved about back in August ), and 16-year-old Lorde's debut album releases today. What I find interesting about Pure Heroine is how quiet and understated it is. It's not a bad album at all, far from it - instead, it's a lot more stark than you might think given the lush vocals in "Royals." I expected a more mainstream Bjork sound, or perhaps some Portishead-style vocals, and instead it's a little safer (being so young and being a mainstream release, this isn't a surprise). It's worth a listen for sure, if only because it's probably the album of the fall, but temper your expectations. V V Brown - Samson and Delilah : V V Brown's first album, Travelling Like the Light , was a revelation in many w...

It's rare for me to hear hit songs these days that aren't cultural touchstones. I went through a week where I heard "Blurred Lines" 8 times a day a few weeks back, everyone heard "Get Lucky," etc. For me to know a song that's on a TV show or a movie these days is rare ( Pitch Perfect is a weird movie for me in that regard), and while there's something to having that shared experience, well, I saw Miley twerk it and I think I'm all set. With that said, I tripped up on Lorde's "Royals" last week, and I am obsessed . I could listen to this song on repeat for an hour and not tire of it. It's a lot like Kimbra in a sense, except I'm nearly old enough to be Lorde's father and this song is more accessible. It's not really alt-rock, it's not really pop music, I don't really know what to make of it, but I do know that it's really, really good. Give it a listen above. Her EP, The Love Club , is out now...