If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Angeline Woo, Courtesy of Luaka Bop "Tiger Is Coming" might sound familiar to some of you. It was used in promotional videos for South Korea's national tourist board, and it was played when South Korea's national team scored a goal in the World Cup. Now, Leenalchi have re-recorded it with their current line up. The Seoul based band have created a psychedelic masterpiece here. It's delightfully dance friendly while remaining laid back. Like their previous single "Crying Softshell Turtle," "Tiger Is Coming" comes from an eighteenth century Korean epic about "... a loyal turtle on a mission that runs into a fierce tiger and chaos ensues." Despite coming from three centuries ago, this new single feels and sounds modern. Plus, this is simply a fun song that I challenge anyone not to enjoy. You can listen to "Tiger Is Coming" below. Sugungga is due out October 2 on Luaka Bop, and is available for pre-order here . For more...

Photo by Robert Macaisa for Off the 405, Courtesy of Getty Museum Leenalchi just released an EP in June, and the Seoul based seven-piece band is already back with new music. "Crying Softshell Turtle" is a psychedelic thrill ride, with elements that are both traditional and futuristic. This makes sense since the band's upcoming album is a retelling of an eighteenth century Korean epic, and is an update of pansori, a centuries old form of music. It's going to inspire both wild dancing and standing there with your mouth agape. It's as fun as it is mind-blowing, and not every band can pull that off. "Crying Softshell Turtle" literally brings Korea's past into the future. You can watch the video for "Crying Softshell Turtle" below. Sugungga is due out October 2 on Luaka Bop, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Leenalchi, check out the band's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the video and include October 31 at The Drake i...

Photo by Swan Studio According to the press release, "The music of Leenalchi is taken from pansori , a traditional Korean style of musical storytelling that tells epic tales of love, virtue, and sorrow." The Seoul based band has a new single out, and it's one of the most unique sounds we've heard in a while. "Bird" is a simple and complex track that (as far as Western sounds go) mixes indie rock, pop, hip hop, and R&B. This is one of those rare times that I can't compare a band or song to another artist. "Bird" has such a unique sound, even though it has some roots in music you already love. As soon as you listen to this song (repeatedly), you'll be joining us in a deep dive into Leenalchi's catalog.  You can watch the video for "Bird" below. Here Comes That Crow is due out June 12 on Luaka Bop. For more on Leenalchi, check out the artist's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the video and include an October 31 dat...

Photo by Adam Wissing It's been nearly half a century since Staples Jr. Singers have released an album, but the siblings trio is back with new music. The latest single off their upcoming album is out, and it's a must have for fans of gospel, soul, folk, and Americana. "I've Got a Feeling" sees guitarist R.C. Brown take over lead vocals for a chilled out song that sounds what I'd consider more folk and blues than gospel. Considering their last album, When Do We Get Paid , came out in 1975, it's pretty amazing how relevant a song like "I've Got a Feeling" still sounds in 2024. You can watch the video for "I've Got a Feeling" below. Searching is due out June 14 on Luaka Bop, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Staples Jr. Singers, check out the artist's website . Tue. June 25 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Music School Sat. June 29 – Paris, FR @ La Défense Jazz Festival Sun. June 30 – Manchester, UK @ Band on the Wal...

Photo by Adam Wissing We're hardly a gospel music blog, but there are always exceptions. In 2022 Luaka Bop reissued their 1975 album When Do We Get Paid , and now the family group (consisting of Edward Brown, R.C. Brown, and Annie Brown Caldwell) are coming out with their first new album in almost fifty years. The first single off that album, "Lost in a World of Sin," is this perfect slice of vintage soul and folk. Even if you're not particularly into gospel, this is going to work for you. The band also consists of the band's children and grandchildren, and the upcoming album was recorded over two nights in a single room church in West Point, Mississippi. If that's not an organic way to record music, I don't know what is. Producer Ahmed Gallab says of his recording process with Staples Jr. Singers: “The process was very easy. There’s nothing like a family bond/band. It was so special to watch how locked into each other everyone was. You can hear and feel t...