If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Yaeji Album : With a Hammer Quick Thoughts : Yaeji, in her short career, is known for her pretty awesome electronic music, and this is a stellar effort across the board. The songs are pretty memorable and provide a great electronic record when we haven't gotten a lot of solid stuff lately. In a busy week, it's worth the time. Songs of Note : "For Granted," "Michin" Artist : Daughter Album : Stereo Mind Game Quick Thoughts : I don't recall where I first tripped up on Daughter, but Stereo Mind Game is one of those sneaky albums that grabs you when you least expect it. Sometimes shoegazey, sometimes alt-rock, it's a gorgeous record with a ton to love from front to back. In a week where it could quite easily get overshadowed, make some time for it. Songs of Note : "Party," "Swim Back" Artist : Blondshell Album : Blondshell Quick Thoughts : I've been addicted to "Kiss City" for a few weeks now, an...

Photo by Francis Broek The latest from Berlin's Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys keeps the New Wave meets industrial sound we've come to love from them, but adds a little more discordant noise to the mix. "Howl" has this intense and kind of slinky feel in a way similar to trip hop of the 90's. But there is a foreboding sound behind the song along with some No Wave and indie rock noise. It kind of sounds a little like Portishead meets Sonic Youth. This is an intense and compelling song that is undeniable in its beauty and also in its jarring qualities, and is both at the same time. Lucy Kruger says of her band's new song: "I spent the last three albums quietly singing about how I wanted to make a noise and, on this song, I’ve finally managed to do just that - which means, when we go on tour, I’ll have to make more noise, which is a lovely trap to have set for myself. I’m looking forward to seeing how it all goes, and how it all feels, for everyone involved....

Photo by Holger Nitschke "Heaving," the latest single from Berlin's Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys, is an interesting mixture of sounds that might not seem like the best matches, but end up working out perfectly. The new song leans heavily into a New Wave and industrial sound. It's a beautiful but intense version that sounds very Depeche Mode to me. But "Heaving" feels more modern than 80's and early 90's New Wave, and has that alternative folk/rock/pop sound we love from artists like Lucy Dacus and The Beths. As dark as "Heaving" might sound, it does have more than a bit of a light and pop side. Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys have created this interesting sonic delight that embraces the past while moving towards the future. You can watch the video for "Heaving" below. Heaving , the album, is due out April 7 on Unique Records, and can be pre-ordered here . For more on Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys, check out the artist's w...

Photo by Holger Nitschke Lucy Kruger started off in South Africa and is now based in Berlin. Her band, Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys, has released a single that is a little all over the place in a good way. At times "Burning Building" sounds like a straight up pop song, albeit a dark one. But then this bizarre wall of noise comes flooding in. The vocals range from cheerleading chants, to a rough growl, to a whisper. The song is a swirling, dark, hypnotic track that makes the listener feel like something has just happened to them, and I mean that in a positive way. It's a rough sounding track, but also oddly poppy. Probably the closest artist I've heard that sounds anything like Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys is PJ Harvey. You can watch the video for "Burning Building" below. Heaving is due out April 7 on Unique Records. For more on Lucy Kruger & The Lost Boys, check out the artist on Facebook and Twitter .