If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Lunchbox Album : After School Special Quick Description : Lovely, fun indie pop. Why You Should Listen : It's like a transporter to turn-of-the-century indie rock. Overall Thoughts : Apparently it's been a while since Lunchbox shared anything new, but I was not expecting to have a 30 minute nostalgia episode. After School Special would fit right in with any of the early Elephant Six releases. I loved every moment of this, and I am really hoping the novelty doesn't wear off anytime soon. Recommendation : Probably the most fun you'll have this week. Artist : Luluc Album : Dreamboat Quick Description : New and lovely folk album from a personal favorite. Why You Should Listen : Luluc is always a solid choice. Overall Thoughts : There's plenty of folk music out there, and folk-adjacent stuff that's trying to make a case for itself. So what sets Luluc apart? It's sometimes that there's a haunting feel to the whole thing, it's so...

Album of the Week : Artist : Jenn Champion Album : Single Rider Quick Description : Latest from the longtime singer-songwriter; first album under the Jenn Champion moniker. Why You Should Listen : You like intense, mature songwriting. Overall Thoughts : I’m racking my brain trying to really describe the experience of this album. It’s very direct, yet still feels ethereal and haunting. It has an urgent aggression to it even in its almost airy and quiet nature. It is especially interesting for the lyrics to stand out and be so blunt when we’re focused on a sound that lends itself to a more metaphoric/allegorical approach. This is my favorite listen of the week because of how it upends the expectations it carries with it, and there’s something kind of cool about that. Recommendation : The best listen in a while. Artist : Cowboy Junkies Album : All That Reckoning Quick Description : Latest from the well-known act. Why You Should Listen : It feels a lot like what you've...

After a few slow weeks, the record companies are apparently back to work. Plenty to look at this week: "Weird Al" Yankovic - Mandatory Fun : "Weird Al" is basically a musical institution at this point, so if you're into what he does, you already know it. For me, this album was an improvement over Alpocalypse in part because I (unfortunately) know a lot of the songs he's pardodying this go 'round - it's less rap/R&B heavy and it has a lot of songs that were tough to miss. The polka is, of course, superlative as well. As I said, you know what you're getting with "Weird Al," so your enjoyment will be based solely on that, but for me? I'm glad he's still doing what he's doing. Puss n Boots - No Fools, No Fun : Norah Jones continues being a chameleon of sorts, this time collaborating with two other women to form Puss n Boots, a traditional country band. The songs are good and unexpected without being out there - it...