If It's Too Loud...

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...

Photo by Rachelle Caplan Lung, officially our favorite "art-punk, cello-rock duo" are back with a new single off their upcoming album. "Air" isn't going to be what you expect when you hear "cello-rock." It's much more rock than cello. In fact, "Air" is fairly heavy rock. It's a loud song with pounding drums. Kate Wakefield is a classically trained opera singer, and here she delivers her vocals with the kind of theatricality that would make Amanda Palmer jealous. Possibly the most interesting thing about "Air" is that it is much more straightforward rock than you would expect "art-punk, cello-rock" to sound like. It's weirdo straightforward rock, but still comparatively straightforward. You can watch the video for "Air" below. Come Clean Right Now  is due out August 20 on Sofaburn Records. For more on Lung, check out the band's website .

Photo by Rachelle Caplan Art-punk cello-rock. Just from reading that description, you know if you're going to want to listen to the latest from Lung. One surprising aspect of "Sun God" is how much the song leans into the rock part of that description. "Sun God" is a surprisingly heavy song. It's definitely art, punk, and includes cello, but more than anything else it's a rock song. The first band that's going to come to mind with cello rock is Rasputina, and while those comparisons are fair, and Lung does share some of their theatricality, Lung is going to land slightly more mainstream than their cello brethren. But just barely. Singer/celloist Kate Wakefield says of the upcoming album: “The record is indirectly or perhaps directly influenced by books I was reading. I read poetry daily over the past year. I love the poets Joy Harjo and Ellen Bass. I’m also into buddhist and consciousness literature, and was able to really dive into a lot of beautiful...