If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Phantogram Album : Ceremony Quick Description : First new music in a while from the alt-electro act. Why You Should Listen : Phantogram is always great, and this is no different. Overall Thoughts : It’s been a minute since we heard from Phantogram, but I’ll say this much – if what they put out is this high in quality every time they take this long to put out new music? Sign me up. It’s modern, it’s odd, it’s challenging without losing its accessibility, and it’s an unexpected yet welcome evolution from an act that has always been good-to-great. Recommendation : One of the best of the week. Artist : Georgia Album : Seeking Thrills Quick Description : Great mainstream pop from an indie artist. Why You Should Listen : There's a lot to love about this listen, and not just how danceable the whole thing is. Overall Thoughts : Mainstream pop has always been a little weird, sure, and even though Katy Perry is cosplaying our May Queen and Lady Gaga looks like she mig...

A two-parter this week. Here is the first half: Album of the Week : Artist : Glen Phillips Album : Swallowed By the New Quick Description : First full album of original music in a decade from the Toad the Wet Sprocket lead singer. Why You Should Listen : Glen Phillips is great, and this is his best output since Winter Pays for Summer . Overall Thoughts : To say it's been a decade for Phillips doesn't tell the full story, as Toad the Wet Sprocket has reunited and Phillips has been involved with multiple side projects over this time. But it's been forever since he's done a straightforward solo album, and whether these are new songs or songs he's had in the hopper, they're some of his best work. It's an album I listened to shortly after having the best day I've had in ages, and it resonated fully from the start. Not a bad song to be found, and not a bad point stands out. The lack of a standout track on first listen might be a drawback long term...

This week is thankfully a lot slower than last week, but there's still a lot to get to, so let's get to work: Ida Maria - Accidental Happiness : We hadn't heard much of anything from Ida Maria as of late, but it turns out that she was working out some alcohol addiction issues, and it's nice to report that she's back with an EP of mostly good songs. Nothing here has the flash of KATLA or her debut, but it's still a solid little EP of songs from someone we haven't heard from in some time. Good to have her back. Dawn Landes - Bluebird : I became a fan of Dawn Landes when she opened for Hem many, many years ago. Her voice is absolutely gorgeous, and her roots-tinged folk sound just hits me in just the right way. Her latest release, Bluebird , is thankfully more of the same, and I mean that in the most positive light. In a way, she's like the anti-Marissa Nadler, as Landes's songs feel more light and airy than the standard fare. If folk music o...