If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Marcelo Mayen When I first saw that Slothrust was covering Ginuwine's "Pony," I assumed they'd lean into their pop side on this one. Instead, Slothrust bring the rock for the cover. That's not to say there aren't any pop elements present in the cover. But "Pony" is transformed into a rock song on this one. It's landing somewhere between grunge and metal, but with some aforementioned pop elements. The guitar goes straight up noise rock at times, and Will Gorum's drums are reminding me a lot of Charlie Benante's (Anthrax) COVID covers series, especially his version of Billie Eilish's "Bad Guy." What also helps Slothrust's cover stand out against other rock covers of Top 40 songs is that this one is done without a shred of irony. It's fun, but it's not making fun of the original. You can watch the video for Slothrust's version of "Pony" below. I Promise  is due out October 20 via Dangerbird Re...

Artist : Hannah Jadagu Album : Aperture Quick Thoughts : Hannah Jadagu is likely to become your new favorite. The fact that she's only 19 and has strung together such an awesome collection of indie rock tunes is stunning. It's absolutely informed by the indie music of the last few decades (which means dear god we're old here), but it absolutely feels like it's its own thing, and that's what sets it apart from anything else as of late. You'll love this album if you give it a shot, it's as close to a guarantee as I can give. Songs of Note : "Say It Now," "Dreaming" Artist : Lauren Early Album : Don't Take My Dream Away Quick Thoughts : Ken sent this over and I didn't know Lauren Early prior to now but I'm glad I do. Her sound is reminiscent of early Colleen Green with a little more drum programming and a little less retro flair. I liked this quite a bit, and it's worth the time. Songs of Note : "Never Knows ...

Artist : Departure Lounge Album : Transmeridian Quick Thoughts : Songs of Note : "Australia," "Mr. Friendly" Artist : Claire Rousay Album : A Softer Focus Quick Thoughts : Claire Rousay has produced some interesting music for a few years now, and (with the understanding that her more esoteric field recordings-style has some limited appeal), this could be a real breakthrough. This album is a gorgeous mix of often-sparse electronics that feel like they exist in real time, and it makes for a super interesting listen. A lot of buzz aorund this one, and rightly so. Songs of Note : "Peak Chroma" Artist : Emily Kinney Album : The Supporting Character Quick Thoughts : We're Emily Kinney fans here, both of her singing and her acting. This album has some of her most accessible moments yet, such as with "When the Midnight Fireworks Start," and yet it still retains the sort of charm we've come to enjoy from her albums. Great for longtime...