First Listen Part One: New Releases for April 28

A crazy week, so two weeks it is!

Album of the Week:

Artist: Sarah Shook and the Disarmers
Album: Sidelong
Quick Description: Rootsy rock.
Why You Should Listen: You like the sound of Lydia Loveless with a little more grit.
Overall Thoughts: When I started listening to this album, a rootsy barnburner of a record, I was curious as to how long I might be able to tolerate Sarah Shook’s vocal warble. By the end, I was wondering why I cared at all to start, as the value of this album is in the entire package – Shook’s unique vocal presentation, the excellent musicianship, and the killer songwriting. When the only negative thing anyone can say about an album is “the vocals might have to grow on you” in a genre that’s dominated by often-obnoxious twang, you know it’s something you need to spend some real time with. I truly loved this album in a way I didn’t expect.
Recommendation: An easy choice for album of the week.

Artist: R. Ring
Album: Ignite the Rest
Quick Description: New alt-rock project featuring Kelley Deal.
Why You Should Listen: Come for the pedigree, stay for some great songs.
Overall Thoughts: I nearly skipped this over and Ken reminded me that it existed, so I will say that this album is uneven on a whole but the good parts are very good. When this album is locked and loaded, there’s a great alt-rock throwback to it that’s among the best I’ve heard as of late. When it’s not on, things are good but not nearly as perfect. This means that an album that is quite good never gets close to great, but there should be some songs in here that ultimately grab you. I’m looking forward to getting back to more of this, regardless.
Recommendation: Uneven but solid.

Artist: Fuzzystar
Album: Telegraphing
Quick Description: Retro rock from a blog favorite.
Why You Should Listen: You always wondered what J Mascis's doppelganger might sound like.
Overall Thoughts: Ken’s been raving about Fuzzystar for a while now, and while I’ve listened to a few of the songs he’s shared, this was my first real long-term exposure to him. I liked this album a lot, but part of the appeal here is in part the fact that the influences are not just worn on the sleeve here, but baked into the final product. If you had told me this was a Dinosaur Jr-related project, I would probably believe you without hesitation. If that early 1990s alt-rock thing is what works for you, you need to seek this out. For someone like me who barely missed that era, I still got a lot out of it as well, so there’s something here for everyone.
Recommendation: Will be a very fun listen for a lot of people.

Artist: A Victim of Society
Album: Freaktown
Quick Description: More psych rock for your ears.
Why You Should Listen: This sort of thing might be the Next Big Thing.
Overall Thoughts: Last week we reviewed The Black Angels, a psych rock band with some interesting edge to them. A Victim of Society has a similar approach, and the result is an album that you can’t judge solely by cover/name. I’ll need to spend more time with it, but this is definitely a record and a band that’s worth your attention.
Recommendation: Worth a listen.

Artist: Njomza
Album: sad for you
Quick Description: New indie pop hotness.
Why You Should Listen: This is a name you might hear more about.
Overall Thoughts: A short EP from an indie pop artist who has been showing up on my weekly Spotify playlists repeatedly, this is an EP that shows a lot of potential with some really solid songwriting, and I don’t have much more to say about it beyond that – here’s hoping the first album is as big and awesome as it looks like it could be.
Recommendation: Worth a listen for pop fans.

Artist: Gianna Lauren
Album: Moving Parts
Quick Description: Off-center folk music.
Why You Should Listen: It's nice and atmospheric while not being completely predictable.
Overall Thoughts: A little bit folky, a little rough around the edges, I took a flyer on this solely because she was compared favorably to Mary Timony. I have zero regrets – this is a very good album that was truly in contention for album of the week for me due to the curveballs it throws and the really solid musicality throughout. I’d be surprised if a song like “Innkeeper” can’t grab you if you generally enjoy the stuff we highlight here. Overall, this is a superlative listen and something you should absolutely give a listen to this week.
Recommendation: One of the better releases this week.

Artist: Sheer
Album: Psychic Quarry
Quick Description: Fuzzy shioegazey favorite gives us a new EP.
Why You Should Listen: It's a little more polished and maybe a little more up your alley if the first album didn't do the trick.
Overall Thoughts: Sheer hits all the right notes for us here at the blog, and this EP is a nice return for them. I loved their first album, although repeated listens exposed some of the production issues that kept it from being truly great, and this EP is a step up in both production and songwriting. I don’t know where they’re headed, but I’m happy to follow if this release is any indication.
Recommendation: Give this a shot.

Artist: Skating Polly
Album: New Trick
Quick Description: A solid band with some solid contributions on this quick hit.
Why You Should Listen: Skating Polly is good, Veruca Salt was good, so what's the loss?
Overall Thoughts: At only 3 songs, I wouldn’t normally bother with what’s basically a single. Given that Skating Polly somehow recruited Nina Gordon and Louise Post (of Veruca Salt) to give an assist here is worthy of note. Also helpful? That this is three solid songs that somehow mix the best of both worlds. I’d love to see what would happen if they all worked together on something more substantial.
Recommendation: Great listen, I wish it was longer.

Artist: Ryan Adams
Album: Prisoner B-Sides
Quick Description: Ryan Adams proves his prolificness true again.
Why You Should Listen: If you loved Prisoner, this is like a new version of the tone/style.
Overall Thoughts: I can't say much about this that I didn't say about Prisoner. This just speaks to Adams's consistency that an album of 17 b-sides that didn't make the initial album are as solid as the songs that did make the album. If you liked Prisoner, you should listen to this. If not, skip it.
Recommendation: It's typical high quality.

Also out this week:

* Trombone Shorty - Parking Lot Symphony (this is good, but not really my style)
* Foster the People - III
* Life of Agony - A Place Where There's No More Pain

Back with more tomorrow!

First Listen: New Releases for February 17

Another crazy release week, but a lot of middle-of-the-road stuff. So we'll cover the real highlights, and do quick hits on the rest.

Album of the Week:

Artist: Molly Burch
Album: Please Be Mine
Quick Description: Singer-songwritery roots-ish goodness from a Sallie Ford tourmate.
Why You Should Listen: Come for the Ford connection, stay for the great music.
Overall Thoughts: This might have stayed well below our radar had she not been listed as the opener on Sallie Ford's upcoming tour. Ken sent this over, and I knew it would be something I'd like, but I didn't expect it to be something I'd love. The songs themselves are hooky and musically interesting, but still sound challenging and strange at the same time. There's a retro feel to a lot of it, like "Wrong For You," a more traditional feel with "Why," but this album is probably going to catch your attention quickly and not let go like it did with us. And now when you inevitably go to see Sallie Ford this spring (lol like I ever go out for late concerts anymore), you have a reason to catch the opener.
Recommendation: The best of the week, a worthy listen.

Artist: Ryan Adams
Album: Prisoner
Quick Description: Prolific singer-songwriter's latest.
Why You Should Listen: Even when Adams isn't at his best, it's still a must-listen.
Overall Thoughts: If I wanted to get snarky about it, I'd note that Alex Dezen is perhaps doing Ryan Adams better than Ryan Adams is at this point, but that would drive attention away from an album that, while far from groundbreaking, might be some of his best work since the roots-tinged Cardinals records of nearly a decade ago. There's an evenness to the album that keeps it from being the sort of dynamic, fascinating listen that Adams offers at his best, but there's also not a real clunker on here worth noting. Overall, it's just a solid, if unspectacular, listen. There's better music out this week, but that doesn't mean this isn't pretty good.
Recommendation: Worth your time at some point.

Artist: Amy MacDonald
Album: Under Stars
Quick Description: Latest from the young Scottish singer-songwriter.
Why You Should Listen: Amy MacDonald has always been sneaky good, and doesn't get enough due in the United States.
Overall Thoughts: I first became fond of MacDonald on her debut album, This is the Life back almost a decade ago. She hasn't put out a ton of music since then, as this is only her third album, but this shows some continued maturity as a songwriter as well as a further modernization of her sound away from a more modern take on traditional folk-pop. This works well because it feels like it would fit into the modern radio landscape, but I won't lie - there's part of me that's wishing more for a sequel to her debut.
Recommendation: Good, solid listen this week.

Artist: Allison Krauss
Album: Windy City
Quick Description: First solo album in nearly two decades from the modern bluegrass legend.
Why You Should Listen: Allison Krauss + country classics = a no-brainer.
Overall Thoughts: If you are approaching this assuming that a leopard has changed its spots, don't. This isn't the (admittedly awesome) Robert Plant collaboration, but instead a pretty standard and lovely love letter to classic country. This means there's not a ton to say in one regard, but Krauss is such a professional and knows her way around the Great Country Songbook well enough where this listen is not going to throw any curveballs your way.
Recommendation: A great listen, but don't expect any groundbreaking material here.

Artist: Nikki Lane
Album: Highway Queen
Quick Description: Latest album from the alt-country artist.
Why You Should Listen: Nikki Lane always brings it.
Overall Thoughts: This is Lane's third album, and it's just as good as her first two. Catchy songs with a bit of swagger to go with them, it just continues to surprise me that she doesn't get a lot more attention. The latest album does feel a little more adult and less rambunctious, maybe, but that's not a bad thing. It basically outshines a lot of stuff in the genre, and should absolutely be part of your listening anyway.
Recommendation: A must this week, even when we're overloaded with roots music.

Artist: The Orwells
Album: Terrible Human Beings
Quick Description: Some solid straightforward rock music.
Why You Should Listen: The Orwells are brutally consistent and underrated.
Overall Thoughts: I really enjoyed their previous album, but once it disappeared from my playlists I kind of forgot about them. This album was a clear and decisive reminder that it was a mistake, as this is another solid listen. It starts out strongly with "They Put a Body in the Bayou," and by the end I was ready to give it another spin. In an era where rock music is really not terribly interesting on a whole, where a lot of bands are trying to get away from the traditional stuff, it's great to hear The Orwells doing something that sounds fresh while still being traditional.
Recommendation: Should absolutely be part of your listening this week.

Artist: STL GLD
Album: Torch Song
Quick Description: Boston-based rap music wearing its politics on its sleeve.
Why You Should Listen: Timely topics, but solid rhymes and beats even if you're not on board with the message.
Overall Thoughts: STL GLD is a collaboration between Moe Pope, two-time Boston Music Award winner, and Arcitype, Boston Music Award winner for producing. The result is a really, really surprising effort that feels modern and mainstream with reach far beyond I-95. You'll get a good grasp on this album within the first few songs, but the entire thing is kind of revelatory, and if you're concerned by too much messaging, you'll find a lot to enjoy here.
Recommendation: Nearly my album of the week, a must listen.

Artist: Eisley
Album: I'm Only Dreaming
Quick Description: Newest album by the Texas indie rockers.
Why You Should Listen: The group retains its dreamlike tone while maturing as musicians.
Overall Thoughts: I remember seeing Eisley for the first time, most of the band weren't even adults yet but they were writing songs well beyond their years. They never quite took off the way I had hoped, but their new album is still full of the solid songwriting I loved when I first encountered them. There's definitely an increasing maturity with the songs which doesn't hurt, but this album definitely feels more solid than their more recent efforts. I'm impressed.
Recommendation: In a busy week, carve some time out.

Worth your time this week:

* Tall Tall Trees - Freedays (strange, compelling folk rock)
* Mr Tophat - From Another Dimension (another solid disco release)
* Son Volt - Notes of Blue (solid listen, might get lost in the country shuffle this week)
* Jens Lekman - Life Will See You Now (still kind of twee-ish, but his best in a while)
* The Courtneys - The Courtneys II (solid girl-fronted punkish rock, really enjoyed this)
* Mozart's Sister - Field of Love
* Strand of Oaks - Hard Love


Also out this week:

* Animal Collective - The Painters EP
* Neville Staple - Return of Judge Roughneck
* Hayes McMullan - Everyday Seem Like Murder Here

Ken's Most Anticipated Albums of 2017

Photo by Emily Ulmer

that dog.
Title and release date TBD
I've been a die hard That Dog. fan for over 20 years, to the point that I went to see them open up for the Foo Fighters way back in 1996. The band broke up in 1997, and reunited for a handful of reunion shows in 2011. Now, thanks to a Kickstarter that raised double what they were looking for, that dog. is set to release their first album in 19 years. Reunion albums, particularly ones where the band has taken almost two decades off, can be pretty iffy, but I'm staying hopeful on this one.

Ryan Adams
Prisoner, February 17
A new Ryan Adams album is always something we get excited for, but this one has a little more buzz for than usual. If you've ever been through a divorce, you start getting obsessed with other peoples' divorce stories. Prisoner is Ryan Adams' divorce album, recorded written as least partly during Adams' very high profile divorce from Mandy Moore. With song titles like "Do You Still Love Me?" and "Anything I Say to You Now," it could skew a little bit on the emo side of things, but I have faith in what Adams' can pull off here.

Sallie Ford
Soul Sick, February 10
Sallie Ford's newest album, and first with her new band, promises to be a great one. Part of me hates to say this, but I'm drawn to songs about personal struggles and difficulties. She has said that Soul Sick is about "... insecurity, anxiety, and depression." Ford's blend of modern, indie rock soul is already filled with her vulnerability. Soul Sick promises to be one of the best albums of 2017, and possibly Ford's career.

Crystal Fairy
Self-Titled, February 24
I love supergroups. There's just something so exciting about some of your favorite artists all coming together to make music together. Buzz Osborne of The Melvins is in more than his share of supergroups, but this time he's joining with Melvins' bandmate Dale Crover, Omar Rodriguez-Lopez of At the Drive In and The Mars Volta, and Teri Gender Bender of Le Butcherettes. Judging by their song "Drugs on the Bus," Crystal Fairy will be just as heavy, groovy, and trippy as you want them to be.

Salem Wolves
Tooth & Nail, release date TBD
We've been following Salem Wolves' for a while here at If It's Too Loud..., and every one of their singles has been something we've celebrated. This year they're finally going to release a full album, Tooth & Nail. An entire album filled with their trademark garage punk mixed with surf sounds like a dream. We're looking forward to anything Salem Wolves' put out this year.

First Listen: New Releases for September 25

A pretty stacked new release week this week.

Album of the Week:

Artist: CHVRCHES
Album: Every Open Eye
Quick Description: Sophomore effort by one of the most buzzed-about bands going right now.
Why You Should Listen: You found their version of synth-heavy indie rock appealing during their first album; you like staying on top of the trends.
Overall Thoughts: In a way, CHVRCHES couldn't win with this album. The anticipation was huge, the mythology behind things ever-growing. Somehow, some way, Every Open Eye improves upon the sound we all fell for while still feeling familiar and fresh. No sophomore slump here, and definitely the best releases of the week.
Recommendation: A must listen for all.

Artist: The Dead Weather
Album: Dodge and Burn
Quick Description: Latest outing from the Jack White rock side project.
Why You Should Listen: You've missed the heavy grit of The Dead Weather; you're totally into anything Jack White does.
Overall Thoughts: I loved loved loved the debut album from The Dead Weather, and had some trouble with their second album. I think this is definitely a return to form of sorts for this group, and while there isn't a song that jumps out and grabs me on first listen, there is a lot here to like and I'm definitely looking forward to spending more time with it.
Recommendation: A definite recommendation for this week.

Artist: Silversun Pickups
Album: Better Nature
Quick Description: Latest album from the well-known alt-rock
Why You Should Listen: You wish the Smashing Pumpkins just put out an album of their less inspired stuff.
Overall Thoughts: This is a disappointing album, and I say that having gone in with very low expectations. This is a band that was doing something interestingly derivative for their first couple albums, and now just come across as a shell of themselves. This is just not interesting and, ultimately, not worth your time.
Recommendation: Skip it.

Artist: Disclosure
Album: Caracal
Quick Description: Second album by the DJ duo.
Why You Should Listen: The first album did the trick for you; electronic DJ music is your thing.
Overall Thoughts: It's difficult to separate Disclosure from the rest of the EDM scene, and, while one can argue that they have a lot to do with its current popularity, the reality is that this album not only fails to break any new ground, but doesn't feel even a little unique for them. Settle had a ton going for it, this one feels more like it is going through the motions.
Recommendation: If you're into the genre, it's worth a listen, but be wary.

Artist: Julia Holter
Album: Have You In My Wilderness
Quick Description: Latest album from the off-center singer-songwriter.
Why You Should Listen: Challenging singer-songwriter music is your thing.
Overall Thoughts: Holter is known for being a little more difficult, and what stands out with Wilderness is how straightforward it is at times. This is not to call it mainstream by any means, but it loves the reverb, loves the musicality, and it just works. It's tough to describe, so give it a listen.
Recommendation: Worth a shot, you're likely to find something to love.

Artist: Big Grams
Album: Big Grams
Quick Description: Collaborative EP between Big Boi of Outkast and Phantogram.
Why You Should Listen: Look at who is collaborating on this! That should be enough to at least give a listen.
Overall Thoughts: In a sense, this is critic-proof. Even if this was terrible, the idea behind it is enough to give it some time. The good news? While not great, it's still pretty good and has some solid moments. Some will like this more than others, but it's worth it if only for the curiosity piece it may end up being in the long run.
Recommendation: Worth a listen.

Artist: Peaches
Album: Rub
Quick Description: First album in years from the electroclash favorite.
Why You Should Listen: Peaches is an automatic listen at this point.
Overall Thoughts: So, Peaches. If you've been into the offbeat music of the last 15 years or so, things like The Teaches of Peaches are one of those things you just know. It feels like it's been a while since we heard from her, and the new album is classic Peaches in some ways, and, honestly, kind of stale in others. I liked this, I wanted to love it.
Recommendation: Definitely add it to the rotation this week, but it might just make you want to go back to her older stuff.

Artist: Sexwitch
Album: Sexwitch
Quick Description: A side project of sorts featuring Bat for Lashes, Dan Carey, and others.
Why You Should Listen: Bat for Lashes is the impetus behind this, and she's always worth a listen.
Overall Thoughts: This is a strange album, but it's kind of meant to be a strange album. It's some sort of collection of one-offs and songwriting ideas that are sometimes fully formed and sometimes don't feel like it. Ultimately a fans-only affair, I think.
Recommendation: Be wary. I like Bat for Lashes and didn't love this.

Artist: Level & Tyson
Album: Gruesome Twosome
Quick Description: Are we ready for retro-indie rock that sounds like it's from the early 2000s? If so, here you go.
Why You Should Listen: You're ready for that hit of nostalgia and appreciate good indie pop.
Overall Thoughts: Level & Tyson would be my favorite band if it were 2003. That's the best way to describe this - it's got a lot of the indie rock feel of the early 2000s, especially early Beulah in some places, and the album just works. Maybe my second favorite album of the week, it's just a winner across the board and I hope it has some staying poiwer.
Recommendation: Highly recommended.

Artist: Jill Andrews
Album: The War Inside
Quick Description: Latest album from the singer-songwriter who has slowly been building a following over the years.
Why You Should Listen: Female singer songwriters are your thing; you appreciate a well-crafted pop-folk song.
Overall Thoughts: It's hard to categorize Jill Andrews these days, as she's moving away a bit from the more rootsy stuff, but people will find this very reminiscent of some favorites here (especially like Amanda Shires in some regards). I think Andrews might be poised for a breakthrough, so I do recommend checking this one out.
Recommendation: A great listen this week.

Artist: Ricked Wicky
Album: King Heavy Metal
Quick Description: Another weird project from Guided by Voices's Robert Pollard.
Why You Should Listen: You already know the answer, and it's based on how much Robert Pollard you can tolerate.
Overall Thoughts: I don't know if this will win him any new fans, but you probably know for sure whether you like the insane level of output Pollard offers.
Recommendation: Fans only on this one.

Artist: New Order
Album: Music Complete
Quick Description: Tenth album from the 1980s synth rock band.
Why You Should Listen: You like New Order; you're not done with nostalgia-type acts.
Overall Thoughts: Ken wasn't hot on this but I found a lot to like here. There's nothing here that's going to scream "return to form" or have the impact of their early, post-Joy Division work, but in terms of albums from longtime acts, this is actually pretty solid. In a strong new release week, this might get overlooked, but if you have the time, add it to your rotation.
Recommendation: I liked this a lot and definitely recommend.

Artist: Ryan Adams
Album: 1989
Quick Description: Ryan Adams doing Taylor Swift's latest.
Why You Should Listen: It's a cool gimmick that works.
Overall Thoughts: Ryan Adams, as prolific as ever, was once rumored to have done the entirety of the Strokes album This is It as a blues album. This is basically a Ryan Adams reimagining of Taylor Swift, and, while I only know a couple of the singles, this could pass as a credible Ryan Adams album if we wanted it to. That's how good this is, and your enjoyment of this will either come from who is covering it or who it covers. If this concept makes you glance sideways at the whole thing, skip it, but otherwise...
Recommendation: Definitely a strange, weird, worthwhile listen.

First Listen: New Releases for September 9

I hope you like indie rock, because there's a lot of indie rock out this week.

Karen O - Crush Songs: Karen O essentially branches out solo to share what sound like basement tapes of song fragments. While "Singalong" is close to a complete piece, this is really not an interesting record unless you're really into Karen O and/or The Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Interpol - El Pintor: Interpol fell off my radar somewhere around a decade ago. Nothing significantly against them, it's more that they didn't feel like anything new or fresh was coming, and, frankly, I thought Editors started doing Interpol better. So El Pintor is being described by some as a return to form, and, well, I can at least say that I'm enjoying this particular Interpol record more than the previous ones I've listened to. It feels dark and mysterious in ways their first couple albums did, but, at least on first listen, it lacks that killer track like "Obstacle 1" or "Evil." It's worth a listen, and I'll give it another shot for sure.

Ryan Adams - Ryan Adams: The often-prolific Ryan Adams has a new album out weeks after releasing an EP of sorts, and I will preface this by saying that I really liked my first exposure to this album. Ryan Adams has really grown as a performer and songwriter, and it shows here. If there's a downside, it's almost as if Ryan Adams is morphing into a sort of combination Mark Knopfler/Tom Petty as he gets older, and it's just a little jarring to hear from time to time. This album, though, has a lot of potential to have some staying power, so it's worth a listen to see where he's taking his roots-tinged rock this go 'round.

Avi Buffalo - At Best Cuckold: Avi Buffalo made a bit of a splash with their debut album 4 years ago, although "What's It In For" was really the standout track with a lot of extras. With the lead singer/songwriter being only 19, it explains a lot about the tone and content of the album on a whole, and thus the progression into this album, which is a giant step ahead for the band. The songs feel more complete, the album more cohesive, and while I liked it quite a bit, I know 23 year old Jeff would have loved this. A solid indie rock album from start to finish, even with flaws.

Tennis - Ritual in Repeat: One of my favorite releases for this week, Tennis has stepped up their game considerably since Cape Dory. I realized, upon looking up the information for this release, that I apparently missed their second album or it left no impression, but I really loved this one. The production value is up, the songwriting quality has been raised, and there's a ton to love here. If you enjoy somewhat-retro sounding indie pop, this is an album you must check out this week.

Sloan - Commonwealth: Imagine my surprise upon learning that Sloan has been at this for 23 years. Commonwealth, their eleventh album, is less power pop and more comfortable pop rock, but it still brings some quality throughout. I can't say there's anything immediately memorable (outside of the super-long final track), but, at the same time, you'll be hard-pressed to find much else negative to say about this album. Sloan is still pretty great, and that's what matters.

Banks - Goddess: Arguably the most anticipated release of the week, Banks has a debut album that falls well in line with Lana Del Ray, Lorde, and the like - the sort of understated, hazy pop music that keeps the singer at a distance while still the focus of attention. I enjoyed the new Lana Del Ray album, but I might be persuaded to argue that this is better. There are more musical and production chances taken here, and when it works well, it really works. Whether this has the musical staying power of Del Ray's latest remains to be seen, but consider me pleasantly surprised so far.

Death From Above 1979 - The Physical World: Ken and I disagree on this one. He warned me that it was boring, but, for me, it felt exactly like I hoped the new DFA1979 album would sound. Even though the sort of sound they peddle stopped being cool about 8 years ago, there's a sense of urgency and emotion present in the album that I was afraid wouldn't be there, and the standout tracks had me dancing in my seat a bit. It's not as good as their first album, but that wasn't ever going to happen. This is absolutely worth your time, and is a standout release for the week.

The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger - Long Gone: Sean Lennon's project dropped a surprise EP this week that includes a cover of a Syd Barrett tune and some odds and sods from the Midnight Sun sessions. It's just okay, but there might be some highlights or so in here if you're really into this project.

Justin Townes Earle - Single Mothers: I've never been able to get into Justin Townes Earle at all, but his fifth album finally had something click for me. This is a great, rootsy folk record with a lot of catchy hooks and worthwhile songs throughout, to the point where I really feel like I'll be going back to hear more soon. Definitely a highlight of the week, and I can't believe we're both older than him here - he sounds like a throwback of the best kind.

Hiss golden Messenger - Lateness of Dancers: Speaking of artists that I haven't been able to get into, Hiss Golden Messenger's Merge debut is another solid album along the same veins. Perhaps more folky than the JTE album, with lots of Bob Dylan channeling, it's still one that hooked me in rather quickly in ways I didn't expect. A solid release this week, and one you shouldn't miss.

Loudon Wainwright III - Haven't Got the Blues (Yet): I always feel like I'm copping out with this, but it's always nice when you get a new album from a long-established act and it's what you expect. Wainwright doesn't try to be anything he isn't here, and the songs are equally catchy and quirky throughout (with "I'll Be Killing You (This Christmas)" surely becoming a new staple in my holiday mixes), so there aren't any surprises. Another quality outing.

Better Than Ezra - All Together Now: Better Than Ezra is back with their first album in 5 years, and the early 1990s alt-rock stalwarts have really put together a surprisingly fun album. There's a lot here that sounds radio-ready, and yeah, it has some eye-rolly moments as well, but BTE is certainly trying to prove they're not a nostalgia act just yet, and you can tell it works from the opening song. If you had an affinity for their first couple albums, this is absolutely worth a listen. At the very least, you'll come out with a few earworms.

Ballet School - The Dew Lasts an Hour: This group has been making the music blog rounds for some time now, and I was really anticipating this album. It's...a strange one. I really like it even though it seems to have some purposeful choices that I don't love. It feels indie in a lot of ways, which is a benefit, but much of the album sounds alike, which is a drawback. There's enough here to feel optimistic about what's coming down the pike for this duo, but for now, it's worth a listen at least, especially if you like indie electro stuff.




Also out this week:

* Robert Plant - Lullaby and the Ceaseless Roar
* Chris Thile and Edgar Meyer - Bass & Mandolin