If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Beth Saravo Part of Sa-Rock's upcoming tour with Rah Digga is celebrating fifty years of hip hop, and her latest single is pure classic hip hop. "Talk to Me Nice" sounds like it was released in the early 90's. It has more in common with artists like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul than anything being made in 2023. Most modern hip hop is more of a hybrid form with pop and electronic music. "Talk to Me Nice" is just hip hop. It's amazing how fresh a song can sound by reaching back into the past like this. Sa-Roc also has this flow that's irresistible. It somehow has the force of rappers like Chuck D and KRS-One with the laid back charm of Snoop Dogg. This is an artist you're going to want to keep a close eye on. You can watch the video for "Talk to Me Nice" below. The song is available as a single via Rhymesayers Entertainment. For more on Sa-Roc, check out the artist's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the video. 8...

An odd week... Artist : Bonnie Whitmore Album : Last Will & Testament Quick Description : Latest album from the country-adjacent folkie. Why You Should Listen : Whitmore has a fairly unique approach. Overall Thoughts : I liked Bonnie Whitmore's last album quite a bit, and this new album feels a little quieter, a little more introspective, maybe? The songwriting is strong and it's a pretty solid listen this week on a whole. Recommendation : Give this a listen. Artist : Anne Malin Album : Waiting Song Quick Description : Unique, fragile folk. Why You Should Listen : In some ways, this feels like it comes from some distant forest dimension rather than from here. Overall Thoughts : This is a band that isn't going to sound like anything else this week, this month, or at all lately. This surprised me from the very start, and I kept finding little bits that I enjoyed throughout. This will be a weird comparison, but I'm reading a gothic horror book right n...