If It's Too Loud...

Album of the Week : Artist : Stephen Malkmus Album : Groove Denied Quick Description : New album from the Pavement frontman. Why You Should Listen : Stephen Malkmus has earned the right to do what he wants at this point. Overall Thoughts : At least when Radiohead went weird, they didn’t try to alienate most listers right out of the gate. If you can get past the first track of Groove Denied , however, you’re in for a real treat. Malkmus’s output over the decades has always been a strange mixed bag even if it’s perpetually compelling, and this album is the vision of a man just spreading his wings as much as he wants and presenting the results. Sort of a Kraftwerk via the American West Coast amalgam of ideas and concepts through much-to-most of the affair, this is not going to have the sort of wide appeal of his early solo work or the indie smart takes of the most hardcore of Pavement enthusiasts. This is a bizarre record, but it’s also kind of brilliant and really works as long...

First big new release day of 2017, so let's dive in! Album of the Week : Artist : The xx Album : I See You Quick Description : Long-awaited third album from the minimalist electronic act. Why You Should Listen : The xx has always been essential, and this might be their best yet. Overall Thoughts : My first thought on listening to this was that it felt departure-like. The album still has its minimalist tendencies, but with some different sounds and tones it feels new and fresh while still having the same overall vibe. I figured I'd like this, but I kept being impressed throughout my first listen, and this is absolutely something I'll be revisiting as soon as possible. Recommendation : A must-listen for any music fan this week. Artist : The Flaming Lips Album : Oczy Mlody Quick Description : Latest album by the always-getting-weirder alt-rock group. Why You Should Listen : Even when they fail, it's an interesting failure. Overall Thoughts : The Flaming L...