If It's Too Loud...

Sarah Shook & The Disarmers hit such a sweet spot for me. Their latest album, Sidelong , is a collection of fun, dark, whiskey soaked country punk tunes. If the definition of outlaw country is too rock n roll for country and too country for rock n roll, Sidelong spits in both genres' faces and does whatever they feel like. You'll get enough twang to satisfy your country itch along with enough attitude to chase away the hokeyness the classic country twang can bring along. That's what is so great about Sarah Shook & The Disarmers: Most bands go too far into the classic country thing and become almost cartoonish copies of what classic country is supposed to be. This band goes that far, but play music far too badass for that foolishness. Songs of note: "Keep the Home Fires Burnin'," "The Nail," and "Fuck Up."

Today is packed with highly anticipated album releases. For us, one of the most anticipated releases of all is the latest from Sarah Shook + The Disarmers, Sidelong . This morning I woke up to an email from NoiseT r ade offering me some free music from Sarah Shook & The Disarmers. Songs From Sidelong + More  includes three songs from Sidelong  as well as three songs from Sarah Shook's 2013 solo album, Seven.  We've been raving about the songs we've heard so far from Sidelong . Her deep down country sound mixed with punk and indie rock resonates hard for us. I had never heard anything from her solo album, so being able to hear a few songs from that release is welcome. Those three are more traditional alt-country. Sidelong is the album that sets Sarah Shook & The Disarmers up as a completely unique sound. You can get your copy of Songs From Sidelong + More  over at Noisetrade . After listening to these songs, you're going to want to get your own copy of Sid...

Photo by poprockphotography "The Nail" is the song for people who say they love real country. It's a rollicking, rambling song about a terrible relationship filled with lots of arguing and drinking that you know is going to end, you just don't know who will end it first. But it's fun and exciting, so you stick with it for now. As with all good country, "The Nail" is fun sounding but lyrically it's depressing as can be. Plus, it fits right into the standard definition of outlaw country since it's probably a little too rocking for country and a little too country for rock. Plus, Sarah Shook's voice, while it does have a great twang to it, is a little too rough for country and would probably fit in better with an indie rock band. But, for those of us raised on indie rock who slowly grew to accept and love country in adulthood, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers couldn't be more perfect. You can listen to "The Nail" below, along ...

Photo by poprockphotography Country punk is kind of a thing right now, combining the twang of country with the attitude of punk. But no one is quite doing the country punk (or alt country, or outlaw country) thing quite like Sarah Shook & The Disarmers. "Keep the Home Fires Burnin'" is definitely not mainstream country. There's far too much old school twang without it being old timey. The obvious comparison would be their label mate Lydia Loveless, but while Loveless has more of a punk attitude, Shook has this odd 90s indie rock sensibility. Think Guided By Voices going country. For quite possibly the first time, "Keep the Home Fires Burnin'" has guitars that both twang and fuzz.  Sarah Shook & The Disarmers' first record for Bloodshot Records, Sidelong , will be out on April 28. You can listen to "Keep the Home Fires Burnin'" below. To pre-order Sidelong , go to Bloodshot Records . For more on Sarah Shook & The Disa...