If It's Too Loud...

Artist : screensaver Album : Decent Shapes Quick Thoughts : I love love love this album. It's like an 80s gothic dance party with a 2010s gloss, or Sleater-Kinney dressed as Morphine or Oh-OK for Halloween, and I loved it so much, from start to finish. This largely came out of nowhere for me this week, and it's not one to be missed - it balances a conceptual narrative through a tracklisting that doesn't overstay its welcome, and I'll be honest, it feels near-perfect. It's not just one of the best of the week, but this is shooting up my best of the year list. It's that good. A mandatory listen this week. Songs of Note : "Red Lines," "The Guilt," "Party Interest," "Drainer," "Cancellation Notice" Artist : SPARKLE DIVISION Album : FOXY Quick Thoughts : In the last few years I have become semi-obsessed with the ambient compositions of William Basinski without knowing that he also dabbles in a jazz-ish band,...

We absolutely loved Steph Green's single "Next Place" and her album Thanks for That , so we're thrilled to get new music from her. Her latest single, "Take a Walk," is this odd but perfect mix of garage rock and country. It has that ramblin' country/folk feel, but in a garage rock song. It's a song led by lap steel and Green's vocals. In the press release, it's described as "... a song suitable for literally taking a walk to," and that somehow fits this one perfectly. It's the perfect song for just taking a walk just for the sake of taking a walk. You're not going anywhere, and you're not trying to get your steps in for the day. You're just going to "Take a Walk." You can listen to "Take a Walk" below. Lore is out October 20 on Mashed Potato Records. For more on Steph Green, check out the artist's website .

Artist : Jamestown Revival Album : Young Man Quick Thoughts : I didn't know Jamestown Revival before this week, and my goodness am I glad I tripped up on this. This is Americana that grabs you right from the start and keeps you entranced from start to finish. This definitely jumps around a bit while keeping its rootsy base, but the end result is a collection of sticky songs that I'm looking forward to going back to. Songs of Note : "Coyote," "Young Man," "Slow It Down" Artist : Punch Brothers Album : Hell on Church Street Quick Thoughts : A tribute album of sorts to Tony Rice's Church Street Blues , this is your typical excellent effort from Chris Thile and Punch Brothers. The musicality is off the charts, you know more of these songs you think you do, and it's just a well-crafted effort from top to bottom. Their take on "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" in particular is worth hearing. Songs of Note : "The Wreck...

Photo by Costello. Steph Green came to our attention since she played steel guitar on Pony Hunt's "That Feelin'" earlier this year. We love that song (and Pony Hunt's album), so of course we're going to check out Steph Green's solo work! "Next Place" has some similarities to Pony Hunt. They both have a little bit of a crooner meets modern indie vibe to them, but while Pony Hunt goes a little more on the folk side, Green goes more 90's indie rock. Green's vocal delivery on "Next Place" has this wonderfully odd mixture of doo wop meets slacker. Musically the song has crunching slacker guitars that are just slightly off kilter. The whole thing feels like a band like Pavement being fronted by Julia Jacklin or Molly Burch. You can watch the video for "Next Place" below. Thanks for That is due out January 14 on Mashed Potato Records. For more on Steph Green, check out the artist's website .