If It's Too Loud...

Artist : Nabinah Iqbal Album : DREAMER Quick Thoughts : This album literally made me gasp. I thought it was a solid ambient effort, and then the noisy shoegazey songs came in, and the way that this jumps between concepts and ideas and musical... everything. Wow. It just works, and in a really gorgeous and surprising way. LOVED this album, do not skip it. Songs of Note : "Dreamer," "Sunflower" Artist : Braids Album : Euphoric Recall Quick Thoughts : I've been a fan of Braids for ages, and this latest album feels like a pop-ish turn for the electronic act. It really works well, with the opening track setting the tone for an album with great song after great song. If you haven't gotten into Braids yet, this is as good as any a place to start. Songs of Note : "Supernova," "Evolution," "Millennia" Artist : Indigo de Souza Album : All of This Will End Quick Thoughts : The problem with streaming music and not spending a...

Photo by Frances Carter Tiny Ruins, the musical project of New Zealand's Hollie Fullbrook, is back with a new single, "Dorothy Bay." The band's upcoming album, Ceremony, is comprised of songs making up chapters of a saga set on Tamaki Makaaurau's Manukau Harbor. "Dorothy Harbor" mixes Fullbrook's Neil Young influence with the current crop of indie rock meets indie pop musicians coming out of New Zealand and Australia these days. It's the kind of song that feels like floating, with fuzzy guitars combining with Fullbrook's vocals to create something beautiful and more than a little melancholy. As downbeat as the song can be, there is a strong bassline that adds an unexpected groove to it. This is a fascinating and captivating new single that's going to have you dying to hear the rest of the album.  You can watch the video for "Dorothy Bay" below. Ceremony is due out April 28 on Ba Da Bing. The album can be pre-ordered here . For m...

Another great week! Albums of the Week : Artist : Cherry Glazerr Album : Stuffed & Ready Quick Description : Highly-anticipated third album from the alt/indie act. Why You Should Listen : This should be the breakthrough we're waiting for. Overall Thoughts : If it wasn’t clear from the videos and the prerelease singles, this may be the album that is designed to propel CG into stardom. They’ve deserved it for some time now, with a lot of really great songs under their belt up to this point, but “Wasted Nun” ( which I’m still obsessed with ) was a shot across the bow, and the album doesn’t let up off the gas. “That’s Not My Real Life” is a real highlight, and album cuts feel more polished while still retaining the flair that made CG so appealing to start. Do not sleep on this – not only is there plenty of room on the bandwagon, but I have a feeling we will be hearing a lot about CG in 2019. Recommendation : A best of the week, and a must-listen. Artist : STL GLD Al...

Photo by Georgie Craw Adding to the insane amount of great music coming from New Zealand lately is Tiny Ruins. "Olympic Girls" is squarely planted in our current favorite genre of music: Equally in the worlds of both indie rock and neo-Americana. There are strong elements of roots music, but the instrumentation pulls it away from folk a bit and indie the realm of indie rock. It also includes just the slightest hints of Celtic music, particularly in Hollie Fullbrook's vocals. It's generally a straightforward song with these odd and interesting flourishes that keep sucking you right in. You can watch the video for "Olympic Girls" below. Olympic Girls , the album, will be released on February 1 via Ba Da Bing. It's Tiny Ruins's third album but first American release, and can be pre-ordered here . For more on Tiny Ruins, check out their website .