If It's Too Loud...

Every now and then an artist absolutely nails a song, and that's the case with the latest from Ali McGuirk. The singer-songwriter just released a single called "Graveyard," and it's a stunning soulful track that has an oddly trippy quality to it. There are the main elements of a soul and blues song within "Graveyard," but then McGuirk goes off in a thrilling direction that almost but not quite noise rock. I hate referring to a song called "Graveyard" as haunting, but sometimes it just fits. It's also an impeccably captivating song that will almost demand a second and third listen as soon as your first is over. If you weren't already excited for her album that's due later this week, you will be in four minutes and twenty-one seconds. Ali McGuirk says of her latest single: "'Graveyard' was inspired by a conversation with Canyon Lights front man Pat about songwriting, and all the little ideas that we leave behind, to be uncomp...

If you've considered Ali McGuirk to be a laid back soul and/or folk artist, buckle up for her latest single. "Exorcist" is a fiery blues rocker with nothing even remotely laid back. It's about as heavy as a mid-tempo song can be, with killer guitar solos almost throughout the entire song. It's not quite a headbanger, but it's pretty damn close. About halfway through, I had to check to make sure I was playing the right song, since "Exorcist" defies my expectations I have with McGuirk. The second thing I did was check out her current tour dates since I have an intense need to hear this song live. We've been fans of hers for a while now, and "Exorcist" shows off a side of Ali McGuirk we were unfamiliar with, and when it sounds like this, that's hardly a bad thing. Ali McGuirk says of her latest single: "In writing this song, I wrote myself an actual exorcism. Righteous anger. Trauma. Betrayal.  Feminine rage. Thought systems that ...