Lav's Music Corner

This weekend is Bonnaroo and like I so often do I'm attaching some rapid-fire reviews to celebrate. Because I've already covered a handful of artists in the lineup I ended up with one record I was going to cover anyway, one I wasn't planning on but don't mind trying, and one I don't really want to cover at all. You'll know which one is which. Joy'All  - Jenny Lewis While at a glance her output may not look as essential as some of her peers, Jenny Lewis has always been beloved by those in the know. More musicians gush over her talent, input, and influence than fans and critics can really even get a grasp for which is why every time she gears up to drop some new material I'm interested.Another reason is despite not completely adoring every one of the record's singles, they do add up to quite a compelling bit. The best of the bunch is Giddy Up  an eerier song than I thought Jenny had in her but one that translates that unsettling energy into dignified r...

5.  MOTHERLESS  - Killer Mike While all of Mike's new singles have been blunt, this one is straightforward in a different way with a hook that lays out the exact caliber of trauma that he's working through in song. While the sparse beat and occasional gospel interpolations do come off as pretty light, they're all in service of a worthwhile journey of self-reflection. Listen 4.  Momentary Actuality  - Pupil Slicer The closer we get to this new Pupil Slicer album the more and more I become convinced that it might be one of my favorite metal records of the year. This new track has a strong dichotomy of blistering verses marked by switch-ups in instrumental speed and intensity but pays it off with a dystopian-sounding hook that chills things in the absolute best way.  Listen 3.  Giddy Up  - Jenny Lewis If you think you've got Jenny Lewis' sound pinned down this song is here to come along and tell you she's got more versatility than you're expecting. While ...

On time edition! 5.  Cure For Love  - Ellie Goulding For the first time in this new era I can say for certain, this new Ellie Goulding song is kind of a banger. It's a super dancy little pop number that won't do anything you haven't heard before but I'll say the stripped-down pre-chorus expanding into a fully realized shimmering catchy vision is an effect that still works on me.  Listen 4.  Until I Know  - Panchiko The fact that Panchiko is refusing to feel burdened by the extremely unique set of circumstances that caused their popularity is a bit of a double-edged sword for the band. While this slightly nocturnal piece of indie rock is certainly a solid song that continues to tease towards an album I'm legitimately anticipating, it also feels like yet another act that blew up on something unique then turned their back on it. If there was ever a situation where a band can be forgiven for that though, it's Panchiko. Listen 3.  Psychos  - Jenny Lewis Jen...

Jenny Lewis is an American singer-songwriter who gained icon status in the indie music scene for numerous fantastic solo projects, her work as the front-woman for Rilo Kiley and her one time collaboration with The Postal Service. The last time we heard from her in studio album capacity was five years ago when she dropped her Ryan Adams produced 3rd solo studio album, the critically acclaimed The Voyager. After dropping three well received singles in the lead up to this albums release the indie community at large is excited for whatever Jenny has to offer.  Review By Lavender: I would consider myself more of a fan of Jenny Lewis than most indie fans, attributed at large to my love of her 2014 solo album The Voyager and a very soft spot in my heart for her backing vocal work on The Postal Service's Give Up , but I probably wasn't the most excited to hear this album I could have been. Even though I came away from all the singles positive I had a sense that a full length al...