Finneas, Optimist

Back in 2019, Finneas Baird O'ConnellI released the wonderful EP, Blood Harmony. It went mostly unnoticed, which was not surprising, as it came out on the heals of his sister Billie Eilish's When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? which he produced. Since then, Finneas has gone on to write and produce for many well known artists and has collected eight Grammys. Now, two years later, Finneas has once again written and produced for himself and has released his first proper album.

As the title suggest, Finneas is feeling rather optimistic these days, though as he shared in a recent NME interview, it does not come easy. “Maybe some people are really naturally optimistic, but to me, it’s a choice that you can make. The most pessimistic version of me works the least hard and is the least hopeful and helpful because I think things are going to fail. The version of me that I wish I always was is the optimistic, helpful, positive me, which is aspirational for me. There’s a lot of reason to be pessimistic in the world but you can still choose to be like, ‘We shouldn’t really give up on this.'" And Finneas is not giving up. He is doubling down on the opposite. 

There seems to be two clear camps of music reviews for Optimist. Those who think it's great and those that think that it is mediocre. I for one think that it is great. Optimist is modern pop at its best and Finneas an amazing artist and producer that understands that sometimes less is more in this age of over-hyped and over-produced music. 

Dori Freeman, Ten Thousand Roses

I've been a big fan of Appalachian born Dori Freeman since I first heard her sophomore album, Letters Never Read. I was immediately taken by every aspect of Freeman's music and musicianship. More than most artists that I have experienced, Freeman just presents herself with such genuineness and authenticity. I honestly cannot recall another artist who's strength, confidence, and humbleness can be sensed and felt simultaneously in their music.   

Working with an expanded band that includes her husband, drummer and producer Nickolas Falk, Freeman finds a new musical footing on her latest album, Ten Thousand Roses. It's one that is a joy to hear and experience as it brings sonic textures to her music that make Freeman's songs, with their sharp and thoughtful lyrics and wonderful melodies and choruses, pop and soar. For those familiar with Freeman, it's about as far away from Ern & Zorry's Sneakin' Bitin' Dog as she can get. But musically I will say that Freeman is in exactly the right place right now and I hope that Ten Thousand Roses introduces Freeman to a wider audience.

Shelter Boy, Failure Familiar

After ten years as the guitarist for Still Trees, Simon Graupner, felt that it was time to step out on his own. Under the moniker Shelter Boy, Graupner releasing a few singles starting in 2018 and an EP in 2019. Now, Graupner has released his debut album, Failure Familiar.  

Graupner has said that his solo work draws on inspiration from the Beatles, Oasis, Stone Roses, and J Dilla. While I certainly can hear bits of these artists in Graupner's work, he certainly does not lean into them too much, which is a good thing. Interestingly enough, he has been compared more to artists like Mac DeMarco and King Krule. I suspect because of his vocal style.

On Failure Familiar, what Graupner does lean into is sharing his failures and insecurities. But almost as quickly, he embraces the notion of keeping going and not letting them get the better of himself. Set against a musical back drop that feels lighthearted and almost joyous, you can't help but want to get behind Graupner and help make Failure Familiar more....familiar to more people. I know that I will certainly will be....as I am right now.

Deafheaven, Infinite Granite

Deafheaven's Infinite Granite may be the most surprising album that I have heard so far this year. Formed as a black metal band, Deafheaven have challenged themselves and their fans over the years, shifting musical directions as they toned down the screaming and heart pounding double-kicks and blast beats for more melodic overtones and a more shoegazing-like sound. 

Now, with their fifth album Infinite Granite, the band completes their musical evolution and transformation, fully abandoning their earlier sound and fully embracing a shoegazing one. As George Clarke's soft and melodic vocals float over an ethereal wall of sound, I find it impossible to associate this band with their younger self. It's a stunning transformation and the result is their most exciting album to date.

Nanci Griffith, RIP

The great Nanci Griffith passed away today at the age of 69. She was and will always be one of the great folk singer-songwriters of her generation....And one of my favorite musical artists. While I could call out so many of her albums, I want to mostly thank Nanci for Flyer, which has been a road-trip companion of mine for many, many years. RIP Nanci. You will be missed. 

Billie Ellish, Happier Than Ever

A lot has been written about Billie Ellish's new album, Happier Than Ever, the follow up to her massively popular, critically acclaimed smash hit album When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?. As you can imagine, the expectations for a second Ellish album were just enormous. From my perspective, they were much-to-much to be put on any musician let alone a nineteen year old.

For me, as some who really liked, but did not love Ellish's debut album, I was more curious than anything else to see the musical direction that she and her producer-brother Finneas would take with a second album. My curiosity was heightened when I heard her James Bond movie theme single, No Time To Die. Boy, did I like it.

Now, with more glowing reviews in than I can count, and sitting on top the Billboard charts, it does appear that Ellish has another massively popular, critically acclaimed smash hit album on her hands. And rightfully so. Happier Than Ever sees Ellish having grown and matured as singer, song-writer, and generally speaking, as an artist in leaps and bounds over just a two year period. It's really quite astonishing. While I am not one to rate albums or music in general, I will say that Happier Than Ever is an outstanding album and one definitely not to be missed.