If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Aileen Lam Lucid Express are quickly becoming one of our favorite bands with a classic shoegaze sound. The Hong Kong band just released a new single, "Faux Sweetness." The new song has all of the fuzz and warmth we want with classic shoegaze, even though it leans into the poppier side of the genre. Despite how we music writers tend to feel about saying something is poppy, in the case of "Faux Sweetness" it's an asset. It only helps make the song even more lovely, and it's only poppy in the way a band like My Bloody Valentine had some songs that were poppy. If you love shoegaze and would like to see the classic version moved into the modern era, Lucid Express are going to be a godsend for you. Vocalist Kim Ho says of the new single: "o n 'Faux Sweetness' we return to some of our earliest indie pop influences while also mixing in some of the darker sounds we've picked up over years of experimenting in our studio space. It kind of led ...

Photo by Jackie Freeman Vermont's Robber Robber keep defying our expectations with every single they release. Their latest single, "The Sound It Made," still fits into the indie rock meets post-punk sound we love of theirs, but it veers off wildly. While previous releases of theirs have had a dance friendly element to them, this latest single leaps into dance music. It's still rock based, but "The Sound It Made" owes a lot to the electronic music and drum and bass of the 90's. It sort of sounds like Gang of Four filtered through The Prodigy and Roni Size. Robber Robber have crafted such an interesting and unique sound, which happens to be something that we love here at If It's Too Loud... You can watch the video for "The Sound It Made" below. Two Wheels Move the Soul is due out April 3 on Fire Talk Recordings, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Robber Robber, check out the band on Instagram . Upcoming tour dates are below the...

For their latest single, Big Richard have chosen to cover David Olney's 1991 song "Millionaire." It's a very faithful version of Olney's original, with Big Richard's being just a little more bluegrass. Decades later, a song about greed is only more timely, with maybe the only edit needed would be upgrading it to "Billionaire." The line about owning the President feels especially timely in 2026. The cover feels a little more desperate and angry than the 1991 version, which fits the times we currently exist in. "Millionaire" is a great single, and a perfect new release for Big Richard. We're definitely looking forward to their soon to be released album. Bonnie Sims (mandolin and guitar) says of her band's upcoming album: “Big Richard is so much about our energetic delivery, and so I think it's been really important for us as a group to figure out how to do that for a record." You can listen to "Millionaire" below. P...

Photo by Future Pilot Art/Sushil K Dade Radhika is Scottish dream pop band consisting of Radhika Meera Dade, Sushil K Dade/Future Pilot, and Eric MacDonald. The trio has a new track out that features Gerard Love (Lightships/ex-Teenage Fanclub) and Mitch Mitchell (The Pastels). "Starry Eyes" is pure, classic dream pop. While much of the modern genre is heavier on the pop side, Radhika sound more like dream pop from the 90's. It's filled with dreamlike, swirling guitars, and surrounds you like a warm embrace. The song is almost impossibly lush and beautiful while still being a rock song. "Starry Eyes" is jaw-droppingly great, and is guaranteed to make you an instant Radhika superfan. Radhika Meera Dade says of the band's latest single: "I was looking through some old black and white pictures with my grandmother Soma and she said in a soft voice ‘I miss my mother’. This gentle intergenerational exchange was the starting point for Starry Eyes. The words...

Photo by Prashin Jagger Hailing from Bombay, India, Pacifist have one last single out before their new EP is released Friday. "Skunk Leather" is an example of post-hardcore at its finest. It's a hard and heavy song oozing with melody. At times the vocals almost lean into a more pop territory, but it never quite gets there. The guitarwork in "Skunk Leather" is what truly wins the listener over. It takes nearly a minute before any vocals kick in, but you'll be fully invested in the song long before you hear a single word. Pacifist are a worthy successor to long time favorites like Drive Like Jehu and At the Drive In. You can listen to "Skunk Leather" below. five is due out January 16. For more on Pacifist, check out the band on Instagram and Bandcamp .

Photo by Colin Medley We've been looking forward to the upcoming album from cootie catcher, and the Toronto band's latest single has not changed that at all. "Puzzle Pop" fits nicely into the indie rock meets indie pop sound the band has crafted on previous singles "Gingham Dress" and "Straight Drop." It's upbeat and breezy, but I'm also sensing some melancholy on this one. Plus, there's this interesting point where they loop and sample themselves, giving the whole song an oddly quirky feel. More than the previous singles, "Puzzle Pop" has a roots music vibe to match with the indie rock/pop sound. This is an interesting little song that's going to win cootie catcher over some fans, and get all of us even more excited for their upcoming full length. Singer/guitarist Nolan Jakupovski says of the band's new single: “It’s a song about how I should ask more from people but I don’t." You can watch the video for "Pu...

Photo by Leila-Mae Rummery congratulations are one of those bands that are thrilling for music writers, since they don't quite sound like anyone out there. Of course, that drives us crazy since it's very difficult to describe them. Their latest single, "Dr. Doctor," is heavy on funk and post-punk. It's undeniably dance friendly without sounding like any dance music out there. This is a killer party jam, even if most people would describe it as "weird." And it is weird, in a gloriously fun and creative way. Most bands that are this fun aren't creative, but luckily for us all congratulations were never told that. The band says of their latest single: "When we made this album, one of our main goals was idiosyncrasy - whilst we draw on a lot of influences, I truly believe no one could make this song but us. This song is for everyone trapped inside their own head, spiralling and catastrophising - we feel you. Just avoid this particular Doctor." ...

I don't feel right about describing, critiquing, or explaining the latest single from Buffalo Tom's Bill janovitz (for reasons that will become completely obvious once you listen), so I'm just going to use what Janovitz himself says about the song on its Bandcamp page. "I was working on this when Renee Good was murdered. I changed the lyrics in the first two verses. Proceeds will be donated to the ACLU Legal Defense Fund. I took the photo at a peaceful weekly protest that takes place outside the ICE detention center in Burlington, MA." You can listen to "Bravehearted" below. The song is available now via Bandcamp . For more on Bill Janovitz, check out the artist's website . Bravehearted by Bill Janovitz

Photo by Isaac Barnes The rap renaissance of 2025 is continuing in 2026, and one of the releases we're most looking forward to is the upcoming mixtape from .idk.. For his latest single, he's enlisted Pusha T. "LiFE 4 A LiFE" is a chill but completely intense new song. It takes everything we first loved about hip hop in the golden years of the late 80's and early 90's, but instead of sounding like a throwback, it's moving the genre forward. And then there's .idk.'s flow. As soon as the vocals start, you're completely engrossed in everything he says. He's simply one of the most engaging new artists we've discovered in a long time. "LiFE 4 A LiFE" is a killer song that's going to work for fans of both classic and modern underground hip hop. .idk. says of his latest single: “'LiFE 4 A LiFE' speaks to a way of thinking shaped by survival, retaliation, and inherited codes, not to justify it, but to illuminate it. I’m obs...

Photo courtesy of Montserrat House Music Last year we rediscovered trip hop pioneer Eric Hilton with his excellent album Midnight Ragas. Now the Thievery Corporation member is back with a new single off his album due in February. If you're of a certain age, then you know that trip hop was quite often considered sexy time music, even if the lyrics didn't always agree. Hilton's upcoming album is being described as "elegantly erotic," which makes sense once you hear "The Dharma Lovers." It takes the 60's ultracool and groovy sound that made a comeback in the 90's with classic trip hop vibes. The song is instantly cool, and perfect to chill or Netflix and chill. (Do the kids still say Netflix and chill?)  Eric Hilton says of his upcoming album: "This record is an atmosphere, a state of mind. I indulge myself by making music that I want to listen to.  It’s a more solitary record than some of my other work, there is not a big list of guest perform...

Photo by Ian Zerrouki Sam Quealy is referred to as a "techno-pop princess," but her latest single is dripping with disco glory. "By My Side," which features vocals from Marlon Magnée of La Femme, is more fun than anything else you've listened to today. It's like vintage 70's dance music filtered through the post Boogie Nights attempted disco revival of the 90's, 00's indie sleaze, and all covered with a layer of modern pop sheen. You might not want to listen to this at your work desk in case you accidentally start a dance party, but this is going to be perfect as you start your Friday on your ride home. Crank this one and forget all of your music snobbery. You're guaranteed to have a blast. Sam Quealy says that her new single is about  “...  finding someone who makes life feel brighter and less lonely, sharing a deep connection that turns the chaos of the world into a beautiful ride together. ”  You can watch the video for "By My Side...

Boston "dungeon dream pop" artists Chainlacing have a new single out on a just released compilation. "Transient" is a trippy and dreamlike new single, layered in fuzz and electronic noise. The song is stunning, and despite how experimental it is, there is an odd amount of mainstream appeal to it. It reminds me of a shoegaze band teaming with Aphex Twin and Sneaker Pimps back when they toured in 1997. "Transient" is fully mesmerizing, and is going to suck you in before you even realized it's happened. It's the kind of song where you might still be sitting there in a haze for a minute or so after it's ended. Chainlacing have slowly become a favorite around here, and our adoration grows with every release. You can listen to "Transient" below. Star Sailors: A Shoegaze & DreamPop Compilation: Vol. 4 is available now via Bandcamp . For more on Chainlacing, check out the band's website . Star Sailors: A ShoeGaze & DreamPop Compil...

Photo by Michelle Mennona Philadelphia hardcore supergroup (consisting of members of Deadguy, Lifetime, Kid Dynamite, and more) Bitter Branches have a new single out that simply needs to be heard. "Cave Dwellers" is a fast and angry song clocking in at just over three minutes. It's as much post-hardcore as it is hardcore, as discordant as it is heavy. It's definitely going to give you some Jesus Lizard vibes with its monster sound, although it does have a surprising amount of melody for how heavy it is. Sometimes you just need a loud and angry rock song, and it helps when its as creative as the latest from Bitter Branches. Drummer Jeff Tirabassi says of his band's upcoming album: “On our first record I feel like we were all trying to get our feet underneath it, but on this one we really wanted to lean into the groove." You can watch the video for "Cave Dwellers" below. Let's Give the Land Back to the Animals is due out March 6 on Equal Vision Re...

Photo by Michael Wojcik Philadelphia/New Jersey band Sweet Pill have a new single out before their latest album is released in March. "Glow" is a mid-tempo anthem that combines emo, pop, shoegaze, and maybe even a little country(?). The song is an absolutely lush and dreamy track that gives singer Zayna Youssef room to show off her vocal talent. It's swarming with fuzzed out guitars and driving drums, moving between being a power ballad and a full out rocker. It's also oddly hypnotic, giving you the feeling of the music swirling around you as you listen. "Glow" is a great single, and might be the kind of positivity we could all use these days. Zayna Youssef says of her band's latest single: “‘Glow’ is about living my life with my eyes closed. Realizing I may be on the way to rock bottom, I kind of want to pretend it is not happening. We all know what this is called: D E N I A L.  I perceive through this hazy lens that is constantly fogged by a glow. To m...