If It's Too Loud...

Matt Patershuk's I Was So Fond of You is not a happy album. Dedicated to his late sister (and with all proceeds of the album going to a few charities in her name,) it's a heartbreaking album of loss. It's not a pretty album, but it's absolutely beautiful. The two songs that deal with death and loss the most are "Harviestown" and "I Was So Fond of You." Playing in the style of old fashioned country-folk creates the perfect setting for these songs, but the album does have a bit more of an edge to it than your typical country or folk album. It reminds me a lot of John Doe or The Nightwatchman mixed with the rootsy sound of Joe Fletcher. I Was So Fond of You is a must listen for anyone reading this blog. I Was So Fond of You is available now at Black Hen Music . You can listen to the title track below, and for more information check out Matt Patershuk's website .

Some very solid stuff out this week. Album of the Week : Artist : Margo Price Album : Midwest Farmer's Daughter Quick Description : Debut classic country album via Third Man Records. Why You Should Listen : If you have any sort of love for classic country in the vein of Loretta Lynn, you need to add this to your list. Overall Thoughts : I enjoyed this far, far more than I anticipated, as it's the perfect blend of the modern and the old school and results in one of the more fun albums of recent times for me. There's not a missed note on this, and really just further demonstrates that Third Man is putting out just some of the highest quality music out there. Margo Price is a name you need to know, because this might end up blowing up unexpectedly, it's that good. Recommendation : One of the best things I've heard in 2016 so far. A must listen. Artist : RJD2 Album : Dame Fortune Quick Description : Latest album from the electronica producer. Why You S...

You would probably assume that anything that either Les Claypool or Sean Lennon get involved in is going to be weird. Since their debut album is called Monolith of Phobos  and the first single is "Cricket and the Genie (Movement 1, The Delirium," you're right. It's weird. But, it's easy to forget that both Lennon and Claypool have some serious pop sensibilities. Primus have had some moderate hits, and Sean Lennon's Into the Sun  was one of the most underrated albums of the late 90s. The song is pretty bouncy, with a killer grooved out bass line (of course,) and while it is trippy, it's trippy in a pretty normal way. If there was still a thing as modern rock radio in 2016, this would be a candidate for song of the summer. So it's weird, but it's not that weird. Except for the flute solos. Flute solos are pretty much always weird. The Claypool Lennon Delirium's debut album (which also features Money Mark on keyboards,)  Monolith of Phobos, ...

I hate The Grateful Dead. Literally everything about them. I've never liked their music and have always found it grating. I hate that they're more of a merchandise brand than a band. I hate the cult that's formed around it (they're like OG emo kids.) I hate that they duped their fans into traveling across the country to Chicago and buying overpriced concert tickets for their "final" show, only to schedule another "final" show in San Francisco. I hate that after their "final" shows they booked a "final" tour with John Fucking Mayer of all people replacing Jerry Garcia (I don't care what anyone says, I've never heard a shred of this amazing talent Mayer allegedly has, especially when he pulls garbage like this ,) and then booking yet another "final" tour this summer, thereby skull fucking any credibility they might have ever had into the ground. Despite all this, I'm excited for the upcoming 59 song Day of ...

Charles Bradley is one of those artists I've been meaning to check out for years, but for no real reason I just haven't. I've known he is great for a few years now. I just haven't listened to him yet. In what is an obvious attempt to get If It's Too Loud... to finally  give him a shot, he's released a cover of the iconic Black Sabbath song "Changes." A classic-style soul singer that's been at it for 50 years covering a song by the originators of heavy metal is a bizarre one, to say the least. In theory, at least. Sure, "Changes" is a ballad, and it's not like Charles Bradley chose "War Pigs" or "Fairies Wear Boots." This cover of "Changes" works far better than it should. Listening to it, I'm shocked that I never picked up on the soul of the original. This could be the rare time a cover ends up becoming more meaningful than the original, like Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt." It's j...

Eraser Stargazer  marks a departure not only for Guerilla Toss, but for noise punk as a whole. Noise punk is typically always in your face, loud, and obnoxious. Eraser Stargazer  is less punk and more pop. By pop, I don't mean it's a Katy Perry song with a few bleeps, although there is a heavy electronic element. It's not digital hardcore, either, although singer Kassie Carlson's voice does remind me of Hanin Elias of Atari Teenage Riot.  Guerilla Toss are carving out their own path here. It's almost like dance music that isn't even coming close to trying to be enjoyable. It's not a very pleasant listen, but it's not overpowering you. It's the musical equivalent of when Lisa and Maggie kept poking Bart's bandage after he had his tattoo removed . A song like "Grass Shack" truly reflects this. You might want to try dancing to it. It does have a groove, after all. But you'll have no idea how. I would call it noise punk for a genera...

The first line describing Charming Disaster on their Bandcamp is " Murder ballads and love songs involving death, crime, and the supernatural." For me, that's kind of my dream description for just about anything. Their new single, "What Remains," fits that description perfectly, and is absolutely haunting in how sparse it is. What is truly interesting is how much dissonance they muster using traditional instruments. It evokes the feelings of not just a song but an old fashioned radio play, with some of the instruments so far in the background that they almost feel like sound effects and are ingrained in the story itself.  "What Remains" will be officially released on April 1. Between now and then, you can download a copy for free (or name your own price) through their Bandcamp . For more information on Charming Disaster, check out their website . Listen to "What Remains" below, and check out their upcoming tour dates below that. What Rem...

What a strange week this one is. Album of the Week : Artist : Steven Page Album : Heal Thyself Pt I: Instinct Quick Description : Latest solo album from the ex-Barenaked Ladies singer/songwriter. Why You Should Listen : Page always has a knack for a good melody, and this album is full of them. Overall Thoughts : I'm not sure Page will ever be able to shake the hows of his split with BNL (a drug arrest, lawsuits on royalties, and so on), but while Page One from nearly six years ago made a pretty good effort, this album, which has a bunch of songs that bits and pieces of have been floating around for ages, is a pretty solid unit on a whole. Songs like "Manchild" and "Linda Ronstadt in the 70s" feel like classic Page, and the rest shows a continuing evolution. I expected to enjoy this, but I didn't think it would be quite this good, so it's definitely worth a spot in your rotation this week. Recommendation : Best release of the week, you're ...

Photo courtesy Miles Nielsen and The Rusted Hearts I always try to make it a point to listen to a song that's sent to us before reading the accompanying press release and band bio. While listening to "Strangers" by Miles Nielsen and The Rusted Hearts, I started making connections, like we music reviewers do. You know what I'm talking about. "It sounds like Band X hung out with Band Y at a drugged up rave," etc. The comparison I made for this song was that it sounds like Cheap Trick meets the current crop of more pop Americana that's all the rage these days. Turns out Miles Nielsen is the son of Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, so maybe some things are just hereditary. All family connections aside, you should give "Strangers" a chance. It's a great blast of pop Americana, but more in line with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers than The Lumineers. It's a confessional song about being able to open up to strangers instead of close friends ...

Brooklyn's The James Rocket are back with their first release since 2012's Launch . It's just a 7" single and not a full length album, but new music is always welcome. The A-side is "We Are Here for You" is 90s style power pop at it's finest, with the sweet melodies of Big Star mixing with the fuzzy guitars of Guided By Voices. The B-side, "Derby Girl," is an ode to roller derby girls, possibly the best kind. It's all just power pop perfection, highly polished with just enough grit to make it interesting. Hopefully they won't be waiting four years between releases for the next one. "We Are Here for You" b/w "Derby Girl" is available today. You can download a digital copy for free on The James Rocket's Bandcamp . You can also order a physical copy there, too. If you live in or around NYC, the band is playing a release party tonight at The Bitter End on Bleeker Street. For more info, check out their website .  ...

Considering 90% of what I listened to in high school was hip hop, I'm always a little disappointed by how little I listen to now. Del the Funky Homosapien was huge for me back then (I still want to refer to him as "tha Funkee,") so I'm thrilled that he's still making quality music, which is more than I can say for most old school rappers. Also, I know I'm old because I also consider this a collaboration with one of my favorite "new" rappers, who I've been listening to for at least 14 years now.  "World Renown" is taken from Boston based Mr. Lif's upcoming LP, Don't Look Down. Both MCs' styles mesh perfectly well. I never noticed how similar their flows are, with that laid back but intense delivery. Plus, musically the track has that slightly futuristic sound that both Lif and Del have made careers on. This is a true duet, not just a quickie guest appearance. This song will have you dreaming of an entire collaborative alb...

Photo via Facebook It's been a while since we've heard from He's My Brother She's My Sister. In the meantime, Rob Kolar and Lauren Brown (aka the married couple in He's My Brother She's my Sister) have started a new project called KOLARS. They've released a video for their first song, "Beyond the World of Man." We obviously have to compare them to their other band, so here goes! While HMBSMS are the rootsier sound of more mainstream neo-folk acts like Houndmouth and The Felice Brothers, KOLARS seem to be a more rootsy version of a dance pop Americana act like Lucius. "Beyond the World of Man" is just pure laid back California pop glory, in the best way it could be. For more information on KOLARS, including their California and Nevada tour dates, check out their Facebook page . You can also watch the video for "Beyond the World of Man" below. 

A solid week on a whole. Album of the Week : Artist : Aurora Album : All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend Quick Description : Gorgeous, addictive Nordic synthpop. Why You Should Listen : Straddles the line near-perfectly on traditional pop and strange synthpop. Overall Thoughts : I first learned of Aurora via "Running With the Wolves," and this has been a long-awaited full-length from her for me. I'm liking where the style is going, here - it's very accessible, but doesn't try to push the pop angle too too much. It means that it doesn't work 100% of the time, but when it does, it's memorable. This won't be for everyone, but those who love pop music will find a lot to love here. And she's only 19?! Recommendation : Best release of the week, so it's worth a spin. Artist : Lucius Album : Good Grief Quick Description : Second album by the throwback band. Why You Should Listen : Lucius likes to ape certain musical eras, and they ...

Normally I wouldn't post about a YouTube clip for an unreleased song, but I'm really excited about any new music from The Huntress & Holder of Hands. Plus, they linked to this clip from their Facebook page, so it's obviously approved by them. Recorded live at a house show in Vermont on March 5, "Shake Off Your Flesh" captures some of the sense of foreboding in Brown Bird's Axis Mundi , and even though it still falls into the folk/Americana category, you get a hint of the metal influences that were finally explored on Axis Mundi . This might be due to the hypnotic base line that goes throughout the song. Also, since the band is composed of six members, it's hardly a MorganEve Swain solo project. You can watch a performance of "Shake Off Your Flesh" below, courtesy of YouTube user  nnmvt vidoes . There are also more videos of the performances on their YouTube page, so check those out. For more info on The Huntress & Holder of Hands, che...

Photo by Sasha Arutyunova When I shared Big Thief's song "Masterpiece" with you last month , we didn't have a release date for their debut album. Now we do (May 27th on Saddle Creek,) and we also have a new song, "Real Love."  "Real Love" is a brilliant hodge podge of styles that should never be mixed, but thank god they did. First off, it's the kind of power ballad that the 80s were filled with. It seems like 80s power ballads are starting to make a bit of a comeback, and I never realized how much I missed them until this. It's not quite a pure hair metal power ballad in the Motley Crue vein, as it's just countrified enough to slip it into the Americana category. Plus, there are flashes of indie rock guitar, especially towards the end. I can not wait for this album. Big Thief's debut album, Masterpiece , is due May 27 on Saddle Creek. You can listen to "Real Love" below. Be sure to check out their website , an...

Photo by Jamieson Moore The new song from Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever might be the most British sounding song we've ever covered, even though they're not British. Hailing from Melbourne, their new song "Write Back" has some pretty strong similarities to the British wave of bands that came before punk (The Jam, The Kinks) but still had the same attitude, just a bit more polite. It's filled with catchy verses and jangling guitars, which are two of our most favorite things. Even the subject matter of a "... hapless internet romance that will never be consummated" feels impossibly British. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever will release their mini-album Talk Tight  on Ivy League March 25. You can listen to "Write Back" below. Also, be sure to check them out on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

Just in case both me and Jeff praising new music from Julie Rhodes wasn't enough to get you interested, she's offering a new EP through Noisetrade. Bound to Meet the Devil: B-Sides is much like Frank Turner's recent Mittens EP, in that it's basically what used to be a maxi-single or import that we'd pay $10-$20 for with a couple songs from the new album and a couple b-sides that didn't make the album. For free you can get a copy of "In Your Garden" and "See the Sun," two standout tracks from Bound to Meet the Devil that show her more boisterous rock 'n' roll side and her more quiet, soulful side. Both are perfect choices for a sampler. There are also the unreleased songs "Chains" and "Crossroads," both of which would have been perfect for the album. And, yes, "Crossroads" is a Robert Johnson cover, and you all know how we feel about covers. Bound to Meet the Devil: B-Sides is available on Noisetrade...

Photo by  Nick McKinlay Julia Jacklin's debut single, "Pool Party," is good. Really good. In fact, it's ridiculous how good this is. A 25 year old from Australia shouldn't be able to nail the Americana thing this well, but she somehow has. It's this stunningly smooth alt-pop-country song, that just mesmerizes for its entire four minute length. I've listened to this song about thirty times over the past few days, and I can't quite define what makes it so good and captivating. It's completely familiar and isn't truly breaking any new ground, but somehow it sounds completely fresh and unique. It just is good, and that's all it needs to be. For more information on Julia Jacklin, check out her website and Facebook . Make sure you watch the video for "Pool Party" below, or, at the very least, listen to the song. I can't imagine you regretting it.

And here we go with the other half! Co-Album of the Week : Artist : Thao and the Get Down Stay Down Album : A Man Alive Quick Description : Latest album by the criminally underrated indie rock act. Why You Should Listen : It's an album that deserves a lot of attention and not to get overlooked. Overall Thoughts : I was a latecomer of sorts to Thao Nguyen. Her songwriting didn't grab me right away with her "breakout" of sorts, "Bag of Hammers," but every album she's done since then has improved on the blueprint she brings, and A Man Alive might be the best one yet. It takes some time to truly get off the ground, but by the time "Nobody Dies" hits I was completely and totally on board. It's a challenging record, for sure, but in a good way - if you're not a fan yet, this album might take a few spins to get you on the bandwagon, but I promise there's plenty of room. This is a great release. Recommendation : Awesome album ...