If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Nick Helderman Canshaker Pi's latest song, "What You're Trying To Say," should be a complete trainwreck. Well... to be fair, it kind of is, but that's what makes it so brilliant. "What You're Trying To Say" starts off in that moody and melodic realm of indie rock that Slint perfected. And from there they just dial up the noise and aggression throughout the song, all without really getting faster or playing any harder. It's done through increasing the noise level at different points, often to completely uncomfortable levels and amounts. By the end, everything is just going full on all at once in a crescendo of (mildly) organized chaos. This isn't an easy listen, and if you're playing this around people that aren't like-minded musically as yourself, you'll probably get asked what the hell you're listening to. But that's just their loss. The single release for "What You're Trying To Say" will be...

Lots of new releases this week combined with some poor time management for this weekend for me means we're going to do a more highlights-based First Listen this week as opposed to the more traditional. Album of the Week : Artist : Stef Chura Album : Messes Quick Description : Liz Phair-style alt-rock. Why You Should Listen : The bar has been set for 2017's music, and it's only January. Overall Thoughts : I spent way too much time saying "this album should not be this good" while listening to it. Ken was really, really into the lead singles, and I thought they were fine and all, but they didn't outright blow my mind. It turns out that Messes makes a lot more sense as a cohesive whole. There's a tone and structure to the album that really needs to be digested and the whole thing just works. Chura knows how to write a song, and the fact that this album largely hits that 90s-alt rock sweet spot in so many ways doesn't hurt, either. Overall, a...

Photo by poprockphotography Country punk is kind of a thing right now, combining the twang of country with the attitude of punk. But no one is quite doing the country punk (or alt country, or outlaw country) thing quite like Sarah Shook & The Disarmers. "Keep the Home Fires Burnin'" is definitely not mainstream country. There's far too much old school twang without it being old timey. The obvious comparison would be their label mate Lydia Loveless, but while Loveless has more of a punk attitude, Shook has this odd 90s indie rock sensibility. Think Guided By Voices going country. For quite possibly the first time, "Keep the Home Fires Burnin'" has guitars that both twang and fuzz.  Sarah Shook & The Disarmers' first record for Bloodshot Records, Sidelong , will be out on April 28. You can listen to "Keep the Home Fires Burnin'" below. To pre-order Sidelong , go to Bloodshot Records . For more on Sarah Shook & The Disa...

Photo by Ian Falconer London's Divisionists have one of the catchiest songs I've heard all year. "Say Can You" is a huge 90s throwback, in the best possible way. It's like a forgotten mid-90s power pop gem, like a cross between Polaris and Matthew Sweet. The verses and choruses are catchy enough to make this song good, but it's the guitar solos that come in like a second vocalist and truly steal the show. The guitar is just this perfect swirling persona that comes in and then fades away. Each time it returns, it's even fuzzier and more riveting than the last. "Say Can You" is a must listen. Divisionists' debut full length, Daybreak , will be out on March 17 via Mount Watatic Records (perhaps named after the small mountain in north central Massachusetts?). You can listen to "Say Can You" below. For more on Divisionists, check out their website .

Photo via Facebook The latest in an ever growing (and very welcome!) list of bands releasing their first album in XX years, husband and wife band (Cristina Martinez and Jon Spencer) are back with "Formula X," the first song off of their first full length album in 17 years. "Formula X" will be exactly what you need it to be. It's full of attitude, even though the punk side of Boss Hog is turned down just the slightest bit and the dance/groove is ramped up. It's not a huge difference, though. Boss Hog was always a pretty danceable band. It's a very welcome return from one of NYC's most underrated bands. Boss Hog's new album, Brood X , will be available March 24 on Bronze Rat Records. Make sure to pre-order a copy here . You can listen to "Formula X" below. For more on Boss Hog, check them out on Facebook . Their current tour dates are below the song. 02/03 –  London , UK @ Oslo Hackney 02/04 –  Maastricht , Netherlands @ Muziekg...

Photo by Nate Burrell Country music is huge right now. I know I'm not really saying anything that hasn't been known for the last 25 or so years, but somehow one of the oldest forms of popular music is bigger now than it ever was. But there are two distinct branches of country fans: Those that like modern top 40 country and those that long for "real" country. I fall into the latter, since I really could care less about bros in cowboy hats rapping about their trucks. There is very, very little that can be appreciated by both types of fans. Scott H. Biram might be the rare artist that everyone can agree on. He falls into the Jason Isbell/Sturgill Simpson category of country that has that old feel to it while still being mainstream enough for pop country fans. "Long Old Time" feels almost ageless. You can't figure out when it was recorded. It has a bit of an effect on the vocals so it feels a bit more aged than it is, but not enough to detract from the...

The latest song from Uncle Space & The Boys is the rare ten minute song that you wish was longer. It's an old style country rambler mixed with some 60s psychedelia, which is sort of the rage these days. What makes "Space's Blooze" different from the rest is this bizarre amount of 90s aggressive indie rock that is spread throughout the song. It's like post Washing Machine  Sonic Youth decided to play around with country. It even has a few moments where microphones start to get overloaded, which appeals to my lo-fi fandom needs. "Space's Blooze" might be the finest psychedelic post-punk lo-fi noise country song you'll hear all year.  You can listen to "Space's Blooze" below, and get your very own copy at Uncle Space & The Boys' Bandcamp . I can't find much of a web presence for Uncle Space & The Boys, so you may have to stick with Bandcamp for more information on them. Space's Blooze by Uncle Space & T...

Lots to cover this week. Album of the Week : Artist : Cherry Glazerr Album : Apocalypstick Quick Description : Great, hooky alt-rock. Why You Should Listen : Best release this week and will scratch that traditional alternative rock itch. Overall Thoughts : I fell in love with this band thanks to "Had Ten Dollaz" from a few years ago. The new album builds on their sound while showing a lot of musical improvements throughout, and there's a good deal of fun to go along with it, too. "Nurse Rached" is a highlight, but their crazy " Nuclear Bomb " video shows where they're coming from. Overall? Best of the week, for sure. Recommendation : A must listen. Artist : Foxygen Album : Follow the Leader Quick Description : Retro rock band with another fun, puzzling effort. Why You Should Listen : Foxygen definitely keeps me on my toes. Overall Thoughts : I don't ever think I like Foxygen until I listen to them with an absurd, goofy smile...

Photo by Sarrah Danziger With the latest song off their upcoming album, The Navigator , Hurray for the Riff Raff move even further away from their folk/Americana roots. While "Rican Beach," the previous song they brought us from The Navigator , was a slightly harder, punk influenced roots song, "Hungry Ghost" is a pure pop song. Granted, it's not quite in the realm of Britney Spears or Kylie Minogue, but "Hungry Ghost" is the most mainstream thing Hurray for the Riff Raff have released to date. We're not talking about a huge about face like Lydia Loveless' Real  was last year, but this is close. I'm going to reserve judgment until I listen to the song a few more times. I think we'll all need to move away from our expectations on what we want from a Hurray for the Riff Raff song before we can decide on "Hungry Ghost." The Navigator will be released March 10 on ATO Records. You can watch the video for "Hungry Ghost...

Celebration last Friday's Inauguration most likely wasn't the purpose of Bad Boys Club releasing their debut four song EP, Inauguration Day , on Inauguration Day. Bad Boys Club are kind of a Boston rock scene supergroup made up of members of Dirty Bangs and These Wild Plains. Considering both those bands share a fairly upbeat and light aesthetic (Dirty Bangs are a pretty straightforward poppy alternative rock band while These Wild Plains rock Tom Petty meets early Wilco Americana), it's quite striking how heavy Inauguration Day  is. The sound is a less experimental and heavier At the Drive In, or maybe a less screamy Refused. I love when bands form side projects that sound like nothing you'd expect, and Bad Boys Club delivers in that regard.  You can get your copy of Inauguration Day at Bad Boys Club's Bandcamp . All proceeds from the purchase will be donated to Planned Parenthood. You can listen to the first song on Inauguration Day , "SHUT DOWN/SHOT OUT,...

Photo credit: Nick McKinlay Rest easy readers: Our long fifteen day streak of not bringing you a cover song is finally over! Julia Jacklin, who is quickly becoming one of our favorites for covers thanks to her covers of Leonard Cohen and Big Thief , recently stopped by Australia's Triple J. They do a thing called Like a Version, which we apparently need to pay more attention to. She broke out a version of The Strokes' "Someday." While the original is a rambling, fun rocker, Jacklin's version is a much more slower paced dreamy version. Unless you were paying close attention, it would be easy to not even realize it's a Strokes cover since it's such a huge departure from the original, and is transformed to a laid back power ballad. You can watch Julia Jacklin perform her cover of "Someday" below. The first minute or so of the video is an interview, so skip to 1:00 if you just want to hear the song. For more on Jacklin, check out her website ....

I first discovered Nashville's Idle Bloom about a year ago when they came up to Boston to open up for Those Darlins on their farewell tour. At that point they only had a single and an EP to their name, and it looks as though they are about to release their first full album next month. The first single from that album, "Hive," is yet another early contender for song of the year. It's a light and fun psych-pop (as they have dubbed their sound) song, but it's fast as hell. Usually when songs are this light and bouncy with dual female vocals, it's pretty soft and bubblegummy. "Hive" absolutely rocks with a ferocity that will shock you by how fun this song is. Despite being just over three minutes in length, "Hive" is an epic. Idle Bloom's full length album, Little Deaths , will be out February 17. You can pre-order your copy at Bandcamp . For more info on Idle Bloom, check out their website and Facebook . Little Deaths by Idle Bloom

Andy Thomson is an Edinburgh based artist who has been working either solo or with various other musicians under the name Fuzzystar for a while now. The name Fuzzystar is a tribute to Big Star and Mazzy Star. Set to release their new album, Telegraphing , the band have made their first single available. "High Friends" is an absolute masterpiece. There is no other word for it. It starts out as a fairly mainstream sounding singer-songwriter piece, albeit a slightly left of center version of mainstream. Slowly the song builds and builds, much like a Pulp song, and adds elements of Britpop as well as indie rock. The build then drops off back into singer-songwriter territory, and then just explodes into an indie rock burner. It's all of my favorite things put into one song, and I truly can not wait for more. Telegraphing will be out April 28 on Satellite Sounds. You can listen to "High Friends" below. For more on Fuzzystar, find them on Facebook and Twitter .

Photo by Constance Mensh Following the trend of an elder statesperson of rock/folk pairing with a younger artist as a producer, Michael Chapman has paired with Steve Gunn for his upcoming album, 50 . The first track from that album, "Winter in Memphis," also features Steve Gunn's band.  The song sounds dark... probably because it is.  "Winter in Memphis was written way back in 1999 when Chapman ended up being stuck in Memphis during a blizzard. It's about how many poor and homeless were dying on the streets during the storm with most citizens not seeming to care. It's a rambling folk song, but Gunn brings things indie rock noise into it that fits the subject matter and Chapman's voice perfectly. It's a nearly seven minute folk song that chugs along at an angrily medium pace and occasionally devolves into feedback heavy guitar solos, but it leaves you needing to hear more. 50  will be out January 20 on Paradise of Bachelors. You can listen to ...

We were pretty big fans of Funeral Advantage's 2015 release Body Is Dead , and judging by the first single of their upcoming album, Please Help Me , this is an early candidate for album of the year. "CEOT7K" isn't a huge departure from The Smiths meets The Stratford 4 dream pop sound of Body Is Dead. In fact, it's not a departure at all, but instead a giant leap forward. "CEOT7K" is gorgeously lush. I have always had a connection to music that sounds light and pretty but is actually sad and dark. Please Help Me comes from a much darker place than Body Is Dead . Allow me to quote Funeral Advantage's Bandcamp page for the album: If 'Body Is Dead' came from a place of hope, 'Please Help Me' comes from a place of desolation and confusion. Written during the disintegration of a long term relationship, the record works through the existential feelings of hopelessness and meaninglessness that followed.  Please Help Me will be availabl...

First big new release day of 2017, so let's dive in! Album of the Week : Artist : The xx Album : I See You Quick Description : Long-awaited third album from the minimalist electronic act. Why You Should Listen : The xx has always been essential, and this might be their best yet. Overall Thoughts : My first thought on listening to this was that it felt departure-like. The album still has its minimalist tendencies, but with some different sounds and tones it feels new and fresh while still having the same overall vibe. I figured I'd like this, but I kept being impressed throughout my first listen, and this is absolutely something I'll be revisiting as soon as possible. Recommendation : A must-listen for any music fan this week. Artist : The Flaming Lips Album : Oczy Mlody Quick Description : Latest album by the always-getting-weirder alt-rock group. Why You Should Listen : Even when they fail, it's an interesting failure. Overall Thoughts : The Flaming L...

Photo by Lilly Creightmore Joel Gion is best knows as a percussionist for The Brian Jonestown Massacre, but he has started emerging on his own as a singer and songwriter. Gion's upcoming sophomore album is due to be released something in the spring of this year, but before that, he has a new single coming out on January 27. "Tomorrow" was recorded early in 2016, and was critical of the Democratic party's campaigns. Looking back at the 2016 election, it's more about still being able to enjoy life no matter how ridiculous the world gets around you. While it's not quite as psychedelic as his other band is known to get, the song is groovy as hell in its own right. The forthcoming album was recorded in between multiple legs of The Brian Jonestown Massacre's touring schedule, and features multiple members of the band helping out. You can listen to "Tomorrow" below. You can get a copy over on Bandcamp . For more on Joel Gion, check out his website...

I haven't been this excited about a debut single since Mothers' "Too Small for Eyes" over a year ago , so bear with me while I fanboy all over this one. Haling from Oakland, CA, RAYS have just released "Drop Dead." The song is this jangly, poppy as hell kinda post punk jam that sounds like they should be from Manchester, UK and not Oakland, CA. The song is just bratty and fun, but also intense and angry. And then there's just this total Sonic Youth-esque breakdown towards the end where all the musicians are going off in these bizarre noise filled directions, all while staying somehow true to the song. It's the kind of song that, once it's over, you'll wonder what the hell just happened. And then you play it again. And again. And again. RAYS' self-titled debut album will be out on March 31 via Trouble in Mind. You can listen to "Drop Dead" below. For more on RAYS, be sure to check them out on Tumblr .

Photo by Ingrid Pop Slowdive have always made me feel like such a poseur. Of course I know Slowdive, and of course I love them. But they've always been one of those bands that I always seem to forget about, and then when I'm reminded I wonder why I don't listen to them constantly. Considering yesterday they released their first song in 22 years, I'm going to be reminded of them much more regularly over the next year, which is fine by me. The shoegaze legends skipped the early 2000s nu-gaze movement and have been brought out of retirement in the current shoegaze resurgence. Coming back after two decades is always a tricky thing, but, judging by "Star Roving," Slowdive's return will be epic. It's not reminiscent of 90s shoegaze, it's like a lost Slowdive song has just resurfaced. I absolutely can not wait for this new album. You can watch the video for "Star Roving" below. You can purchase your own copy of the song here . For more on ...

Two favorites around here have free music up at Noisetrade! Get on it! * Kelly McRae's great 2016 album The Wayside is free for two weeks * Boston institution Tracy Bonham has a handful of live tracks Get to downloadin'!

So far, the line ups for the 2017 festival season have been... let's just say disappointing. With the exception of Shovels & Rope's High Water Festival , it just seems like every other festival has given up on even trying. Festivals aren't being curated anymore, it's just grab every band that you can. Plus, I don't even know half of the bands on the line ups, and even though we're old guys here, we're not THAT out of touch. Well, god bless the 2017 Boston Calling festival. Just when it seemed like they were giving up on the old guys and just going for what the kids ages 12-22 were listening to, this morning they released this line up. There are a ton of If It's Too Loud... approved bands, plus not only a mixture of old and new artists, but an actual diverse line up . No genre feels like it's just an add on: everything is equally represented (ok, maybe not country, but we can deal with that). Seriously, check out the line up below. Classic alt...

For only having a handful of songs out, Bruising have a very specific sound, especially their guitars. Their latest single, "What It Feels Like," epitomizes Bruising's sound. Although it clocks in at just over 2:30, it's a slow song, bordering on being a power ballad, albeit a punky shoegaze infested one. The guitar is really what holds everything together for "What It Feels Like." Droney and fuzzed out are cliches for this type of music, but there's a reason we all use those descriptions. Somehow Bruising pulls passed all that, and while the guitar in "What It Feels Like" is droney and fuzzed out, it's an actual guitar solo throughout a huge portion of the song. "What It Feels Like" will be available as a split 7" with Personal Best via the Too Pure Singles Club. You can listen to the song below, and head over to here to get a copy. For more on Bruising, follow them on Facebook and Twitter .

Photo via Facebook As much as I love Bad Religion, I can't really say I'm a huge fan of their more recent output. It's not horrible, but it just doesn't have the same impact that their earlier work does. Maybe it's success or just getting older, but it happens to most bands. Considering that, I was cautious at best when I decided to listen to "Making Time," the latest solo song from Greg Graffin. The Bad Religion frontman is releasing Millport , what appears to be an acoustic, folk album. Trust me, I know exactly what you are thinking. And I agree. When I first started listening to "Making Time," I was debating if I should even tell all of you about it since I was just going to trash it. But then something odd happened: I might like this. Graffin's voice is somehow oddly well suited to laid back acoustic folk songs, and I never thought I'd hear Bad Religion mixed with a banjo. My only complaint is that musically it's a bit too gen...

Three new releases this week and another late 2016 find round out this early-year slow week. Artist : Dropkick Murphys Album : 11 Short Stories of Pain and Glory Quick Description : The Boston Irish punks offer more beer-soaked rockers. Why You Should Listen : You're a contractually-obligated New Englander or enjoy this sort of thing. Overall Thoughts : Regardless of how I feel about the Dropkicks, they'll be forever intertwined with the Red Sox in these parts, and they've become a Boston institution the way the Bosstones were before them. The new album sounds like the sort of Irish punk sea shanties that we assume they keep pumping out, complete with songs about the Marathon Bombing and and so on and so forth. As someone who generally isn't a fan, I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this on a whole. I don't know if I'll go back to it often, but (especially in a slow week) this might be worth your time. Recommendation : A surprisingly fun ...