If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Mason Fairey Jeff is more of the Christmas music guy here, but every so often there will be one that I enjoy thoroughly. We've both been huge on The Beths (expect them to do quite well in our best of 2018 recap coming soon), so of course we're going to drop everything when they release a Christmas song. They've released their take on the classic "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." The song starts out as traditionally and quietly as possible, complete with strings. But, seeing as it clocks in at over five minutes, it slowly turns into an indie rock epic without losing any of its old timey charm. It's a brilliant version of a classic by a band very quickly becoming one of our favorites. You can listen to The Beths's version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" below. For more on The Beths, be sure to check them out on Facebook and Twitter . Current tour dates are below the song, including some early spring North America...

Photo by Zakkiyyah Najeebah The latest single from Chicago's Mykele Deville sounds like something I should hate. It's an uplifting rap song that, according to the press release, "...  imagines a world where we are taught to fall in love with ourselves before we fall in love with others." Plus, it's quite heavy in R&B, which I hate in modern rap. The difference is that "Type Love" is a truly great song. Deville has the laid back flow of someone like Snoop Dogg, and "Type Love" has an uplifting, near hippie vibe of Arrested Development. The accompanying video was directed by McKenzie Chinn, and has a message all its own. According to Chinn: "   "By using imagery and improvised choreography outside of a traditional narrative, we were able to create a dynamic and expressionistic portrait of black, masculine tenderness and softness - a mode in which black men are not often portrayed, but which is critical to dismantling toxic mas...

Photo by Nick Mckk We were huge fans of Julia Jacklin's 2016 debut album Don't Let the Kids Win. It narrowly missed being in my top 10 of that year, and if I could redo my top 10 it would probably make it. Despite releasing a new album with her band Phantastic Ferniture earlier this year, she's already back again with new solo music. "Head Alone" is mesmerizing. It's everything we loved about the Americana meets indie rock sound of  Don't Let the Kids Win , but with a newfound sense of confidence. You can just hear it in her voice. While the songs off the previous album had a sense of fragility, Jacklin sounds empowered in "Head Alone." You can watch the video for "Head Alone" below. Julia Jacklin's new album, Crushing , will be out February 22 on Polyvinyl. You can pre-order the album here . For more on Julia Jacklin, check out her website . She'll be touring the US with Black Belt Eagle Scout next year, so you'll d...

Photo by Rosie Cohe We're quietly in the middle of a soul revival, and no one is doing it quite like Durand Jones & The Indications. Their latest single, "Don't You Know," features Aaron Frazer on vocals and sounds like it's straight from the 60's or 70's. Seriously. If the press release that came with this declared it was from a lost Motown session we'd all believe it. It's an impossibly smooth classic soul song, the kind we all need to hear every so often regardless of what style of music we prefer. As much as we loved their debut album, this new song feels like a step forward even though it's a throwback to half a century ago. You can watch the video for "Don't You Know" below. American Love Call , the new album from Durand Jones & The Indications, will be out March 1 on Dead Oceans/Colemine Records. You can pre-order the album here . For more on Durand Jones & The Indications, check out their website . Their ...

It's not even December yet. Winter has barely begun (unless you're in the northeast like us) and the summer festival season is a far distant thought. Don't tell that to the following festivals, who have already started to announce their line ups. Last year some outlets began asking if festivals were dead. If these are any indication, this may be a crazy packed year. High Water Festival Riverfront Park, North Charleston, SC April 13-14 Shovels & Rope have been curating this hometown festival for a few years, and each year seems more ridiculously stacked than the previous one. How stacked is it, you ask? Shovels & Rope are third billed. Ahead of them on the poster is Leon Bridges and The Head & The Heart. Add to that such If It's Too Loud... approved artists like Jenny Lewis, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The War & Treaty, Durand Jones & The Indications, The Secret Sisters, Michael Nau, and Lilly Hiatt and the first festival of 2019 may be the on...

Photo by Whitten Sabbatini At this point in his career, you already know if you're going to listen to a new song or album that Jeff Tweedy is involved in. His work with Wilco and his solo work has a certain feel to it, and there are plenty of fans that have jumped off the bandwagon calling his newer output "dad rock," and there are plenty still on that love that he puts out dad rock. His newest solo single, "I Know What It's Like," is really worth a listen even if you're in the former category. Sure, the song is 100% dad rock, and it certainly isn't rewriting the Jeff Tweedy formula at all. But the man can write an amazing song, and if you just give "I Know What It's Like" a chance, you might end up falling back in love with his music.  You can watch the video for "I Know What It's Like" below. Jeff Tweedy's solo album, WARM (which is somehow his first solo album (?)), will be out November 30 on dBPM Records. It ...

Photo by Kristy Walker Dani Bell & The Tarantist don't sound like a band from San Diego should sound. I couldn't tell you what that sound should be (Sublime, maybe?), but these guys certainly aren't it. Their latest single, "Mystery," is this odd blend of dreamy pop music. Sure, "Mystery" is pop, but it's hardly top 40 style pop music. There's just enough of a rock element to the song. Plus, it's just a little too... weird? It sound more like Bjork collaborating with Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys, but trying to make a megahit song. (Also, fun fact for fellow history nerds: According to their press release: " During the Italian Renaissance, tarantism was a phenomenon of psychological hysteria attributed to the bite of a tarantula spider. Those bitten would experience a short period of extreme apathy, followed by prolonged bout of unrestrained dancing ecstasy, which would temporarily remit the illness." You ca...

The record labels are too busy shopping to release much new music this week, so this also covers some interesting ones we missed. Album of the Week : Artist : Various Artists Album : EMO-TION Quick Description : Charity compilation from a Boston label that provides emo-esque covers of Carly Rae Jepson's E-MO-TION Why You Should Listen : This is a solid effort around a solid album, and you may even see this as benefiting a solid cause! Overall Thoughts : The pop album of our era gets a rock treatment, with great efforts for "Boy Problems," for "I Didn't Just Come Here to Dance," and "Making the Most of the Night." I am all about this and you will likely be as well whether you're a fan of Carly Rae, of the associated acts, or none of the above. It's great fun. Recommendation : A must hear. Artist : Moving Units Album : This is Six Quick Description : Latest from the dance-rock vets. Why You Should Listen : Moving Units has s...

One of my favorite things about Matt Pond is the frequency that he releases cover songs. For Thanksgiving he decided to give us all an early gift (even though he's been spoiling us recently by offering us free downloads of his first and brand new albums) and cover Led Zeppelin's "Thank You" with Chris Hansen. I've been developing an appreciation for Zeppelin late in life (most of my college years were spent despising anything that could be considered classic rock because I just had to be that guy...), so this cover is right up my current alley. The Matt Pond & Chris Hansen version of "Thank You" is shockingly close to the original. Pond even does an amazing Robert Palmer on the vocals. They do inject the dreaminess that we would expect from anything Matt Pond related, so it's basically everything we ever want in a cover song. You can listen to Matt Pond & Chris Hansen's cover of "Thank You" below. It's also available...

Back in February (which seems like it was roughly fifty years ago) I was lucky enough to attend a night of improvised rock with The Sheila Divine and Hallelujah the Hills  at Lilypad in Somerville. It was a unique (obviously) and special night, and it felt like something that would be gone forever once it was over. Luckily Hallelujah the Hills recorded their performance and have now made Bootleg: LIVE Improvised Set - February 3, 2018 available on their Bandcamp. This isn't the type of release that's going to propel them to superstardom, but for fans of experimental music it's a treat. It's always fun to hear a band try new things, especially if they're typically a pretty straightforward rock band.  You can listen to Bootleg: LIVE Improvised Set - February 3, 2018  below. If you like what you hear, it's only a dollar at their Bandcamp . For more on Hallelujah the Hills, check out their website . If you prefer their more mainstream work, you can pre-order th...

I've wanted to do this for years, but I'm finally getting to it this year. There are new Christmas albums out, and of those of interest? Well... The Nice List Ingrid Michaelson's Songs for the Season is basically exactly what I look for in traditional holiday fare. Far too many singers, when going for the more typical songs, make it more about them than make it about the music. Michaelson wisely gives us a presentation of Christmas music that has her identity stamped on it without overpowering the whole production. There may not be a better pop singer to do this these days, so make sure this hits your rotation. JD McPherson's Socks is a great set of Christmas originals by someone who has kept his music in the retro side of things for years now. I've loved a lot of his music, and Socks just has that old time radio feel to it that feels appropriate for the season. The Old 97's Love The Holidays is an appropriately goofy and fun Christmas album...

Photo by Robin Hodge I know I can be a bit of an anglophile, but there is just something about rap coming out of England that American rap is lacking lately. The latest single from London's Ash Shakur shows that difference. "Made It" is a laid back, nostalgic rap track that keeps the sound moving forward. It has that upbeat feel reminiscent of classic De La Soul and the jazz background of Digable Planets. While it does have some 90's hip hop throwback to it, it doesn't sound like a pure nostalgia trip and stays with a new sound. Uniqueness in hip hop can be a rare thing in this millennium, so we should all latch on to what we can find. You can listen to "Made It" below. For more on Ash Shakur, be sure to check him out on Instagram and Soundcloud .

Entering into the end-of-year phase... Artist : Hooverphonic Album : Looking for Stars Quick Description : Longtime UK act with a new album. Why You Should Listen : Hooverphonic have a long track record. Overall Thoughts : Somehow I am nearing 38 years of age and never listened to Hooverphonic before. This is probably a little too polished for my tastes on a whole, but there are so many catchy tunes on here that I almost don’t mind. I think “Horrible Person” hooked me in for good, but there are solid hooks throughout this whole thing that I can’t help but recommend it. And for me, I’ll be saving their “best of” for later. Recommendation : Give this a listen. Artist : Deena Abdelwahed Album : Khonnar Quick Description : Well to the left-of-center electronic music. Why You Should Listen : You want a fascinating, rewarding challenge. Overall Thoughts : I spent most of my time listening to this wondering why I liked it so much. In a way, it’s sort of like of you took Ben ...

Photo via Facebook Milwaukee Record has a monthly video series called "Public Domain" where they have local musicians perform songs in the public domain. The latest has Fox Face covering the standard "There'll Be Some Changes Made." The song was published back in 1921 and has been recorded by musicians such as Fats Waller, Billie Holiday, and Tony Bennett. Obviously Fox Face are quite different from those other artists, with their current take on riot grrrl and punk. Fox Face absolutely destroy their version, making it completely their own. It's loud, angry, and more than a little metal at times. I'm honestly not familiar with earlier versions of this song at all, but I hope it ends up sticking around for Fox Face. You can watch Fox Face perform "There'll Be Some Changes Made" below. For more on Fox Face, be sure to check them out on Facebook and Bandcamp .

I've seen Weakened Friends a few times, but always as an opening band. This past Thursday marked my first time seeing them headline a show, so despite the terrible early winter weather I knew I had to make the hour plus drive into Boston to see them make a triumphant semi-homecoming show to celebrate their great new album Common Blah . Plus, they were bringing Nervous Dater with them, so bad weather or not I had to go in. The first thing I noticed at the venue was how young the crowd seemed to be for the show. Maybe it was the weather being awful enough to keep anyone over the age of 22 home, but this was the youngest crowd I had been in for a long time. I assumed that their opening slots for bands like The Sheila Divine, Letters to Cleo, and Juliana Hatfield would have brought out some other aging Gen-Xers, but we were few and far between. But sometimes young crowds can be great, particularly with energy. And this crowd was stoked to be there. Despite Weakened Friends focusi...

Photo by Ken Sears Green River Festival 2016 Mercury Rev are probably not the most obvious choice to release a full album of Bobbie Gentry covers. Psychedelic indie rock and the classic 60's and 70's country star may seem like an odd pairing, but if their version of "Sermon" is any indication, this could be an early candidate for Album of the Year. The Delta Sweete Revisited (covering the entirety of 1968's concept album  The Delta Sweete ) has Mercury Rev pairing with a different singer for each song. For "Sermon," they join with Gentry superfan Margo Price. The result is near perfection. Mercury Rev fills the song with a shoegaze level of backing fuzz mixed with rhinestone country while Price's vocals soar above the whole mixture. It's somehow very fitting to the original while completely re-imagining the song.  You can listen to Mercury Rev and Margo Price's cover of "Sermon" below. The Delta Sweete Revisited will be out Fe...

Harker Moon only formed in London back in 2017, but they've been playing live shows regularly and have gained a loyal following. They've released their debut single, and now those of us outside of the UK can finally check them out. "Muma Says" is a mesmerizing blend of soul and rock, not unlike what we've come to love from Benjamin Booker. What sets Harker Moon apart from their soul/rock contemporaries is a decidedly strong jazz influence, and, since they're British, there is a definitely influence from bands like Arctic Monkeys. "Muma Says" is this smooth blend of rock, soul, and jazz with just enough grit and edge to keep it sounding interesting. You can listen to "Muma Says" below. For more on Harker Moon, be sure to check them out on Facebook and Twitter .

Photo by Chelsea Neufeld Based in Winnipeg, Living Hour have crafted this gorgeously lush and intricate sound. On their latest single, "Bottom Step," the band bring you a quiet, laid back song that is simply a must hear. Sam Sarty's voice is the main focus, as the song slowly builds and other instruments wander in and out at will. "Bottom Step" reminds me a bit of a more organic version of Mazzy Star. Even though the song does build, it never quite reaches a crescendo and instead ends when it feels it should. You can listen to "Bottom Step" below. Living Hour's new album, Softer Faces , will be out March 1 on Kanine Records. You can pre-order your copy here . For more on Living Hour, be sure to check out their website .

Photo via Facebook The latest single from the United Kingdom's Argonaut is a bizarre little minimalist indie dance song. The focus of "Girl Talk" are the vocals, which is a rarity in the indie rock world. Particularly the way they have gang vocals swirling around background vocals. The instrumentation is particularly minimalist to the point that you almost stop even noticing it by the end of the song. It's almost like an electronic version of a Beat Happening song. Somehow this works and makes for one of the more fun songs I've heard in a while. You can watch the video for "Girl Talk" below. It's off the Argonaut's new EP, which is titled The New Argonaut EP , and is available though keymailrecords. You can get your copy here . For more on Argonaut, be sure to check out their website .

It looks like all of those And the Kids songs that haven't sounded familiar live are about to get much more familiar! The Western Massachusetts band has just announced a new album, and with it a new single and video. "Champagne Ladies" could make And the Kids huge very quickly. It's an incredibly fun and quite danceable song with the less than cheerful refrain of "Life is a bastard / Life Wants to kill you / Don't get old." It's bright and sunny and a little more mainstream than most of And the Kids's previous songs but still just odd and fun enough to satisfy their longtime fans. For the video, the band is dressed all fancy-like and traipsing around what might be Northampton, MA with golf clubs, tennis rackets, and other recreational choices of the wealthy. You can watch the video for "Champagne Ladies" below. When This Life is Over , the new album from And the Kids, will be out February 22 on Signature Sounds. You can pre-order a ...