Friday Freebie: Hit Like a Girl - You Make Sense

Coming from Montclair, NJ, Hit Like a Girl play a fantastic version of indie rock and dream pop fronted by Nicolle Maroulis. Their debut album, You Make Sense, was released back in 2017. It's filled with eight fantastic songs dancing between the line of being pure pop and indie rock. "It's Always You" is a bouncy alternative pop/rock song that sounds like straightforward early Belly. "I'll Understand" slows it down a bit into an earnest near emo meets Lady Lamb song. They even bust out some killer power ballad adjacent material with "The Song I Hoped You'd Never Hear."

You can listen to "It's Always You" below. You Make Sense is available now for the "Name your price" option over at Bandcamp. While not technically available for free, you also need to check out their 2018 album What Makes Love Last, which is available for $1.00 via Bandcamp. As always, if you choose the free or even $1.00 options, be sure to follow Hit Like a Girl on Facebook.

Lightning Bolt - "USA is a Psycho"

Usually after twenty five years, even the loudest of bands slow down a little bit. No one told that to Providence's Lightning Bolt. Their latest single, "USA is a Psycho," is a bludgeoning, brutal loud song. The drumming is just relentless and pounding, and the guitars drive straight into your skull with abandon. Also? It's groovy as all hell and makes you kinda want to dance. It all swirls into a pulsating psychotic mixture of pure noise and fun aggression. Aka it's classic Lightning Bolt.

You can listen to "USA is a Psycho" below. Sonic Citadel, the upcoming album from Lightning Bolt, will be out October 11. You can pre-order the album via the band's Bandcamp. For more on Lightning Bolt, check out their website.

Jessica Lea Mayfield - TAPE DEMOS PART 2

Back in June Jessica Lea Mayfield released tape demos part 1, and three months later she's bringing us TAPE DEMOS PART 2. The latest is a five song collection of solo home cassette demos Mayfield is currently working on. Songs like "ALL MEN" fits the typical acoustic solo demo we'd expect while "I'M DOING FINE" is surprisingly reverb heavy. These demo collections aren't really meant for new or casual fans. These are extremely rough and meant for the type of fans that would have bought import singles or giant box sets in the past to make sure they have everything. These offer a great look into what Mayfield is working on while we wait for her next full release, and it'll make hearing the finished versions that much more interesting.

You can listen to "DON'T EVEN TRY ME" below. TAPE DEMOS PART 2 is available now via Bandcamp. If these do well enough Mayfield is teasing a full band demo for part 3. For more on Jessica Lea Mayfield, check out her Facebook and Twitter.

L'Orange & Jeremiah Jae - "After Alley Life"

The latest single from the collaboration between L'Orange and Jeremiah Jae looks at a returning veteran's post war flashbacks and every day life back as a civilian. It's a very little looked at subject in the music world. "After Alley Life" makes this dark subject matter into a fantastic hip hop track. Somehow the song reminds me if Puff Daddy and the world of Bad Boy made a completely serious and dark song, and somehow succeeded. It's a perfect blend of L'Orange's minimalist yet flush production and Jeremiah Jae's laid back but intense vocals.

You can watch the brilliantly animated video for "After Alley Life" below. The animation is done by Eric Power. Complicate Your Life With Violence, the upcoming album from L'Orange and Jeremiah Jae, will be out October 4 on Mello Music Group. You can pre-order the album here. The album is divided into three parts: recruitment, war, and the dark effects this causes. For more on L'Orange check out his website. For Jeremiah Jae, check out his.

Wilco - "Everyone Hides"

Photo by Annabel Mehran

Wilco have been releasing solidly good music for decades at this point. Unfortunately, their more recent albums have received a lot of criticism. While I've enjoyed Wilco's more recent output, nothing has really grabbed my attention and rocketed to a best of list. "Everyone Hides" might change that. This new song definitely isn't breaking any new ground. But as Wilco strips away the excess and gets back to basics, you get to rediscover what you've loved about them. "Everyone Hides" isn't quite a throwback to their early alt-country beginnings, but it's solid Americana. There are hints of the noodling and odd noise of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, but other than that it's expertly done straight up Americana rock music.

You can watch the little bit too cutesy but would have probably been a Buzz Bin video for "Everyone Hides" featuring the band taking part in a game of hide and seek throughout Chicago landmarks below. Ode to Joy will be out October 4 on dBpm Records. You can pre-order the album here. For more on Wilco, check out their website. Current tour dates are below the video.

Wed. Sept. 18 - Zürich, CH @ Volkshaus *
Thu. Sept. 19 - Milan, IT @ Fabrique *
Fri. Sept. 20 - Padova, IT @ Gran Teatro Geox *
Sun. Sept. 22 - Paris, FR @ Le Trianon *
Mon. Sept. 23 - Utrecht, NL @ TivoliVredenburg Grote Zaal *
Tue. Sept. 24 - Antwerp, BE @ De Roma *  SOLD OUT
Thu. Sept. 26 - Glasgow, UK @ Barrowlands *
Fri. Sept. 27 - Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall *  SOLD OUT
Sat. Sept. 28 - London, UK @ Eventim Apollo *
Tue. Oct. 8 - Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage (w/ special guest Lord Huron)
Thu. Oct. 10 - Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre +
Fri. Oct. 11 - Boston, MA @ Boch Center Wang Theatre +
Sat. Oct. 12 - New York, NY @ Radio City Music Hall  +  SOLD OUT
Sun. Oct. 13 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel + SOLD OUT
Tue. Oct. 15 - Washington, DC @ The Anthem  % SOLD OUT
Wed. Oct. 16 - Cary, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheatre %
Fri. Oct. 18 - Atlanta, GA @ Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park %
Sat. Oct. 19 - Birmingham, AL @ Alabama Theatre %
Sun. Oct. 20 - Nashville, TN @ Grand Ole Opry House %
Tue. Oct. 22 - Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom @ SOLD OUT
Wed. Oct. 23 - Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at the Toyota Music Factory ~
Fri. Oct. 25 - Houston, TX @ Revention Music Center ~
Sat. Oct. 26 - Austin, TX @ ACL Live at the Moody Theater  ~ SOLD OUT
Sun. Oct. 27 - Austin, TX @ ACL Live at the Moody Theater ~ SOLD OUT
Mon. Nov. 4 - Grand Rapids @ 20 Monroe Live #
Tue. Nov. 5 - Ann Arbor, MI @ Hill Auditorium #
Wed. Nov. 6 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Heinz Hall #
Fri. Nov. 8 - Charlottesville, VA @ Sprint Pavilion #
Sat. Nov. 9 - Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre #
Sun. Nov. 10 - Columbus, OH @ Palace Theatre #
Tue. Nov. 12 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Murat Theatre #
Wed. Nov. 13 - Louisville, KY @ The Louisville Palace #
Thu. Nov. 14 - St. Louis, MO @ Fabulous Fox Theatre ^
Fri. Nov. 15 - Cedar Rapids, IA @ Paramount Theatre $
Sun. Nov. 17 - Kansas City, MO @ Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
Tue. Nov. 19 - Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom SOLD OUT
Wed. Nov. 20 - Omaha, NE @ Orpheum Theatre
Fri. Nov. 22 - St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre
Sat. Nov. 23 - St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre
Sun. Nov. 24 - St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre
Sun. Dec. 15 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
Mon. Dec. 16 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
Wed. Dec. 18 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
Thu. Dec. 19 - Chicago, IL @ Chicago Theatre
Sat. Jan. 18 - Tue. Jan. 21 - Riviera Maya, MX @ Hard Rock Hotel
Sun. Jan. 25 - Mexico City, MX @ Teatro Metropólitan
 
& w/ Spiral Stairs       

* w/ Ohmme      

+ w/ Daughter of Swords      

% w/ Soccer Mommy    
~ w/ Molly Sarlé      

# w/ Deep Sea Diver       

^ w/ Bottle Rockets       

$ w/ Dickie 

HAWXX - "The Lie"

South London's HAWXX are a bit more metal than what we normally cover here at If It's Too Loud..., but every so often we let the metal flag of our [ok, my - Ken] youth fly. "The Lie" is a thunderous metal/hard rock song about Brexit and the current political climate in England. I'm not hearing a lot of what constitutes the mainstream metal of today. Instead it sounds like early 90's alt-metal equally mixed with glam. By glam I don't mean hair metal, but bands like T-Rex. It's an interesting and unique mix that I'm surprised we haven't heard much of before. 

You can listen to "The Lie" below. For more on HAWXX, check out their website.

that dog. - "Old LP"

Photo by Cara Robbins

The title track from that dog.'s first album in twenty two years is an odd choice for a single. that dog. has always had a few slower, almost orchestral songs on their albums, even dating back to their 1994 self titled debut (just listen to "She Looks At Me.") But "Old LP" is propelled mostly be Anna Waronker and Rachel Haden's voices, with violins making up much of the music. "If You Just Didn't Do It," the first single from Old LP, was much more of a traditional that dog. single, but "Old LP" seems more like their traditional album closers. It's an interesting choice, which makes the upcoming release of Old LP more intriguing.

You can listen to "Old LP" below. Old LP, the new album from that dog., will be out 10/4. You can pre-order your copy here. For more on that dog., check out their website.

First Listen: New Releases for 13 September

Unlucky for me, I got a little busy/sidetracked this weekend, so some quick hits:

Must listens:

* Jenny Hval - The Practice of Love: Jenny Hval continues to corner her area of the weird performative arts with this latest album, a vivid and atmospheric listen that paints a really interesting picture on a whole. As with her other work, it is absolutely an acquired taste, but I have fully bought in and I’m a big fan of this one.

* Candy Ambulance - Traumantic: I loved this. Felt like a grungy mid-1990s album that would have likely fit in as the odd younger sister of Hole or Veruca Salt or something. There’s a great attitude about this that turns this record into something more noteworthy, and ended up being one of my favorites this week.

* Long Beard - Means to Me: I do love my share of dreamy folk music, and Long Beard does it right. This is a gorgeous listen with a lot of memorable moments, and is something that I feel like might stick with me for a while. Of all the new releases this week, this is one I am most excited to get back to, so don’t miss out.

* Alice Hubble - Polarlichter: When it comes to lo-fi-ish electronic music, it doesn't always work well, but this album kind of blew my mind. Between the approach, the instrumentation, and how much of it just stuck in my head after I finished my first listen, there is just a lot to love here.

Of note:

* Chelsea Wolfe - Birth of Violence (Her typical, high-quality output.)
* Avoid One Thing - Right Here Where You Left Me (Not for me, but might be for Bosstones fans.)
* Belle & Sebastian - Days of the Bagnold Summer (Arguably their best effort in over a decade.)
* Jeremy Ivey - The Dream and the Dreamer
* KAZU - Adult Baby
* Metronomy - Metronomy Forever
* Emeli Sande - REAL LIFE
* The Pixies - Beneath the Eyrie

7 Song Albums:

* They Hate Change - Juices Run Clear (Excellent rap album)

EPs:

* R.E.M. - Monster Live EP
* Alice Cooper - Breadcrumbs

Also out:

* Charli XCX - Charli
* The Lumineers - III
* (Sandy) Alex G - House of Sugar
* Cliff Notez - Why the Wild Things Are
* Gruff Rhys & Muzi - Pang
* Tiger Army - Retrofuture
* 617 Sessions: Sounds of Our Town

Li'l Andy - "Out On the Old Highway"

Li'l Andy specialize in a haunting, dark, old style of country that many try and only come off as hokey. Li'l Andy nails this style like few can in this century. His latest single, "Out On the Old Highway," is a heartbreaking song about travelling late at night on rarely used highways. I'll let his press release explain the song:

"A few summers ago, I drove from Renfrew County, Ontario to play a show in Montreal. With no air-conditioning in my car, I decided to make my journey at night.

 All throughout that long drive, I kept my eyes peeled for deer, moose, foxes or any other critter that might dart out into the road. Their green eyes eerily flashed by in my headlights as they hid in the bushes along the shoulders of Ontario and Quebec’s less-well travelled highways. Roads with names like County Road 23 or Route 303. Highways no one uses anymore now that newer, bigger stretches of road have been built alongside them. 
 I could see that these weren’t ghost towns I was passing through – they’re still communities, but are merely a shell of what they once were. Full of failed motels, closed gas stations, abandoned farms. Half-ghosts and towns that have more memories than they do people."

You can listen to "Out On the Old Highway" below. All the Love Songs Lied to Us, the new album from Li'l Andy, is due out on September 20. You can pre-order the album on Bandcamp. For more on Li'l Andy, check out his website.

Thurston Moore Covers New Order

Photo via Facebook

I'm not quite sure why, but I never expected to hear Thurston Moore cover New Order. He decided to take on the last song from Power Corruption and Lies, "Leave Me Alone." For a version without synths, Moore's take on "Leave Me Alone" is completely spot on. It's filled with acoustic guitars and is far more orchestral than anything I would have ever expected from the No Wave legend. It's a lovely and (for him) quiet recording. Towards the end there is some noise brought, but for the most part, "Leave Me Alone" is a beautiful orchestral version of a New Wave classic.

You can listen to Thurston Moore's version of "Leave Me Alone" below. The song will be available as the B-side to three separate upcoming 7" records that will be available November 8 via Moore's Daydream Library Series. For more on Thurston Moore, check out his website.

Fox Medicine - "Comfort Pony"

Portland, OR's duo Fox Medicine describe themselves as "bubblegum doom," and that might be the most accurate description of a band I've ever heard. Their latest single, "Comfort Pony," is a slowed down, sludgier than you could even imagine plod of a song. It's a blend of the sludge of the Melvins, the distortion of Sonic Youth, the epic grunge of Soundgarden, and the fuzzy industrial metal of Helmet. And this is all crammed into three minutes. This is definitely not the right song for everyone, but if it sounds like it could be your thing, you're going to become completely obsessed with it.

You can watch the video for "Comfort Pony" below. Procédures Mystiques, the upcoming album from Fox Medicine, will be out November 8. You can pre-order a copy over at their Bandcamp. For more on Fox Medicine, check out their website. 

Lucy Dacus Covers Bruce Springsteen

Ever since Lucy Dacus announced her 2019 holiday singles project, I've been waiting for one of her more interesting holidays: Bruce Springsteen's birthday. I came to Springsteen later in life, and I can't say I'm fully on board, but I now get it. To celebrate Bruce's birthday on September 23, she's released a cover of "Dancing in the Dark." At first the song starts out like a typical Lucy Dacus song: In that world between folk and indie rock, almost haunting. But the song slowly starts picking up (which is also a Lucy Dacus trait), but in a more traditional, straightforward rock way. Like a Springsteen song. Dacus pulls off the rare cover that stays true to the original while making it her own song, which is impressive since her music isn't close to Bruce's.

You can listen to Lucy Dacus take on "Dancing in the Dark" below. There are still forthcoming songs for Halloween and Christmas. For more on Lucy Dacus, check out her website.

Baabes - Rachet Ass Dance Party

Boston's very own Baabes are back with a new EP we almost missed. Ratchet Ass Dance Party is an eight song burst of, as they claim on their Bandcamp,  "SLEAZY GARAGE PUNK ROCK N ROLL." It's obnoxious, and has just barely enough melody to not be a complete mess of noise. It's almost... catchy? But the thing with Ratchet Ass Dance Party is that it is a dance party waiting to happen. Baabes are definitely noise punk in the most textbook definition, but this release is better for dancing than moshing. But just barely. And it's probably not what you want to try playing for your normal co-workers.

You can listen to "You'd Be Smart to Kill Me Now" below. Ratchet Ass Dance Party, the latest EP from Baabes, is out now and is available via their Bandcamp. For more on Baabes, check out their website.

Kim Gordon - "Air BnB"

Photo via Facebook

Much as being able to press *69 on your phone and be able to call a number back was so mindblowing in 1994 that R.E.M. was compelled to write about it, in 2019 Kim Gordon has written a song called "Air BnB." "Air BnB," like previous single "Sketch Artist," is still more of a dance song than we'd expect from Gordon, this new one is a raging noisemaker of a song. Picture some of the noisiest, most discordant material Sonic Youth released, but somehow still a dance party. For the video, Gordon couldn't afford to record the one she wanted to make, so instead of coming up with a new concept the video is basically a white lettering on a black background describing the video she wanted to make. 

You can watch the video for "Air BnB" below. No Home Record, the upcoming solo debut from Kim Gordon, will be released October 11 on Matador Records. It's available for pre-order here. For more on Kim Gordon, check out her website.

Skyzoo & Pete Rock featuring Westside Gunn, Conway, Benny The Butcher and Elzhi - "Eastern Conference All​-​Stars"

The latest single from the collaborative album from Skyzoo and Pete Rock might be the most satisfying throwback of all time. It's a brand new song, but it just feels like 1990. "Eastern Conference All-Stars" is the ultimate laid back posse cut. It obviously features Skyzoo, but also verses by Westside Gunn, Conway, Benny The Butcher, and Elzhi. These kind of songs dominated most of the hip hop I listened to in high school, and "Eastern Conference All-Stars" pushes my nostalgia button perfectly. Skyzoo says about the song:

“When putting together Retropolitan, one of the first ideas I had was to put together the ultimate posse cut, with everyone who’s on the record being who I always had in mind.  Something in the vein of DMX’s ‘Ni**az Done Started Something, JAY-Z’s Reservoir Dogs, LL's 4,3,2,1, etc.  I broke the idea down to Pete, and he immediately played this beat. Pete knew exactly what would work for us to go bar crazy. When you put five top-tier lyricists on the same team at the same time; a blowout game ensues. Glad to have my peoples, who happen to be some of the best in the biz’ penmanship wise all in the same starting lineup for this all-star game.” 

You can listen to "Eastern Conference All-Stars" below. Retropolitan, the new album from Skyzoo and Pete Rock, will be out September 20 on Mello Music Group. You can pre-order the album here. For more on Skyzoo, check out his Facebook and Twitter.

Jake La Botz - "They're Coming for Me"

Jake La Botz grew up in Chicago and started playing music on the streets of the city with blues legends like Honeyboy Edwards and Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis. From there, he did time in punk bands until that was ended by a drug addiction. He's now sober, teaches meditation in prisons in Nashville, acts in films and plays, and has new music coming out.

"They're Coming for Me" is a dark, bluesy, folk rock song. Musically it's fairly mainstream, but there's something about La Botz's voice that is undeniably compelling. It's a tired trope to say you can hear someone's life in their voice, but La Botz's voice carries a weariness that shows his life, but he also has a sense of optimism. It's the dichotomy of folk/rock/Americana mixed with his punk edged voice that gives "They're Coming for Me" such a compelling feel.

You can listen to "They're Coming for Me" below. The album They're Coming for Me will be out October 18 on Hi-Style Records. You can pre-order the album here. For more on Jake La Botz, check out his website. Current tour dates are below the song.

SEP 12 - FT Worth, TX @Magnolia Motor Lounge
SEP 13 - Austin, TX @ White Horse
SEP 14 - Houston, TX @ Axelrad Beer Garden
SEP 15 - Driftwood, TX @ Vista Brewing
SEP 18 - TOC, NM @ Truth or Consequences Brewing Company
SEP 19 - Albuquerque, NM @ Marble Brewing
SEP 20 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Dirty Drummer
SEP 21 - Santa Monica, CA @ McCabe's Guitar Shop

NOV 6 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall*
NOV 7 - Montreal, QC @ Cafe Campus*
NOV 8 - Ottawa, ON @ The 27 Club*
NOV 9 - Toronto, ON @ The Drake Hotel*
NOV 10 - Toronto, ON @ The Drake Hotel*
NOV 13 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Music Hall*
NOV 14 - Washington, DC @ Pearl Street Warehouse*
NOV 15 - Brooklyn, NY @ The Bell House*

* with Pokey Lafarge
NOV 16 - Ardmore, PA @ Ardmore Music Hall*

First Listen: New Releases for 6 September

Artist: Rachel Harrington
Album: Hush the Wild Horses
Quick Description: Superlative roots music.
Why You Should Listen: This was a pleasant surprise this week, and worth it for Americana fans.
Overall Thoughts: This is the roots record I’ve been waiting for but didn’t realize it. An authentic, gritty album with appeal across the board, this is something that I feel like could be a real grower in a lot of ways. Especially since some of the higher-profile county/roots records this week didn’t grab me, I’m glad this one did.
Recommendation: Check it out.

Artist: Miss June
Album: Bad Luck Party
Quick Description: Noisy-but-wonderful punk rock.
Why You Should Listen: You're feeling kind of angsty.
Overall Thoughts: Sometimes you just get a loud, brash punk record that hits the right buttons, and this is it. Miss June is not trying to reinvent the wheel, but the good production and better songs make this feel like something a little different than what you may expect.
Recommendation: Don’t sleep on this.

Artist: Blushing
Album: Blushing
Quick Description: Another solid fuzzy surprise.
Why You Should Listen: This is the shoegaze record you've been waiting on.
Overall Thoughts: This is a sneaky great shoegazey record with all the right fixings. Loud at times, anthemic at others, this one surprised me in part because you do not expect much like this these days and in part because it is just so good. This album grabbed me for good at “Pressure,” but the whole thing is worth your time.
Recommendation: Give it a listen.

Artist: Pom Pom Squad
Album: Ow
Quick Description: Great alt-indie music.
Why You Should Listen: Pom Pom Squad has been putting out quality music for a while, and hopefully this raises their profile.
Overall Thoughts: Typically, I don't spend a lot of time with the seven song albums-that-should-be-EPs, but I'm making an exception for Pom Pom Squad this week. This album is a great, interesting, grungy affair that fans of the 90s rock revival might find fun. I've loved "Heavy Heavy" for a while now, and the whole thing is worth a listen if only because we need more of this in the long run.
Recommendation: A great, short listen.

Artist: Frankie Cosmos
Album: Close it Quietly
Quick Description: New album from an indie/folk favorite.
Why You Should Listen: This is a solid, accessible listen.
Overall Thoughts: I really like Frankie Cosmos, and I think this is my favorite effort from the act/band/songwriter. Still filled with super short songs that pack a ton of punch, this is a really great effort that may just as well work as a great entrypoint if you're not on board yet as much as her best album yet.
Recommendation: Don't miss this one.

Of note:

* The Highwomen - The Highwomen (Very good, but I am not the target audience for a lot of reasons)
* Tennis System - Lovesick (Solid post-punk)
* Iggy Pop - Free (Surprisingly compelling)
* Melanie Martinez - K-12 (If you haven't #canceled her, give it a listen)
* Bat for Lashes - Lost Girls (Her best effort in a while, even if it's what you expect)
* Bonniesongs - Energetic Minds
* Pyramid Thieves - Century Fader
* Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear - Started With a Family
* The Brand New Heavies - TBNH
* Mermaidens - Look Me In the Eye
* Emma Frank - Come Back
* Darren Hayman - Songs of High Altitude
* Ana Egge - Is It The Kiss
* These Wild Plains - Thrilled to Be Here
* Jason Tyler Burton - Kentuckian

EPs:

* Aleissa Cara - This Summer (Some of her best work is on this EP)
* Death Cab for Cutie - The Blue EP
* Qveen Herby - The Vignettes
* +/- - Summer 19: Extended Play
* Snow Patrol - Reworked EP 2

Also out:

* SOPHIE - OIL OF EVERY PEARL'S UN-INSIDES NON-STOP REMIX ALBUM
* Adam Green - Engine of Paradise
* Ras Kass - Soul on Fire 2

Live Shows: The Sheila Divine, The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA 9/6/19

I've been going to see The Sheila Divine for twenty years now. Back when they were signed to Roadrunner Records, it seemed like they were always playing somewhere in Boston. Between the night they won the WBCN Rock n Roll Rumble until the end of the year when my time in college radio was over, I think I saw them monthly. In the past few years they've played a few local shows per year, and it seemed like I'd be able to check out one of my favorite Boston bands live twice a year or so. However, with Jim Gilbert deciding to leave the band, it appears that The Sheila Divine might be calling it a career. Obviously I had to head out to see them one last time.

Friday night it seemed that The Sheila Divine "possibly" breaking up has been elevated to The Sheila Divine "is" breaking up. The band had a sense of finality in their performance, and as melancholy as a Sheila Divine show can be, what is most likely going to be their final Boston show was truly a melancholy night. The band started off their set with some of their more newly released material, like "Melancholy, MA." It was almost as if they were going back in time and had some of their more well known songs saved for the end. There were a lot of jokes about the band ending, and as the night progressed it became more apparent that they were serious. When the band played "Hum" as a set closer, instead of just inserting a piece of another song in the middle, Aaron Perrino stuck in a medley of songs including Craytown's "Butterfly," Lil Nas X's "Old Town Toad," and Nine Inch Nails's "Head Like a Hole." 

For an encore, Perrino came out and did a song solo, something he hasn't done before in the well over a dozen times I've seen them. It seemed like a possible sign of things to come, especially as he told the crowd to come see whatever he does next at much smaller venues than The Sinclair. The band even played a song about the band ending, which included a line about posting music on Soundcloud and getting face tattoos. The Sheila Divine still have an unreleased album coming out soon, and it's crazy to think that there won't be an album release show for this one.

There are still a handful of The Sheila Divine shows left. If you happen to be in Buffalo, NY, you are in luck! They're playing a pair of shows there with Tugboat Annie. They're also playing three shows in November in Belgium, a country they seem to randomly play every year. After that? Most likely solo shows and new bands.

Full Body - "Looked at the Picture"

Photo by Brandon Mark

Rochester, NY's "post everything" four piece Full Body packs a lot into their latest single, the under two minute long "Looked at the Picture." It starts off being a fast alternative rock song, the kind I used to play constantly on my college radio show back in the late 90's. And then it bursts into a much louder, more aggressive and shout filled song. By the end it's a much more tuneful, melodic, almost indie pop rock song. These song transitions and somehow both jarring and gentle. The band's description of the song might explain the massive shifts:

"Looked at the Picture” is a song that Jake (our guitarist) wrote. Its quick, pretty and punchy. I wrote the lyrics about seeing something that completely throws you off guard and fucks with you for a sec, but obviously after awhile you get over it. I think the song exemplifies that emotional process."

You can listen to "Looked at the Picture" below. Always There, the upcoming album from Full Body, will be out October 18 on Five Kill Records. For more on Fully Body, check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

Weakened Friends - "What You Like"

Photo via Facebook

It's always great to start off a week with unexpected new music from one of our favorites. We've known Weakened Friends have been working on new music, but we had no idea they were all set to release a new single. Today sees the release of "What You Like." The new song is everything we love about Weakened Friends. It's ridiculously catchy 90's inflected alt-rock with killer fuzzy guitars and sing-a-long choruses. Plus, they squeezed in more groove than we're used to from the band, which is a change, but a very welcome one. It's an incredibly fun song that sees singer/guitarist purging out emotional demons in the most upbeat way possible!

You can listen to "What You Like" below. The single is available now via Don Giovanni Records. For more on Weakened Friends, check out their website.

Perpetuals - "Downtown Apartment"

Photo by Henry Acteson

There's a lot of retro-leaning neo-soul out there these days, but none of it sounds quite like Perpetuals. "Downtown Apartment" is a pure old school sounding soul song. But... something about it is just slightly different. It almost has these quirky instrumental choices that you don't really expect. Retro soul typically fits squarely in a certain box, but "Downtown Apartment" edges out of the box occasionally, taking a genre that's normally set in its ways into new and welcome directions. It's almost like neo-soul meets Neutral Milk Hotel or Pavement, while still remaining solidly in the soul category.

You can watch the video for "Downtown Apartment" below. The single is available now via Keeping On Records. For more on Perpetuals, check them out on Facebook and Bandcamp.

Candy Ambulance - "Road Valium"

Troy, NY's Candy Ambulance have a sound familiar to any of us that were coming of age in the 90's. Their latest single, "Road Valium," has a very mid-90's feel. It's from the time when grunge was fading out and was being replaced by post-grunge and/or power pop, but still has some of the dark, fuzzy as hell guitar of grunge. 

Singer Caitlin Barker says of "Road Valium":

“This song is very on-brand me. The subject matter is pretty dark - Iʼm admitting that I seek chaos and attention in order to distract myself from deeper wounds - yet Iʼm delivering it in an incredibly cheeky manner. Iʼm flirting, Iʼm drawing you in and Iʼm letting you know that the ride is gonna be a rough (but usually pretty fun) one. When I say 'every time I find a spot to lie in I get so uncomfortable' I mean it. If I stopped partying or chasing men Iʼd go absolutely bonkers.” 

You can listen to "Road Valium" below. Traumantic, the new Tommy Stinson produced album from Candy Ambulance, will be out September 13. You can pre-order the album on the band's Bandcamp. For more on Candy Ambulance, check out their website.

KTG - "Never Go Home"

The latest single from Irish singer-songwriter KTG (aka Katie Gallagher) melds multiple genres seemlessly into a sound completely unique and completely familiar. "Never Go Home" is a burst of fast paced and fun folk-pop, but with enough traditional folk elements to not sound like something you'd hear on your local top 40 or hits of yesterday and today station, although it could be played there. It's traditional folk but modern pop, borrowing just enough from each to not overwhelm any haters of either genre. Plus, it could just be her accent, but "Never Go Home" has the tiniest hint of Celtic music without sounding like NPR's A Celtic Sojourn. The song exists just outside of so many genres that it becomes its very own thing.

You can listen to "Never Go Home" below. Searching for Magpies, the new mini-album from KTG, will be out September 26 on Beardfire Music. For more on KTG, check her out on Facebook and Twitter.

The Sheila Divine - "Age Is Just a Number"

The Sheila Divine may be about to leave us (Jim Gilbert is leaving the band after their upcoming shows and the rest of the band is undecided about carrying on), but they do still have an upcoming album. Right now we can check out a new song from that album. "Age Is Just a Number" doesn't start out like a typical Sheila Divine song. It's almost New Wave and groovy. It's a cool reverb heavy sound, and just as you're getting adjusted to this new sound from and old favorite, the chorus kicks in and The Sheila Divine revert back to classic form. The song goes back and forth like this, in a weirdly great loud/quiet/loud New Wave meets Springsteen meets classic late 90's alternative mash up.

You can listen to "Age Is Just a Number" below. Beginning of the End, the new and possibly last album from The Sheila Divine, will be out in the near future. For more on The Sheila Divine, check them out on Facebook.

Brass Against Covers Danzig

Photo via Facebook

I've been going pretty crazy for Brass Against's covers of 90's classics. Mostly they've been doing songs on the alternative rock spectrum, with songs from Rage Against the Machine, Deftones, and Beastie Boys. Now they're teaming with Liza Colby on vocals to take on Danzig's iconic 1988 metal hit "Mother." As usual, they completely nail it, and a horn section on a Danzig song is shockingly bad ass. I think my only complaint is that the intro leans too heavily on guitar. Thankfully, that is virtually gone by the time what would normally be guitar solos kick in and we get some killer brass parts. You had no idea how much your life was lacking without a brass cover of "Mother." We can all thank Brass Against for enriching out lives with this cover.

You can watch the video for Brass Against's cover of "Mother" below. For more on Brass Against, check out their website.

illuminati hotties Cover Whitney Houston

Photo via Facebook

Our love of covers is well documented here at If It's Too Loud..., and we have a special love for covers that completely change the meaning of the song. Whitney Houston's beyond classic "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" is a celebratory song. The message seems to be happiness equals wanting to dance with somebody. In the hands of Los Angeles's illuminati hotties the song takes on a more somber and depressing feeling. Instead of celebrating the joy of wanting to dance with somebody, this new take is more about sitting alone and wishing you had somebody to dance with. Whitney Houston and 80's pop purists won't enjoy illuminati hotties's version, but the rest of of will.

You can listen to illuminati hotties do "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" below. The single is available via Tiny Engines. For more on illuminati hotties, check out their Facebook.

The Hussy - "Sorry"

Madison, WI's The Hussy first formed as a duo in 2008 with Bobby (NOBUNNY, Cave Curse) and Heather Hussy (Proud Parents). No idea if they're actually related or if this is like The Ramones, The Queers, or Screeching Weasel. In 2015 they added a third member, Tyler Fassnacht (Fire Heads, Proud Parents). Their press release calls them "trash punk," but judging by their latest single "Sorry," I hear a lot more fuzzed out power pop and just plain ol' rock 'n' roll than anything trashy or punk. When a band does fuzzed out power pop this perfectly, that isn't a bad thing at all. "Sorry" also includes a few flute solos, so prepare yourself for those.

You can listen to "Sorry" below. Looming, the new album from The Hussy, will be out September 27 on Dirtnap Records. You can pre-order the album here. For more on The Hussy, check them out on Facebook and Bandcamp. Current tour dates are below the song.

09/13 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry

09/14 - Madison, WI @ Mickey's Tavern

09/19 - Chicago, IL @ Reed's

09/20 - Springfield, IL @ Dumb Records

09/21 - Fayetteville, AR @ Backspace w/ The Wirms

09/22 - Dalls, TX @ Ruins in Deep Ellum

09/23 - Austin, TX @ Hotel Vegas w/ Xetas

09/24 - New Orleans, LA @ Circle Bar w/ Thelma and the Sleaze

09/25- Hattiesburg, MS @ The Looney Bin

09/26 - Memphis, TN @ Hi-Tone - Gonerfest 16!

10/11 - Madison, WI @ Crystal Corner Bar - Turkeyfest 10 w/ Vacation

10/12 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall w/ Oh Sees & Prettiest Eyes

10/13 - Detroit, MI @ Outer Limits

10/14 - Cleveland, OH @ Little Rose Tavern

10/15 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Rock Room

10/16 - Washington, D.C. @ Slash/Run w/ Natural Velvet

10/17 - Philadelphia, PA @ Century

10/18 - New York City

10/19 - Stamford, CT @ Boy's Club w/ Jacques Le Coque

10/20 - New Haven, CT @ Three Sheets w/ Jacques Le Coque

10/21 - Boston, MA @ The Greek w/ G Gordon Gritty

10/22 - Providence, RI @ News Cafe

10/23 - Salem, MA @ Front Street Coffee House

10/24 - Montreal, Quebec - Canada @ Quai des brumes

10/25 - Buffalo, NY

10/26 - Cincinnati, OH @ MOTR