If It's Too Loud...

Maybe I'm just a but of an Anglofile, but British rap does it for me while most American hip hop just bores me. The new single from London's Phoenix da Icefire's collaboration with Husky Brown hits exactly what I need. "Dark Rainbow Light" leans a little more towards mainstream hip hop than most British rap I've heard. Of course, it's more along the lines of what was considered mainstream in the mid 90's. It's far from a throwback track, but it's giving me some pretty serious laid back A Tribe Called Quest/Leaders of the New School vibes.  You can listen to "Dark Rainbow Light" below. Panacea , the upcoming album from Phoenix da Icefire & Husky Brown, will be out May 5 on New Dawn Records. For more on Phoenix da Icefire, check out his website .

Photo via Facebook If there's one silver lining with the COVID-19 pandemic, it could be that Thurston Moore has had time to dig around his archives. His latest find is "Sunday Stage," a song that dates back to his time with Chelsea Light Moving. Chelsea Light Moving was my personal favorite of his post-Sonic Youth projects. That could be because it was the closest to Sonic Youth, but showcasing Thurston's metal side. "Sunday Stage" is a perfect example of that. It has the perfect vintage early 90's Sonic Youth feel to it while having a few metal riffs that let loose every so often. It's loud and heavy, which is really what we want from Chelsea Light Moving. Here's hoping he can unearth a few more unreleased songs for us all in the near future. You can listen to "Sunday Stage" below. The song is currently available via Thurston Moore's Bandcamp page . For more on Thurston Moore, check out his website . SUNDAY STAGE by Thursto...

The end of the world is bringing its A game for new music right now. Artist : Nine Inch Nails Album : Ghosts V: Together / Ghosts VI: Locusts Quick Description : Two new surprise entries in the Nine Inch Nails Ghosts canon. Why You Should Listen : It's ambient industrial done right. Overall Thoughts : I was thinking today that if you told me back in high school that the guy behind The Downward Spiral would be one of the best movie scorers in his era and that his more ambient efforts would be the things I'd love the most, I don't know how I would react. But here we are, in 2020, and Nine Inch Nails has quietly become one of the most essential artists of our time and the two surprises this week really show what makes Trent Reznor so important. There's no reason to miss this one anyway, but it's definitely one of the great listens of the week. Recommendation : A must-listen in any week, never mind this one. Artist : The No Ones Album : The Great L...

Photo via Facebook If we need a bright side to this whole living in quarantine thing, maybe it's that War On Alexandria have taken this time to cover their 90's idols. The latest that the Boston rockers have taken on is the Alice in Chains classic "Rooster." This is a stripped down take on the song, just electric guitar and the vocal pairing of Emma Keefe and Liam McCain. This might be the ideal song for the band to cover. War On Alexandria give us an absolutely stunning and reverent version of the original. It's far from a carbon copy, but you're not going to get anything else this faithful to the original unless it was from an Alice in Chains cover band. You can watch the video for War On Alexandria's version of "Rooster" below. For more on War On Alexandria, check them out on Facebook .

Photo by Ariella Miller Chicago's Melkbelly have always had a bit of a 90's sound. No complaints here, it's kinda what we love about them. On their latest single, "Sickeningly Teeth," they go way back to the early 90's. The new single gives off some serious Mudhoney vibes while still keeping some of Melkbelly's pop sensibilities. "Sickeningly Teeth" drones on at one tempo while repeatedly threatening to speed up, but never quite doing it. While a faster, more upbeat song would have been a more standard and obvious choice, this one seems to instead slow down each time it promises to speed up. This creates a brilliantly frustrating feel to the song that a lesser band could never have pulled off.  You can watch the video for "Sickeningly Teeth" below. PITH , the new album from Melkbelly, will be out April 3 on Wax Nine/Carpark Records. You can pre-order a copy here . For more on Melkbelly, check out their website . Rescheduled tour d...

Percussionist Bill Rieflin passed way last week after a battle with cancer. He is perhaps best known for his work with Ministry, but he was also a session/touring musician with a number of bands in the later part of his career, perhaps most notably with R.E.M.. R.E.M. is my favorite band, and Rieflin was the drummer for their final studio albums along with the late tours. I have a pet theory that Bill Berry, the band's original drummer, was the true glue that held all the pieces of R.E.M. together, and when he left after New Adventures in Hi-Fi the band's catalogue became less focused and cohesive as a result. We'll never know for certain how much of an impact Rieflin had on R.E.M.'s sound in those later years, but I can't help but think that a drummer of his caliber and style brought some energy to a band that, in retrospect, may have needed it. So, for Monday Mix this week, the best of the Bill Rieflin R.E.M. years. My favorite tracks from their last two ...

I've been a fan of Joe Michelini ever since I saw his previous project River City Extension at Newport Folk Festival way back in 2011. That project may have ended, but he has a new single out with his new musical project American Trappist. "Independence Day" is an absolutely epic indie folk song. It starts off with this laid back intensity that builds so quietly that you can't even register it. Eventually it bursts into a powerful mid-tempo indie rock song. It's almost a Sonic Youth song in the way that it builds and then turns into a collage of noise, but without the feedback. Not many artists can evolve a song from a chilled out hanging out on the porch folkie to an indie rock rager, but American Trappist pulled it off magnificently.  You can listen to "Independence Day" below. The Gate , the upcoming album from American Trappist, will be out May 15. You can pre-order a copy via Bandcamp . For more on American Trappist, check out the artist's w...

Fitchburg, MA is the land of the most generic cover bands around, so it's always nice when we can find a great, original band coming from there. debt. released a new album for free ( Sounds of Time & Place ), and it's just dripping with what my late 90's college days sounded like. "Candle-Shaving Bastard" is an aggressively loud yet still melodic song. "Memories" is nearly confusing with how all the instruments work together. This song is right on the border of being a pure chaotic and dissonant mess, and I'm sure some will declare that it is, and they're not wrong. But somehow debt. make it work. This song is three and a half minutes long, which is the length of a standard pop song, but it feels at least four times that long (and I mean that as a positive). "June 5th // July 5" is a bizarro indie rock song that sounds like all eras of Sebadoh crammed into one song. Sounds of Time & Place  is a collection of all of these lo-fi...

Boston's The Knock Ups are back with a new single titled "Black n Blue (love song for Jack White)." Despite the title, the song isn't going to make you think of Jack White very much. Sure, it's dirty blues infected garage rock, but it exists in a world separate from The White Stripes (or any of White's other projects, for that matter). "Black n Blue (love song for Jack White)" is more of a loud/hard rock take on garage rock, with the blues aspect taking a back seat to the sheer rock of it all. The Knock Ups are truly one of the premier loud garage rock bands in Boston, and this song helps remind us all of that. You can listen to "Black n Blue (love song for Jack White)" below. The song has been added to The Knock Ups's 2019 release Splitting Hairs  EP, which is available now on their Bandcamp . For more on The Knock Ups, check out their Facebook . Splitting Hairs by Theknockups

As we continue to be worked into a frenzy over The Bobby Lees's upcoming Jon Spencer produced album, we now bring you a new single, "Move." "Move" is a frantic slice of garage punk. Clocking in at less than two minutes long, it's fast and noisy. It's over before you even know it, leaving you desperate for more. It may seem impossible that a song this short can be this good and leave this much of an impact on the listener. You're going to be left wondering what the hell you just went through, but pretty sure that you liked it. You can watch the video for "Move" below. Skin Suit , the new album from The Bobby Lees, will be out May 8 on Alive Naturalsound Records. For more on The Bobby Lees, check out their website .

Photo by Carl-Eric Tangen Despite being from Rhode Island, Jake Blount's music is pure Appalachia. His new single, "Roustabout," is exactly what you think of when you think traditional folk. Blount is bringing the black experience back to bluegrass and Americana, which we always think of as separate despite how intertwined their history is. Growing up black and queer in America, he's found that folk music truly resonates with him. "Roustabout" is a perfectly done folk song. It's just a banjo, fiddle, and vocals, but I can't imagine this song needing anything more. You can watch the video for "Roustabout" below. Spider Tales , the upcoming album from Jake Blount, will be out May 29 on Free Dirt Records. You can pre-order the album here . For more on Jake Blount, check out his website .

Photo via Facebook Despite being called "Fear," there is some optimism in Jacqueline Tucci's latest single. According to Tucci,  “ Fear ” is about a time in my life when I felt like I was really searching for something but I didn’t know what it was. The song was born out of those feelings of restlessness and frustration." The song is kinda sorta folk adjacent, but only by the current modern definition of what counts as folk. "Fear" is a rambling indie rock song that balances an intense foreboding along with a sense of hope. Plus, it's oddly groovy. It all fits into a killer little indie rock song that is bordering on pure perfection. You can watch the video for "Fear" below. Bonus: It's filled with classic horror movie monster puppets! You can get a copy of the single over at Bandcamp . For more on Jacqueline Tucci, check her out on Facebook and Twitter .

Photo by Alex McCullough The latest from Brighton's Squid takes a little while to get started. That's not to say the first minute-plus of "Sludge" isn't good. It's quite good, and has a unique but familiar decidedly British feel. It kinda has a bit of that 90's Britpop leanings towards hippie country vibes. Once the vocals come in, the song starts picking up into the territory of great. But then right around the two minute forty-five second mark? Pure bliss. The song both devolves and progresses into this herky jerky post punk disco jam session of both rage and joy. It's both gorgeous and too abrasive, which means it's basically a perfect song. You can listen to "Sludge" below. The song is available now via Warp Records. For more on Squid, check them out Facebook and Twitter .

No matter how much we might love Sonic Youth and/or Thurston Moore, some of his music can be more... challenging of a listen. The man recently released a three disc nearly three hour album of experimental noise. Not exactly a fun listen. His latest release (a song shorter than four minutes!) dates back to his days with Chelsea Light Moving. As Thurston explains:  "A song written in Seattle, Washington in 2014 on tour as Chelsea Light Moving. Originally performed on the great KEXP-FM as 'The Exstasie' with lyrics taken from a poem by John Donne (1572-1631) of the same name. Later re-mixed in London, UK with re-recorded vox + lyrics self-penned as a flashlight to the future of a planet in desperate need of love and rock n' soul activism. Chelsea Light Moving, though we made but one LP, was a sweet group and I'll always adore these cats, the memories of travel and dialogue and the times we spent making music and honest friendship. London had come a-calling and lov...

What are the songs to get you through this weird time? Ken and I have you covered with ten songs each about isolation, viral infections, being alone, and whatever else. Shuffle and enjoy with artists ranging from Anthrax to Tiffany to Kanye West!

Photo by Ron Yamaski It's probably not a surprise that a band named Gouge Away are fans of the Pixies. The Fort Lauderdale band have decided to not cover their namesake, but instead the classic "Wave of Mutilation." Despite it being a very faithful cover, singer Christina Michelle brings a ferocity to the song not heard in the original. That's not to say that this is a hardcore version of the song: There's definitely a spirit of fun to be had, and maybe a sense of brattiness more like The Muffs than the Pixies.  You can listen to Gouge Away's version of "Wave of Mutilation" below. 25% of the 7" sales for the single ("Wave of Mutilation" is the B-side) are being donated to rescue.org . You can get your copy through B andcamp . For more on Gouge Away, check out their website .

Ska punk is one of the most hated musical genres in existence. Most of us probably went through a slight phase the last time it exploded in the mid/late 90's, or we hated it passionately back then. This is a huge confession for a music snob such as myself: It has always been a guilty pleasure for me, even though I know I'm far too old for it. It's been over twenty years since ska's most recent surge of popularity, so we're probably due for another one. Enter Orange County's Bite Me Bambi. Their latest single, "Hot Lava," is exactly what we want (or don't) in ska punk. The song is ridiculously fun, and at the very least we could use some fun right now. Led by singer Tahlena Chikami (who is also an actress that has appeared in Parks and Recreation and Jane the Virgin ), the seven piece band have crafted an absurdly catchy song. The band also features members of Save Ferris, MySuperhero, and Starpool, for a little past cred. You can watch the vide...

As a bit of a movie buff, the fact that most theaters are closed and releases are being delayed, music isn't experiencing the same massive delays. Fingers crossed that it continues. Artist : Lapsley Album : Through Water Quick Description : Gorgeous, synthy pop music. Why You Should Listen : Interesting enough to be worth a look even if it's mainstream enough to have wide appeal. Overall Thoughts : I honestly wasn't looking to listen to this, but whoever is on Lapsley's marketing team got some prime placement in the Spotify algorithm and the result an album I really enjoyed. On a gloomy Friday in the age of coronavirus, this is the sort of stark, haunting thing I needed to start my day, and it's something that has a sound that's equal parts mainstream-ready and builds upon so many other indie acts from artsy European locales. Recommendation : This is worth the time. Artist : Mapache Album : From Liberty Street Quick Description : Some southwester...

Photo via Facebook Boston rockers War On Alexandria have gifted us all with a cover of the Soundgarden classic "Black Hole Sun." Being a true music snob, "Black Home Sun" is of course one of my least favorite Soundgarden songs, but I can't deny that it's a classic for a reason. War On Alexandria do a stripped down acoustic version with only guitar and vocals by Liam McCain and Emma Keefe. Stripping the song down this way does alleviate the overdone aspect that I never cared for in the original, which helps bring out the emotion in the song. It's a powerful version of the song that changes it up slightly while staying true to the original. You can watch the video for War On Alexandria's take on "Black Hole Sun" below. For more on War On Alexandria, check them out on Facebook .

Photo via Facebook It's been a few years since we've heard from Sweet Soubrette, aka Ellia Bisker's (Charming Disaster) solo project. Her new single, "Typhoid Mary," is inspired by the coronavirus pandemic and is about Mary Mallon, who infected dozens of people with typhoid while showing no symptoms until she was imprisoned in quarantine. It's a two minute quickie song that fits with Charming Disaster's dark folk cabaret while being more pop, which is what we expect from Sweet Soubrette. Plus, the addition of "Ring Around the Rosie" added in the middle just adds to the creepy factor. You can listen to "Typhoid Mary" below. The song is available now on Sweet Soubrette's Bandcamp. For more on Sweet Soubrette, check out her website . Typhoid Mary by Sweet Soubrette

Last month we brought you "Bad Luck," the wonderfully grown up slice of pop punk from Brooklyn's Answering Machine. Their latest single, "Cherry Coke," is one of my favorite punk tropes: The homage to sugary sweet 60's teen pop. "Cherry Coke" is a the kind of song that bands like the Ramones or The Queers did. It's a gorgeous power pop song that would sound like something The Archies would have done if the guitars weren't just a little too biting and fuzzy for. Samantha and JD's vocals intertwine in some of the best harmonies we've ever heard in a punk song.  According to vocalist and guitarist J.D. Fetcho (and I promise I wrote the above paragraph before reading this...):  “‘Cherry Coke’ is a love song about fever dreams, bloody noses, and candy canes. “It’s for all the old folks who want to settle down but still have some fun. This one’s inspired by a love of Buddy Holly, 60s pop music, and The Ramones.” You can listen to ...

Photo by Ebru Yildiz Activity, the NYC semi-supergroup featuring members of Grooms, Field Mouse, and Russian Baths, are back with another single from their upcoming debut album. "Nude Prince" continues the trip hop meets shoegaze sound we loved from their previous single. If anything, "Nude Prince" dives further into the dark side of trip hop. It's a black hole of a song, sucking everything into itself the longer you listen. It's an impossibly slow song with a drum and bass rhythm and a shoegaze fuzz swirling the entire thing together. The band explains the song:  " Those icy synths for whatever reason made me think of the title and I worked back from that into this idea of what happens to the families of people, specifically men, who do shitty things, especially after they get caught. This one was pretty much totally cut together piece by piece in the studio, not live at all." You can listen to "Nude Prince" below. Unmask Whoever...

It's doubtful that Tysk Tysk Task wrote their latest single, "Witchcraft," in the past week. Somehow, they've captured the desperation and insanity we've all felt in the world. "Witchcraft" is a weirdo indie rock freak out that keeps building and building and building in intensity and tension as it progresses. It works within the standard loud/quiet/loud format indie rock has functioned inside for over thirty years, but the quiet parts get more desperate and needy each time they come by. Samantha Hartsel's vocals are more impassioned than we've heard before. Their upcoming album will be the rare thing to look forward to this month. You can listen to "Witchcraft" below. The debut album from Tysk Tysk Task will be released March 27. You can pre-order a copy here . For more on Tysk Tysk Task, be sure to check them out on Facebook and Instagram . Witchcraft by Tysk Tysk Task

There are plenty of Neil Young covers albums out there, with varying levels of quality. Look Out for my Love: A Neil Young Covers Album to Benefit RAICES is one of the better ones I've heard. It doesn't hurt that it's also one of the strangest, with songs that mangle and warp Young's classic songs (in the best possible way)! It starts out pretty standard, with Halfsour taking on "Words Between the Line of Age." The Boston band give us a fairly faithful cover, with noise and killer guitar solos in all the right places. And then it gets weird. Bluffs turn the mellow, guitar driven "Albuquerque" into a chilled out electronic noise song. For "Heart of Gold," Shy Violet go even slower and more traditional than the original. Spit Take take the "Transformer Man" from Neil's weirdo electronic period and go pop punk with it. "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" is one of the more mainstream Americana songs in the Neil Young...

You'd think that, in a pandemic with #socialdistancing and the like, I could get my [radio edit] together and post on time. Sorry. Artist : CocoRosie Album : Put the Shine On Quick Description : The perpetually odd sister duo with a very accessible record. Why You Should Listen : It's probably the most mainstream CocoRosie effort... ever? Overall Thoughts : When "Restless" landed a few weeks back, I was kind of shocked because I could imagine this getting some love on at least independent radio. It's a far cry from their hip-hop tinged folk stuff early on, that's for sure. They're still strange and this is still a weird listen, but not that weird. It's worth some time if you've ever been interested in CocoRosie, but probably worth the time anyway. Recommendation : Give this a listen. Artist : Yumi Zouma Album : Truth or Consequences Quick Description : Latest from the alt-indie favorite. Why You Should Listen : They're just a...