If It's Too Loud...

"Grizzly Bear Blues" by Edmonton's Corb Lund is one of my favorite kinds of songs. It's funny and not serious without being too jokey or a novelty song. "Grizzly Bear Blues" is a ramblin' rock and roll meets country song about how to survive a grizzly bear encounter that includes some facts about grizzlies. Even though it's rock and roll meets country, it's not edgy enough to be outlaw country. It's a fun song that's disguised as a great song, and paying attention could actually save your life. You can listen to "Grizzly Bear Blues" below. Agriculture Tragic, the upcoming album from Corb Lund, will be out June 26 on New West Records. You can pre-order a copy here . For more on Corb Lund, check out his website .

Photo by Silken Weinberg Skullcrusher (aka Los Angeles based musician Helen Ballentine) is back with another single that doesn't fit the name of the project at all. "Day of Show" starts off disguised as an indie folk song... until the synths come in. Slowly it morphs into a more dream pop infused with shoegaze song. It creates this dreamy, hazy feel which is kind of perfect for laying around the house in the summer heat while under quarantine. Ballentine says of the song:   "I wrote ‘Day of Show’ on a hot day last summer in my roommate’s bedroom because mine didn’t have AC," explains Ballentine. “I felt dazed and restless from sitting around in the heat all day. It is a song about feeling trapped in yourself, unable to help yourself and reluctant to let others in. It explores the fragmented behavior and thoughts that arise from this feeling: a kind of daydreaming that can be really creative but also the darkness that also exists there. It’s musically inspi...

I've become enamored with Massachusetts's own Sapling this year. Their album No Sequoia is a strong contender for my best of 2020 list, so when I heard that Sapling's Rainy Maple Sugar Candy had another project, I obviously had to check it out. Eye Witness is that project, and it's an indie folk duo consisting of Rainy and Milo. I personally wouldn't have pictured Rainy being in an indie folk duo, but once you listen to "Miss Me," you'll get it. Milo takes vocal duties on the song, and the first thing you'll notice is that he doesn't have a traditional folk voice. It's unique in the way that someone like J Mascis has a unique voice. You wouldn't enjoy him doing karaoke, but his voice fits the music perfectly. "Miss Me" has an intensely dark feel, and despite being indie folk, it simply rocks.  You can listen to "Miss Me" below. Miss Me  is also the name of Eye Witness's upcoming album which will be out on Jun...

"Fractures," the latest single from Katie Malco, is one of the most lovely songs you'll hear all year. It's not reinventing any genre of music. You've heard songs like "Fractures" before, but none have been done this well. It's a modern day neo-folk/indie rock masterpiece, staying at mid-tempo throughout but somehow feeling more intense as it goes on. Despite not having the cheeriest subject matter, the song comes across as uplifting and as a quiet anthem. Malco says of the song:  "Fractures is about coming face to face with a version of yourself you don’t even recognise, and growing into and understanding your true self and figuring out your own needs in life. My ex partner's girlfriend before me was an extremely beautiful, intelligent and, by all accounts, incredibly nice person. She was from the coast and she surfed, skated, hiked, climbed and she was a scientist. I grew up in a rough midlands industrial town and didn't do that ...

Photo by Chiara Gambuto Hailing from Italy, Bee Bee Sea play a hyped up, fast version of garage-psych rock. Their new single, "Daily Jobs," is as bouncy as it is blistering. It's fast without being heavy. Instead it's just fun. While most alt-rock for the past thirty years alternates between quiet and loud, "Daily Jobs" bounces from fast to slow. It's like The Hives mixed with Arctic Monkeys.  Bee Bee Sea say of "Daily Jobs":  "The prospect of having a shitty job for the rest of our lives can be suffocating. This song, and the album as a whole, are basically the summary of our lives in the last couple of years, split between working in a factory during the day and playing our music at night. Night is a dream and a day... Day Ripper!" You can watch the video for "Daily Jobs" below. Day Ripper , the upcoming album from Bee Bee Sea, will be out October 9 on Wild Honey Records. For more on Bee Bee Sea, check them out on ...

Photo by Rachel Pony Cassells Jess Cornelius started out in Australia as the lead singer of Teeth and Tongue, but now resides in Los Angeles and is set to release her debut solo album. The first single, "Kitchen Floor," hits a lot of our musical sweet spots. The song lives firmly in the current indie rock singer/songwriter world, but Cornelius also dabbles into some 60's doo wop to give it a unique feel. Plus, the song has its very own unique groove. It all feels familiar and fresh at the same time.  You can watch the video for "Kitchen Floor" below. The video was recorded at 5 a.m. to show an empty Los Angeles. Jess Cornelius says of the video: “ I have a weird fascination with Hollywood Blvd — it’s such a grotesque place most of the time .  But I knew we’d have the chance to experience it deserted and empty, and it was like a different place. I’d been watching a lot of  ‘last human on earth’ apocalypse-type films. Mostly, the concept behind the clip wa...

As we continue our march towards this becoming a Tanya Donelly fansite, this week she has covered Yazoo's classic "Only You." This was one of those songs I didn't immediately recognize by title or band name, but once I listened to the original I recognized it. "Only You" might be one of the lost New Wave classics. It doesn't get the attention or modern day airplay that many of its peers get, but you'll know it once you listen. Tanya Donelly enlisted Andrea Gillis for vocals on this week's cover. The main difference you'll notice is less synths, more guitar (electric, acoustic, and slide), toy piano, and accordion. It's a gorgeous and fun version of a song that was already gorgeous and fun.  In the Bandcamp post, Donelly explains the song's meaning to her: " Upstairs At Eric’s was easily one of the most played albums of my late teens, shared with the people I spent every possible waking hour with back then — dancing to it i...

Vangarde is going to be pure bliss for many of us. It's the pairing of Mr. Lif and Stu Bangas. According to a Facebook post, the project is " In honor of the love we both have for Gang Starr, we have come together to keep the classic combo of MC & Producer alive and well in modern hip hop culture." Mr. Lif working on a project that is in honor of Gang Starr? I'm officially on board. Their first single, "The New Normal," will give you a strong Gang Starr vibe. It's a laid back hip hop song Gang Starr perfected in the 90's. It's almost like Vangarde came together as a Gang Starr tribute band, but are doing originals and not covers. That is not a bad thing. You can listen to "The New Normal" below. For more on the upcoming Vangarde project between Mr. Lif and Stu Bangas, check ou t  http://www.brutalmusic.org .

Artist : Indigo Girls Album : Look Long Quick Description : New album from the folk legends. Why You Should Listen : I'm not someone who has ever really liked them, and I really liked this. Overall Thoughts : Everyone likes "Closer to Fine," and I'm very partial to 1994's "Least Complicated," but this is not a duo I've ever really gotten into. No specific reason, just not my style. This, however, is my style. This is a bit of a fun romp in some places, and a serious piece in others, and there are songs like album opener "Shit Kickin'" that just really do it for me. Don't skip out on this one, especially if you have some preconceived notions about the act. Recommendation : A solid listen this week. Artist : Steve Earle and the Dukes Album : Ghosts of West Virginia Quick Description : Another new album from another legend. Why You Should Listen : Steve Earle is basically showing us how classic, outlaw country is done. ...

Fugazi fans are obviously going to want to hear anything by Coriky, the supergroup featuring Amy Farina, Joe Lally, and Ian MacKaye. But they're really going to want to hear their latest single, "Too Many Husbands." The guitar riff that starts "Too Many Husbands" is the most Fugazi thing I've heard since Fugazi went on indefinite hiatus. It's just so Fugazi, it sounds like it could be a lost song from 13 Songs . You know that start stop/jerky feel? Yeah... it's here. But that doesn't mean Coriky are just copying their former selves here. "Too Many Husbands" has a definite Gang of Four post punk feel to it. Plus, there are some elements of soul and some mainstream aspirations hidden deep inside, maybe?  You can listen to "Too Many Husbands" below. You can pre-order their upcoming self-titled debut album, on Bandcamp . Physical copies will start to ship on May 29. It will be available to stream or download on June 12, and ...

If more metal was like ILS, we'd cover metal a lot of a lot more. The Portland, OR "disaster chic" band has a new single out. "Whitemeat" is this weirdo metal song. It exists in a world where metal isn't trying to posture as being tough guys. ILS don't seem to care about an image. "Whitemeat" is just an impossibly heavy song that doesn't stick to the metal-by-numbers template, which makes it even more metal than most. I'm going to compare it to Refused, but mostly because it makes me feel like the first time I heard "New Noise." And that inspires the thoughts "What the hell is this?" and "Why isn't there more of it?" You can listen to "Whitemeat" below. Curse , the new album from ILS, will be out July 4. You can pre-order it on Bandcamp . For more on ILS, check them out on Facebook . Curse by Ils

With Kathleen Edwards releasing her first album of new music in nearly eight years later this summer, I felt like now was as good a time as any to take a look back at some of her best work so far, so a new Monday Mix for your American Memorial Day is cookout appropriate even if you're socially distancing, and the irony that it highlights a Canadian artist on a national holiday is not lost on me. Edwards has released four albums up to now, and this mix covers all four plus her new release, "Options Open." The mix is best listened to in order, at least the first time around... Failer : Edwards's debut album is represented by five songs here. "Six O'Clock News" put her on the map, "One More Song the Radio Won't Like" kept her there, and the rest show some decent range. Don't sleep on "12 Bellevue," which remains a favorite of mine. After listening to this set, make sure to check out this highlight from her debut (and long...

Sugar Snow is the solo project of Kid Gulliver's Simone Berk. According to the Bandcamp bio, Sugar Snow is " dr eamy, melodic,  pretty, sad, honest and raw," which sums up the project's latest single. "He Knows I Love Him Too Much" was written by the songwriting pair of Gerry Goffin and Carole King, and popularized by The Paris Sisters. It's a classic early 60's oldie, and the Sugar Snow version stays quite true to the original, with maybe a little more hint of modern folk than the pre-Beatles invasion music scene sound of the original. Interestingly enough, Berk recorded her vocals at Zippah Studios while in her minivan due to social distancing. You can listen to Sugar Snow's take on "He Knows I Love Him Too Much" below. The song is currently available via Bandcamp . For more on Sugar Snow, check out the artist's Facebook and Twitter . He Knows I Love Him Too Much by Sugar Snow

Late show live performances are obviously a challenge these days. Most talk show hosts are hosting solo from home with guests on video conference, so it's pretty impossible to actually do any live performance. Wilco were on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert  this week with their new single, "Tell Your Friends." Instead of a live performance, the band is shown in home recordings lip synching with their families. Not super cool, but check out the Mass MoCA shirts! "Tell Your Friends" is a laid back, chilled out dreamy folky kind of song that includes a killer lazy electric guitar solo. So... a pretty standard Wilco song these days. The lyrics are a little hokey ("Don't forget to tell your friends / When you see them again / O' I love you"), but we can all use some hokey positivity  these days. "Tell Your Friends" may not go down as one of the greatest Wilco songs of all time, but it's the Wilco song we need right now. You can w...

Photo by Ryan Pfluger It premiered last week on the Hulu show The Great , but now we can listen to this cover on its own. Sharon Van Etten and Joshua Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) have joined together to cover Nick Lowe's iconic "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding?" The duo slows the song way, way down into a nearly haunting version with lots of country guitars. Instead of the joyful sound of the original, Van Etten and Homme's version sounds more like a tearful plea. Homme explains the collaboration:  “ I went to a Courtney Barnett Valentine's Day concert that Sharon Van Etten was playing as one of a veritable buffet of musicians. She opened her mouth and my mind exploded—that voice, like fresh cream... with a hint of fine grit. When a week later the opportunity arose to sing with her, I jumped at it. This was of course  before we had any idea that the world would be going into hiding for months. Recording this song had nothin...

Photo by Ben Jackson JEUCE are the kind of band we know we're far too old to love, but when the music is this much fun... how can we not? "Hangover" is this out of control burst of joy trapped in a minute and a half. It's all about having a hangover and the problems this causes. The song is brought in this bundle of garage punk blended with some 60's hipster groove. Plus, the delivery has a more than a little in common with neo-riot grrrl, but more party than politics. "Hangover" is absurdly fun, and it's well worth the ninety seconds it will take to listen. You can listen to "Hangover" below. introJEUCEing , the debut album (and album title of the year) from JEUCE, will be out May 29 on Delicious Clam. You can pre-order the album on Bandcamp . For more on JEUCE, check out their Bandcamp . introJEUCEing by Jeuce

Sometimes you just wanna drop the pretense and just listen to a rock song. Atlanta's RMBLR have you covered. "Machine Gun" was recorded just before quarantine, "Machine Gun" is the kind of garage rock 'n' roll that would have been huge during the garage rock revival of the early 2000's. It's no frills (except for some slick sounding production) punk infused rock without gimmicks. The members have all done time in various Atlanta bands over the years (The Heart Attacks, Ravagers, The Barreracudas, Dinos Boys, and Biters) which makes RMBLR an Atlanta supergroup. You can watch the video for "Machine Gun" below. RMBLR have a six song EP due out later this year on Spaghetty Town Records. For more on RMBLR, check them out on Bandcamp .

Photo by Frank Ockenfels I was a little late to jump on the Phoebe Bridgers bandwagon, which is something I've been regretting for quite a while now. Luckily, I'm firmly onboard for album two which is due out next month. "I See You" fits right into what we expect from Bridgers while pushing forward. This new single is simply an epic indie rock/folk song, despite being intensely personal. The song feels like being stuck in this intense and otherworldly dream, in the best possible way. Bridgers explains the song: " It’s about my breakup with my drummer. We dated for a few years , made music every day, and were extremely codependent. We became like family to each other, so our breakup was extremely tough. But if this tells you anything about our relationship, we wrote this song together, just like everything else. ”  You can watch the video for "I See You" below. Punisher , the new album from Phoebe Bridgers, will be out June 19 on Dead Oceans. Bri...

Photo courtesy Madeline Kenney If you haven't discovered the music of Madeline Kenney yet, now is a perfect time to jump on board. Her latest single, "Sucker," is both breezy and contemplative, which might be perfect for the summer of 2020. It's this light, gorgeous song that never gets cheery. Musically, it's not quite folk, and it's not quite indie rock. It leans towards pop but never really commits to that, either. Instead you get a sound that is truly unique to Madeline Kenney, while still feeling comforting and familiar. Plus, it features vocals from Lambchop's Kurt Wagner, which is always a plus. Madeline Kenney says of the song and video: "When I lived in Durham, I found myself sitting in the sun on the porch with a musical hero of mine, who was worried about losing their healthcare and not being able to afford to tour. It blew my mind and broke my heart that such a genius had to struggle with uncertainty in trying to make their art....

I can't be objective about Kathleen Edwards. I tripped up on Kathleen Edwards shortly after her debut album, Failer , came out in the United States with a profile in the Boston Globe featuring a promo photo of Edwards collapsed in the street among some beer bottles. Pitched in a way as a sort of foul-mouthed alt-country successor to Neko Case, I fell in love with every song on that album, saw her at TT the Bears, fell in love with every other album she put out, saw her in New Hampshire, and waited impatiently for her to become the next big thing. Then she quit music and opened a coffee shop. If you've been keeping up with this blog for a while, rarely a month goes by in my weekly new release posts where I don't toss out the idea of an artist filling that Kathleen Edwards-shaped hole in my musical heart. Some have come close, but it's never fully happened. Rumors of her reentering the studio have floated around for a while, but yesterday marked her first releas...

Artist : August, Yours Truly Album : Something Uncomfortable Quick Description : Some really great glitchy electronic music. Why You Should Listen : This is sneaky great with some crossover appeal. Overall Thoughts : I randomly tripped up on this one this week when doing a little bit of research on the Charli XCX record (also out this week). This came recommended by someone, and wow, is it great. A lot of fun stuff here for those looking for something a little different and a little challenging, and it's almost akin to if the PC Music crowd trapped Ben Frost in a room for a month. Don't miss this one. Recommendation : Won't be for everyone, but if it's for you... Artist : Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Album : Reunions Quick Description : Latest from the alt-country masters. Why You Should Listen : Isbell continues on his run of stellar, superior releases. Overall Thoughts : It's not often that you listen to an artist's newest release and say ...

Athens, GA is one of those cities with such a rich musical history that you have to give any band from there a listen. The latest we've discovered from that city is Vision Video. Vision Video's first single, "In My Side," is a bouncy post punk song that, despite having a cheery sound, is still quite gothic. To me, it sounds like Joy Division bonded with the more boisterous side of The Cure. Vision Video isn't your typical "woe is me" goth band, either. Frontman Dusty Gannon draws on his experiences as an Army Infantry Officer in Afghanistan and his current jobs as a paramedic and fireman to inspire his writing.  You can listen to "In My Side" below. The song is available now via Vision Video's Bandcamp . For more on Vision Video, check them out on Instagram . In My Side by Vision Video

Photo by Lauren Piandes Huey Lewis and the News are just one of those bands I never got into, even at their height in the 80's. I'm sure I knew they were cool, but they just never did it for me. They did it for a lot of people, and still do. Inspired by re-watching Back to the Future , Gray Bouchard & the Dedications have decided to make the latest installment of their quarantunes series be a cover of "Power of Love." Once again, their decision might have been divine intervention. Gray Bouchard & the Dedications are masters of mimicking the huge over the top 80's sound needed for any Huey Lewis and the News cover. Sure, this one might be a little sloppy at times, but it's the kind of fun that's just a little bit silly, and we can all use that right now. You can watch the video for Gray Bouchard & the Dedications's cover of "Power of Love" below. For more on Gray Bouchard & the Dedications, check out Gray Bouchard's w...