If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Jackie Freeman Burlington, VT's Robber Robber released Wild Guess  last year, which was a musical highlight for 2024. Now, they're back with a new single, their first on Fire Talk Records. "Talkback" keeps the band's post-punk sound, but it's a more dance friendly, almost more poppy version. Of course, calling a song poppy is a relative term, as it's still a fairly dissonant song, but one you're going to want to dance to. It's also perfect for just listening to as you try to dissect all of the elements of the song. As with most songs from Robber Robber, "Talkback" is fairly undefinable, so just sit back (or stand and dance) while you let the song wash over you. You can watch the video for "Talkback" below. The single is out now on Fire Talk Records. For more on Robber Robber, check out the band on Instagram .

JVK are one of those bands that seems poised to break out of the Boston music scene. Their latest single, "When I Think About Love," is a fantastic mix of punk rock, pop, electro pop, and just straight up rock. The whole thing has a certain 90's vibe going to it, mixing rock from that era with New Wave. It's a glammed up package that sounds kind of like if Joan Jett had been inspired by Van Halen's "Jump" or Def Leppard's "Love Bites." As 80's inspired as "When I Think About Love" sounds, it's not a song trying to be a throwback. It may draw inspiration from some classic sounds, but this is a completely modern sound. Plus, this sounds like it's going to become one of the most fun songs in JVK's live shows, so let's all try to get to one ASAP before they graduate from small clubs. You can listen to "When I Think About Love" below. For more on JVK, check out the band's website .

Massachusetts' own Adios Fatso are back with a new single, "Gopro, Not Again!," an ode to the "... frustration as your Gopro fails at the worst possible time." As with most songs from the band, this one is a mix of punk and indie rock. However, this one seems to be a bit more catchy and bordering right on the line of being mainstream. It's a fun and noisy track that is sure to burrow itself deep into your mind. Somehow, this song is a little over two minutes long despite how much it has going on. It's a burst of energy and silly anger, with some of the best "Woah-oh-oh-oh"s we've heard in a long time. Plus, "Gopro, Not Again" ends with a blazing guitar solo, leaving you with a desperate desire for more. You can watch the video for "Gopro, Not Again" below. For more on Adios Fatso, check out the band on Instagram and Bandcamp .

1994's  ¡ Sim patico! was the album when I first discovered Velocity Girl, so I'm thrilled that it's getting a reissue. The reissue is also an expanded version, so it will include B-sides and rarities, one of which is a cover of New Order's "Your Silent Face." It's an almost unrecognizable cover as the New Wave original is transformed into a 90's alt-rocker. The trademark synth notes are replaced with guitar chords, but New Order die hards will most likely recognize it right away. There is also harmonica replacing synths, which works amazingly well. As a fan of cover songs, this is my favorite kind: It stays true to the original while making it their own. Let's just hope this second Velocity Girl reissue leads to more live dates, preferably in New England. You can listen to Velocity Girl's cover of "Your Silent Face" below.  ¡ Simpatico! (Remastered and Expanded) is due out February 23 on Sub Pop Records, and is available for pre-orde...

Photo by Aileen Lam The trend in shoegaze these days is to mix up the formula and cross pollinate it with other musical genres. Hong Kong's Lucid Express aren't doing that on "Something Blue," and have released one of the most pure shoegaze songs of the year. The song feels like you're dreaming. It's hazy and fuzzy, with just the right amount of loud/quiet/loud. The feedback squall that telegraphed the first loud chorus was just about perfect, and gave me some 90's college flashbacks. "Something Blue" is a gorgeous and breathtaking track, and fans of classic shoegaze are going to be transfixed by Lucid Express. You can watch the video for "Something Blue" below. Instant Comfort is due out February 20 on Kanine Records, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Lucid Express, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram .

Photo by Jason Zucco It seems bonkers to me that Converge has been around for thirty-five years now, but considering they formed in 1990, it makes mathematical (if not emotional) sense. The Boston metalcore titans are once again back with a new single. "Love Is Not Enough" is, predictably, a powerhouse song. It's loud and dissonant and filled with all of the aggression you require for a Converge song. Despite being around for three and a half decades, they're showing zero signs of even slowing down a tiny bit. What makes them stand out apart from most of their peers, and makes them appeal to those of us who don't typically love music this heavy, is just how hard a song like "Love Is Not Enough" grooves. Plus, it cycles through multiple speeds and sounds in just under two and a half minutes. I certainly don't need to tell anyone how great Converge are, especially since they continue to prove it again and again. Vocalist/lyricist Jacob Bannon says the ...

Photo by Dan Saltzman Boston's TELL have returned with a new protest song written in the wake of the 2024 election. "Things to Do When It's Dark" is a dark and ominous song, for obvious reasons. To me, it sounds like if Leonard Cohen wrote a noise rock or post punk song. There's also a somewhat unexpected glam element to the song, albeit a gritty and grungy one. Despite being three and a half minutes long, there's a lot going on in "Things to Do When It's Dark." While protest music is typically furious and loud, TELL's is more brooding and thoughtful, as if you're trying to figure out what can actually be done. Dan Wildman (guitar, lead vocals, and keyboard) says of his band's latest single: “I wrote ‘Things To Do When It’s Dark’ right after the horrific election. I was traumatized and the only way I could deal with it was to write a song. I had lyrics in the verse that were kind of a screed about what Trump is going to do to our coun...

Nick & June is the Berlin based musical duo comprised of Nick Wolf and Suzie-Lou Kraft. Their latest single, "2017," sees the pair team with Peter Silberman of The Antlers. The new single is a gorgeous and lush song that combines folk with dream pop. It's a highly compelling song that instantly sucks you in with haunting and alluring vocals. What's truly interesting is how the song could have been a simple folk or singer-songwriter track and been stellar. But the addition of droning guitars and a hazy dream pop vibe brings "2017" to an entirely new level. Nick & June have crafted a mesmerizing and highly addictive song with their latest. Nick Wolf says of his band's latest single: “It’s good to occasionally ask yourself why  your mind keeps wandering back to  the past. Who’s still living in 2017?  Ever since I  discovered The Antlers’ album ‘Hospice’ back in 2009, I’ve been a huge fan of Peter and the band. To me, he’s one of the best songwriters...

Photo by Kittie Krivacic Magic Fig continue to be the perfect example of what psych-pop from San Francisco should sound like in 2025. Their latest single, "Goblin," is a gorgeous dream-like song that stays compelling throughout it's six minute length. Every time the song starts to get a little too comfortable in its sound, it adjusts and transforms just enough to keep it interesting. It sounds like Magic Fig collected their favorite parts of music in the past six decades to make "Goblin." It's poppy, and trippy, and somewhat twee at times while being epic at others. This is the kind of song that will make you feel like you're on psychedelics without actually imbibing.  Inna Showalter (vocals/mellotron) says of her band's latest single is... : “About the fickleness of inspiration. It’s also a song about wearing disguises and not being authentic, which causes harm in the long run. The desire to be accepted and ‘good’ cannot always coexist with followin...

Photo by Jeff Pitcher Chaos was my third favorite album of 2024, so I'm thrilled that The Baby Seals are back with a new song. The Cambridgeshire punks just released "Tamoo Trance," a fun and energetic punk track. The song is "... about getting stuck in a trance-like state in an online shop," which is perfect for The Baby Seals. It's funny without being jokey, and is delightfully biting. It's filled with fuzzed out guitars and heavy bass lines, and shows just how fun the genre can be. "Tamoo Trance" is one of those songs that's both punk and pop without being pop punk. If anything, it fits into the subgenres of noise punk and garage punk, just on the far reaches of the fun side of those styles. Frontwoman Kerry says of the band's latest single: “... (it’s) about noticing how quickly we get entrapped online into spending money, and spending the latest form of currency, our attention, and questioning how to break away from it.  It's a...

Photo by Richard McCaffrey The latest from Deer Tick is perfect for the upcoming/current holiday season, but it could also work out for any time of the year. "Light Up Reindeer" is exactly what we love about the Providence band. It merges the worlds of country, folk, and rock into one sound. This one is more of a laid back rock song with flecks of country, and reminds me a lot of Tom Petty's sound. "Light Up Reindeer" is more of a holiday song by title, but I'm still going to sneak it onto a Christmas playlist or two. This is a welcome return from Deer Tick, and shows why they've been a favorite of ours long before we started If It's Too Loud... Ian O'Neil (guitar/vocals) says of his band's latest single: "Light Up Reindeer is about the interior conversation you have with yourself when you're trying to talk yourself away from your darkest thoughts. Useless, intrusive thinking puts a distance between the best part of ourselves and the...

Photo by David Doobinin Boston alt-rock legend Juliana Hatfield has a new single out from her upcoming album, and this one is going to make virtually every one of her fans delighted. "Fall Apart" captures the mood of her earlier, 90's music and combines it with her more recent, more laid back sound. It lands in this great middle ground between The Juliana Hatfield Three and Adult Contemporary. Hatfield was one of the stand-out artists during the 90's alt-rock boom, and "Fall Apart" shows why she's still one of the most beloved and respected artists decades into her career. I'll challenge anyone to hold "Fall Apart" up to any of her work from the 90's. This is truly one of her most compelling songs she's released. Juliana Hatfield says of her latest single: “I do make a point to say I fall apart now and then. It's not that I have fallen apart and you can never put me back together. I'm just talking about things that are real....

Artist : STL GLD Album : Good Music for Bad Kids Quick Thoughts : I get that Joyner Lucas gets all the regional rap love here, but at what point are we willing to admit that STL GLD is New England's best rap act? The beats are grimy and addictive, the lyricism unmatched, and the collective regularly punches above its weight. We love the act here, and Good Music is one of those records that show how deserving they are of a breakout. Songs of Note : "80's Babies," "Ayo Edebiri," 24KT," "Dances With Wolves," "The Get Up Kids," "Too Much," "The Clapper" Artist : Austra Album : Chin Up Buttercup Quick Thoughts : The opening line of "Math Equation" is probably the most brutal breakup lyric I've ever heard. It's a sad dance album in so many ways, as the cover clearly demonstrates, but as someone who has been a fan of Austra for ages now, this is one of her stronger albums. A really, really g...

I'm fairly new to the world of Die Spitz fandom. I only discovered them through their most recent album, Something to Consume , but was immediately grabbed. Sunday night I joined an interesting mix of twenty-something hipsters and middle aged metal dudes at The Sinclair when Die Spitz came roaring into town.  Reading about Die Spitz's live show, my expectations were high. I'm thrilled to say they exceeded all expectations. They were an absolute powerhouse live right from the opening song, "I hate when GIRLS die." Their show is an energetic whirlwind of sound, mostly in the metal and punk side of music, but occasionally delving into some more pop oriented sounds. They had a sense of chaos throughout their set, with singer/guitarist Ellie Livingston playing in the crowd at one point and then climbing the balcony railing at another. Chloe de St. Aubin and Ava Schrobilgen also took turns on vocals and traded guitar and drums during the show. Bassist Kate Halter seemed...

Photo by Melisa Lunar For their latest single, Mexico City's Diles Que No Me Maten have re-recorded a song off their first album. "Manos de Piedra (Revisitada)" is an intense song in a post-hardcore and indie rock style. It's filled with intense and oddly melodic music over spoken word vocals. The music is what will truly pull you in, even if you don't understand Spanish and have no idea what the lyrics are. This one is reminding me of a more earthy version of Slint. Even when the song takes an unexpected break in the middle and comes back more mellow, you're still going to be won over by the intense music of Diles Que No Me Maten. Jon ás Dérb ez (vocals/saxophone) says of his band's latest single: “​​This is an old song from our first album that we've been playing in a different way this past year. We decided to re-record it and re-release it because it felt great to see how the same ghost of that song has grown within us. It's not pretending to b...

Photo courtesy of the band Soft Skies Inc, aka the Philadelphia band consisting of twin brothers Martin and Ryan Rex who were in Boston band Lockgroove, typically make dream pop, but their latest single goes a little bit heavier than that genre usually gets. "The Point" is a driving alt-rock song that shows off the band's 90's origins. It's a driving song that grooves quite hard. It's reminding me of bands in the late 90's that were making rock music that you could dance to. Even though I'm comparing "The Point" to music from the 90's, it doesn't truly sound like a throwback song. Soft Skies Inc sound current on their latest single while it does have it's roots in that decade. This is a fun sounding one, despite the song's subject matter. Ryan Rex says of his band's latest single: “‘The Point’ is about when something that once saved you starts to drown you instead. It’s about the beautiful kind of destruction you can’t see...

Photo by Charlie & Charlie Last year we brought you a pair of singles from Man/Woman/Chainsaw, one of the more unique discoveries of 2024. Now the London band is back with "Only Girl." As diverse as they were last year, Man/Woman/Chainsaw push their sound even further with this new single. We described previous songs as being moody/theatrical and having more of a punk sound. "Only Girl" is more of a straight up alt-rock song with some elements of Adult Contemporary, but with strings. Sometimes bands can be the most surprising by going more mainstream, and that's certainly the case here. But mainstream is always a relative term, and "Only Girl" is still a Man/Woman/Chainsaw song, so it's still a fun and theatrical track. Vera Leppanen (vocals/bass) says of the band's latest single: "’Only Girl’ is our playful love song. Built around a ripping violin top-line and birthed from a grungy guitar jam, it gradually became something more boiste...

Photo by OK McCausland Ski Team, the musical project of Lucie Lozinski, has a new single out that combines lo-fi indie rock with the current crop of artists that combine the genre with modern alt-pop. "New BF" is a fast and driving song that includes all of the charm of lo-fi indie rock. It's kind of like a bedroom version of artists like Blondshell or Lucy Dacus. The song is wonderfully fuzzy and catchy, and sounds like an updated version of Sebadoh. Our only complaint is that at just under two and a half minutes, just as you realize how much you love the song, it's over. Ski Team might be the perfect bridge between 90's indie rock snobs and current indie rock snobs. Lucie Lozinski says of her latest single: “I’ve always thought it's a weird thing, saying 'congrats' when people get engaged—as though it’s an end, or an achievement." You can listen to "New BF" below. Burnout/Boys is due out January 23, and is available for pre-order here ...

Last year on November 15, I was at Deep Cuts in Medford for the fifth anniversary of Hallelujah the Hills' album I'm You. What should have been a celebratory occasion was somewhat somber as everyone in the audience was still trying to figure out if we should be having fun at that point in history. This year on November 15, I was at Deep Cuts in Medford for Hallelujah the Hills' twentieth anniversary, and this year we were able to celebrate properly.  It's a crazy feeling to me that one of my "new" bands has been around for twenty years, but I haven't been around for all of Hallelujah the Hills' two decades. I got into them around 2014's Have You Ever Done Something Evil? Because of that, I wasn't all that familiar with much of their set, which strongly focused on their earlier songs. Some songs, such as 2012's "Nightengale Lightning," I don't believe I've ever seen performed live. This was definitely a night for long term ...

Greensboro, NC's Taylor Williams has a new single out (his first on Colemine Records) that is pure neo-soul. "Dreaming" is an ultra chilled out soul song that is impossibly smooth. Williams' vocals are the true highlight of the song and are what is going to grab you and pull you in. "Dreaming" doesn't sound like a soul throwback, but it's completely timeless and feels like it could have been made at any time in the past six decades. The song has an almost universal appeal. Fans of any style or time period of soul will love it, but it's also going to crossover for a lot of music fans. You can watch the video for "Dreaming" below. The single is out now on Colemine Records, and can be ordered here . For more on Taylor Williams, check out the artist on Instagram and Facebook .

Providence "piano-driven witch pop" artist Olivia Dolphin is back with a brand new single. "Lost" is a heart-wrenching piano ballad heavy on emotion but composed in such a beautiful way that it's still an enjoyable listen. This is a pop song with strong folk elements and an alt-rock edge. The song has such an interesting feel and sound so that it's a pop oriented song that doesn't truly sound like a pop song. Dolphin has captured a completely unique vibe that is all hers while still keeping her sound grounded in the familiar. "Lost" is a song that captivates by just the power of Dolphin's vocals and songwriting talents.  You can listen to "Lost" below. For more on Olivia Dolphin, check out the artist's website .

Photo by Josue Orozco Lately I've been on this weird kick of wanting to listen to laid back but highly dance friendly electronic music, which is kind of a hard thing to look up. Luckily, BBgail has teamed with Weston Smith on "if you let it," which is exactly what I've been desiring. Big Takeover has described it as sounding like "... a Grimes and Kenny G collaboration," and I never knew how great that would sound. It's fun and highly vibey indie dance pop heavy on saxophone and synth, and I've been listening to "if you let it" on a possibly never-ending loop for an amount of time I'm embarrassed by, but this one is just so great. It's a perfect warm up for your weekend, while you're counting down the hours until you can leave. You can watch the video for "if you let it" below. The single is out now on Fort Lowell Records. For more on BBgail, check out the artist on Instagram .

Photo by Erick Molina There are a lot of newfangled shoegaze bands out there, but Glixen have quickly become a favorite of ours. The Phoenix based band leans more into the heavy shoegaze side of things, and their latest single sees them adding even more pop into their sound than ever before. "Medicine Bow" is an intense song with the band's trademark pounding guitars and mesmerizing Aislinn Ritchie's vocals, which have never sounded better. It's the vocals that draw pop comparison's for "Medicine Bow," with warmly chaotic instrumentation spinning around everything. The intensity grows and grows as the song progresses, getting more chaotic and somehow more stunning towards the end. Glixen say of their latest single: “It’s a sense of urgency bound to the quiet yearning for self-comfort.  The song drifts between lucidity and a fever dream, where soft vulnerability meets slow-burning decay. The lead and rhythm guitars melt and unmeld in a hypnotic blur, ...

Photo by Stella Feinstein Boston's Cut the Kids in Half are led by brothers Jack and Charlie Silver. The bad have a new single and video out, "Mountains of Green." This new song is a ramblin' sort of alt-country inspired song that leans heavily into the world of indie rock. It starts off a little twangy, but more on the alt-rock side of things. Jack Silver's vocals have a theatricality that matches its gruffness. The indie rock/noisier side of the song pokes its head out every so often, before it takes over with an epic horn-filled burst towards the end. "Mountains of Green" is a slow build single with a fantastic pay off. Cut the Kids in Half have one of the most unique and interesting sounds in Boston, so we're thrilled to be discovering them, and looking forward to where they go next! Frontman Jack Silver says of the band's latest single: “ ‘Mountains of Green’ is a song about desperation. It’s about this all-consuming desire for fame and fort...

It's just starting to get uncomfortably cold here in New England, so we're already starting to look forward to warm temperatures. Plus, warm temperatures means festival season, and Green River Festival has given us something to look forward to in June! Their 2026 edition will take place June 19-21 at Franklin County Fairgrounds with another fantastic line up. The headliners will get the most attention, with the neotraditional country of Charley Crockett, indie rock veterans Spoon, and experimental rockers Geese. We're thrilled for the undercard of this one, with many favorites playing like The Beths, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Wednesday, Lucius, The War and Treaty, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Folk Bitch Trio, Ratboys, Sunny War, Lily Seabird, and Tre Burt! Plus, there's plenty for us to discover in the next eight months as we get ready for the festival! Three day passes for the 2026 Green River Festival are on sale now. For tickets and more information, check out the ...

The last two weeks because I know I'm not going to get to this. Highlights: Artist : Aesop Rock Album : I Heard It's a Mess There Too Songs of Note : "Crystals and Herbs," "Full House Pinball," "The Cut," "Opossum," "Poly Cotton Blend" Artist : Anna von Hausswolff Album : ICONOCLASTS Songs of Note : "Facing Atlas," "The Iconoclast," "The Whole Woman," "The Mouth," "Stardust," "Struggle with the Beast" Artist : Sorry Album : Cosplay Songs of Note : "Jetplane," "Antelope," "Today Might Be the Hit," "Waxwing," "JIVE" Artist : The Mountain Goats Album : Through this Fire Across from Peter Balkan Songs of Note : "Fishing Boat," "Dawn of Revelation," "Peru," "Armies of the Lord," "Broken to Begin With" Artist : Sabine McCalla Album : Don't Call Me Ba...