Pearl - "Spiral"

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Photo by Josh Sisk

Baltimore's Pearl have a new single out, and coming in at under a minute, it might just be the most punk song we've ever brought you. "Spiral" starts out full force the second you press play. It's a fast and heavy song that packs multiple changes into fifty-six seconds. It's abrasive and straight up punk. There might be just slightly too much melody for it to be a hardcore song. (Vocalist Sienna Cureton-Mahoney uses the slightest hint of singing with her screaming/growling vocals.) Punk fans should love "Spiral," and will want to keep Pearl on their radar. 

Sienna Cureton-Mahoney says of her band's new single:

“Spiral’ is a jab in the ribs; quick, intense and unexpected. Instrumentally the drums are relentless, the bass is driving and  the guitar melody is cyclical within the chorus, lending itself to the title of the track. Lyrically, the song is all about wading through a sea of chaos, knowing fully that havoc often leads to necessary or positive change. Chaos like this makes me feel like I’m holding my breath underwater. Even though I feel slightly panicked, I know that the first gasp of air is going to be beyond satisfying."

You can watch the video for "Spiral" below. Love and Grief is due out April 20 on 20/20 Records, and is available to pre-order through Bandcamp. For more on Pearl, check out the band on Instagram.

On Repeat...

Liam Kazar - "Shoes Too Tight"

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Photo by Alexa Viscius This may be Liam Kazar's debut single, but the Chicago based musician already has an impressive resume, having worked with Jeff Tweedy, Chance the Rapper, Steve Gunn, Daniel Johnston, and others. "Shoes Too Tight" features childhood friend Spencer Tweedy on drums, Lane Beckstrom on bass, and Ohmme on vocals. It's an absurdly fun and groovy little song that is a party waiting to happen. What he gives us here is a timeless song that could truly have been released any time since the 1960's (ok... maybe not the 80's...) There are elements of classic rock, 60's crooners and R&B, indie rock, modern Americana... it's really just packed with everything in a cohesive song that maintains the vibe the entire way through. You can watch the video for "Shoes Too Tight" below. For more on Liam Kazar, check him out on Instagram and Twitter . He's also raising money on his Bandcamp for Constellation and The Hungry Brain. ...
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J Mascis - "See You At the Movies"

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Photo via Instagram Any time J Mascis releases new music will always be a big deal at If It's Too Loud... November will see the release of Elastic Days , his new solo album. Judging by the first single, "See You At the Movies," Elastic Days  will be exactly what we expect and want in a Mascis solo album. The first single is much prettier than Dinosaur Jr is. Mascis's solo work tends to be calmer and almost folky. "See You At the Movies" is exactly that, and is even almost orchestral in some places. You add in some of Mascis's guitar solos (a more tame version than Dino Jr's thunderous ones), and you've got a classic Mascis solo track. It's a typically great song, but at this point I'd like to see Mascis mix things up a bit. You can listen to "See You At the Movies" below. Elastic Days will be out November 9 on Sub Pop Records. There are some pretty reasonable pre-order bundles available, including a CD and t-shirt for $24....
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Izzy Heltai - "Father"

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Photo by Joanna Chattman I've been referring to Northampton, MA based Izzy Heltai's music as mainstream modern folk with just enough of a unique spin to keep it appealing to music snobs, too. His latest single, "Father," might be the perfect example of that. It's a quiet, deeply personal song that starts off painfully sparse but ever so slowly builds and builds as it goes on. It walks that line between accessible/mainstream and indie expertly.  You can watch the video for "Father" below. Father , the upcoming debut album from Izzy Heltai, will be out October 9. You can pre-order a copy here . For more on Izzy Heltai, check out the artist's website .
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