Poison Ruin - "Guts (Lay Your Self Aside)"

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Photo by Kat Bean

Philadelphia's Poison Ruin have a new song out that's begging to be a punk anthem. What's interesting about "Guts (Lay Your Self Aside)" is that the new song is just about as straightforward as a punk song as you can get, but they've added just the slightest bit of psychedelia to the song. It's a fast and driving song that would make the Ramones proud with it's two and a half minute length. It's bouncy and heavy with hooks that draw you in, but there's just something a little trippy going on in the guitar. It's buzzy, but in a psychedelic way. Poison Ruin have quickly become one of our favorite current punk bands for little changes like this that help keep the genre from becoming stale.

You can watch the video for "Guts (Lay Your Self Aside)" below. Hymns from the Hills is due out April 3 on Relapse Records, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Poison Ruin, check out the band's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video and include shows in Medford, MA, Portland, ME, Portsmouth, NH, and Brattleboro, VT.


Apr 11: New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
Apr 12: Medford, MA - Deep Cuts
Apr 13: Portland, ME - Genos
Apr 14: Portsmouth, NH - Press Room
Apr 15: Brattleboro, VT - The Stone Church
Apr 16: Montreal, QB - Petit Campus
Apr 17: Toronto, ON - The Garrison
Apr 18: Detroit, MI - Edgeman
Apr 19: Muskegon, MI - Rake Beer Project
Apr 21: Cincinnati, OH - Northside Tavern
Apr 22: Chicago, IL - Subterranean
Apr 23: Minneapolis, MN - Zhora Darling
Apr 24: Milwaukee, MN -Quarters
Apr 25: St. Louis, MO - The Sinkhole
Apr 26: Indianapolis, IN - Healer
Apr 28: Cleveland, OH - Happy Dog
Apr 29: Pittsburgh, PA - 222 Ormsby
Apr 30: Richmond, VA - Cobra Cabana
May 01: Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
May 02: Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church

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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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