If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Hugo Bernier Vivienne is an indie rock/dream pop artist from France. Her latest single, "Unwanted," has all of the dreaminess associated with dream pop, but it definitely has a more rock based sound. While much of the song has jangling guitars, there is the noise and dissonance associated with grunge coming in at points. At times the song feels like a loving caress, and others like you're being pummeled. And sometimes it's both at once. "Unwanted" is the kind of song that is always morphing and changing while still sounding like a cohesive track. Vivienne has won us over with this one song, and we're thrilled to hear what she does next. Vivienne says of her latest single: "The song is about feeling like things are unfair, trying not to show your wounds when all you really need is to be heard. I've often felt like I was putting all my energy into proving myself, constantly working on myself, trying to meet other people's needs, expec...

This year I've been making an effort to see bands I like but haven't seen in years  decades. Imperial Teen certainly fit the bill. I recall seeing the San Francisco indie pop band at a WBRU show at Lupo's in Providence way back in 1996, but the internet is fuzzy on that one. Originally they announced a Boston show at The Lilypad, which seemed far too small. Apparently I was correct, since the show was moved to the larger Warehouse XI, and they packed the place on a Tuesday. Tuesday was a ridiculously fun night. Thirty years ago I felt more confused since Imperial Teen didn't really fit in with the other bands I remember on the bill (G. Love & Special Sauce, Local H, Orange 9mm), and I was unprepared for something so decidedly poppy. In 2026, Imperial Teen fit right into my musical taste, and they put on a great show. It was fairly informal, with lots of chatting and joking around. Any mistakes that were made on the opening night of their east coast run weren't n...

Photo by CG We've been pretty crazy about Odie Leigh's music, and the New Orleans singer-songwriter has fully blown us away with her latest. "Corner Store" is such a mash up of different styles that it should be a trainwreck, but Leigh pulls it off. The song is primarily an indie pop song, but with plenty of rock edge to it to keep it from being fully pop. There's also just the slightest hints of country twang along with anthemic 80's rock. And then Leigh's vocals are basically full on pop, making "Corner Store" an entirely engaging song. This kind of song is best when you can drop all expectations and ignore trying to define it. Just crank it up and enjoy the latest from Odie Leigh. Odie Leigh says of her latest single: “ If love is extending oneself for another, then buying a bag of chips can be a declaration. A plea for an ex lover to give up and give in, 'Corner Store' speaks the unspoken thoughts behind casual bids for connection.  T...

Photo by Betsey Carroll Her New Knife are one of these newfangled shoegaze bands that are redefining the genre. The Philadelphia band's latest single, "Lyre," is unrecognizable if you're going by pure, classic shoegaze standards. The song sounds almost metallic, especially the guitars. It's an intense, noisy affair that chugs along with a sense of doom throughout. It sounds more like the post-hardcore of a band like Slint, and then the wall of fuzz comes washing over you, and yes, "Lyre" is a shoegaze song. And that blast of noise comes rushing at you, and the song just takes off from there. Her New Knife are one of the most beloved modern shoegaze band, and this latest single will show you exactly why. Edgar Atencio (vocals, guitar) says of his band's latest single: “A simple and beautiful pop song.  Started with an arrangement I did on classical guitar, during a moment where I felt generally disaffected by music, writing this song and playing more ...

Photo by Ali Nugent Little Hag have discovered what we all truly need on their latest single. "New Fountains of Wayne Song" is about wishing we had a new song from Fountains of Wayne along with some other wishes. It's a fun alt-rock goes pop song that will remind you of classics from the titular band. It's a list of what we could all use to feel better in the current world, and hot damn is this one catchy and relatable. The only negative with "New Fountains of Wayne Song" is that it will make you realize just how much you also need a new Fountains of Wayne song in 2026. At least we have a new Little Hag song right now. You can listen to "New Fountains of Wayne Song" below. The single is out now on Bar/None Records. For more on Little Hag, check out the artist's website . Little Hag will be playing November 6 at Alchemy in Providence, RI, November 7 at Purgatory in Brooklyn, NY, and November 8 at Galactic Panther in Alexandria, VA.

I don't know what it is about the latest from Jules Grace that works for me, but it does. The Boston indie pop artist recently released "Let Me Go," and it might be the most pop focused song I've ever happily covered. My indie rock snobbery is screaming at me right now, but the song is endlessly catchy and appealing. This is pure pop along the lines of an artist like Olivia Rodrigo. But... "Let Me Go" is endlessly appealing, no matter how much I may struggle against enjoying it. It's just a fun pop song, and sometimes it's worth it to lose your indie cred and enjoy a fun pop song every now and then. You can watch the video for "Let Me Go" below. For more on Jules Grace, check out the artist's website .

Photo by Keegan Grandbois Brooklyn's Wilder Maker are set to release the second album in their experimental pop trilogy on Friday, and you can preview what that sounds like with a new single. "Last Call at the Star's Ascent" is on the poppier side of indie rock, but it's still strongly in the experimental category. The song kind of plods along at its own pace, with flourishes (both pop and indie rock) pop in seemingly at will. The average person who identifies as a pop music fan is going to hear "Last Call at the Star's Ascent" and feel confused, but possibly intrigued. Fans of indie rock and experimental music are going to be delighted by this one, and are going to enjoy the pop experimentation that Wilder Maker have going on. Gabriel Birnbaum says of his band's latest single: "'Last Call At The Star's Ascent' is the first track I finished across the entire three LP arc (Smoking the Bunny is LP2), and I remember playing it for t...

New Hampshire's Hell Beach are in for a huge year based on how great the singles from their upcoming album have been. The latest is "Double Agent," which is a song that demands you re-think how you feel about pop punk. That might be the secret weapon of Hell Beach: They're proudly pop punk, and their songs are so great that even the snobbiest of music fans is going to end up loving the genre. "Double Agent" is as catchy as anything that they've put out, and might even be the most punk song we've heard from them. It's fast, and it's just as poppy as it is heavy. Turn this one up, and get ready to scream out the chorus for ultimate enjoyment. You can watch the video for "Double Agent" below. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is due out November 13 on Counter Intuitive Records, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Hell Beach, check out the band's website .

Photo by Kelly Davidson Photography Boston's Girl with a Hawk have a new single out off their excellent album Regenesis , and it's quite timely. "The Fighter" is a deeply personal song for lead vocalist and guitarist Linda Viens, but it's also about the patriarchy in this country. It's a folk-infused alt-rock power ballad, with an emphasis on the power. You're going to be instantly grabbed by the guitar intro to the song, and when Viens' vocals come in at around thirty seconds, you'll be fully invested. Girl with a Hawk seems to be one of the most underrated/"Boston's best kept secret" bands around, and a song like "The Fighter" proves that we should all be giving them more attention. This is one of those songs that's both huge and intimate, and it's fully worthy of your attention. Linda Viens says of her band's latest single: “The song began as a reminiscence on my childhood of growing up as the eldest of four i...

Photo by Connor Middlebrook There's a lot of bands showing off their 90's influences lately, and Brooklyn's Sledding are no exception. Their latest single, "Covert Station," absolutely nails the 90's alt-rock sound while tweaking it to sound more modern. It's reminding me of a mixture of Hum and Slint, with feedback creating a disquieting, ominous sound. This is the kind of song that only gets better as it goes on, and by the time its four minutes and eighteen seconds is done, you're going to be obsessed with the song. Plus, "Covert Station" nails the angst of 90's alt-rock in a way that Sledding's peers miss. This isn't fully a 90's throwback, but it's going to remind you of your teenage years in a way that current bands rarely do. Aidan Drouse (vocals, guitar) says of his band's latest single: " When you’re writing music in the general arena of “rock,” the associated energy can be heightened and frenetic. Obviou...

Photo by Saeka Shimada Mei Semones continues to be one of the most intriguing and original artists we cover by mixing up styles. Her latest single, "2 Hands," keeps her trademark sound of combining jazz, bossa nova, and indie rock, but she keeps doing so in different wants. This new song is a little heavier and more rock focused than we're used to from Semones while still being a more jazz centered track. "2 Hands" meanders along where the song wants to, with some elements dropping out and entering without warning. It's laid back, but also heavy at times. Only an artist like Semones can make a song so chill so attention grabbing. Mei Semones says of her latest single and video: “Everyone in my band is such an incredible musician and I feel so lucky and grateful to play with them, and that's what this song is about! So for this video I wanted to capture what it's like to play music with them, and highlight how amazing and talented each of them are. Th...

Photo by Holly Parker Los Angeles alt-punk garage band have a fast and fun new single out just in time for Halloween. Clocking in at under one minute, "We're Werewolves Not Swearwolves" is horror punk that's meant to be fun, and it is. Loosely inspired by What We Do in the Shadows , the song is fast and heavy, but in a way that's more joyous than angry. If you're looking for a straight up punk track about werewolves and inspired by a classic comedy film, SP's have you covered with "We're Werewolves Not Swearwolves."  You can watch the video for "We're Werewolves Not Swearwolves" below. Dating at the End of the World is due out March 26 on Baby Robot Records. For more on SP's, check out the band on Instagram and Facebook .

Green Tea Bitches are a Chinese-Danish dance punk duo based in Copenhagen. They've released a new single out specifically for Halloween, and this is a great one. "Ghosts" is actually about ghosts, with Green Tea Bitches admitting to being afraid of them. This is a fun, dance-friendly track that is perfect for the holiday. It's a little spooky and a whole lot of fun, and unlike other songs clogging up Halloween playlists (The Cranberries' "Zombie" and Jason Isbell's "Vampires" for example), "Ghosts" is about actual spirits. It's a mixture of post-punk and dance-punk, with more than a little pop thrown in. Crank this one up, and get ready for the best holiday of all! You can listen to "Ghosts" below. For more on Green Tea Bitches, check out the band on Instagram .

Photo by Chapin Patel Chicago garage power pop duo North by North have a new single out just in time for Halloween. "Be Your Own Ghost" has all of the rough edge of garage rock with the smooth side of power pop. It feels like the more restrained side of power pop, like it was built more for small clubs that shooting for arenas. It's also surprisingly funky, and it's perfect for both fist pumping and dancing. The guitar in "Be Your Own Ghost" is catchier than the lyrics, which are rather catchy in their own right. While most songs you can straight up rock out to can be quite silly, North by North have given us a clever rocker with their latest. Drummer and vocalist Kendra Blank says the band's latest single is “... about taking charge of your own life and choosing to leave a toxic relationship, whether with a friend, a lover, or a family member. You may have someone in your life who pushes you to be as toxic as they are. This song is about the moments lea...