If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Oliver Sundqvist Ishaaq Aarkistra is a Stockholm based ensemble led by Swedish-Indian musician Ishaaq. Their latest single, "De Forest," is this amazing blend of what should be far too many sounds. The song mixes psychedelia with Western jazz and Indian raga into a completely new sound. It's quite dance friendly (despite being relatively chill), but in a completely organic, non-electronic way. Plus, the Pungi flute might be my new favorite instrument. The song will instantly grab your attention, especially if you're a fan of psychedelic music, world music, and/or jazz. Even if you're not typically a fan of any of those genres, "De Forest" could be your gateway to all three. Ishaaq says of the new single: “The sound of the underworld and the destructive forces of deforestation. Niccolo plays the snake charmer flute, the Pungi, on this hypnotic piece. I Iove that it became so deep sonically, like noises from another, darker realm. To me these nois...

Photo by Olivia St. Arnold Like many people, I have a complicated relationship with emo. It's one of those genres that I dislike the vast majority, but what I do like I absolutely adore. Bicycle Inn appear to be one of the bands that works for me, and could be my new musical obsession. The Boston band has a new single out, "Longsword (4th Place)." The song lands in this interesting space where it's both classic Midwest style emo and the more mainstream, TRL ready version. The song meanders through different points of leaning towards one or the other throughout, usually walking straight down the middle. And then there's the hardcore style screaming vocals that completely drew me in. "Longsword (4th Place)" also features some vocals from Ryan O'Rourke from Innerlove., and is one of the better punk songs of the year, nit just out of Boston but out of everything that we've covered. Bicycle Inn say of their latest single: “Longsword is about the strug...

Every time Superchunk releases an album, we all assume it can't be anywhere near as good as the last one. The band has been around since 1989, and surely they have to eventually start releasing mediocre albums, right? Last month saw the release of Songs in the Key of Yikes , their thirteenth album, and it's great. With a new album comes a tour, and when they came to the Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theater, I knew I couldn't miss it. What's amazing about Songs in the Key of Yikes  was how well these new songs stood up with the decades old classics. The album has only been out for a few weeks, but "Is It Making You Feel Something?" and "Everybody Dies" got just as favorable reaction as classics. What's truly impressive about Superchunk's albums is how a song like 2018's "What a Time to Be Alive" has become as much as a favorite as 1994's "Driveway to Driveway." Can that truly be said of any of our other 90's h...

The latest from Chainlacing is both beautiful and haunting, which is kind of why we love them so much. The New Hampshire/Boston band put out "Nisene" this week, a track that is almost painful in how quiet it is. It's one of those sparse yet lush songs that demands listeners pay attention to it by being so quiet. The more attention you pay to "Nisene," the better the song gets. Chainlacing aren't a background music band, and this single shows exactly why. As dark as the song may be, it's also oddly uplifting. Buckle up for this one. It might not be loud and raucous, but it's guaranteed to affect you. You can watch the video for "Nisene" below. The song is currently available via Bandcamp . For more on Chainlacing, check out the band's website . They'll be playing Moon Base One on September 13 as part of the Moon Over Salem festival.

Photo by Robert Georgeff For their upcoming album, Canada's Great Lake Swimmers met up in the Ganaraska Forest and tracked it in three days. The latest single from the album, "Youth Not Wasted," is a gorgeous and delicate song that combines folk pop and progressive folk into one sound. It's a sparse and quiet song that is compelling because of how quiet and sparse it is. It's also quite lush considering how bare the song is. Despite the whole recorded in the woods in three days aspect, "Youth Not Wasted" sounds much more modern than you might expect. Great Lake Swimmers have been doing this for over twenty years now, and they continue to blow listeners away with their sound. Founder Tony Dekker says of the band's latest single: " It suggests that every part of the adventure of youth does in fact matter, and constructs our identities in the present day. It considers the 'caught light' of an old photograph, books left unread, and the point...

The more singles I hear from Weakened Friends' upcoming album, the more convinced I am that they've levelled up and are about to release a monster album. The Maine band's latest single, "Nosebleed," is everything we've loved about them for years now. It's heavily influenced in 90's mid to late 90's alt-rock with sprinklings of modern pop and vintage emo. The only difference is that this latest single sounds like Weakened Friends decided to write a hit song and nailed it. "Nosebleed" is seriously the kind of song that is indie rock enough for even the snobbiest of purists, but has enough pop appeal that the most mainstream of music fans will adore it if it breaks into their algorithm.  You can watch the video for "Nosebleed" below. Feels Like Hell is due out October 10 on Don Giovanni Records, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Weakened Friends, check out the band's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the v...

Photo by John McNicholas Kim Ware started off as a punk drummer, and started the Good Graces after purchasing a beat up acoustic guitar in 2006. Her latest single, "Missed the Mark," is a laid back singer-songwriter track with a gentle country lilt. It has some of that 90's mainstream alt-rock sound from artists like Liz Phair and Lisa Loeb, and doesn't shy away from its country side at all. It's also the perfect song for this time of year, where summer isn't quite ready to die and fall is slowly asserting itself. "Missed the Mark" is also the kind of song that you end up loving more with every listen, as a simple song starts revealing more of itself to you with repeated listens. You can watch the video for "Missed the Mark" below. Grand Epiphanies is due out September 23 on Fort Lowell Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on Kim Ware and the Good Graces, check out the artist's website .

Their upcoming collaborative EP is coming out tomorrow, but we have one last single to share from Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses. The duo have covered Foreigner's classic single "I Want to Know What Love Is," and it's everything you need it to be. Acoustic/folky covers of over the top classic rock hits aren't anything new, but Sam Beam and Ben Bridwell breathe new life into the trope with this one. It's a fun cover that doesn't feel as tongue in cheek as it would have twenty or so years ago. Of course, it's a collaboration between Iron & Wine and Band of Horses, so it's going to come across as more moody than Foreigner's original, but the love of the classic song is still audible. Sam Beam says of the latest cover: “​​ Brad Cook suggested this one and the little kid in me who remembers skating around the roller rink in the 80’s imagining he was Lou Graham sat up and said ‘Yes, let’s do it!’ Such an amazing chorus! Our ve...

Photo by Sam Crowston While her previous single ("Angel") was more of a classic country throwback, Rianne Downey goes much more modern on her latest release. "Good in Goodbye" shows off the Scottish singer's more pop focused side, although the song is still heavily rooted in country and folk. As much as we tend to hate the pop side of country, Downey is showing the correct way the genre should be done. This one is going to have some pretty serious appeal to fans of modern folk pop and also classic country. It might not have the same vintage country sound "Angel" did, but the bones of classic country are still audible in "Good in Goodbye." Rianne Downey says of her latest single: “This song is about coming to terms with growing older, embracing change, and realising that love and loss are intertwined.  It’s a reflection on finding peace in goodbyes and trusting that heartbreak is the doorway to growth.” You can listen to "Good in Goodbye...

Photo by Leila-Mae Rummery Based in Brighton, UK, congratulations have a new single out that's a party waiting to happen. "This Life" is a groove filled indie dance track that combines post-punk and electroclash. Plus, the whole thing has more of an edge to it than dance songs typically do. Part of the song is light and fun, and the other part has some grit to it. But, even the grittiest parts are still an absolute blast. Most dance music isn't creative or artsy, but congratulations have pulled off a fun party jam that doesn't quite sound like anyone else. "This Life" is kind of like a modern day version of Deee-Lite.  Leah Stanhope (vocals) says of the band's new single: “‘This Life’ is an ode to being delusional—you know, people who moan about having the worst time but like in reality like they've got a roof over their heads and food to eat, and ultimately, it’s not that deep.”  You can watch the video for "This Life" below. Join Hand...

Photo by Astro Our favorite Boston chiptune artists are back with a new single and two new members. Battlemode have enlisted Leo (guitar/bass) and Isiah (drums) into the fold and released "NVR KNO." The new song adds some hyperpop into their world of Gameboy music. It takes everything we love about the band and adds in an entirely new element. "NVR KNO" might be the first single that truly captures the appeal of Battlemode, particularly their live show. Their live show has always had a much more raw energy than their recorded music, and this latest single captures that rawness. Plus, "NVR KNO" is ridiculously fun, which is kind of the entire point of this style of music. Astro says of his band's future plans: “There’s still so much left to do. We feel like Boston Calling was just a stepping stone onto our future purpose. We still have an entire genre to define. We’re definitely getting a Grammy someday but for now we plan to write our best music yet, s...

Every now and then an artist absolutely nails a song, and that's the case with the latest from Ali McGuirk. The singer-songwriter just released a single called "Graveyard," and it's a stunning soulful track that has an oddly trippy quality to it. There are the main elements of a soul and blues song within "Graveyard," but then McGuirk goes off in a thrilling direction that almost but not quite noise rock. I hate referring to a song called "Graveyard" as haunting, but sometimes it just fits. It's also an impeccably captivating song that will almost demand a second and third listen as soon as your first is over. If you weren't already excited for her album that's due later this week, you will be in four minutes and twenty-one seconds. Ali McGuirk says of her latest single: "'Graveyard' was inspired by a conversation with Canyon Lights front man Pat about songwriting, and all the little ideas that we leave behind, to be uncomp...

Photo by David Doobinin It's always a good day when Boston alt-rock icon Juliana Hatfield releases new music, and yesterday was one of those days. Her latest single, "Scratchers," sees Hatfield firmly embracing her singer-songwriter/Adult Contemporary era, but it's still filled with plenty of fuzz and grit. The song feels like a natural progression from Hatfield's classic 90's songs, and is pretty much everything we'd want a new song from Hatfield to sound like in 2025. In fact, at times "Scratchers" sounds like it could be a lost b-side from one of her late 90's albums. Plus, this might be the best that her vocals have ever sounded. We can't say this about many of our favorites from the 80's and 90's, but Juliana Hatfield continues to release great music. Juliana Hatfield says of her upcoming album: “It was a difficult time for me when I started working on this album. I had just uprooted myself from the city apartment building wh...

Photo by Bianca Garza I always feel highly self-conscious writing about jazz, like I'm extremely unqualified (which I am). But every so often I find a song I feel the need to bring to you all, and one of those is the latest from Kalia Vandever. The trombonist and composer recently released "Staring at the Cracked Window," a fantastic musical exploration that is eight and a half minutes of some of the most intriguing music released this year. What's so great about this new single is how much broad appeal it could have, which is rare with both jazz and experimental music. If you love classic artists like Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie, there's a lot here for you. If you prefer more rock based experimental artists like Sonic Youth or Frank Zappa, you're also going to love "Staring at the Cracked Window." It sounds both composed and improvised, and while it's certainly not the style of jazz you'd find in a dentist's office, there is somethin...