If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Zoe Hopper Gollylagging are an underground favorite around Boston. Those that know them love them, and they just announced their debut album. Their latest single, "Comet," is a great indie rock song is everything we love about indie rock without really sounding like anyone else. It's overflowing with fuzz, which is layered upon the entire song. It's also oddly melodic and includes some New Wave elements. It's very drone-y and monotonous, but in a great way. Gollylagging may be Boston's favorite secret, but they won't be for long if they keep making music this great. Jules Skiffington (vocals, guitar) says of his band's latest single: " There’s a fun reference to the opening of 'Blood Meridian' in there, how the main guy is born under an especially crazy meteor shower which is supposed to portend him being a crazy violent guy." You can watch the video for "Comet" below. Real Life is due out October 16 on Disposable A...

Boston seems to have a high concentration of bands right on the verge of breaking out not just locally but nationally, if not internationally. One of the most on the verge artists is Layzi, who just released a new EP last week. if i never go outside  is a three song collection of "lo-fi indie bedroom pop." It starts off with "iingo," a laid back song that might be a little too pop to be dream pop, but just barely. All three songs on if i never go outside have a sense of longing and nostalgia, and create an ambiance that is quite irresistible. "bored" is a song that combines trip hop with the early days of autotune, and, as someone who hates ninety-nine percent of songs that even sound like they're using autotune, this one is great. My personal favorite is "get in control," which shows off the more trippy side of "lo-fi indie bedroom pop." Layzi are one of the best doing it in Boston, if not the entire country. You can listen to if i...

Mexico City's Tia Rosa has a new single out that might be one of the most unique musical styles we've heard in a while. "Jardin De Risas" has a very DIY/bedroom pop feel. It might be the most non-pop pop song we've ever covered. It's a laid back song that combines ambient with possibly some jazz and cumbia, while still being pop music. It's the kind of pop music that pop fans will hate, but more experimental fans are going to love. The song kind of meanders around with instruments floating in. The result is kind of spooky and oddly beautiful. You can watch the video for "Jardin De Risas" below. Thirteen Automatic Dreams is due out November 6 on Perennial/K Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on Tia Rosa, check out the band on Instagram .

Photo by Lucy Marriot R Loomes is the doom folk project of Sheffield based artist Rachel Loomes. Their latest single, "The Self Demands a Reckoning," sounds more like what I expect when I hear of doom folk. It still has the same beauty as last month's "Passerine," but this latest single sounds darker. There's also an element to the song that makes it feel almost ancient. It has the vibe of an almost medieval song made with modern production and instruments. "The Self Demands a Reckoning" starts off relatively quiet and dark, and builds into a metal adjacent crescendo. If dark music is your thing, R Loomes is going to be exactly what you need. Rachel Loomes says of "The Self Demands a Reckoning": "It's a sort of personal prayer, attempting to split off from the intellectual mind and move into the body allowing it to be the main source of reason. Attempting to shed the generational load and navigate the world a free spirit." Y...

Photo by Milan Zrnic Whenever Imperial Teen returns with new music is a big deal, so we're thrilled to have them back with "Overdrive." Somehow the band still sounds just as vital and modern as they did in the 90's (which, to be fair, could be my age, but I don't think so). It's oddly timeless, and sounds like it could have been released at any time in the past three decades. It's indie rock, but in a glammy way. The song is wonderfully groovy, and just feels like the hippest summer of all time. "Overdrive" is fuzzy, it's fun as hell, and it's impossibly cool. Welcome back, Imperial Teen. We couldn't be happier to have you. Jone Stebbins (bass, vocals) says of the band's upcoming album: “For the last few records, the process has been similar. We live great distances away from each other, so initially, we get together to collaborate, write, and create. When we have enough material, we reconvene to record. Both scenarios, creating a...

New York's Whisper Doll have a mesmerizing new single out. "So Sweet" is a hazy and dreamy indie rock track that leans into dream pop and possibly even shoegaze. If it is shoegaze, it's a much quieter version, with Fiona Tagami's vocals barely above a whisper. To me it sounds like if The Sundays decided to dabble in shoegaze without losing their own sound. "So Sweet" feels warm, but also has a cold, uncomfortable side as well. It lulls you into feeling safe while making you a tiny bit hesitant. It's also simply a fantastic song that makes me feel like Whisper Doll will become a favorite around here. Fiona Tagami says of her band's latest single: “I wrote this song right after spending a week straight in the hospital after complications with a surgery. Once I got out of the bland, grey room, everything seemed brighter and sweeter. I wrote this on the porch of my childhood home in Atlanta. Around then, I ran into someone from high school I had a co...

Photo by Nate King Written in response to JD Vance's infamous "childless cat lady" comments, San Francisco's Wealthy Women have released "Atheist Wife." The song comes in at under two minutes and is a blistering song that mixes noise punk with hardcore and maybe even some metal. Unlike many other songs in those genres, the lyrics to "Atheist Wife" are front and center and very audible. Vocalist and songwriter Peter Sisk's vocals are more growled than screamed, and the song takes the whole modern protest music in a completely different direction. It takes a giant blanket statement and makes it personal, and the song also just straight up rocks.  Peter Sisk says of his band's latest single: "This song was inspired by two remarkable people; my wife and JD Vance. It's a reaction to the infamous 'childless cat ladies' attack by the Vice President in a 2021 interview on Fox News. I tried to capture the mix of anger and bemusement...

Some nights music can transcend the space you're in. This is especially true for shows that you don't have high expectations for. You go kind of on a whim, and end up being blown away by every artist you see. That was the case Saturday night at The Cantab Lounge with the triple bill of Ghais Guevara, student 1, and Cavalier. Cavalier opened the night. As with most indie hip hop shows, he played his backing music on a laptop. Usually that's not the best option, but Cavalier made it work. He has this ultra laid back flow that immediately engaged the audience. His style was very lo-fi in a way that only added to his sound. This was my first experience even hearing Cavalier, and I was a fan by the time he left the stage. Up next was student 1. Much like Cavalier, he had an incredibly laid back style. With someone manning his laptop, he came on stage almost immediately after Cavalier and kept the music going. Even the songs he introduced by saying they were aggressive or dance s...

Photo by Will Stockwell Veteran performer Seasick Steve has a new blues rock single out, and it's pretty great. "Bootstraps" is a rollicking new single that blurs the lines between blues and rock 'n' roll. It's classic blues through a modern lens. That might be the most striking thing about this new song: As much as it's rooted in the past, it doesn't sound like a classic song. Something about "Bootstraps" sounds completely modern, and it's not just the subject matter. This is earnest blues rock, and Seasick Steve is one of the best currently doing it. You can listen to "Bootstraps" below. The Last Season of America is due out September 18 on Eastcote Records, and is available to pre-order here . For more on Seasick Steve, check out the artist's website .

Boston hardcore/post-punk/noise rock duo BEDTIMEMAGIC released their new album last week, and you're going to want to buckle up for this one. Lie Down With Dogs is a brutal and punishing thirteen song release. It's noisy and certainly not meant for everyone, but the songs on the album groove just as hard as they rock. All the songs on Lie Down With Dogs have titles that reference sleep ("Dreams (And the People Who Love Them)," "The Slumber Party (Part II)," "Narcoleptic," "Nap Quest," etc.), which is interesting since I can't imagine sleeping during any of these songs. Part of me worries that I'm warning potential listeners and making them not want to listen, but I have a feeling that anyone who is going to enjoy the audible experience that BEDTIMEMAGIC provides aren't going to be deterred, and are going to more excitedly listen to Lie Down With Dogs . BEDTIMEMAGIC are one of the most underrated bands in Boston, and this lates...

Photo by Avery Norman One of the highlights of Angela Autumn's set at this year's Green River Festival was the brand new song "Heavy Tobacco." Yesterday she released the song as a single, and it's just as great. The song fits snugly into the singer-songwriter/folk spectrum of music, but there's just something a little unique about the song. There's a haunting, almost noise rock lite element to the song. As Autumn's vocals reach a hypnotic quality, the music starts to swirl around her in a nearly supernatural way. Sure, "Heavy Tobacco" is a folk song, but it's certainly not a traditional one, and is more folk-adjacent. Autumn has a rather unique sound to her music, and this song is a perfect example of it. Angela Autumn says of her latest single: "This is a song about the tobacco spirit.  In many cultures, particularly American indigenous, tobacco is regarded for its purification abilities. I don’t think many folks see tobacco as ‘hea...

Photo credit to House of Vixen The latest single from Karen y Los Remedios is a dreamy, organic sounding electronic song. "Ninfa" is perfect for a chill out room while still keeping some energy to keep the night going. Or, it's perfect to listen to first thing in the morning when you have the house to yourself. It's hypnotic, and relaxed without causing a shred of boredom. It's a lovely and engaging song that's perfect for whatever mood you need from it. "Ninfa" is a great way to ease yourself out of the work week, or to start getting ready for your weekend. It's a truly gorgeous song that our readers are going to adore. Ana Karen G. Barajas says of her latest single: "I’ve always been drawn to the myths of water nymphs, which inspired Ninfa . For me, the song represents death as a metaphorical turning point, an opportunity to leave behind what is no longer good for us. The water symbolizes rebirth and serves as a reminder to keep flowing, l...

Photo by Matt Burgos Friends of the blog Sapling have a new single out credited to Sapling & Friends. In this case, Friends are members of Anchors Away Brass Band, which means "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service" includes a horn section. Even by Sapling's standards, this new single is bonkers. They claim it's their most fun single yet, and we're certainly not arguing. The horns just seem to go off in their own directions, and the result is an out of control party. It's a wonderfully unhinged song, partially about tequila and bodega cats. It's noisy in the best possible way, and there's no other band that could pull this off besides Sapling. You can listen to "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service" below. The song is available over at Bandcamp . All proceeds will go to New England Justice For Our Neighbors, which "provides free, expert legal aid to Massachusetts immigrants seeking humanitarian-based visas. Our clients include unaccompanied minor...

Photo by Tim Hardiman The more I hear from The Animeros, the more I wish I had been able to check them out at this year's Green River Festival. The trio's latest single, "Descarga Royal," is a swirling psychedelic cumbia song just begging to be played live. Seriously, if you can listen to this one without moving a little, you might not have a soul. With virtually no lyrics, The Animeros completely captivate the listener/dancer with an irresistible groove and rhythms. As great as "Descarga Royal" is recorded, I can only imagine how much better it would be live. I'm sure we'll all be checking their tour dates for a (hopefully soon) return to New England. Nick Tozzo (drummer/percussionist) says of his band's new single:  "’Descarga Royal’ is a cover of a song by classic Peruvian band Los Royals de Pucallpa. Like all 'descargas,' this is an open jam that allowed The Animeros to explore some psychedelic solos and push the energy to the li...