If It's Too Loud...

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...

If you've considered Ali McGuirk to be a laid back soul and/or folk artist, buckle up for her latest single. "Exorcist" is a fiery blues rocker with nothing even remotely laid back. It's about as heavy as a mid-tempo song can be, with killer guitar solos almost throughout the entire song. It's not quite a headbanger, but it's pretty damn close. About halfway through, I had to check to make sure I was playing the right song, since "Exorcist" defies my expectations I have with McGuirk. The second thing I did was check out her current tour dates since I have an intense need to hear this song live. We've been fans of hers for a while now, and "Exorcist" shows off a side of Ali McGuirk we were unfamiliar with, and when it sounds like this, that's hardly a bad thing. Ali McGuirk says of her latest single: "In writing this song, I wrote myself an actual exorcism. Righteous anger. Trauma. Betrayal.  Feminine rage. Thought systems that ...

The latest from Ali McGuirk doesn't exactly sound like a protest song, but it would be considered political by many listeners. "Where Does All the $ Come From" is a laid back neo-soul song with an intense message. Unlike much of the soul music we cover, McGuirk's isn't a throwback track. It sounds like a modern version of soul, filtering both vintage 60's soul and 90's R&B into a sound that's fully 2025. It's the type of song that will be easy to get caught up in the sound and feel of it without paying attention to the lyrics, but McGuirk has written a great song that should inspire you to think. It's also a killer soul track, so you'll be able to fully enjoy at it multiple levels. Ali McGuirk says of her latest single: "No matter where we stand on the political spectrum, we are all complicit in systems that exploit. The bottom line question I want you to ask yourself today is: Where has all the money come from that has built your ...

Doing Anything this Weekend? is a feature here at If It's Too Loud... where we feature some live shows in and on the far outskirts of the Boston area. Our main rules are that they have to be reasonably priced shows that you can attend last minute. They'll feature If It's Too Loud... approved bands, and we'll provide event links when possible. And since we're in outdoor music season, these events are weather permitting. If you're looking for last minute plans this weekend, we recommend: Friday August 23 Somergloom featuring Big Brave, Final Gasp, Spiritual Poison, Lesser Glow, Circus Trees, and Luci Dead Limb at Arts at the Armory, Somerville, MA Cold Expectations, The Gypsy Moths, and Girl with a Hawk at The Burren, Somerville, MA Gollylagging, Paper Lady, and Alexander at The Rockwell, Somerville, MA Muddy Ruckus, Julie Rhodes & The Electric Co., and Yonks at Alchemy, Providence, RI Oh the Humanity!, Eric and the Nothing, Scotty Saints and the True Believer...

Doing Anything this Weekend? is a feature here at If It's Too Loud... where we feature some live shows in and on the far outskirts of the Boston area. Our main rules are that they have to be reasonably priced shows that you can attend last minute. They'll feature If It's Too Loud... approved bands, and we'll provide event links when possible. And since we're in outdoor music season, these events are weather permitting. If you're looking for last minute plans this weekend, we recommend: August 9 Tysk Tysk Task, Grub Lord, Hell Beach, and 2000s at The Press Room, Portsmouth, NH The Devil's Twins, The Anti Queens, and Oh the Humanity! at Deep Cuts, Medford, MA The Wolff Sisters and Ali McGuirk at The Cut, Gloucester, MA Barrence Whitfield and Sal Baglio's Giant Rock and Roll Show at The Bull Run, Shirley, MA Annabel and Perennial at Faces Brewing Co., Medford, MA Snowbeasts, Ex-Hyena, and SWRM at Myrtle, East Providence, RI The Promised End, In the Meantime...

Doing Anything this Weekend? is a feature here at If It's Too Loud... where we feature some live shows in and on the far outskirts of the Boston area. Our main rules are that they have to be reasonably priced shows that you can attend last minute. They'll feature If It's Too Loud... approved bands, and we'll provide event links when possible. If you're looking for last minute plans this weekend, we recommend: Friday April 5 Tree, Scissorfight, and Inverter at The Vault, New Bedford, MA Rock & Roll Rumble Preliminary Night Two featuring Type 66, Trailer Swift, Gut Health, and JATK at The Middle East, Cambridge, MA Hammered Saint, Diablogato, and The Shang Hi Los at Faces Brewing, Malden, MA Saturday April 6 Rock & Roll Rumble Preliminary Night Three featuring Lovina Falls, Wire Lines, Other Brother Darryl, and Condition Baker at The Middle East, Cambridge, MA 2nd Annual Townes Van Zandt Night featuring Paul Basile & Pete Camerato, Jake McKelvie, Dan Lambe...

Photo via Facebook Few are doing the whole folk/soul thing quite like Ali McGuirk is. "X Boyfriends" sounds like vintage soul with a modern spin. McGuirk's vocals are on full display. She's a formidable talent without ever having to get overly showy like so many modern soul and R&B singers tend to. Despite having a vintage sound, "X Boyfriends" doesn't sound like a throwback. This is pure classic soul that still sounds current and modern. This is truly what sets McGuirk apart from so many of her peers in the genre. Ali McGuirk says of her new song: “This song could be interpreted as a song of longing, but I think of it more as a song that looks back on past loves with fondness, appreciating the good things they brought to be and recognizing my life’s own enoughness without them." You can listen to "X Boyfriends" below. Til It's Gone is due out September 16 on Signature Sounds, and can be pre-ordered here . For more on Ali McGuirk, ...

Ali McGuirk is one of the finest soul/blues/folk singers in the Boston area. Her latest single, "All Back," doesn't push the boundaries of the style of music. It's pretty mainstream as far as a soulful blues/folk song goes, but when an artist nails a genre as fully as McGuirk has, it doesn't need to do anything differently. McGuirk's vocals are so effortlessly captivating. "All Back" is a vocal showcase for her without ever needing to be showy. This is just a song that is completely mesmerizing while being a simple soul/blues song. You can watch the video for "All Back" below. Til It's Gone is due out September 16 on Signature Sounds Recordings. The album can be pre-ordered/pre-saved here . For more on Ali McGuirk, check out the artist's website .

"That's the Way I Feel About You" may have been written by Bobby Womack, but it's Aretha Franklin's version that made it legendary. (The originals are named "That's the Way I Feel About Cha.") Covering anything touched by the Queen of Soul is a daunting thing to try, but Boston's Ali McGuirk succeeds in the challenge. "That's the Way I Feel About You" is one of Franklin's more laid back, stripped down songs, and that fits McGuirk perfectly. No one can try to mimic Franklin, and McGuirk doesn't try. She makes the song in her own style and adding her own version of indie soul to it. It's a laid back love ballad that is a perfect tribute to Aretha Franklin. In a press release, Ali McGuirk says of the song: "I’ve loved this song ever since I heard Aretha Franklin sing it on her  Rare & Unreleased  B-sides record. It’s the type of dreamy, openhearted soul ballad that I’m a sucker for.  I’ve always been drawn to the ...