If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Travis Gillett Built to Spill and Blood Lemon bassist Melanie Radford has one new single out before her solo album is due tomorrow (June 26). "Sink & Swallow" takes a bit to get going, but once it does it turns into the most lovely single we've heard from her to date. The songs starts off with an extended ambient opening, and then turns into a compelling and engaging song that borders on folk and Americana. As laid back and relaxed as "Sink & Swallow" may seem at first, there is an intensity lurking beneath the surface. The twang lingering in the song is almost foreboding, but somehow makes the song even more immediate and beautiful. We're sure to be checking out Radford's full album once it is released tomorrow. Melanie Radford says of the video for her new single: “The video is a dreamy depiction of 3 inner selves. I'm a firm believer in people containing multitudes of selves that need attention and care. However, not one singularl...

Photo by Travis Gillett You probably know Melanie Radford from Built to Spill and Blood Lemon, but now the bassist and vocalist is releasing a new solo album. The first single from that album is "Hangin' On," and it's a complete departure from her other two projects. The song is quiet and stripped down, and sounds like it is comprised mostly of vocals, bass, and cello (provided by Lori Goldston, known for her work with Nirvana). What the song lacks in volume it certainly makes up for in beauty and a certain captivating quality. "Hangin' On" captures your attention by being so quiet, and it's magical how its warmth washes over you. If you love Built to Spill and/or Blood Lemon, you're going to also love Melanie Radford's solo work. You can watch the video for "Hangin' On" below. For the Sake of Stillness is due out June 26 on Jealous Butcher Records, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Melanie Radford, check out the...

Modest Mouse touring with Built to Spill is a tour that would have been a dream come true for me in college, and now over two decades later, it's still a dream line up. Of course, if I had gone to see this tour in the 90's, it would have been in a much smaller venue than MGM Music Hall at Fenway.  I'm not sure if it was advertised as such, but I had no idea that Modest Mouse was performing The Moon & Antartica in full on this tour. It was a pleasant surprise, and explains the setlist. (I can't be the only one considering how many people were yelling out requests for the entire show._ The beginning of that album can't be beat, with the opening song "3rd Planet" being a personal favorite, "Dark Center of the Universe" being a classic at this point, and "Twin Cities Made of Ash" working the crowd into a dancing frenzy. In 2025, Modest Mouse might be the most underrated live band in music today, with frontman Isaac Brock working himself...

Built to Spill are one of those bands I've been going to see for around twenty five years now in their various incarnations. I've seen them play in various size venues, but I think my favorite was a 1998 CMJ show at the Bowery Ballroom. Despite knowing Doug Martsch and company probably won't quite hit that level for me again personally, I try to get out every few years or so to check them out. This was the first time I got to see Built to Spill's current line up, and possibly the first time I've seen them as a trio. (If I have before, it's been a long, long, long time...) Interestingly, the band set up in a straight line in the front of the stage with bass player Melanie Radford and drummer Teresa Esguerra on either side of Martsch. I was right in front of Esguerra's drum set, so I had the unique experience of paying more attention to the drums than guitar during a Built to Spill show. Esguerra is a fantastic drummer, adding flourishes and helping rework old...

Image by Alex Graham Indie rock stalwarts Built to Spill have always been a trippy band, but the singles for their upcoming album are a whole new level of trippy. Their latest, "Fool's Gold," continues on the pattern of laid back songs that are fairly straightforward alt-rock songs at a normal length of three to four minutes that are just trippy as hell. "Fool's Gold" plods along seemingly in circles for three minutes, and, as with any Built to Spill song, truly propelled forward by Doug Martsch's epic guitar solos. And, yes, despite the four minute length Martsch does manage to cram two of your favorite guitar solos in the song. Despite a complete line up change, "Fool's Gold" tweaks the classic Built to Spill sound to keep things interesting while keeping everything we long about the band intact. You can watch the video for "Fool's Gold" below. When the Wind Forgets Your Name  is due out September 9 on Sub Pop Records, and c...

When you first hear that the new Built to Spill album is going to be called When the Wind Forgets Your Name , it's safe to assume it's going to be filled with ten minute Doug Martsch epics and the longest guitar solos that have ever existed. Judging by the first single, you're not entirely right. "Gonna Lose" is just over two and a half minutes, which is reminiscent of earlier Built to Spill songs. It even has a fairly upbeat, almost poppy vibe. But it's still an oddly psychedelic guitar based song and feels like one of their monster epics just condensed to a quarter of its normal size. If anything, it seems to be combining early 90's Built to Spill with their more recent sound. If an all new line up wasn't intriguing enough, "Gonna Lose" is going to amp up your anticipation. You can listen to "Gonna Lose" below. When the Wind Forgets Your Name  is due out September 9 on Sub Pop Records, and can be pre-ordered here . For more on Bui...

Artist : Melissa Carper Album : Daddy's Country Gold Quick Thoughts : That this came out the same week as a Loretta Lynn album is amusing, because this is some great throwback country. The retro feel from presentation to the actual music feels pure and honest, which isn't always the case with country acts that seem to keep their tongues in cheek. But when you have a song like "Would You Like to Get Some Goats?" how can you resist? Songs of Note : "Back When," "Old Fashioned Gal," "Would You Like to Get Some Goats?" Artist : Friedberg Album : YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH Quick Thoughts : This is only a five-song, 16-minute EP, but my goodness, it is all killer no filler. The first four songs are all addictive poppy bangers, and the closing track, "Your Hollywood," cools things down perfectly. This is probably my favorite overall release this week. Songs of Note : "Pass Me On," "Lizzy" ...

Way back in 2002, Built to Spill's Doug Martsch got together with some local friends and formed Boise Cover Band, releasing a tour only cd in 2003. That disc is finally seeing a digital and vinyl release, and you can hear their version of "Ashes to Ashes." It's quite simply a gorgeous version, which is exactly what you'd expect from a Bowie cover that Doug Martsch is involved in. What is surprising for fans of Martsch's other bands is that guitar is not at the center of this song. All instrumentation is relatively quiet, pairing with Martsch's voice splendidly. If anything, this is a folk-adjacent version of "Ashes to Ashes." You can listen to Boise Cover Band's version of "Ashes to Ashes" below. Unoriginal Artists  will be out on March 19. You can pre-order your copy via Bandcamp .  Unoriginal Artists by Boise Cover Band

Back in 2017, Built to Spill played some shows with the late Daniel Johnston as his backing band on what would be his final tour. As a tribute to their late friend, Built to Spill are set to release an album of Daniel Johnston covers later this year. "Bloody Rainbow" is the first song we get to hear from the upcoming album. The full band Built to Spill version is a much more full sound than the stripped down Daniel Johnston solo original, but that's going to happen any time a full band covers a song that was previously just guitar. Aside from that change, Built to Spill nail the original. It's a completely perfect tribute, but I also can't think of any band I'd want to release a full album of Daniel Johnston covers more than Built to Spill. You can listen to Built to Spill's version of "Bloody Rainbow" below. Built To Spill Plays The Songs Of Daniel Johnston will be out on May 1. You can pre-order your copy over at Bandcamp . For more on Buil...

And we're back with the rest of this week's new release slate! Mavis Staples - Your Good Fortune : Mavis Staples is a legend in her own right, and this quick hit EP is a great reminder/introduction into why. A good soulful gospel quick hit, it may not be your favorite thing she's done, but it's still a worthwhile listen. Passion Pit - Kindred : Passion Pit goes back to basics somewhat with this third album. The falsetto is back, the electronica more pronounced, and, while it still feels more mainstream than their debut, it's still strange enough to feel like a return to form. In a way, they feel a lot more like Washed Out than I expected. Otherwise, though, if you were a fan of the first album and couldn't quite get into the second, this one is something you should really give a shot. Built to Spill - Untethered Moon : Why am I not chomping at the bit for new Built to Spill music all the time? This album continues the consistently great stuff the band...

I consider myself a Bob Dylan fan, but I'm by no means one of those obsessive, all collecting fans of Dylan. Because of this, I know literally nothing about what he was putting out in the 80s, but I've heard it isn't exactly up to his normal level. So, of course a bunch of indie bands have decided to cover nothing but songs he released in the 80s for a new tribute album, Bob Dylan in the 80s: Volume One. The album will feature the likes of Deer Tick, Reggie Watts, Lucius, Blitzen Trapper, and more. Most importantly, it features Built to Spill covering "Jokerman" off Infidels. Like any Built to Spill cover, it stays completely true to the original while somehow making it completely their own. You can download a free copy of "Jokerman" over at Rolling Stone's website . For more information on Bob Dylan in the 80s: Volume One, click here .