If It's Too Loud...

A few weeks back we brought you Calicoco covering Heartless Bastards' "New Resolution." I assumed it was just a fun song to cover for New Years', but it turns out it was the start of an all covers EP, wonderfully titled Calicocovers. It's a three song collection that also sees G. Caliolo taking on Taylor Swift's "Girl at Home" and Sleeping Loops' "Smitten." Calicoco's version of "Girl at Home" is a much darker and moodier version of the Taylor Swift hit, and as faithful to the original as an indie rock/alt-pop version can be. Sleeping Loops is a fellow Long Island artist that I was unfamiliar with, but Calicoco's rendition of "Smitten" is a spot on version of indie/alt-folk original. We tend to love cover songs here at If It's Too Loud..., especially when they are new takes on songs known by the collective consciousness and introduce us to new artists. You can listen to Calicoco's version of "Gir...

Considering how often I write about covers of Heartless Bastards songs, I should really listen to them more. The latest comes from Calicoco, whose 2021 album Underneath was my album of the year, taking on "New Resolution." Heartless Bastards' original is a jerky, more post punk style song, while Calicoco's cover is a more straightforward rock song. In fact, it's probably the most straightforward rock song we've heard from the Long Beach, NY based artist. Their previous releases has a retro crooner meets 90's indie rock sound, and while that is still present, "New Resolution" is more roots/rock based. Calicoco is a artist who has changed up their sound previously, so we can't wait to hear what's coming next. You can listen to Calicoco's version of "New Resolution" below. The song is currently available via Bandcamp . For more on Calicoco, check out the artist's website . New Resolution (Heartless Bastards Cover) by Calico...

I first heard Calicoco's 2018 album in March of 2019. I made the comment that if I had heard Float when it was released it would have definitely made my top 10 of 2018. This year I heard Underneath on time and it's my #1 album of 2021. Underneath combines two of my favorite styles of music. Giana Calioli's vocals still embody that 1950's style crooner sound, but on this new album they are put over giant indie rock epics. The album starts off with "I Hate Living With Me," an absolute monster of a song that just swirls and swirls and swirls around itself with fuzzy and hypnotic guitars while Calioli's vocals somehow command your attention above all of the chaos. This is what sets an album like Underneath apart from so many others. Music this noisy or loud isn't usually this beautiful, and with such compelling vocals. It's almost like early 90's Sonic Youth mixed with early Smashing Pumpkins and a little bit of when Tori Amos started playing with ...

Another slow week means another catch-up week. Artist : Kirty Album : We Are All On Fire Quick Thoughts : Kirty is one we missed, and I honestly don't know how. I don't know her band, Fast Romantics, but this album was a pandemic creation that's a little bit synthy and a little bit folky and gives some familiar vibes even though it feels new and different. If you like the sort of folky stuff that's a little off the beaten path, check this one out. Songs of Note : "Turn You On," "You Ripped My Heart Out," "I Want Your Love." Artist : Liz Cooper Album : Hot Sass Quick Thoughts : I admit that the name of this album made me roll my eyes a bit, but wow does this deliver. I don't know her work as Liz Cooper and the Stampede off-hand, but this is more rock than folk and it doesn't waste any time. I was singing the title track through much of the weekend, "Motorcycle" is also impressive, and, really, the whole packag...

Photo by Laraine Camera Goldberg If you're as excited as we are about Calicoco's new album coming out on Friday, then buckle up. They've just released a new single, and it's just going to amp up your anticipation to a fever pitch. "I Hate Living With Me" is a huge indie rock song. It's an absolute epic that swirls around Giana Calioli's vocals. You still get their impossible to resist crooning vocals that we came to adore with 2018's Float , but "I Hate Living With Me" just builds and builds with swirling guitars and fuzz. It starts off as a mid-tempo rocker and just builds and builds into this intense indie rock jam at the end with everything imploding in upon itself while Calioli's voice anchors the entire thing from going completely off the rails. It's brilliant, and none of us will be able to wait until Friday once we hear this song. You can watch the video for "I Hate Living With Me" below. Underneath is due out Sep...

As thrilled as we were with Calicoco's last single, "Heal Me," last month, their latest may just surpass the last one. "Underneath" is an epic. Despite coming in at just over four minutes in length, it just feels longer. It's a huge indie rocker with Calicoco's 60's crooner vocals edging it just ever so slightly into pop territory. That's truly simply because their vocals are just so compelling and irresistible that you're going to be mesmerized, even as the music may try to repel you with dissonance. This kind of giant song is going to have us preaching on the Calicoco bandwagon even more than we have been in the past. You can watch the video for "Underneath" below. Underneath is due out September 3 on Dadstache Records. You can pre-order a copy here . For more on Calicoco, check out the artist's Facebook  and Twitter .

We first discovered Calicoco back in 2019, a year after they released their amazing album Float. We became enamored with Giana Caliolo's music. The combination of 60's crooner style vocals with modern indie and folk hits such a sweet spot of my musical taste. When I saw Calicoco had a new single out, I was thrilled for more of the same, but "Heal Me" straight up rocks. This is not the direction I expected, but I'm certainly not complaining. "Heal Me" keeps everything we loved about Calicoco before, but cranks up the noise. Sure, the cover of Heartless Bastards' "New Resolution" earlier this year gave us a hint of what Calicoco could do while rocking out a bit more, but this new song is an entirely new direction. It reminds me of Stef Chura going a little more in a straightforward rock direction while keeping the indie rock buzz and crunch. You can watch the video for "Heal Me" below. Underneath is due out September 3 on Dadstache ...

Photo by Andy Baker For the past two years, I've been enamored with the music of Calicoco. Giana Caliolo's musical project has hit such a sweet spot for me, combining 60's crooner tunes with 90's indie rock and modern folk. Calicoco's latest song is a cover of Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball." Miley Cyrus covers will always make me feel ancient, but "Wrecking Ball" is a fun song even if it's not my personal cup of tea. For Calicoco's version, Calioli mixes an odd version of modern indie pop with indie rock. The verses sound more electronic and a quirky version of pop, but for the chorus it's pounding drums and noise. You can tell Calioli had a ton of fun with this song, and that's kind of the point. You can listen to Calicoco's version of "Wrecking Ball" below. It's available as part of Totally Real Records' TRR Mix Vol. 1 compilation to help a friend of the label with his battle against cancer. You can find ...

Back in 2019 I stumbled across Calicoco thanks to Nova One and was blown away. It's been a little while since we've heard new music from Giana Caliolo, but the New Year has brought a new song, and it's a cover. It's a cover of Heartless Bastards' "New Resolution," which is unexpected style wise. Calicoco's previous releases have been more crooner meets modern indie/folk, and Heartless Bastards are definitely much more rock. Calicoco brings the rock for this one. It may not quite match the level of rock of the original, but it comes pretty close. It still keeps Calicoco's trademark crooner sound, so it's more of an alt garage/country/crooner rocker. You can listen to Calicoco's take on "New Resolution" below. The song is available as a free download via Bandcamp . For more on Calicoco, check out the artist's website . New Resolution (Heartless Bastards Cover) by Calicoco

Earlier this year I discovered Calicoco's 2018 album Float , and saying I was blown away would be an understatement. It's been a regular on my musical rotation, so I'm thrilled to have a new EP from Calicoco to check out. Remnant  is a gorgeous and simple release. Until I read about the EP, I had no idea these were simply demos recorded on  Giana Caliolo's phone and computer. They may be simple, but they all sound like finished products, at least to my amateur ears. It's four songs of simple, modern folk-ish music. If songs like "Market" and "Now I See It All" sound this complete as compelling as solo acoustic demos, I am impatiently looking forward to a proper release to hear these fully fleshed out! You can listen to "Market" below. Remnant , the new EP from Calicoco, is available now via Dadstache Records. You can get a copy over at Calicoco's Bandcamp . For more on Calicoco, check out their website . Remnant by Calicoco

We completely missed this album when it was released back in July of 2018, which is unfortunate since this might have made my top 10 of 2018. I discovered this album last week when Nova One posted about the drummer for her current tour, Calicoco, and urged people to check out her album from last year. Float immediately blew me away. The first thing you'll notice is Giana Caliolo's vocals. They have this quality that's part 60's crooner and part just otherworldly. You get songs that have a modern indie folk/rock feel, but that slowly build into an almost 90's indie rock noise burst towards the end. One of the standouts on the album is "Stay for a While." It starts off as a not quite folk, not quite rock song, but with a swirling guitar building just beneath the surface. About two thirds in the crashing drums and fuzzy guitars come in. It's not a complete change of sound or pace, just a bizarro world version of the same song you started listening to. T...