If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Sean Booz Total Wife are an experimental duo from Nashville. Their latest single, "make it last," may have its basis in shoegaze. I say "may" because I'm not sure how to describe this song. It has all of the fuzz and warmth of shoegaze, but Total Wife take that genre and put it through a bizarre filter to make their sound. It's like they took a recording of "make it last" and spliced it with some kind of electronic noise that weaves in and out. The foundation for a nice, normal alt-pop hit is probably in there somewhere, but instead Total Wife made this amazing and groundbreaking noise jam. This one is going to be defiantly not for everyone, but if it works for you, Total Wife could end up being your latest favorite. Vocalist and lyricist Ash Richter says of the band's latest single: “‘make it last’ started as kind of a horny song.  I was experimenting with lyric writing that felt a little less serious or sappy, but the more I worked t...

Photo by Aleka Syntelis New Jersey's High. have just released one of the noisiest but loveliest singles of the year. "Catcher" is going to give you some serious 90's flashbacks, even if you weren't actually there. It's a slowed down song that borders on being a ballad, but never quite gets there. It's filled with fuzzed out and shimmering guitars and hushed vocals. The whole thing builds slowly to a glorious crescendo, incorporating some of the most glorious noise around. You can tell "Catcher" is a deeply heartfelt song that combines the lush emotion of Mazzy Star with the crunch and epic sound of Radiohead's first two albums. This is one you can't miss out on. Lead vocalist Christian Castan says of the band's latest single: "’Catcher’ explores the depths of grief and the unwavering hope that binds us to those we’ve lost."  You can watch the video for "Catcher" below. Come Back Down is due out January 24 on Kanine...

Photo by Aleko Syntelis As shoegaze evolves and bands discover new sounds in the genre, we start getting subgenres. New Jersey's High. play a blend of shoegaze referred to as noisegaze. Their latest single, "In a Hole," has all of the beauty and fuzz of shoegaze, but High. add a layer of sludge over the song. The song feels like it's being played at half speed, and it's as dissonant as it is gorgeous. "In a Hole" is as pummeling as it is warm and inviting, which goes along with the finest examples of the genre. It's filled with haze and jangling, distorted guitars, and some surprisingly lovely vocals. This is one of the best shoegaze releases of the year. Lead vocalist Christian Castan says of the new song: "’In A Hole’ is inspired by meeting our group of friends.  It’s about being depressed and the people close to you dragging you out of it. It’s about the peace and belonging I used to dream about during childhood trauma and finally finding it....