If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Kim Christoffel A lot of modern alt-rock is either rooted in or flat out copying the alt-rock of the 90's. Cusp takes a new direction and is making a fully modern version of the genre. The Chicago band's latest single, "In a Box," is going to appeal to open minded fans of the 90's while reaching out to an entirely new audience. The song is wonderfully melodic, and even the noisier bits are infused with melody. It's a powerful track that is uplifting in a way music wasn't allowed to be in the 90's. The song has such a positive sound to it that I suspect it simply can't be as positive as it sounds, which is probably why I'm enjoying it as much as I am. Singer/guitarist Jen Bender says of the new song: “‘In A Box’ is the crux of the record and feels as timely as when it was written over a year ago. The track is a reflection on [my] persistent inner conversations about comfort, art, and purpose - and questions what impact art can have if t...

Photo by Kim Christoffello Cusp have such a bright and refreshing take on indie rock. Their latest single, "Oh Man," injects quite a bit of pop into the genre, which a lot of bands do these days, but not quite like this. The song is a delightfully quirky and mostly straightforward song that borrows from garage rock and shimmering pop to make a song that just kind of does its own thing. "Oh Man" is a delightful song that is sure to put a smile on your face, which is quite a challenge in 2025. Cusp have given us a song that is truly fun, and an impossible to resist alt-pop rocker. Seriously, just try not to restart the song as soon as it finishes after one listen. Jen Bender (vocals/guitar) says of her band's latest single and video: “Like ‘Follow Along,’ ‘Oh Man’ is a caricature of my (very) late 20s. It captures a heightened and nagging need to be ‘accomplished,’ to pursue the Dream, and to be taken just seriously enough. The video is a snapshot of all of us at ...

Photo by Kim Christoffel Chicago's Cusp have a new single out, and this is the type of song I would have become completely obsessed with in college in the 90's. "Follow Along" is an absolutely killer indie rock song with the slightest pop leaning. It has this buzzsaw guitar that immediately grabs your attention. The noise is significantly softened by the rest of the song, especially singer/guitarist Jen Bender's vocals, which land somewhere in between 90's slacker and melodic. Instead of the standard loud/quiet/loud format (which is somewhat present), Cusp go with more of a melodic/noisy/melodic breakdown. "Follow Along" is a truly fun and noisy song that is exactly what we tend to love here at If It's Too Loud... Jen Bender says of her band's latest single and video:  “‘Follow Along’ is a caricature of the age old question - ‘If your friends jumped off a cliff, would you jump too?’ Chaos may ensue if you get too swept up in what everyone els...

Rochester, NY's Cusp are going to be the perfect band for fans of modern indie rock that is strongly influenced by classic, old school indie rock. The band's latest single, "Illusion Controlling," masters the famed loud/quiet/loud template. The quiet parts may not be too quiet, but it is filled with a wonderfully melodic noise. There is still a strong sense of foreboding in this part, which is released during the loud, crashing cymbal filled loud parts. This is just straight up purely wonderful indie rock that you aren't gong to want to miss. Singer, guitarist, and songwriter Jen Bender says of the upcoming EP: “Some of these songs are about specific events/people from my early 20s that have stuck with me. Most of these capture the time of my life right after college, when I was still processing the previous four years and also mentally preparing for the vastness of adulthood." You can listen to "Illusion Controlling" below. Spill is due out May 7 o...