If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Izzie Austin When it came time to craft their new album, Australia's The Murlocs decided to create a country rock record along the lines of The Byrds' Sweetheart of the Rodeo. Once you listen to their new single, you'll be able to judge if they did or not. "Initiative" is a cosmic country song that is truly cosmic. A lot of the genre adds in just a little psychedelia for flavoring, but The Murlocs dumped the whole thing into their little country rock song. It's a rambling song that just kind of meanders around. It's the kind of song that's trying to hold it together and come across as normal, but we all know what it's been up to. Ambrose Kenny-Smith (vocals, guitar, harmonica) says of the new song: “It’s about recognizing the need to start taking responsibility for your life instead of always living in the now and killing all your brain cells along the way. Not everyone wants the big family and the big house with the white picket fence. Ev...

Photo by Matt Draper Shopping are ridiculously prolific, but somehow it always seems like we've been waiting forever for new music from them. In February our long two year wait since 2018's The Official Body will end with a new album, but for now we have a new song, "Initiative."  The three members of Shopping may live on different continents now (Rachel Aggs and Andrew Milk are in Glasgow while Billy Easter is in Los Angeles), but the band reconvened in London to record the new album in ten days. "Initiative" doesn't rewrite the band's musical formula: It's incredibly catchy and danceable post punk. According to the press release, the song is about "...  governments who shirk responsibilities but place the blame on individuals."  You can watch the video for "Initiative" below. All Or Nothing , the new album from Shopping, will be out February 7 on FatCat Records. You can pre-order a copy here . For more on Shopping, c...