If It's Too Loud...

Mexico City's Tia Rosa has a new single out that might be one of the most unique musical styles we've heard in a while. "Jardin De Risas" has a very DIY/bedroom pop feel. It might be the most non-pop pop song we've ever covered. It's a laid back song that combines ambient with possibly some jazz and cumbia, while still being pop music. It's the kind of pop music that pop fans will hate, but more experimental fans are going to love. The song kind of meanders around with instruments floating in. The result is kind of spooky and oddly beautiful. You can watch the video for "Jardin De Risas" below. Thirteen Automatic Dreams is due out November 6 on Perennial/K Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on Tia Rosa, check out the band on Instagram .

If you're of a certain age and of a certain musical taste, K Records means something near and dear to you. Our latest K Records discovery is Slippers. Led by Madeline Babuka Black, the band just released a new single, "Wasted Tonight." The song is based in 1960's harmonies and 90's indie rock sensibilities, which is one of our favorite combinations. The result is a jangle pop meets twee delight, and "Wasted Tonight" is deliriously irresistible. Babuka Black's vocals are pure harmony mixed with slacker, which is a sound I can't remember hearing. Plus, it has the most catchy "Actually..." you'll ever hear. You can watch the video for "Wasted Tonight" below. Slippers 08 is due out June 5 on K Records and Perennial Death, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . 

Photo courtesy of Outer World Richmond, VA's Outer World are set to play Providence Popfest this weekend, and just put out a new single this week. "La Dimora" is rooted in classic 60's spy movie themes and surf rock, but with a New Wave twist. The very obvious comparison would be The B-52's, but somehow more 60's and more modern than that. As expected with those comparisons, "La Dimora" is ridiculously fun and groovy. Outer World have taken such classic sounds and moved them into the modern age while keeping the original vibe intact. The only complaint I have is that I now wish I had Sunday night free to head down to Providence to see them. You can watch the video for "La Dimora" below. The single is out now via Courtesy Desk and K Records, and is available at Bandcamp . For more on Outer World, check out the band on Instagram . Upcoming live dates are below the video. 5/1 Bethlehem, PA: TBD (ClubRealWorld Presents) 5/2 Brooklyn, NY: Love, ...

After hearing the first single off Touch Girl Apple Blossom's upcoming album, I declared that it was going to be a strong contender for album of the year. Now that we've heard a second single, I stand by that statement. "Vacation" is just dripping with 90's jangle pop goodness. The upcoming album will be released on K Records, and if that means something to you, you're going to adore this track. It's bright and sunny with enough of a melancholy hint to keep it from getting too sugary. It's also the perfect song for the false spring we're experiencing in New England currently. "Vacation" is highly addictive, and it's been on a possibly endless repeat since I first hit play. Touch Girl Apple Blossom are 90's influenced indie rock at its finest. You can watch the video for "Vacation" below. Graceful is due out May 15 on K Records, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Touch Girl Apple Blossom, check out the band...

Hailing from Austin, Touch Girl Apple Blossom are getting ready to release their debut album, and from the first single alone, this could be one of our favorite releases of the year. "The Springtime Reminds Me Of..." is not only as sunshiny as the title suggests, but it's a wonderfully jangly single. The press release compares it to bands like Velocity Girl, The Feelies, and Juliana Hatfield, so you know we're going to be on board. It's just the right amount of quirky and twee, and fits right into the sounds like a lost 90's single sound that we can never get enough of. Besides the title, "The Springtime Reminds Me Of..." is the perfect sound for those of us who are desperately waiting for winter to be over, even though we still have about two more months. You can watch the video for "The Springtime Reminds Me Of..." below. Graceful is due out May 15 on K Records, and is available for pre-order on Bandcamp . For more on Touch Girl Apple Blo...

Sharp Pins is the lo-fi pop project of Kai Slater. I know what sound we all associate lo-fi with, and while his latest single is decidedly lo-fi, it's not your typical lo-fi track.  "(I Wanna) Be Your Girl" is heavily influenced by 1960's rock and pop. It's the kind of song that you normally hear with very lush production, and you may even start wondering what it would sound like in the hands of George Martin or with a Wall of Sound. And I guarantee "(I Wanna) Be Your Girl" would sound amazing if it was heavily produced. But part of the charm of Sharp Pins is how raw and unpolished it is. The grit in the song ends up making it sound more true. This is music that simply needed to be made. You can listen to "(I Wanna) Be Your Girl" below. Balloon Balloon Balloon  is due out November 21 on K Records and Perennial Death, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on Sharp Pins, check out the artist on Instagram . Balloon Balloon Bal...

Photo by Beeau Gomez Oruã  are a Brazilian band that include L ê  Alm eida and J o ã o Casaes who temporarily joined Built to Spill after Doug Martsch saw the band in 2019. Their latest single, "M é xico Suite," is the style of indie rock song where you never quite know what's coming next. The song starts off slow with a heavy and noisy groove. It's hypnotic, and if the song stayed like its beginning, it would be a great song. And then the disjointed noise comes in, and while the song doesn't end up sounding like Built to Spill, it's going to appeal to fans of the long time band. "M é xico Suite" continues evolving over the course of it's five and a half minute length ending in an extended jam session, and while it feels longer, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Oru ã  have just packed an awful lot into this killer single. L Almeida says of the band's latest single: “ In December of 2023, after an Oruã US tour, I traveled to Cancún, Mex...

Photo by Dominic Berthiaume Montreal's Bibi Club have recently released the deluxe edition of their 2024 album Feu de garde (les braises) which includes a reworked version of "you can wear a jacket or a shirt." This new version is significant not only because it includes saxophone but also vocals from the legendary Calvin Johnson (Beat Happening, Dub Narcotic Sound System, The Halo Benders). The song is this ultracool laid back and groovy indie rock song that is made cooler by the addition of Johnson. The song has a quality that seems like it mixes 60's cool with 90's indie rock and today's alt-pop. Bibi Club have taken some of the most vibrant sounds of all time and mixed them all together, and then invited Calvin Johnson to add some extra cool. Bibi Club say of their latest single: “We're fans of K Records and Calvin Johnson's projects. His ongoing contribution to the independent music scene over the years is meaningful, evocative, inspiring, and ess...

Besides having my favorite band name in recent memory, Johnny Maraca & The Marockers are a kick ass band. Their latest single, "Hot Boy," perfectly captures vintage rock and roll and garage rock with a sneering punk and glam attitude. It's two minutes and ten seconds of pure rock based joy, taking cues from the vintage sounds of ? and The Mysterians and The Archies along with New York Dolls. No one would ever call "Hot Boy" a pop song, but there are pop hooks aplenty in the song. Sometimes you just need a killer rock song about dancing, and that's exactly what Johnny Maraca & The Marockers provide here. On the YouTube page for the video, Johnny Maraca says: "The world can be a cruel dark place that tries to tear us apart and pit us against eachother in the neo-capitalist hellhole that is life. In times like this we must come together and embrace eachother with the oldest human language, the language of dance baby." You can watch the video f...

If you're anything like me, you're going to gravitate to anything that K Records puts out. The label has been legendary for decades, and even if one of their releases isn't life changing, it's at the very least going to be interesting. Enter the latest single from Johnny Maraca & The Marockers. "Little Heart" might not be sonically classic K Records, but it is in spirit. The band, led by Ian McDonnell (I know, I was also shocked it's a stage name), has released one of the most charming singles of the year. This is just pure rock and roll being done for the love of rock and roll. It's a high energy burst of a song, and it's just fun. Honestly, "Little Heart" might not work for you immediately. I know when I first started listening I thought it might not be great but it's at least interesting. After two and a half minutes, I thought it might actually be kinda good, so I restarted it. Turns out, Johnny Maraca & The Marockers are ...

Columbus, OH's Winston Hightower has recorded over one hundred songs since 2015, but has yet to release an official album yet. (He's also been a professional skater and a touring guitarist/bassist with hardcore groups Minority Threat and Twompsax.) That will change in May when he releases Winston Hytwr . The album will be released by K Records, which works perfectly with the sound of the first single. "Insubordination Rules" has a certain DIY sound that is both a 90's throwback and modern. To me it has a Sebadoh meets Beat Happening thing going on. (And by Sebadoh I mean pretty much all eras of Sebadoh, if that is possible.) "Insubordination Rules" is the kind of song that is sure to create many superfans of Hightower, as this is the type of musician that will only have superfans.  You can listen to "Insubordination Rules" below. Winston Hytwr is due out May 31 on K Records and Perennial Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp ...

Indie rock fans of a certain age are familiar with K Records and know you need to check out everything the label releases. Your new favorite K Records band will need to be Feeling Figures. The Montreal band just sound and feel like vintage K. Their latest single, "Across the Line," has that laid back, noisy, and trippy vibe the label has brought us for decades. It's just filled with swirling guitars and slacker style vocals. There has been a 90's indie rock revival as of late, but not too many bands sound like it could very well be a lost song from thirty years ago. "Across the Line" has the whole 90's band just discovered The Velvet Underground thing going on, and that's never been a bad thing. You can listen to "Across the Line" below. Migration Magic is due out November 15 on K Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on Feeling Figures, check out the band's Bandcamp . Migration Magic by Feeling Figures

Photo by Sarah Cass Anything the legendary Calvin Johnson does is guaranteed to get our attention here at If It's Too Loud... Between founding K Records and being a member of Beat Happening, Halo Benders, and Selector Dub Narcotic, the man has built up enough credibility that everything he does will be at least interesting. His latest project is under his own name and is a collaboration with Patrick Carney of The Black Keys. According to the press release, Johnson recorded in Nashville, TN with the phrase "Rock'n'Roll Will Never Die" as a starting point, and yes, "Kiss Me Sweetly" is more rock than a project like Selector Dub Narcotic, but it's not completely a rock song. Johnson croons throughout the song, and harmonizes shockingly well with Michelle Branch. The whole song almost has a 1960's spy movie theme feel to it. It's not really a rock'n'roll song, but it is cool as hell and a must listen. You can listen to "Kiss Me...

Selector Dub Narcotic is a new project from the legendary Calvin Johnson. In case you don't immediately recognize the name Calvin Johnson, he founded K Records as well as the highly influential bands Beat Happening, Halo Benders, and Dub Narcotic Sound System. Selector Dub Narcotic is his collaboration with hip hop producer Smoke M2D6. Calvin Johnson doing hip hop sounds like a weird, weird combination, and you'd be right. I can't say that "Hotter Than Hott" is a good song. Odd is probably a better description. But it is fun. And highly infectious, especially as it goes on. It's worth at least a few listens. It is Calvin Johnson, after all. But there's also a good chance you'll become obsessed with the song after the third listen. You might thank me (or be furious with me) later. Selector Dub Narcotic's album, This Party is Just Getting Started, will be out September 16 on K Records, of course. You can watch the video for "Hotter Than Hott...