If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Ashley Gellman "Heavy Metal" might be my favorite of Madi Diaz's songs, and she's released a new version of it from her upcoming UN-unplugged edition of last year's phenomenal Fatal Optimist. The original version is just Diaz and her guitar, and the re-worked version includes drums and Lucy Dacus singing backup vocals and taking on a verse. Even with the added elements, "Heavy Metal (UN-unplugged)" feels more raw and stripped down than the original. The emotions of the song are heightened, and Diaz has added something extra special to an already deeply emotional song. We've long been confounded that Diaz isn't one of the most popular artists of her generation, and this version of "Heavy Metal" only helps prove us correct. Madi Diaz says of her latest single: “Doesn’t Lucy Dacus just sound like Frank Sinatra with a velvet cape and gloves on? I could listen to her verse in my ears on repeat. I was so honored when she agreed to ad...

Photo by Allister Ann If you've seen Madi Diaz in the past year, you've probably seen her perform "This is How a Woman Leaves," a song she wrote for Maren Morris. In September, Diaz will be releasing a deluxe "UN-unplugged" version of last year's excellent Fatal Optimist , which will include her version of "This is How a Woman Leaves." We've long said that we have no idea how Diaz isn't a household name and playing arenas, and this song shows exactly why. This is simply an excellent song, and Diaz performs it expertly and emotionally. It's the kind of song you instantly want to share with everyone you know, since everyone needs to hear it.  Madi Diaz says of her upcoming deluxe version of Fatal Optimist: “These songs have two sides now. One being the insular raw, knee jerk world of Fatal Optimist . In UN-unplugged land, I sat with some of my favorite players to date, and we fumbled through these songs together. Not so solitary, more...

In our opinions, Madi Diaz is one of the most underrated musicians out there. Since discovering her in 2021, she always seems to be right on the edge of breaking out, and with her just released and excellent new album Fatal Optimist , that seems even more likely. I've been lucky enough to see her perform live twice now, but those have been huge festivals (Boston Calling in 2024 and Back Cove Music and Arts Festival this past summer). When I saw that she was playing the ultra small Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton, I knew it was time to finally see her play a headlining set. Even before Madi Diaz took the stage, you could tell it was going to be a unique night. The stage was decorated kind of like a living room, with a semi-shag carpet, pictures, a small table and lamp, and vintage amps. Diaz started playing at 8:00 and didn't stop until around 9:30. It's easy to forget just how many great songs she has, and her new album is filled with them. "Why'd You Have to ...

Artist : Weakened Friends Album : Feels Like Hell Quick Thoughts : Sometimes I listen to an album from a band I love and wonder why they aren't huge. Weakened Friends is a regional act that keeps putting out great music that speaks to the alt-rock of its influences while still keeping a finger on the pulse of modern indie, and their new album should be the thing that propels them upward and outward if there's any justice left in the world. Yes, it has the Natalie Imbruglia cover of "Torn" (although it really borrows more from the original Ednaswap version), but it also has "Tough Luck" which is their best song since "Tunnels" snf NPC with a random Buckethead appearance, so... I mean, there are few bands doing quite as much as well as Weakened Friends are, and they deserve to be huge. A great listen. Songs of Note : "Tough Luck (Bleed Me Out)," "Nosebleed," "NPC," "Smoke and Mirrors," "Great Expecta...

Photo by Allister Ann Madi Diaz has long been one of those artists that seems to be on the precipice of breaking out, and her upcoming album might be what finally does it. Her latest single, "Why'd You Have to Bring Me Flowers," is a melancholy country/Americana song that leans heavily into the singer-songwriter genre. It's a simple song consisting of Diaz's vocals and guitar, but it couldn't be more captivating. Diaz just has this little something in her voice that is impossible to resist, and her songwriting keeps getting better with every release. Don't be surprised if your kids/nieces and nephews are mentioning Diaz at your next family get-together, which will be followed by hearing any of the songs from Fatal Optimist being played in your office by the spring. Madi Diaz says of her upcoming album: “ Fatal Optimism  is the innate hope for something magical. It’s the weird faith that kicks in while knowing that there is just plain risk that comes with w...

Photo by Allister Ann Madi Diaz is at the top of my list of artists that should be massive. The singer-songwriter just released a new single, "Ambivalence," that is the rare song that will be appreciated by both music snobs and your most mainstream listening co-worker. It's a stripped back song featuring mostly only Diaz's vocals and guitar, but when you've achieved this level of perfection, you simply don't need anything more. "Ambivalence" grabs you instantly with how stark it is, while still sounding lush and full. Sometimes an artist completely nails a song, and Diaz has reached perfection with her latest. Madi Diaz says of her upcoming album: “Fatal Optimism is the innate hope for something magical. It’s the weird faith that kicks in while knowing that there is just plain risk that comes with wanting someone or something. It’s when you have no control over the outcome, but still choose to experience every moment that happens, and put your whole ...

Ripe Photo by Ken Sears This has been a weird year for music festivals, with many festivals cancelling and others announcing they're taking a hiatus next year. The New England festival scene can be pretty busy, and this year saw Back Cove Music & Arts Festival entering the fray and taking over Payson Park in Portland, ME. They had an absolutely stacked line up for their inaugural year, so I made the surprisingly quick trip up to Portland on Sunday to check it out. Here are my highlights in the order that they took place. Maine Academy of Modern Music I didn't expect much from bands made up of music students playing in front of a huge festival crowd. It sounded kind of gimmicky, but at the very least it would be a cool thing for kids to look back on. I planned on wandering around and getting my bearings, but was shocked by how sucked in I got. Representing the Maine Academy of Modern Music was a trio of bands: Prettiest Girl in the Morgue, Andromeda, and Fraternity Leave. Be...

A few weeks back I started seeing ads on social media for Back Cove Music & Arts Festival in Portland, ME. I always try to keep my expectations low when a new festival is announced, because more often than not the line up isn't in my taste (aka typically filled with jam bands). I was optimistic, but didn't expect much. Today the line up was announced, and it's kind of ridiculously great. Taking place August 2 and 3 in Payson Park, the festival features world renowned heavy hitters like Jack White, Lord Huron, Andre 3000, Turnpike Troubadours, and Lucy Dacus, as well as If It's Too Loud... favorites like Margo Price, Thee Sacred Souls, Madi Diaz, The Greeting Committee, local heroes Weakened Friends, and many more! This is a completely solid line up, and considering it's a festival boasting no overlapping sets, how could you go wrong? Maine is beautiful, and we're always looking for an excuse to get up there over the summer. What better reason is there than a...

Photo by Rush Zimmerman One theme in Christmas songs released this year seems to be melancholy. That is true for the latest from Madi Diaz. The Nashville musician has released "Kid on Christmas," a quiet folk/singer-songwriter song about wishing you could return to the way Christmas felt as a child. It's a stripped down and simple song driven by Diaz's vocals and lyrics. It's actually kind of a haunting song. There is something oddly optimistic about "Kid on Christmas," but you have to sift through the downbeat side of the song to find it. It may be one of the sadder Christmas songs, but Diaz has crafted a lovely song that's going to resonate with a lot of people this year. Madi Diaz says of her new holiday single: “I pulled up to Carrie K's house in between tours on a hot summer day to write a song and for some reason this little melody had been bugging me. I had started singing it somewhere in New Jersey…the line came while I was trying to pluc...

kei Photo credit: Boston Calling, Alive Coverage Boston Calling is New England's largest music festival, drawing forty thousand music fans from all over for three days of music. This was surprisingly my first year attending Boston Calling, and there is simply too much for one post, so we're breaking it down day by day. Here are my highlights from day one! Madi Diaz We've been fans of Madi Diaz for a while, so it was great to see the Nashvile singer-songwriter live for the first time. I was also unaware that she spent time in Boston, and she talked about living ten blocks from the venue. Taking the Green Stage with her guitar and only accompanied by a drummer, Diaz was the perfect way to start off my day with her upbeat mix of indie rock, singer-songwriter fare, and pop. I was also pleasantly surprised by how much of her music the crowd knew. I tend to live in my musical bubble, unaware of what's popular or not, and Diaz is much more well known than I thought.  The Wolff...

Artist : Madi Diaz Album : Weird Faith Quick Thoughts : Madi Diaz had my favorite album of 2021 with History of a Feeling , so to say that I had high expectations of the follow-up is probably an understatement. What I didn't anticipate is the album more than meeting those high expectations in a way that suggests Weird Faith is the pacesetter for 2024 music. "Same Risk" has the emotional weight of so much of History of a Feeling and sets the tone for an album that's a little more upbeat than the previous while still being super confessional and personal along the way. I can't speak highly enough about this album, it's a mandatory listen this week and the first truly outstanding album of the new year. Songs of Note : "Same Risk," "Everything Almost," "Get to Konw Me," "Kiss the Wall," "Don't Do Me Good," "KFM" Artist : Brittany Howard Album : What Now Quick Thoughts : Brittany Howard (Al...

Photo by Muriel Margaret Some form of alt-pop, folk-pop, and indie rock is all the rage right now. We bring you a ton of music that fits in that trifecta, but no one nails it quite like Madi Diaz. The Nashvile singer-songwriter has released a new single that comes right up next to the mainstream, and may even cross into it a bit, without fully jumping in. "Everything Almost" is an epic singer-songwriter meets indie rock meets folk-pop kind of song. It's the kind of song that is going to appeal to fans of boygenius (and the individual members' solo work), but without quite hitting the huge scale of that supergroup. "Everything Almost" is a fairly big sounding song while still feeling intimate.  Madi Diaz says that her latest single is: “... about my constant wondering within a relationship. How much should I be saying things out loud or am I saying too much out loud? What should I keep for myself? What’s mine that could become ours, that should become ours? W...

Photo by Muriel Margaret Madi Diaz has had a crazy couple of years. After the release of 2021's History of a Feeling , the Nashville based singer-songwriter made her television debuts, went on her first solo tour since 2014, toured with Waxahatchee and Angel Olsen, and was not only handpicked by Harry Styles to open for him, but she joined his backing band on tour. Now, she's back with a new single, "Same Risk." This new song is a simple mainstream folk song that highlights Diaz's vocals. She's just one of those performers that has the kind of voice you need to pay attention to. At no point does she get showy, but she just has that simple star quality to her voice that makes you need to listen. You can watch the video for "Same Risk" below. Weird Faith is due out February 9 on ANTI-, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Madi Diaz, check out the artist's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the video. Thu. Oct. 12 - London, UK @ Bu...

With the mid-term elections tomorrow, Madi Diaz, S.G. Goodman, and Joy Oladokun have teamed up for a cover of Patti Griffins "Be Careful." This new version is quite faitful to Griffin's original and it maintains its fairly standard singer/songwriter format, except the cover adds just a little indie rock noise to give the song a little more intensity and immediacy that is needed in 2022. Diaz, Goodman, and Oladokun have created a cover that is more haunting and aching than the original, for good reason. Madi Diaz explains the meaning behind this new cover: “When Roe V. Wade was overturned this past summer, Patty Griffin’s song ‘Be Careful’ slipped into my subconscious. It became a mantra of strength that was playing consistently in the back of my heart and mind day in and day out, gently encouraging me to keep putting one foot in front of the other. It became a sort of battle cry directed toward anyone that wants to take away my rights to my own body and my reproductive fr...

On a typical new release week, I have a list and Ken has a list, and he sends over things he believes I might find interesting or that have been sent over to us via artists or publicists. Often, I go in knowing nothing about the artists at all, and thus "First Listen" is really and truly a "first listen" in all facets. Every so often, Ken sends over an album that blows me away. This year, it was Madi Diaz. History of a Feeling is Diaz's fifth(!) album, but a first for me. The album is probably the rawest and most honest record I've heard since Julien Baker's Turn Out the Lights from however long ago, and this is even more nakedly brutal in its approach. It's one thing to put a bad relationship on blast using metaphor and painting a picture; it's another to lead an angry chorus with "I hope you fuck her with your eyes closed/and think of me." The whole record is an exercise in rage, and it feels as cathartic to me as much as I hope it ...

Artist : Suzanne Santo Album : Yard Sale Quick Thoughts : I don't recall how I tripped up on Suzanne Santo, but her song "Ghost in My Bed" from a few years back is an all-time favorite. This new album continues to show how great she is at this sort of alt-country, roots-tinged music, with a number of high points. This is a great listen, and one worth listening to even if it were a busy week. Songs of Note : "Mercy," "Goldrush," "Save for Love," "Afraid of Heights" Artist : Madi Diaz Album : History of a Feeling Quick Thoughts : Madi Diaz is another name I remember, but I don't quite recall my first time listening to her. Still, History of a Feeling gives massive Julien Baker energy, especially on songs like "Do It Now" and "Think of Me," the latter of which is one of the most brutal songs I've heard in a while. This may be one of my favorite listens of the year, never mind the week or summer. ...