If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Steven Acres The latest single from New Zealand's Mermaidens is tough to describe, even though it contains a lot of familiar elements. "I Might Disappear" is almost dream pop, but it has a bit too much of an edge to it to truly be dream pop. It's almost shoegaze, but it's a little too poppy for that label. There are some elements of mid 90's indie rock, but it's hardly a throwback song. Instead you get an incredibly intense indie pop/rock song with swirling guitars and amazing melodies, with just enough slight twists to keep drawing you even further in. The band says of the song:  "Being close to someone can bring you to share all the weird thoughts and anxieties that wouldn’t usually leave the inside of your mind. In a way, I think that’s the best thing about intimate relationships. But it’s also really scary! 'I Might Disappear' is a song about the mess of feelings I have when I make myself vulnerable to another person, and th...

The lazy release schedule of summer continues. Album of the Week : Artist : Mermaidens Album : Perfect Body Quick Description : Haunting, dreamy indie pop. Why You Should Listen : You're looking for something gorgeous and unsettling. Overall Thoughts : I don't know what spoke to me so much on this one. Maybe I'm just into their aesthetic, maybe my current Twin Peaks obsession is driving me toward strange and wonderful music, but this album just connected immediately. The musicality is great, the melodies catchy and attention-grabbing. There's nothing like it this week, and it's one of my favorites. Recommendation : Give this one the time to percolate. You won't regret it. Artist : Russkaja Album : Kosmopoliturbo Quick Description : Austrian ska-punk with a side of Russian. Why You Should Listen : This continues to be what you wish Gogol Bordello was. Overall Thoughts : I loved their last album, which literally came out of nowhere for me. Th...