If It's Too Loud...

Artist : MJ Lenderman Album : Manning Fireworks Quick Thoughts : I can't remember the last indie record that came in with the level of buzz this one, and I certainly can't remember the last time the buzz was not only warranted, but kind of understated its quality. On his third solo album, he just has so many great ideas and lyrics throughout this that just hit different. I especially love "Rudolph," which starts out somewhat fun before quickly dropping its weight on the whole thing. It's a tightrope he walks with ease throughout this album, which might be one of the year's best. Songs of Note : "Manning Fireworks," "Rudolph," "Wristwatch," "She's Leaving You," "Bark at the Moon" Artist : The Dare Album : What's Wrong With New York? Quick Thoughts : So The Dare are not reinventing the wheel with their sleazy party indie, and in fact feel like a modern incarnation of LCD Soundsystem, but the point ...

Oahk may be one of the most underappreciated artists in the New England scene. We discovered them at Tysk Tysk Task's album release show for You're Sorry More , and we quickly became enamored with their album Tiny Husks. They have a new album due out next month, and have a new single with "Falling Droplets." Oahk's trademark sound is loud guitar with an organic version of drone. This new single is absolutely beautiful, although there is a strong sense of loss in the beauty. The song does run over seven minutes, but even aside from the length it's absolutely epic. Oahk plods along for quite some time, and the song is begging to explode, and although it does intensify, it never quite bursts like you are anticipating. "Falling Droplets" ends up even more heartbreaking without that cathartic release. You can listen to "Falling Droplets" below. Sea Kelp is due out September 6 on Deciduous Records, and is available to pre-order through Bandcamp. ...

Photo via A Curious Production It's been a little while since we've heard from Oahk. The Ashland, NH based artist just released a new single, "Sea Kelp." Oahk is truly one of the more unique artists we've covered here at If It's Too Loud..., and this new track shows exactly why. "Sea Kelp" is a nearly seven minute song focused heavily on drone, but it sounds far more organic than any drone track you've ever heard before. The song feels heavy without being a heavy track. Instead, it's a darkly gorgeous track that just meanders about where it needs to go. Oahk does not make music that is particularly cheery, and this is a dark one. If you can make it through the entire length of "Sea Kelp" without feeling anything, you may not have a soul. You can listen to "Sea Kelp" below. Sea Kelp , the album, is due out September 6 on Deciduous Records. For more on Oahk, check out the artist on Facebook . Sea Kelp by Oahk

I can't say I'm a fan of basement shows. I like the DIY feel enough, but basement shows are usually a young crowd. Considering The Valley is in the UMASS Lowell neighborhood, it was going to be a very young crowd, and it was. (Pretty sure I was at least ten years older than the second oldest people there, and that's only counting the bands.) But when it's Tysk Tysk Task's album release show, I knew I needed to be the grandpa in the room and be there. Oahk came down from central New Hampshire to open the show. Oahk is Bryan Ziolkowski playing guitar and vocals with samples. It's a very drone heavy and noisy affair, but there is such beauty in it. I liked Oahk's album Husks when it was released back in July, but I loved the live performance. The music moved between simple beauty and just a wall of drone and samples without ever losing any of the beauty no matter how brutal the song may have sounded. This is an artist we'll be keeping a close eye on here in...