If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Danielle Neu Kim Gordon's The Collective was released in March, and the artist has just announced a deluxe edition with two new tracks. "ECRP" was released in June, and the second was has just been made available. "Bangin' on the Freeway" continues Gordon's dive into modern electronic music, and is surprisingly accessible... as far as a Kim Gordon song goes. It's an experimental track and would be considered odd to a more mainstream listener, but I believe this is what the kids would call a banger. Gordon's post Sonic Youth music has been the most interesting of her former bandmates, and "Bangin' on the Freeway" continues that. You can watch the Coco Gordon Moore directed video for "Bangin' on the Freeway" below. The deluxe edition of The Collective is due out December 13 on Matador Records, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Kim Gordon, check out the artist's website . Upcoming tour dates a...

Photo by Danielle Neu Indie rock legend Kim Gordon continues her foray into experimental electronic music with her latest single. "ECRP" was not included on Gordon's recent album The Collective , but it fits right into the sound of that album. It's filled with aggressive beats, and probably isn't as experimental as I say. "ECRP" is both a surprising direction for Gordon and a sound that makes complete sense. It also helps solidify Gordon as the former member of Sonic Youth that is making the most interesting music post split. Even if this change in sound doesn't work for you, it's still a compelling sound. And if you give it a fair chance, it's going to work for the majority of her Gordon's long term fans. You can watch the Coco Gordon-Moore directed video for "ECRP" below. The song is available as a single via Matador Records. For more on Kim Gordon, check out the artist's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the video. ...

Winged Wheel is a Detroit based supergroup consisting of Cory Plump, Fred Thomas, Whitney Johnson, and Matthew J Rolin. For their second album they expanded to include Lonnie Slack and Steve Shelley (which is how we discovered the band). The band met up in Kingston, NY to record, and the first thing we're hearing from that is "Sleeptraining." The band spent three days recording group improvisations and other experimentations, and began editing them down into actual songs. If "Sleeptraining" is any indication, Winged Wheel found absolute magic on those tapes. It's not quite shoegaze, but it's at the very least shoegaze adjacent. The song is fuzzy and just washes fully over you in a wall of sound, but it's far too intense for shoegaze. It's dark, and punk, and No Wave, and proggy, and beyong compelling. It's obviously not going to be for everyone, but if "Sleeptraining" works for you, consider yourself lucky. You can listen to "S...

Photo by Danielle Neu Kim Gordon's latest solo single comes closer to what we'd expect from her than some of the latest ones. "Psychedelic Orgasm" is just a burst of what could be too many sounds in other hands. The song is wonderfully dissonant, and just crams the experimental electronic sounds Gordon has been favoring lately with all the noise of the most bananas Sonic Youth songs of all time. There's also some modern pop music Autotune within the song, which I would not have expected at all. Along with the title, there is an abundance of psychedelia within the song. Yes, there's a lot going on with "Psychedelic Orgasm," but isn't that what you want with a song from Kim Gordon? Her best music can be quite challenging, and this one certainly is at times. You can watch the video for "Psychedelic Orgasm" below. The Collective  is out March 8 on Matador Records, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Kim Gordon, check out the a...

Photo by Danielle Neu Out of all of her former bandmembers, Kim Gordon's post-Sonic Youth career has been the most interesting. Her latest single, "I'm a Man," continues her exploration into experimental electronic music. This new song sounds both nothing like her previous band and the most like her previous band. Gordon sounds like she's releasing a stream of consciousness spoken word essay over disjointed beats. It's almost like she's pushing the Ciccone Youth project even further, as if that had continued longer, "I'm a Man" is what it could have sounded like. You can watch the video for "I'm a Man" below. The Collective is out March 8 on Matador Records, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Kim Gordon, check out the artist's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the video. March 21: Burlington, VT (Higher Ground) March 22: Washington, D.C. (Black Cat) March 23: Queens, N.Y. (Knockdown Center) March 27: Los...

Photo by Danielle Neu The latest single from Kim Gordon continues her move away from the sound of Sonic Youth into a newer, more electronic and experimental one. "Bye Bye" sounds more like an artist like Peaches or Fever Ray than the No Wave, post punk, or just straight rock we have associated with Gordon for forty years. It's a dark and intensely moody song that still includes enough feedback to make long term fans happy. If you liked Gordon's 2019 album No Home Record , you're going to love "Bye Bye." Her first solo album only hinted at the new sound that is realized with "Bye Bye." You can watch the Coco Gordon Moore starring video for "Bye Bye" below. The Collective is due out on March 8 on Matador Records, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Kim Gordon, check out the artist's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the video. March 21: Burlington, Vt. (Higher Ground) March 22: Washington, D.C. (Black Cat) March ...

Photo by A.J. Barratt Walls Have Ears is a long out of print Sonic Youth bootleg from 1986. It was made up of three shows from the UK in 1985, and it's a great snapshot of the band during that time period. It's finally going to be re-released next year, and we can listen to "Expressway to Yr. Skull" from it now. It's an early version of the song that pre-dates it's release on 1986's Evol. For us Sonic Youth diehards, all we have coming out are archival material like Walls Have Ears , and when you can hear early versions of favorites and hear what a favorite band sounded like live in their early years, it's a treat. Particularly when it's such a great version of a song like this version of "Expressway to Yr. Skull." This is a recording that deserves to be cherished. You can listen to the Walls Have Ears version of "Expressway to Yr. Skull" below. The re-released bootleg is due out February 9, and is available for pre-order throug...

Photo by Steve Godlis Bush Tetras are one of those bands I need to spend more time with. The legendary New York City band formed in 1979 and are one of the most influential post-punk, No Wave, and alternative bands out there. They're set to release their first album in eleven years, and the first since the death of drummer Dee Pop's death in 2021. Filling in on drums is Steve Shelley, formerly of Sonic Youth, who is also acting as producer for the album. The first single is "Things I Put Together," and it's great. Singer Cynthia Sley has an almost pop sound to her vocals (of course, more of a late 70's pop than a modern version) which goes in stark contrast to the screeching guitars. This song is just filled out with the kind of fuzzed out guitars that helped define the genres that Bush Tetras helped start. If you're a diehard fan or just discovering these legends, you're going to enjoy this one. You can listen to "Things I Put Together" belo...

Gina Birch of post punk legends The Raincoats has an upcoming solo album, and we can check out one of the songs now! Compared to her earlier work, "Wish I Was You" is damn near mainstream, but only truly in comparison. The song is more along the lines of the alt-rock and power pop from the mid 90's than post punk an punk of the late 70's, but considering the song also features guitar work from Thurston Moore, this can hardly be truly considered poppy. Although... it kind of is in its own little way. "Wish I Was You" is a great throwback alt-rock song with a pop edge. It's reminding me of bands like Veruca Salt and L7 more than The Raincoats, but considering this is from someone over forty years into a musical career, this kind of edge is quite impressive. You can watch the video for "Wish I Was You" below. I Play My Bass Loud is due out February 24 on Third Man Records. The album can be pre-ordered here . For more on Gina Birch, check out the a...

I'm a Sonic Youth die hard, so I can be pretty much guaranteed to bring you any new music from the post punk/noise rock legends. "In & Out" isn't technically new Sonic Youth, since there most likely won't ever be new Sonic Youth again, but it's new to us. It's going to be included on  In/Out/In, which   is an upcoming album of rarities recorded between 2000 and 2010. The new-ish song isn't going to be what you'll use to convince your friend that this is the best band of all time, but for fans it's a treasure. The seven and a half minute track isn't quite like the open jam sessions you'd find on SYR releases, but it seems half way between that and a proper album from that time. It's a Kim Gordon song that kind of meanders around noisily without being loud. It was recorded in 2010 and fits right in with her songs around the time of The Eternal. You can listen to "In & Out" below. In/Out/In is due out on March 11 via ...

Kim Gordon and J Mascis have known each other for years, and even lived relatively close to each other for a while in Western MA, but this marks the first time the two have released music together. "Abstract Blues" is a monster of a single, with the only surprise being how straightforward of a rock song it is. Well... as straightforward of a rock song that Kim Gordon and J Mascis could be involved with. The song originally dates back to last year when the two wrote and performed it for SMooCH, a benefit for Seattle Children's Hospital. It's an absolute dream pairing that sees Gordon's raw vocals over what is pretty much a song long Mascis guitar solo for almost three minutes. If you're a fan of either (and who isn't?), this is a must listen. The song also features a B-side of "Slow Boy," which is decidedly more punk. It starts off with almost thirty seconds of pure feedback before erupting into Mascis' guitar and Gordon's intense growling...

Kim Gordon released her first solo album back in 2019, and now she's released a new single. "Grass Jeans" keeps the vibe of Gordon's album No Home Record  but it's also the closest she's sounded to vintage Sonic Youth since Sonic Youth. "Grass Jeans" has the electro rock and art rock sound that her album had, but there's also some strong hints of early No Wave Sonic Youth. There is a ton of noise and aggression here, but you can also groove to it.  Obviously, Kim Gordon is not going to be a fan of the recent anti-abortion laws in Texas. "Grass Jeans" is a fundraiser for Fund Texas Choice. In a Facebook post, Gordon says of the new song: "I often get asked 'Can music change things for people in a political landscape?' Hell yes it can . . . but it takes a listener, an audience to make it anything. So please join me in helping to protect and keep accessible a woman’s right to choose her fate by purchasing this song and support...

It's no secret that I'm an obsessive Sonic Youth fan, so I'm going to be hyper critical of any Sonic Youth cover. Luckily, Orlando, FL's Odd Circus mailed it. According to their Bandcamp bio, Odd Circus are an " Improv trio exploring the suspension of space and time. Post-rock, fusion, no wave, noise, experimental, garage rock, psychedelic, sci-fi prog. " For their Sonic Youth cover, they chose "The Wonder," the first in the trio of songs that make up the ending of 1988's immortal Daydream Nation. It's an instrumental cover, with Graham Robertson's saxophone covering for vocals. Odd Circus put together an explosive version of "The Wonder" that is immediately recognizable to fans of the original despite being it's very own thing. I would have thought it would be impossible to record a Sonic Youth cover that is faithful to the original without guitar, but this is done masterfully. You can listen to Odd Circus' cover of ...

Photo via Facebook After last year's three disc experimental album Spirit Counsel , it's great to hear Thurston Moore get back to actual songs again. "Cantaloupe" is really a mish-mash of all of Moore's favorite sounds. The track starts off with some grungy, sludgy guitar riffs. These are the kind of riffs seldom heard outside of a Melvins album these days. The song slowly morphs into more of an acid loving jam... but with some Detroit style proto-punk guitar solos. It's interesting to hear Moore play in so many of his style all at once, so if you've been a fan of all of his indie rock, jam band, heavy metal, etc. sounds, you're going to be heavily into his new sounds. You can watch the video for "Cantaloupe" below. By the Fire , the upcoming album from Thurston Moore, will be out September 25. For more on Thurston Moore, check out his website .

If you've never seen Todd Haynes's fantastic 1998 film Velvet Goldmine , you truly owe it to yourself to do so. It's basically a David Bowie biopic without licensing. Once you watch the film, you're going to need to check out the soundtrack. In addition to the classic songs of the period, it also included a song by Wyde Ratttz. Wylde Ratttz stood in for The Stooges, and consisted of Ron Asheton (The Stooges), Mark Arm (Mudhoney), Mike Watt (Minutemen), Don Fleming, Jim Dunbar, Sean Ono Lennon, and Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and Steve Shelley. They did a cover of The Stooges's classic "T.V. Eye" that made me desperate to hear more. Alas, there was no more. Until yesterday. Apparently the band got together to for a second session that included originals and a cover of The Pretty Things. You shouldn't even be reading this any more. This is pure gold, and I can't believe this has been sat on for over twenty years. This is a supergroup to end ...

Photo via Facebook If there's one silver lining with the COVID-19 pandemic, it could be that Thurston Moore has had time to dig around his archives. His latest find is "Sunday Stage," a song that dates back to his time with Chelsea Light Moving. Chelsea Light Moving was my personal favorite of his post-Sonic Youth projects. That could be because it was the closest to Sonic Youth, but showcasing Thurston's metal side. "Sunday Stage" is a perfect example of that. It has the perfect vintage early 90's Sonic Youth feel to it while having a few metal riffs that let loose every so often. It's loud and heavy, which is really what we want from Chelsea Light Moving. Here's hoping he can unearth a few more unreleased songs for us all in the near future. You can listen to "Sunday Stage" below. The song is currently available via Thurston Moore's Bandcamp page . For more on Thurston Moore, check out his website . SUNDAY STAGE by Thursto...

No matter how much we might love Sonic Youth and/or Thurston Moore, some of his music can be more... challenging of a listen. The man recently released a three disc nearly three hour album of experimental noise. Not exactly a fun listen. His latest release (a song shorter than four minutes!) dates back to his days with Chelsea Light Moving. As Thurston explains:  "A song written in Seattle, Washington in 2014 on tour as Chelsea Light Moving. Originally performed on the great KEXP-FM as 'The Exstasie' with lyrics taken from a poem by John Donne (1572-1631) of the same name. Later re-mixed in London, UK with re-recorded vox + lyrics self-penned as a flashlight to the future of a planet in desperate need of love and rock n' soul activism. Chelsea Light Moving, though we made but one LP, was a sweet group and I'll always adore these cats, the memories of travel and dialogue and the times we spent making music and honest friendship. London had come a-calling and lov...

Photo via Facebook Wednesday December 4 was one of those crazy nights in the Boston area where there are more amazing shows than you could think possible in a single night. Lightning Bolt was in Cambridge playing The Sinclair. Lucy Dacus and Haley Heynderickx were at Royale. Up in Portsmouth, NH Mannequin Pussy were playing. On a normal night I wouldn't be hesitant at all about a Thurston Moore experimental noise show, but when there was this much competition it was hard not to have a bit of FOMO before the show even started. The crowd knew we were in for a non traditional concert seeing as the set up didn't include a microphone. There was no need since this would be an instrumental performance. The rest of the band (which included Steve Shelley (also formerly of Sonic Youth) and Deb Googe (My Bloody Valentine)) were set up facing Moore, and he was set up facing them. Throughout the show Moore acted more as a conductor or bandleader than a traditional rock frontman, letti...

Photo via Facebook I'm not quite sure why, but I never expected to hear Thurston Moore cover New Order. He decided to take on the last song from Power Corruption and Lies , "Leave Me Alone." For a version without synths, Moore's take on "Leave Me Alone" is completely spot on. It's filled with acoustic guitars and is far more orchestral than anything I would have ever expected from the No Wave legend. It's a lovely and (for him) quiet recording. Towards the end there is some noise brought, but for the most part, "Leave Me Alone" is a beautiful orchestral version of a New Wave classic. You can listen to Thurston Moore's version of "Leave Me Alone" below. The song will be available as the B-side to three separate upcoming 7" records that will be available November 8 via Moore's Daydream Library Series. For more on Thurston Moore, check out his website .

Photo via Facebook Despite being in the music scene for nearly forty years and being in such integral groups as Free Kitten, Body/Head, and, of course, Sonic Youth, Kim Gordon has yet to release a solo album. That changes in October with the release of No Home Record , Gordon's first solo album. If her new song "Sketch Artist" is indicative of the album, it's not at all what you'd expect. "Sketch Artist" is extraordinarily bass heavy and is mostly an electronic song. I'm going to use my very limited knowledge of electronic music (which is mostly from the 90's) and say it combines the discordance and menace of Aphex Twin with the drum and bass of Roni Size. For a new sound that is this unexpected, I'm going to have to take some extra time to adjust to this one, but I'm pretty sure I like it. It's definitely a good and interesting song. You can watch the video for "Sketch Artist" below. No Home Record  will be out Octobe...