If It's Too Loud...

Artist : August, Yours Truly Album : Something Uncomfortable Quick Description : Some really great glitchy electronic music. Why You Should Listen : This is sneaky great with some crossover appeal. Overall Thoughts : I randomly tripped up on this one this week when doing a little bit of research on the Charli XCX record (also out this week). This came recommended by someone, and wow, is it great. A lot of fun stuff here for those looking for something a little different and a little challenging, and it's almost akin to if the PC Music crowd trapped Ben Frost in a room for a month. Don't miss this one. Recommendation : Won't be for everyone, but if it's for you... Artist : Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Album : Reunions Quick Description : Latest from the alt-country masters. Why You Should Listen : Isbell continues on his run of stellar, superior releases. Overall Thoughts : It's not often that you listen to an artist's newest release and say ...

Photo via Facebook One of the few bright spots in the next month or probably more is new music, and I don't think anything is more highly anticipated than the new album from Thao & The Get Down Stay Down. Their latest single, "Phenom," is nothing short of exceptional. It's everything we want from Thao & The Get Down Stay Down. "Phenom" lives in a bizarre world that's equal parts folk and dance music. I don't mean folk that people dance to, I mean actual dance music. This is an odd, kinda quirky song that feels like Billie Eilish for grown ups. Plus, the video is nothing short of brilliant. Filmed during quarantine using a Zoom conference call, this would be a huge MTV Buzz Bin mega-hit if those were still a thing. Perhaps in another universe, somewhere. You can watch the video for "Phenom" below. Temple , the upcoming album from Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, will be out May 15 on Ribbon Music. You can pre-order a copy her...

Photo via Facebook It's been four long years since Thao & The Get Down Stay Down released A Man Alive. Luckily for the entire universe, they are back with a new album, due in May. The first single off the album, "Temple," marks a change in sound for the band. It still sounds like Thao & The Get Down Stay Down's blend of indie/folk/dance music, so don't fret about that. But "Temple" isn't quite as celebratory as previous music has been. Even a song like "Nobody Dies" was a dance party just waiting to happen. "Temple" is nearly somber, and much more serious sounding. It's still a great song, and somehow still feels celebratory... just not as much as Thao has been in the past. You can watch the video for "Temple" below. Temple , the upcoming album from Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, is due out May 15 on Ribbon Music. You can pre-order a copy here . For more on Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, check o...

Thao & The Get Down Stay Down could be a complete trainwreck of a band. They merge folk, rock, indie, dance, and hip hop. Anytime that many genres blend, it makes it more likely for the album to be a disaster of a hodgepodge and feel completely disconnected. But A Man Alive is an absolute masterpiece. Let me explain how special Thao is. The photo pit at a major festival should be a magical place. You're within feet of rock stars, taking pictures of them, and enjoying the show in front of a crowd that has been jockeying for position all day. However, for some reason, it can be a miserable place. Photographers are trying to get that one great picture and see all others as their competition for that picture. Plus, most are just doing an assignment and see it as a waste of a weekend. That was the attitude when Thao & The Get Down Stay Down played the Newport Folk Festival in 2014. Add a torrential downpour during her set to the mix, and the photo pit should have been complete...

And here we go with the other half! Co-Album of the Week : Artist : Thao and the Get Down Stay Down Album : A Man Alive Quick Description : Latest album by the criminally underrated indie rock act. Why You Should Listen : It's an album that deserves a lot of attention and not to get overlooked. Overall Thoughts : I was a latecomer of sorts to Thao Nguyen. Her songwriting didn't grab me right away with her "breakout" of sorts, "Bag of Hammers," but every album she's done since then has improved on the blueprint she brings, and A Man Alive might be the best one yet. It takes some time to truly get off the ground, but by the time "Nobody Dies" hits I was completely and totally on board. It's a challenging record, for sure, but in a good way - if you're not a fan yet, this album might take a few spins to get you on the bandwagon, but I promise there's plenty of room. This is a great release. Recommendation : Awesome album ...

Thao & the Get Down Stay Down (Photo by Ken Sears) Located in Portsmouth, NH, Prescott Park is this absolutely beautiful and scenic public park right on the river. While just about every public park in America will have weekly music, it's usually the local marching band or jazz ensemble, mostly for senior citizens and families with small children. Prescott Park Arts Festival put on amazing shows every year with a TON of If It's Too Loud... approved artists.  I've only made it up there once for a Carolina Chocolate Drops show in 2013, but it hasn't worked out. This year I'm planning to make the trek a bunch. One of the best parts is the cost. They get a lot of acts that I'd normally be priced out of (you know, the $50+ range), but they only ask for a suggested donation around $10. Sure, you can cruise right in without paying anything, but you really should to keep this alive. You can see their full schedule here , with more to be added. This is a list of ...

As the Newport Folk Festival slowly starts rolling out there 2015 line up, and we sit under 4 feet of snow in the Northeast, it's a great time to look back at last summer's Newport Folk Festival. Suddenly, the absurd amounts of rain on Sunday start to seem quaint, and we start looking forward to this summer and this year's Newport Folk Festival. You can check out our Newport Folk Festival 2014 photo diary over at our Facebook page . Here's hoping to see you all at the Fort this year! For more information on this year's Fest (Friday tickets still remain), head on over to the Newport Folk Festival website . If you can't make it, there are some great Newport Folk Festival Presents shows coming up, mostly in Boston but also in Chicago, Nashville, Napa, and New York City. Check out these here .

With this weekend's upcoming Newport Folk Festival, we thought we'd highlight some of this year's can't miss acts. We're focusing on the bands playing smaller stages and earlier in the day. I mean, you're obviously going to see Ryan Adams and Jack White. Instead, these are the acts worth getting there early for, and seeking out the smaller stages. Phox Friday, 1:50, Quad Stage Phox hails from Baraboo, WI, the winter home of the Ringling Brothers' Circus. I'm not sure if that is connected to their music or not, but Phox has an otherworldly charm and a magical feel. They come across as a more grounded St. Vincent or a less intense version of early Tori Amos. Their music is simply beautiful and uplifting.  Reignwolf Friday, 2:55, Quad Stage Truly pushing the boundaries of what can be considered "folk" are Reignwolf. Reignwolf is Jordan Cook, who sounds like a mixture of The Black Keys and Queens of the Stone Age, mixed with just a lit...

Here in the Northeast, festival season is officially over. The Newport Folk Festival is always a consistent highlight, and I hate having to wait an entire year between festivals. I know some of you aren't local to New England, or weren't able to get tickets since this year sold out months in advance. Luckily for you, there is finally an alternative. Next weekend (October 5 and 6) marks the inaugural Way Over Yonder Festival. This will take place at the world famous Santa Monica Pier. Way Over Yonder is definitely starting out smaller than Newport, but the line up is fantastic, at the very least. I mean, seriously? Saturday, October 5                                           Sunday,  October 6 Neko Case           ...