If It's Too Loud...

If you've been paying attention to the Boston music scene for a while, you've definitely come across the name Shotgun Waltz. The longtime Boston alternative roots rock band just released a new single that is just oozing with rock nostalgia. "Lay Low" is a rocker with a shout along chorus that lives somewhere between the styles of the 80's and 90's. The song has that roots rock sound from the 80's but with some of the alternative fuzz of the 90's. It's a straight up rock song that sounds like you've heard it before, and if you just give it a few minutes you might remember, but it was probably high school? Plus, it features Greg Hawkes of The Cars on keyboards, and there aren't many (if any) other keyboard players you can recognize just from their playing. You can watch the video for "Lay Low" below. The single is available now via Bandcamp . For more on Shotgun Waltz, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram .

Photo by Joshua Pickering Eddie Japan have been kicking around the Boston music scene for at least a decade now (they won the Rock and Roll Rumble back in 2013). For their latest single, the aptly named "Time Machine," they brought in Greg Hawkes of The Cars, which is truly a dream pairing. Eddie Japan have long seemed like a band out of time. The new song combines New Wave, pop rock, glam, art-pop, etc. to create this sound that's a modern take on the 1980's. This is a ridiculously fun theatrical pop song that both is and isn't an 80's throwback. It's heavily inspired by that decade, but it doesn't quite sound like music released back then. Eddie Japan make music that isn't going to fit any label cleanly, and that's half the fun. Plus, anyone that lets us hear Greg Hawkes on a synthesizer is ok in our book! Vocalist and songwriter David Santos says of the new song: “The song is about trying to get back to that early stage of a relationship whe...

Boston's Abbie Barrett has released a nearly straight up rocker for her latest single. I only say almost since there are New Wave elements to the song, mainly because it features Greg Hawkes of The Cars on keyboards. If you're going to bring Greg Hawkes in for a song, there's a very specific sound you're going for and "I Will Let You Know" delivers. It's a song that leans towards the poppier edge of garage rock, but it's still heavy for a pop/rock song, especially with this level of Hawke's keys. It's a wonderful modern Boston rock song that gives dues to the ones that came before. You're going to need to check this one out. You can listen to "I Will Let You Know" below. The song is available as a single via Bandcamp. For more on Abbie Barrett, check out the artist's Facebook . I Will Let You Know by Abbie Barrett

We always love covers here at If It's Too Loud..., but we have a special fondness when a Boston band covers another Boston band. The latest example of this is The Endorphins taking a crack at The Cars' "Moving in Stereo." The Cars are always a favorite for bands to cover (with good reason), but it's an interesting choice for a self-described "punk/psych/grunge" band. The Endorphins' version leans more heavily into the psych side of things, although it's definitely laced with punk and grunge, especially with the vocals. While The Cars' original is very shiny and new sounding, The Endorphins run "Moving in Stereo" through the gutter and dirty it up a bit. You can listen to The Endorphins' version of "Moving in Stereo" below. The song is available now as a free download via Bandcamp . For more on The Endorphins, check them out on Facebook . Moving In Stereo by The Endorphins

Photo by Lauren Piandes As we all sit in quarantine for longer and longer, we're all getting bored and videochatting with groups of friends is getting more and more common. This is also leading to bands hopping on Zoom or another software and practicing or even recording. We're all for this, especially when it leads to kick ass covers. The latest is from Gray Bouchard & The Dedications. The power pop leaning towards pop but also some pretty epic rock band have recorded a cover of The Cars beyond classic "You Might Think." If you've been listening to their album Love in the New World  as obsessively as we have since it was released a lifetime ago in February, this is a perfect cover for The Dedications. They stay faithful to the original, albeit with crunchier guitars. Bouchard even does an admirable job singing in his own voice and not imitating Ric Ocasek. (That might sound obvious, but have you ever sung this song out loud without doing an Ocasek impress...

Photo via Facebook Matt Pond PA might love covers as much as we do. As they wind down, they're giving us another great cover song. This time it's for The Cars' classic "Drive." "Drive" might be my least favorite of The Cars' hit songs, but that being said, it's still a great song. Matt Pond PA's version of it keeps it completely true to the original, which is hard to do without synthesizers. Instead, it's a dreamy folk ballad version with pedal steel standing in for the synths. Somehow, this makes it an absolutely perfect cover song. You can listen to Matt Pond PA's cover of "Drive" below. For more on Matt Pond PA, including what appear to be their final tour dates, check out their website .