If It's Too Loud...

Image via Facebook We've come to love the power pop of The I Want You. The Boston band typically sound like a mixture of classic 70's power pop with a more modern sheen. However, their latest goes off in a completely different direction. "Chance" sounds like a mixture of 70's power pop and 50's doo wop. At times the song sounds like it could be played at the high school dance of your favorite 80's movie set in the 50's, but then the guitars kick in. The guitar lands somewhere between classic 70's power pop and southern rock. Plus, singer Jim Gerdeman is once again channeling Elvis Costello on this one, making "Chance" a hodgepodge of some of our favorite vintage sounds repurposed for 2025. You can watch the video for "Chance" below. For more on The I Want You, check out the artist's website .

We love power pop here at If It's Too Loud..., and Boston has some of the finest power pop around. One of our favorites is The I Want You who just released a brand new single and video, "Darkside." This new song is a mix of classic and modern power pop. It has this perfect 70's slink to it, and I don't know if it's unique to this song or if I've just never noticed it before, but singer Jim Gerdeman seems to be channeling Elvis Costello here. It's 70's power pop filtered through some 90's indie rock fuzz but still sounding like a song released in the 2020's. Plus, you'll be guaranteed to be singing "You know that I'm strange, but I'm not a stranger" before your first listen is over. You can watch the video for "Darkside" below. For more on The I Want You, check out the band's website .

Doing Anything this Weekend? is a feature here at If It's Too Loud... where we feature some live shows in and on the far outskirts of the Boston area. Our main rules are that they have to be reasonably priced shows that you can attend last minute. They'll feature If It's Too Loud... approved bands, and we'll provide event links when possible. If you're looking for last minute plans this weekend, we recommend: Friday May 3 The I Want You and Crow Follow at Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA The Iron Roses, Lowest of the Low, and One Fall at Deep Cuts, Medford, MA Saturday May 4 Kid Gulliver at Luther's Coop, Easthampton, MA Rock and Roll Rumble Finals featuring Other Brother Darryl, The Ghouls, and Gut Health with special guest Halfcocked at Sonia, Cambridge, MA Folk Collective Annual Concert featuring Alastair Moock, Almira Ara, Anju, Audrey Pearl, Cliff Notez, Gabriella Simpkins, Kim Moberg, Lydia Harrell, Maxfield Anderson, Naomi Westwater, Peter Mulvey, and Steph...

One of the other highlights of the annual RPM Challenge is the submission from Death and The Poetess. The duo of Blake Girndt (ex-Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys, currently The I Want You and AxeMunkee) and jojo Lazar (Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys and Burlesque Poetess) have released Potions of Pre-villainy. The six songs on the album make up Death and The Poetess' most cohesive collection yet. The songs are odd, of course, but in such an endearing way. The songs fit together in a way that seems to follow a story, even if you're not one to pay too close attention to the lyrics. There is a strong reason behind that, which jojo Lazar explains in the album's Bandcamp description: "I suggested the idea of a dark, high fantasy, magical-realist 1980s film soundtrack for an as of yet untold tale. This was just to begin filling the "imagination cauldron" as we set out to find/receive this record. "I had some combination of Labyrinth ...

Photo via Facebook We tend to love power pop here at If It's Too Loud..., which is why we love The I Want You. The Boston quartet just released a brand new single that is pure classic power pop, but with a little twist. "My Favorite Dive" sounds like it could be an unreleased song from Big Star, except a slightly off one. The song also has a little bit of the indie rock noise meets pop of Guided By Voices (who many also consider to be power pop.) This is power pop with a slight groove to counteract the jangly guitars, and is the kind of song that will make you smile even if the underlying melancholy hiding underneath isn't just in my head. You can watch the video for "My Favorite Dive" below. The My Favorite Dive EP is due out November 3. For more on The I Want You, check out the band's website .

We're double dipping into the world of Friday Freebie this week, and also into the realm of Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys. Death and The Poetess features Broken Toys Blake Girndt (who is also in The I Want You) and Jojo Lazar. Their new release, Smelling Salts (also recorded for the RPM challenge), is, as they put it, "...  tips its chapeau to Weezer's Blue album, among other 1990s ghosts and Pumpkins ." They aren't wrong. "Smelling Salts" has a distinct Blue Album goes folk-adjacent-and-also-includes-flute feel. "Tomb-Builders' Tombs" is going to give you some serious Beat Happening flashbacks. Smelling Salts  is as fun as it is weird. You get some obviously 90's inspired tracks that sound barely like the 90's and include The Princess Bride  and historical references. You can listen to "Smelling Salts" below. Smelling Salts is available now as a free download via Bandcamp. If you decide to throw in some ca...

Writing, recording, and releasing a new album during the RPM Challenge is an impressive feat. Being a part of two RPM Challenge albums is a crazy goal. But to be a part of writing, recording, and releasing three separate albums? Blake Girndt deserves some kind of award. He is a member of blog favorite Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys who just released THE CUTTING HORSE , and just released Lady Jane Grey's Wholesome Ritual with Death and The Poetess. (He's also a member of The I Want You, in case you're keeping score.) If three other musical projects weren't enough, it's time for him to release a solo album, Just Rattlesnakes. The album is a standard solo singer/songwriter project, but through the lens of someone who also plays with Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys. You get a blend of Lou Barlow's solo acoustic work, Daniel Johnston, and Jay Bennett. The songs seem to cycle through varying levels of straightforward and quirky while neve...

In case you didn't get enough Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys free music RPM Challenge goodness already this week, here's another free album from two members of the Army of Broken Toys! Death and The Poetess, aka Blake Grindt and Jojo Lazar, are back with a new offering: Lady Jane Grey's Wholesome Ritual. Death and The Poetess occupy the same world as the Army of Broken Toys, but have a completely unique sound. This album feels quite fancy and proper, and even includes a song that consists mainly of a flute solo ("Fluitar Fantasies"). This is most certainly not going to be for everyone who reads If It's Too Loud..., but sometimes it's ok to bring you a niche art project specifically for those interested in the humor of the Tudors. You can listen to "Song To Drown To" below. Lady Jane Grey's Wholesome Ritual  is available for the name your price option over at Death and The Poetess's Bandcamp . For more on Death and The Po...

We've been heavily into The I Want You for some time. Their blend of psychedelic, glammed out power pop is kind of our jam here. Their latest EP Ferris Wheel is more of exactly what we want. It's four fun as can possibly be rockers from the late 70's/early 80's time period of power pop while somehow keeping a modern edge. They even throw in some New Wave in songs like "Watershed" just to try to hit every single musical urge you might have. "I Want You to Be Happy" is slowed down a bit, but they crank up the groove that much more. You can watch the video for "Ferris Wheel" below. Ferris Wheel , the EP, is out now via Bandcamp . For more on The I Want You, check out their website . 

One of my favorite things about March are all of the RPM challenge albums that start popping up in the first half of the month. The first is from Death and The Poetess, aka Blake Girndt (The I Want You, Walter Sickert & The Army of Toys) and Jojo Lazar (Burlesque Poetess, Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys). The duo just released their first offering, On Ghoulie Isle . They describe their music as "crypt-folk," but it's much more fun than gloomy. As you would expect from... well... everything about this project, it's quite odd. The album is quite bare bones, with the only instruments credited as being used are a classical guitar, ukulele, flute, and a "tiny 1990's yamaha keyboard." As fun as it is, there is, of course, a dark feel, especially in a song like "Split the Lark." As their Bandcamp describes the album: " It's as though the crypt-folk mourning-wear fancying duo was dropped on a Coney Island-esque boardwalk in ...

Keep Safe Boston has been releasing these amazing and massive charity compilations for a little while now. They bring together a bunch of diverse Boston artists for a different cause each time. Past causes have included Fenway Health and RESPOND, INC, Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention. The latest compilation released back in August [editors note: WHOOPS!] is to raise money for Everytown for Gun Safety. As for music, KSB2018 is 36 songs and it includes some of our already favorites. Gray Bouchard (Salem Wolves) New Waves it up on "Savin Hill." Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys contribute "War Gospel," which has been a live staple as of late and on subject for the charity. The I Want You's contribution, "The Rise and Fall," tempers down their usual power pop perfection and amps up the funk and noise. And, with any 36 song compilation, there are always new favorites to discover. Horse Mode's "Spaghetti Lee" reminds me...

Just five months after their latest release (April's All Beat Up ), Boston's The I Want You are back with a new EP and video. "Some Psychics" keeps the power pop sound that we love from The I Want You, but it's not the typical 70's power pop sound most people go for. This one is pure early 80's power pop. The video intentionally looks like early MTV, and as far as the song itself goes, think of a dirty sounding Elvis Costello. It sounds sleazy the way tv shows like Three's Company  look sleazy now. The song is about various types of psychic power and figuring out if the powers come from the head or the heart.  You can watch the video for "Some Psychics" below. Some Psychics , the EP, will be available tomorrow, September 15. (I guess no one told them about Fridays being global release days?) You can get it on the band's Bandcamp . For more on The I Want You, check out their website . If you happen to be in the Boston area, they're...

For about a year now, we've been singing the praises of The I Want You. They have this great retro power pop/indie rock feel which is pretty much our thing here. Their latest single, "All Beat Up," was recorded as part of February's RPM Challenge, where artists try to write and record an album's worth of material in a month. "All Beat Up" is on the laid back, ballad side of things in the best possible way. It's about being your own worst enemy and emotionally beating yourself up worse than anyone ever could. With that subject matter, somehow it's still a fun song. You can watch the video for "All Beat Up" below. "All Beat Up" is available now as a single on Bandcamp with two b-sides: "Come On" is inspired by the Parkland students fight for gun control and "The Rise and Fall" is about the life of David Bowie. For more on The I Want You, check out their website .

This week I'll be doing something a little different. Instead of bringing you the best new music we've stumbled on, and instead of putting together a If It's Too Loud... Holiday playlist ( Aquarium Drunkard has nailed that , anyway...), I'll be sharing some of the more interesting Christmas and holiday music I've come across this year.  Boston's The I Want You start us off with "I Know What You Don't Want For Christmas (It's Me Right!?!?)," a power pop ode to being unwanted for Christmas. This is pure classic 70's power pop and is just perfect for fans of Cheap Trick and Big Star. One of my favorite things about "I Know What You Don't Want For Christmas (It's Me Right!?!?)" is that it's just about as far away from traditional Christmas music as you can get, but it isn't in that bratty modern "Shut up and give me presents!" style. It has attitude, but more the heartbroken and upset variety. You can l...

Celebrate American independence with a lot of new music! Co-Album of the Week : Artist : Mise en Scene Album : Still Life on Fire Quick Description : A rollicking rock and roll record. Why You Should Listen : With the glut of 90s-inspired indie rock, this is a refreshing straightforward take. Overall Thoughts : I think I loved this two songs in, and I know I loved it by the time I was through the fourth. It's just such a great listen - the vocals move effortlessly between primal rock screams and breathy moody stuff, there's a level of rock excess here that would almost seem tongue-in-cheek if this album wasn't so straightforward and great. One of my favorites this week (I couldn't choose), and one that might be in my end-of-year discussion. Recommendation : A must-listen, surprise of the week. Co-Album of the Week : Artist : Ratboys Album : GN Quick Description : Latest album by the rock act with a little bit of country mixed in. Why You Should Listen ...

Photo by Christopher Newell The newest single from Boston's The I Want You is going to break your heart. We're all getting older, and that's fine. But as we get older, relationships fall to the side. We all have friends that we used to see every single day, and not just our college roommates. We used to go out and do fun things. Hell, we'd even meet new people when we went out and become friends with them, at least for one night. Now... we're older. I go to most shows alone now. Maybe at a really good show I might talk to the person next to me for a minute or two. I only see my friends at our kid's birthday parties, if even then. That's the general idea of "Dying Scene." It's this great power pop song in the vein of Big Star. And as with every great Big Star song, it's equal parts pop joy and melancholy. Plus, it has this great feel of effortlessness that power pop should have. It might be the catchiest song of 2017. You can watch t...