If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Kelly Davidson Studio Crow Follow are by far our favorite Boston "shaman rock and urban cabaret brigade," so we're thrilled that they have a new single out today. "I'm in Love with You" is a joyful burst of low-rock, or a more organic version of post-punk. It's kind of like if you got goths to try out being a jam band, or if you crammed X-Ray Spex in a room with Morphine to see what happens. Crow Follow are a wonderfully strange band that often likes to dance right on the edge of the mainstream, almost to tempt the normies. A song like "I'm in Love with You" shows them at the very top of their game. Vocalist Agent Judy says of the band's latest single: “‘I’m In Love With You’ is another statement of determination from a band that relentlessly promotes our drive to live and thrive. We will not be swayed from our deepest connections to the evolutionary source of our creative forces. That’s where it’s all at. It says that we can e...

Photo via Facebook slo-anne are the brother/sister duo of Cecily (guitar/vocals) and Andy (drums). The Boston band has a new single that fits right in with some of our favorite music here at If It's Too Loud... Their latest single, "ded," shows off their influences in The Beths, Alvvays, and Courtney Barnett. It's that newfangled version of 90's alt-rock, which is fuzzed out guitar rock that borders on, and sometimes crosses into, the realm of pop music. "ded" has a light and sunny feel to it, but it also just flat out rocks at certain points. I'm hearing a little bit of Weakened Friends meets The White Stripes with this one. You can listen to "ded" below. whiplash is due out June 27, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on slo-anne, check out the band on Instagram and Facebook . whiplash by slo-anne

Photo by Connor Turque Burlington, VT's Robber Robber are going to blow you away with this one. The band describes their new single as "steamed punk," and I'm not totally sure what that means, but "Dial Tone" is a killer song. It starts off as this jerky post-punk style song, with an underlying menace just waiting to explode. And "Dial Tone" definitely explodes. It has a Sonic Youth and Nirvana style eruption, and is the best example of loud/quiet/loud we've heard this year. If feedback squalls are your idea of beauty, Robber Robber have you covered on this one. Despite everything I've just written, at no point does "Dial Tone" sound like a 90's throwback. Instead, this is an updated version of that sound. Singer/guitarist Nina Cates says of the band's latest single: “It’s kind of a voyeuristic perspective of everyone scrambling around to see each other and connect but also never feeling quite like you’re keeping pace with...

Photo by Black Cherry Creative We couldn't be more excited for the upcoming concept album from Salem Wolves about Danny Morton, Jr., a down on his luck pro wrestler in the '80's who gains mysterious powers from The Psychotron and returns as The Stranger. (Of course, we're wondering if the tale exists in a world where wrestling isn't predetermined, or if it will end with a super powered wrestling league like The Thing joined in Marvel Comics...) The band's latest single, "November," finds The Stranger back in the ring and utilizing his new abilities. The song is a massive, arena ready punk/garage anthem. Salem Wolves have always sounded huge, and "November" sees them take another step towards an absolutely giant sound. This is big rock music, and it quite simply kicks ass. Frontman Grey Bouchard says of the new single: “‘November’ is a heel turn. It’s about that feeling of coming in hot after you’ve been away from the game for some time. It’s ...

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. And since we're in outdoor music season, these events are weather permitting. If you're looking for last minute plans this weekend, we recommend: Friday June 21 Airiel, Blushing, Bodywash, and Bella Steele at Deep Cuts, Medford, MA Saturday June 22 Parlour on the Block featuring The Skatalites, Akrobatik, Slurp, Quahogs, and more at Parlour, Providence, RI Typhoid Rosie, AP.E, Sweet Babylon, Hardcar, and D.O.P. at JJ's Tavern, Florence, MA Viruette, Today Junior, and Good News at Deep Cuts, Medford, MA Deke Dickerson and the Whippersnappers, Jittery Jack w/ Amy Griffin on Guitar, and The Centuries at Faces Brewing, Mald...

Photo by Daniel Topete Oakland's Fake Fruit are back with a new single that helps redefine what post punk can be. "Cause of Death" starts of as a laid back post punk song that is almost ramblin'. It switches over to a louder, but still laid back alt-rock song with jangly and jerky guitars. The song is quite noisy and dissonant, but in a pleasant way. It's a fun song even though it doesn't have that dance friendly feel some music in the genre has. Despite being four minutes long, "Cause of Death" is an absolute epic song with more tempo and sonic changes than we can count.  Hannah "Ham" D'Amato says of her band's latest single: “I wrote the lyrics for this song when I felt so indecisive that I imagined someone performing an autopsy on me and declaring my cause of death to be indecision." You can watch the video for "Cause of Death" below. Mucho Mistrust is due out August 23 on Carpark Records, and is available for pre-...

Blues, soul, and pop have been around for decades, but every so often an artist finds a new way to combine them into a fresh sound. On her latest single, Evan Nicole Bell mixes things up to create something new. "Runaway Girl" is a pop song, but it doesn't sound like anything you'd hear on Top 40 radio. At no point does the Baltimore artist let any one genre dominate over the others, which causes the song to radiate a freshness that is captivating. "Runaway Girl" also has a surprising intensity, and an even more surprising killer guitar solo. You can listen to "Runaway Girl" below. The single is out now on Hummingbird Records. For more on Evan Nicole Bell, check out the artist's website .

Photo by Brandon Cortez Sarah and The Safe Word are described as "cabaret punks," and that description is certainly apt. However, the Atlanta band's latest single offers a little more than that explanation. "Pornstar Martini" also has more than a bit of a 1960's rock sound, and it swings wildly from that to a traditional punk sound. There's also a great horn section popping in now and then, which adds to the overall vibe of the track. "Pornstar Martini" is a fun song that is just oozing with enough of a punk edge to keep things interesting. You can listen to "Pornstar Martini" below. The single is out now on Take It to Heart Records. For more on Sarah and The Safe Word, check out the band's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the video. 6/26 - Washington, DC - DC9 6/27 - Millersville, PA - Phantom Power 6/28 - Brooklyn, NY - Wood Shop 6/29 - Buffalo, NY - Mohawk Place 6/30 - Detroit, MI - PJ's Lager House 7/2 - Burnsville,...

Photo by Steve Gullick Liverpool's The Mysterines have released a monster of a new single. "The Last Dance" is an alt-rocker that is both brooding and kind of a party jam at the same time. It sounds like early The Raveonettes mixed with Siouxsie and the Banshees. The song is purely mesmerizing and a powerhouse at the same time. The Mysterines have the perfect mix of being an arena ready rock band and having a sound that is unique enough for the indie rock legion to approve. "The Last Dance" is a seriously great song, and this quartet has unlimited potential. Frontwoman Lia Metcalfe says of the band's new single: “I suppose it’s an analogy for what loneliness can do to you. Once you’ve exhausted all the dark alleyways of drugs and alcohol, you end up reaching for something to connect to that isn’t real.” You can watch the video for "The Last Dance" below. Afraid of Tomorrows is due out June 21 on Fiction Records, and is available for pre-order here ...

If you get the chance to record in Abbey Road Studios, you have to take it, right? Boston's Speedfossil recently toured in England and came back with a single recorded at the legendary studio. "Silver Lining" definitely has a little bit of that 1960's Beatles-esque sound, but it's more mid-90's Boston post-grunge alt-rock that it will remind you of. "Silver Lining" sounds like when bands like Gigolo Aunts and Letters to Cleo had Boston declared as the "next Seattle," and were pop in the way the Ramones and Cheap Trick were pop, although we never would have agreed with that back then. "Silver Lining" is a seriously great garage pop/rock track that is catchier than it has any right to be. You can listen to "Silver Lining" below. The single is available now via Bandcamp . For more on Speedfossil, check out the band on Facebook . Silver Lining by Speedfossil

Artist : The Decemberists Album : As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again Quick Thoughts : The Decemberists remain the most consistent act to come out of the early-aughts indie scene, with this new album (their first in a few years) playing in some of the same comfortable grounds of their predecessors. "Oh No!" has all the trappings of an instant classic, "Long White Veil" feels like early Decemberists, and even going a little experimental with a 20 minute epic closer works. A solid listen on a whole. Songs of Note : "Long White Veil," "Oh No!," "Born to the Morning," "America Made Me" Artist : Las Nubes Album : Tormentas Malsanas Quick Thoughts : Ken sent this one over, and it's great. It's one of a few typical alt-rock listens that just work, and the Spanish influence sets it apart on a whole. No reason to let the language barrier stand in the way, especially with "Agua Plastica," which is a favorite...

Megan-Magdalena Bourne I say this about a lot of songs, but the latest from Crack Cloud should not work. At all. "The Medium" reminds me of how back in the 1980's there was a revival of songs from the 60's, probably mostly because they could be used in movie soundtracks cheaply. Take that sound, and mix it with the New Wave pop of the time, and you have the music of "The Medium." But then the lead vocals come in, and they are just pure punk. It's a more tuneful version of Sid Vicious taking lead vocals, but still punk. The background vocals are dive even deeper into the 60's sound, creating an absolute joy and a pleasure to listen to, despite all the odds stacking against Crack Cloud. You can watch the video for "The Medium" below. Red Mile is due out July 26 on Jagjaguwar, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Crack Cloud, check out the artist's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the video. Thu. Aug. 22 - Malaga, ESP @...

Photo by Nathan DuCong é When a song is titled "Anarchy," it's pretty safe to assume the song is punk. The latest from Lesibu Grand isn't punk at all, except that it's totally punk. The new single is much more alt-pop than punk. I wouldn't even say it's that new generation of punk like Mannequin Pussy or Destroy Boys that integrate a heavy dose of pop into their sound. But Lesibu Grand's latest is even more punk by throwing out all of the rules of punk and making a pop song that even middle aged punk purists are going to love. This is a pop song that straight up rocks. You can watch the video for "Anarchy" below. Triggered is due out August 16 on Kill Rock Stars, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Lesibu Grand, check out the artist's website .

Photo by Julio Assis Last month we all had our minds blown by "Nothing to Report" from Fold Paper. Now the Winnipeg band is back with "Idle Idle." This new song is another burst of noisy post-punk, possibly even more so than its predecessor. "Idle Idle" is a fractured mess of a song that doesn't fit together but should. Everything in the song sounds jerky and at odds with every other part of the song. It's incredibly dissonant with Chell Osuntade's vocals almost getting drowned out by the music repeatedly. At times there is the frenzy of post-punk noise happening directly next to some peak 90's slacker style indie rock. "Idle Idle" should not work at all, and yet it's going to end up being one of your favorite songs of the year. You can watch the video for "Idle Idle" below. 4TO is due out July 12 on Royal Mountain Records, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Fold Paper, check out the artist on  Instagr...

Hailing from Manchester, NH, Hell Beach are a defiantly emo band in a way that refuses to be embarrassed by that label. Their latest single, "Poison Mind," is emo, but in a way that imagines if Superchunk decided to lean more into pop punk than indie rock. Oh, and added a keytar. This is a fun song that is just begging to be screamed out loud at a live show. If there is any negative to "Poison Mind" it's that it's almost too catchy. Luckily, that's not really a thing so we can just rock out and scream the lyrics out while having a killer time. You can watch the video for "Poison Mind" below. BEACHWORLD is due out August 9 on Uncle Style Records, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Hell Beach, check out the band on Instagram  and Facebook .