If It's Too Loud...

Scottish sister duo The Cords have a delightfully new retro single out now. "I'm Not Sad" is a bouncy and cheery little song that fits into the current neo-folk while hearkening back to artists like The Primitives and The Sundays. It's a sugary sweet pop-rock song that packs an overwhelming amount of fun into under two minutes. Of course, if it's going to remind us of cheery alt-rock/pop singles from the 90's, as upbeat and happy as the song is, the lyrics for "I'm Not Sad" are anything but upbeat and happy. Still, The Cords have struck gold with this new single, which is going to win your heart within its first few seconds. Eva says of the band's latest single: "'I'm Not Sad' is about feeling sad but not knowing why and feeling like you could spend all day in bed even though you don't want to and pretending you're not sad when people ask. It's upbeat and happy but the lyrics aren't really. A lot of our songs ...

Photo by Ethan Griffin-Mccleary While their previous singles didn't sound like what I'd envision "trashcan country" to sound like, HONK's latest fits my expectations perfectly. "Duck Duck Goose" is their most country single yet, combining genres like rockabilly, garage rock, and punk into one weirdo sound that is all their own. You'll hear bits of artists like The Amazing Royal Crowns, Mojo Nixon, and The Reverend Horton Heat in "Duck Duck Goose," but this one is all HONK. It's a ton of off-kilter twangy fun, with a chorus of "Duck duck duck duck duck duck duck duck goose" that's begging to be screamed out by an audience.  HONK says of their latest single: "'Duck Duck Goose' is about a party game gone terribly wrong, a Helter Skelter ride through the inferno. Traditional music warped into a barn dance in Hell by Satan’s little helpers - about how sometimes in life we get stuck in cycles and once you’re in that...

Photo via Facebook Friday will see the release of Supreme Clientele 2 , the sequel to Ghostface Killah's iconic 2000 album Supreme Clientele . His latest single from the upcoming album, "Metaphysics," shows that Ghostface is still one of the most vital creators in all of hip hop, more than thirty years into his career. The new song sounds like it could be an outtake from the original album, and there aren't many artists you can say that about regardless of genre. "Metaphysics" is a great hip hop song that shows the Wu-Tang legend giving a masterclass on emceeing to the rising stars of today. Ghostface Killah says of his latest single: “'Metaphysics' is a record I made back in '03. I saved it for a time just like this.”  You can watch the video for "Metaphysics" below. Supreme Clientele 2 is due out August 22 on Mass Appeal, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Ghostface Killah, check out the artist on Instagram  and Faceboo...

Photo by Kieran Webber Cornish cosmic folk collective Blind Yeo are back with a new single. "Love Not Fire" is an intense and upbeat song, with driving drums and a heavy dose of groove that will defy anything you expect from folk music. It's a fun song with an unbeatable rhythm that will keep you returning to the track for multiple listens. "Love Not Fire" is hypnotic and perfect for these last few days of summer. Blind Yeo will have even a Fall person like myself wanting a few more days of warmth, and wishing for a last minute outdoor music festival to see this song performed in the sunshine. Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Will Greenham says of their latest single: “This song was written in the time it takes to play it, an intuition that expresses a feeling so intense it transcends. A deep love and connection that blazes through the dark times that comes to every companionship at one time or another. Like all our songs this was recorded live with all of us p...

Photo by Brian Karlsson Philadelphia shoegaze heroes they are gutting a body of water (aka TAGABOW) are known for eschewing your standard shoegaze rules to create their own thrilling sound. Their latest single, "the chase," might be their most traditionally shoegaze song yet, but of course that's always relative. The new single is a heavy version of the genre, built more for moshing than chinstroking, but that wall of heavy sound and fuzz will still blast you back once "the chase" starts. Lyrics aren't typically the focus with this still of music, but the song features a gripping spoken word story of songwriter and guitarist Douglas Dulgarian's account of relapsing. TAGABOW are reinventing a decades old genre, and we're thrilled to be on this journey with them. Douglas Dulgarian says of his band's latest single: “It’s hard. In no way do I want to glorify drug use. I want to make it clear that attempts to escape yourself leave you yearning for a f...

Photo by Graham Tolbert We're fully into everything Wednesday puts out, and love seeing if their songs go more towards the indie rock side or alt-country side of their sound. Their latest, "Bitter Everyday," definitely fits into their indie rock side of theirs, with intensely whining guitars and a generous layer of fuzz over the entire shebang. It's a loud and noisy song, so if you love that sort of thing, this one is for you. Their more country side comes out more in the lyrics, and has quite a bit in common with the subject matter of their sometime tour mates Drive-By Truckers. In fact, sonically "Bitter Everyday" sounds a bit like Drive-By Truckers meets Built to Spill. Karly Hatzman says of her band's latest single: “‘Bitter Everyday’ is a song formed around my desperate desire to tell the story about how in 2019 this lady came up on our porch at like 3 in the morning when Jake and our friend Andrew were out there drinking and playing guitar. She ask...

Photo by Allister Ann Madi Diaz is at the top of my list of artists that should be massive. The singer-songwriter just released a new single, "Ambivalence," that is the rare song that will be appreciated by both music snobs and your most mainstream listening co-worker. It's a stripped back song featuring mostly only Diaz's vocals and guitar, but when you've achieved this level of perfection, you simply don't need anything more. "Ambivalence" grabs you instantly with how stark it is, while still sounding lush and full. Sometimes an artist completely nails a song, and Diaz has reached perfection with her latest. Madi Diaz says of her upcoming album: “Fatal Optimism is the innate hope for something magical. It’s the weird faith that kicks in while knowing that there is just plain risk that comes with wanting someone or something. It’s when you have no control over the outcome, but still choose to experience every moment that happens, and put your whole ...

Long Island punks Half Dizzy are back with a new single. "All or None" is a no nonsense punk rock track, with driving guitars and snarling vocals. There are also some of the finest gang vocals out there today, and a killer breakdown to boot. As aggressive as the song may be at times, there is an overwhelming feeling of positivity in the track. It's the kind of song that will get an audience all screaming vocals together, but more in a united way than an angry way. Every now and then a song comes out that reminds me of why I first fell in love with punk, and Half Dizzy are the kind of band to do it. Vocalist/guitarist Daniel Marchelewski says of his band's latest single: “This upbeat anthem looks back on the wild ride of youth, celebrating the challenges conquered and lessons learned along the way. It's a vibrant, feel-good anthem for anyone who's grown through struggle and came out stronger on the other side."  You can listen to "All or None" be...

Actor, screenwriter, and director Molly Gordon is currently in the film Oh Hi! which she teamed with producer and director Sophie Brooks. For the film, Gordon (who you might know as Claire in The Bear ) teams with Blake Mills on a cover of the immortal Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers duet "Islands in the Stream." Coming of age in the 90's, I'm always ready to assume that a cover of a song like "Islands in the Stream" will be done ironically, but Gordon and Mills have reworked the song into a dreamy and intimate folk track featuring Gordon on vocals. It's stripped down and without any of the excess of the original. It's also a little bit witchy, but keeps the joy and heart of the original classic. Molly Gordon says of the cover: “When Sophie and I were developing OH, HI! and she came up with the dream sequence, she mentioned that she planned to ask her friend Blake Mills to help us out. I tried to play it very cool, but I was secretly freaking out insi...

Photo by Someari Benson-Jaja For her latest single, Meredith Moon takes parts of old-time and contemporary folk music into a delightful combination. "East City Blues" never completely commits to being fully vintage or fully folk-pop. Instead, it dances right on the line, being neither and both at once. If you're a folk purist, you may end up hating this one, but that will truly be your loss. "East City Blues" is an impeccably charming song that will grab you as soon as Moon's voice kicks in. I don't think it's possible to be more charmed than we are by Meredith Moon. Meredith Moon says of her latest single: "The song was written in May 2022 when I was living on the west side of Peterborough, Ontario, in a not-so-safe neighborhood, longing to be living in the 'East City,' but also longing for a person who was out of reach at the time." You can listen to "East City Blues" below. From Here to the Sea is due out September 12 o...

The Boy Detective are quickly becoming our favorite Detroit ska punk band, and with "Beth Truss," they're sure to become yours, too. The horn heavy new single is filled with gruff vocals that edge more than a little bit into pop punk territory while still keeping just enough of an edge. This is the type of song practically begging to be screamed out loud at a show if you can stop dancing long enough to. One of the key ingredients of any genre of ska is for it to be fun, and "Beth Truss" is overflowing with fun. It takes all of the joy in both ska and pop punk and gives it back to the listener in handfuls. If you can get past your music snob past and/or present, you're going to love The Boy Detective. Vocalist Benny Capaul says of the band's latest single: “This ancient song was taken off the shelf, dusted off, and reformatted to sonically invoke singalongs and brain-eating choruses and gang vocals, in the only way The Boy Detective knows best.  You’ll fi...

Che Noir may be the most underrated emcee out there today, and the Buffalo based artist has a new single out that is unsurprisingly great. "Sugar Water" sees Che Noir team with The Other Guys. It's the kind of single you don't typically hear in 2025, or really any time this century. Something about "Sugar Water" feels analog. It feels like it was assembled the old school way and not just on a laptop. This technique works perfectly for Noir, who has always had a vintage feel to her music. "Sugar Water" is a laid back song that sounds modern but feels vintage. You can watch the video for "Sugar Water" below. No Validation is due out August 29 on HiPKNOTT Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on Che Noir, check out the artist's website .

Photo by Zoe Hopper Boston's favorite "farm emo" group Tiberius have a brand new single out that perfectly captures the genre. "Felt" has all of the warmth of alt-country and the intensity of Midwest emo. Plus, Tiberius put just the perfect amount of twang into the song, which might end up making this one irresistible. While much modern country comes across as trite or forcing emotion, "Felt" wears its heart on its sleeve without ever falling into the mainstream, more whiny aspect of emo. It's even possible that people could listen to the song and not hear it as either country or emo. Without focusing on a genre, "Felt" is simply a great and captivating song that will have you highly anticipating Tiberius' latest album. Brendan Wright says of their band's latest single: "When I wrote Felt, I was fairly fresh out of a breakup and was spending a lot of time looking for distractions. Instead of tackling some bigger questions and...

Photo courtesy of the band Hailing from Salem, MA, The Fool's Agenda are a grunge-pop band with an impossibly catchy sound for a band that sounds so DIY. Their latest single, "Dumb (Take Me Out)," has some firm roots in both grunge and riot grrrl, but have too much of a pop sound to truly be considered either of those. This is reminding my of a slightly more polished Cake Like, while having a production that keeps everything just rough enough to not go too pop. It's this play between being a hard rock band and a pop band that keeps The Fool's Agenda's latest interesting. "Dumb (Take Me Out)" has the ability to instantly grab you and make you a fan for life, but it might take you a little bit to adjust to the two sides of their sonic coin. We're going to implore you to give "Dumb (Take Me Out)" a full listen so you don't miss out. The Fool's Agenda say of their latest single: “Rock and roll has never been about being cool or tren...

Photo by Sean Hall @ PowerPro Media Boston's The Ringer Soundtrack have a new single out that's hard to define, which is something we tend to love here at If It's Too Loud... "In Real Time" starts off as an alt-rock banger of a song. Some odd instrumentation makes way to mid-tempo rock music that leans into being a ballad. It's very 1993, just as grunge was petering out and a more mainstream version was pushing in. (This would most likely show up as "bubblegrunge" in your Spotify Unwrapped.) The vocals come in and bring a more pop sound edging a little into emo. I know pop can be used as a derogatory term, especially for rock bands, but in The Ringer Soundtrack's case it's a compliment. "In Real Time" is a great and intriguing song sure to suck you in for it's full nearly five minute length. Mick Coyne (vocals/piano) says of the band's latest single: “‘In Real Time’ is a song about that feeling where you wish you could sort ...