If It's Too Loud...

We've been huge fans of Jessica Lea Mayfield's version of country/roots meets 90's alternative ever since we first heard her. She recently left ATO Records and is a free agent in the music world. She's just put out tape demos part 1  on her Bandcamp page. These are incredibly rough demos of just her and a guitar recorded as lo-fi/DIY as humanly possible. She's opening up the songwriting process to her fans at a very early point, and is welcoming us to imagine the songs however we want. And these songs could end up going in any possible direction, or no direction at all. As a fan, it's such a special opportunity to hear an album in such a raw format. You can listen to "warped and melted" below. tape demos part 1 is available now via Jessica Lea Mayfield's Bandcamp . For more on Jessica Lea Mayfield, check out her Facebook and Twitter . tape demos part 1 by Jessica Lea Mayfield

Billy Dean Thomas (aka The Queer B.I.G.) started off in Harlem and moved to Boston two years ago. Since then, they've established themselves on the burgeoning Boston hip hop scene. They just released a new double single, 2 the World , which consists of the songs "Tina Turnup" and "To the World." My feelings on current hip hop are well documented, and I tend to lean towards the throwback side of the genre. Billy Dean Thomas isn't a throwback act in the slightest. Instead, they keep the feel and intensity of classic hip hop while moving it into the current day. Both songs feel like an American version of British garage music and have a strong electro element. Both of these songs would be getting massive airplay nationwide if radio worked correctly. You can listen to 2 the World  below. For more information, check out Billy Dean Thomas's website . Billy Dean Thomas is also an incredible live performer. Be sure to check them out whenever you can.

The latest single from Providence's The Low Cards is a slow, intense burn. "What Am I Doing Here" is a slowed down roots rocker, with a noisy start, but turns into a bizarro folk/singer songwriter song with distorted guitars. It's a slow burn with smoldering intensity. You expect it to explode into a full on rock song, eventually resigning yourself to the fact that it never will. And just when you accept that and think the song is winding down, it erupts into the roots rock jam you always needed it to.  You can listen to "What Am I Doing Here" below. Pilgrims Wake , the upcoming album from The Low Cards, will be out soon. I don't believe there is an official release date yet. For more on The Low Cards, check out their website . What Am I Doing Here by The Low Cards

Oakland's The Atom Age have been around since 2009, and are set to release a new album later this summer. Their latest single, "Walk Through Walls," would have been right at home in the early 2000's garage rock revival, but they have their very own sound all to themselves. "Walk Through Walls" shares the same frenetic energy of the early, less pop years of The Hives. This is possibly because of the just barely tuneful screamed vocals common in "Walk Through Walls." But what makes them unique is how they embrace the organ/keyboard sound of vintage classic rock that their contemporaries just never did. Plus, they also bring in more than a tiny bit of surf rock, bringing the whole thing into a vintage sound without sounding fully like a throwback. You can watch the video for "Walk Through Walls" below. Cry Til' You Die , the new album from The Atom Age, will be out August 23 on Tiger Dream/Asian Man Records. For more on The Atom Age,...

I have no idea how I had never heard of Baylies Band until this week. They're a Providence based band who have been together for twenty five years, and, according to their Bandcamp profile, have played with a diverse group of bands that includes Lightning Bolt, That 1 Guy, Six Finger Satellite, Godsmack, and The Pizza Underground, aka Macauley Culkin's pizza themed Velvet Underground tribute band. Led by Eric Baylies (who played bass with Minibeast until recently), the band put out their latest release Kafkaesque earlier this year. It's... unique. And I mean that in the best possible way. It's as noisy as you'd expect it to be, but it also feels like a noise rock version of a free jazz jam in parts. Plus, it's not as aggressive or dissonant as a lot of experimental noise rock can be. At times, it's almost straight up rock, albeit a twisted version. Plus, it seems to not take itself as seriously as a lot of art rock does. "Warriors" seems to con...

The PVD Fest takes over downtown Providence this weekend. It's a free, multi-stage, multi-genre, all ages festival that showcases virtually all forms of arts, but since we're a music blog, we're going to stick with music. The website/schedule is more than a little unwieldy, so here is what we've found that you're going to want to check out! Leyla McCalla Saturday, 5:45-7:15 Mural Stage, 120 Mathewson St We're huge fans of Leyla McCalla here, and I personally can't recommend her live show enough. Her blend of traditional folk is completely unique and uses a cello in ways I've never heard before. For a festival that is focusing mostly on local Rhode Island artists, this is a huge booking and a treat for everyone that can attend. Downtown Boys Saturday, 7:45-8:45 Arcade Stage, 35 Weybosset St Most free outdoor all ages shows aren't going to book a band that flaunts their Communism as openly as Downtown Boys, but PVD Fest doesn't seem t...

Prateek is one of those artists that has been on my radar for years but I've never fully given my attention to. For that I owe him (and all of you) an apology. His latest single, "The Gang's All Gone," really deserves all of our attention. Prateek does this style of folk rock that is all his. Traditionally folk rock means one sound and one sound only with very little deviation. Prateek side steps that notion. Sure, "The Gang's All Gone" is 100% folk rock. But Prateek's uniqueness starts with his voice. His voice has the soul of a 90's indie rocker just waiting to unleash itself. Plus, he throws in some guitar licks that sound like a lazy J Mascis which are unexpected but very welcome around these parts! You can listen to "The Gang's All Gone" below. The song is currently available via Bandcamp , where you can currently get Prateek's entire discography for $4.20 (woo!) Plus, all of Prateek's proceeds from Bandcamp are cur...

Photo via Facebook Minibeast are set to release two new albums in the near future, and have offered up a new song as a preview. For those not in the know, Minibeast is the new project from Peter Prescott of Mission of Burma. (The band's Facebook profile lists him as formerly of Mission of Burma, further cementing that Burma is no more, which I refuse to accept.) "Town Cryer" is perfect for Mission of Burma fans. It has that disjointed almost tribal beat that we've come to love, and coming in at eight minutes and forty seconds, it feels like an experimental post punk jam session. With the spoken/shouted lyrics is thunderously noisy guitars, this song might be heralding an upcoming album of the year candidate. You can listen to "Town Cryer" below. ISM Vols. 1 & 2 , the upcoming albums from Minibeast, can be pre-ordered via Kickstarter . The release seems imminent. For more on Minibeast, check them out on Facebook .

While I'm not much of a pop guy, I do love power pop unashamedly. And even though this might sound contradictory, if an artist can combine indie rock with power pop I'm in my glory. Enter Little Slugger. Little Slugger formed in Burlington, VT and moved to Brooklyn, which is understandable but the New Englander in me is trying not to hold that against them. "You're On Your Own" at times might be a little too pop for me, with it's harmonies and level of catchiness that is bordering on criminal. But every time I start to have second thought the guitars amp up and draw me right back in. It's like OK Go decided to rock out just a little bit harder. You can listen to "You're On Your Own" below. I Want to Live Here Forever , the upcoming album from Little Slugger, will be out July 19. You can pre-order it on their Bandcamp . For more on Little Slugger, check out their Facebook . I Want To Live Here Forever by Little Slugger

Photo by Jinni J. Considering how quiet and introspective the latest single from Austin's Cross Record is, you'd never guess it's origin. Emily Cross wrote "PYSOL My Castle" after visiting an overstimulating Mexican street market. It includes the lyrics  “ Walking through the plaza in a dream // All these people reaching out // touching me. I cannot take what you are giving // You cannot break the bubble I’m living in .” Although, if the experience was as overwhelming as it sounds, "PYSOL My Castle" shares what is needed after such an intense experience. It's quiet and healing, intimate and lonely (but in that great revitalizing way).  You can watch the video for "PYSOL My Castle" below. The upcoming self-titled album from Cross Record will be released on August 2 via Ba Da Bing. You can pre-order the album here . For more on Cross Record, be sure to check out her website .

A slowish week, so this week's highlights include some we missed recently: Artist : Pip Blom Album : Boat Quick Description : Debut album from a favorite here. Why You Should Listen : Feels like we've been waiting forever for this. Overall Thoughts : Pip Blom has been releasing music for some time, but never as a cohesive package until now. The cohesive package? It's a great slice of fuzzy indie pop with the right balance of weird melodies and infection hooks, this is an album that was a fast favorite this week and might end up having some staying power for me. "Daddy Issues," an early single and the lead track, sets the tone with the most accessible Pip Blom track yet, and keeps its foot on the gas throughout. A must-listen. Recommendation : Best of the week, and one of the best of the year. Artist : Kitty Kat Fan Club Album : Dreamy Little You Quick Description : Indie supergroup with their first collective album. Why You Should Listen : For a ...

Throwaway is weird. Sure, we've covered a LOT of weird bands here. I tend to love bringing you the latest weirdo noise band, but what makes Throwaway truly odd is that they're noisy art rock that still follows traditional pop song structures... mostly. Plus, they're fronted by a woman wearing a paper bag on her head. You know that "The Brilliant Society of the Illustrious Mule" isn't going to be the latest pop crossover hit based on the song title alone. For the most part Kristen Carey is singing for her vocals, or at least singing a little odd in the way that Kurt Cobain and Mike Patton made famous. And the song is strange, but still kind of a fun odd little quirky alt rock song. And then the screaming starts and the whole thing goes off the rails in the best possible way. You can watch the video for "The Brilliant Society of the Illustrious Mule" below. WHAT? , the debut album from Throwaway, will be out on July 12. For more on Throwaway, be ...

I'm a big Godzilla fan. I still remember seeing the 1990s version with Matthew Broderick and being disgusted, and I made it a point to go to a Thursday evening showing for King of the Monsters , the latest installment. Spoiler alert: it's awesome. What's also awesome? The end credits feature Bear McCreary's take on the Blue Oyster Cult "classic" song "Godzilla," adding some epic orchestration and System of a Down's Serj Tankian on vocals. Whereas the Blue Oyster Cult version is reminiscent of a Spinal Tap gag, the McCreary version ends up having the epic scope that the big ol' lug deserves. I basically found excuses to put this on repeat all weekend long, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. Go see Godzilla: King of the Monsters on the biggest possible screen you can, and check out this (and other) score from Bear McCreary when you have a chance. You won't regret it.

Photo via Facebook Today saw the release of a new single from Salem Wolves, their first with a new line up. Does a new line up mean a new sound? Oh, yes. "Queen" starts off as a dark metal New Wave/post punk song. Think DEVO heavily influenced by Black Sabbath. And then the guitars come sneaking in before smashing the walls down. "Queen" is ridiculously ferocious. I'd say this is still garage rock if your garage is filled with stolen car parts and occult artifacts. But still waving the flag of their New Wave influences. It's a huge dark rock song that still finds some way to sneak in just the slightest bit of an artsy edge. Plus, it features Nicole Marie Coogan of The Devil's Twins on backing vocals, just in case it needed to be cooler. You can listen to "Queen" below. The song is currently available on Salem Wolves's Bandcamp page. If you happen to be in the Boston area, Salem Wolves are playing June 27 on a Mahi Mahi boat cruise ...

Things have been very, very quiet on the Mission of Burma front lately, but members have been involved with other projects. Trinary System is Roger Miller's current project. Obviously we have to compare their latest song, "When the Dust Settles," to Mission of Burma, so here goes! "When the Dust Settles" is decidedly more mellow than Miller's typical work with Mission of Burma. It's not a complete change in direction from Burma, but more of an extension. Instead of the punk edge we're used to, Trinary System is almost psychedelic and harmonious. It's significantly less dissonant, but most things are. I'd almost go as far as calling it groovy, but it stops just short of that. You can watch the video for "When the Dust Settles" below. LIGHTS IN THE CENTER OF YOUR HEAD , the new album from Trinary System, is due out on June 1 via Feeding Tube Records. For more on Trinary System, check out their website .