First Listen: New Releases for 4 October

Artist: That Dog
Album: Old LP
Quick Description: Comeback album from some indie legends.
Why You Should Listen: It's That Dog, guys. Come on.
Overall Thoughts: As long-awaited as this return has been, it is great to know that this reunion has not resulted in the band missing a beat. With moments often as good as their high points during their first run, there is a lot to love in this album even in its imperfection. I’m reminded by less-than-stellar returns from other 90s acts and how much better this is, both in comparison and overall.
Recommendation: Definitely worth the time.

Artist: Chromatics
Album: Closer to Grey
Quick Description: New album from the longtime rock group.
Why You Should Listen: They're more than just a Lynch-adjacent group.
Overall Thoughts: A surprise release of sorts, even though we’ve been waiting for some time for a new album from this act, it’s basically what you expect. That’s not a bad thing, as they have a very distinct and unique presentation that’s been lacking. I can’t say for sure whether this would get them new fans, but as an existing one who has been waiting impatiently since their performance at The Roadhouse, I’m pleased.
Recommendation: Give this a listen.

Artist: Angel Olsen
Album: All Mirrors
Quick Description: Latest from the rising singer-songwriter.
Why You Should Listen: A true leap in songwriting on this record.
Overall Thoughts: The internet is collectively losing its mind over this album, and rightfully so. Olsen, up to this point, has done some solid work, but this album feels less like a musical experience and more like a full-on adventure. Extremely lush, incredibly complex in the right ways, and it rightly sounds like an achievement of sorts. This is such a departure from My Woman that it may really throw off recent converts, but it is such an authentic listen that it’s hard not to love it.
Recommendation: Easily the best record of the week.

Artist: Bill Frisell
Album: Harmony
Quick Description: Longtime guitar legend's new album.
Why You Should Listen: One of the prettiest things you'll listen to as of late.
Overall Thoughts: I admit to not knowing enough about Bill Frisell, and this album makes me regret that reality. Gorgeous guitar work with some nice jazz-adjacent melodies means that this is definitely going to be one of the more beautiful albums in recent memory with a lot of crossover appeal. This is one I am looking forward to returning to, and an artist I absolutely want to spend more time with as a result.
Recommendation:

Artist: L'Orange and Jeremiah Jae
Album: Complicate Your Life With Violence
Quick Description: Solid rap music with interesting accompaniment.
Why You Should Listen: L'Orange is always worth a listen, and apparently Jae is, too.
Overall Thoughts: A great collaboration, some great sampling, some great raps… I’m not sure what’s not to like about this overall. In a year with a lot of interesting rap albums, this is definitely one worth listening to and, when you get songs like “Summer Camp” leading the charge, it’s hard to find anything negative to say about this one.
Recommendation: Don’t sleep on this one.

Of note:

* The Avett Brothers - Closer Than Together (Understated record, lots to like even if it’s not as immediate or risky as their past.)
* Wilco - Ode to Joy (To quote Ken on Twitter, “I'd rather have a band age gracefully and do dad rock like Wilco than have a group of guys in their 50s trying to appeal to 14 year olds like some of their peers do.”)
* The Persian Leaps - Electric Living (Solid alt-rock)
* Lisa Prank - Perfect Love Song
* Daniel Martin Moore - Never Look Away
* Michael Christmas - Baggy Eyes 2
* Gospelbeach - Let It Burn
* Kim Petras - Turn Out the Light
* San Fermin - The Cormorant I
* Holiday Sidewinder - Forever or Whatever
* Rhi - The Pale Queen
* Kelsey Walden - White Noise/White Lines


Eps:

* Kero Kero Bonito - Civilization I
* Dogmatics - She's the One

Also:

* Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Ghosteen
* MIKA - My Name is Michael Holbrook
* North Mississippi Allstars - Up and Rolling
* Josie Cotton - Everything is Oh Yeah
* The Darkness - Easter is Cancelled
* Lagwagon - Railer
* City & Colour - A Pill for Loneliness
* Lightning Dust - Spectre
* Medicine - Scarred for Life
* Carla dal Forno - Look Up Sharp

Gordon Withers Covers Jawbreaker

Gordon Withers is best known as a rock cellist in J Robbins band. He also does solo cello covers of well known rock songs. He is about to release Jawbreaker On Cello, which as you can probably guess is an album of Jawbreaker covers done on cello. The first song we can hear from it is "Bivouac." Now, you can probably guess what Jawbreaker being performed on cello is going to sound like, and you'd be exactly right. This isn't some crazy, experimental version of a cello based song. But it is an incredible arrangement of a classic punk song done in a way you never expected to hear it. You already know if you want to listen to this. If you do, you'll quickly move past the novelty factor and appreciate the song far more than you ever expected to.

You can listen to Gordon Withers's take on "Bivouac" below. Jawbreaker On Cello will be out November 1, and can be pre-ordered here. For more on Gordon Withers, check out his website.

Tristen Covers Joni Mitchell

We're fairly rabid Tristen fans over here at If It's Too Loud..., so any time she releases any new music we're thrilled. Since we also love covers, her latest is especially great. As a standalone single, she's released a cover of Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You." I'm not very familiar with the original, so I'll stick with Tristen's version. The cover is a retro-cool groovy song that keeps some modern day pop sensibilities with some 60's feel. It's a beautiful and fun version of a classic song that fits right in with Tristen's catalog.

You can listen to Tristen's version of "A Case of You" below. The single can be found on Tristen's Bandcamp. For more on Tristen, check out her website.

Wild Earp & The Free For Alls - "The Last Honky Tonk in Chicago"

Photo by Alan Mayne

2019 marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of Chicago based Bloodshot Records, which, as you can tell, we're huge fans of here at If It's Too Loud... The very first release for Bloodshot was For A Life of Sin: Insurgent Chicago Country, a compilation of Chicago based country artists. For their anniversary, the label will release Too Late to Pray: Defiant Chicago Roots. The first single off the compilation is from Wild Earp & The Free For Alls, "The Last Honky Tonk in Chicago." If you imagine what a song called "The Last Honky Tonk in Chicago" by a band called Wild Earp & The Free for Alls, and you most likely have it. It's an old school down home country song, but with just enough of the attitude to truly make it a Bloodshot Records release.

You can watch the video for "The Last Honky Tonk in Chicago" below. You can pre-order Too Late to Pray: Defiant Chicago Roots via Bloodshot Records. For more on Wild Earp & The Free for Alls, check out their website.

Miesha & The Spanks - "The Girls Are O.K."

Photo by Unfolding Creative Photography

Hailing from Calgary, Miesha & The Spanks have a new pop garage rock single, "The Girls Are O.K." It's a great mixture of the dirty sound of garage rock and the shimmering sound of pop. It's a fun, celebratory song that reminds me of Carissa Johnson & the Cure-Alls. According to Miesha:

"I wrote “The Girls Are O.K.” while in my third trimester this summer, expecting twins— no idea what their gender would be. At the same time I was scheduling this year’s Girls Rock Camp in Calgary.

The whole thing got me thinking about these strong, weird, cool girls that I get to work with every year and watch grow, and how if I ended up with two baby girls, I wouldn’t be worried about or for them at all, because the girls from camp were already light years ahead of where I was at their age.

They’re so brave and they already know they don’t have to take any bullshit— something I learned much later in life.

They’re going to be more than okay – they’re going to be great."

You can listen to "The Girls Are O.K." below. For more on Miesha & The Spanks, check out their website.

Very Good - "Falling Dreams"

Photo by Sergio Carrasco

Normally when we describe music as stripped down it means that it's intimate, and usually warm. "Falling Dreams" from Very Good isn't that. At all. "Falling Dreams" is intensely minimalist. There is barely any instrumentation behind Sean Cronin's vocals, and the tiny bit there is isn't always pleasant. It's hardly noise rock in the traditional sense. It's a challenging listen, sure, but more because it's so sparse and quiet. Instruments come and go, but more like they know it's their turn and it's required of them. All that said, it's not entirely unpleasant. By the end, the song becomes quite enjoyable. I'm not sure if it's because the music changes in a more pleasant way or if you have just adapted to the way it is, but "Falling Dreams" is almost nice for the last two or three minutes.

You can watch the video for "Falling Dreams" below. Adulthood, the new album from Very Good, will be out October 11. You can pre-order the album here. For more on Very Good, check out their Bandcamp.

Guerilla Toss - "Plants"

Photo by Vanessa Castro

With their new single, "Plants," Guerilla Toss go further into their dance-noise sound. "Plants" is completely a dance song, with no traces of noise rock able to be found. It's interesting that they're going with such a fun, uplifting sound, given the subject matter of their upcoming EP. What Would the Odd Do? is inspired by singer Kassie Carlson's near death experience due to a blood clot from an opiate addiction that led to open heart surgery. 

According to Carlson: “Only recently have I really begun to open up about everything that’s happened to me in the last few years. These songs mean a lot to me; anyone in recovery knows that going through an opiate addiction and beating it is a big deal. I am living proof that it can happen to anyone. I’ve always written abstract lyrics that have eluded to my personal struggles, but this time I try to provide context to my metaphors and allegories. In this way, I hope to help other people who are struggling, and anything else that is a result of a corroded society that has left so many people in the dust - especially women. Drugs are such a dude-associated thing, which has made it even harder for me to talk about. I felt gross, other-ed, and alone. I didn’t think anyone would be able to understand or relate. Experiencing severe trauma as a child creates different parameters for normalcy, and inclusion. Statistically, women are more likely to hide addiction and keep feelings inside, making it potentially much more festering and toxic. Drugs affect people of all backgrounds, regardless of race, class or gender. Addiction hits us all, and it hits hard.”

You can listen to "Plants" below. What Would the Odd Do? is due for release on October 18 via NNA Tapes. You can pre-order the EP here. For more on Guerilla Toss, check out their website.

that dog. - "Just the Way"

Photo by Cara Robbins

It's been twenty two years since that dog. have released new music, so you can forgive them for being behind the times a bit. Apparently no one has told them no one goes all out with music videos any more, and a fun concept and celebrity cameos are unnecessary. For their latest single, "Just the Way," the band made a video with Funny or Die which stars the members of that dog. as the fun loving roommates from TV's Three's Company, except with Janet and Chrissy trying to murder each other. They also bring in Maya Rudolph and Jack Black as The Gropers. Hijinks, naturally, ensue! As for the song "Just the Way," it's a dark, melodic hard 90's style rocker, and it's great enough to not get overshadowed by the killer (pun intended) video.

You can watch the video for "Just the Way" below. Old LP, the insanely long awaited album from that dog., will be out October 4. You can pre-order a copy here. For more on that dog., check out their website.

Big Thief - "Forgotten Eyes"

Photo by Dustin Condren

Big Thief is set to release their second album this year next week. You might think that they might be spreading their material a bit thin and the upcoming album would be leftovers from the first. Judging by the previous single and "Forgotten Eyes," they were saving the best for this month. "Forgotten Eyes" is exactly what we want from Big Thief: It's a mixture of equal parts beauty and discomfort. It's folk adjacent indie rock that feels important and lovely while working through some pain and negativity. It's this play between the light and the dark that makes Big Thief truly great.

You can listen to "Forgotten Eyes" below. Two Hands, the new album from Big Thief, will be out October 11 via 4AD. You can pre-order the album here. For more on Big Thief, check out their website. Current tour dates are below the song.

Wed. Oct. 9 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel (SOLD OUT)
Thu. Oct. 10 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall (SOLD OUT)
Fri. Oct. 11 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall (SOLD OUT)
Sat. Oct. 12 - South Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground (SOLD OUT)
Sun. Oct. 13 - Boston, MA @ Wilbur Theatre (SOLD OUT)
Tue. Oct. 15 - Montreal, QC @ La Tulipe (SOLD OUT)
Wed. Oct. 16 - Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre (SOLD OUT)
Thu. Oct. 17 - Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
Fri. Oct. 18 - Chicago, IL @ Metro (SOLD OUT)
Sat. Oct. 19 - Madison, WI @ The Sylvee
Mon. Oct. 21 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
Thu. Oct. 24 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom (SOLD OUT)
Fri. Oct. 25 - Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre (SOLD OUT)
Sat. Oct. 26 - Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
Mon. Oct. 28 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore (SOLD OUT)
Tue. Oct. 29 - Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater
Wed. Oct. 30 - Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory
Fri. Nov. 1 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom (SOLD OUT)
Sat. Nov. 2 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sister
Mon. Nov. 4 - Austin, TX @ Stubb's Waller Creek Amphitheatre
Tue. Nov. 5 - Dallas, TX @ Trees
Thu. Nov. 7 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse
Fri. Nov. 8 - Saxapahaw, NC @ Haw River Ballroom (SOLD OUT)
Sat. Nov. 9 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer (SOLD OUT)
Sun. Nov. 10 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club (SOLD OUT)
Mon. Nov. 11 - Columbus, OH @ The Athenaeum Theatre
Mon. Feb. 17 - Lisbon, PT @ LAV
Tue. Feb. 18 - Porto, PT @ Hard Club
Wed. Feb. 19 - Madrid, ES @ Joy Eslava
Thu. Feb. 20 - Barcelona, ES @ La 2 de Apolo
Sat. Feb. 22 - Bologna, IT @ Locomotiv
Sun. Feb. 23 - Milan, IT @ Magnolia
Mon. Feb. 24 - Lyon, FR @ Epicerie Moderne
Tue. Feb. 25 - Paris, FR @ Cabaret Sauvage
Thu. Feb. 27 - London, UK @ Hammersmith Apollo
Sat. Feb. 29 - Nottingham, UK @ Rock City
Sun. Mar. 1 - Manchester, UK @ Albert Hall
Mon. Mar. 2 - Glasgow, UK @ Old Fruitmarket
Thu. Mar. 5 - Brussels, BE @ AB Ballroom
Fri. Mar. 6 - Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso
Sat. Mar. 7 - Cologne, DE @ Luxor
Sun. Mar. 8 - Hamburg, DE @ Uebel & Gefährlich
Mon. Mar. 9 - Berlin, DE @ Astra
Wed. Mar. 11 - Copenhagen, DK @ Vega Main Hall
Thu. Mar. 12 - Gothenburg, SE @ Pustervik
Fri. Mar. 13 - Stockholm, SE @ Debaser
Sat. Mar. 14 - Olso, NO @ Rockefeller
Sun. Mar. 15 - Aarhus, DK @ Voxhall

Young Deuces featuring Michael Christmas and Burgie Streetz - "Hold It Down"

"Hold It Down" grabbed my attention because of the inclusion of Boston's Michael Christmas, but it might have made me discover one of my new favorite rappers: Milwaukee's Young Deuces. "Hold It Down" has such an early 90's positive hip hop feel to it. It reminds me of Skee-Lo's "I Wish" or the more mainstream side of A Tribe Called Quest. It's a bouncy, smooth hip hop jam that actually celebrates the strong black women of the world, which is a welcome change from most of the hip hop I grew up with.

You can listen to "Hold It Down" below. Son of a Soldier, the upcoming album from Young Deuces, will be out soon. For more on Young Deuces, be sure to check out his website or Twitter.