The Slocan Ramblers Cover Tom Petty

Photo via Facebook

We're always up for a Tom Petty cover here at If It's Too Loud..., and the most recent is from Toronto's The Slocan Ramblers. They take on "A Mind With a Heart of It's Own" from 1989's immortal Full Moon Fever. It's a perfectly faithful take on the original, except for the fact that The Slocan Ramblers are a bluegrass band. But if Tom Petty was a modern bluegrass artist, this is what "A Mind With a Heart of It's Own" would sound like. This isn't an old timey sounding bluegrass song, it's bluegrass with a rock edge complete with gang vocals on the chorus. It's a great tribute to an artist with Americana roots who we lost far too soon.

You can watch the video for The Slocan Ramblers version of "A Mind With a Heart of It's Own" below. Up the Hill and Through the Fog is due out June 10 and can be pre-ordered here. For more on The Slocan Ramblers, check out the band's website.

Joe Rainey - "bezhigo"

Photo by David Guttenfelder

The previous single from Pow Wow singer Joe Rainey was quite bass heavy and had a hip hop meets digital hardcore thing going for it. "no chants" was an intense, angry song. His latest, "bezhigo," is much more restrained. Instead of a blistering, in your face track, it's more like a chill out room meets noise rock kind of song musically. Of course, calling "bezhigo" chill is relative. It still has this intense industrial chugging behind it, and it's incredibly cinematic. Joe Rainey explains that "'bezhigo' is a loose Ojibwe term meaning alone or by itself," and even if you didn't read that explanation the feeling is impossible to miss even if you don't speak the language of the song. Rainey has been releasing important and moving music, and you owe it to yourself to check these out.

You can watch the video for "bezhigo" below. Niineta is due out May 20 on 37d03d and can be pre-ordered here. 

Ben Talmi - "Ralph + Mary"

Photo by Josh Goleman

Brooklyn based singer/songwriter Ben Talmi has released a song that is a tribute to his grandparents. "Ralph + Mary" tells the story of how his grandparents met, kept their romance going through the war, and opened a diner called The Sugar Bowl in western Massachusetts. It's the kind of sentimental song I feel I should automatically hate, but Talmi has crafted this absolutely lovely tribute. It's an upbeat song that sounds like a combination of Belle & Sebastian and Ben Folds at their finest. It's orchestral pop that uses a string section without being hokey. Maybe I'm just getting old, but "Ralph + Mary" is the kind of sentimentality that I can't resist these days.

You can watch the video for "Ralph + Mary" below. Berkshires, which is also a tribute to Ben Talmi's hometown of Pittsfield, MA, is due out May 20, and can be pre-saved here. For more on Ben Talmi, check out the artist's website.

JATK - "Never Gonna Be Your Girl, Friend"

The latest from Boston based multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer Matt Jatkola (recording under the name JATK) expands on the idea of power pop. "Never Gonna Be Your Girl, Friend" is a synth heavy pop song along the lines of The Rentals and Tegan & Sara. This song is undeniably poppy and catchy without being pure pop. It's the kind of song that is going to grab you within the first twenty seconds and refuse to let go. This is an earworm of the highest quality.

Matt Jatkola says of the new song:

“In its simplest form, ‘Never Gonna Be Your Girl, Friend’ is about a person who feels like they will never be the right partner because of their gender. The lyrics play with ideas around gender, masculine and feminine language, and the fluidity of it all. A step further, the masculine and feminine articles in the song are designed to be easily changed, swapped, modified, omitted or otherwise reinterpreted.”

You can listen to "Never Gonna Be Your Girl, Friend" below. The song is currently available as a maxi-single via Bandcamp and will be included on the forthcoming album Shup Up and Be the Light. For more on JATK, check out the artist's Facebook and Twitter.

Scrunchies - "Parallel"

Just when I think I can't possibly like Scrunchies (the Minnesota band made up of members of Baby Guts, Kitten Forever, and Bruise Violet), they go and release a song like "Parallel." I'll let vocalist/guitarist Laura Larson explain how the song came together:

"We wanted 'Parallel' to be like 'Squirrel Song' by Shellac, and have these jarring, uneven measures to the verses. I was also very interested in having Danielle do this Kim Gordon-esque deadpan call-and-response vocal delivery in the bridge, almost as a juxtaposition to the song's loose theme of both self-imposed and external hope + idealism vs turbulence + obstruction of being a woman making art during late stage capitalism."

Besides being inspired by Shellac and Kim Gordon, I'm getting some major early Sleater-Kinney vibes from this one. It doesn't quite have the aggression of some of their other recent singles, but when a song is going to be this straight up great no one will be complaining. "Parallel" has this great punk rock call and response throughout propelled by crashing drums and killer indie rock guitar solos. Scrunchies are quickly becoming a favorite around here.

You can listen to "Parallel" here. Feral Coast is due out April 1 on Dirtnap Records and can be pre-ordered here. For more on Scrunchies, check them out on Instagram and Bandcamp.

Hana Vu - "Mr. Lonely"

Photo by Maria Camacho

You're probably familiar with Bobby Vinton's 1962 hit "Mr. Lonely" about a homesick soldier. While Hana Vu's song of the same name isn't a cover, it is a "response of sorts" to Vinton's classic. When you re-listen to the original (which you can find here), you'll notice that Vu's "Mr. Lonely" is oddly similar. It's not a pure 1960's crooner song by any stretch, but there are some little snippets of that sound in Vu's song. The new song is like a bizarro world modern take on Vinton's. It sounds kind of similar, just... off. If anything, it's like you're listening to the song on a slightly warped record, in the best possible way.

Hana Vu explains how Bobby Vinton's song inspired her own:

"I thought that the sentiments of the original song were almost pathetic when put into today's context." 

You can listen to "Mr. Lonely" below. Parking Lot is out now on Ghostly, and can be ordered here. For more on Hana Vu, check out the artist's Facebook and Twitter. Upcoming tour dates are below the song.

Sun. March 20 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas
Wed. March 23 - Washington, DC @ DC9
Fri. March 25 - Philadelphia, PA @ Milkboy
Thu. March 31 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Moroccan Lounge
Sat. April 2 - San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord
Sat. Aug. 27 - Sun. Aug. 28 - Pasadena, CA @ This Ain’t No Picnic Festival

Minibeast - "Exclusive"

Minibeast is the current project from Peter Prescott, formerly of Mission of Burma. The Providence based band has a new album coming out on April 1, and one of the songs they've made available to listen to is "Exclusive." If you're familiar with Prescott's work with Mission of Burma or Volcano Suns, chances are you're going to dig this song. "Exclusive" has a lot of the noise and clunky guitars of his previous bands, but there is also an jazz-like groove throughout the song. The song surprisingly stops just shy of being mainstream, but definitely stops short. While it may be rooted in classic Burma, Minibeast are a completely different project, but still ones fans will love.

You can listen to "Exclusive" below. On Ice is due out April 1 and can be pre-ordered through Bandcamp. For more on Minibeast, check out the band's website.

First Listen: New Releases for 11 March 2022

Artist: The Lied To's
Album: The Worst Kind of New
Quick Thoughts: I can't recall exactly how I tripped up on The Lied To's, but this latest album is such a great modern folky record that I'm glad I added them to my list. The songs here arrive fully formed and mature, and end up as some super catchy offerings across the board. This album continually surprised me, and in the best way possible - there are few acts that hit that sweet spot for us here quite this way, and The Worst Kind of New is the best of all options this week.
Songs of Note: "It's Not Who You Love," "Brokedown Jamboree," "Two Days," "Clay Pigeons," "Long Way Home"

Artist: Phebe Starr
Album: Heavy Metal Flower Petal
Quick Thoughts: It's not fair to call Phebe Starr just dark pop or just electropop, but whatever she is, her debut album works wonders. There's a definite lightness to this combined with some truly catchy songs, and while this won't work for everyone, it is absolutely worth your time on a whole. After years of EPs and singles, this could break through in a lot of ways.
Songs of Note: "My Boy Cries," "Edelweiss," "DAFFODILS"

Artist: Widowspeak
Album: The Jacket
Quick Thoughts: Widowspeak excels in the sort of soft, fragile folk-infused indie rock that works well for me. Songs like "Sleeper" sound right at home in a Mazzy Star/Hope Sandoval mix, and the end result here is a quiet, stark, but incredibly compelling album from a consistent act. A mandatory listen this week.
Songs of Note: "Everything is Simple," "True Blue," "Sleeper"

Artist: BODEGA
Album: Broken Equipment
Quick Thoughts: We're big BODEGA fans here, and this album is more of the dancey rock music we love so much. Songs like "Statuette on the Console" are up there with some of their best work as is, but this album is just a good time from start to finish. Worth the time.
Songs of Note: "All Past Lovers," "Statuette on the Console"

Artist: Jenny Hval
Album: Classic Objects
Quick Thoughts: In my mind, I slot Jenny Hval in the sort of weird, experimentalish realm. She's an artist's artist, with books and albums that feel like they have a little more weight than most. Classic Objects is perhaps the most traditional stuff I've heard from her of yet, which is not a criticism - it's definitely good, absolutely thought-provoking, but it's also extremely accessible in its dreamy approach in a way a lot of her work hasn't been. If you like the highlighted songs this week, it's worth checking out this album. You'll probably be surprised, and end up looking for more.
Songs of Note: "Classic Objects," "The Revolution Will Not Be Owned,"

Artist: The Wiggles (and others)
Album: ReWiggled
Quick Thoughts: The Wiggles put out a covers EP a few months back, and this is an album that expands on that with not only additional Wiggles cover versions, but also established acts from Down Under covering Wiggles songs. Listen, this does what it says on the tin - I really enjoyed it, you might, too.
Songs of Note: "Hot Potato" (from DZ Deathrays), "Apples and Bananas" (from Polish Club)," "Elephant," "Praise You," "We're Going to Be Friends"

Artist: Young Guv
Album: GUV III
Quick Thoughts: A shout out to Young Guv, who have a new album that is some of the best jangle rock this side of R.E.M. that I've heard in some time. The songs are super catchy, and it's kind of crazy that this act flies under the radar as much as they do. I've since learned that this is the brainchild of a guitarist from Fucked Up, which is, well, exactly that. It's a great listen, so don't miss out.
Songs of Note: "Couldn't Leave U If I Tried," "Lo Lo Lonely," "Same Old Fool"

Of note:

* Wednesday - Mowing the Leaves Instead of Piling 'em Up (A pretty fun mishmash of covers and other songs.)
* A. Billi Free and The Lasso - Holy Body Roll (Super interesting with a number of great moments.)
* The McCrites - You're McWrong, and I'm McCrite
* Jeremy Ivey - Invisible Pictures
* hemlock - talk soon
* Alex Cameron - Oxy Music
* Clams Casino and Jazztronic - Winter Flower Reimagined
* Teddy Grossman - Soon Come
* Orville Peck - Bronco: Chapters 1 & 2
* The Districts - Great American Painting
* Various Artists - Here You Go, You Do It: A Crywank Covers Compilation

EPs:

* Posmic - Sun Hymns
* Tropical Fuck Storm and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Satanic Slumber Party * Orion Sun - Getaway
* Dora Jar - comfortably in pain
* Still - A Symptom of Fate
* Lisa Morales - Rain in the Desert
* Viji - Cali
* Sprints - A Modern Job EP
* King Fiya and Dutch Rebelle - Money Diaries

Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:

* Franz Ferdinand - Hits to the Head (Franz Ferdinand is better than you remember.)
* PJ Harvey - The Hope Six Demolition Project - Demos
* Kishi Bashi - 151a (Demo-arigato Version)
* Various Artists - Here You Go, You Do It: A Crywank Covers Compilation
* Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - New Fragility (Deluxe Edition)
* Now, Now - Threads (10th Anniversary Edition)

Also out:

* Hoodoo Gurus - Chariot of the Gods
* Benny the Butcher - Tana Talk 4
* Elzhi and Georgia Anne Muldrow - Zhigeist

Seth Walker - "The Future Ain't What it Used to Be"

Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins

North Carolina's Seth Walker is set to release his eleventh studio album, and has a new single for us all to check out. "The Future Ain't What it Used to Be" is a classic slow burn blues rocker. Considering the album was written during a break up and the pandemic, the new song is surprisingly upbeat. It's a soulful track with an incredible blues tone to his guitar. It's a pretty straightforward song encompassing the best elements of blues, Americana, and soul that's going to be fairly impossible to resist. You don't need to rewrite the genre when you nail it as well as Walker has here.

You can listen to "The Future Ain't What it Used to Be" below. I Hope I Know is due out May 20 on Royal Potato Family, and can be pre-ordered here. For more on Seth Walker, check out the artist's website. Upcoming tour dates are below the song.

5/19 - Dallas, TX - The Kessler *
5/20 - Austin, TX - 04 Center *
5/21 - Houston, TX - The Heights *
6/3 - Easton, PA - Stoltz Listening Room
6/4 - Wayne, PA - 118 North
6/5 - Putney, VT - Twilight On The Tavern Lawn
6/7 - New York, NY - Rockwood Music Hall
6/9 - Albany, NY - The Linda
6/10 - Exeter, NH - Word Barn
6/11 - Plymouth, MA - Spire Center for the Performing Arts
6/16 - Washington, DC - The Hamilton **
6/17 - Greensboro, NC - Flat Iron
6/18 - Asheville, NC - The Grey Eagle
9/1 - Ridgeway, CO - Sherbino Theater
9/4 - Pagosa Springs, CO - Four Corners Folk Festival
9/30 - Sisters, OR - Sisters Folk Festival
10/1 - Sisters, OR - Sisters Folk Festival
10/2 - Sisters, OR - Sisters Folk Festival

* w/ Bonnie Bishop
** w/ Pressing Strings

Mint Green - "Trying"

Photo via Facebook

We've been fans of Boston's Mint Green for a while now. Their "Summery, angsty, alt-rock with punk influence and catchy choruses" just works for us. Their latest single, "Trying," goes even further into the pop sphere of things. This may be alt-pop in that it isn't aiming for the top 40, but "Trying" is a pop song. It's an absolutely beautiful mid-tempo song that is somehow being an anthemic banger (do the kids still say banger?) at times and a power ballad at others. If bands like Mint Green don't stop releasing songs this good, I'm going to have to stop pretending that I hate pop.

You can watch the video for "Trying" below. All Girls Go to Heaven will be out June 3 on Pure Noise Records, and can be pre-ordered here. For more on Mint Green, check out the band's website.