Perfectly Lethal - "Gotta Get Away"

Photo via Instagram

Back in August we brought you the new single from Boston's Perfectly Lethal. At the time I described "Decay" as "Superchunk and Cheap Trick teaming up." If you like the sound of that, you're going to love their latest. "Gotta Get Away" sounds a little more on the Superchunk side of things. It has that bouncy indie rock feel with a pre-pop-punk/pre-emo vibe to it. There is just enough of a 70's power pop/glam rock sound to it to keep the Cheap Trick comparisons going. Of course, the B-side, "Little Things," blows up those comparisons. This one is much more rock focused. It has a little bit of the heavier side of mid-90's power pop sound going for it, but filtered through Tom Petty.

You can listen to "Gotta Get Away" below. The single is currently available via Bandcamp. For more on Perfectly Lethal, check out the artist on Facebook and Instagram.

Margo Price Covers Sleater-Kinney

Photo via Facebook

There's an upcoming tribute album for Sleater-Kinney's iconic album Dig Me Out due this Friday, and the latest single is one I've been waiting for since the project was announced. Neo-country icon Margo Price is covering "Turn It On." What would Margo Price sound like covering a riot grrl classic? Turns out she sounds a lot like Margo Price. This is the kind of cover that shows an artist reworking a song into their own style. "Turn It On" sounds like Price's current musical output. It has more of a rock base with just the slightest hints of her country sound. Sure, Price rocks a little harder than we've heard her rock before, at least on record. If you've seen Price live, you know that her show has at least one jam session with the band reaching this level of heaviness. But if you think you want to hear Margo Price covering Sleater-Kinney, you have no idea how much you're going to dig this one.

You can watch the lyric video for Margo Price's cover of "Turn It On" below. Dig Me In: A Dig Me Out Covers Album is due out October 21. The album can be pre-ordered here with 25% of net proceeds going to the Sexual & Gender Minority Resource Center. For more on Margo Price, check out the artist's website.

Ruin the Nite - "Sang to Me"

Photo by Pat Piasecki

According to their press release, Ruin the Nite are Boston's "premier Dad Bod Rock Band." They were formed from the ashes of Goddamn Draculas, and have this party rock vibe that isn't punk but punk adjacent. Their new single, "Sang to Me," is dripping with punk attitude and has a punk edge, but this is far too melodic to truly even be pop punk. It's much closer to classic early rock and roll and R&B. The horns are truly of the stars of the song, adding a layer of class that smooths out the rougher edges. This is oddly making me think of a fictional punk prom band in some non-existent 80's high school movie. "Sang to Me" is all about harmonies, despite vocalist/bassist Chris Duggan's rough vocals, but that's what creates the true charm of Ruin the Nite.

Chris Duggan says of the new song:

"I think ['Sang To Me'] is basically a story about lack of communication in a relationship. It's about letting down your walls and being free to say what needs to be said. Being vulnerable to express your truth, no matter how sharp and pointed those words might be... Lyrically, the words just came. No real thought behind them. The chorus was just fun to sing."    

You can listen to "Sang to Me" below. Sound the Alarm is due out November 11 on Rum Bar Records. For more on Ruin the Nite, check out the band on Facebook and Twitter.

poolblood - "shabby"

Photo by Jibril Yassion

Toronto's poolblood (the musical project of Maryam Said) have crafted one of the loveliest country pop songs we've heard in quite some time. Of course, when you hear country pop you're probably thinking more Taylor Swift or The Chicks, but "shabby" is not that style of country pop. This is more alt-country pop with plenty of odd instrumentation and off kilter twang that makes this song stand out from the mainstream side of the genre. It's a lush song that swirls around the listener as you get entranced by Said's vocals. Most country pop is fairly by the numbers, so it's refreshing to hear such an original voice like poolblood's.

Maryam Said says of her new song and video:

“It's a trippy video celebrating friendship! I wrote this with one of my best friends in mind as I really wanted to write something to express my love for my friends."

You can watch the video for "shabby" below. mole is due out January 13 on Next Door Records. For more on poolblood, check out the artist on Facebook and Twitter.

Diablogato - "Jet Black Night"

Photo by Pat Piasecki

I've been digging Diablogato's music for a while now. The Boston band have had this great blend of punk mixed with early rock 'n' roll with some rockabilly thrown in that I simply can't resist. Their latest single, "Jet Black Night," changes up their sound a little, but also a lot at the same time. Gone are even the hints of rockabilly. Instead, Diablogato have added a heavy blues rock sound to "Jet Black Night." This is just pure loud and heavy rock with some blues swagger. It has that grime that early Black Keys records have and garage blues seems to be missing these days. The band seems to be moving away from the punk/rockabilly sound, but they're still keeping that dark edge that defines Diablogato's sound.

Drummer Jesse Mayer says of the new single:

"I think how people interpret the song is totally subjective, but it was a product of the pandemic, the national and global shit storm we had been living through the past couple of years. I don't know if 'Jet Black Night' is romancing the apocalypse or whistling past the graveyard -- probably a little bit of both. But that's always been our style."  

You can listen to "Jet Black Night" below. The song is available as a single via Rum Bar Records. For more on Diablogato, check out the band's website.

First Listen: New Releases for 7 October 2022

Artist: Alvvays
Album: Blue Rev
Quick Thoughts: Alvvays burst on the scene in 2014 and blew up with "Marry Me Archie," and haven't taken their foot off the gas since. This is easily the best listen of the week: song after song after song that is a winner. If you like the fuzzy indie stuff, make it a point to add this to your rotation.
Songs of Note: "Pharmacist," "After the Earthquake," "Many Mirrors," "Very Online Guy," "Belinda Says"

Artist: Johanna Warren
Album: Lessons for Mutants
Quick Thoughts: An impressive, somewhat stark affair recorded live to tape that provides a somewhat distant feel. The album is hauntingly wonderful and deserves a listen, but what's great is how this sticks with you over its runtime and beyond. In a busy week, it stands out in ways I didn't expect from someone's sixth album.
Songs of Note: "Piscean Lover," "County Fair"

Artist: ctrl + me
Album: 32
Quick Thoughts: 32 is an album that couldn't exist at any other time. It's driven by decades of electronic music, but through a bedroom pop prism that is fully unique to this listen. I loved loved loved this album, and I feel like it's a listen that will endear itself to me even more over time. Do not wait on this one.
Songs of Note: "My Love," "Bobby," "Mirror Life"

Artist: The Bobby Lees
Album: Bellevue
Quick Thoughts: The Bobby Lees are bringing an unapologetic punk mindset to the week's proceedings, and it's difficult to ignore. The album is a wild, fast-paced ride from start to finish, and unapologetic in its approach. I've been a fan for a while, but this album provided a great reminder as to why.
Songs of Note: "Ma Likes to Drink," "Death Train," "Dig Your Hips," "Monkey Mind"

Artist: Indigo Sparke
Album: Hysteria
Quick Thoughts: Indigo Sparke's debut last year was a gorgeous, folky affair, but this album feels more immediate and present, at least partially due to the production efforts of The National's Aaron Dessner. The album is best at its quiet moments, but is a really solid and interesting listen throughout. Don't miss out on this one, it's excellent.
Songs of Note: "Hysteria," "God is a Woman's Name," "Sad is Love," "Burn"

Artist: A.A. Williams
Album: As the Moon Rests
Quick Thoughts: Every time I hear an A.A. Williams record, I wonder why she isn't more popular and why I don't listen more. As the Moon Rests feels a lot heavier than the previous records, but it still has that same brooding tone (intentional or not) that sets things apart. In terms of singer-songwriter efforts, this is a true highlight this week, so check it out.
Songs of Note: "Hollow Heart," "Pristine"

Of note:

* Say Sue Me - 10 (A set of cover songs.)
* Disq - Desperately Imagining Someplace Quiet (Solid indie/alt moments.)
* Princess Chelsea - Everything Is Going to Be Alright (Many catchy songs throughout.)
* Sorry - Anywhere But Here (A worthy sophomore effort.)
* Bonny Light Horseman - Rolling Golden Holy (Also a worthy sophomore effort.)
* Bush - The Art of Survival
* King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Ice, Death, Planets, Lungs, Mushrooms and Lava
* Maxine Funke - Pieces of Driftwood
* Center of the Universe - COU
* Daphni - Cherry
* NNAMDI - Please Have a Seat
* Jean Dawson - CHAOS NOW*
* Open Mike Eagle - Component System with the Auto Reverse
* St. Lucia - Utopia
* Loraine James - Building Something Beautiful for Me
* Courtney Marie Andrews - Loose Future
* Dawn to Dawn - Postcards from the Sun to the Moon
* Nervous Twitch - Some People Never Change
* Palmers - Seasonal Affective Disorder
* Heith - X, wheel
* Peel Dream Magazine - Pad
* Broken Bells - Into the Blue
* TSHA - Capricorn Sun
* Troy Kingi - Year of the Ratbags & Their Musty Theme Songs
* Ultraflex - Infinite Wellness
* Say She She - Prism

EPs:

* Partner - Time is a Car
* Sloth Fist - Bombs Away
* Mike's Carwash - I Hope the Roof Flies Off and We Get Sucked Into Space
* Chico Romano - Vol. 5
* Lotte Kestner - Strawberries
* Coucou Chloe - 1
* CEIL - Not in the Sun, Nor in the Dark
* Skinner - Commander Trainwreck
* Young the Giant - ACT III: Battle
* Mela Femmina - Hello Chic
* Al Cisneros and The Bug - Rosin
* The Persian Leaps - Machines for Living
* Ganser - Nothing You Do Matters
* Darren Hayman - You Will Not Die, Pt. 1

Also out:

* The Cult - Under the Midnight Sun
* Gilla Band - Most Normal
* Sun Ra Arkestra - Living Sky
* Richard Edwards (of Margot and the Nuclear So and So's) - Ghost Electricity/Vampire Draw
* Shabason and Krgovich - At Scaramouche
* Banda Destruida - Banda Destruida
* Seepeoples - Field Guide for Surviving in This Dying World

Black Belt Eagle Scout - "Don't Give Up"

Photo by Nate Lemuel of Darklisted Photography

It's been three years since we last heard from Black Belt Eagle Scout, the musical project of Katherine Paul. Previously I've described her music as a folk version of shoegaze, and that sound is all over her latest single. "Don't Give Up" has all the beauty and organic feel of folk with only having the bare elements of folk music. "Don't Give Up" is more of an indie rock song. It's noisy and dissonant, but it's oddly not abrasive in its noise. Instead, the noise is where the beauty of the song lies. There's an unexpected softness to the edge of Black Belt Eagle Scout's music that keeps it having such a unique feel that is going to suck a lot of people in.

Katherine Paul says of her new single:

“Spending time with the land and on the water are ways that strengthen my connection to my ancestors and to my culture. It helps heal my spirit and is the form of self-care that helps me the most. The lyrics ‘I don’t give up’ mean staying alive. I wrote this song for me but also for my community and anyone who deals with challenging mental health issues to remind us just how much of a role our connection to the environment plays within our healing process. At the end of the song when I sing ‘the land, the water, the sky,’ I wanted to sing it like my late grandfather Alexander Paul Sr. sang in our family’s big drum group - from the heart."

You can listen to "Don't Give Up" below. The song is available as a single via Saddle Creek. For more on Black Belt Eagle Scout, check out the artist's website.

Marlowe - "Light Trip"

Photo by Kevin Titus

L'Orange can do no wrong here at If It's Too Loud..., especially when he's collaborating with Solemn Brigham in their project Marlowe. Their latest single, "Light Trip," has this unexpected futuristic sound. It's reminding me a lot of classic mid-90's hip hop before samples basically turned hip hop into cover songs. It's a weird combination of retro 60's space age cool and classic hip hop, but while still sounding completely modern. Plus, Brigham's flow is one of the most unique ones out in hip hop today. It's like the laid back feel of someone like Snoop Dogg but with the buttery feel of classic Motown singers. Marlowe is one of the more special projects in hip hop currently.

L'Orange says of the upcoming album:

“This album feels like a maturity to who we are as a group. We set out to make something that was big, energetic, fun and explosive and I feel like we did that without losing control. I feel like Solemn and I are the best we’ve ever been.”

You can listen to "Light Trip" below. Marlowe 3 is due out October 28 on Mello Music Group. The album can be pre-ordered here. For more on L'Orange, check out the artist's Instagram. For Solemn Brigham, check him out on Twitter.

Bella White - "Rhododendron"

Photo via Facebook

With her latest single, Bella White continues to move slightly away from her bluegrass roots to a more general Americana sound. "Rhododendron" isn't quite the departure that "The Way I Oughta Go" was, but it's still more of a classic country sound than her 2020 album Just Like Leaving was. The true focus of any of White's songs is her voice, and I'm pretty sure she'd be captivating in any genre. "Rhododendron" is filled with tons of steel guitar and twang to dance into classic country while still maintaining a bit of a more neo-folk sound. Modern mainstream folk doesn't typically have this much twang, so White is keeping her sound completely fresh on this new single.

In the YouTube post for the video, Bella White says of her new song:

"I wrote ‘Rhododendron’ on Mother’s Day while staying at my mum’s house during the middle of the pandemic. She was away and I was missing her. I looked out of her bedroom window and saw a robin building a nest. I began to think of the importance of mothers and daughters, and how hard our mothers -- or anyone who wears those shoes -- works to keep us alive. I felt wistful and melancholy."

You can watch the video for "Rhododendron" below. The song is available now as a single via Rounder Records. For more on Bella White, check out the artist's website.

Lauren Scott-Phillips - "Handsome Woman"

Photo by Aron Meinhardt

Los Angeles based Lauren Scott-Phillips' latest single is meant to challenge what is considered to be feminine. "Handsome Woman" is a stripped down folk song. It's just Scott-Phillips and her guitar. Despite being as bare as folk can be, it's not a traditional, old timey folk song but more of a mainstream, neo-folk, singer-songwriter song. Being so stripped down gives "Handsome Woman" such a personal and intimate feel that matches lyrics that sound like they're being sung directly to her wife in their bedroom.

Lauren Scott-Phillips says of the new single:

“My wife is very feminine, and I’m pretty feminine too, but I have some masculine traits, and I really just didn’t know how I wanted to be described. I just want to normalize the idea that whoever you want to be, that’s who you should be."

You can watch the video for "Handsome Woman" below. For more on Lauren Scott-Phillips, check out the artist's website.