If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Brittany Rose Queen The latest from Effi is getting compared to Jeff Buckley quite a bit (I'm hearing similarities to "Lover, You Should've Come Over"), and I certainly can't argue with the comparisons. "Soul Lovers (Quartet)" is an art rock meets soul single propelled by a string section. While most songs with this level of strings tend to be quiet, this one is boisterous and epic in scope. Even with the comparisons to Buckley, the Boston based artist has crafted a unique sound and powerful sound. The song lands somewhere within and in between alt-rock, folk, and chamber music, making a thrilling sound that open minded music lovers are going to adore. "Soul Lovers (Quartet)" starts off familiar before evolving into Effi's very own sound. Effi says of her latest single: “It's about the longing we all have. Time moves forward, places change, people change, and you can't go back. But we all have the longing to. In Plato's...

Photo by Luis B Charris The latest from Boston's JATK stretches the artist's sonic oeuvre while still sounding like him. The project from Matt Jatkola released "Feel Today!" today, and it's a kind of bonkers noisy pop-rocker. It's a little electronic pop and a little noise rock, but all undeniably catchy. Even with all the fuzz layering the song, the star seems to be the keys and synthesizers, which will fully suck you in. JATK has always had this ability to make oddball pop songs that are going to appeal to indie rock fans, mostly because his songs are rooted in that genre. This one is reminding me of The Rentals meets Bleu, and "Feel Today!" ends up being ridiculously fun. Matt Jatkola says of his band's latest singe: “‘Feel Today!’ is about feeling apathetic, uninspired, alone, and tired in a world that takes, expects, and doesn’t always give much back. At least, that’s how it feels sometimes. It’s a messed-up place and I feel messed up in it;...

Photo by Jeff Coggins I was never a fan of the movie Empire Records . Maybe I was too old, but it never worked for me. However, I loved the soundtrack, which included Gin Blossoms, The Cranberries, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Innocence Mission, Evan Dando, and more. One of the more was Ape Hangers, with their killer track "I Don't Want to Live Today." The band released their debut album on A&M Records, but were dropped due to budget cuts. In 1998 they relocated to Boston and self-released a self-titled follow up... and then kind of faded away.  Now, they're back with new music. The first single off their upcoming album is "Miss You Girl." It's less 90's alt-rock than "I Don't Want to Live" and more garage rock/power pop, but if you have fond memories of their soundtrack contribution, you're going to find a lot to love here. It's upbeat and catchy, with just the right amount of noise and distortion. It has that quality to it t...

Photo by Austin Huck This one almost slipped by us, but it's much better for October, so it all works out. The Devil's Twins have a new single out, and we think you're all going to love it. "Don't Fear the Dark" is the Boston band at their finest. It's a theatrical garage rock song, with a giant chorus and lyrics begging to be yelled at the top of your lungs at a live show. They've always been at their best with a horn section, and "Don't Fear the Dark" has a fantastic horn solo. It's dark, it's groovy, and it grabs your attention just as much as it demands you move. Even the naysayers have to admit we're in spooky season, and The Devil's Twins are the perfect ones to help usher it in. You can listen to "Don't Fear the Dark" below. Still Soulless is due out November 13, and is available for pre-order here . For more on The Devil's Twins, check out the band's website .

"For Andy Bernard" was originally written back in 2017, inspired by the character's quote in The Office finale about wishing you knew when you were in the good old days. Puppy Pile went on hiatus in 2021, and returned in 2025. They finally recorded a version of the song, and it's out now. The Philadelphia band have crafted a song that's a modern take on classic Midwest emo. (It even includes a sample of the dialogue from the show, just to add an extra Midwest emo feel.) It's a slow to midtempo track that is still anthemic in its scope. It's sure to induce nostalgia, either by its sound, subject matter, or reference to a beloved TV show. You can listen to "For Andy Bernard" below. The single is out now on We're Trying Records. For more on Puppy Pile, check out the band on Instagram .

2026 marks the twentieth anniversary of Free Dirt Records, one of my personal favorite roots/Americana labels. To celebrate, they're releasing The Long Memory: 20 Years of Free Dirt Records , featuring unreleased songs from the label's vault. The first single from that release comes from Viv & Riley and Rachel Baiman, who cover Western Centuries' 2016 song "The Long Game." Knowing the artists involved, it's a safe assumption that the cover will be a little more folky than the original. Western Centuries' original is a little more rock and roll and more upbeat, while the cover is more subdued and more downtempo. It's one of those covers that sees Viv & Riley and Rachel Baiman stay completely true to the original while adding their own unique spin on the song. We're always sure to check out any release from Free Dirt Records, so we're looking forward to checking out the compilation in November. Viv & Riley say of their new cover: “‘Th...

Photo by Saeka Shimada Mei Semones continues to have one of the most unique musical sounds out there today. If you loved her previous releases, you're going to love "Howl." The song, inspired by dogs howling at fireworks on the 4th of July, keeps her trademark sound of jazz and bossa nova meet indie rock intact. The song feels like a dream as it flows seamlessly between styles and tempos, bringing the listener on quite the sonic trip. At times "Howl" sounds like the most complicated and layered pop song you've ever heard, and listening to anything from Semones is a true delight. This is the kind of song that makes me wish The Flaming Lips would revive their Music Against Brain Degeneration Tour, because Semones would fit right in. Mei Semones says of her latest single: "sometimes making music feels like howling into the universe. I make music because I like it, because it feels instinctual — but it also connects me to people close and far. I like to thi...

Chicago's NO MEN are back with a new single, and buckle up for this one. "BADDIE" is a noise punk that borders on mainstream alt-rock. To me it's sounding like if Local H or Death from Above 1979 decided to fully cut loose. This is raw and chaotic rock and roll that's going to hit you in a primal way. However, NO MEN do something interesting with "BADDIE," in that as chaotic and loud as the song is, it's also pretty accessible to a mainstream audience. The guitar seems to hold the same power as The Stooges, but in a kind of pop leaning way. It's been a while since we've brought you new music from these folks, and we're thrilled to have them back! You can watch the video for "BADDIE" below. The single is available now via Bandcamp . For more on NO MEN, check out the band's website . They'll be opening for heavens to betsy on November 15 at The Empty Bottle in Chicago, IL.

Photo by Hank Wilson Brooklyn's smush are an indie rock that have a new drum and bass influenced single. "milkweed butterfly" is one of the most unique and intriguing songs we've brought you in a while. It's primarily a shoegaze meets indie rock track, except for the fast drum and bass electronic beats. Plus, bassist/vocalist Emily Borrowman's vocals would be at home on a pop track, so smush has a lot going on with this one. "milkweed butterfly" could easily have been a mess with so many disparate musical elements, but the band crafted something unique and fantastic with their sound.  You can watch the video for "milkweed butterfly" below. i'll always wish is due out January 22. For more on smush, check out the band on Instagram . Upcoming tour dates are below the video and include October 6 at The Rockwell in Somerville, MA with she's green. 09/30 - Indianapolis, IN - The HiFi % 10/01 - Detroit, MI - Crypt at Sanctuary % 10/02 - Wi...

Photo by Sonia Balzak Pauli the PSM is Pauli Lovejoy, the musical director for Harry Styles, Florence & The Machine, and Saturday Night Live UK. The artist has a new single out that takes British hip hop and adds a little pop into it. "girl with a nose ring" is a smooth song that meshes hip hop and modern R&B. Sure, that has been happening for well over thirty years now, but Lovejoy adds just a little something unique to the style. There's an edge to "girl with the nose ring" despite how smooth it is. Musically, the song has a lot in common with late 90's alt-rock when dance started edging its way in. This one is a lot of fun, and you'll want to join us in following Pauli the PSM after hearing it. Pauli the PSM says of his latest single: "At its heart, 'girl with the nose ring' is about letting go of being cool enough to actually feel something. There’s a tension between pretending love is a joke and realising I might be caught in i...

The upcoming album from Willi Carlisle is highly anticipated, and his latest single only has us more excited for it. Co-written by the album's producer Tyler Childers, "Gas Station" is an upbeat track about life on the road and eating meals at a gas station. This is a prime example of Carlisle's unique classic meets modern Americana sound, with roots in the past but still sounding completely contemporary. This one is pure fun, and it's going to happily embed itself in your skull, and possibly your soul. Carlisle has such an engaging quality with his music, and "Gas Station" could end up going down as one of his finest. Willi Carlisle says of his latest single: "Coming into the recording session, this song felt like a strong draft, like something left in the fridge to proof or set like a dough. I liked it though: my whole life summarized. All this work, hauling, beating up the highway, singing for hours, just to eat dinner at the gas station. It was ...

Photo by Kate Spansel It feels like it's been forever since we had new music from Odie Leigh, but the singer-songwriter is back with a new single. "Miss Leave Me Alone" is simply a killer alt-rock song. It's high energy with fuzzy guitars and catchy lyrics. It leans towards punk but is more punk adjacent (even though it's only two minutes long). It's an absurdly fun song that is geared towards bouncing around at a live show, and we're in luck since Leigh has live dates next month. "Miss Leave Me Alone" is very 90's influenced without sounding like a throwback. This is modern bubblegrunge at its finest. Odie Leigh says of her latest single: “ I’ve been having a horrible time. Forced into a hiatus, I found myself constantly face to face with every mistake I’ve ever made. ‘Miss Leave Me Alone’ is a reflection on the ego nursery that is the music industry, and how the qualities we praise can turn into problems we resent.” You can watch the video ...