If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Ashley Gellman "Heavy Metal" might be my favorite of Madi Diaz's songs, and she's released a new version of it from her upcoming UN-unplugged edition of last year's phenomenal Fatal Optimist. The original version is just Diaz and her guitar, and the re-worked version includes drums and Lucy Dacus singing backup vocals and taking on a verse. Even with the added elements, "Heavy Metal (UN-unplugged)" feels more raw and stripped down than the original. The emotions of the song are heightened, and Diaz has added something extra special to an already deeply emotional song. We've long been confounded that Diaz isn't one of the most popular artists of her generation, and this version of "Heavy Metal" only helps prove us correct. Madi Diaz says of her latest single: “Doesn’t Lucy Dacus just sound like Frank Sinatra with a velvet cape and gloves on? I could listen to her verse in my ears on repeat. I was so honored when she agreed to ad...

New York City power pop group Joy Buzzer have released a cover of The Beatles' 1966 classic "She Said, She Said." This new version of the song remains rather true to the original, with some flourishes. Joy Buzzer have increased the fuzz and psychedelia of The Beatles' version. It's still instantly recognizable as the Revolver tune, but it sounds a bit more like Sgt Pepper 's Beatles with psych-friendly guitar solos, and an increase in vocal harmonies. It's a fun cover song that stays true to the original while adding just enough of their own sound to it. Joy Buzzer say of their new cover: "'She Said, She Said' feels like a natural fit for us because so much of what we love about power pop is already there in the song.  The hooks, the guitars, the momentum—we just wanted to push it louder and bring our own energy to it. It's incredible how easily a song from 1966 can still feel immediate when you turn everything up." You can listen to ...

Photo by Levi Price Slothrust continues to be great. Their latest single, "Ring the Bell," is a perfect example of what they do. It's mainstream alt-rock that borders (or crosses the border into) pop music. But they always do it in a way that keeps the indie snobs happy. This latest single is catchy, it's heavy and melodic, and it's about as danceable as rock music can get. As always with a Slothrust song, there can be debate as to if they're truly rock or more pop music, but when a song is this great, does it really matter? "Ring the Bell" shows one of the most underrated bands out there today at their peak. You're all gonna end up loving this one. Leah Wellbaum and Will Godin say of their latest single: " We really want people to take away a message from this album of self-liberation amidst the flickers of seemingly inescapable dread.  Despite the permeating blue light of the external world, it is still possible to find your freedom and id...

Photo by Kate Simonian Washington DC's Flowers for the Dead have a new slow burning single you're going to need to check out. "My Misery is Mine" starts out as a moody indie rock song, and eventually transforms into an epic burst of modern alt-rock. At the beginning, it's a quietly intense song, and if it stayed like that, it would still be a great track. But... you can just tell what's coming. Instead of the louder part of the song bursting in, "My Misery is Mine" ramps it up, making the payoff even more effective. This is one of those songs that you know will be amazing live, so let's all hope Flowers for the Dead make it up to New England sometime soon.  Singer/guitarist Jenny Szeg ö  says of her band's latest single: “I wrote this song during one of those life moments where things feel like they're just happening and you have no control over it.  I've learned to trust in the way things go and put faith in the universe, but there...

Seattle's EEP-OOP! have a brand new single out that is pop-punk perfection. "Pretty" is somehow grittier than pop punk typically is, while also being incredibly poppy. It includes some great keyboards that are somewhere in between 60's garage rock and 80's New Wave. This is a song that unabashed fans of pop punk will love, and those that hate the genre are still going to begrudgingly admit is a great song. You'd have to hate joy and fun not to enjoy "Pretty." EEP-OOP! have such a great sound that carves out their own slice of pop punk. EEP-OOP! says of their latest single: "Pretty is a song that asks the hard questions. If you didn't feel pretty before, you will after listening to this! Make sure you kiss your mirror every morning and try not to fall in love with your friends.” You can watch the video for "Pretty" below. Choices is due out September 11 on Mom's Basement Records, and is available to pre-order through Bandcamp . ...

Hailing from Asbury Park, CUSSING are a pop/rock duo that redefine that genre with their sound. Their latest single, "LUNGS," is unquestionably a pop song. It's catchy as possible, but while most artists that are considered pop are polished, "LUNGS" is raw. The song is an interesting and irresistible mixture of pop and raw, DIY art punk. It's minimalist and edgy, but you're going to want to dance to it. They consider The Kills and Sleigh Bells as influences, and have played shows with If It's Too Loud... favorites like Perennial and TIFFY, all of which help describe CUSSING's sound and vibe. "LUNGS" is one of my favorite musical discoveries of the summer, and I can't wait to hear more from these folks. You can listen to "LUNGS" below. HAVE YOU SEEN CUSSING? is due out August 14. For more on CUSSING, check out the band on Instagram . LUNGS by CUSSING

Wu-Tang Clan and Czarface's Inspectah Deck has a new solo album coming out next week, and you can check out a new single from it. "Day in the Life" sounds like classic Wu-Tang without actually sounding like the legendary collective. A lot of solo releases from affiliated rappers either sound exactly like Wu-Tang or nothing like Wu-Tang, but "Day in the Life" is both. It has that raw, early 90's hip hop sound you're looking for, while still letting Inspectah Deck have his own sound. It's a little more polished than they would have sounded three decades ago, and it's more laid back, but aren't we all. This is a great solo release from one of the most original MCs out there. You can listen to "Day in the Life" below. Dragons Breath is due out August 7 on DNA Music Group. For more on Inspectah Deck, check out the artist on Instagram .

Photo by Sarah Buchsbaum Houston's The Secret Plan have a new rager out, and it's an under two minute burst of pure punk rock. "Fuck the Man, I'm the Man" is a noisy and in your face track that merges garage and punk rock into a sound we all know and love. This isn't rewriting any genres, but The Secret Plan have mastered this sound. It's loud, it's noisy, and it's basically perfect. Plus, it's an anti-work rant, which is kind of perfect to listen to on a Friday, especially if your employer doesn't believe in summer Fridays. Crank this one up (on headphones, if you're still working), and dream of better days where you aren't obligated to sell yourself for a paycheck. Elena Karaytcheva says of her band's new single: "We wrote this song after one of those days where you’re sitting in a cubicle, staring at the clock, wondering how the hell you ended up there. 'Fuck the Man / I’m The Man' is about hitting that breaking ...

Photo by Tobias Polanco Argentina's Buenos Vampiros' new album is due to come out in September, and they just released two new singles from it while we wait. "Mundo Raro" is a garage rock goes power pop single, just as fuzzy as it is melodic and catchy. It's one of those songs that feels both retro and modern, and it's only a few steps away from being a pop song. The second single, "Morir en Mi Tierra" is more of a Spanish torch ballad, with almost all of the garage rock we associate with Buenos Vampiros absent. They keep a punk edge to the song, though, making it still sound like it's them. Here are two wildly different songs from the same band that are able to sound like they're from the same artist. Just gives us more reasons to love Buenos Vampiros. You can listen to "Mundo Raro" and "Morir en Mi Tierra" below. El ultimo disparos is due out September 4 on Spinda Records and Casa del Puente Discos, and is available for ...

I've been a rabid Tysk Tysk Task fan since discovering them way back in 2019. Their sound has evolved from a sort of indie folk to woodland grunge to heavy shoegaze. Their latest single, "Harmless," takes the raw energy and emotion of 2022's You're Sorry More and combines it with their newer, more shoegaze leaning sound. It also ends up being their most punk sounding song yet. It's loud, it's fast, and it's just barely kept under control. Singer/guitarist Samantha Hartsel has this great quality to her vocals on "Harmless," where it's both melodic and dissonant, quite often at the same time. Tysk Tysk Task has an alls-tar line-up "Harmless," with Rick Martel (Chainlacing) on guitar, Keith Dusoe (Gut Health, Cowperson) on bass, and drummer Joe Milia (Burp., Mold.). Tysk Tysk Task continues to evolve their sound while sounding like themselves, and "Harmless" is a huge step forward while merging in their roots. You can lis...

Photo by Bjarki Guðmundsson Paper Tigers were everywhere a few years ago, playing both Boston Calling and In Between Days in 2022 and 2023, and receiving Boston Music Awards and New England Music Awards nominations. They've been quiet since then, but that silence ends today with a new single, "Go Out." This latest song is the first with their transatlantic line-up (members live in Boston and Iceland), and is an arena ready rock anthem. As pop-focused and catchy as "Go Out" is, it's also fully a rock song. It's reminding me of bands like U2 and Muse, but with a punk edge. It's also the kind of song you can pump your fist or dance to, whichever works best for you. For added greatness, the song also features Olivia Beatrice Martinez of Don't Tell Iris on guest vocals. It's a perfect re-introduction to Paper Tigers, and shows that after conquering Boston, they're ready to take on the world.  Paper Tigers say of their latest single: “‘Go Out’ ...

It's been a minute (or seven or so years) since we've heard from Stef Chura, a favorite around these parts. Reading about her new album, however, is sort of like that Vince McMahon meme for me where each detail about it is more and more exciting: new album in October - produced in part by Robert Schneider of Apples in Stereo - featuring multiple Elephant 6 alums - with lead single, "Danny," featuring both Mike Mills and Peter Buck of R.E.M.? Be still my heart! The song itself opens with a horn straight out of a Heartstrings -era Beulah record before the familiar Buck and Mills interplay comes in, and Chura sounds as good and confident as ever. Few lead singles have gotten me quite as excited as this one does, and it's a song I'm already hooked on. Dancing Alone on the Concrete is due out in October via Saddle Creek, and in the advance notes about the album, they write: Stef Chura’s been through a lot in the last seven years. Maybe you’ve been ...

Earlier this year, Annabelle Chairlegs released her excellent album Waking Up. The Austin artist included a vinyl exclusive song on the album, and now that song has reached streaming services as a single. "I Feel So Mad" is a fantastic mixture of indie pop and noisy indie rock. It starts out as a bluesy, kinda ramblin' track until it takes off into pure fuzzed out indie rock. It's been a bit since I listened to Waking Up , but this latest single stands up with anything else on the album, and might actually be my favorite from that release. If Annabelle Chairlegs has fallen out of your attention with everything else going on in the world, "I Feel So Mad" is a great reminder to give her another (or a few more) listens. You can listen to "I Feel So Mad" below. The song is out now via TODO. For more on Annabelle Chairlegs, check out the artist's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the song. SEPTEMBER 04 – Brighton, UK – Brighton Psych Fest† 05 ...