If It's Too Loud...

While Long Island's The Tin Can Collective may fit into the emo/punk genre, they don't fit there very well. If anything, they kind of fit but are more crammed in by force. "In Is Out" shows that off. Sure, the song is emo-ish... sorta? It's more of an alt or indie rock sound that has the slightest shades of emo around the edges. It's more like if bands like Jawbreaker or Sunny Day Real Estate kept driving emo underground instead of inspiring MTV ready hitmakers. "In Is Out" is a killer straight up rocker that has some almost hidden emo vibes, but only if you really want to insist on it. You can watch the video for "In Is Out" below. Axiomatic Alarm Clock is due out July 16. You can pre-order the album on Bandcamp . For more on The Tin Can Collective, check out the band on Facebook .

Boston's The Chelsea Curve have plans to release a new single every month as part of their The Singles Scene. The second single is out now, and "All in Time" is a must listen. It's garage rock inspired power pop, which is always welcome here at If It's Too Loud... The Chelsea Curve aren't looking to redefine the genre, but they are looking to perfect it. "All in Time" is two and a half minutes of catchy lyrics, fuzzy guitars, and pure joy blended with some biting attitude. It's almost like Velocity Girl meets a mellowed out AC/DC, and I don't know what more you could want with a song. You can listen to "All in Time" below. The song is available as a single on Red On Red Records. You can get a copy via Bandcamp . For more on The Chelsea Curve, check out the band on Facebook . All in Time by The Chelsea Curve

Photo courtesy of the artist The latest from Squirrel Flower defines everything we love about the musical moniker of Ella Williams. "I'll Go Running" may be a bit more straightforward of a folk adjacent indie rock track than we normally get from Squirrel Flower, but it's not lacking in the intensity. It's another slow builder, starting a bit more quiet and then ever so slowly building in volume and power. It's like Williams has taken the classic loud/quiet/loud indie rock template and just slowed it down. The way that "I'll Go Running" builds makes the song feel even more intense and vital.  In a press release, Ella Williams talks about the new song: "’I’ll Go Running’ is about the darker side of being an artist - the pressure to make things brand new, shocking, to give everything away and open yourself completely without always getting intentional listening and consumption in return. To be vulnerable to a knife. To be fresh, new, to give it...

Mike Watt is the kind of punk/indie rock legend that deserves attention on anything he does. His latest project is teaming up with The Cutthroat Brothers on a collaborative album. When the duo appeared on The Watt from Pedro Show, they asked Watt to collaborate with them. He agreed, and the trio began working on music. "The King is Dead" is this dirty, bluesy, proto-punk track that will hit you deep in your soul. It's both blues punk and swamp rock, but amped up like you would expect any song involving Mike Watt would be. It's a slow but intense song that feels like it's stalking you, but it's groove is so mesmerizing that you want it to. You can watch the video for "The King is Dead" below. The album The King is Dead will be out June 12 (Record Store Day) on Hound Gawd! Records. You can pre-order the album here . For more on The Cutthroat Brothers, check out their website .

Photo by Sarah Kathryn Wainwright Jeremy James Meyer is making country for people that claim to hate country can still love. His latest single, "Low Gap Swagger," is definitely a country song. But, it's neither a throwback old timey country song or a modern pop country song. It's truly it's own brand of country that will need to fit under the Americana label, even though it's not really folky at all. It's an earnest song that embraces the genre while avoiding the cliches even the best examples can have. Meyer gives us a ramblin' style song that's both modern and timeless. What helps it feel so earnest is that the album is recorded live at the OK Theater in Enterprise, OR. You can listen to "Low Gap Swagger" below. Alive & OK is due out June 11 on American Standard Time Records. For more on Jeremy James Meyer, check out the artist's website .

One of the more exciting supergroups to emerge in the past few years is back with an upcoming album. In case you don't remember, Piroshka features members of Lush, Moore, Elastica, and Modern English, so you know they already have your attention. With that pedigree, you would expect that Piroshka would be a letdown. "Scratching at the Lid" more than meets your expectations. It's a little more shoegazey than the music from their 2018 debut Brickbat , but there is still plenty of Britpop still left. Hearing a more poppy and fun sound of shoegaze is truly an interesting combination that helps set Piroshka apart aside from the members' other bands. Bassist Mick Conroy explains the difference in sounds between the two albums: “Brickbat was a classic first album; noisy and raucous. On  Love Drips And Gathers,  we’ve calmed down and explored sounds, and space.” You can watch the video for "Scratching at the Lid" below. Love Drips & Gathers  is due out July ...

Photo via Facebook We fanboy out pretty hard for Molly Burch around these parts. Her blend of classic doo wop meats modern folk and indie rock hits such a sweet spot, particularly for me. Her latest single changes up that sound quite a bit. "Control" keeps all of the sounds we love of Burch's, but it's decidedly more pop. What keeps this interesting is that "Control" doesn't sound anything like modern top 40. Instead, it harkens back to the top 40 of the 80's. Somehow Burch is blending sounds spanning six decades into her very own sound that is going to be impossible for us to resist. You can watch the video for "Control" below. Romantic Images is due out July 23 on Captured Tracks. You can pre-order the album here . For more on Molly Burch, check out the artist's website .

Photo by David Muessig The most intriguing thing about all the singles from McKinley Dixon's upcoming album is how different they all are. Each song sounds virtually nothing like the one before it. A song like "make a poet Black" is more free jazz than pure hip hop while "Swangin'" is a modern, mainstream hip hop song. His latest, "Bless the Child," is on the more mainstream side of hip hop, but still sounds nothing like "Swangin'" does. It's the kind of track that builds and builds in tension, and while it ends abruptly at one minute fifteen seconds, that short length ends up just adding to the song's intensity. It's like mainstream hip hop meets early 80's hardcore.  In a press release, McKinley Dixon says of the song: " Loosely named after Toni Morrison’s novel 'God Help The Child' this song is probably a direct relay of me trying to do time travel through processing outloud .  Broken up into three sect...

Photo by James Richards IV Considering the musical pedigree of Split Single, I'm more than a little embarrassed I'm not more familiar with the project. Split Single is Jason Narducy of Bob Mould Band and Superchunk. Right there I should be a long term fan considering this isn't a new project. For their new album, Narducy is joined by Jon Wurster (also Bob Mould Band and Superchunk) on drums and REM's Mike Mills on bass. The band's first single off their upcoming album, "(Nothing You Can Do) To End This Love" is a fast paced indie rock/power pop song. It sounds like a song that members of Superchunk, Bob Mould Band, and REM would put out, and I don't think anyone is going to find that to be a negative statement. There are certain expectations when you hear these three names, and Split Single meet those easily. Jason Narducy says of the new song: “The chords and melody for this song sounded like defiance to me .  I wanted to write a lyric that matched th...

Artist : Ingvild Flottorp Album : It All Seems So Clear Quick Thoughts : This one absolutely came out of nowhere for me, and I'm so glad it exists. Ingvild Flottorp is the latest entry in the ever-growing list of Nordic musicians doing American roots music better than most American roots musicians. Flottorp is sort of a more upbeat Margo Price, with some faithful and traditional musical ideas to go along with a nice, fun, and modern feel. If you like roots music in any form, you owe it to yourself to listen to this album. She might just become your new favorite. Songs of Note : "(At Least I Got To) Stay Around," "I'll Be Alright," "Home," "In a Race" Artist : Lady Dan Album : I Am the Prophet Quick Thoughts : I don't recall exactly when or how I first tripped up on Lady Dan, but this debut from a southern singer-songwriter deserves a lot of attention. A country-tinged indie effort, the songs evoke a dark mood but with a dom...

I was completely smitten with Mannequin Pussy's 2019 album Patience, so it's thrilling to get new music from them, especially if it's going to sound like this. "Perfect" is a loud, fast, and furious punk song from Mannequin Pussy. It's less than a minute and a half, which ends up being the perfect length. If anything, "Perfect" might be the thrashiest song they've put out so far. They've always been one of those bands grumpy old music snobs (especially those that expect Epitaph Records to only put out a certain kind of punk) would decry as "not real punk." With "Perfect," those fans are going to be forced to shut up one final time. You can watch the Romy and Michele's High School Reunion inspired video for "Perfect" below. Perfect is due out May 7 on Epitaph Records. You can pre-order a copy here . For more on Mannequin Pussy, check out the band's website .

Rochester, NY's Cusp are going to be the perfect band for fans of modern indie rock that is strongly influenced by classic, old school indie rock. The band's latest single, "Illusion Controlling," masters the famed loud/quiet/loud template. The quiet parts may not be too quiet, but it is filled with a wonderfully melodic noise. There is still a strong sense of foreboding in this part, which is released during the loud, crashing cymbal filled loud parts. This is just straight up purely wonderful indie rock that you aren't gong to want to miss. Singer, guitarist, and songwriter Jen Bender says of the upcoming EP: “Some of these songs are about specific events/people from my early 20s that have stuck with me. Most of these capture the time of my life right after college, when I was still processing the previous four years and also mentally preparing for the vastness of adulthood." You can listen to "Illusion Controlling" below. Spill is due out May 7 o...

According to a press release, the second single this year from Kate Dressed Up is "... a queer folk rock song about mixed signals and missed opportunities." "How Could I Have Known" is "... a bisexual person's anthem about being invisible and at the same time remaining totally clueless as to how to make themselves known." Aside from that, it captures the universal feeling of realizing someone may have been interested, but not picking up on signals at the time. (At least, universal to me...) It's a great indie folk rock song, with added trumpets from the West Philadelphia Orchestra. "How Could I Have Known" is one of those folk rock songs that dances along the line of being mainstream and indie well enough to charm fans of either. You can watch the video for "How Could I Have Known" below. Kate Dressed Up's debut album will be out later this year. For more on Kate Dressed Up, check out the artist's website .

New York's Body Meπa (it's Body Meta, with the "t" being a Pi symbol) released their debut album digitally back in December, with a physical version to be released in May on Hausu Records. The first single off the album, "Horse Flower Storm / Fabuloso" is a gigantically epic instrumental coming in at almost fifteen minutes. The immediate comparisons that come to mind are going to be Mogwai and Explosions In the Sky, with good reason. It has the gigantic, epic noise and aggression of early Mogwai with the gigantic, epic beauty of Explosions In the Sky. For good measure, there is some of the post-punk noise and drone of FACS thrown in. As the song moves on, it drops all of those comparisons completely and takes a bizarre turn into more of a free jazz territory. You probably already know if you're going to want to check "Horse Flower Storm / Fabuloso" out, and if you do you'll be thrilled with what you hear. You can listen to "Horse Flowe...

Hard Nips may be based in Brooklyn, but three of its members is originally from different parts of Japan (Okinawa, Nagano, and Osaka), while a fourth is from Long Island. The band bonded in a Japanese bar and restaurant in Brooklyn that Yoko (singer and keyboards) ran. Eventually they decided to try forming a band, and Hard Nips was formed in 2009. At the time they had no idea how to play instruments, but their enthusiasm propelled them. At first it was just something they did for fun, with no intention of making public. Now, twelve years, two albuums, and three EPs later, their latest single, "Blender X," is this killer mix of 60's soul and doo wop with early punk and New Wave. It's like The Crystals and The Ronettes partying with Blondie and The B-52s, with some vintage garage rock riffs thrown in. I honestly don't know how anyone can resist this combination. You can listen to "Blender X" below. Master Cat will be released on Dadstache Records on June ...

Every so often there will be an artist that I'm not completely sold on, but I feel that I need to bring to you all because they just feel great. The kind of artist I feel is going to grow on me and become a favorite even though my brain is still trying to process them fully. That's the case with Sir Orfeo. That's the project from Turners Falls, MA based musician Max Wareham. "So Long" is this lush indie-folk/dream pop song that you feel more than you hear, if that makes any sense at all. If anything, the song feels like western Massachusetts, and that will only make sense if you've spent a decent amount of time there. The song is injected with the beauty of the area, but also a sense of sadness. Plus, it's truly hard to pin down into a single genre, which is very western MA. It's an ever evolving piece of art that is really a must listen. Even if it doesn't grab you immediately, I will implore you to give the entire song a chance. There's a str...

Photo by Micah Gummel "Heavy Metal Kids" may be the first ever song with heavy metal in the title that isn't a metal song. Instead Boston's Watts bring us a glorious vintage slice of power pop. It's the huge guitars and harmonies of Cheap Trick mixed with the swagger of the Rolling Stones and the glam of Mott the Hoople. It's just killer old fashioned (well, 1970's era) rock 'n' roll. It's a fun rock song, no more and no less. Plus, it's Friday, so crank this one loud and enjoy. You can listen to "Heavy Metal Kids" below. Shady Rock & Roll is due out May 15 on Rum Bar Records. You can pre-order a copy over at Bandcamp . For more on Watts, check out the band on Facebook and Twitter . Shady Rock & Rollers by Watts

Photo via Facebook We haven't heard from Bobby Digital for thirteen years, but it appears that RZA is resurrecting his alter ego for a new album. "Pugilism" is the first single from that album, and if you're a fan of his previous work as Bobby Digital, RZA, or Wu-Tang Clan, chances are you're gonna be into this one. As with anything Wu-Tang related, the song marches along at a steady pace with a sense of foreboding walking just behind. RZA always seems to be at his best when he doesn't need to accept other's input. "Pugilism" is just pure vintage RZA. Classic hip hop fans are going to adore this song. You can listen to "Pugilism" below. Bobby Digital: Digital Potions does not currently have a release date. For more on RZA, check out the artist's Twitter .

Photo by David Doobinin Juliana Hatfield has been giving us top notch alt-rock/singer-songwriter songs for decades at this point. She's carved out this perfect little niche for herself, so it's always great when she moves out of her comfort space a little. Her latest single, "Gorgon," shows she learned a few things while working on her Olivia Newton-John covers album. According to a press release, the song is about "... a non-compliant, discontented woman who escapes from the chains of love..." While that sounds like it would make a great riot grrrl song (and it definitely could), Hatfield makes it a groovy near disco anthem. It's laid back and synth heavy, but still fits perfectly into what we've come to expect from a Juliana Hatfield song. Juliana Hatfield says of theh song: “... it was fun building it up from scratch and then letting it all hang loose in the long free-pop/jazz outro. Recording at home, there’s no one stopping me from indulging in ...

We don't typically include trigger or content warnings on our posts, but I feel that the latest song from Rachel Baiman truly needs one. "No Good Time for Dying" is about Baiman's grandmother declining after falling and breaking her hip. As someone who fairly recently lost their grandfather shortly after he fell and broke his hip, "No Good Time for Dying" hit me like a gut punch. However, it's still a song you need to listen to. Baiman has crafted a gorgeous song about losing a loved one. The song focuses mostly on the power and emotion in her voice, as it stands firmly in both the worlds of folk and pop. And if you've lost anyone recently, make sure you steel yourself before listening, even though you'll be glad you did. You can listen to "No Good Time for Dying" below. Cycles is due out June 11 on Signature Sounds. You can pre-order a copy here . For more on Rachel Baiman, check out the artist's website .

Photo by Cara Totman The latest single from Dinosaur Jr is interesting in that it doesn't sound like a Dinosaur Jr song. "Take It Back" doesn't have that explosive feel imbedded into all Dinosaur Jr songs, even the more mellow ones. In fact, it features J Mascis on a mini digital mellotron as much as guitar, if not more. Yes, "Take It Back" might be Dinosaur Jr's "Jump." It's certainly not a bad song, just not what we expect from the indie rock legends. And, yes, we do expect bands to mellow out a bit as they enter their fourth decade of existence. If anything, it sounds like it might be a better fit on a J Mascis solo album. You can watch the video for "Take It Back" below. Sweep it Into Space  is due out April 23 on Jagjaguwar. You can pre-order a copy here . For more on Dinosaur Jr, check out the band's website . Current tour dates are below the video. Sat. May 22 - Swanzey, NH @ Cheshire Fairgrounds - SOCIALLY DISTANCED Su...

Photo by Bendrix Littleton We've been swooning for Sara Bug's particular blend of alt-country, indie rock, and alt-pop ever since we first heard "Rosebank" back in January. The more we hear from her upcoming album, the more devoted we get to our fandom. "Ride On Sundys" further cements that. It's a perfect blend of those three genres. It has the lilt of pop, the edge of indie rock, and the twang of country. Bug is blending these sounds together expertly. I want to call it a perfect pop song, but it's no more pop than the other two sounds, so it can't quite be that.  In a press release, Sara Bug says of the new song: "It’s a play on words I guess. Sitting inside writing on a sunday afternoon instead of out in the sun driving or riding or at the lake with my friends. Ride on Sundys is about the guilt of being sad and trying to bandage it with isolation." You can listen to "Ride On Sundys" below. Sara Bug's self-titled debut ...

Hailing from Liverpool, Ernest Moon is the duo of Steven Doran and Brian Murphy. Their latest single, "Big Wow," takes that rumbly hard rock blues sound of bands like ZZ Top and George Thorogood and twists it into a very British poppish almost punk sound. That's what makes "Big Wow" so interesting: It shouldn't be anywhere near as poppy as it is. It's heavy blues rock with a T Rex bounce to it. It's a fun song that seems to be dancing across the line of darkness every so often. Steve Doran says of the song: "The music in this song is the most obvious stuff a couple of crappy musicians of our generation from Liverpool could produce. In Liverpool there is a tradition for poppy rock'n'rolly guitar music so its natural this kind of tune comes out the other end when you start playing. But there is a diversion from the obvious in the song in that the lyrics are more crafted and worked than one would normally encounter in Pap music. Even if we ...

When you hear the latest single from Portland, OR duo The Mistons, it's going to be hard to avoid any comparisons to Mission of Burma. "High Water Style" sounds like vintage Burma, right down to the Roger Miller-esque vocals. The Mistons somehow make all this noise as a duo, and "High Water Style" has plenty of noise for those of us that like that sort of thing. It's filled with buzzsaw guitars, fuzz, and chanted vocals that almost hypnotize you. It's an aggressive burst of a song that fans of old school post punk aren't going to be able to resist. You can listen to "High Water Style" below. World of Convenience is due out May 21. The album can be pre-ordered over at Bandcamp . For more on The Mistons, check them out on Facebook . World Of Convenience by The Mistons

Providence's ToadStool is quite prolific. He's the frontman for Toad & The Stooligans and earlier this year he released an album with his duo project Ronald Raygun (which is my favorite new band name of 2021...) Friday he's set to release a solo album, and to get ready we're bringing you the song "Anvil." "Anvil" is a laid back underground hip hop track. This is the kind of song for a die hard hip hop fan. ToadStool is a truly captivating MC. You have to listen to what he's saying. You really can't resist. Put his rapping over a laid back jazz track as he does with this song, and it's some of the most intriguing hip hop released in recent memory. This is the kind of artist we're going to be paying close attention to from here on out. You can listen to "Anvil" below. eARTh 1 will be out on April 23. You can pre-order a copy now via Where the Living Room Used to Be here . For more on ToadStool, check out the artist's I...

Artist : Gold Child Album : Far From You Quick Thoughts : I'm not sure how I initially tripped up on Gold Child, but Far From You is a wonderful slice of country music that repeatedly surprised me. This collection of songs is a step forward from her 2019 debut effort, and really establishes her as a musical force to be reckoned with. Don't miss out on this one in what's a busy week, especially if you like the more rootsy efforts. Songs of Note : "Like You Used To," "Modern Life" Artist : Son Lux Album : Tomorrows III Quick Thoughts : I've come to enjoy a lot of esoteric, almost experimental music as of late. Son Lux filled that voice for me this week with the latest Tomorrows effort, which is gorgeous and challenging and intriguing all at once. Won't work for everyone, but if this is up your alley, you'll find a lot to love here. Songs of Note : "Unbind," "Plans We Make" Artist : Freedom Fry Album : L'In...