If It's Too Loud...

For the latest single from Marlowe (the musical collaboration between producer L'Orange and rapper Solemn Brigham), the dup brought in Blu and Joell Ortiz fora couple of verses. "Royal" is the perfect showcase for all three MCs. Each one gets to shine on their verse with a perfect, high energy backing track from L'Orange. With a ton of sampled horns, "Royal" has all the energy of a brass band but more rooted in hip hop than those collaborations usually go. If you weren't already excited about an upcoming album from Marlowe, this one will win you over. L'Orange says of the new song: “This one I wanted to get out of the way of the rappers and let them do what they do best.” You can listen to "Royal" below. Marlowe 3 is due out October 28 on Mello Music Group and can be pre-ordered through Bandcamp . For more on L'Orange, check out the artist's website . You can find more on Solemn Brigham here . Marlowe 3 by Marlowe

Photo by Lyza Renee If you're familiar with the classic country sound of Melissa Carper, you already know exactly what a song from her called "Ramblin' Soul" is going to sound like. This is just a pure country song about having the urge to travel around, which is one of the most classic country song tropes out there. Carper nails this with an upbeat yet still laid back song that injects just enough soul in it for "Ramblin' Soul" to still be country. The joy of traveling throughout the country by driving around is palpable in this one. If you love old school country, you won't want to miss this one. Melissa Carper says of her new song: “I had just spent time with some musician friends and was feeling re-energized. On this trip, I realized just how much that free, ramblin’ life I’ve lived over the years has stimulated my creative process.  Arkansas, Texas, and Tennessee have been states I just keep making the rounds to, as well as New Mexico and Minnes...

Self portrait by Seth Applebaum We try to cover as much soul as possible here at If It's Too Loud..., and as much as we love the genre a lot of it ends up sounding quite similar. That is not the case with the latest from Ghost Funk Orchestra. "Why?" has the classic Parliament/Funkadelic funk vibe to it, which shouldn't be surprising since funk is right in their name. It's this laid back 70's sounding soul and funk song, with some 60's period space age groove to it. While the vocals are pure soul, there is something unique to their cadence that is not what soul typically sounds like. Considering classic soul has existed for six decades or so, it's refreshing to hear an artist make such a unique version of the genre. You can watch the video for "Why?" below. A New Kind of Love is due out October 28 on Karma Chief/Colemine Records, and can be pre-ordered here . For more on Ghost Funk Orchestra, check out the artist's Facebook and Instagram ...

Photo by Suzi Corker The latest from Jemma Freeman and The Cosmic Something is a frantic burst of glammed up arty punk rock. "Easy Peeler" is a fast and out of control song that is still rooted in a (relatively) traditional song structure with punk roots. It sounds like a modern version of early British punk and New Wave. Despite being angry, the song still has a fun and even joyous edge to it. It's like a more ironed out version of X-Ray Spex mixed with a modern version of Blondie. Jemma Freeman explains the new song: "... it's a thing of pure unadulterated fury at brexiteers, the patriarchy, antivaxers, terfs and royalists, with exasperation directed at late night online social media discourse dressed up as debate that is actually just pessimistic, shallow bigotry.  Easy Peelers are a type of fruit specially bred for the skin to be easily removed. I like the symmetry of the name with the thin skinned critics of so called snow flake culture. The vitriolic delive...

No one is making folk/rock as beautiful as Bonny Light Horseman is these days. It's at the point that every time they release a new single, I keep treading the same water, but the supergroup of Anais Mitchell, Josh Kaufman, and Eric D. Johnson just keeps nailing it. The trio's new single, "Someone to Weep for Me," may be the best they've released from their upcoming album yet. It has such a laid back 70's California AM radio vibe, plus mesmerizing vocals and an electric guitar solo you wouldn't expect in such a laid back folk song. Bonny Light Horseman make traditional, straight ahead folk/rock in some unique and impossible to resist ways. You can listen to "Someone to Weep for Me" below. Rolling Golden Holy is due out October 7 on 37d03d. The album can be pre-ordered here . For more on Bonny Light Horseman, check out the artist's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the song. 9/30 – Sonoma, CA – Sonoma Winery Barn at Gundlach Bundschu 10/...

Photo by Ashley Gelllman Carole King is one of those artists that has just never quite worked for me. I know she's amazing, and I completely respect her as an artist, but she's just never clicked for me. But when Lucy Dacus, one of my current favorites, covers two of her songs, that's impossible to resist. Dacus takes on two songs from King's immortal Tapestry , "Home Again" and "It's Too Late." Dacus' take on "Home Again" is a little folkier than she normally gets, but it's hardly as folky as the original. "It's Too Late" sounds more like Dacus' unique blend of folk, pop, and indie rock. Both songs have this easygoing groove to them, and Dacus could sing literally anything and have me enraptured.  Lucy Dacus says of Carole King's originals: “When I listened to  Tapestry  from my mom’s CD collection, I was young enough that it didn’t register as good or bad – it just defined what music sounded like to me, a...

Since 2016 (except 2021, of course), Letters to Cleo have embarked on Homecoming tours every November. These typically involve shows in Los Angeles, New York City, and a two night stand in their hometown of Boston. This week they've announced their 2022 Homecoming tours dates, which include West Hollywood, San Diego, and Portland, ME alongside Boston. I've been a huge fan of Letters to Cleo since college, and their songs have a huge nostalgia factor for me. Typically I can avoid the nostalgia bug of seeing the same band play the songs of my youth, but not so with Letters to Cleo. It's unsure if they're going to be playing a special setlist at these shows (last year saw the band breaking out some songs from Josie and the Pussycats , in 2019 they were joined by Greg Hawkes of The Cars for a few songs, and in 2017 they played three albums over three nights), but that's just an added bonus if they do. Also no word on openers, but the last few years have seen Charly Blis...

Long Island's The Tin Can Collective have released a new single that's truly heartbreaking. "Better View Desired" is a fast and heavy punk song that leans heavily into emo. It's more late 90's emo than the top 40 emo that broke out in the early 00's. Emo isn't normally this heavy these days, so "Better View Desired" is a welcome sound that is much more punk and just rock based. It's also an intensely emotional anthem about self harm.  John Warren of The Tin Can Collective says of the new song: "[T]he story of this song is all in the lyrics. Out of respect for the dead I will keep it brief. If anyone is thinking about ending it- I want you to know things can get better. Check in on the people you care about. Be kind. You never know what others are going through. To anyone who is going through it now; I see you and I hope you keep going. Call or text 988.” You can listen to "Better View Desired" below. The song is available t...

Photo by Misshattan We've been fans of Homeboy Sandman for a while, and that's going to continue with his latest single. Back in 2021, the New York based MC teamed with producer Deca on "All Because of You (Infatuated Duke)" which had fans asking for more from the pair. Because of that, Homeboy Sandman and Deca have a full album coming out, and we can hear the first single from that collaboration. "Satellite" is just what we want from Sandman. It's a laid back hip hop song that has an old school feel without being a throwback. Plus, Deca adds a jazzy track giving "Satellite" some Guru vibes. This is one that's going to have some staying power for us. Homeboy Sandman talks about his new single, which was inspired by his 2014 song "Stroll": “I love it but I felt I could improve upon it. I felt I could write a song that had way more depth and way more commentary and insight rather than just things I see when I walk around. 'Satel...

Being a lover of Halloween and classic rock and roll, I loved Dave Del Monte & The Cross Country Boys' 2021 Halloween release "Haunted Horror Howl." It was vintage 1950's style rock and roll, and sounded like it could have come out seventy years ago. The Connecticut band is back with another spooky song for 2022. "Coffin Car Coupe" is going to sound exactly like what you want it to sound like. It's the kind of song they used to make about cars way back in the early days of rock and roll. Sure, there are some hints of rockabilly here, but this is just pure old timey rock and roll with a Halloween twist. You can listen to "Coffin Car Coupe" below. The song is currently available as a download via Bandcamp . For more on Dave Del Monte & The Cross Country Boys, check them out on Facebook .

Artist : Courting Album : Guitar Music Quick Thoughts : The name of this album came across to me as either super earnest or super sarcastic, but it turns out it's neither. Instead, it's a pretty impressive indie record with hints of post-punk that had impressive song after impressive song. This is one that really shouldn't be missed in a week full of good stuff, so make time. Songs of Note : "Cosplay / Twin Cities," "Tennis," "Crass (Redux)," "Jumper" Artist : The Barbaras Album : Oh My God Barbara Quick Thoughts : It's been a little while since we've heard from any of the Ford sisters, and The Barbaras (Sallie and Weezy) provide a welcome return. It's definitely country-fried fun throughout, and I think part of the record's charm is that it's a serious album without taking itself too seriously. I knew I'd like this, but songs like "Walk of Shame" just ensured that I'd love it. Songs of...

In the past four years, I've seen the Supersuckers twice. Back in 2018 I saw them play in Worcester when they were celebrating their thirtieth anniversary by playing The Smoke of Hell  and La Mano Cornuda  in their entireties, and in 2019 I saw them in Hampton Beach, NH for the twentieth anniversary of The Evil Powers of Rock 'n' Roll . This year was the first time I saw them in Boston and for just a straight up show. Seeing them at The Middle East was a completely different world. The previous two shows were modestly attended at best, but Saturday night's show was packed if it wasn't sold out. This definitely wasn't a hipster crowd, either. This was a show for fans of rock 'n' roll even if it's not stylish. The theme of the night seemed to be nostalgia and rock 'n' roll. Eddie Spaghetti played "Play That Rock N' Roll" from 2020's Play That Rock N' Roll by saying "Here's a song about playing rock 'n' rol...

Photo via Instagram I don't think I write so consistently about a band that makes me feel as old as Burp. does. The Lowell band just released a second single, "Monkey Man." I've compared Burp. to early Blink 182 goes art rock, and this new single actually leans more into the art rock side of things. It still has all the tune and brattiness of pop punk, but there's an odd and quite welcome Johnny Marr sound to the guitar. "Monkey Man" has this compelling The Smiths go 90's Warped Tour vibe, and we are here for it. For a band that promotes their goofy side as much as they do, Burp. are one of the most promising young bands in the Boston area today. You can listen to "Monkey Man" below. For more on Burp., check out the band's Instagram .

Photo by Lola Scott "CC" is a sex song, plain and simple. The latest from Atlanta based "grunge-channeling feminist punks" have done the nearly impossible with their sex song. It's not leering, or dirty, or even shocking. Despite being a song that's undeniably a sex song, it's surprisingly sweet. Maybe even shockingly so. It's reminding me a lot of an artist like TORRES in that way, both in sound and tone. Of course, it's a bit more aggressive than you'd typically get with TORRES, so it adds more than a little of a band like The Gits into the mix. SMALL are quickly becoming one of the most intriguing bands around these parts lately, and we can't wait for their full length to come out this Friday. You can listen to "CC" below. Decathexis is due out September 30 on Triphouse Records. For more on SMALL, check out the band's Bandcamp . SMALL · CC

Brad Marino's upcoming album is being described as "Ramonescore," which is a genre I've never heard of but know exactly what it sounds like. The first single, "That Girl," sounds like classic Ramones. Sure, there are a lot of bands that sound like the Ramones, and it's not like there aren't a ton of Ramones albums to listen to out there, but if you love "Ramonescore," than you love this sound and will never get sick of hearing it. It's buzzsaw guitars over the catchiest song possible about a girl (naturally). It's a fun time and will have you longing to hear more from Brad Marino as soon as possible. You can listen to "That Girl" below. Basement Beat is due out on October 14 via Rum Bar Records for the CD and on vinyl via Hey Pizza Records. You can pre-order the CD or digital copy here . For more on Brad Marino, check out the artist's Facebook .