If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Kory Thibeault California's Angelica Rockne makes some of the most lovely cosmic country around. Her latest single, "Age of the Voyeur," is this simple yet lush song that waltzes the listener along with it. The centerpiece of the song is Rockne's vocals, which are just instantly mesmerizing. As simple as the song seems, there is a surprising complexity to it. There is just something about the way her voice mixes with piano and acoustic guitar that is irresistible. There's something very 70's about the song's vibe, but that could just be the cosmic country sound.  You can listen to "Age of the Voyeur" below. The Rose Society is due out May 5 on Loose Music, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Angelica Rockne, check out the artist's website .

"Queer ass emo" band from Cincinnati Cataracts have a killer new single that we can all relate to the title of. "Hanging Out With Your Cat" is the kind of emo song we love here. It's without a doubt an emo song, but it still has enough of a punk edge to it to elevate the song to the next level. There is also some interesting guitar work going on in the song that keeps "Hanging Out With Your Cat" compelling. This is simply just a great punk rock/emo song that you're going to want to keep in regular rotation for quite a while. Vocalist Christian Gehring says of the band's new single: "'HOWYC' was written at the first Cataracts practice with our current line-up. The lyrics for 'HOWYC' were written about my boyfriend Soren. The song was inspired by all of the time we have spent watching Breaking Bad with his cat, and the comfort that I feel from just spending time with him." You can listen to "Hanging Out With Your Ca...

Way back in 1999, Kool Keith released one his most iconic albums Black Elvis/Lost in Space. Now, twenty-four years later, he's revisiting that persona with a new album. In true Kool Keith fashion, the first single is the minute long intro track for the album, "Black Elvis 2 (Intro)." Of course, Kool Keith is the rare artist that can make an intro song good enough to be a single. While most intro songs are throwaways, "Black Elvis 2 (Intro)" is great, just short. It certainly doesn't hurt that the song is produced by If It's Too Loud... favorite L'Orange who adds his trademark throwback to classic hip hop while still looking forward sound to the track. As with any of his releases, Black Elvis 2 is going to be high on everyone's must listen list this year. You can listen to "Black Elvis 2 (Intro)" below. Black Elvis 2 is due out June 16 on Mello Music Group, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Kool Keith, check out the artis...

If you're looking for plans on Cinco de Mayo that don't involve a bunch of college kids slamming back margaritas in sombreros, might we suggest the fantastic triple bill of Asbury Park's fantastic pop punk/indie rock heroes Dentist, the mighty Salem Wolves (now of Rhode Island), and the downtempo sounds of Strange Pains? The three are playing Faces Brewing Co. in Malden, MA, and we've once again teamed up with RTT Presents to giveaway a pair of tickets! In order to win, simply email us at ifitstooloudblog@gmail.com with the subject line of "Dentist," and your full name in the body of the email. We'll draw a winner Thursday morning, May 4! Good luck! For more information on the shows coming up at Faces, check their website here . They have a ton of If It's Too Loud... approved shows, including Kepi Ghoulie, The Jacklights, and Brad Marino May 13, Children of the Flaming Wheel, The Dreamtoday, and Astral Bitch May 18, Dead Bars, Perfectly Lethal, and Hel...

Photo by Dan Monick It's hard to believe that Atmosphere has been around for over twenty-five years, but the duo of Slug and Ant released their debut album back in 1997 and continue to release great new music. Their latest single is "Holding My Breath," a laid back hip hop song that dabbles in dub. It's the kind of song with one foot in the old school of rap and the other in the present. The Minneapolis group have crafted a single that is going to appeal to their underground hip hop base while stretching into the mainstream. It's the perfect kind of song for the summer, and just driving around with the windows down. You can listen to "Holding My Breath" below. So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously is due out May 5 on Rhymesayers Entertainment, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Atmosphere, check out the artist's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the song. 5/11 - London, UK @ Electric Ballroom ^ 5/12 - Amsterdam, NL @ Melkw...

The latest from Dead Bars is going to make you instantly feel nostalgic. "Hidden Track" is an ode to finding a hidden track on a new CD, which was always on of the most thrilling discoveries to those of us raised in the compact disc era. The Seattle band's song is this jangly and upbeat song with gruff melodic punk rock vocals that sounds like it would have fit perfectly as a hidden track. These songs were typically a little more cheery and/or laid back than the rest of the album and helped ease us back into the real world after an hour of Gen-X noise and angst. "Hidden Track" is a fun song soaked in nostalgia, both lyrically and sonically.  Vocalist John Maiello says about the band's new song: “Lyrically, ‘Hidden Track’ serves as a reminder that there might be something beautiful waiting for you if you keep listening, keep trying and keep dreaming even when you think you’re at the end.” You can watch the video for "Hidden Track" below. Sinkhole EP...

Photo by Steve Gullick One of my major musical fandom regrets is taking so long to get into PJ Harvey. I even saw her once back in 1995 opening for Live, but I wasn't ready then. I've recently jumped fully on the PJ Harvey bandwagon, just in time for her first new music in seven years. "A Child's Question, August" shows a more mellow side of Harvey. It's a gorgeous and welcoming ballad that is going to appeal to longtime fans. While many of her peers have mellowed out but have seemed to lost what made them so great thirty plus years into a career, Harvey is showing exactly how to make more mellow music that is just as vital as the classics. "A Child's Question, August" needs to be on the very top of your must listens this week. PJ Harvey says of her upcoming album: “I think the album is about searching, looking - the intensity of first love, and seeking meaning.  Not that there has to be a message, but the feeling I get from the record is one of ...

Boston's Justine and The Unclean make the kind of rock and roll that doesn't break any new ground but still sounds fresh. Their latest single, "The Chasm," is just loud garage rock and roll with a cleaner, fresh sound that accepts it's own poppy side. It's power pop with an emphasis on both the power and the pop. It's reminding me of the speed of the Ramones with the arena rocking guitar solos of Cheap Trick and the gorgeous grit of Belly. This is the kind of song that will remind you why you love rock so much. In a Bandcamp post, songwriter Justine Covault says of the new song: "This song is about when a breach of trust between two people causes a blinding flash of insight. Sometimes pain can be very instructive. "I'm really excited about what The Unclean brought to this song. I told them that in my mind, it should sonically resemble The Who's power chords and bombastic rhythm section -- and so, instrumentally they channeled Pete, Keith,...

Photo by Layne Miller You know a band is going to be interesting when their press release compares them to Das Racist, My Chemical Romance, 100 gecs, 311, Insane Clown Posse, and Death Grips. GHÖ SH are digital hardcore, and that's about all we can say for sure. The Philadelphia based band's latest single, "Devil Lady," has metal guitars mixed with electronic noise, hip hop, pop, and... I don't even know what else. As an old school Atari Teenage Riot fan, I'm pre-disposed to enjoying this. GH Ö SH takes that sound and updates it to appeal to a new generation of kids raised on Meghan Thee Stallion and Carly Rae Jepson who are just getting ready to really freak out their parents, and I'm on board for that. Vocalist Symphony Spell says of her band's new song: "I have a difficult relationship with religion.  I grew up Baptist and I hated it. Church was always a place where I felt alienated and judged. I went to the kind of church and was raised by the...

Photo by Tonje Thilesen It feels like it's been a long time since we've heard from Palehound, but they are back with a new single and an upcoming album. "The Clutch" is everything we have come to love about El Kempner's musical project while adding even more to love. This new song combines classic indie rock with the more modern style that leans more heavily into pop. It's all fuzzy guitars and crashing drums. The song shows even more maturity from Kempner, although there is a sense of desperation in the song. When you hear it, there's a sense of catharsis in Kempner's vocals, and they definitely went through a lot in the process of this song. If you tend to like music that could very well inspire anxiety, you're going to want to check out "The Clutch." El Kempner says of their new song: "' The Clutch' is the very first song I wrote for this album, back in 2020 right when lockdown started. I had been on a tour that was sliced...

Photo by CJ Harvey Deer Tick are one of those bands that are constantly evolving while still sounding like themselves. They're no longer the Hank Williams meets Nirvana band, or even the rootsy party rockers. On their latest single "Forgiving Ties," Deer Tick are sounding quite dance friendly. It's kind of a party song, in a way but it's a little too introspective to really rock a party. It's a little New Wave-ish, or at the very least some early 80's Tom Petty influence on this one. As always with Deer Tick, it's a fun song even if it's a little heavy. Also interesting is that "Forgiving Ties" features Ian O'Neil and John McCauley sharing vocal duties. (This one is definitely an O'Neil song with McCauley handling a few lines and backing vocals.) While it's not a complete departure, this one sees Deer Tick trying some new things while still being Deer Tick. Ian O'Neil says of the new song: “The song is essentially a metaph...

Artist : Valley Queen Album : Chord of Sympathy Quick Thoughts : This is some really solid indie rock this week. I enjoyed Supergiant , but it's been a while since we got new album-length material from the band. This latest effort doubles down on the soaring harmonies and interesting instrumental choices (the guitar in "Knife in the Trunk" is near-perfect), and results in an album that's a great and compelling listen. Make time for it. Songs of Note : "Knife in the Trunk," "Cassavettes" Artist : Twin Ritual Album : Allie Quick Thoughts : While the sort of disco/dance-tinged indie rock Twin Ritual presents here has taken a backseat in recent years, Allie is a great reminder that, when done right, it's a TON of fun. These songs will get stuck in your head in all the right ways, and it's one you don't want to miss. A lively, enjoyable listen. Songs of Note : "Carrion," "Avantsion," "Metaphor" Arti...

Photo by Leigh Ann Rodgers Baltimore's Pinkshift have released a single that should not work at all, but somehow does. "to me" is a giant song that combines shoegaze, pop, grunge, and maybe even some metal. Shoegaze is the first thing you'll notice in "to me," and also that it's somehow both a loud and heavy rock song while being pop. Both shoegaze and grunge are evident in the guitar and drums, while Ashrita Kumar's vocals bring the pop sound. At times they sing in a more Top 40 style than I typically get into, but it works in the context of this song. After all of this, Pinkshift still finds a way to cram a little metal into the guitar solo. Ashrita Kumar says of the band's new song: “Love is a powerful form of energy that is not just given or taken, but flows endlessly and connects us all. ‘To me’ speaks to the indestructibility of such an energy, and what it feels like to hold love close to your heart and with those around you. It is a realiz...