If It's Too Loud...

Boston's own Bedroom Eyes are set to release their first new music in four years, and judging by the first single, it's gonna be epic. "Brood" has this fantastic blend of slacker rock meets shoegaze. It's filled with some of the most distorted guitars of this century swirling and swirling around you. There is also some lovely examples of the whole loud/quiet/loud dynamic, except this might be more soothing/pounding/soothing. "Brood" feels like such a dream, the kind where you're just strapped in and enjoying the ride your subconscious is taking you on. As intense as Bedroom Eyes can get, it's an oddly melancholy song at times. You can listen to "Brood" below. Turned Away is due out July 18 via a La Carte Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on Bedroom Eyes, check out the band on Instagram and Facebook . Turned Away by Bedroom Eyes

Photo by Tiny Studio When a band calls themselves Grrrl Gang, you can basically guess what they sound like, and you would not be wrong. The Jakarta based band might add a little more pop into their blend of riot grrrl based punk, but I can't imagine anyone who loves punk isn't going to like "Spunky!" It's a fast paced punk rocker that still has a melodic edge to it that keeps the song surprisingly fun. It sounds more like if The Beths decided to go more punk, and if that doesn't appeal to you, I have no idea what you're even doing here. The song describes singer Angeeta Sentana's experiences during a manic episode. She explains: “I feel like I’m on top of the world, untouchable. I do things without thinking, always chasing after that feeling of instant gratification. I feel extra confident in myself—to a point of grandiose thinking—and that I could do anything." You can watch the video for "Spunky!" below. The album Spunky! is due out Se...

The Natvral (aka Kip Berman's post The Pains of Being Pure at Heart musical project) is back with new music. "Lucifer's Glory" continues Berman's dabbling into t6he world of Americana, but this single amps it up a notch. Considering Berman now lives in New Jersey, it's very easy to compare any roots based singer/songwriter to Bruce Springsteen, but in the case of this song it's also very apt. "Lucifer's Glory" isn't quite as anthemic as Springsteen's arena rock hits, but it's also not quite as stripped down as Nebraska. This one is more like early Springsteen when he was still working it out at The Stone Pony and before he was a national sensation. The star quality is still there, but in a bit of a more scrappy, indie rock kind of way. Kip Berman says of his new single: " Don’t let the title fool you— It’s not a full throated 'Hail Satan,' but it is full throated. I suppose I could’ve called it 'Paradise Lust....

Photo by Julien Brier We loved the unique blend of Latin rhythms, folk, and dance music we heard in Kiltro's previous two singles, but their latest seems to have come out of nowhere. "Softy" still has all of those elements, but it's both the most mainstream pop of their previous singles while still being the most left-field. The Denver based band have created a song that almost sounds like something that could easily be played on an Adult Contemporary radio station if it wasn't so odd. It's just soaking in too much reverb to ever to considered mainstream, even though Chris Bowers Castillo just has a voice your mom would adore.  You can listen to "Softy" below. Underbelly is due out June 2. For more on Kiltro, check out the band's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the song. June 1 - Denver, CO - Mercury Cafe June 21 - Detroit, MI - Lager House June 22 - Columbus, OH - Woodlands June 24 - Bethlehem, PA - Sabor Festival June 25 - Philadelphia,...

Artist : Miya Folick Album : ROACH Quick Thoughts : Miya Folick has carved a nice little singer-songwritery niche for herself in recent years, and her latest effort feels like a leveling up of sorts. Solid, compelling songwriting and interesting instrumentation make for a really great album that could serve to launch her into the bigger conversation. Songs of Note : "Bad Thing," "Get Out of My House," "Drugs or People," "Cartoon Clouds," "Shortstop" Artist : Kassi Valazza Album : Kassi Valazza Knows Nothing Quick Thoughts : This album made both of our shortlists this week, and it delivers. It's a gorgeous slice of Americana with enough familiar trappings to offset its own unique voice. I loved, loved, loved this album and would recommend it even in a busy week. Absolutely worth your time. Songs of Note : "Song for a Season," "Rapture," "Smile" Artist : Clark Album : Sus Dog Quick Thought...

Wobbly is the musical project of San Francisco multimedia artist, composer, and improviser Jon Leidecker. He's also a member of Negativland and Thurston Moore Group. His latest single under Wobbly, "White Eggs," is a bizarre electronic song with Ana Machado on vocals. It's experimental electronic music that still has enough of a semblance of song structure to be mostly able to be danced to... kinda. It's a little jerky and has a unique rhythm that doesn't exactly make sense, but this isn't just experimental electronic music to stroke your chin to. It's relatively laid back, but will still inspire movement in the listener, as long as they have an open enough mind. You can listen to "White Eggs" below. Additional Kids is due out June 9 on Hausu Mountain Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on Wobbly, check out the artist on Bandcamp . Additional Kids by Wobbly

Joe Gittleman, who you might know as the bass player of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, has a new single out that is the most Bosstones sounding song he's released so far. "Carrie O" is a laid back ska song with plenty of horns (provided by members of Big D and The Kids Table) and ska style guitar. This is what a band like the Bosstones should have aged into. It has all of the fun of classic ska-core, just in a much more chilled our form. It's the perfect song for everyone that now puts orthopedic inserts into out checkered Vans. Plus, all of the talk in the song about the South Carolina shore gives "Carrie O" the perfect laid back summer vibe. You can listen to "Carrie O" below. The song will be included on a split 12" with Bad Operation due out June 16 on Bad Time Records. This is available for pre-order here . For more on Joe Gittleman, check out his Instagram .

Photo by Sherin Lainez Aside from being the guitarist in Big Thief, Buck Meek has been quite the established solo artist. His 2021 album Two Saviors  was a favorite of mine, and now he's back with new music. "Haunted Mountain," co-written with Jolie Holland, is a ramblin' style country song. It has just the slightest hints of indie rock, but other than that this is just a straight up country/Americana track. It's an upbeat song that just has a timeless quality. It feels like it could have been released any time in the last fifty to sixty years. In fact, the occasional indie rock guitar has some roots in Neil Young, which adds more to the timeless quality. Buck Meek says of his new song: “It’s about being humbled by the thing you’re drawing power from only at which point an actual, fair relationship begins." You can watch the video for "Haunted Mountain" below. The album Haunted Mountain is due out August 25 on 4AD, and is available for pre-order her...

Photo by Jonathan Botkin With Pride month starting next week, Middle-Aged Queers have made a new-ish song available for streaming for the first time. Previously only available on the vinyl compilation Punk Rock Saves Lives... The Album! Vol. II , "This Song is Sponsored by Absolut Vodka" takes on the commercialization of Pride by corporations. It's a smart, loud, and fast punk rock song that ends with the repeated mantra of "We're the product." This is just pure classic punk rock. It's buzzsaw guitars and growled vocals with just enough melody and pop hooks to make it appealing to semi-mainstream audiences.  You can listen to "This Song is Sponsored by Absolut Vodka" below. The song is currently available via Bandcamp . For more on Middle-Aged Queers, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram . This Song Is Sponsored By Absolut Vodka by Middle-Aged Queers

Photo by Mathieu Bitton Released just before the one hundred and second anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre which saw the affluent black neighborhoods of Tulsa bombed and burned by the white population, Chris Pierce has released a new song about the dark historical event. "Tulsa Town" is a haunting waltz that is mostly folk, but also combines elements of jazz. It's an important song that reminds us of one of the darkest and forgotten elements of American history. Pierce hits the perfect tone for a song of this nature. It's respectful and reverent while still being a gorgeous song that can suck you in even if you're not paying attention to the lyrics. Backing vocals and strings are used expertly, giving the song a truly haunting feeling. You can watch the lyric video for "Tulsa Town" below. Let All Who Will is due out September 1 via Friends at Work/Downtown Distribution. For more on Chris Pierce, check out the artist's website .

Philadelphia's Achings started in one of the most organic ways possible. Singer/songwriter Rebecca Joy had just started maternity leave and overheard one of Justin Myer's guitar tracks. She immediately wrote the accompanying melody and lyrics on the spot, and Achings was formed. The duo's latest single, "Need for Love," starts off as this gorgeous and lush alt-rock/pop song that is instantly going to appeal to fans of Phoebe Bridgers, Julia Jacklin, and Lucy Dacus. But halfway through, the song gains an unexpected intensity, particularly in the guitar. As intense as the guitar gets, it somehow adds to the beauty of the song. It's an indie rock explosion that increases the depth of the song. "Need for Love" is the kind of song you're going to want to immediately start again once it's over, and it only gets better with repeated listens. You can watch the video for "Need for Love" below. All These Shapes, All These Days is due out July...

It feels like we've been bringing you singles from Only Child forever, and now we finally have an EP from the project of Boston multi-instrumentalist Christopher James Martin. Srs One was produced by Casey Desmond, and features five songs described as "camp-pop." As you can tell by that description, Srs One  is an absolute blast. Martin's influences for the project are artists like Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, Tegan and Sara, and Robyn. The songs explore Martin's queer identity, with clever lyrics and a level of drama not typically heard in pop music. As someone who typically recoils from music described as pop, I am completely drawn in by the music of Only Child. I think it's because I do have a nostalgic love of pop music from the late 80's and early 90's, from before I allowed music snobbery to take over. Srs One is definitely inspired by that time period. Plus, Only Child is just fun, both musically and lyrically. Sometimes, especially in the realm of i...

Orca Bones have once again surfaced from Boston Harbor with new music for us. According to a Facebook post, "Island" is "... a surfy indie rock song about the battle royale experience." That helps explain why a song with all the groove of a surf rock jam can have such an intensity behind it. From the opening surf lick, the happiness you normally associate with surf rock is shrouded by a darkness and a sense of dread. That builds for the first half until the song just erupts into an indie rock explosion. It's a brilliantly massive explosion of sound that was barely hinted at in anything that came before it. This is one of the most delightfully unexpected songs you've heard in a while. You can listen to "Island" below. The song is available for the "name your price" option on Bandcamp. For more on Orca Bones, check them out on Facebook and Instagram . Island by Orca Bones

Hermosillo, Mexico based quartet Margaritas Podridas are making punk that harkens back to the early 90's. Their latest single, "Corazón," is definitely more grunge or noise rock based than traditional punk, but if you still cherish 1991: The Year Punk Broke , you're going to love this. Carolina Rivera has mastered a Cobain level scream, and instead of a loud/quiet/loud format, it's more loud/noisier/loud. This sounds like a modern day version of 1980's Sonic Youth or Nirvana rallying against their own popularity on In Utero. Seriously, this is a band you're going to want to watch closely. Carolina Rivera says about her band's new song: " I made this song when I was angry. It’s about being hurt by the words of someone you love. I wrote it at El Corazon venue in Seattle. It is a very personal song about how my heart was at the time. I felt like nothing made sense anymore; being there wasn’t enough even although it was my dream I wasn’t happy. Probab...

Photo by Gina Brown Kurt Baker's latest single puts the power in power pop. "Anchors Up" isn't quite punk, but there is too much of an edge to the song to be purely pop. This is sugary sweet power pop that can still be sung by a guy wearing a leather jacket. It has elements of artists like the Ramones, The Kinks, Green Day, and The Beach Boys. As you can probably guess, this is the kind of song that is perfect for the start of the summer, complete with lyrics about sailing and driving with the top down. Sometimes rock can just be fun, and Kurt Baker has that concept down. Kurt Baker says of his new song: "‘Anchors Up’ started around an idea I had while living in Spain during the lockdown confinement. Being confined to your house was not a great experience, but I remember I used to take my guitar and play it next to my window, to get some sunlight. I guess the rays of sunshine brought a happy upbeat melody to my mind, definitely with the flavor of something Green ...

Photo by Calvin Hobson If you like classic soul, chances are you're going to like Reno, Nevada's The Sextones. The neo-soul band's latest single, "Without You," has this perfect quality that makes it sound like it's a lost track recorded back in the 60's or 70's. Part of it is the production style that puts that vintage sheen over the song, but The Sextones are clearly going for a classic sound. Everything about "Without You" just sounds classic. (Except for their name, which I can't imagine would have flown with record executives sixty years ago...) This is the kind of feel good song that most people would say they don't make anymore, unless you know where to look. You can listen to "Without You" below. Love Can't Be Borrowed is due out September 29 on Record Kicks, and is available for pre-order here . For more on The Sextones, check out the artist's website .

Photo by Jamie Kelter Davis Prepare to have your mind blown by this new single from Damon Locks and Rob Mazurek. The Chicago based duo have crafted this new song that is truly impossible to define. Their upcoming album has been assembled to sound like a listener is switching radio stations, and "Yes!" has that feel. For lack of a better term, "Yes!" will probably get labelled hip hop, but that's not entirely right. It's more spoken word, so you'll get some Gil Scott-Heron vibes, but the music has this odd, almost industrial sound. The song plods along with one of the most intriguing beats you've ever heard. It sounds like you're sitting at a stoplight, and the music from your car mixes with the music from another car and also from a window across the street, but it sounds like this perfect melding of sounds... and then it's gone. You can watch the video for "Yes!" below. New Future City Radio is due out July 28 on International Anth...

Photo by Donald Milne Scotland's Teenage Fanclub have been indie darlings since forming in 1989, so they have a ton of credibility, and have had it for decades. Their latest single, "Foreign Land," sees the band mellowing out a bit and going slightly into a more Americana laced territory. The song gives off some serious Wilco vibes, with harmonies more along the lines of The Band. The whole thing is more psychedelic than indie rock, but it keeps the band's power pop roots intact. It's a fun and rambling song that may surprise fans of their 90's albums, but if you're ready to embrace Teenage Fanclub as dad rock (with some killer organ work!), "Foreign Land" will be perfect for you. Raymond McGinkley says of their upcoming album and new song: “When we got offered ten days in Rockfield, we weren’t ready in our minds but then we just thought, ‘Fuck it’ and went for it. If you’re sitting around waiting for the stars to align, you can end up never doin...

Photo by David Doobinin We were huge fans of Juliana Hatfield's albums that saw the Boston alt-rock legend covering The Police and Olivia Newton-John. (I mean, we love covers and we love Juliana Hatfield, so win-win...) Now, she's adding a third to her repertoire and Juliana Hatfield Sings ELO is due out in November. ELO would be my least favorite of the three artists Hatfield has selected to cover, but even I can't resist the first single, "Don't Bring Me Down." Hatfield's version stays surprisingly close to the original, without even the slightest hint of 90's irony. It may be a little more pop than the classic rock original, but this might be one of the most fun cover songs of 2024. Juliana Hatfield explains her decision to take on an album's worth of ELO classics: “ ELO songs were always coming on the radio when I was growing up. They were a reliable source of pleasure and fascination. With this album of covers I wanted to get my hands deep int...

Artist : Hannah Jadagu Album : Aperture Quick Thoughts : Hannah Jadagu is likely to become your new favorite. The fact that she's only 19 and has strung together such an awesome collection of indie rock tunes is stunning. It's absolutely informed by the indie music of the last few decades (which means dear god we're old here), but it absolutely feels like it's its own thing, and that's what sets it apart from anything else as of late. You'll love this album if you give it a shot, it's as close to a guarantee as I can give. Songs of Note : "Say It Now," "Dreaming" Artist : Lauren Early Album : Don't Take My Dream Away Quick Thoughts : Ken sent this over and I didn't know Lauren Early prior to now but I'm glad I do. Her sound is reminiscent of early Colleen Green with a little more drum programming and a little less retro flair. I liked this quite a bit, and it's worth the time. Songs of Note : "Never Knows ...