If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Sam Smoker gglum is London born singer-songwriter Ella Smoker. Her new single, "Do You See Me Different?," is a dream-like track that is a little pop, and also a little indie rock and folk. The song is lush yet feels sparse. It's the kind of song that sucks you in from the opening guitar, and then pulls you even deeper in once Smoker starts singing. "Do You See Me Different?" sound like if dream pop went folk, and is going to appeal to fans of artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Blondshell. gglum has crafted a song that is cheerily hypnotic, and delightfully mesmerizing. And that's even before Kamal's engaging guest spot. Ella Smoker says of her upcoming debut album: “ At the time of writing it, I was having so many nightmares, just straight-up graphic and disturbing stuff. I think it was my subconscious telling me I had shit I needed to deal with, a lot of the mistrust I’ve had since I was a teenager. It was weirdly good timing, because I'm at...

Photo by Dan Saltzman TELL just sounds like a Boston band. The band, led by musician, writer, and novelist David Wildman, just released a new single, "Owned." The new single sounds like a smorgasbord of Boston rock. It starts off with a more gritty, early 80's scene sound. It's that sound that came after punk, but before the more experimental post punk sound started. From there, "Owned" moves through 80's New Wave and 90's power pop. It does all of this while still sounding like the same song throughout its sonic transformations. Plus, it just has that old school sound like it was secretly recorded at least three decades ago. TELL are the kind of band that is going to hit a nostalgia button if you were involved in the Boston music scene at any point in the previous century. David Wildman says of the band's upcoming album: “Lyrically, the album is awash in the experience we all have of living through these dark, weird times together, connected mos...

Hailing from New Orleans, Odie Leigh just signed with Mom+Pop and released her first song on the label. "No Doubt" is reminiscent of 90's era alt-rock meets singer-songwriter fare. It's an upbeat song that is undeniably catchy. It leans a little bit into folk territory, but just by a little bit. Leigh has an irresistible charm that just draws you in and refuses to let you go. And then the horn section comes in. If you haven't been fully won over by "No Doubt" at that point, you certainly will be. We're looking forward to hearing more from Odie Leigh sooner than later. You can watch the video for "No Doubt" below. The single is available now via Mom+Pop Music. For more on Odie Leigh, check out the artist's website .

Artist : Future Islands Album : People Who Aren't There Anymore Quick Thoughts : When "Seasons (Waiting On You)" became a surprise critical favorite, complete with chaotic Letterman/Jools Holland performances, I wasn't sure if their brand of synth-forward indie rock would work with Samuel T. Herring's unique voice in the long term. They've remained a favorite of the indie set, but People Who Aren't There Anymore feels like an accessible entrypoint in a way they haven't gone before. "King of Sweden" and "The Tower" in particular both feel epic and present, and the album gives a mood of a true journey across its tracklisting. I loved this, and in a week with a lot of really solid releases this shouldn't be ignored. Songs of Note : "King of Sweden," "The Tower," "Give Me The Ghost Back," "The Thief," "Iris," "Peach" Artist : Angry Blackmen Album : The Legend of A...

Photo courtesy TEKE::TEKE Last year we discovered the excellent Montreal based Japanese psych band TEKE::TEKE, so we couldn't be more thrilled to discover they're part of an upcoming tribute album for The Clash. They chose to cover "Bankrobber," and while it is true to the original, TEKE::TEKE make it their own. Vocalist Maya Kuroki chose to sing the lyrics in Japanese which was inspired by an avant-garde musical movement in Japan happening at the same time as punk in the UK. The result is a version that is less dub inspired and more experimental... and also a little more traditional and folky. It's not a way I expected to hear a classic from The Clash done, but if you're a fan of The Clash, that's what makes it perfect. Sei Nakauchi Pelletier says of the band's decision to cover "Bankrobber": “‘Bankrobber’ was the first ever song I heard from The Clash, it was on a compilation tape a dear friend of mine had made for me in my early 20’s. The ...

Photo by Olivia Cummings It's been nearly four years since I decided to see what Riley Pinkerton was up to and discovered her new band, Castle Rat. I was expecting more of the unique singer-songwriter and folk music I loved from Pinkerton, and instead was floored by the "Medieval Fantasy Doom Metal" of her new project. Their upcoming debut album was recorded in a one hundred fifty year old church in Philadelphia that is possibly/definitely haunted. Their latest single, "Dagger Dragger," is this glorious level of over the top doom metal without being cartoonish. It's dark, but also a lot of fun. There's a psychedelic feel throughout the song, which is some of my favorite style of metal. It's a little Dio era Sabbath, a little Gwar, a little bit of Kiss... even if that doesn't sound like your kind of thing, I urge you to try out "Dagger Dragger." Vocalist Riley Pinkerton says of the upcoming album: “It’s taken a couple years to see this r...

Photo by Chris Grady As we all prepare ourselves for the release of indie rock legend Mary Timony's first new solo album in fifteen years later this month, she's released a new single off of it. "Summer" doesn't exactly sound like summer. It's a mid-tempo guitar rocker that kind of plods along, driven by guitar solos towards the end. It's definitely a song that sounds like Mary Timony, but it feels like more of a straightforward rock song than we're used to from the artist. It's a very air guitar friendly song that has us ready to hear more as soon as possible. Mary Timony says of her new single:  “I wanted it to be a guitar stomper kind of in the vein of The Kinks, Jethro Tull or Elf and have simultaneous guitar solos at the end. I’m excited to play this one live.  Betsy Wright  of  Ex Hex  will be on guitar, and I can’t wait to rock those twin solos with her! I’ll also be joined by  David Christian ,  Chad Molter , and  Anna Wilson . They are al...

Photo by Oscar Rodriguez Rap rock gets a bad rep... usually for a good reason. But those of us that were around in the early 90's remember how exciting hearing Public Enemy team with Anthrax, and then the Judgment Night soundtrack blew all of our minds. That's where '92 come in. The Long Beach, CA hardcore band's new single, "Above the Law," meld hardcore with hip hop in a way that I've never heard before. Vocalist Jabril Ward attacks his vocals. He's rapping, but in a gritty way that fits the music behind him. While a hybrid of rap and rock has long seemed like a novelty, '92 make it sound like this is how it's always supposed to have sounded. "Above the Law" is a thrilling new single that sounds both familiar and fresh. '92 says of their upcoming EP: "We can’t even express how excited we are for this EP to finally be shown to the world. We’ve been working on these songs for years - since pre-pandemic - and at the time, it f...

Photo by Ebru Yildiz The first time I saw TORRES (January 22, 2016 at Great Scott with Palehound) was almost eight years to the day of Mackenzie Scott's most recent performance in Boston. After seeing that show, I thought TORRES was a good artist who would one day be great. I've been watching her grow and evolve as an artist over the past eight years, and I'm thrilled to say that I was correct. TORRES' set was delayed a bit due to some technical issues with the keyboard, but one of the good things about shows in small clubs is that a late start kind of adds to the fun of the night. Scott got very chatty with the crowd while the issue was being worked on, and it just added to the intimate feel of the show. In fact, chatty was one of the themes of the night as she introduced most of her new songs with a bit of an explanation. (The fantastic What an enormous room was released just the day before the show.) Finally, the music was able to start. And what a show it was. Scott...

Photo by Alessandra Leime Get ready for one of the most mesmerizing duets of the young year! Ella Ronen teamed with Sam Cohen on her latest single, and you'll agree that we all want more of this pairing. "I Just Want to See You Again" is an impossibly compelling song that mixes folk/Americana with a little bit of cabaret and indie rock to outstanding results. The song is intensely personal and intimate, despite having a full and lush production. The vocals between Ronen and Cohen are delivered in a way that makes you feel like you're listening in on a deeply personal discussion between two people. It reminds me a little of the songs from the film Once. You can watch the video for "I Just Want to See You" below. The Girl with No Skin is due out March 8 on BB*Island, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Ella Ronen, check out the artist's website . 

Photo by Brittany Rose Queen The Promised End is set to release their debut album this Friday, and they've released the title track (ish) from that album. "The Buried and the Broken" is still the politically charged melodic hardcore that we've come to expect after the previous two singles, but what's unexpected is that the new single is both the heaviest and most pop single they've released so far. "The Buried and the Broken" crosses closely to both pop punk and emo, but it's just far too heavy to truly be either of those. This is a hard and fast hardcore song with the most vicious gang vocals you've heard in ages. Plus, there is some straight up metal guitar all over this track. Expect The Promised End to be making some big waves all over 2024 with this one. Vocalist Paul Picillo says of the new song: "These lives are wasted, shattered and longing to be whole. The first we tasted has now taken hold. Until the skin is cold." You can...

Photo by Kyle Cassidy Our favorite gothic cabaret folk duo are back with a new single. For their latest single, Charming Disaster have decided to mix it up a bit. "Stockholm Syndrome" was inspired by Gang of Four, Bloc Party, and Bonnie & Clyde. (They explain they mean both the Gainsbourg/Bardot song and the real life Bonnie and Clyde.) With that explanation, you'd expect a new sound from Charming Disaster, and you would be correct. But what's weird is that even though it's a dance friendly post-punk song, it still sounds exactly like a Charming Disaster song. It's rare to be surprised that a band sounds like themselves, but when the style is this different from their norm, you can forgive us. Charming Disaster say of their new song: "'Stockholm Syndrome' refers to the phenomenon where a hostage begins to identify with their kidnapper. But who is the captor and who is the captive? Sometimes things get a little complicated." You can listen...

Photo by Alexa Viscius Bnny, the musical project of Chicago's Jessica Viscius, is back with new music. "Good Stuff" is a hypnotic and synth-laden new single that is as moody as it is catchy. It's one of those songs that is just as mainstream as it is alternative. Viscius has quickly become a master of taking 90's style indie rock and filtering it through a more modern sound. "Good Stuff" reminds me of 90's dream pop artists like The Sundays but with a more modern version reminiscent of an artist like Phoebe Bridgers. This is a gorgeous song that will instantly suck you in and refuse to let you go, not that you'd want it to. Jessica Viscius says of her latest single: “It’s a breakup song, but it’s hopeful, optimistic even. Or perhaps it’s just the denial, hoping things will be different next time, hoping that love can save you.” You can watch the video for "Good Stuff" below. One Million Love Songs is due out April 5 on Fire Talk Records...

Photo by Shannon Shumaker I still consider Frank Turner one of my "new" artists even though I discovered him about thirteen years ago and he's about to release his tenth album. His albums typically go from good to phenomenal for me, and based on his latest single, this upcoming album could be one of the better ones. "Do One" has that level of confidence you only get from an artist who has been around as long as Turner has. It starts off as one of his more folky tunes, and then the rock kicks in. It's not a full on punk rock song, but Turner has long mastered finding that middle ground between folk and punk. "Do One" is just a straight up great rock song that's going to appeal to the folks, punks, and even mainstream rock fans. But that's just the magic of Frank Turner in 2024. Frank Turner says of his latest single: “‘Do One’ is the last song I wrote for the new album, and the first song on that album, as well as the first single. So it’s a...

Photo by Joey Krouse Hailing from Burlington, VT, Robber Robber have one of the more unique takes on the current 90's indie rock revival sound. Their latest single, "Sea or War," is an intense song that feels like it's moving much faster than it is. The speed of the music doesn't quite match up with Nina Cates' vocals which creates a strong tension throughout the song. The entire song feels like that moment in a Sonic Youth song where it's just about to explode. But "Sea or War" never does. Plus, Robber Robber adds in some electronic/dance elements to the song, and I may be detecting a hint of jam band influence, but that could just be because I know they're from Burlington. Robber Robber says of their new single:   “‘Sea or War’ explores how fine the balance feels between comfort and futility. There are various opposing forces being fused together, which can be felt in the lyrics, musical arrangement, and production.” You can watch the video...

Photo by Miranda Penn Turin We tend to love combinations of garage rock and glam here at If It's Too Loud..., so we're obviously going to adore the retro rock of Billy Tibbals. Tibbals was born and raised in London before his family moved to Los Angeles when he was eleven. His latest single, "Burn Out!," sounds much more 70's London than 2024 Los Angeles. It's pure glitter and glam. If you told me that Tibbals was recording a lost T. Rex song, I would completely believe you. "Burn Out!" is just pure rock and roll fun and swagger mixed up with the best parts of power pop and glam. Sometimes you just want rock that's fun, and that's what Billy Tibbals provides. Billy Tibbals says of his new single: “‘Burn Out!’ is the wild opening track of the new record. It’s a sort of cautionary tale of a jaded rock and roll star.  I guess it’s sort of expressing my fears of falling into some of those less appealing clichés of the genre. That’s not gonna happ...

Photo via Facebook The Sinseers are a So-Cal lowrider soul ensemble that specialize in vintage soul. Their latest single, "Can't Do That to Her," doesn't sound like anything made in 2024. This is pure vintage 1960's style soul music. The song's production even mimics how music recorded sixty years ago sounds, which just adds to the effect that this is a long lost recording just discovered in mint condition. There's a reason why The Sinseers are considered California's premier "souldies" group (which might be the greatest genre name of all time.) This is a great one, perfect for soul fans of any style. You can listen to "Can't Do That to Her" below. Sinseerly Yours , the debut album from The Sinseers, is due out March 22 on Colemine Records. It is available for pre-order here . For more on The Sinseers, check out the band on Instagram and Facebook .

Photo by StudioUJ Last year saw the release of Squid's fantastic album O Monolith , and the British noisemakers are about to head out on a North American tour. They've also just released a new single, "Fugue (Bin Song)." The new song was recorded during the O Monolith sessions but didn't make the album. It's a fantastic song that has a little bit of Britpop mixed into their post punk and noise rock. "Fugue (Bin Song)" grooves even harder than it rocks, which is quite the feat. It's this delightfully odd mixture of Blur, The Hold Steady, The Dismemberment Plan, and Sonic Youth. Squid are masters of making music you don't know if you're supposed to stroke your chin to or dance up a storm, and this new song lands right in that space. You can listen to "Fugue (Bin Song)" below. For more on Squid, check out the band's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the song, including a very romantic Valentine's Day show in Boston at...

Back in December CJ Honey released their debut single. We might be a bit late with it, but we hope you'll forgive us once you hear it. "Bird Bones" starts off as a solid pop-rock song. It starts to win you over with its jangly guitars, and singer Charlie Jedrey finalizes the deal with her soulful vocals. Her voice isn't quite a traditional soulful lead singer's voice, but there is just something about it that draws you right in. And then the guitars swap to a more grunge sound, which then lead into a surprisingly great guitar solo. "Bird Bones" imagines a world where 90's Adult Contemporary hard a harder, more indie rock edge. You can listen to "Bird Bones" below. For more on CJ Honey, check out the band on Instagram . If you're in the Boston area, they play their debut show this Sunday (January 28) at O'Brien's in Allston.

The Thing in the Spring has been a southwest New Hampshire staple for quite a while now, sporting some of the most eclectic line ups around. This is especially impressive since Keene, NH (and Peterborough before it) isn't exactly the hippest or most metropolitan of areas. They certainly know what they're doing, especially since the 2024 festival is four days of amazing music. The whole thing kicks off on Thursday night with an eight band bill that includes Modern Fools, Paper Castles, Jake McElvie, and Rick Rude. Friday is a rager that boasts The Messthetics & James Brandon Lewis, Marc Ribot's Ceramic Dog, and Prefuse 73. Saturday gets a little weird with Earth, J. Pavone String Ensemble, The Huntress & Holder of Hands, and Sunburned Hand of the Man. Sunday is my personal favorite and features Buck Meek, Jolie Holland, Mal Devisa, and Lily Seabird. Of course, there are many, many more artists playing that all deserve our attention. The Thing in the Spring will take ...

Photo by Shervin Lainez The latest from Joh Chase is going to immediately suck you in. The Los Angeles based artist is set to release a new album in April, but now you can check out their latest single "Avalanche." The song toes the line between alt-folk and folk-pop. Chase puts just enough twang in the song to make it almost country, but it doesn't quite make it. It's an absolute anthem that shows off their vocals and one of the most well written songs of the year. It has just enough to keep more traditional folk fans happy, it is unique enough to make even the snobbiest music fan satisfied, and mainstream enough to suck in people that primarily listen to Top 40 and adult contemporary radio. Joh Chase has something truly special here. Joh Chase says of their new single: “This song is about the transformational power of love in that it's not what you think it is all the time. I feel like it really represents my life. It's very personal for sure.” You can watch...

Photo by Chuck Losey CW: Domestic violence "Stayed 2017" started off as a b-side to "Reckless" seven years ago, but Lonely Leesa & the Lost Cowboys have decided to re-release the song and pair it with a new video to highlight the fact that the Supreme Court is ruling this spring on whether a domestic abuse order can prevent abusers from owning and possessing handguns. "Stayed 2017" is a powerful alt-country power ballad that defies that genre. It's a little bit rock and pop, and is an absolutely epic track tackling a tough but vital subject. The video, which was shot on an iPhone, is intensely personal and intimate, maybe even more so than the song. Lonely Leesa & the Lost Cowboys have released a powerful and unfortunately timely song that you're going to need to pay attention to. Leesa Coyne says of her new video: “I hope this video helps someone else who has been suffering in silence to feel less alone and that it raises awareness of the ...

Photo by Karen Allison Pylon Reenactment Society are an interesting project. It's led by Vanessa Briscoe Hay of Pylon, but it's not a Pylon reunion. And it's not a Pylon cover band, although they do play Pylon songs. Their latest single, "Fix It," features fellow Athens, GA music legend Kate Pierson of The B-52's, and it's as fun as any song featuring Kate Pierson should be. It's the kind of song that lives between being New Wave and post punk. It's a little too rough around the edges to be fully New Wave but a little too pop for post punk. Aside from all of that, "Fix It" is a killer and unique rock song that will have you diving into Pylon's back catalog while we wait for more from Pylon Reenactment Society. Vanessa Briscoe Hay says of the band's new single and video: “I’ve been a B-52’s fan since the first time I saw them, which was their third show ever. They were always supportive of Pylon. When I saw their final show in Athe...

Hailing from Atlanta, Chandelier are a new band that don't sound like what you'd expect a band from Atlanta to sound like. Their new single, "The Stop," is a dark post punk track with a killer bass. The song is like a weird mixture of Gang of Four, Sonic Youth, and DEVO. It has the dark danceable sound of Gang of Four, the aggressive noise of Sonic Youth, and the artsy quirk of DEVO. It's the unique mix of anger and joy that is going to draw you into "The Stop." Post punk has been having a revival lately, especially with bands like Chandelier that push the boundaries of the genre outside of its comfort zone. You can listen to "The Stop" below. Chandelier's self-titled debut album is due out March 5. For more on Chandelier, check out the band on Instagram . The Stop by Chandelier

Artist : Lizzie No Album : Halfsies Quick Thoughts : I tripped up on Lizzie No in 2019's Vanity , which I really enjoyed across the board. Halfsies feels both stripped down and more forward, if that's a thing, as it's an album that puts forward a lot of really great songs while seemingly simplifying the presentation. I fell for "Lagunita" in particular hard , but the whole album is full of great folk-rock highlights like it. Do not skip this one. Songs of Note : "Lagunita," "The Heartbreak Store," "Getaway Car" Artist : Brown Horse Album : Reservoir Quick Thoughts : Brown Horse gave me big Jason Isbell/Drive-by Truckers vibes, which bodes well for this alt-countryish act that plays around in the darker moods throughout Reservoir . It's an album that wears what it is on its sleeve, and when a song absolutely nails it (like "Stealing Horses" and "Shoot Back") it's among the best of the week. Giv...