If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Dave Green Chiptune electronic pop trio Battlemode are back with a new single, filled with the sounds of a vintage 8-bit Game Boy. "Just Pretend" is a pure pop song that reminds me of TRL in the early 00's, just a hipper version. Well... hipper if you consider music that uses video game music to be more hip. This is just a fun song that can even win over the aging hipsters (ie: me) if we can just get over ourselves and let music can be fun. This is the kind of song that is worth a listen, even if you typically recoil at pure pop music. It's just a great, and fun, version of the genre. Astro says of his band's latest single: “‘Just Pretend’ is about two people starting a possible new relationship, but still having reservations because of past love trauma. They ultimately decide to ‘Just Pretend’ that stuff doesn’t matter and to live for the moment. The theme and lyrics were inspired by a relationship I was in where we both were scarred by the past, but we ...

Hailing from Mexico City and Los Angeles, Marion Raw might just become a favorite artist around here. Her latest single, "You Gotta," is a laid back and atmospheric song dripping with nostalgia. There's a slight country element to the song, but there's also 60's surf, maybe a little garage rock, and a whole lot of pop. To me, "You Gotta" sounds like a stripped down Lana del Ray mixed with Nancy Sinatra. Plus, it contains some of the most engaging tambourine work I've ever heard. Despite the sense of nostalgia laced throughout the song, Marion Raw still finds a way to make the song sound both current and timeless. Marion Raw says of her latest single: "Within the infectious unfolding of this song, I move through the messy journey of love's pursuit. A path that winds through shadows of deceit and betrayal, yet still beckons us deeper. And in the chorus, a defiant urge: to claim this search as our own, to fight for love's persistence, to ca...

Photo by Will Bradford We've been enjoying the singles that Sparxsea has released from her upcoming debut album, but the latest might be our favorite so far. "Essence of Me" is a soulful slice of indie pop. It's pop music laced with some 90's R&B, but with this interesting quality that keeps the song having an indie feel. Sure, this is pop music, but that doesn't mean it has to be Top 40 style mainstream pop. This is more Sarah McLachlan than Taylor Swift, and is practically begging for a Lilith Fair revival to truly shine.  Sparxsea says of her latest single: “Although my life is blessed with beauty and love, the difficulty of growing up with alcoholic parents, and fearing the constant fighting for 18 years, created a huge people-pleaser out of me. Safety became my happiness. I built an existence by monitoring my surroundings, reacting for peaceful outcomes, and staying silent with my own desires and emotions. Therefore, I built a ‘safe’ life that harbore...

Kim Gordon continues to push her creative envelope with her latest single, "razzamatazz," which is a collaboration with Washington DC's model home. The experimental duo and Gordon seem to be a perfect match, with electronic noise more laid back than we've heard from Gordon's previous solo releases, but with an intensity to match any era of her musical past. "razzamatazz" is another left turn from Gordon, but still fits in with her most recent album  The Collective. This is kind of a weird one, which means it's some of her finest work. You can listen to "razzamatazz" below. For more on Kim Gordon, check out the artist's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the song. August 30 – Vancouver, BC – Commodore Ballroom August 31 – Portland OR – Revolution Hall August 31 - September 1 – Seattle, WA – Bumbershoot 2024 September 27 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’s September 29 – Dana Point, CA – Ohana Festival October 3 – Tucson, AZ – ...

Doing Anything this Weekend? is a feature here at If It's Too Loud... where we feature some live shows in and on the far outskirts of the Boston area. Our main rules are that they have to be reasonably priced shows that you can attend last minute. They'll feature If It's Too Loud... approved bands, and we'll provide event links when possible. And since we're in outdoor music season, these events are weather permitting. If you're looking for last minute plans this weekend, we recommend: Friday August 30 The Sheila Divine, Arto Vaun, and Dyr Faser at Deep Cuts, Medford, MA Cakeswagg and DJ Whysham at Sonia, Cambridge, MA The Rock Dwellers, Modern Fools, and Noble Dust at Auspicious Brew, Dover, NH Highwater Haulers, Brightwire, and Wyn & The White Light at Askew, Providence, RI Coral Moons, Talk Chalk, and Lady Pills at The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA Smif-N-Wesson, STL GLD, and Tem Blessed & Blessed Energy at Off the Common, Greenfield, MA Burp, SuckerPunch, ...

Photo by Patrick Monaghan Wussy Duo is the appropriately named duo of Wussy's Lisa Walker and Chuck Cleaver. They've been playing some Undertow living room shows this year, and they just released a single under the moniker. It's a cover of Bill Fay's "I Hear You Calling." The single is led by Walker, and it's just stunningly beautiful. It's less folk than the original, and a little more straightforward. Despite being performed by a duo, the cover could not be more lush and warm sounding. It's the type of song sure to stop listeners dead in their tracks and fully suck them in. Wussy have long been considered "your favorite band's favorite band," and they'll soon be yours if you're just discovering them. You can listen to Wussy Duo's version of "I Hear You Calling" below. For more on Wussy Duo, check out the band's website . Upcoming Undertow tour dates are listed below the song. Ticket information can be found...

Photo by Alex Da Corte It turns out "Coast" wasn't just a one-off single, because we're about to get a solo album from Kim Deal. The alt-rock legend has released a new single, and while it isn't what we'd expect from Deal, it's completely a Kim Deal song. "Crystal Breath" is almost like a dance song. It definitely sounds more electronic than her previous musical projects, but that hardly makes the song a pop song. Instead, the song sounds kind of like the kind of rock meets electronic music from the late 90's and early 00's, but an updated version of that. This one is a lot of fun, and it's great to see an established artist like Deal trying out some new sounds. You can watch the video for "Crystal Breath" below. Nobody Loves You More is due out November 22 on 4AD, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Kim Deal, check out the artist's website .

Photo by Ella Margolin London's Man/Woman/Chainsaw have a specific sound that doesn't quite sound like anyone else. Their latest single, "Grow a Tongue in Time," has a very theatrical element, almost like it could belong in a musical. It's heavy on vocals and piano, but also has a noise rock element hiding behind it. It's filled with traditional string instruments while building a tension with electric feedback that never quite ends in the explosion you're expecting. The closest comparison I could make for "Grow a Tongue in Time" would be Bjork meets The Last Dinner Party, but Man/Woman/Chainsaw truly have their own thing going on. Man/Woman/Chainsaw says of their latest single: " [Grow A Tongue In Time] is a stream-of-consciousness look at jealousy, desire and self-pity. This began with a very stripped back arrangement on just bass, which gradually grew as we added different elements, from droning violin to creaking bowed guitar. Although I...

Photo by Rachel Turner Brooklyn's Divine Sweater started off in Boston, which we try not to hold against them. The band's latest single, "Night Glitter," is one of the most lovely indie pop songs we've heard this year. It's a captivating ballad that sounds much cheerier than it actually is. Vocalist Meghan Kelleher sounds fantastic on this one, and the song is centered on her vocals. It's the kind of song that is benefitted by its simplicity. "Night Glitter" is more than a little hypnotic, and lulls you into a dreamlike state while listening. It's filled with a sense of optimism and hope, despite the darkness within the song. Meghan Kelleher says of her band's latest single: “Over the past couple of years, our whole band really did a lot of wrestling with mortality. We've lost a lot of our loved ones, and attended a lot of funerals. Death is just this other chapter in life. It's just inevitable.”  You can watch the video for ...

The latest single from AlphaSix, Boston's favorite Lovecraftian sci-fi/horror metal band, is out now! "Nope. (Arachno//Thalasso//Phobia)" is beyond heavy. This is three and a half of the most punishing minutes your ears will ever experience. It's almost like someone took the loudest metal song, the loudest industrial song, and the loudest digital hardcore song you've ever heard and merged them all into one sonic mindfuck. AlphaSix are emphatically not for everyone. They probably aren't even for most metal fans. But, if you think that you're up for the challenge, this is probably going to work for you. Plus, who couldn't use some more Lovecraftian sci-fi/horror metal? You can watch the video for "Nope. (Arachno//Thalasso//Phobia)" below. Assimilate: Oceans is due out later this year. For more on AlphaSix, check out the band's website .

Photo by Sesse Lind We've been loving the jazz meets hip hop and soul sound of Dave Guy's solo singles so far. The member of The Roots and The Dap-Kings has had this great laid back sound, and his latest single steps things up a bit. Particularly at its beginning, "Still Standing" is the most Roots-esque single we've heard from Ruby so far. It's still laid back, but Guy's playing has a certain intensity to it. And then it just takes off into this world of jazz that's perfect for music fans who don't consider themselves to be fans of the genre. Guy's playing and the composition of "Still Standing" is mesmerizing. Despite the song being just over two minutes long, it brings you on a full sonic journey you'll want to take again and again. You can listen to "Still Standing" below. Ruby is due out September 20 on Big Crown Records, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Dave Guy, check out the artist on Instagram .

Photo by Dirk Leunis For his eleventh studio album (and first on 4AD), American-born and Belgium-based artist Tucker Zimmerman teamed with Big Thief, who produced and performed on the album. The first single, "Burial at Sea," is a duet with Adrianne Lenker, and if you like Big Thief's folkier side, you're going to love this one. It's a laid back modern folk song that rambles a little bit, but not enough to be considered ramblin'. "Burial at Sea" has the feel of people hanging out on a porch or by a fire and just playing music for the love of playing music. It's just more well polished than that. This is my personal introduction to Tucker Zimmerman, but it's more than enough to get me to spend the rest of the day exploring his back catalog. Big Thief says of working with Tucker Zimmerman" “It was an extreme honor to make a record with one of the greatest songwriters of all time. We believe in this music with all of our hearts, and we hope...

Photo by Seth Jackson All Feels are a western Massachusetts based band that include Candace Clement (Bunny's A Swine and Footings) and Noah Dowd (True Jackie). If you're familiar with those bands, you'll most likely agree with me that there's a certain western Massachusetts sound, and their new single, "Possessed," reflects that. The song has a very 90's indie rock sound, but with a little bit more of a pop sheen to it. The guitar on the song is a wonderfully crunchy and swirly kind of thing, with Clement's vocals drawing the listener in. There's a slacker feel to the song, and it just kind of seems to meander around at its own pace. All Feels have that certain aesthetic bands in the 413 have that reflects not really caring if they sound cool, just that they like how they sound. So please get ready to enjoy your latest favorite from the Berkshires! Candace Clement says of her band's new single: “‘Possessed’ is a coming-of-age bop for the elder ...

Photo by Kelsey Hart Red Ribbon, the musical project of Emma Danner, has released a single that's surprisingly dark and haunting for a pop-ish song. "Crying My Car" is a slow song that is bristling with intensity. It's certainly not folk, or really a singer-songwriter style song, although there are those elements present. Red Ribbon has more of a left of center 90's alt-rock meets trip hop sound, kind of like if PJ Harvey worked with Portishead. "Crying My Car" is the type of song that is going to instantly grab you with its intensity, and make you want to listen to it repeatedly. Luckily, it's also the style of song that only gets more and more engaging with every listen. Emma Danner says of her new single: "On this song, I’m really really sad, yet want to makeout in the backseat." You can watch the video for "Crying My Car" below. Red Ribbon's self-titled album is due out November 1 on Danger Collective Records, and is avail...

Photo by Christopher Nazon Miami's Seafoam Walls describe their music as "Caribbean jazzgaze," but that only begins to graze the sound of their latest single. "Cabin Fever" is a laid back but intense single that combines jazz, shoegaze, rock, hip hop, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms into something completely new. At times the song seems to lean more into the chill vibes and sounds of the Caribbean, and then it shifts quickly to aheavier rock sound. All of the pieces of "Cabin Fever" sound familiar, but Seafoam Walls make them all mesh together into something completely new. This is one of the most intriguing releases of the year, and has us amped for the upcoming album. Lead singer Jayan Bertrand says of his band's latest single: “‘Cabin Fever’ describes a time where I was on tour with a band I used to play with and the community they introduced me to, it felt strange how homogenized they were. The second verse is critical of the world’s mass consumptio...

Ska is typically thought of as happy, party music. Apparently no one told that to Kill Lincoln. The Washington DC band just released a single called "All Worries." A song called "All Worries" is obviously not going to be the cheeriest song, but for Kill Lincoln, that only applies to the lyrics. The song has a very Third Wave ska sound. It's bouncy and fun, and is a perfect song to dance to. The energy level is profoundly high, with some of the finest gang vocals of 2024. I'm personally a giant fan of happy sounding songs with darker lyrics, and "All Worries" nails that. This one is a upbeat party jam, at least until you pay attention to the words. You can watch the video for "All Worries" below. Good Riddance to Good Advice is due out September 27 on Bad Time Records and Caffeine Bomb Records. For more on Kill Lincoln, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram . Upcoming tour dates are below the video. Sep 5th — Minneapolis, MN @ Fine...

Photo by Christine Atturo Every now and then I hear music that makes me think it's specifically made for us here at If It's Too Loud... The latest from Massive Nightmares has that kind of sound. "Worth It" sounds a lot like the early to mid 90's alt-rock scene (very specifically The Lemonheads' "Rudderless") mixed with emo. The emo side is a blend of vintage artists like Sunny Day Real Estate and the early 00's mainstream sound. It's obviously going to be undeniably catchy with fuzzy guitars, and even a little unexpected twang, which I never would have admitted to in the 90's. With all that, "Worth It" is a solid rock song that's going to appeal to those of us that like some vintage sounds in their modern rock. You can listen to "Worth It" below. Massive Nightmares' self-titled EP is due out September 6, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on Massive Nightmares, check out the band on Inst...

Boston's Damndest continue to forge their own path and their own sound with their latest single. "My Heaven" has the classic New Wave meets mid-90's melodic alt-rock sound as "Behind," their previous single, did. However, this new single leans a little more strongly into melody and a more pop leaning sound. Damndest truly sound like no one else in Boston, and not really anywhere else. "My Heaven" is dripping with nostalgia without sounding like any specific time period. It has roots in the 80's, 90's, and current music without being fully entrenched in any time. You can listen to "My Heaven" below. For more on Damndest, check out the band's website .

I feel like we've been sitting on this one forever, so we're especially thrilled to bring you the latest from Drug Store Raid. The Helsinki band just released a new single that is a burst of darkwave, post-punk, no-wave, jazz, and maybe even a little pop.  "Vi Är Finnjävlar"  is a frantic single that comes roaring at you from seemingly out of nowhere. It's a bizarro mix of DEVO, James Chance, Gang of Four, Downtown Boys, and possibly dozens of other bands you'll pick up on. It's loud, it's noisy, it's angry, and it's also one of the best two minutes and twenty three seconds you'll have all year.  "Vi Är Finnjävlar"  is going to make you desperate to see Drug Store Raid live, so let's all stream the hell out of this one to make them come tour in the US! You can listen to  "Vi Är Finnjävlar"   below. Background Music for Family Arguments is due out November 15 on Kieku Records. For more on Drug Store Raid, check out th...

Photo by Brent Broza When a punk frontman has a side project, it's typically a country or acoustic solo project that kinda sorta fits in with their regular sound. That's not the case with Pennywise's Jim Lindberg. His side project, The Black Pacific, is going to appeal to fans of Pennywise. Their latest single, "I Think I'm Paranoid" is a straight up punk song that doesn't sound like Lindberg's main band, while still sharing enough in common that his longstanding fans are going to dig this one. It's a little more hardcore, a little more melodic, and a little more rock and roll. You might not realize it's a side project from the singer of Pennywise, but once you know that it makes perfect sense. Jim Lindberg says of The Black Pacific: “I’ve been writing songs for Pennywise and various projects for many years, and I’ve amassed a catalog of hundreds of demos, literally boxes of cassette tapes from the last few decades.  Some of the songs weren’t r...

Photo by Emily Joy Ashman Hailing from Boston, The Brother Stereo have a sound that is oddly nostalgic despite not quite sounding like any specific time. The timeframe I can tie "Time in History" down to the best would be around 1996 and 1997, as alt-rock started going a little more mainstream. The song has a classic feel, although it does sound like a recording from 2024. It's almost like songwriter Michael Robert Kelly (who, as a Boston music journalist I'm legally required to mention is the brother of Dropkick Murphys' drummer Matt Kelly, and is also the band's substitute touring bass, banjo, and mandolin player) time travelled back to the 90's to blow everyone's mind with what the future sounded like. It's an engrossing power ballad with flashes of psychedelia, and it has one of the best and most intense guitar solos to come out of Boston this century. To be completely honest, I didn't think I was going to enjoy "Time in History" ...

Boston based Main Era just released a new album that is quietly becoming a must listen. The songs on Archie have a distinctly 90's indie/alt rock feel and sound to them. It's filled with noise and melody in equal amounts, and is basically the style of music we've loved for decades. Album opener "AC130" sounds like a DIY version of Superdrag, but showing off their punk influences a bit more. Even a slower song like "I Met God in the Denny's Parking Lot" has a surprisingly raw energy to it, especially as it transforms into an early emo-esque power ballad towards the end. "Miracle Whip" could just be the best song on the album with its mix of experimental noise and light alt-rock goes pop melody. I think that's what truly makes Main Era so fascinating as a band. They're not afraid to get noisy and aggressive, but they wrap this noise in layers of warmth to make their songs undeniably enjoyable. You can listen to Archie below. The album...

Doing Anything this Weekend? is a feature here at If It's Too Loud... where we feature some live shows in and on the far outskirts of the Boston area. Our main rules are that they have to be reasonably priced shows that you can attend last minute. They'll feature If It's Too Loud... approved bands, and we'll provide event links when possible. And since we're in outdoor music season, these events are weather permitting. If you're looking for last minute plans this weekend, we recommend: Friday August 23 Somergloom featuring Big Brave, Final Gasp, Spiritual Poison, Lesser Glow, Circus Trees, and Luci Dead Limb at Arts at the Armory, Somerville, MA Cold Expectations, The Gypsy Moths, and Girl with a Hawk at The Burren, Somerville, MA Gollylagging, Paper Lady, and Alexander at The Rockwell, Somerville, MA Muddy Ruckus, Julie Rhodes & The Electric Co., and Yonks at Alchemy, Providence, RI Oh the Humanity!, Eric and the Nothing, Scotty Saints and the True Believer...

Ever since Aaron Perrino announced that he would be releasing and performing music under the sole moniker The Sheila Divine from now on, I was wondering what The Sheila Divine would sound like. He had been exploring a darker, more moody sound lately, and "I Know There is Happiness," released last month, continued in that direction. Yesterday he released a new single, "Satan Got My Soul," that is distinctly more rock. The song recalls vintage 90's The Sheila Divine, albeit with a slightly more metal edge... but you kind of have to be at least a tiny bit metal with a title like "Satan Got My Soul." As much as I've loved Perrino's recent releases, it's pretty great to hear him get back to the rock. It also has us even more curious which direction The Sheila Divine are headed in next. You can listen to "Satan Got My Soul" below. There is a new album from The Sheila Divine expected in October. For more on the band, check them out on Fa...