If It's Too Loud...

Murder By Death have always been one of those bands I've meant to get more into every time I hear them. I first saw them opening for Clutch back in 2008 and then saw them again with Sarah Shook & The Disarmers in 2019. They're the rare kind of band that can play with both of those artists and have it all make sense. As soon as Murder By Death announced that their just released and excellent Egg & Dart would be the band's final album along with a farewell tour, I knew it was now or never and headed out to the Paradise to see them one last time. Early on in Murder By Death's final show in Boston, singer/frontman Adam Turla announced the plan for the evening. They would be playing two songs from all ten of their albums plus a few more. As far as farewell tours go, you simply can't go wrong with that. It allowed the band to play moments from their entire twenty-five year career and gave fans of any of their periods to hear favorites.  One thing that has always s...

Last fall we brought you Jean Caffeine's "Mammogram," and now the 70's San Francisco and New York punk legend is back with brand new music. "I Know You Know I Know" sees the Austin resident keeping the spirit of punk if not the rigid auditory structures of the genre. The new song is more alt-folk than punk and is reminding me a lot of artists like The Magnetic Fields. The song is right on the edge of being twee, but instead I'll stick with calling it quirky. There is also some amazing keyboards in this song that are truly its secret weapon. Jean Caffeine created true art that is still fun and shows off a sense of humor without being jokey.  Jean Caffeine says of her latest single: "When I was younger my life was clubs, nightlife, go, go go. I zipped from one experience to another. Still I'm a Pisces and I always feel and felt pulled to places with water,The older I get, the more into nature I am. The Longhorn Dam by Krieg field is my spot. I go ...

Photo by JJ Gonson Heatmiser (aka Elliott Smith's pre-solo career rock band) is set to release a deluxe edition of their third album in a two LP set that includes rarities and unreleased tracks. The first song we can hear from the remastered  Mic City Sons is "Silent Treatment," and if you know and love Heatmiser, hearing a new-to-us song from the indie rock legends is a special treat. This one is a Neil Gust song, and just screams 1996 (the year it was originally released). We tend to love everything mid-90's, but this one is particularly special, for obvious reasons. It captures a band on the brink of ending, as Smith's solo career was just about to take off. Neil Gust says of the band's "new" song: “This one is about Elliot and me not talking, and him giving me the silent treatment. I didn't know what else to sing about.”  You can listen to "Silent Treatment" below. Mic City Sons - 30th Anniversary Remaster is due out July 25 on Thir...

First, a caveat to all of this: I know full well that streaming music isn't great . I am very aware of the ever-dwindling payouts from streamers, and further aware of the way streaming has changed many people's relationships with music. As an individual who met my co-blogger in part because of our then-Tuesday treks to our respective local Newbury Comics locations to drop money we didn't have on four-to-five new releases a week, I also know that the previous model was unsustainable and I'm glad that there's something out there that replaces the sort of Napster / Limewire reality that threatened to kill the industry entirely. With that said, I now listen to 40-50 new releases a week now, as opposed to the four-to-five I could afford in a given release week. For every teenage girl listening to nothing but Taylor Swift or mid-30s dudebro on whatever mainstream country playlist he has on shuffle, streaming for me has become a vehicle for musical disc...

Photo courtesy Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners Boston based Americana sextet Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners have a new EP out that if perfect if you don't want your folk to be quiet. Dances by Firelight is a collection of five accordion heavy songs that are perfect for shouting out along to while raising a glass at one of their live shows. These songs aren't pure folk as there are some rock elements that peek through the Americana base, but folk is the main element for all five songs on the EP. Even the slower songs like "Don't Let Perfect" and "Further Down the Road" have a rowdy edge to them, while "Little Bit More, Little Bit Less" is one of our favorite drinking songs of the year. All of the songs on Dances by Firelight end up being ridiculously fun, and you just know their live shows will be second to none. Kier Byrnes says of his band's new EP: “I think this EP is just scratching the surface of The Kettle Burners’ sound. We...

Photo via Facebook Manchester, NH's Megan from Work once again blow us away with their latest single. "Back on the Saddle" showcases the band's incredibly upbeat mix of pop, pop punk, and indie rock. If you can't enjoy this one then you might be unable to truly experience joy. It's fun and catchy, and songs like this are what made us all start to truly enjoy music in the first place. As pop filled as "Back on the Saddle" is throughout, Megan from Works keeps a strong rock foundation and a surprising amount of indie rock fuzz popping up in the song. It's going to be impossible to not have a smile on your face during this one. In an Instagram post, Megan Simon says of their latest single: "This song was inspired by my time living in Los Angeles, where despite being very unstable and having a rocky sense of purpose and direction, I had a great group of friends to rally for. Thank y'all for allowing me to cry at the club." You can liste...

Photo by Steph Rosa Wheatus' 2000 hit song "Teenage Dirtbag" has achieved iconic status recently thanks to a viral TikTok trend that has reintroduced the song to a new generation. Boston's favorite "earnest power pop punk americana nerd folk emo rock" band Roland High Life have released a new version of the track that evokes enough of the original while still putting their own spin on it. It's the kind of fun and lighthearted cover we could all use after what was probably a batshit week for us all (but aren't they all lately?), and we're all probably having some serious nostalgia for our lives pre-2001 these days. Roland High Life's version is a little bit grittier while still keeping the pop hooks of Wheatus' original. Plus, they've updated Noelle's boyfriend's car from an IROC to a Cybertruck, which is the best possible choice. Roland High Life says of their cover of "Teenage Dirtbag": "Why the hell did an ind...

Photo by Collin Heroux Nate Perry & Ragged Company were one of the biggest and most surprising discoveries for us at this year's Boston Calling. The Boston Americana outfit blew away everyone lucky enough to see them on the Orange Stage, and if you missed them, they just released a new single sure to clue you in on how great they are. "Tonight" is the definition of country-rock. It has all of the twang you need in a country song but with a rock edge and a fantastic guitar solo to boot. The band also injects some vocal harmonies that are sure to suck you in, along with some of the best written lyrics to come out of Boston this year. Plus, Perry's vocals have this amazing quality that is equal parts grit and smooth.  Nate Perry says of his latest single: “It was a fun song to write and it’s a fun song to play. The creativity that went into the whole song really illustrates how much we've been cooking lately. This song is a reminder that this band can blow the ro...

Les McCann was a mentor and collaborator of Joe Alterman and Mocean Worker (aka Adam Dorn), so the two decided to come together and record an album as a tribute to the late jazz soul legend. The first single off that collaboration is "Yay Yay Yay," a funky and soulful slice of jazz that is going to have a much wider appeal than just jazzheads. The song has a gloriously vintage vibe, and is fun in a way you may not typically associate with the genre. The song has a certain throwback and vintage quality while still sounding modern, which Alterman and Mocean Worker achieve by using both live instrumentation and sampling. It's reminding me of a more jazz focused version of US3's "Cantaloop." Even if you don't typically care for jazz, you owe it to yourself to check this one out. Joe Alterman says of the upcoming album: “The idea of music making people feel good and enjoy themselves is one of the things Adam and I definitely have in common. It's how we go...

Photo by Danny LeBlanc Swivel, the Boston band led by Damone's Noelle Leblanc, have released a cover of The Beach Boy's iconic "Don't Worry Baby" in the wake of Brian Wilson's death. It's a grungy take on the classic song while keeping every harmony intact. This is the kind of cover that would have been considered ironic in the 90's, but the sense of adulation for the original is very obvious. It's keeping the spirit of Wilson's original intact while putting their own spin on it. For me, this is the perfect kind of cover song, and it's a testament to just what was lost with Wilson's passing. It's a perfect song, and a worthy cover of the original. You can listen to Swivel's cover of "Don't Worry Baby" below. For more on Swivel, check out the band on Instagram  and Facebook .

Photo by Taryn Segal New York City's Tchotchke might end up being our favorite musical discovery of 2025, and their latest single will show you why. Personally, I've always been obsessed with the girl groups of the 1960's, and "Poor Girl" shows the trio channeling that sound into something new. The song also showcases vintage keys that are similar to those found in ? and the Mysterians songs, but without the garage rock insanity. "Poor Girl" is overflowing with some of my personal favorite styles, merging girl group vocals and harmonies with vintage garage rock in this fun and fairly chilled out sound, but Tchotchke never truly sound like a throwback act. They've taken classic styles and remade them into something fresh and modern with vintage vibes. Emily Tooranen (guitar/vocals) says of the band's new single: “We confined ourselves to creating the personas of three ungrateful and out-of-touch girls with complete stories in the span of four line...

Photo by Jimmy Del Ponte For their latest single, "Boston indie shapeshifters" Viruette have enlisted Layzi for a song called "PUNKTURED." Based on the name and the fact that it's all caps would make you assume it's a hard and fast punk rocker with lots of thrashy guitars. Instead, the pairing have given us a bizarro take on neo-soul. The song is ultra chill and heavy on groove that will make you want to dance instead of mosh. And that's before Layzi comes in with her vocals. If you haven't been won over by that point, it will be impossible not to be enamored with the song by then. "PUNKTURED" takes the updated Britpop sound we loved about Viruette's first single, adds in some heavy groove, and leaves us desperate to hear what they do next. Frontman Harry Bee says of his band's latest single: “Our first album was filled with songs about analysing moments from some remove. PUNKTURED is about inhabiting the beating heart of a moment, ...

Photo by Stefaan Temmerman Belgian shoegaze band Slow Crush have a new single out that helps define the heavy shoegaze genre. "While You Dream Vividly" starts out as quiet as a lullaby before it kicks in with enough force to knock a listener backwards. The traditional wall of sound blasts you back with fuzzed out guitars and pounding drums before occasionally relenting to let you catch your breath. It's also the type of song that is loud and heavy without being fast. Despite all the noise and volume, "While You Dream Vividly" is a gorgeous song for those that find beauty in noise. Slow Crush always seem to provide us with special auditory treats in the way that only they can. Even by their usual standards, this one is a delight. Slow Crush says of their latest single: “We wanted to capture the sensation of being tethered to someone yet drifting weightlessly, lost in the surreal beauty of the moment."  You can watch the video for "While You Dream Vividl...

Photo by Rachel Lipsitz Orcutt Shelley Miller is the trio of Bill Orcutt (Harry Pussy), Steve Shelley (Sonic Youth), and Ethan Miller (Howlin Rain, Comets on Fire). The trio just released a new single off their debut album, and considering the pedigree involved, "A Star is Born" is a surprisingly straightforward rock song. That's not to say that it's not experimental, but that label is subjective. This is a fuzz-heavy six-plus minute epic of rock that dabbles in roots and wouldn't sound that out of place during a Neil Young concert. It's also trippy as hell, which you would also kind of expect. "A Star is Born" is a great introduction to an all-star trio that we'll hopefully be bringing you a lot of in the weeks to come. You can listen to "A Star is Born" below. Orcutt Sheley Miller's self-titled debut album is due out September 5 on Silver Current Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . Upcoming tour dates are be...

Photo by Copper Taylor-Bogaars Melbourne/Naarm's Folk Bitch Trio continue releasing some of the most beautiful music of 2025. Their latest single, "Moth Song," focuses on their vocal harmonies with minimal instrumentation. Despite being a mostly vocal track, it doesn't feel very folky. It has roots in Americana, but the song also includes some R&B and indie pop styles, all while focusing on the vocals of Gracie Sinclair, Jeanie Pilkington, and Heide Peverelle. It also has a very lush sound while still coming across as DIY. "Moth Song" showcases the three vocalists with a perfectly minimal instrumentation to accentuate the entire thing. Folk Bitch Trio are continuing Australia's tradition of phenomenal and unique artists. Gracie Sinclair says the song is about  “being so spun out by everything that you feel like you’re delusional and hallucinating crazy things.” You can watch the video for "Moth Song" below. Now Would Be a Good Time is due o...

Artist : Tropical Fuck Storm Album : Fairyland Codex Quick Thoughts : Tropical Fuck Storm gives me the feelings a lot of weird, angular indie acts in the early 2000s did in that they're provocative and undefinable and yet compelling no matter what. This new album is more of what I expect, with what might be considered a more polished approach than their previous efforts. Either way, when the songs hit hard they hit hard and I'm glad we have a new album from them. Songs of Note : "Irkandji Syndrome," "Goon Show," "Bloodsport," "Moscovium," "Bye Bye Snake Eyes" Artist : Lukas Nelson Album : American Romance Quick Thoughts : I don't know on first listen whether ditching The Promise of the Real was purposeful, but I do know that this feels more traditionally country than Lukas Nelson's full-band efforts, and songs like "Ain't Done" are truly some of his best work so far. Worth your time. Songs of ...

Photo by Frances Carter We've been huge fans of The Beths for years now, and we're obviously thrilled to being you new music from the New Zealand indie rockers. Today is one of those thrilling days as the band has released a new single, "No Joy." This fits right into the indie rock meets pop sound that we've always loved from The Beths. It's catchy with lyrics and hooks that are just begging to be sung along to. It does show a little bit of a new sound from the band, with the jerky feeling of post-punk and some New Wave-esque moments as well. "No Joy" may in fact be the most fun song about the numb feeling from taking an SSRI that we've heard in ages. The Beths' bandwagon has been pretty packed for quite some time now, but we've been enjoying our time on it and wouldn't trade for anything. Singer/guitarist Elizabeth Stokes says of her band's latest single: "It's about anhedonia, which, paradoxically, was there both in the...

Photo by Alex Cox How are Superchunk still this good in 2025? The Chapel Hill, NC indie rock legends have been releasing music for over thirty years, and their latest single, "No Hope," stands right up there with the classics. Superchunk have long mastered making incredibly catchy indie rock songs that border on pop rock, which is exactly what this new song is. It's also easy to see why they've been considered forbearers of emo on this one. For a song called "No Hope," it's surprisingly upbeat and kind of hopeful. Superchunk's guitarwork has never been better than it is here, and it's the rare new song that the audience will be just as jazzed to hear live as they will be the classics.  Mac McCaughan says of his band's upcoming album: “It’s always been the case that everyone is going through something that you may not be aware of. This is currently more true than ever—but also the case that we are  all  going through some things together. In t...