If It's Too Loud...

Artist : NewDad Album : Altar Quick Thoughts : This latest album from NewDad feels like a coming out party in a lot of ways: the production and performances are sharp and polished, and the songs are winners almost across the board. I was hooked within the first song, but tunes like "Misery" and "Everything I Wanted" changed this from a great listen to one of my favorites of the week. Perfect for fans of Mother Mother. Songs of Note : "Other Side," "Pretty," "Misery," "Everything I Wanted," "Vertigo" Artist : The Barbaras Album : Rollercoasters Quick Thoughts : The Barbaras, the indie duo of blog favorites Sallie and Weezy Ford, are back with a great little roots-influenced record that does exactly what one might expect it to do. It's been a few years since we heard from Sallie Ford, so anything new is more than welcome, but this new album is a good reminder of how well the two sisters are able to cra...

Photo by Haley Self The power of Saint Avangeline is that the Atlanta based artist is going to appeal to true music fans regardless of what genre of music they prefer. Her latest single, "Carolina Creature," might define the adjective "ethereal." It's a hazy version of pop music blended with hints of dream pop or shoegaze. It has the strong, almost universal pop appeal of Chappell Roan with the moody charm of Lana del Ray. Plus, there is just enough of an edge and fuzziness to the song that even us staunch indie rock fans are going to be drawn in by Saint Avangeline. Just in case you needed any other reason to love the song, the vibe and the fact that it's called "Carolina Creature" also make it perfect for your Halloween playlists. If there is any justice left in the music business, Saint Avangeline will be huge in 2026. Saint Avangeline says of her latest single: “On our first date we went to a lake and had such a lovely day; I remember them spin...

Pelea de Cantina are a punk band out of Mexico City. The trio's latest single, "No Spanish, No Service," is a just under two minute burst of thrashy hardcore. It wildly swerves between melodic singing and screaming, and even edges into metal territory occasionally. It's a noisy blast of music that cycles through multiple subgenres of punk at a rapid pace. Even if you don't typically enjoy hardcore, give this one a shot. Pelea de Cantina have a raw and just barely in control sound, and "No Spanish, No Service" is well worth your two minutes. You can listen to "No Spanish, No Service" below. Mú sica para preocuparse is due out October 24. For more on Pelea de Cantina, check out the band on Instagram . No Spanish, No Service by Pelea de Cantina

Photo by Michael Dubin While many people in the realm of punk release solo albums, they tend to be along the lines of acoustic/folky songs. That's not the case with Matt Pryor (The Get Up Kids), who just released a new single under the moniker Matt Pryor & The Salton Sea. "The Dishonesty" may have acoustic elements, but it's a straight up rock song with nary a hint of The Get Up Kids' Midwest emo sound. Longtime fans of Pryor's are going to find a lot to love in "The Dishonesty," as it is slightly emo adjacent. It's a little more chill than we're used to from Pryor while still being upbeat and almost pogo worthy. Matt Pryor says of his latest single: “This is a song about lying and hurting the people you love when you’re in the throes of addiction. I think Josh [Berwanger, director of the video for "The Dishonesty] really captured the insanity of how that feels."  You can watch the video for "The Dishonesty" below. The...

Photo by Lyndsey Topham Somehow it's been nine years since Winterpills have released an album, but the western Massachusetts band have a new one set to be released next month. The first single from that album, "Lean in the Wind," is a perfect reintroduction to the band. It's gorgeous chamber pop that also reaches into the world of dream pop, and is slightly folk adjacent. As with virtually any song from Winterpills, the true magic comes from the vocal harmonies between Flora Reed and Phillip Price. Those combined with the jangly guitars leads to an almost dreamlike state felt while listening to "Lean in the Wind." Welcome back, Winterpills. We're thrilled to have you. Flora Reed says of her band's latest single: “Philip wrote the first line of this song years ago but never finished it. I picked it back up and it became a sort of reverie, remembering the worst days of COVID when you pined for your friends and family.” You can listen to "Lean in ...

Photo by Kittie Krivacic Psych-pop supergroup Magic Fig (featuring members of The Umbrellas, Healing Potpourri, Almond Joy, Whitney's Playland, and Blades of Joy) sounds like what I'd expect a band from San Francisco to sound like in 2025. Their latest single, "Valerian Tea," has some deep roots in the glory days of 1960's psychedelia, the organs of vintage garage rock, and its all wrapped up in some modern indie pop. The song seems to float around the listener, undergoing sonic and tempo changes, while creating a surprisingly complicated yet poppy sound. If The Flaming Lips ever decided to reboot their Music Against Brain Degeneration tour, Magic Fig could be their very first call.  Inna Showalter (vocals/mellotron) says of her band's new single: “Valerian root extract was a popular remedy for anxiety and insomnia in Eastern Europe where I was born,  The song is an exploration of how I was shaped and influenced by the experiences of my maternal lineage. This ...

Photo by Tom White Leeds based post-punk/free jazz band Volk Soup are releasing their new album Friday, but we have one last single to share before then. "Friends" starts out more on the jazz end, and kind of reminds me of a laid back version of James Chance and The Contortions. And then it just erupts before going back to the chill if slightly off jazz style, giving new meaning to the whole loud/quiet/loud thing. Jazz doesn't usually rock as hard as it does in "Friends," but that's why we love Volk Soup. I can't think of any other band that combines free jazz and post punk in any way, let alone as well as it's combined here.  Harry Jones (vocals/guitar) says of the band's latest single: "A song written in a time between friendship. A time when I had drifted from the friends of my youth and had yet to meet the people I call my friends today. It was a bitter and resentful time. A time when a kindred spirit was hitherto unseen. These were the ...

It's October 1st, which means even the most anti-Halloween of you can no longer deny that it's officially spooky season! That means it's the perfect time for a pair of new songs from The Bacarrudas. The band has a new double EP coming out this Friday, but we can't wait two more days to bring you "She's in Love with Frankenstein's Monster" and "Phantom Creep." Both songs have that kitschy and vintage sound that I personally want with my Halloween music, but a slightly updated version of that sound. They're inspired by 1960's novelty Halloween songs but are hardly a complete throwback. While most people go for heavy metal, The Cranberries' "Zombie," and Fleetwood Mac for their Halloween playlists, we'll stick with the fun vibes of The Bacarrudas, because who can really resist a song called "She's in Love with Frankenstein's Monster?" You can listen to "She's in Love with Frankenstein's Mo...

Photo by Lotus Josephine The latest single from Mei Semones started off as a Japanese CD exclusive (Does anyone else miss those as much as we do?). "Itsumo" fits perfectly with the other songs on Semones' recently released Animaru. It's a light and gorgeous song that melds jazz with indie rock in a completely delightful way. It might be because it's been too long since I've listened to the album, but "Itsumo" seems to surpass the songs we've previously heard from it. It starts off twee and kind of adorable, which is what we're used to from Semones, and then it just grows and grows into an epic and stomping indie rock song. Relatively speaking, "Itsumo" could be the heaviest song in her catalog while fitting right in with her precious releases. Mei Semones says of her latest release: “‘Itsumo’ is the first song I ever wrote and recorded on a nylon string guitar. For me the song is about learning to be strong, and the strength that mu...