If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Lyndsey Byrnes With their upcoming seventh overall studio album, the highly influential band Failure will have released more albums since reuniting in 2014 than they did during their first run. The first single from that album, "The Air's on Fire," shows the band expanding their sound while still being rooted in what has always made them great. The song is a dark and moody one that is always threatening to explode but never quite does. This is an example of 90's alt-rock meets art rock at its very finest. It's the kind of song that could easily have come out thirty years ago, but that doesn't mean it sounds dated. After the first listen, "The Air's on Fire" will sound like a killer alt-rocker from a 90's band that hasn't lost a step at all. The more you listen, the more complex Failure get on the single, and the more the song reveals itself to you. Ken Andrews says of his band's latest single: “That song is directly about my ...

Two legends of underground/experimental music, Thurston Moore and Bonner Kramer (fka Kramer) have collaborated on an upcoming album. The first single from that album, "Urn Burial," is a trippy and drone-y four minute musical experiment. There's an organ reminiscent of classic garage rock, along with percussion that seems to be doing what it wants, and noisy guitar threatening to drag everything down with it. As you would expect, "Urn Burial" is certainly not going to be for everyone, but if you are familiar with both or either artist, you're probably going to be into the song. Moore and Kramer are legends for a reason, and this latest project shows exactly why. Thurston Moore says of his upcoming collaborative album with Bonner Kramer: “This album is our duo-exchange for human dignity, it is our soul music for any semblance of a peaceful planet.”   You can watch the video for "Urn Burial" below. They Came Like Swallows - Seven Requiems for the Chil...

Artist : Dream Nails Album : You Wish Quick Thoughts : A fun, fuzzy February listen, I didn't really know / remember Dream Nails before Ken sent this one over and it is just a really great alt-rock record. "This is Water" is a standout, for sure, but I definitely want to highlight "House of Bones," which has some great harmonization with the mechanically great instrumentation. Don't sleep on this one. Songs of Note : "This is Water," "Organoid," "House of Bones," "The Information" Artist : Ratboys Album : Singin' to an Empty Chair Quick Thoughts : Ratboys are always pretty great, but this new album feels like a massive step forward for them in all the best ways. In an era where bands like Wednesday can flit between genres without a moment's notice, Ratboys somehow finds a way to ensure their roots-informed indie rock remains consistent even when leaning further into any particular direction. Hone...

"victorious" is a piano driven protest song celebrating the people if Minneapolis in the wake of the city's federal occupation. Written and performed by Minneapolis resident Zaq Baker, the song is epic in scope despite how forceful the words are. As much as it would be defined as a protest song, it's actually quite the opposite. It's more about the people of the city that are standing up for themselves and their neighbors than it is about the atrocities being committed regularly. While angry songs about current events are needed and welcome, sometimes you need something hopeful so that you don't get pulled down by the dystopia we're all living in. Luckily, Zaq Baker has gifted that to us with "victorious."  You can listen to "victorious" below. The song is currently available over at Bandcamp . For more on Zaq Baker, check out the artist on Instagram . victorious by Zaq Baker

Photo courtesy TIFFY Boston's TIFFY has given us a true gift in her latest single. The "soft-punk" artist has covered Ace of Base's iconic 1993 single "The Sign." The song is done in the style of some of our favorite 90's cover songs. It's a fuzzed out rock version of the bubblegum pop track with all of the pop hooks left intact. It feels like it's been slowed down by a step, and this is a fun cover. Unlike similar covers from the 90's, TIFFY's is seemingly without any irony. It reminds me of Weakened Friends' cover of "Torn," and considering how much we love cover songs, let's hope this is the beginning of a new trend where our favorite 90's inspired modern indie rock artists cover the pop hits of the 90's. You can listen to TIFFY's take on "The Sign" below. The song is available now on Bandcamp. For more on TIFFY, check out the artist website . The Sign by TIFFY

You might know actor/musician Michael Des Barres through his time as Murdoc on MacGuyver , or from his rock and soul show on Little Steven's Underground Garage on Sirius/XM. Now, he has a brand new single out on Rum Bar Records. "Kiss or Kill Me" is a glam filled garage and punk rock song. It has the groove of the 60's with some of the venom of the 70's and 80's. This is a fun rock and roll song, and if you're a fan of the music on Little Steven's Underground Garage or Rum Bar Records, you're going to love "Kiss or Kill Me." The song is great, and then the guitar solo comes in and demolishes everything that came before it. It has that slickness you associate with glam with more than a little bit of the chaos that comes with punk.  Michael Des Barres says of his latest single: “It’s now or never. Really the song is an anthem of love – love me or leave me. You either bring love to life, or you're not living.” You can watch the video for...

Last week was a crazy week of amazing triple bills for me. The night before Valentine's Day was a truly can't miss show for me, with JVK hosting their second JVK Day show at Taffeta Music Hall in Lowell with two equally fantastic local bands: Tysk Tysk Task and The Ghouls! Opening the show was Lowell's own The Ghouls. They're always one of the most fun live bands out there today, and Friday night was no exception. They announced they were only playing love songs during their set, and then just rocked it out, setting the tone for the evening. They have mastered the art of playing loose and tight at the same time, and have an amazing mixture of 90's slacker cool while still playing unbelievably well. A huge help is that their fans always show out to their shows and match the bands energy. Even if you've never heard of The Ghouls before, it's impossible not to get swept up in the excitement between the band and their fans. Plus, they closed with a wonderfully 9...

Photo by Cortney Morentin Oakland's Sophia Yau-Weeks is set to release her debut album, and has an excellent new single from is/ "Nobody's Laughing" is a folk-inflected singer-songwriter track that exists in the worlds of indie rock and pop. Two of her inspirations and Big Thief and Nick Drake, and both are present in this single. It's beautiful, but in a sad and haunting way. There is still an interesting positivity in the song, particularly in Yau-Weeks' voice. It's a soft song that hits just as hard as the heaviest music you listen to. "Nobody's Laughing" is an engaging song that's going to require repeat listens, which you won't be able to resist. (Not that you'd want to...) Sophia Yau-Weeks says of her latest single: "I wrote the song over the course of two days -- my 26th birthday, and the day following. I was reckoning with the social isolation I was experiencing as an immunocompromised person and also pondering questi...

Photo by Greg Norton Minneapolis punk supergroup Ultrabomb (consisting of Husker Du's Greg Norton, Derek O'Brien of Social Distortion and Agent Orange, and Soul Asylum's Ryan Smith) has a new decidedly non-punk single out. "Look Forward in Anger" fits more into the subgenres of power pop and bubblegrunge. More than their previous bands, it's reminding me of a harder edged Big Star. It's filled with catchy harmonies and giant guitars, and sounds more like the 1970's than the 2020's. It's unbelievably bouncy, and comes across more upbeat than the subject matter. Of course, we could always use some positivity in 2026, so maybe the latest from UltraBomb is exactly the kind of punk we need right now. Greg Norton (bass and vocals) says of his band's latest single: “‘Look Forward In Anger’ is a commentary on how partisan politics push to divide us, when we should all be coming together. Love over BS, any day.” You can listen to "Look Forward ...

Photo by Jenna Connolly It's kind of a cliche of mine to say that an artist makes pop music that will appeal to indie rock snobs, but that has never resonated as strong as it does it Kerrin Connolly. The Boston based musician has a new single out that is unquestionably pop, but has a strong indie rock sensibility to it. "Flowers Pt. 1" is a truly great song. It starts off in the singer-songwriter realm before the pop hooks and melodies kick in. It might be the use of guitars that helps the song appeal to fans more interested in rock based music, plus Connolly has an unmistakable blues side to their vocals. As music continues to move away from strict genres, "Flowers Pt. 1" is going to suck in true music fans, regardless of what genre they typically lean towards.  Kerrin Connolly says of their latest single: "There’s also something to be said about just not believing that you’ve done something good, so when people compliment you on it, you can only perceive ...

Boston's Devil Love have a new single out that coincides with tomorrow's holiday. "Tell Me You Love Me" is a glammed up power pop single with roots in the 1970's side of both of those genres. It's an upbeat and swanky track that exudes joy (despite the subject matter) and melody. It's one of the grooviest rock songs we've heard so far this year. It sounds like a hybrid of T. Rex and Big Star, with some country swagger and Boston indie rock sensibilities. The guitar solo captures the desperation of the song perfectly, and "Tell Me You Love Me" is a stomp-worthy banger. This is one sure to get stuck in your head for the rest of the weekend, but when a song is as great as the latest from Devil Love, you certainly won't mind. You can listen to "Tell Me You Love Me" below. The single is out now on The Sound Cove. For more on Devil Love, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram . They'll be playing at The Village Social Club ...

Photo by John Soa It's been a couple of years since we last heard from American Ocelot, but now the Boston band is back with a pair of new singles. "Dropped" and "Invisible Lines" are the kind of indie rock meets pop that we tend to go crazy for here at If It's Too Loud... The songs have strong roots in the 90's Boston alt-rock scene back when it was almost the next Seattle. It's that post-grunge/bubblegrunge sound where the guitars are still distorted and loud, but pop is starting to weasel its way in (not that we ever would have admitted that back then). American Ocelot still keep some of the indie rock grit on "Dropped" and "Invisible Lines," and you know those bands you bought a 7" from and then never heard again, but still love? That's what these songs sound like. Joanie Lynch (vocals, keyboard, and rhythm guitar) says of her band: “Band is family. I really love playing with people who are happy playing together! I a...

Photo by Alison Wonderland We're only two weeks away from Heavenly's first album in thirty years, and the UK legends have a new single for us to check out. "Scene Stealing" will remind you of why you always loved Heavenly, or make you an instant fan. It's a wonderfully twee song that's upbeat sounding and cheery. It's almost all pure harmonies and melodies, but there's this interesting edge just below the surface to keep the song from being too sugary. If you've always loved bands like The Magnetic Fields or Belle & Sebastian, "Scene Stealing" is going to make you dive headfirst into Heavenly's catalog while we wait for Highway to Heavenly. It's honestly like someone froze Heavenly in the 90's and dethawed them just when we need them the most. Rob Pursey says of his band's new single and video: "It looks innocent to start with, but it gets dark. Like a typical Heavenly song! ‘Scene Stealing’ is about YouTubers, so...

Last Friday, SkyTigers released their excellent new album Injustice for All. Wednesday night saw their album release show at Deep Cuts. Playing with them were two other bands I never would have expected to see play together, but it ended up working perfectly: Boston hardcore legends Tree and New Hampshire's favorite pop punks Hell Beach. Opening the show was Hell Beach. This was my first time seeing their new line up, without Megan Simon (Megan from Work) on keytar and vocalist Jordan Hill focusing solely on vocals. This new line up was every bit as killer as the previous one, and has an ever harder edge without keys. That being said, the songs are as catchy as ever, with fans right at the front of the stage shouting out to every word. As expected, Hell Beach were the most fun band on Wednesday night, and the extra edge to the songs ended up being unexpectedly welcome. They closed out the show with my personal favorite "Poison Mind," and I challenge anyone to find a punk ...

Hailing from Austin, Touch Girl Apple Blossom are getting ready to release their debut album, and from the first single alone, this could be one of our favorite releases of the year. "The Springtime Reminds Me Of..." is not only as sunshiny as the title suggests, but it's a wonderfully jangly single. The press release compares it to bands like Velocity Girl, The Feelies, and Juliana Hatfield, so you know we're going to be on board. It's just the right amount of quirky and twee, and fits right into the sounds like a lost 90's single sound that we can never get enough of. Besides the title, "The Springtime Reminds Me Of..." is the perfect sound for those of us who are desperately waiting for winter to be over, even though we still have about two more months. You can watch the video for "The Springtime Reminds Me Of..." below. Graceful is due out May 15 on K Records, and is available for pre-order on Bandcamp . For more on Touch Girl Apple Blo...

Photo by Backwoodz Studioz For their latest collaborative single, ELUCID and Sebb Bash have released "Make Me Wise," a haunting and tense new single. What makes the song stand out is the twinkling sample used, which could be beautiful and charming other artists' hands, but not with this pairing. Plus, ELUCID's understated flow forces you to focus on the song even more, getting drawn deeper and deeper inside. I can't say that "Make Me Wise" is horrorcore, but if this was included in a scary movie it would sound a little too on the nose. ELUCID continues to be one of the most unique voices in modern hip hop, and his pairing with Sebb Bash is perfection. You can listen to "Make Me Wise" below. I Guess U Had to Be There is due out March 13 on Backwoodz Studioz, and is available for pre-order here. For more on ELUCID, check out the artist on Instagram . Upcoming tour dates with Armand Hammer are below the song and include a September 23 show at Arts...

Photo by Alec Pugliese For their upcoming album, Washington DC's Ekko Astral get political... in a way that only they can. According to the press release, the beltway is burning , "... plays out like a vignette, with Ekko Astral beckoning listeners into their fictionalized version of The Beltway (the area within I-495), in which Adam Sandler is a god-president and the DMV has become a demilitarized zone, a wasteland run by butt rockers and Soundcloud rappers." The first single, "lil xan goes to washington," is a burst of post-punk chaos with an almost whimsical sound. I think this would fit into the "laugh so you don't scream" side of things, and the song is one of the most fun and party ready political anthems we've heard in the past year. It's weird calling this song fun, but it could be exactly what you need right now. The aggression does come bursting out in a blast of noise towards the end, giving the song an LCD Soundsystem meets Soni...

Photo by Mitch LaGrow Our favorite "soul-jazz-funk organ trio" is back with a brand new single. Parlor Greens just released "Drop Top," and it's an ultra chilled out slice of those three genres in one. The organ is a little extra prevalent in this new single, although all three musicians (Adam Scone, Jimmy James, and Tim Carman) are given time to shine. If you're unfamiliar with Parlor Greens, you may be wondering how engaging can an instrumental song with only guitar, drums, and organ be, which is fair. But that's the true magic of this trio. They don't reinvent the sound and style of jazz, soul, or funk. They've simply perfected it. You can listen to "Drop Top" below. Emeralds is due out March 27 on Colemine Records, and is available to pre-order here . For more on Parlor Greens, check out the artist's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the song. Mar. 18 - Santa Cruz, CA - Moe's Alley Mar. 19 - Sacramento, CA - Torch Club...