If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Rick Perez Alternative cumbia/punk band Integra Pink lean more into their alt-rock side with their latest single. "Pink Nokia" is steeped in early 2000's nostalgia, including the sound of the song. It has that sound from when alt-rock and mainstream rock were interchangeable, although Integra Pink do add a little more of an edge to their song than you typically had back then. The track keeps just enough of their punk cumbia sound to keep things interesting, and it only gets better as the song goes along. It particularly gets better towards the end when there's an interesting cumbia heading towards the end. Integra Pink have proven to have one of the most diverse sounds around these days. Leo Mendez (vocals, guitar) says of his band's new single: “I think PINK NOKIA is a song about two people with opposing attachment styles and how that dynamic works.  I know it can be frustrating for both parties when they feel as though they’re not being understood or th...

There seems to be a resurgence of art punk lately, and Toronto's Bad Waitress are one of our favorites for the genre. Their latest single, "I Only Like You When I'm Drunk," is a burst of noisy aggression that masks a surprising amount of melody. It's an in-your-face song that is equal parts L7 and Sonic Youth. As bludgeoning and fiery as the song is, it doesn't feel like it's too much so for a more mainstream audience to appreciate. It's filled with pounding drums and guitars that swirl like buzzsaws. The only true debate for "I Only Like You When I'm Drunk" is if metalheads or punks are going to embrace it more. You can watch the video for "I Only Like You When I'm Drunk" below. In the Hollow is due out October 30 on Stomp Records, and is available to pre-order here . For more on Bad Waitress, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram .

Photo by Puma Ptah If you were a hipster in the mid to late 90's, you're going to love the latest from Eric Hilton. The trip hop pioneer and Thievery Corporation member's latest single, "Promise Me," features vocals from Argentinian singer Natalia Clavier and takes the ultra-chill vibe of trip hop and mixes it with the retro cool sounds of the 60's. Trip hop and was cresting thirty years ago, and we were awash with a 60's and 70's revival, and I remember my college radio station getting a ton of CDs of reissues of lost groovy classics. Hilton combines those two musical styles on "Promise Me," and the results are even cooler than you're imagining. For those of us needing some retro cool in our lives, this one is a revelation.  Eric Hilton says of his latest single: "I'm intrigued by music that can exist both in the foreground and the background, you just put it on and let it vibe and seep in, in its own way,” Hilton says. “But if ...

Boston's Proles are imploring listeners to listen to their latest single after dark, and that pretty much sums up "Night Stalker." It's an intense darkwave song that puts the emphasis on dark. It's very dance friendly... if that's your sort of thing. If you love darkwave, you're going to love this song. It leans into the more rock side of the genre, particularly with the guitar. As much as the song rocks and has an upbeat tempo, "Night Stalker" is dark. Spooky doesn't even begin to describe the mood for this single. This is the perfect song to play over the end credits of a horror movie where the villain wins. It's an ideal reminder of why we love Proles so much. You can listen to "Night Stalker" below. The song is currently available via Bandcamp . For more on Proles, check out the band on Instagram  and Facebook .

Photo by Brittany Rose Queen The latest from Effi is getting compared to Jeff Buckley quite a bit (I'm hearing similarities to "Lover, You Should've Come Over"), and I certainly can't argue with the comparisons. "Soul Lovers (Quartet)" is an art rock meets soul single propelled by a string section. While most songs with this level of strings tend to be quiet, this one is boisterous and epic in scope. Even with the comparisons to Buckley, the Boston based artist has crafted a unique sound and powerful sound. The song lands somewhere within and in between alt-rock, folk, and chamber music, making a thrilling sound that open minded music lovers are going to adore. "Soul Lovers (Quartet)" starts off familiar before evolving into Effi's very own sound. Effi says of her latest single: “It's about the longing we all have. Time moves forward, places change, people change, and you can't go back. But we all have the longing to. In Plato's...

Photo by Luis B Charris The latest from Boston's JATK stretches the artist's sonic oeuvre while still sounding like him. The project from Matt Jatkola released "Feel Today!" today, and it's a kind of bonkers noisy pop-rocker. It's a little electronic pop and a little noise rock, but all undeniably catchy. Even with all the fuzz layering the song, the star seems to be the keys and synthesizers, which will fully suck you in. JATK has always had this ability to make oddball pop songs that are going to appeal to indie rock fans, mostly because his songs are rooted in that genre. This one is reminding me of The Rentals meets Bleu, and "Feel Today!" ends up being ridiculously fun. Matt Jatkola says of his band's latest singe: “‘Feel Today!’ is about feeling apathetic, uninspired, alone, and tired in a world that takes, expects, and doesn’t always give much back. At least, that’s how it feels sometimes. It’s a messed-up place and I feel messed up in it;...

Photo by Jeff Coggins I was never a fan of the movie Empire Records . Maybe I was too old, but it never worked for me. However, I loved the soundtrack, which included Gin Blossoms, The Cranberries, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Innocence Mission, Evan Dando, and more. One of the more was Ape Hangers, with their killer track "I Don't Want to Live Today." The band released their debut album on A&M Records, but were dropped due to budget cuts. In 1998 they relocated to Boston and self-released a self-titled follow up... and then kind of faded away.  Now, they're back with new music. The first single off their upcoming album is "Miss You Girl." It's less 90's alt-rock than "I Don't Want to Live" and more garage rock/power pop, but if you have fond memories of their soundtrack contribution, you're going to find a lot to love here. It's upbeat and catchy, with just the right amount of noise and distortion. It has that quality to it t...

Photo by Austin Huck This one almost slipped by us, but it's much better for October, so it all works out. The Devil's Twins have a new single out, and we think you're all going to love it. "Don't Fear the Dark" is the Boston band at their finest. It's a theatrical garage rock song, with a giant chorus and lyrics begging to be yelled at the top of your lungs at a live show. They've always been at their best with a horn section, and "Don't Fear the Dark" has a fantastic horn solo. It's dark, it's groovy, and it grabs your attention just as much as it demands you move. Even the naysayers have to admit we're in spooky season, and The Devil's Twins are the perfect ones to help usher it in. You can listen to "Don't Fear the Dark" below. Still Soulless is due out November 13, and is available for pre-order here . For more on The Devil's Twins, check out the band's website .

"For Andy Bernard" was originally written back in 2017, inspired by the character's quote in The Office finale about wishing you knew when you were in the good old days. Puppy Pile went on hiatus in 2021, and returned in 2025. They finally recorded a version of the song, and it's out now. The Philadelphia band have crafted a song that's a modern take on classic Midwest emo. (It even includes a sample of the dialogue from the show, just to add an extra Midwest emo feel.) It's a slow to midtempo track that is still anthemic in its scope. It's sure to induce nostalgia, either by its sound, subject matter, or reference to a beloved TV show. You can listen to "For Andy Bernard" below. The single is out now on We're Trying Records. For more on Puppy Pile, check out the band on Instagram .

2026 marks the twentieth anniversary of Free Dirt Records, one of my personal favorite roots/Americana labels. To celebrate, they're releasing The Long Memory: 20 Years of Free Dirt Records , featuring unreleased songs from the label's vault. The first single from that release comes from Viv & Riley and Rachel Baiman, who cover Western Centuries' 2016 song "The Long Game." Knowing the artists involved, it's a safe assumption that the cover will be a little more folky than the original. Western Centuries' original is a little more rock and roll and more upbeat, while the cover is more subdued and more downtempo. It's one of those covers that sees Viv & Riley and Rachel Baiman stay completely true to the original while adding their own unique spin on the song. We're always sure to check out any release from Free Dirt Records, so we're looking forward to checking out the compilation in November. Viv & Riley say of their new cover: “‘Th...

Photo by Saeka Shimada Mei Semones continues to have one of the most unique musical sounds out there today. If you loved her previous releases, you're going to love "Howl." The song, inspired by dogs howling at fireworks on the 4th of July, keeps her trademark sound of jazz and bossa nova meet indie rock intact. The song feels like a dream as it flows seamlessly between styles and tempos, bringing the listener on quite the sonic trip. At times "Howl" sounds like the most complicated and layered pop song you've ever heard, and listening to anything from Semones is a true delight. This is the kind of song that makes me wish The Flaming Lips would revive their Music Against Brain Degeneration Tour, because Semones would fit right in. Mei Semones says of her latest single: "sometimes making music feels like howling into the universe. I make music because I like it, because it feels instinctual — but it also connects me to people close and far. I like to thi...

Chicago's NO MEN are back with a new single, and buckle up for this one. "BADDIE" is a noise punk that borders on mainstream alt-rock. To me it's sounding like if Local H or Death from Above 1979 decided to fully cut loose. This is raw and chaotic rock and roll that's going to hit you in a primal way. However, NO MEN do something interesting with "BADDIE," in that as chaotic and loud as the song is, it's also pretty accessible to a mainstream audience. The guitar seems to hold the same power as The Stooges, but in a kind of pop leaning way. It's been a while since we've brought you new music from these folks, and we're thrilled to have them back! You can watch the video for "BADDIE" below. The single is available now via Bandcamp . For more on NO MEN, check out the band's website . They'll be opening for heavens to betsy on November 15 at The Empty Bottle in Chicago, IL.

Photo by Hank Wilson Brooklyn's smush are an indie rock that have a new drum and bass influenced single. "milkweed butterfly" is one of the most unique and intriguing songs we've brought you in a while. It's primarily a shoegaze meets indie rock track, except for the fast drum and bass electronic beats. Plus, bassist/vocalist Emily Borrowman's vocals would be at home on a pop track, so smush has a lot going on with this one. "milkweed butterfly" could easily have been a mess with so many disparate musical elements, but the band crafted something unique and fantastic with their sound.  You can watch the video for "milkweed butterfly" below. i'll always wish is due out January 22. For more on smush, check out the band on Instagram . Upcoming tour dates are below the video and include October 6 at The Rockwell in Somerville, MA with she's green. 09/30 - Indianapolis, IN - The HiFi % 10/01 - Detroit, MI - Crypt at Sanctuary % 10/02 - Wi...

Photo by Sonia Balzak Pauli the PSM is Pauli Lovejoy, the musical director for Harry Styles, Florence & The Machine, and Saturday Night Live UK. The artist has a new single out that takes British hip hop and adds a little pop into it. "girl with a nose ring" is a smooth song that meshes hip hop and modern R&B. Sure, that has been happening for well over thirty years now, but Lovejoy adds just a little something unique to the style. There's an edge to "girl with the nose ring" despite how smooth it is. Musically, the song has a lot in common with late 90's alt-rock when dance started edging its way in. This one is a lot of fun, and you'll want to join us in following Pauli the PSM after hearing it. Pauli the PSM says of his latest single: "At its heart, 'girl with the nose ring' is about letting go of being cool enough to actually feel something. There’s a tension between pretending love is a joke and realising I might be caught in i...