If It's Too Loud...

Photo courtesy Smitt E. Smitty Smitt E. Smitty is originally from Detroit and now resides in Boston, and his latest single with The Fezztones is an ode to his two cities. "Motor City Yankee" might be the most straightforward garage rock song of his we've covered. Of course, that's relative, so this new song still has plenty of Smitty's trademark unique take on garage rock. It's a loud rock song that references Alice Cooper, MC5, and Mission of Burma. It has the power of Detroit rock and roll with the clever side of Boston's more indie rock side. "Motor City Yankee" is a fun rock song, and sometimes that's what it's all about. Smitt E. Smitty says of his latest single: “Many people in both the Detroit and Boston music community know of me, but they don’t really KNOW me. I thought this would be a great way to get under the hood, and really show everyone what drives me. Both cities are part of my DNA. I decided a song referencing that fact w...

Photo by JJ Gonson Beloved indie rockers Team Dresch have a new single out from their comeback album, and it's one of the finest of the year. "Growing Underground" is a killer song from the queercore icons, filled with buzzing guitars and gang vocals. The song lands somewhere between 90's indie rock and punk, which is one of my favorite places for music to land. The drums are driving, the guitars seem to just be waiting to explode, and everything comes together into a big noisy finale. Team Dresch are one of those bands that have fallen under my radar for most of their existence, and I've always meant to give them more of a listen. "Growing Underground" just proves that I've big time dropped the ball on them. Team Dresch says of their latest single: “ Boiled down to its core, ‘Growing Underground’ imagines a future rooted not in fear, but in love.  It’s a place of germination. It’s the root system. The mycelial network. The place where growth begins ...

Photo by Jonathan Hislop Today Junior has one last single out before their new album is released next month. "Werewolves of Boston" is the perfect song for those of us that are already preparing for Halloween while still enjoying the end of summer. It's an indie fuzz-rock song steeped in surf rock, with some power pop harmonies. This song is a lot of fun, and with the word "werewolves" and "Boston" right in the title, we're not going to be able to resist it. The song has a light and cheery sound, which isn't usually associated with the city of Boston. It chugs along daring you not to dance, and by the time the chorus kicks in, you'll be won over.  Today Junior say of their latest single: "A song about when the 9-to-5 day ends, the nighttime begins and your inner wild child takes over. When the sun sets and you find your way to the Allston basements, dive bars, and local shows. When the drudgery and obligations end, the creatures come o...

Photo by Alissa Anderson True to its name, the latest single from The Odyssey Cult is a monster. "Leviathan" is a massive, psychedelic indie rock meets classic rock song that somehow sounds like the deep ocean. It has a certain Crazy Horse sound to it, along with folk elements and a theatrical feel. It feels much bigger than it's five minute run time, and packs an epic song into that relatively short length. It's vocal harmonies paired with giant guitar feedback and pounding drums. "Leviathan" is the kind of song where you won't be able to pick out your favorite element. Every part of the song has its own chance to shine, and every instrument and player is integral to making the song work. The Odyssey Cult are a supergroup that takes equal pieces from all of its members' other bands are creates its own, familiar sound. Ethan Miller (also of Howlin Rain) says of their latest single: “'Leviathan' takes me to the wild rugged ocean beaches of Nor...

Photo by Robert Macaisa for Off the 405, Courtesy of Getty Museum Leenalchi just released an EP in June, and the Seoul based seven-piece band is already back with new music. "Crying Softshell Turtle" is a psychedelic thrill ride, with elements that are both traditional and futuristic. This makes sense since the band's upcoming album is a retelling of an eighteenth century Korean epic, and is an update of pansori, a centuries old form of music. It's going to inspire both wild dancing and standing there with your mouth agape. It's as fun as it is mind-blowing, and not every band can pull that off. "Crying Softshell Turtle" literally brings Korea's past into the future. You can watch the video for "Crying Softshell Turtle" below. Sugungga is due out October 2 on Luaka Bop, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Leenalchi, check out the band's website . Upcoming tour dates are below the video and include October 31 at The Drake i...

Photo by Zoe Hopper Gollylagging are an underground favorite around Boston. Those that know them love them, and they just announced their debut album. Their latest single, "Comet," is a great indie rock song is everything we love about indie rock without really sounding like anyone else. It's overflowing with fuzz, which is layered upon the entire song. It's also oddly melodic and includes some New Wave elements. It's very drone-y and monotonous, but in a great way. Gollylagging may be Boston's favorite secret, but they won't be for long if they keep making music this great. Jules Skiffington (vocals, guitar) says of his band's latest single: " There’s a fun reference to the opening of 'Blood Meridian' in there, how the main guy is born under an especially crazy meteor shower which is supposed to portend him being a crazy violent guy." You can watch the video for "Comet" below. Real Life is due out October 16 on Disposable A...

Boston seems to have a high concentration of bands right on the verge of breaking out not just locally but nationally, if not internationally. One of the most on the verge artists is Layzi, who just released a new EP last week. if i never go outside  is a three song collection of "lo-fi indie bedroom pop." It starts off with "iingo," a laid back song that might be a little too pop to be dream pop, but just barely. All three songs on if i never go outside have a sense of longing and nostalgia, and create an ambiance that is quite irresistible. "bored" is a song that combines trip hop with the early days of autotune, and, as someone who hates ninety-nine percent of songs that even sound like they're using autotune, this one is great. My personal favorite is "get in control," which shows off the more trippy side of "lo-fi indie bedroom pop." Layzi are one of the best doing it in Boston, if not the entire country. You can listen to if i...

Mexico City's Tia Rosa has a new single out that might be one of the most unique musical styles we've heard in a while. "Jardin De Risas" has a very DIY/bedroom pop feel. It might be the most non-pop pop song we've ever covered. It's a laid back song that combines ambient with possibly some jazz and cumbia, while still being pop music. It's the kind of pop music that pop fans will hate, but more experimental fans are going to love. The song kind of meanders around with instruments floating in. The result is kind of spooky and oddly beautiful. You can watch the video for "Jardin De Risas" below. Thirteen Automatic Dreams is due out November 6 on Perennial/K Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on Tia Rosa, check out the band on Instagram .

Photo by Lucy Marriot R Loomes is the doom folk project of Sheffield based artist Rachel Loomes. Their latest single, "The Self Demands a Reckoning," sounds more like what I expect when I hear of doom folk. It still has the same beauty as last month's "Passerine," but this latest single sounds darker. There's also an element to the song that makes it feel almost ancient. It has the vibe of an almost medieval song made with modern production and instruments. "The Self Demands a Reckoning" starts off relatively quiet and dark, and builds into a metal adjacent crescendo. If dark music is your thing, R Loomes is going to be exactly what you need. Rachel Loomes says of "The Self Demands a Reckoning": "It's a sort of personal prayer, attempting to split off from the intellectual mind and move into the body allowing it to be the main source of reason. Attempting to shed the generational load and navigate the world a free spirit." Y...

Photo by Milan Zrnic Whenever Imperial Teen returns with new music is a big deal, so we're thrilled to have them back with "Overdrive." Somehow the band still sounds just as vital and modern as they did in the 90's (which, to be fair, could be my age, but I don't think so). It's oddly timeless, and sounds like it could have been released at any time in the past three decades. It's indie rock, but in a glammy way. The song is wonderfully groovy, and just feels like the hippest summer of all time. "Overdrive" is fuzzy, it's fun as hell, and it's impossibly cool. Welcome back, Imperial Teen. We couldn't be happier to have you. Jone Stebbins (bass, vocals) says of the band's upcoming album: “For the last few records, the process has been similar. We live great distances away from each other, so initially, we get together to collaborate, write, and create. When we have enough material, we reconvene to record. Both scenarios, creating a...

New York's Whisper Doll have a mesmerizing new single out. "So Sweet" is a hazy and dreamy indie rock track that leans into dream pop and possibly even shoegaze. If it is shoegaze, it's a much quieter version, with Fiona Tagami's vocals barely above a whisper. To me it sounds like if The Sundays decided to dabble in shoegaze without losing their own sound. "So Sweet" feels warm, but also has a cold, uncomfortable side as well. It lulls you into feeling safe while making you a tiny bit hesitant. It's also simply a fantastic song that makes me feel like Whisper Doll will become a favorite around here. Fiona Tagami says of her band's latest single: “I wrote this song right after spending a week straight in the hospital after complications with a surgery. Once I got out of the bland, grey room, everything seemed brighter and sweeter. I wrote this on the porch of my childhood home in Atlanta. Around then, I ran into someone from high school I had a co...

Photo by Nate King Written in response to JD Vance's infamous "childless cat lady" comments, San Francisco's Wealthy Women have released "Atheist Wife." The song comes in at under two minutes and is a blistering song that mixes noise punk with hardcore and maybe even some metal. Unlike many other songs in those genres, the lyrics to "Atheist Wife" are front and center and very audible. Vocalist and songwriter Peter Sisk's vocals are more growled than screamed, and the song takes the whole modern protest music in a completely different direction. It takes a giant blanket statement and makes it personal, and the song also just straight up rocks.  Peter Sisk says of his band's latest single: "This song was inspired by two remarkable people; my wife and JD Vance. It's a reaction to the infamous 'childless cat ladies' attack by the Vice President in a 2021 interview on Fox News. I tried to capture the mix of anger and bemusement...

Some nights music can transcend the space you're in. This is especially true for shows that you don't have high expectations for. You go kind of on a whim, and end up being blown away by every artist you see. That was the case Saturday night at The Cantab Lounge with the triple bill of Ghais Guevara, student 1, and Cavalier. Cavalier opened the night. As with most indie hip hop shows, he played his backing music on a laptop. Usually that's not the best option, but Cavalier made it work. He has this ultra laid back flow that immediately engaged the audience. His style was very lo-fi in a way that only added to his sound. This was my first experience even hearing Cavalier, and I was a fan by the time he left the stage. Up next was student 1. Much like Cavalier, he had an incredibly laid back style. With someone manning his laptop, he came on stage almost immediately after Cavalier and kept the music going. Even the songs he introduced by saying they were aggressive or dance s...

Photo by Will Stockwell Veteran performer Seasick Steve has a new blues rock single out, and it's pretty great. "Bootstraps" is a rollicking new single that blurs the lines between blues and rock 'n' roll. It's classic blues through a modern lens. That might be the most striking thing about this new song: As much as it's rooted in the past, it doesn't sound like a classic song. Something about "Bootstraps" sounds completely modern, and it's not just the subject matter. This is earnest blues rock, and Seasick Steve is one of the best currently doing it. You can listen to "Bootstraps" below. The Last Season of America is due out September 18 on Eastcote Records, and is available to pre-order here . For more on Seasick Steve, check out the artist's website .