If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Sydney Tate I wouldn't say that "Prepared to Lose," the latest single from Brooklyn's Ok Cowgirl, is a country track, but there are some country elements within the song. The song is more of a fuzzy, jangle pop track that reminds me of the bubblegrunge of the mid 90's, but even at its most indie rock, the guitars have an unmistakable twang. It's kind of like if Letters to Cleo decided to include a country song on Go!  It's so subtle that I would never have noticed (or admitted) that I liked a country-esque song in 1996, but 2026 me definitely notices. "Prepared to Lose" is a great song, and its' one of those styles we can't get enough of around here. Vocalist Leah Levigne says of the band's latest single: "This is is a song I wrote about dealing with hardship.  It’s a reminder that everyone has bad luck here and there. 'I’m prepared to lose' seems more pessimistic than my typical tone—and it almost felt uncomfort...

Photo by Mason Poole While we tend to think of Allison Russell as more of a folk artist, her latest single is far from that genre. "Cold April" features Kara Jackson, Denitia, and Explore! Pop Choir (Russell's daughter, Ida's, choir), and fits more into a pop category. It borders the line between mainstream pop and alt-pop, but either way it's a fun, and great single. It mixes plenty of soul and R&B into a pop sound, but pop is the dominant sound, especially once the choir kicks in towards the end. "Cold April" is anything but cold sounding. It's an upbeat and sunny track, and is going to have a strong appeal to a wide range of music fans. Allison Russell says of her latest single: "Things are rough. Things have been rough before.Cold April is not laying out the grim facts of the moment. Cold April asks if we can let the music itself restore and recharge us. The act of singing with my sisters, Kara Jackson and Denitia, is a balm for my soul,...

Photo by Travis Gillett You probably know Melanie Radford from Built to Spill and Blood Lemon, but now the bassist and vocalist is releasing a new solo album. The first single from that album is "Hangin' On," and it's a complete departure from her other two projects. The song is quiet and stripped down, and sounds like it is comprised mostly of vocals, bass, and cello (provided by Lori Goldston, known for her work with Nirvana). What the song lacks in volume it certainly makes up for in beauty and a certain captivating quality. "Hangin' On" captures your attention by being so quiet, and it's magical how its warmth washes over you. If you love Built to Spill and/or Blood Lemon, you're going to also love Melanie Radford's solo work. You can watch the video for "Hangin' On" below. For the Sake of Stillness is due out June 26 on Jealous Butcher Records, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Melanie Radford, check out the...

Photo by Caleb Gowett New Idea Society is a musical project featuring Stephen Brodsky (Cave In, Mutoid Man) and Mike Law (Wild Arrows, Eulcid). Their new single, "Lantern," is going to appeal to fans of their other bands without sounding like any of those other bands. Despite how laid back the song sounds, there is an underlying intensity throughout the track. It's both calming and energizing, and sounds like two artists pushing their sound forward. I get the feeling that Brodsky and Law are having fun experimenting on "Lantern." New Idea Society are an intriguing artist we can't wait to hear more from. Mike Law says that the band's new single  " ...evolved from one of the earliest demos for the album once we settled on a direction. The first few things I sent to Steve were a lot more visceral and raw than where we ended up. This one morphed into Steve’s lyrical vision and it was a cool and rare experience for me to sing someone else’s words ."...

Photo by Jeremy Quinn New York City's Slow Fiction have a new single out that is going to blow some minds. For the most part, "junior year" is a pretty straightforward alt-rock song. It's kind of on the mellow end while still having plenty of energy. To keep things interesting, the band injects some post-punk drone and some jangle pop-esque guitars into the song. It's rare to get a song that has this much mainstream and crossover appeal while still sounding unique and interesting. This is one of those songs that has you fully expecting Slow Fiction to end up being huge one day, and if they keep releasing music as great as "junior year," it won't take long. Singer Julia Vassallo says of her band's latest single: “‘junior year’ looks at the perspectives of two types of people: the one who wants to commodify or sell, and the other who wants to rebel against that notion while feeling intensely stuck in this machine of objectification. We've all b...

If you're of a certain age and of a certain musical taste, K Records means something near and dear to you. Our latest K Records discovery is Slippers. Led by Madeline Babuka Black, the band just released a new single, "Wasted Tonight." The song is based in 1960's harmonies and 90's indie rock sensibilities, which is one of our favorite combinations. The result is a jangle pop meets twee delight, and "Wasted Tonight" is deliriously irresistible. Babuka Black's vocals are pure harmony mixed with slacker, which is a sound I can't remember hearing. Plus, it has the most catchy "Actually..." you'll ever hear. You can watch the video for "Wasted Tonight" below. Slippers 08 is due out June 5 on K Records and Perennial Death, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . 

Photo by Jen Squires It may be out tomorrow, but we can't wait to hear the new album from Abigail Lappell, so here's one last single! Each song on Shadow Child represents one month of pregnancy, and "Whistle Song (One in a Million)" is the first song on the album. It's mostly a straightforward singer-songwriter/folk song... except for when it's not. Lappell has a special ability to make songs that skirt right up to the edge of traditional folk while still keeping the sound uniquely hers. "Whistle Song (One in a Million)" is a beautiful track that captures a distinct feeling of hope. Released just in time for Mother's Day weekend, Shadow Child is sure to be a special release. You can watch the video for "Whistle Song (One in a Million)" below. Shadow Child is due out May 8 on Outside Music, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Abigail Lappell, check out the artist on Instagram and Facebook . Upcoming tour dates are below th...