If It's Too Loud...

Birthday Ass is a weird band. Their latest single, "Plubbage Blubbage," really cranks up the weird. It's a freak jazz/punk burst of horns and just noise. It starts off almost normal, like maybe a slightly weird Lake Street Dive song. And then everything gloriously goes off the rails into a world of art rock and free jazz. And then just keeps going. This is one of the few songs that both art punks and more open minded hippies could actually agree on. What makes it even stranger is that around the middle the song seems to get (relatively) normal, like if a mainstream rock band decided to try to make a noise record but didn't have the guts to go all in. But, don't worry, the weirdo jazz comes back for a grand finale!  Priya Carlberg (front-woman, composer, arranger, lyricist, spokeswoman) explains the new song... or doesn't:  “The meaning of the word plubbage is top secret so I can’t go there. This was the first song we had rehearsed for the album and I feel it e...

"Skrunk" is a genre name I've never heard before, but that's what a press release calls Birthday Ass. Their new single, "Sunlit Toes," is more of what we liked on "Blah." "Sunlit Toes" almost starts off normal. Almost. The song is this bizarre blend of jazz and indie pop/rock. It starts off like a more discordant version of bands like Rubblebucket or And the Kids, and then the horns kick in. Then it turns into a free jazz sounding hippie dance party. "Sunlit Toes" is another one of those songs that shouldn't work at all. It should be a complete unlistenable mess, and I'm sure there are those out there that will think of it that way. But they can't say Birthday Ass isn't one of the most unique and creative bands out there. This is one of those songs you really owe it to yourself to try out because it could very well turn into a diehard fascination. You can listen to "Sunlit Toes" below. Head of the House...

Photo by Omari Spears Joining the list of bands we're too old to admit we love based on their name alone is Birthday Ass. The band is comprised of members that met at the New England Conservatory. The jazz influence and background is audible in "Blah," but the song is not even close to being a standard jazz track. Instead it lives in the middle ground of noise punk and improvisational jazz, leaning more on the noise punk ide of things. It reminds me of a mixture of early, noisier Guerilla Toss and later, more party band Guerilla Toss. "Blah" is a weird, artsy, discordant, jazzy, rock song. It's one of those sounds that isn't going to be for everyone, but if this works for you, it's going to lead to a die hard obsession. You can watch the video for "Blah" below. Head of the Household is due out on April 23 on Ramp Local. You can pre-order a copy here . For more on Birthday Ass, check out the band on Facebook and Bandcamp .