If It's Too Loud...

Photo courtesy Hayley and the Crushers We're used to the retro punk meets surf rock sound from Hayley and the Crushers, but their latest single changes that up quite a bit. The band recently relocated from California to Detroit, and "Blood and Treasure" harkens back to Hayley Crusher Cain and husband/bass player Dr. Reid Cain ESQ's origins in a country band. The new song has a 60's girl group goes country sound, and while it may be more laid back and country than we're used to, it still sounds like a Hayley and the Crushers track. Sure, it's country based, but it still has that girl group goes pop punk sound we love from our favorite "poolside glitter punks." Hayley Crusher Cain says of her latest single: " When two people get together, their love is totally unique. It creates an experience that can never be replicated. It's fitting that this EP hits hard in so many ways, but also has a slow and tender side (with 'Blood and Treasure...

Hailing from South Minneapolis, Loki's Folly consists of three siblings: Annie (twenty one, vocals and guitar), Nissa (sixteen, drums and vocals), and Oskar (twelve, bass). Now that their ages are out of the way, Loki's Folly play this odd and unique style of indie rock. Their new single, "Beaches and Peaches," has this playful and quirky quality that isn't quite like anything you've heard before. I'm going to attribute how unique the song is to their ages. Not because they haven't learned how play music, but more because they haven't learned how not to play. It's such an odd but fun arrangement of music. If I have to compare Loki's Folly to anyone, I would say it's a mash up of Jonathan Richman, Beat Happening, and The Shaggs.  You can listen to "Beaches and Peaches" below. Sisu is due out February 21 on Kitten Robot Records. For more on Loki's Folly, check out the band's website .

As much as an indie rock snob as I am, sometimes I just want a big fun rock song. Hayley and the Crushers are the perfect band for this need. The San Luis Obispo rockers have a new single out. "Taboo" is a fun rock song that's just a little punk and a ton of rock 'n' roll. It's the kind of song that you're going to love if you're into bands like The Donnas or The Go-Go's. It's also reminding me of an odd mixture of both Aurora Gory Alice era Letters to Cleo and Go! era Letters to Cleo. Plus, being from the Northeast, I tend to idolize California, and "Taboo" feels very California. You can watch the video for "Taboo" below. Modern Adult Kicks is due out September 13 on Kitten Robot Records. The album can be pre-ordered here . For more on Hayley and the Crushers, check out the band's website .

Photo by Thomas Ignatius For their latest single, "glitter trash punks" Hayley and the Crushers crank up the glitter part of their description. "She Drives" is pure 60's shimmery pop. It couldn't possibly get more bubblegum pop than this song. I've previously compared them to Letters to Cleo joins the Warped Tour, and the Letters to Cleo comparison sticks on this new one, but more Go! than before. It's a fun pop song with just enough of Hayley and the Crushers' punk edge to keep it interesting. As with any great pop song, the bubblegum sound does mask a much less cheery story. Hayley Crusher Cain explains the story behind the song: "I wrote 'She Drives' in the bathtub, after getting a stressed-out call from a friend who had just had a massive fight with her partner. This friend of mine is known to drive like a bat out of hell on a normal day. But after this particular fight, she drove and just kept driving, eventually ending up in Ma...

Photo by Thomas Ignatius Our favorite San Luis Obispo based melodic punks are back with new music! Hayley and the Crushers' latest single is the smoothest, most mainstream track we've heard from them so far, which isn't a bad thing. "Cul-de-Sac" is inspired by Ira Levin's 1972 book The Stepford Wives , so listening to it makes you very cultured. It's a mid-tempo alt-rock song that leans very heavily into pop territory but somehow still keeps that punk edge you want from Hayley and the Crushers. As lots of our favorite punk and rock bands start to edge into the world of pop with varying levels of success, they should take not of "Cul-de-Sac." This is how you do it right! Hayley Crusher Cain says of the new song: “Sure, we've let some muscles atrophy during COVID-19, but other parts of our music have deepened in surprising ways. 'Cul-de-Sac' represents our dive into the deep end of the pool. There is post traumatic growth to all of this...