If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Eric Sabatino Hailing from Portland, OR are Rayon. The band has a new single out that's an ode to consumerism and travelling. "Shopping" is a disjointed post-punk song that's much more melodic than you typically get in the genre. It has all of the darkness you would expect, but with a sense of fun and of humor. This is post-punk that is edging into dream pop. The guitar and vocals combine to form an almost psychedelic sound as "Shopping" drones along for four minutes, in the best possible way. At times, the song sounds like an interesting mix of Sonic Youth meets The Las, and I don't even know how anyone wouldn't want that. Eric Sabatino of Rayon says of his band's latest single: “This was the first time we’ve engaged a 'professional' to work on our recordings. The education we received was immense, and Larry was kind with his explanations of everything we had previously done 'wrong' with our recordings, was willing to wo...

Photo by Titouan Masse Montreal psych-rockers Elephant Stone are keeping the psych-rock in their latest single, but adding a ton of pop to it. "Going Underground" is a jangle pop version of psychedelic rock. It's the kind of song that keeps frontman Rishi Dhir's fandom of The Who front and center, but it's more of a power pop song than The Who normally would get. It's definitely very 60's and 70's influenced, with some remnants of the 60's revival in the 90's that begat bands like Cornershop. Plus, "Going Underground" has one of the better pure guitar solos of the year so far, and who doesn't want that? Rishi Dhir says of his band's latest single: " Rock'n'roll was my late-night companion, the anthem of my adolescence.  I'd drift off to sleep with 'Live at Leeds' by The Who playing, tweaking the stereo so it was just the left speaker booming, coloring my dreams with John Entwistle's bass genius. Th...

Laurine Jousserand Montreal's Elephant Stone have released a new single that's perfect as wen get set to say goodbye to 2023. "Another Year Gone" is an under two minute little psych-pop song that doesn't sound like a single, but more like your favorite b-side on a beloved album. It has a very 1960's sound to it, while having a slightly more modern sound. To me it's kind of like Elliott Smith covering a track from The Monkees. It has an upbeat 60's vibe, but more in how bands sounded like that in the mid-90's.  Rishi Dhir says of his band's newest single: “In this repetitive existence, it was easy to become untethered, adrift in thoughts while feeling emotionally and physically suspended.  'Another Year Gone' is an anthem for these disorienting times. It's a narrative of contrasts—between those grappling with stress, fear, and economic hardship, and those who profited from the chaos. Above all, this song is a musical embrace, a reass...

Pete International Airport is a new project from Pete Holmstrom of The Dandy Warhols, and also features members of Mercury Rev, Brian Jonestown Massacre, and The Warlocks. Think about what you think that sounds like for just a minute... and you're most likely exactly right. Pete International Airport  the album is absolutely perfect for old school fans of The Dandy Warhols. The main difference is take out some of the poppier moments and add a whole boatload of trippy psychedelia. (Normally I feel bad comparing a side project to the members' main band so much, but they got their title from a song off The Dandy Warhols Come Down  which just might be the most Dandy Warhols move of all time...) The openng track, "Sweetheart Tattoo," is pure classic Dandy Warhols in a groovy slacker kind of way. "21 Days" is almost hard rock, and might be the closest to a radio single on the album, if that was still a thing. As the album progresses, the songs seem to lose the...