If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Ebru Yildiz Margaret Glaspy has something truly special with her latest single. "That Rose" is a top notch bluesy folk-pop/singer-songwriter track. It's polished with huge crossover appeal, and instruments kind of meander in and out as needed. But, despite how lush the song is and how many instruments are involved, there is something intimate about the song. It's easy to drown out the flourishes and only focus on Glaspy's vocals and guitar, almost as if she's singing just for you. No matter how big "That Rose" is, it feels like it's just for you and Glaspy. It's a unique talent from a fantastic singer-songwriter. Margaret Glaspy says of her latest single: “ Songwriting feels like running down a mountain for me, There are lots of snap decisions to be made so that you don’t break your legs. This song felt like that to make. Once I started it just kept picking up pace and I had to bob and weave so as not to fuck it up. It had a life and...

Doing Anything this Weekend? is a feature here at If It's Too Loud... where we feature some live shows in and on the far outskirts of the Boston area. Our main rules are that they have to be reasonably priced shows that you can attend last minute. They'll feature If It's Too Loud... approved bands, and we'll provide event links when possible. And since we're in outdoor music season, these events are weather permitting. If you're looking for last minute plans this weekend, we recommend: Friday May 10 The Forest Effect, Ruin the Night, and The Magic City at Warehouse XI, Somerville, MA Sarah Shook & The Disarmers and Nicolette and the Nobodies at The Cut, Gloucester, MA Fishbone's Angelo Moore, Threat Level Burgundy, and The Agonizers at Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center, Greenfield, MA Margaret Glaspy and Ryan Lerman at The Stone Church, Brattleboro, VT BURP, WarGraves, The Downhauls, and GhostWaves at Thirsty First, Lowell, MA Saturday May 11 Walte...

Artist : Sofia Talvik Album : Center of the Universe Quick Thoughts : We can't be objective about Sofia Talvik in these parts, but the good news is that we don't have to be. Center of the Universe is the latest album in a series of great, reliable folk records, and songs like "Too Many Churches" and "Two Thirds" present some of her best individual songs in a while. You can't go wrong with Sofia Talvik, and this is as great an entrypoint for her work as it is a wonderful addition to her already stellar catalog. Make sure you find time for it. Songs of Note : "Center of the Universe," "Two Thirds," "Meanwhile in Winnsboro," "Too Many Churches," "Broken" Artist : Beth Bombara Album : It All Goes Up Quick Thoughts : I hadn't heard of Beth Bombara before this August, and I need to say that this album was one of a few that blew my mind this month. There's a raw energy and sharp edge to this ro...

Photo by Ebru Yildiz It's always a joy to find an artist that puts their own spin on the whole singer/songwriter thing, and Margaret Glaspy is one of those artists. Her latest single, "Act Natural," has a whole 90's alt-rock singer/songwriter thing with a touch of the loud/quiet/loud thing and guitars that alternate between jangly and crunchy. Plus, Glaspy injects a little something that reminds me of Tom Waits. I can't quite explain it, but it's definitely there. (At least to me it is...) "Act Natural" is a fun and creative rocker infused with some 90's alt-rock goodness. It's going to be pretty near impossible to resist. Margaret Glaspy says of her new song: “‘Act Natural’ is about trying to play it cool when you meet someone remarkable. I wrote it in the afternoon in the back of a tour bus and the riff came separately when I got home. It is one of my favorite songs on the record to play live."  You can watch the video for "Act Na...

Photo by Josh Goleman It's obvious what the latest song from Margaret Glaspy is about based on the title. "My Body My Choice" is a protest song written in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v Wade. It's a bluesy song telling the stories of three women making the choices they have determined are right for themselves. It's the kind of song that can suck you in without you even realizing it's a protest song. You could easily hear this being played in a coffee shop and be grooving on it before noticing how vital and of the moment the song is. Margaret Glaspy says of her new song: “ ‘My Body My Choice,’ is a song of protest. Taking away resources from people who need abortions only leaves them with unsafe alternatives, and no one should be forced to experience that. It is absolutely necessary for any person who can give birth to consent to their own pregnancy. It feels absurd that we are still fighting this fight, but here we are. It’s your body, so it s...

The end of the world is bringing its A game for new music right now. Artist : Nine Inch Nails Album : Ghosts V: Together / Ghosts VI: Locusts Quick Description : Two new surprise entries in the Nine Inch Nails Ghosts canon. Why You Should Listen : It's ambient industrial done right. Overall Thoughts : I was thinking today that if you told me back in high school that the guy behind The Downward Spiral would be one of the best movie scorers in his era and that his more ambient efforts would be the things I'd love the most, I don't know how I would react. But here we are, in 2020, and Nine Inch Nails has quietly become one of the most essential artists of our time and the two surprises this week really show what makes Trent Reznor so important. There's no reason to miss this one anyway, but it's definitely one of the great listens of the week. Recommendation : A must-listen in any week, never mind this one. Artist : The No Ones Album : The Great L...