If It's Too Loud...

Boston's Westbound Train have been at it since 2001, and the ska/soul band are back with new music. "Slippery Slope" is as chill as ska can be, and Obi Fernandez's vocals are as much the focus as the horns (which is very rare in this genre). It's the infusion of soul into the music that keeps Westbound Train standing apart from their peers. Even if you never went through a ska phase or feel you've outgrown the genre, "Slippery Slope" is going to appeal to you. It's been said that Riot Fest is the Warped Tour for people with mortgages and kids. In that case, Westbound Train are the same for ska. Obi Fernandez says of the band's new single: “ ‘Slippery Slope’ is a reminder to keep showing up, even when life feels heavy.  The truth is, it’s sweeter when we’re fully here—alive, aware, and present in the moment we’ve been given. We all wrestle with doubt and insecurity; none of us are alone in it. There’s a whole lot of us out here just trying to ...

Photo by Ronja Burkard Last month we brought you the first single from the upcoming Adam Green tribute album from Sean Ono Lennon, and right now it's Ben Kweller's turn. Kweller takes on "Her Father and Her." While Green's original is a stripped down song with just his vocals and guitar, Kweller's "Her Father and Her" is a full band version heavy with piano and feedback. As you would expect, the cover is a more mainstream version of the song. Kweller adds a shocking amount of intensity to the song, which is something you don't always get with a cover. He's feeling every single line of this song, and delivers his vocals dripping with venom. You can watch the lyric video for Ben Kweller's version of "Her Father and Her" below. Moping in Style: A Tribute to Adam Green is due out December 1 via Org Music and Capitane Records, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Adam Green, check out the artist's website .

Photo by Ronja Burkard There's an upcoming Adam Green tribute album due in December, and we just got a taste through Sean Ono Lennon's version of "That Fucking Feeling." In order for it to be a true tribute to Adam Green, it can't exactly be a completely faithful adaptation, and Lennon delivers. While the original is an acoustic ditty, the cover is done with a synth. Plus, it's a full minute longer than the original. If it was a spot on version, it wouldn't exactly be in the spirit of the original artist, so I guess this is more faithful than a completely faithful cover would be? You can listen to Sean Ono Lennon's version of "That Fucking Feeling" below. Moping in Style: A Tribute to Adam Green is due out December 1 via Org Music and Capitane Records, and will also feature covers by Father John Misty, Ben Kweller, Ben Lee, Jenny Lewis, The Lemonheads, Lou Barlow, and more. You can pre-order a copy here .

This album came out in February and somehow I missed it until this past weekend. I had never heard of Unknown Instructors, either, which is surprising given that the band features J Mascis on guitar, Mike Watt on bass, and fellow Minutemen drummer George Hurley. Vocals are handled by poet Dan McGuire Unwilling to Explain  is a fairly weird album, which is to be expected given that it's a project involving Mascis and Watt. It sounds kind of like The Minutemen dabbling in classic rock, but with Jim Carroll style spoken word and J Mascis cranking out guitar solos. Like I said... pretty weird. What's the weirdest is that it has a fairly standard rock base, but with these weird offshoots going in their own direction.  You can listen to "Hand in Hand" below. Unwilling to Explain  is available now via ORG Music. You can get your copy via Bandcamp . The album also features guest spots from Stephen Perkins (Jane's Addiction) and Joe Baiza (Saccharine Trust). Unwilli...