If It's Too Loud...

I was/am a huge fan of And the Kids, the previous band of Hannah Mohan. As much as I was bummed out to hear that And the Kids were no more, I was intrigued to hear what Hannah Mohan's solo music would sound like. Time is a Walnut is going to work for all fans of Mohan's previous band without sounding exactly the same. The western Massachusetts artist is still sitting right on the line of indie rock and indie folk. The songs on Time is a Walnut have that sound that makes them perfect for chilling out on some grass outdoors somewhere or dancing around. This is wonderfully organic dance music. If we had to lose a band as beloved as And the Kids, Hannah Mohan's solo debut is the perfect way to continue that legacy. Plus, if you're just discovering Hannah Mohan's music, there are years of fantastic releases to explore from here. Time is a Walnut is a perfect solo debut that has us thrilled to hear more. Songs of note: "Time is a Walnut," "Soaked," ...

Photo by George Rae Teensma Hannah Mohan (ex-And the Kids) has released a new single off her upcoming debut solo album, and if you liked her previous band, you're going to love this one. "Soaked" has a lot in common with And the Kids, but it sounds like a more folk-ish version of the band. (I'm saying "folk-ish" since Mohan refers to the song as an "anti-folk cafe song.") It's a laid back and upbeat sounding track that is impossible to resist. Plus, Mohan stretches out with some interesting and unexpected instrumentation, which gives the song a bit of a Neutral Milk Hotel element. "Soaked" is an engaging and captivating single that has us even more thrilled for the album to come out next month. You can listen to "Soaked" below. Time Is a Walnut is due out July 12 on Egghunt Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on Hannah Mohan, check out the artist on Instagram . Time Is A Walnut by Hannah Mohan

Photo by Crumbstarz Somehow Hannah Mohan and Aly Spaltro had never met before working on the latest single from Mohan's upcoming solo album. I would have assumed they would have crossed paths at the same New England festival at least, but it was worth the wait to get a song like "Hell." "Hell" is an upbeat sounding song that appears lighthearted, but you just know it's masking some darkness even without delving too deeply into the lyrics. It sounds like a folkier version of Mohan's previous band And the Kids, but there is still plenty of indie rock within the song. It's the type of song that has us wanting to hear more of Mohan's album, and dreaming of a Hannah Mohan/Lady Lamb tour in the near future. You can watch the video for "Hell" below. Time Is a Walnut is due out July 12 on Egghunt Records, and is available for pre-order through Bandcamp . For more on Hannah Mohan, check out the artist on Instagram .

Photo by George Rae Teensma First the bad news. One of our absolute favorite Western Massachusetts bands, And the Kids, appear to have called it a day. The good news is that Hannah Mohan is still making music, and is set to release her first solo album. (She has previously released music and performed solo under the moniker Topsy.) The first single off that album, "Peace Be the Day," is everything we loved about her previous band. The new single has the same upbeat and highly danceable vibe, but Mohan solo has a little bit more of an organic sound. It's not quite folk, but it's a step towards folk. There are still the tone and tempo changes in "Peace Be the Day" that are a trademark of Mohan's writing. As much as I hate that we lost a band as beloved as And the Kids, "Peace Be the Day" shows that we're in great hands with Mohan's latest musical project. You can listen to "Peace Be the Day" below. Time Is a Walnut (produced by ...