If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Alec Pugliese For their upcoming album, Washington DC's Ekko Astral get political... in a way that only they can. According to the press release, the beltway is burning , "... plays out like a vignette, with Ekko Astral beckoning listeners into their fictionalized version of The Beltway (the area within I-495), in which Adam Sandler is a god-president and the DMV has become a demilitarized zone, a wasteland run by butt rockers and Soundcloud rappers." The first single, "lil xan goes to washington," is a burst of post-punk chaos with an almost whimsical sound. I think this would fit into the "laugh so you don't scream" side of things, and the song is one of the most fun and party ready political anthems we've heard in the past year. It's weird calling this song fun, but it could be exactly what you need right now. The aggression does come bursting out in a blast of noise towards the end, giving the song an LCD Soundsystem meets Soni...

Photo by Murphy Gerrasch Washington DC's Ekko Astral have a powerhouse of a new single out. The band is considered punk, but "horseglue" pushes the boundaries of that genre. It's a two minute and fifteen second burst of chaos and noise. Only the very bare minimum of song structure is observed here, as it goes completely off the hinges very quickly. The song swirls around the listener with a sense of malice, in an oddly hypnotic way. "horseglue" is most certainly not for everyone, but if it's for you, you're going to find it glorious. We've been fans of Ekko Astral for a while, but a song like "horseglue" is sure to make us even more obsessed.  Jael Holzman (vocals/bass) says of the band's latest single: "'horseglue' is a screeching call for moral clarity. Anything short of courage against the rise of The New Authoritaria is complicity. It is important to focus on how integral the Messengers really are, and that some of ...

Photo by POND Creative Hailing from Amherst, MA, Mal Devisa (aka artist Deja Carr) has a pair of new singles our off of her upcoming album. The first, "O Ivory," is a piano ballad consisting of Devisa's vocals and piano. It's an impossibly raw and intimate with more than a little bit of jazz thrown in. It's such an intimate song that you can hear the keys being pressed down at certain points. Similar yet completely different is "To Be Unwilling." This second song is another raw and stripped down song consisting of Mal Devisa's vocals and a single instrument (apologies, but I can't place what this one is) until the drums kick in, but the vibe is quite different. This one sounds and feels more like a bedroom recording, and sounds more modern than the jazzy "O Ivory." These are two very different songs that work together as a pair and help show Carr's fantastic diversity as an artist. Deja Carr says of her two new singles: "O Ivor...

Photo by Crispin Tan As great as everything Subsonic Eye has released is, there's just something a little extra magical about the Singapore band's latest single. "Being Productive" is a lovely little jangly mess of a song. It has this shoegaze meets The Sundays sort of sound to it, and it's a little bit noisy and a little bit beautiful. There's also a sense of chaos in the song you don't normally hear in jangle pop, but that's kind of what makes "Being Productive" work so well. The guitar can be a little too grating, but amping up your anxiety is kind of what the song is about. As a listener, as the song goes on you sometimes feel like you're being pulled in two different directions, which fits the theme perfectly. Vocalist Nur Wahidah says of the band's latest single: "This idea of 'being productive' has always been challenging for me. When I was unemployed, and I was doing the things that I love in my free time (which w...

Photo by Crispin Tan Singapore's Subsonic Eye have quietly become one of the finest indie rock/jangle pop bands out there today. Their latest single, "My iPhone Screen," has that perfect mix of upbeat, poppy energy with indie rock fuzz throughout. The song does delve into the emo side of things a bit, but in the way that a band like Superchunk can be described as emo. They also add in an interesting little hardcore style breakdown towards the end, but a jangle pop version of that. "My iPhone Screen" is a truly fun single that is perfect for fans of classic indie rock, and possibly vintage emo. Subsonic Eye have once again outdone themselves. Vocalist Nur Wahidah says of the band's latest single: "The idea of my identity staying static on the internet was scaring me. I hate how permanent my identity felt like on social media, and how no matter how I may fight it, I will always be constructing an identity to be approved online. I think my living experienc...

Photo by Crispin Tan Singapore's Subsonic Eye are back with a new single that shows off why we love them so much. "Aku Cemas" shows a heavier side of the dream pop genre. It's jangly and completely fuzzed out, while also displaying a sense of pop songwriting. It's catchy as can be, even if you don't understand the lyrics. There are even some Sonic Youth style guitars throughout, even if it's the softer side of that style. Subsonic Eye have been making some wonderfully compelling indie rock for a while now, and it's great to see that fact hasn't changed. "Aku Cemas" is classic style indie rock updated for modern sensibilities.  Vocalist Nur Wahidah says of the band's latest single: "When I was unemployed for a couple of months, I was feeling this restless feeling. I couldn't sit still but it felt like I had to. I would apply for 20 jobs a day and go back to watching movies on my laptop. It was a funny feeling - I finally had t...

Photo by Vice Cooler The first thing you'll notice with the new single from Peel Dream Magazine is that it sounds a lot like Stereolab. That's not meant as a bad thing, we could all use some more music that reminds us of Stereolab in our lives. But "Live In the Gutter" also swerves off in some other sonic directions. Peel Dream Magazine is much more rock based. It does have a light and airy feel to the song, but the New York band does add a little more edge to their sound. Plus, the beat adds a layer of funk over the whole thing. While the Stereolab influence is apparent, it's always good to see a band pay homage to their influences into their own sound. Joe Stevens says of his band's new single and video: "This video is cut from footage we filmed on a few different tours between the fall of 2023 and Spring of 2024, and I love it because it captures the amazing feeling and energy that those trips had. There's cameos from bands we were touring with lik...

Photo by John Lee One thing I'll always listen to is any artist that comes out of the D.C. punk scene. The latest we've discovered is Ekko Astral. They take the sound of modern artists that combine dance and pop into punk like Mannequin Pussy and Model/Actriz, but through a D.C. lens. Just when you think you know what their latest single, "baethoven," is going to sound like, it cranks everything up multiple notches and bursts into fantastically noisy gang vocals. Ekko Astral are part of the newfangled punk movement that is as intense as possible while still having a sense of fun and enjoyment. And we're here for it. Ekko Astral say of their new single and video: "The moral of the song is in the lyrics: "There's nothing endless, there's no Frank Ocean / you should let me your classic love / I'll be your bae-thoven." The point is, there's nothing as perfectly clean and pristine as a Frank Ocean song in this world right now but there is...

Photo by Christopher Sim Singapore's Subsonic Eye continue making some of the most compelling indie rock out there. Their latest single, "J-O-B," is an indie rock song that is just as bouncy and fun as it is noisy. It's reminding me of the more mainstream side of Dinosaur Jr meets The Beths. It's filled with jangly and fuzzed out guitars that drive you straight through the song. "J-O-B" is the kind of song that is much more poppy than it has any right to be, and sounds like it's straight out of the 90's. Subsonic Eye have gifted us one of the most dreamy songs of the year, and we couldn't be more excited. Nur Wahidah says of the band's new song: "I was (and still am) so completely frustrated with finding a job I care about. I hate it when people ask 'what are you up to these days?' and I feel the pressure to talk about a job listing I read up on last week, or an email I'm waiting for. I hate talking about it, I need a ful...

Photo Alexa Viscius The latest single from Chicago's Ratboys is their most country song of all of their recent singles. One thing we've always loved about the band is how they meld indie rock with country, so "Morning Zoo" feels almost like a back to basics for them. Of course, Ratboys were never quite a country band, and this certainly isn't a straight up country song. It's on the edge of the mainstream side of indie rock with country influences and a slight twang. The guitar work in "Morning Zoo" will instantly suck you in, and Julia Steiner's vocals and lyrics will keep you enthralled. Julia Steiner says of the new single: “The lyrics are meant to express the frustration and confusion that comes along with hanging out at a personal crossroads, where every day feels the same and the same big questions keep nagging at you from the back of your head. It’s that small, lingering feeling of numb indecision, of pesky anxiety- like disassociating at a...

Photo by Christopher Sim Singapore's Subsonic Eye get compared to Sonic Youth a lot, but their latest single moves away from that sound quite a bit. "Yearning" may share some of the legendary post-punk group's guitar tunings, but the song is much lighter and poppy than anything Sonic Youth ever did. There are some elements of shoegaze and dream pop in "Yearning," but the song is mostly an alt-rock power pop song, and a fantastic one at that. It's such an engaging and delightful song that sucks you in immediately, and as soon as it's done it leaves you desperate for more. Nur Wahidah says of the band's new song: "In the past few years, opening my mind up to the little things around me allowed me to get closer with nature and myself. I felt like as I learnt more about my relationship with nature, the love I felt for my loved ones grew deeper (and vice versa). I feel that my love for nature (and myself) started to parallel the love I have for m...

Photo by Alexa Viscius I keep saying 2023 is the year some of our favorite bands are levelling up, and I'm going to put Ratboys in that category with their latest single. "The Window" starts off as a gorgeous and heartbreaking power ballad of the folk pop variety. About half way through, it kicks into gear and shifts into a more indie rock/power pop track with the guitars matching singer Julia Steiner's emotions. We've been fans of the Chicago band for a while, and this is such a powerful and emotional song. Even without knowing the story behind it, "The Window" will sweep you up and hold you completely in its grasp for four and a half minutes. Julia Steiner explains the story behind the band's new song: “I wrote this song a few days after the death of my grandma in June of 2020. She didn’t have covid, but because of the pandemic my grandpa wasn’t able to visit her in person at the nursing home to say goodbye. He ended up standing outside her room an...

Photo by Alexa Viscius It's no secret that we love everything Ratboys do. They tend to slide effortlessly between Americana and indie rock, and those are possibly our favorite genres, so they're an easy band for us to love. Their latest single, "It's Alive!," continues their quest for new sounds within those genres. For this one, the Chicago band go mid-90's laid back power pop with a tiny bit of twang for a sound that is instantly recognizable yet very unique. It's a fun kind of song that could have been a big hit in 1996. Back when alt-rock radio was a thing, "It's Alive!" could have easily been the song of the summer. You can watch the video for "It's Alive!" below. The Window  is due out August 25 on Topshelf Records, and is available for pre-order here . For more on Ratboys, check out their website. Upcoming tour dates are below the video. Fri. Aug. 25 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern Thu. Sep. 21 - Champaign-Urbana, IL @ Pyg...

Photo by Manda Specht We've been gushing about Ratboys for a few years now. The Chicago band have had this fabulous sound that has skirted the worlds of indie rock and emo, along with adding some dream pop in just to make it that much intriguing. Their latest single just might be their epic. "Black Earth, WI" has all of that indie rock goodness, but Ratboys have added in a little bit of Southern twang to their guitar that we haven't really heard since 2017's GN. This one is a giant rock sound, and the eight and a half minute length of the song just adds to it being epic. Plus, there's one of the longest killer laid back guitar solos that takes up pretty much half of the song, so if you're into that sort of thing, this will be a can't miss song. We've loved Ratboys for a while, but this one feels like something special is brewing. You can watch the video for "Black Earth, WI" below. The single is out now via Topshelf Records. For more on R...

Hailing from Singapore, Subsonic Eye have released a new song that sounds like what Sonic Youth would sound like if they decided to go poppy. "Hurt Your Head" has the same noisy and dark guitar tones that Sonic Youth built a career on, and at times the same breakneck sound. But this song is much more upbeat than anything Kim, Thurston, Steve, and Lee ever released together. This is all of the noise, but "Hurt Your Head" is cheery sounding and fun. There is a hint of menace in the song, but it's a fun, non-threatening aggression and menace. I don't know how anyone could pull this off, but Subsonic Eye do an amazing job with is. Daniel Borces says of the band's new song: "Even though Singapore is filled with colour and nature I always feel a sense of detachment from how it truly is, and that makes it difficult for me to feel peaceful. I don’t know if it’s just my internal life conflicting with my immediate surroundings, but the constant construction, ...

Photo by Sophia Grouev Montreal based singer/songwriter and violinist Thanya Iyer has released a single that fits right in with what we love here at If It's Too Loud... while sounding nothing like what we normally cover. "leave the room and face the wave" has both a retro cool feel along with a completely fresh experimental sound. It has that retro 60's French cool with a Baroque and jazz vibe, but it also sounds like modern freak folk. It's the bare bones of what we know from the coolest side of the 60's but with these bizarre little flourishes that keep and modern and somehow even cooler. It's both completely unique and completely familiar, and something you need to check out for yourself. You can watch the video for "leave the room and face the waves" below. rest is due out August 24 on Topshelf Records. For more on Thanya Iyer, check out the artist on Twitter and Instagram .

Photo by MidVessel Sweet Pill are the kind of emo band I didn't realize were emo until I read their press release referring to them as emo. The Philadelphia band's new single, "High Hopes," is completely an emo song, but it doesn't have that overly emo quality that drives many people away from the genre. What you get with "High Hopes" is more along the lines of earlier emo. It's more of an alt-rocker with catchy hooks that just happens to be highly emotional. Sure, it's quite poppy, but it also rocks more than you'd expect. Plus, singer Zayna Youssef is one hell of a singer. Their press release refers to the song as "aggressive and technical emo-pop," and if that sounds even remotely interesting chances are you're going to love this one. You can watch the video for "High Hopes" below. Where the Heart Is will be out May 25 on Topshelf Records, and can be pre-ordered here . For more on Sweet Pill, check out the band on T...

Photo by Dylan Hanwright Seattle's supernowhere exist in their own musical universe that occasionally visits ours. Their latest single, "Basement Window," starts off pleasantly enough. It has that indie rock with some inflections of folk present. It's definitely not traditional folk by any means, but it's the kind of indie rock you could see playing the Newport Folk Festival one of these days. The song pleasantly swirls around you as you listen, with just enough off kilter guitar sounds to keep your attention, and to keep the song interesting. And then, seemingly without warning, the song just takes off into a not-entirely unpleasant cacophony. It's almost as if Sonic Youth decided to be beautiful and not discordant.  You can watch the video for "Basement Window" below. Skinless Takes a Flight is due out March 2 on Topshelf Records. The album can be pre-ordered here . For more on supernowhere, check out the band's Facebook .

Photo by Michelle Simunovic Performed solo, the latest single from Olivia Kaplan's upcoming album is one of the most captivating we've heard in a while. "Still Strangers" focuses on Kaplan's vocals. Her guitar plays the same notes repeatedly, almost on a loop. The intensity of the guitar slightly changes so you barely notice, giving the song an almost hypnotic feeling. Kaplan is conveying so much emotion and intensity in her voice and guitar playing without rising much in volume. It's the kind of quiet power you hear in artists like Squirrel Flower and Elliott Smith. "Still Strangers" is a solo ballad that despite clocking in at 5:36 still leaves you yearning for more. You can listen to "Still Strangers" below. Tonight Turns to Nothing is due out June 25 on Topshelf Records. You can pre-order a copy via Bandcamp . For more on Olivia Kaplan, check out the artist's Facebook . Topshelf Records · Olivia Kaplan - "Still Strangers"

Chicago's Ratboys have always been a little hard to categorize, mixing indie folk/country and emo in a way that is all of those genres and yet none. Their newest single, "I Go Out at Night," pushes further from the folk or country side of things and more into an indie rock but still emo sound. This song is quite simply epic, and straddles the worlds of both emo and indie rock. This is the sound of a band gearing up for huge festival stages while remaining true to the sound we've already come to love from them. You can check out the video for "I Go Out at Night" below. It features trick or treating done in a 1950's black and white style, which is bliss for those already planning for Halloween ten months early. Printer's Devil , the new album from Ratboys, will be out February 28 on Topshelf Records. You can pre-order a copy here . For more on Ratboys, check out their website .