If It's Too Loud...

I know Jeff couldn't get into LONER when it was released way back in February, but he's wrong about this one. While LONER is quite different to Caroline Rose's 2014 release I Will Not Be Afraid , the more I've been listening to both the less it feels like an abrupt change. No one can deny that LONER is far more synth heavy (her live show features three members playing synths during some songs), but both albums are incredibly pop heavy and fun. LONER just wears its fun on its sleeve a bit more. Ok... a LOT more. But these songs are so incredibly well written and all eleven songs have been stuck inside of my brain multiple times in the past ten months. If I Will Not Be Afraid  was all about twang and LONER  is all about synths (sonically at least, for both), I don't think anyone has even the slightest idea of what we should expect out of Rose in the future. Songs of note: "Money," Soul No. 5," "Getting To Me."

Even though I've accepted the mantle as the resident pop music fan in these parts, listening to SOPHIE was mandatory even if I wasn't so into the genre. SOPHIE's genius is in deconstructing the expectations of what comes from pop music into its requisite parts and making an album that is as confusing as it is revolutionary. While some artists go fully into making weird, impenetrable electronic music and others (like Sia or Charli XCX) keep what might be their more strange instincts in check while producing radio-friendly hits, SOPHIE successfully straddles that line and instead creates something both with parts you'll grasp and parts that leave more questions than answers. No song does this better than "Faceshopping," which has a standard throughline to follow and a beat you can (mostly) keep up with, and is yet still as weird and absurd as anything else on the album. While it is not the strangest, or the most pop, or the most interesting, or the most end...

I've been fairly gushing in my adoration for Salem Wolves pretty much since we started If It's Too Loud... Shake  could have been the kiss of death for me with the band. It's definitely more mainstream and almost pop sounding than their previous releases. But Shake ended up working for me and is one of my favorite releases of the year. It's big, loud garage rock, but as loud and as harsh as it is, there are amazing songs and harmonies here. Part of the reason is that singer Gray Bouchard is secretly a crooner despite this being a full out rock album. This album has the crossover appeal of a band like The Hives without changing too much around. I'm still shocked no one has used "B.D.F." in a commercial. This has me waiting to hear what's next, which could be even more different since Harrison, the bass player, is leaving the band and is being replaced by Cat Verlicco of The Knock Ups. Songs of note: "Die Like Dogs," "B.D.F.," ...

It's that time again where we arbitrarily decide what the ten or so best records of the year are. I'm kicking my list off with Haley Heyndrickx's I Need to Start a Garden . A folk record at heart, this has a little more oomph behind it than you'd initially think it would. My favorite song, "Oom Sha La La," shows (and releases) a bit of the grit and passion that feels held back throughout the affair, making the entire listen not only a great one, but slightly uncomfortable as if you're waiting for that tipping point to happen. In a year with a lot of really superlative folk efforts, it's that added bit of something that sets I Need to Start a Garden apart. Heyndrickx collaborated on a second album that's worth hearing, but, of all the debuts from this year, this is probably the one I'm most excited to hear about what's coming next. It's a testament to the strength of this new voice on the scene. Songs of note: "Oom Sha La ...

Photo by Tom Glencross Hailing from London, Housewives may have just released the most challenging song we've ever covered here at If It's Too Loud... "Speak to Me" is nearly impossible to define, so I'm going to lean on their press release a bit. The press release describes the song as "... a synthesized junkyard collage...," which I do agree with. However, while the song is very synth heavy, and it is quite electronic, there is a bit more of an organic noise element to it. I try to describe it that way, since while I'm not a big electronic music guy, I do find quite a bit to enjoy here. Don't get me wrong: "Speak to Me" is not a song for everyone. In fact, it's most likely not for most people. But even if you hate this song you won't be able to deny that it's at least unique and interesting. And sometimes that's just what you need to listen to. You can watch the video for "Speak to Me" below. The video ...

Things are definitely slowing down... Artist : Marie Davidson Album : Working Class Woman Quick Description : Superlative electronic music. Why You Should Listen : This is the best of all worlds when it comes to techno. Overall Thoughts : Hoo boy this was really great. This may be a late entry in my best of lists (starting tomorrow), because it is the perfect mix of the weird Holly Herndon/Kelly Lee Owens vibe with more traditional beats-driven dance stuff. So, so much of this had me moving at my desk, and it feels both straightforward and complicated in ways I did not anticipate. Do not ignore this one if you’re up for a challenge or into more electronic stuff. Recommendation : It’s one of the best out there this week. Artist : Sarah Longfield Album : Disparity Quick Description : Odd, off-kilter guitar porn. Why You Should Listen : This is inventive and ambitious, and really solid. Overall Thoughts : This is an admittedly weird one that I’m highlighting because I l...

Photo by Raphael Irie Eerie Wanda is the creation of Marina Tadic. She was born in the former Yugoslavia, leaving the country during the Bosnian war. Her family sought asylum in the Netherlands, and is where Tadic still lives. Her second album, Pet Town , was recorded with her other two bandmates all being separated from each other. Instead of convening in a studio, each member of the band recorded in their own homes. "Moon" comes from these sessions. It may just be knowing the backstory of the recording, but "Moon" feels lonely. I could see some describing it as haunting, but to me it feels more lonely. However, it's not sad lonely, but more factually lonely. While there is some sadness in the song, it's also positive and confident. You can watch the video for "Moon" below. Pet Town will be released on January 25 on Joyful Noise. For more on Eerie Wanda, be sure to check them out on Facebook and Twitter .

According to their Bandcamp, W orcester, MA's The Prefab Messiahs's are " Micro-legendary DIY Garage-Pop-Psych provocateurs!," which might be one of my favorite brand descriptions ever. They've released a brand new single, "Bring On the Robots," that asks the increasingly important questions of whether or not humanity sucks and if we should welcome the robots taking over. While we can't answer that question, we can describe the song. "Bring On the Robots" fits right in The Prefab Messiahs's brand of psychedelic garage rock, this one leaning more heavily into the psychedelic side of things. It's slower, and kind of like a power ballad without the power ever really kicking in. It has the intensity of a couple of stoners sitting around and discussing the upcoming robot revolution, which may be the perfect song for this subject. You can watch the video for "Bring On the Robots" below. It's currently available as a free...

Photo by Mason Fairey Jeff is more of the Christmas music guy here, but every so often there will be one that I enjoy thoroughly. We've both been huge on The Beths (expect them to do quite well in our best of 2018 recap coming soon), so of course we're going to drop everything when they release a Christmas song. They've released their take on the classic "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." The song starts out as traditionally and quietly as possible, complete with strings. But, seeing as it clocks in at over five minutes, it slowly turns into an indie rock epic without losing any of its old timey charm. It's a brilliant version of a classic by a band very quickly becoming one of our favorites. You can listen to The Beths's version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" below. For more on The Beths, be sure to check them out on Facebook and Twitter . Current tour dates are below the song, including some early spring North America...

Photo by Zakkiyyah Najeebah The latest single from Chicago's Mykele Deville sounds like something I should hate. It's an uplifting rap song that, according to the press release, "...  imagines a world where we are taught to fall in love with ourselves before we fall in love with others." Plus, it's quite heavy in R&B, which I hate in modern rap. The difference is that "Type Love" is a truly great song. Deville has the laid back flow of someone like Snoop Dogg, and "Type Love" has an uplifting, near hippie vibe of Arrested Development. The accompanying video was directed by McKenzie Chinn, and has a message all its own. According to Chinn: "   "By using imagery and improvised choreography outside of a traditional narrative, we were able to create a dynamic and expressionistic portrait of black, masculine tenderness and softness - a mode in which black men are not often portrayed, but which is critical to dismantling toxic mas...

Photo by Nick Mckk We were huge fans of Julia Jacklin's 2016 debut album Don't Let the Kids Win. It narrowly missed being in my top 10 of that year, and if I could redo my top 10 it would probably make it. Despite releasing a new album with her band Phantastic Ferniture earlier this year, she's already back again with new solo music. "Head Alone" is mesmerizing. It's everything we loved about the Americana meets indie rock sound of  Don't Let the Kids Win , but with a newfound sense of confidence. You can just hear it in her voice. While the songs off the previous album had a sense of fragility, Jacklin sounds empowered in "Head Alone." You can watch the video for "Head Alone" below. Julia Jacklin's new album, Crushing , will be out February 22 on Polyvinyl. You can pre-order the album here . For more on Julia Jacklin, check out her website . She'll be touring the US with Black Belt Eagle Scout next year, so you'll d...

Photo by Rosie Cohe We're quietly in the middle of a soul revival, and no one is doing it quite like Durand Jones & The Indications. Their latest single, "Don't You Know," features Aaron Frazer on vocals and sounds like it's straight from the 60's or 70's. Seriously. If the press release that came with this declared it was from a lost Motown session we'd all believe it. It's an impossibly smooth classic soul song, the kind we all need to hear every so often regardless of what style of music we prefer. As much as we loved their debut album, this new song feels like a step forward even though it's a throwback to half a century ago. You can watch the video for "Don't You Know" below. American Love Call , the new album from Durand Jones & The Indications, will be out March 1 on Dead Oceans/Colemine Records. You can pre-order the album here . For more on Durand Jones & The Indications, check out their website . Their ...

It's not even December yet. Winter has barely begun (unless you're in the northeast like us) and the summer festival season is a far distant thought. Don't tell that to the following festivals, who have already started to announce their line ups. Last year some outlets began asking if festivals were dead. If these are any indication, this may be a crazy packed year. High Water Festival Riverfront Park, North Charleston, SC April 13-14 Shovels & Rope have been curating this hometown festival for a few years, and each year seems more ridiculously stacked than the previous one. How stacked is it, you ask? Shovels & Rope are third billed. Ahead of them on the poster is Leon Bridges and The Head & The Heart. Add to that such If It's Too Loud... approved artists like Jenny Lewis, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The War & Treaty, Durand Jones & The Indications, The Secret Sisters, Michael Nau, and Lilly Hiatt and the first festival of 2019 may be the on...

Photo by Whitten Sabbatini At this point in his career, you already know if you're going to listen to a new song or album that Jeff Tweedy is involved in. His work with Wilco and his solo work has a certain feel to it, and there are plenty of fans that have jumped off the bandwagon calling his newer output "dad rock," and there are plenty still on that love that he puts out dad rock. His newest solo single, "I Know What It's Like," is really worth a listen even if you're in the former category. Sure, the song is 100% dad rock, and it certainly isn't rewriting the Jeff Tweedy formula at all. But the man can write an amazing song, and if you just give "I Know What It's Like" a chance, you might end up falling back in love with his music.  You can watch the video for "I Know What It's Like" below. Jeff Tweedy's solo album, WARM (which is somehow his first solo album (?)), will be out November 30 on dBPM Records. It ...

Photo by Kristy Walker Dani Bell & The Tarantist don't sound like a band from San Diego should sound. I couldn't tell you what that sound should be (Sublime, maybe?), but these guys certainly aren't it. Their latest single, "Mystery," is this odd blend of dreamy pop music. Sure, "Mystery" is pop, but it's hardly top 40 style pop music. There's just enough of a rock element to the song. Plus, it's just a little too... weird? It sound more like Bjork collaborating with Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys, but trying to make a megahit song. (Also, fun fact for fellow history nerds: According to their press release: " During the Italian Renaissance, tarantism was a phenomenon of psychological hysteria attributed to the bite of a tarantula spider. Those bitten would experience a short period of extreme apathy, followed by prolonged bout of unrestrained dancing ecstasy, which would temporarily remit the illness." You ca...