If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Tess Roby Montreal's Ada Lea, aka musician Alexandra Levy, has a new single out on Saddle Creek that's going to work for those of us who enjoy Saddle Creek releases. "midnight magic" is a surprisingly simple song that is mostly Ada Lea's vocals and keys, but it somehow feels more involved than that. I can't quite explain that since the production is also simple with the focus on vocals and piano. There's some double tracking vocals to create harmonies, but "midnight magic" is a mysteriously upbeat and impactful song that feels more complex than it is. Apologies for getting hacky with this comment, but that's the true magic of "midnight magic." Ada Lea says of her latest single: “I felt like I was taking a leap of faith with this surreal approach—and it felt good to trust that the song knew best. In an artist talk, Margaux Williamson said her new body of work took her 8 years to complete, and said ‘I am constantly needing to...

Photo by Ginger Fierstein Afro psych rockers Orchestra Gold have a new single out that you're going to want to check out. "Baye Ass N'Diaye" is a gloriously psychedelic rock song that grooves impossibly hard. A rock song doesn't typically have this much funk in it, but that's what Orchestra Gold do best. It's hard picking out a favorite part of "Baye Ass N'Diaye." Marian Diakite's vocals are an obvious highlight and are what will draw you into the song. But there's also a gritty guitar that's irresistible, and an incendiary horn section. This is an impossible to resist song, but why would you even try? You're almost guaranteed to be rocking this one all weekend. You can listen to "Baye Ass N'Diaye" below. Dakan is due out later this Fall. For more on Orchestra Gold, check out the band's website .

Photo by Martina Gonzalez Bertello Wednesday have always skirted the line between alt-country and indie rock, and the North Carolina band blurs that line even more on their latest single. "Pick Up That Knife" starts off with twang in both Karly Hatzman's vocals and guitar. It's a little DIY sounding with a generous fuzz layered on, but it's still a country song. And then the noise erupts for a bit until the song morphs back into country, going back and forth a bit, without truly having a pattern. It's more quiet/loud/less loud/more quiet than the typical moud/quiet/loud. No one does the alt-country goes indie rock thing quite like Wednesday does, and "Pick Up That Knife" pushes the boundaries even more. Karly Hartzman says of her band's upcoming album: “ Bleeds  is the spiritual successor to  Rat Saw God,  and I think the quintessential ‘Wednesday Creek Rock’ album." You can watch the video for "Pick Up That Knife" below. Bleeds is...

Photo by Robbie Jeffers I've always struggled with how to describe Cuddle Magic's sound. Much like their latest single, "Hundred Million," the band is most likely predominantly folk. What's unique to the band is that they're both pop and progressive. A song like "Hundred Million" has all of the melody of a folk pop song, but the unique instrumentation of being progressive folk. It would most likely be some kind of hybrid between indie folk and chamber pop, with feet planted firmly in the traditional and experimental. Cuddle Magic are one of the most unique and intriguing bands we cover, but they're also extremely accessible.  You can watch the video for "Hundred Million" below. Underwater is due out September 19 on Egghunt Records. For more on Cuddle Magic, check out the band's website . Current tour dates are below the video and include July 26 at Club Passim in Cambridge, MA. 7/25 - The Falcon - Marlboro, NY 7/26 - Club Passim - C...

Scottish sister duo The Cords have released a new single from their upcoming debut album, and if you like your power pop jangly, you're going to love this one. "Fabulist" is an endlessly upbeat song that is simple and fun. This one is reminding me a lot of The La's, just a little more peppy. It has that wonderfully dreamlike quality, and might actually be too catchy. "Fabulist" could end up being the most earwormy song we've brought you all year, with vocals, guitar, and drums all contributing equally to how addictive this song is. With a few more songs like this, and The Cords will quickly become a favorite around here. You can watch the video for "Fabulist" below. The Cords' self-titled debut is due out September 26 on Slumberland/Skep Wax, and is available for pre-order here . For more on The Chords, check out the band on Instagram .

If you love classic underground hip hop, you're going to love the latest from Evidence. On "Rain Every Season," the Dilated Peoples emcee enlists The Alchemist for a verse over some sparse piano and laid back beats. While the song does have a certain vintage flair, it's hardly a throwback song. The production and the use of keys sounds much more modern than vintage, but the spirit of the classic days of underground hip hop is there. "Rain Every Season" is cool in that effortless way that makes something truly cool. Despite how laid back the song is, Evidence and The Alchemist bring a certain intensity to the song. If you typically hate modern rap, give "Rain Every Season" a shot.  You can watch the video for "Rain Every Season" below. Unlearning Vol. 2 is due out August 15 on Rhymesayers Entertainment. For more on Evidence, check out the artist on Instagram and Facebook . Upcoming tour dates are below the video. Jul 26 - Mannheim, German...

Photo by Jaxon Whittington Minneapolis' she's green have returned with a new single off an upcoming EP due next month. "Willow" lands square in the middle of both shoegaze and dream pop. It's a little too light sounding to be shoegaze, and a little too drone-y to be dream pop. It's a gorgeous song with jangling guitars to match the fuzz and vocals that sound more like they belong in an indie pop single. While much shoegaze tends to be giant in scope, "Willow" is more introspective and a little bit twee. It's a sunny song perfect to listen to outside while it's still warm out, even if the subject matter doesn't exactly match the positivity the song brings. she's green say of their latest single: “‘Willow’ reflects on our dying relationship with the natural world—a relationship that’s not always loving, but formative nonetheless.  It’s an energetic song that we love playing live.” You can watch the video for "Willow" below. Ch...

Photo by Tristan "treestamp" Padron Pacing, the anti-folk project of Katie McTigue, just released a new single inspired by Mr. Rogers. She came across the lyrics to "You Can Never Go Down the Drain" and re-scored the lyrics with a new melody and some chords inspired by Elliott Smith. Is it a cover? Sort of, but I can't quite consider it a true cover. It's an uplifting and somewhat hypnotic song that is oddly comforting in it's psychedelia. In our current time where we could all use some joy and positivity, "Never Go Down" provides that with both it's uplifting sound and nostalgia for when our biggest problem was the possibility of going down the drain. Katie McTigue says of her new single: "I think of my version as an unconditional love song for a cult leader.  Repeating something over and over does not make it true. But it does make you feel kind of powerful." You can watch the lyric video for "Never Go Down" below. PL*...

Photo by Jasmine Salvino Titanic is the collaborative band of Mexico City based composer/producer/multi-instrumentalist Hector Tosta and composer/cellist/singer Mabe Fratti. The duo's latest single, "La Dueña," is a darkly cinematic song that is heartbreakingly intense. It's so close to being the perfect song to play over the end credits of a typical movie, but Titanic play everything just slightly out of the mainstream. It's still perfect to close out a film, but one more along the lines of a Robert Rodriguez film than Steven Spielberg. It's also simply a great song that lands somewhere within the type of experimental jazz that we sometimes bring you, but a little more classical than typical.  Hector Tosta says of his band's latest single: "I remember that we were in Austria waiting backstage to do a show as an opener for Ben Howard. I was playing the guitar just to warm up for the show but noodling around and fell in love with a very simple progress...

Photo by Stefaan Temmerman Slow Crush are one of the best up and coming shoegaze bands out there, possibly due to their embrace of shoegaze traditions but their refusal to follow them blindly. For their latest single, "Bloodmoon," the Belgian band have created another sonic world, with a jerky style that feels like it's pulling you somewhere you don't want to go. Suddenly, about halfway through, the song pauses to right itself, and then the wall of fuzz washes over you. This song is intense, yet also calming, and somehow remains beautiful throughout. It also will cause and then treat your anxiety. While staying within the confines of shoegaze, Slow Crush find a way to break free into something oddly refreshing. Slow Crush say of their latest single: “In the absence of light only the darkness remains. In this dark void we feel lost without purpose or spark while time slips through our fingers like sand. ‘Bloodmoon’ is about the struggles and pain of a passionate and pu...

Photo by Alex Cox Superchunk have some songs that are an absolute joy to listen to. Within the first five seconds of "Stuck in a Dream" you know it's going to be one of those. The legendary indie rockers' latest is just oozing an upbeat vibe in the opening guitar chords. It's bouncy and it just begging to be heard live. It's also a song that's impossibly catchy. Basically, it's exactly what we want from a new Superchunk song, and "Stuck in a Dream" is going to hold up right with their classics. I could see younger fans latching on to this one the way we do songs from Foolish , and we probably would to if we weren't so laden with nostalgia. "Stuck in a Dream" is a new classic from Superchunk, and it's thrilling that a band that has been so vital for over thirty years can still be. Mac McCaughan says of his band's latest single: “Based on an actual dream that wouldn’t end, it’s a late-in-the-sequence upbeat number put ther...