Julia Jacklin - "Cold Caller"

Photo by Nick McKinlay

Today is the release date for the latest single from Julia Jacklin, which also means that we get to check out the b-side, "Cold Caller." The song is extremely sentimental, and Jacklin began writing it after her older sister told her she was pregnant, and started recording it on the day she went into labor. The song starts off with exactly what we've come to expect from Jacklin at this point. It's a groovy, sunny Americana song. But ever so slowly the tiniest bit of noise starts to creep in, which she might have picked up from touring with Marlon Wayans so much. By the end, the song is in full on brilliant power ballad territory. If you weren't as obsessed with Julia Jacklin as we are yet, this one might do it.

You can listen to "Cold Caller" below. The "Eastwick"/"Cold Caller" 7 inch is out today on Polyvinyl Recording Co. For more on Julia Jacklin, check out her website, and be sure to see her live next time she comes around your way.

Moviestar - "Stupid People"

Photo by Suzanne Nyhuus

So... this is an interesting one. Moviestar are a three piece band that comes to us from the planet Fenris in the future. The members are Infinity Vik, The Octopus Goddess, and The Anaconda. When they first came to Earth, they were shocked at how badly people treated the Earth and each other. They are currently on a mission to save the planet, and are staying in Norway since it's "the safest nation in the world."

Their debut song, "Stupid People," is about stupid people. It's a not too serious song, filled with a ton of synth sounds and attitude, with rapping vocals. It feels like what people in the early 80's thought futuristic music sounded like, mixed with mid 90's rap rock. I should say I mean pre-nu-metal rap rock, and more like 2 Skinnee J's. It's all a bizarre mix that shouldn't work, and might not actually work, but for right now I'm enjoying it. At the very least, it's just fun music, which we could all use right about now.

You can listen to "Stupid People" below. Moviestar's debut album, Stupid People / Happy Days, will be out February 9 (speaking of the future) on Oh Yeah! For more on Moviestar, check out their website.

Elizabeth and the Catapult - "Underwater"

Photo by Shervin Lainez

While reading some of the press materials for the latest single from Elizabeth and the Catapult, I wasn't shocked to learn that Elizabeth Ziman, aka the Elizabeth in Elizabeth and the Catapult, incorporates her dreams into her music. "Underwater" feels like a dream. It's not exactly part of the genre of dream pop, but instead it's just dreamy. "Underwater" is definitely a pop song, but it straddles the world of indie Americana. It's not the more mainstream pop side of Americana, like The Avett Brothers or Houndmouth, but it's really a mash up of pop music and Americana, like if Tristen kept just a bit more of her country side on her last two albums. It's an interesting mix that has me looking forward to her new album.

You can watch the video for "Underwater" below. Elizabeth and the Catapult's new album, Keepsake, will be out October 20 on Compass Records. For more on Elizabeth and the Catapult, check out their website.

First Listen, Part Two: More New Releases for September 8

Artist: Ted Leo
Album: The Hanged Man
Quick Description: Latest from the indie punk.
Why You Should Listen: At his worst, he's still worth a shot.
Overall Thoughts: I don’t have a ton to say about Ted Leo, who is definitely in the “old punk” stage of his career, and this record feels more like a concept record that dabbles in prog than what launched him into the indie stratosphere however many years ago. As someone who is a marginal fan of his on a whole, this didn’t do much for me, but your mileage may vary. Personally, I can’t recommend in a week as busy as this one.
Recommendation: Skip this one.

Artist: Deerhoof
Album: Mountain Moves
Quick Description: New album from the artsy indie rockers.
Why You Should Listen: You're up for a challenge.
Overall Thoughts: Deerhoof is not Deer Tick. This is what I realized about 1 minute into this album, which is a complex and (mostly) difficult record that defies expectations on every turn and is among the weirder recent releases. There’s one song, the name of which I cannot currently recall, that definitely feels like the mainstream attempt, but the rest of this is complex and fascinating in a really compelling way, and I know that it will turn off a lot of listeners, but it didn’t turn me off.
Recommendation: If you’re up for the challenge, you should absolutely give this a shot.

Artist: Anna of the North
Album: Lovers
Quick Description: Debut full-length from the indie artist.
Why You Should Listen: If you're looking for a retro-type affair...
Overall Thoughts: I know this isn’t my first exposure to Anna of the North, but the way this album revealed itself to me certainly felt like it. One of my favorite albums from a few years ago was the debut from HAERTS, a layered and synthy affair. Anna and the North’s latest is definitely along those lines, and it attacks the concept with a much lighter touch. The result here is one that ends up being a really pleasant listen, even if it doesn’t take that leap into something really life-changing on first listen. Definitely one to look out for this week, and definitely one I’m looking forward to spending more time with.
Recommendation: Really loved this one.

Artist: Zola Jesus
Album: Okovi
Quick Description: The actual new Zola Jesus album.
Why You Should Listen: Same reasons as a few weeks back.
Overall Thoughts: In the corrections department, I erroneously thought that a release I found for 2017 was the new Zola Jesus and reviewed it as such, but it was actually a rerelease of an older album. So here is the real new Zola Jesus record, and… well, a lot of my thoughts remain the same. She’s doing a dark, complex pop thing that harkens back to PJ Harvey in some ways, and I really enjoy it. There are some chances taken on this that I appreciate as well, and the end result is that Zola Jesus continues to challenge herself and her listeners with each new release. I hope this ends up being a breakthrough of sorts for her.
Recommendation: A good listen.

Artist: Susanne Sundfør
Album: Music for People in Trouble
Quick Description: Return to form for the acclaimed singer.
Why You Should Listen: She always deserves some of your time.
Overall Thoughts: The Nordic folky has dabbled successfully in electronic music (including a turn in one of my favorite Royksopp songs last year), and this album is more of a return to form for her. There’s still some out-there sonic concepts floating to the surface, but Sundfør is ultimately allowing the music to speak for itself here, and it’s truly great.
Recommendation: One of the best listens of the week.

Artist: Alvvays
Album: Antisocialites
Quick Description: Indie darlings with a sophomore effort.
Why You Should Listen: Alvvays is, well, alvvays fun. Right?
Overall Thoughts: Alvvays splashed onto the indie scene a few years back with the absolutely amazing “Marry Me, Archie,” and this has been a fairly long-awaited follow-up, What do we get here? Another dose of reverb-heavy indie pop with perhaps some sharper and more pointed songwriting. Overall, I don’t sense a sophomore slump here at all, and if you were a fan of their debut, you’ll probably like this, too.
Recommendation: A solid listen on a whole.

Artist: SOAR
Album: dark / gold
Quick Description: Moar 90s rawk!!!!11
Why You Should Listen: Moar 90s rawk!!!!11
Overall Thoughts: SOAR is one we missed from a few weeks back, and fits in wonderfully with the 1990s-era aesthetic that seemingly everyone is taking part in. On first listen, this is a great record that tries to set itself apart. Does it always succeed? I don’t know, but I plan on going back to this a few times to find out.
Recommendation: A good listen if you have the time.

Artist: Charlie Parr
Album: Dog
Quick Description: New one from a folky favorite here.
Why You Should Listen: He's just too good, guys.
Overall Thoughts: We’ve enjoyed Charlie Parr here so far, and this latest release is of similar quality. It's your folky effort of the week and that's great. I don't have a ton to say about it, it feels dirty and gritty and... right.
Recommendation: Listen to this.

Also out this week:

* Tori Amos - Native Invader
* The National - Sleep Well Beast

Elle Mary & The Bad Men - "Behave"

The two genres we cover the most tend to be indie rock and modern folk. Knowing that, Elle Mary & The Bad Men is an absolute perfect choice for us. Elle Mary previously was a folk artist, but for her band's debut album, the sound has shifted to what she calls "heavy noir." "Behave" is a break up song (in fact, the whole album was written in response to a break up, chronically the grief and moving on process), and is written directly to an ex-lover. It starts off in pretty standard indie rock singer-songwriter territory, albeit the top tier of that genre. And then the anger and louder side comes barreling in for just pure perfection. If I were to compare this song to anyone we cover regularly, it would be Lady Lamb, with it's loud/quiet/loud changes.

You can listen to "Behave" below. Elle Mary & The Bad Men's debut album, Constant Unfailing Night, will be out October 20 on Sideways Saloon. For more on Elle Mary & The Men, check out their website.

First Listen, Part One: New Releases for September 8

Another busy release date means we're splitting this one in two.

Album of the Week:

Artist: Partner
Album: In Search of Lost Time
Quick Description: Stoner chicks with a fun and funny debut.
Why You Should Listen: This is definitely the most fun you'll have this week from a musical standpoint, but stay for the sharp songwriting.
Overall Thoughts: To say that this is probably collectively the most anticipated release of the week for both Ken and I is probably an understatement. Ken has noted that we’re way too old to enjoy this band as much as we do, and this debut album? Basically a direct hit of nostalgia and humor directly into the bloodstream. This duo knows exactly what they’re doing – from the framework of the album itself to their sound to the humor to even the fact that they have skits, this is a heck of a nostalgia trip that still works in a modern context. In terms of solely what they are as a band, this is a great release. Whether the humor and ridiculousness of the proceedings keep it from making some year-end lists remains to be seen, but this is a band that demands your attention.
Recommendation: One of the best of the week, if not the year.

Artist: ODESZA
Album: A Moment Apart
Quick Description: New album from the electro act.
Why You Should Listen: You're looking for that happy medium between house music and whatever the popular brostep is, I guess.
Overall Thoughts: This dance act is one that I’m only recently a convert to as I’ve slowly started catching up with old episodes of Song Exploder. This new album is pretty sonically similar to their previous album, and that’s not a bad thing – their take on electronic music is pretty straightforward and it’s one that works well. There’s a breezy soundscape to go along with its overall-accessible nature, and that’s perfectly fine – these aren’t Calvin Harris-style club bangers, and I can’t say that’s what I’m looking for most of the time from this genre. The guest spots are fine, and they won’t set the world on fire, but I do think this is a pretty great album deserving of your time if you have a tolerance for the style.
Recommendation: A solid listen.

Artist: David Wax Museum
Album: Electric Artificacts
Quick Description: Rarities collection from a regional favorite.
Why You Should Listen: David Wax Museum is our favorite collective band here, and for good reason.
Overall Thoughts: B-sides/odds and ends albums are always a mixed bag. I think the relevant gold standard remains R.E.M.’s Dead Letter Office, but even if it weren’t, it doesn’t mean I don’t compare albums like this to that one. David Wax Museum, over their tenure, have always been at their best when they’re not doing the slower, more deliberate stuff (with “Unfruitful” the obvious exception to the rule). This collection definitely has some of their more contemplative work on it, and isn’t lacking for its share of stuff that you understand why it wasn’t included on any of their major releases, but when a band is as good as David Wax Museum, enough of these continue to stand on their own that I’m just glad they opted to share them. Especially considering how long it’s been since we got some new English-language music from the group, I’m definitely not going to complain about some good stuff from one of our favorites here.
Recommendation: You may not love everything here, but this is still worth your time.

Artist: Infinity Girl
Album: Somewhere Nice, Someday
Quick Description: The final album from the indie act.
Why You Should Listen: Infinity Girl has always done some interesting stuff.
Overall Thoughts: Infinity Girl will be no more soon, and this album is their swan song. I’ve always generally enjoyed what this group has put out when I’ve heard it, but they’ve never been on my radar quite long enough to know how this lines up with their previous work. With that said, this is a very solid, consistent record and it’s far from a bad way to go out – Infinity Girl doesn’t sound like anyone else, but they also have an aesthetic that fits in with a lot of the better indie stuff of late. This serves as a good introduction to a band on its way out if you’re new to them, and I expect fans will probably be pleased on a whole with this finale.
Recommendation: Worth a spin.

Artist: Sparks
Album: Hippopotamus
Quick Description: Latest from the weird-yet-legendary band.
Why You Should Listen: Sparks is a really fascinating band.
Overall Thoughts: I am not equipped to talk about Sparks. I have a friend who is really into Sparks and has tried to get me into them, and… I mean, I get it, but I don’t get it. They’re a band from another time playing music from a time they’re not actually from. This album is a fun romp, but I know I’m missing something along the way, and that’s more than okay. Throughout listening, I kept thinking “yep, this is a Sparks album,” and that’s about all I can say. It’s a Sparks album, and you either know what that means or you don’t. And if you don’t, there are probably other albums to start with first.
Recommendation: It is what it is.

Artist: Chad VanGaalen
Album: Light Information
Quick Description: New album from the indie Artist (with a capital A).
Why You Should Listen: VanGaalen is an interesting musician.
Overall Thoughts: Chad VanGaalen would have probably been 2004 Jeff’s favorite artist had I learned of VanGaalen at the time of his debut release. As it stands now, he is still doing some weird and wonderful music that is scratching a very specific itch for me, but won’t be for everyone. VanGaalen is an artist, and that artist sensibility shines through in his music as well as his artwork, and this album definitely takes some risks others would not.
Recommendation: This might not work for you, but if the weirder side of mid-aughts indie does it for you, give this a listen.

Artist: Beaches
Album: Second of Spring
Quick Description: Newest album from the Australian psych-rockers.
Why You Should Listen: This is an album with a lot of variety and interesting parts to it.
Overall Thoughts: The only complaint I have about this album is that it’s simply too long. At an hour-long-plus run time, the variety that Beaches puts forward in its sound does tend to lean more toward the exhausting than the exhaustive, and that’s a shame. This is a really solid listen with a lot of great moments throughout, and it fits itself rather snugly between the sort of 1990s alt-rock trend and the more modern indie rock sensibilities of the day. If this was just chopped up a bit, I’d probably consider this one of my favorites of the week, but even with that one flaw, you shouldn’t avoid it.
Recommendation: This is absolutely deserving of your time.

Artist: Samantha Parton and Jolie Holland
Album: Wildflower Blues
Quick Description: Collaborative effort from members of the Be Good Tonyas.
Why You Should Listen: It's a solid, interesting folky collaboration.
Overall Thoughts: Of the members of the Be Good Tonyas, I’m definitely more familiar with Jolie Holland than Samantha Parton, but this sort of pseudo-reunion/collaborative effort is just a really crisp, pleasant release. It gives a nice end-of-summer feel to the proceedings while still sounding sweet and airy throughout, and I just really enjoyed this one. Of all the releases this week, this is honestly the one I’m most excited to get back to, as this just sounds really nice and comfortable.
Recommendation: Great for folkies and those who are kind of allergic to it alike.

Artist: Death From Above 1979
Album: Outrage! Is Now
Quick Description: New album from the indie rock duo.
Why You Should Listen: They're just so good, guys.
Overall Thoughts: DFA1979 was kind of the anti-White Stripes for me when You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine landed – a duo of drums and guitar/bass, but with a more aggressive attitude? Yeah, I was in. Then they broke up about as fast as they came around, and that was that. Then they came back, had a great comeback album, and now we officially have more comeback-era albums than original? Music is weird, but here we are – “Freeze Me” is a legitimate song of the year candidate, and there are a number of other solid songs on here even if I feel like we’re getting a little more of a shift in tone from the group on a whole. Overall, though? Growth is good, and a year with a new DFA album is a good year to be in.
Recommendation: A solid listen.

EPs of note:

* Me Not You - Reckoning 1 (if this were a full-length, and the quality was as good as this handful of songs, it would be my release of the week. The last two songs in particular are two of the best of this year.)
* The Veils - Swimming With the Crocodiles
* Mourn - Over the Wall

Nots - "Cruel Friend"

While sulking that I had to miss Nots' show in Somerville last night, I stumbled onto the fact that they released a 7" back in June that I somehow missed completely. "Cruel Friend" is exactly what we expect, and want, from Nots. It's aggressive and fast post punk in the vein of Sonic Youth and Bikini Kill, but with an underlying groove throughout. The b-side, "Violence," is where things get interesting. It's much more synth heavy than what we've heard from Nots in the past. Before you start thinking that they're going all New Wave on us next, this is a much darker and foreboding song than most synth tracks. It's more along the lines of something from the It Follows soundtrack with lyrics.

You can listen to "Cruel Friend" below. The digital version of "Cruel Friend" and "Violence" can be purchased via Bandcamp. For more on Nots, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

Neaux - "Stuck Like A..."

When a press release claims a band is "... Influenced by the likes of Sebadoh, Mudhoney, and Sonic Youth," it's a guarantee that I'm going to be paying attention. The latest song from Neaux, "Stuck Like A...," delivers on that lofty promise. It has the artsy noise of Sonic Youth, the driving aggression of Mudhoney, and the quirky pre-emo hooks of Harmacy era Sebadoh. "Stuck Like A..." is one of those rare songs that feels much more epic than its just over 4:00 length, and despite feeling much longer than it is, you're still wishing it was longer. It's a rare band that can pull off artsy, heavy, and catchy, so we give the biggest compliment possible to Neaux.

You can listen to "Stuck Like A..." below. Neaux's sophomore album, Chain Up the Sun, will be out October 13 on The Native Sound. It can be pre-ordered here. For more on Neaux, check out their Facebook and Bandcamp.

Mourn Covers The Replacements

This has been a very covers heavy week at If It's Too Loud..., but we consider that to be a great thing. Barcelona's garage punk band Mourn have a new EP coming out today (maybe?), and it features a version of The Replacements' "Color Me Impressed." Mourn's version somehow does two seemingly separate things at once: It's both noisier and more poppy. It might be since while there is a lot more noise behind the song, it's a far more produced and polished version than the original. Plus, they speed it up just a bit more. It keeps the song their own while still being true to the original. Sure, it may not have the same raw power as The Replacements version, but this one is just pure pop punk fun.

You can hear Mourn's cover of "Color Me Impressed" below. You can pick up your own copy of their new EP, Over the Wall, here. For more on Mourn, check them out on Facebook.

Margo Price - "A Little Pain"

Photo via Facebook

We were huge fans of Margo Price's 2016 solo debut, Midwestern Farmer's Daughter. In fact, it was the only album that made both my and Jeff's top ten lists of 2016. (I had it at #3, while Jeff had it at #6, fully proving my better taste...) Back in July, she released a surprise EP, so you'd think we wouldn't be getting anything new from Margo Price until 2018 at the earliest. Well, looks like she has a brand new album coming out in October, and we can already hear a new song from it. "A Little Pain" keeps Price's wonderful old school 70's sequined country sound, but it brings in a bit more of a soul feel to it. It's a bit of a throwback to her old band, Buffalo Clover. It seems like this might be the year of country/soul hybrids, and there won't be any complaints from us.

You can listen to "A Little Pain" below. Margo Price's new album, All American Made, will be out October 20 on Third Man Records. It can be pre-ordered here. For more on Margo Price, check out her website. Be sure to check out her tour dates while you're there. Seeing her live is something you will thank me for.