Jane Blanchard - ENEMY

When you start listening to the new EP from Edinburgh's Jane Blanchard, you're going to pigeonhole her as an atmospheric singer/songwriter. But as you get further into "Enemy," the title track from the EP, you'll realize how wrong you are. It starts off as pretty standard singer/songwriter material, albeit with slightly blown out vocals. Then, towards the end the noise starts and you'll discover it's something special. "22" is just a great straighforward alt-rock song, the kind you don't realize you miss until you stumble on one. "HIDING OUT" mellows it back out a bit, but with a quiet intensity, and more noise than most people dare to put on a quiet song. ENEMY is a release that veers just to the left of the mainstream, and that's a perfect place to be.

You can listen to "HIDING OUT" below. ENEMY is available now on Jane Blanchard's Bandcamp. For more information on Jane Blanchard, check her out on Facebook.

Acid Dad - "2Ci"

Photo by Alec Castillo

We bring you a lot of 90's inspired indie rock here at If It's Too Loud..., but there's just so much of it right now that's absolutely great. The latest single from Acid Dad recalls this era just before nu-metal took over the late 90's when everything seemed possible. "2Ci" is an upbeat indie rock semi-anthem that has the pop hooks of Superdrag, the slight quirkiness of Archers of Loaf, and the almost unhinged feeling of early Arctic Monkeys. It's a fun burst of an indie rock epic that hints at possible greatness to come.

You can listen to "2Ci" below. Acid Dad's self-titled debut album will be out March 9 on Greenway Records. For more on Acid Dad, check out their website.

Haley Heynderickx - "Untitled God Song"

Photo by Evan James Atwood

Haley Heynderickx has been on my radar ever since I first heard her ridiculously great song "Oom Sha La La." That was way back in September, which feels like roughly five years ago right now, so I was starting to think she was a figment of my hopes and dreams for 2018. Luckily, I didn't imagine her, and she's back with another song off her upcoming album. "Untitled God Song" starts off as a pretty straightforward folk song in the vein of the current Newport Folk Festival friendly artists. Heynderickx's voice feels vulnerable yet strong. Slowly the song starts transforming and showing some of its quirks, until it breaks out into some 90's style indie rock. It's still somehow melodic and quiet even at its most rambunctious, so this is basically my idea of perfection.

You can listen to "Untitled God Song" below. Haley Hyderickx's debut album, I Need to Start a Garden, will be out March 2 on Mama Bird Recording Co. You can pre-order your copy of the album on Bandcamp. For more on Haley Heynderickx, check her out on Facebook and Twitter.

Live Shows: David Wax Museum, House Concert, Somerville, MA 1/22/18

I've been following David Wax Museum for almost eight years now. They've spread their music throughout the country playing a ton of house shows, but never really did it in the Boston area. Last week, they announced a duo house show tour in New England, with a number of Boston area shows. I obviously needed to attend one.

For those that have never attended a house show, it can be a bit awkward since you're milling around in a stranger's living room waiting for a band to start playing. However, it's worth any awkwardness since it's such a unique and intimate way to see one of your favorite bands live. I've seen David Wax Museum play in a variety of size clubs, at outdoor festivals big and small, but seeing them play in a living room in front of roughly 30 people was a special way to see them. The barrier between audience and performer is completely gone, and it's a far more interactive and personal experience. Suz and David were much more loose, and expanded the between song banter quite a bit. They shared stories of recording their first album, an awkward house show, being mistaken for a homeless family at a rest stop at the end of their last tour, etc. 

As far as the music, this was somehow my first time seeing David Wax Museum as a duo, and it was a great way to experience them. Even a song like "Unfruitful" is a completely different animal with just the two of them performing. They brought out favorites like "Yes, Maria, Yes" and "Born With a Broken Heart." The two also debuted a pair of brand new songs that were perfect and exactly what you're hoping they will be. (They were a bit harsh on themselves for one of the songs, but there was no need to be.) 

David Wax Museum have a few more shows on their New England duo house show tour. To see if you can make one, check out their website.

Lucy Dacus - "Addictions"

Photo by Pooneh Ghana

"Addictions," the latest single from Lucy Dacus's upcoming new album, might not live up to the brilliance of the first single from Historian... until it does. It would be almost impossible to match "Night Shift," which I declared to be the best song of 2018 back in December. "Addictions" starts off as your fairly standard alt-rock singer/songwriter fare, and it ends that way, too. It's the ride it brings you on in the middle that is what you'll end up loving. It morphs into multiple songs, with brief but beloved flourishes of fuzzy guitars, electronic elements, and some of the catchiest but oddly short verses that feel like choruses. Holding it all together is Dacus's voice, which may feel almost plain and standard at first, but is beyond mesmerizing by the end.

You can watch the video for "Addictions" below. The new album from Lucy Dacus, Historian, will be out March 2 on Matador Records. You can pre-order your copy on your preferred outlet here. For more on Lucy Dacus, check out her website. Tour dates with And the Kids and Adult Mom are below the video.

3/2: Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg
3/7: Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern
3/8: Charleston, SC @ Pour House
3/9: Atlanta, GA @ The Earl
3/10: Nashville, TN @ High Watt
3/19: Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
3/20: Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
3/21: San Diego, CA @ Casbah
3/22: Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
3/23: Santa Cruz @ Crepe Place
3/24: San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
3/26: Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
3/27: Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
3/28: Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern
3/30: Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
3/31: Denver, CO @ Globe Hall
4/2: Omaha, NE @ Reverb Lounge
4/4: Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry
4/5: Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
4/6: Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
4/7: Indianapolis, IN @ The Hi-Fi
4/8: Columbus, OH @ The Basement
4/9: Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
4/11: Cambridge, MA @ The Sinclair
4/13: Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s
4/14: Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel

Juliana Hatfield Covers Olivia Newton-John

Photo by David Doobinin

Last week we told you the unbelievably fantastic news that Juliana Hatfield was not just covering a single song from Olivia Newton-John but was releasing an album of Olivia Newton-John covers. This week, we can finally get a better idea of what that will sound like with the release of a video for her version of "A Little More Love." It's a Newton-John song I'm not very familiar with, but it did come out in 1978 which would pre-date my early love of Newton-John. Hatfield's version of the song brings in the ever so slightly noisy post-grunge singer/songwriter sound we want from Hatfield, but with just enough shimmer and gloss that you'll find on the original. God, this album can not come fast enough.

You can watch the video for Juliana Hatfield's version of "A Little More Love" below. Juliana Hatfield Sings Olivia Newton-John will be available April 13 via American Laundromat Records. A dollar from each album sold will benefit the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre. You can pre-order the album here. For more on Juliana Hatfield, check out her website.

First Listen, Part Two: More New Releases for January 19

And here are the rest!

Co-Album of the Week:

Artist: St. Beauty
Album: Running to the Sun
Quick Description: A genre-hoping R&B effort.
Why You Should Listen: It's one of the more unique releases in recent memory.
Overall Thoughts: At its heart, Running to the Sun is an R&B record. But if you're not into the genre, you can't let that stop you from hearing this, because it borrows from so many modern sounds - indie rock, alternative rock, some of the indie soul stuff, it runs the whole gamut. There are a lot of reasons why this shouldn't work, but instead it ends up feeling like a brilliant and special release. This surprised me a lot, and it will probably surprise you too.
Recommendation: One of the best of the week, and has the potential for a lot of staying power.

Artist: Glen Hansard
Album: Between Two Shores
Quick Description: The Frames/Once singer is back with a retro-feeling record.
Why You Should Listen: Hansard is a great songwriter and is worth the time...
Overall Thoughts: ...even if this doesn't quite hit the mark for me. I can't place exactly what didn't connect on this for me, but this feels like a different take for him that I'm just not into. A lot of people are big fans, and you might love this if you're one of them, but in a busy week, I can't recommend outright.
Recommendation: Non-essential.

Artist: The Go! Team
Album: Semicircle
Quick Description: The latest from the cheer-pop indie act.
Why You Should Listen: The Go! Team has completely hit its stride on this record.
Overall Thoughts: Yeah, they still sound like a bunch of cheerleaders, but it works and that's what matters. This has a great feel to it, a consistent groove throughout, and might be one of their best cohesive efforts since their debut. Not a bad launching point if you're new to the band, either. Just give this a shot, you won't regret it.
Recommendation: One of the better releases this week.

Artist: Tune-Yards
Album: I can feel you creep into my private life
Quick Description: The trippy indie act tones it down a bit...
Why You Should Listen: ...and makes a great, introspective record.
Overall Thoughts: I'm on record as wanting to like Tune-Yards more than I do. I've always felt it's just a hair too weird for my liking, and that's all well and good - she has a lot of fans as is. With that said, this album tacks toward the mainstream a little more than usual and provides a bit of clarity to her entire performance. I can see longtime fans being alienated by this, but for me? I'm absolutely looking forward to going back to this one soon.
Recommendation: A very solid effort.

Artist: The Shins
Album: The Worm's Heart
Quick Description: Alternate takes from Heartworms.
Why You Should Listen: This is a fun artistic exercise.
Overall Thoughts: James Mercer of The Shins apparently wanted to try and "flip" the songs from their 2017 release, changing tempos and moods to make the entire thing a different feel. As an album, I'll be honest - I'm not sure it works. As an art experiment, though, it's like a deliberate remixing exercise possible in part due to the ease of distribution in the modern music world, and it's a fascinating listen even if it's not amazing. So listen to this, compare notes, and maybe we can fight over which versions are best.
Recommendation: Absolutely worth a listen.

Artist: First Aid Kit
Album: Ruins
Quick Description: The latest from the indie folk duo.
Why You Should Listen: Everything First Aid Kit does is fantastic.
Overall Thoughts: It's almost a shame this came out this week, as it's sure to be overshadowed by a lot of different and interesting releases and doesn't deserve it. First Aid Kit has been nearly perfect since their debut, and this latest album is far from what the title indicates, instead showing a consistency to their sound and mood that makes them one of the best acts out there. If they're not grabbing you by the opening track on this one, I don't know what else you want from your music.
Recommendation: Nearly an album of the week, one of the best listens available.

Artist: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Album: Gumboot Soup
Quick Description: Their 5th album of 2017.
Why You Should Listen: Just give these guys credit for the year they've had.
Overall Thoughts: This is not the best King Gizzard album of 2017 by any stretch, but this was released on 31 December and I wanted to give them the proper credit for the effort they made on this. Five albums in a year, and more than enough solid song throughout to justify it? That's an achievement.
Recommendation: Give this a listen, but don't expect it to be as great or consistent as their other 2017 efforts.

EPs of note:

* Kailee Morgue - Medusa
* Belle & Sebastian - How to Solve Our Human Problems (Part 2)
* Your Old Droog - Looseys

Also out this week:

* Strand of Oaks - Harder Love (more from the Hard Love sessions)
* Starcrawler - Starcrawler

Comrade Nixon - Odd Todd

Hailing from Lyon Mountain, NY (which is further north than you think is possible to still be in NY state), Comrade Nixon just released their new album, Odd Todd. To record the album, the crossed the border into Vermont and recorded most songs in one take, recording the full thing in three hours. In the email we received from Comrade Nixon, their music is described as "mountain punk." It's a genre I've never heard, but let me try to describe it. Mountain punk is a crazed mess, and I mean that as a compliment. The album definitely sounds like it was recorded fast and DIY. Again, I mean that in the best possible way. The lead singer's voice is reminiscent of Paul Westerberg which gives the songs the feeling of the most ramshackle and loud side of The Replacements you never thought possible. You know those out of control, drunken bender Replacements shows that are the stuff of legend? Yeah, this album is like one of those, but much noisier. 

You can listen to "Two Girls" below. The new album from Comrade Nixon, Odd Todd, is available now on the bands' Bandcamp. For more information on Comrade Nixon, check out their Facebook.

First Listen, Part One: New Releases for January 19

A busy week, so we splitting the check.

Co-Album of the Week:

Artist: Shopping
Album: The Official Body
Quick Description: Newest album by a blog favorite.
Why You Should Listen: It's like your favorite odd bands from the 1980s come alive in 2018.
Overall Thoughts: Ken has been riding the Shopping bandwagon for close to five years now, and I've thought they've been fine up to now, but this album feels like a great leap forward for the act. Sometimes it feels like Gang of Four's "Anthrax," sometimes it's like my favorite Oh-OK songs, but this is just a stellar album this week that I can't wait to dive back into.
Recommendation: Easily the best of the week.

Artist: Sure Sure
Album: Sure Sure
Quick Description: A lo-fi indie pop debut from last week.
Why You Should Listen: You're wishing you lived back about 15 years ago musically.
Overall Thoughts: A fairly uneven listen, Sure Sure does a fairly interesting not-quite-lo-fi indie pop with some thin instrumentation. While it sometimes works, such as with the opening track or their cover of “This Must Be the Place,” there are other times where I just wish it were more fleshed out, like with “Foreign Room.” A lot of good ideas here, and I think we might see this band break out in the future as they perfect their sound.
Recommendation: This will work for some people, but not everyone.

Artist: Inara George
Album: Dearest Everybody
Quick Description: The latest solo effort from one of the closest things we have to indie royalty.
Why You Should Listen: You want something from George that is a little more straightforward.
Overall Thoughts: The always-busy artist with her first solo effort in a very long time, I think my surprise with this one is how low-key it feels. I never walk into Inara George projects with expectations, but the light, airy feel only works part of the time in this effort. Might not work for everyone, but George is a solid enough artist with a great track record making this worth a shot.
Recommendation: Might be for big fans only.

Artist: Various Artists
Album: Instant Love: Songs Between Women
Quick Description: A collection of love songs covered by women.
Why You Should Listen: A cover album is usually worth it, and the collection of artists on this album is great.
Overall Thoughts: A series of cover songs by female singers; we highlighted Tristen’s entry late last year. A solid collection on a whole – as with any collection of covers, the parts are always better than the whole, and there are some interesting takes to go along with some unmemorable ones, but it is absolutely worth giving at least a once-over to see if you can find anything to love.
Recommendation: Worth a listen for sure.

Artist: Wes Youssi and the County Champs
Album: Down Low
Quick Description: A strong classic country entry for the new year.
Why You Should Listen: You like modern efforts for classic country, but prefer the traditional aspects.
Overall Thoughts: I don’t know the first thing about this act, but they lean hard into the classic country pastiche to pretty solid results. While there were times I was thinking, stylistically, I was listening to Ween’s 12 Golden Country Greats, we still end up with a solid country album worth hearing in the new year.
Recommendation: A good listen.

Artist: They Might Be Giants
Album: I Like Fun
Quick Description: The latest from the legendary alternative act.
Why You Should Listen: You've been listening for thirty years, right? Why stop now?
Overall Thoughts: Like, I get that they have a number of truly classic albums from 20 or so years ago, but I don’t know if I ever fully got this band, and this latest album isn’t really helping matters. It’s a language I don’t understand with music that isn’t connecting with me on any real level, and I can’t tell if it’s just because they’re a band with 30-something years on the back end of their career or it’s something else. If you’re a fan, you’ll probably like this. If you’re new, find a copy of Flood first.
Recommendation: Skip it unless TMBG is your absolute jam.

Artist: Meat Beat Manifesto
Album: Impossible Star
Quick Description: The latest from the well-known electronic act.
Why You Should Listen: While I don't know how longtime fans will feel about this, it's a good introduction.
Overall Thoughts: A group I’ve known about for ages but never listened to, this was a good introduction for me and will likely result in my exploring the back catalog a bit. Reminded me a bit of a more chill Aphex Twin on this record, it was definitely some interesting, different electronic music.
Recommendation: Definitely give this a listen.

EPs of note:

* Ron Gallo - Really Nice Guys
* ShitKid - This is It
* Fatboy Slim - Fatboy Slim v Australia

Also out this week:

* Anvil - Pounding the Pavement
* Joe Perry - Sweetzerland Manifesto

Poster Children - "Grand Bargain!"

Photo via Facebook

Poster Children are one of those bands I almost forget about, despite the fact that they were part of the greatest triple bill I'll ever see (Built to Spill, Poster Children, and Jack Drag, Bowery Ballroom 1998). Then maybe once or twice a year I remember and go on a crazy full day binge of listening to nothing but their albums. Well, they're coming back with their first new album in fourteen years and a new single, "Grand Bargain!" Granted, I'm not a Poster Children expert or anything, but "Grand Bargain!" seems much more angry and political than I remember them being. he opening line is "America held hostage: Day 1." It's this fierce punk blast with swirling, vicious punk guitars and ranting, spoken word/screaming vocals. This is the kind of song the world needs right now.

You can listen to "Grand Bargain!" below. Poster Chidren's new Steve Albini recorded album, also called Grand Bargain!,  is available for pre-order now on PledgeMusic. It will be out on May 18. For more on Poster Children, check out their website.