Margo Price - "Lydia"

Margo Price has been easing away from her classic country sound to a more rock based one, but her latest single sees her taking a step back towards country once again. "Lydia" is a song that is mostly just Price with an acoustic guitar with some strings in the background to set the mood. It's really the strings that set the tone for this song. Typically violins add a lush and beautiful background to a song, but with "Lydia" it sounds more like it's setting the tone for a horror movie. All of the elements of a lovely acoustic folk song are present, but instead Price gives us one of the most anxiety inducing songs of the year, and I mean that as a compliment. 

In an email to fans, Margo Price says of the new song:

"I wrote Lydia in one sitting in a tiny hotel room after walking around the city of Vancouver one day. I was jet lagged and feeling really depressed, hopeless, but instead of taking a nap, I picked up the guitar and the words just flowed out all in one quick moment. I hit record on my phone to make a demo and so sort of blacked out or went into this meditative state and boom- eight minutes later, I had this song. 

"The song feels like a premonition now, with women’s rights being stripped and all the abortion bans happening. When I listen back, I hear what might go through a woman’s mind when she has a difficult decision to make about her body, her choices and her future." 

You can listen to "Lydia" below. Strays is due out January 13 and can be pre-ordered/pre-saved here. For more on Margo Price, check out the artist's website.

Friday Freebie: The Wu-Tang Zeppelin

I know, I know. Mash-ups are very early 2000s, and entire albums of rap/rock mash-ups peaked with The Grey Album in 2004 no so self-respecting music journalist would ever cover them. However, I still unashamedly love them, and I stumbled on The Wu-Tang Zeppelin earlier this week and could not resist bringing this to you all. Put together by Beats Rhymes and Remixes out of the UK, The Wu-Tang Zeppelin obviously combines the legendary classic rock of Led Zeppelin with the groundbreaking hip hop of Wu-Tang Clan. You'll know if this is for you right from the album opener which mashes "Whole Lotta Love" with "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" entitled "Whole lotta chessboxin.'" For me it's a interesting mix since Wu-Tang are one of my favorites dating back to high school, and Zeppelin are a band I rejected as an indie rock snob and have only started accepting the last few years. But, if you still have a love for mash-ups, you'll want to check this one out.

You can listen to "Lemons rule everything around me" below. The Wu-Tang Zeppelin is available for the "name your price" option over at Bandcamp. 

Ace of Wands - "Desiring You"

Photo by Sara May - True Nature Media

Ace of Wands formed in Toronto back in 2017. Their music is considered "dream rock," and after hearing their new single I completely get what that means. "Desiring You" reminds me of both Throwing Muses and Belly. The song has that early alt-rock edge to it that you get with Throwing Muses and that discordant yet oddly hypnotizing quality is similar. It also has that dreamy and fairly poppy sound you get with Belly, and since that sound is now referred to as dream pop... dream rock! Plus, Lee Rose and Anna Mernieks harmonize in a way that is similar to how Kirsten Hersh and Tanya Donelly also harmonize.

You can listen to "Desiring You" below. For more on Ace of Wands, check out the band's website.

Grace Cummings Covers Fatboy Slim

I never quite got into Fatboy Slim, but I do love a good cover especially when it's done by an artist who can open for the likes of Ezra Furman, Viagra Boys, and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. Grace Cummings delivers a fairly straightforward rendition of the 90's electronica classic "Praise You," although it is a more organic one. This cover is more of an organic rock/soul version while still keeping all the main elements of the original intact. While it's obviously a musically different version, you'll recognize it just from the music which doesn't always happen when a cover crosses genres like this. 

Grace Cummings says of the song:

“No matter what happens, I’ll never get sick of this song and it will never get sick of making me happy. I’d never try to out do Camille Yarborough or Fatboy Slim… there’s no point. But to combine the two into a soul groove was something kinda our own and hopefully joyful in its own right.”

You can watch the video for Grace Cummings' version of "Praise You" below. The single is currently available here via ATO Records. For more on Grace Cummings, check out the artist on Facebook and Instagram.

The Owners - "Wrecked the World"

The Owners are a Washington D.C. supergroup composed of members of Ex Hex, The Shirks, Gray Matter, Iron Cross, The Problematics, and more. According to their Bandcamp profile, they are a "... melodic punk/power pop group," and once you hear "Wrecked the World," you'll definitely agree. The song has all of the edge of punk with the melody associated with melodic punk, but it has this extra melodic and even pop side which is where the power pop comes in. This might just be the most upbeat yet angry song about the damage already done with climate change and the frustration involved with caring.

You can listen to "Wrecked the World" below. The Owners' self-titled album is due out November 18 on Red Room Records and Dischord Records, and can be pre-ordered through Bandcamp. 

First Listen: New Releases for 4 November 2022

Artist: Glen Phillips
Album: There is So Much Here
Quick Thoughts: I recognize that I am a little biased when it comes to Glen Phillips, as Toad the Wet Sprocket is a top five band for me and the frontman has put together a formidable solo career as well. This latest album shows us a singer-songwriter that just knows how to put a song together, and the outcome here is a bold and bright affair that might be his best solo effort since Winter Pays for Summer. Just a rock solid listen overall, and something that I am super psyched about.
Songs of Note: "Stone Throat," "I Was a Riot," "Big Changes"

Artist: Pohgoh
Album: Du Und Ich
Quick Thoughts: I did not know who Pohgoh was prior to this week, and apparently I've been missing out, as this is by far my favorite album of the week and has a very strong case to being one of the better albums of the year. While I know the old souls around us might find the "midwest emo" mockery to be a bit much, the fact that Pohgoh is this good and has a new album this strong? For real, "Planet Houston" might be your new favorite song. Listen to this. You will not regret a moment of it.
Songs of Note: "Now I KNow," "Planet Houston," "Hammer," "Heavy"

Artist: Connie Constance
Album: Miss Power
Quick Thoughts: Connie Constance was sent to me via Ken, and is a British singer-songwriter who isn't afraid to lean on her influences a bit but also puts out some songs that have the urgency to go along with the musical chops. It's a little poppy, it's a little rock, and it's definitely not going to be something anyone would dislike if given a chance. Make time for this one.
Songs of Note: "Till The World's Awake," "Hurt You"

Artist: First Aid Kit
Album: Palomino
Quick Thoughts: There's not much I can say about First Aid Kit that hasn't been said before, here or anywhere else. Palomino is functionally the duo at the height of their powers, and each song is better than the one that comes before it. You already know this is great, so you don't need me to tell you.
Songs of Note: "Angel," "Out of My Head," "A Feeling That Never Came"

Of note:

* Coco & Clair Clair - Sexy (Hyperpop-adjacent effort.)
* Ezra Collective - Where I'm Meant to Be (Solid genre-defying music.)
* Rayland Baxter - If I Were a Butterfly (A number of great moments here.)
* Olivia Barton - This is a Good Sign
* Black Mirrors - Tomorrow Will Be Without Us
* La Femme - Teatro Lucido
* Caleb Landry Jones - Gadzooks Vol. 2
* Julien Chang - The Sale
* Special Interest - Endure
* Anna of the North - Crazy Life
* Personal Trainer - Big Love Blanket
* Phoenix - Alpha Zulu
* µ-Ziq - Hello
* Okay Kaya - SAP
* Laura Jean - Amateurs
* Isla Craig - Echo's Reach
* Mount Kimble - MK 3.5 Die Cuts | City Planning
* Phantom Handshakes - A Passport to Remain
* Carla dal Forno - Come Around
* Decius - Vol. 1
* The Hanged Man - Tear It All
* A Swollen River, a Well Overflowing
* Hans Pucket - No Drama

EPs:

* Bleach Lab - If You Only Feel It Once
* Clara Mann - Stay Open
* Crawlers - Loud Without Noise
* Jeff Rosenstock and Laura Stevenson - Younger Still
* Allison and Moon - The Land Before Time
* Moplly Payton - Compromise
* Dana Gavinski - Bouncing Ball
* The Wave Pictures - French Cricket

Live albums/Compilations/Reissues:

* JR Vol. 3: A Tribute to Johnny Cash (Don't sleep on the Los Duggans song.)
* Spoon - Lucifer on the Moon (A dub-influenced "reconstruction" of their most recent album.)

Also out:

* Horse Lords - Comradely Objects
* The Rentals - The Midnight Society Soundtrack
* Big Joanie - Back Home

Gina Birch featuring Thurston Moore - "Wish I Was You"

Gina Birch of post punk legends The Raincoats has an upcoming solo album, and we can check out one of the songs now! Compared to her earlier work, "Wish I Was You" is damn near mainstream, but only truly in comparison. The song is more along the lines of the alt-rock and power pop from the mid 90's than post punk an punk of the late 70's, but considering the song also features guitar work from Thurston Moore, this can hardly be truly considered poppy. Although... it kind of is in its own little way. "Wish I Was You" is a great throwback alt-rock song with a pop edge. It's reminding me of bands like Veruca Salt and L7 more than The Raincoats, but considering this is from someone over forty years into a musical career, this kind of edge is quite impressive.

You can watch the video for "Wish I Was You" below. I Play My Bass Loud is due out February 24 on Third Man Records. The album can be pre-ordered here. For more on Gina Birch, check out the artist's Instagram.

Apollo Brown & Philmore Greene - "Steep Life"

We've covered Apollo Brown quite a bit here at If It's Too Loud... The acclaimed producer has a sound that is modern but reminiscent of classic hip hop. His latest collaboration is with Chicago MC Philmore Greene. "Steep Life" mixes both standard, mainstream, classic hip hop with something completely new. Musically the song doesn't quite sound like what I normally associate with rap. There's an interesting quality to it that reminds me of that 60's lounge throwback sound that was being made in the 90's, which fits Greene's laid back flow perfectly. 

You can watch the video for "Steep Life" below. Cost of Living is due out November 15 on Mello Music Group. The album can be pre-ordered/pre-saved here. For more on Apollo Brown, check out the artist on Twitter. Philmore Greene can be found on Twitter here.

Rianne Downey - "Home"

Scotland's Rianne Downey makes music that would normally be a little too pop for my personal taste, but she just does it in a way that works for me. Her latest single, "Home," is poppy as hell, but not in that dance/Top 40 way. It's more of a pop take on a singer/songwriter song combined with soul. Plus, Downey just has one of those voices you're drawn too. It's great, but not in a completely traditional way. It just packs so much charm that it's impossible to resist. This song in particular is reminding me a lot of Carsie Blanton, which is never a bad thing around here.

Rianne Downey says of her new song:

“I wrote ‘Home’ when I was still wondering whether I was going to stay or go. I always wanted to look to and travel over the horizon. Although I love Scotland, being from a small place can make people afraid to venture into the big wide world. That’s great for anyone that can settle, but it was never for me.”

You can watch the video for "Home" below. Come What May is due out in January 2023 on Run On Records. For more on Rianne Downey, check out the artist on Twitter and Facebook.

Guts Club - "The Gun Collector"

Photo by Sabrina Stone

New Orleans' Guts Club are the rare kind of band that both metalheads and indie rock fans can appreciate equally. Their music is loud and brutal at times, but it also has this beautiful and artistic quality. Their latest single, "The Gun Collector," is a ten minute epic that starts off with some of the most intense droning you've ever heard. You're basically a quarter of the way through the song before the guitar start to do anything else, but that's kind of perfect, in a way. The song just plods and plods through with this drone, drums, and vocals without you wanting anything else. It slowly builds from this, but so slowly that you barely even notice the song pick up. I don't know many bands that could pull this off, but most bands aren't Guts Club. 

You can listen to "The Gun Collector" below. CLIFFS/WALLS is due out January 13, and can be pre-ordered through Bandcamp. For more on Guts Club, check out the band's website.