Jessie Wagner Covers Solomon Burke

Photo by Drew Bordeaux

There's just something about a good cover that we love here at If It's Too Loud..., and they don't get much better than Jessie Wagner's cover of Solomon Burke's 1962 song "Cry to Me." Wagner makes her version sound even more vintage than the original by adding more of a 60's soul sound to it along with some doo wop harmonies. It turns more of a downtrodden crooner classic into a more upbeat, poppy song. Wagner's "Cry to Me" is very 60's inspired, but it still sounds like a modern take of the classic that was inspired by the pop hits of that decade.

Jessie Wagner says of her version of "Cry to Me:"

“Ever since I saw Patrick Swayze gently sway Jennifer Grey in his beautifully sculpted arms to Solomon Burke's 'Cry To Me,' I was immediately obsessed with this sensual song. It continues to be one of my favorites, and I am ecstatic to release my take on this sexy classic.”

You can listen to Jessie Wagner's cover of "Cry to Me" below. The single is available now via Wicked Cool Records. For more on Jessie Wagner, check out the artist's website.

Rob Moose featuring Phoebe Bridgers - "Wasted"

Photo by Julia and Aaron Robbs

I was embarrassingly late to the Phoebe Bridgers bandwagon, but I'm fully on board now so I'm obviously going to pay attention to any project she's involved with. Producer and arranger Rob Moose brought her in for his latest project, and she provides vocals for his latest single, "Wasted." He's the one who added strings to her album Stranger in the Alps, and on this new single they amp up the strings aspect even more. "Wasted" is more of a modern take on classical with Phoebe Bridgers providing vocals than her normal slice of indie rock/pop. It's a gorgeous song that is heavy with strings, but not in a stuffy way at all. This is classical/orchestral music for those that would normally hate the genre.

Rob Moose says of the new song:

“'Wasted' came my way in 2019. I first started to tinker with it on a retreat to Orcas Island, with snow out the window and no helpful instruments nearby. Progress came slowly, but I managed to arrange and record what felt like a rough demo of the first verse and chorus before flying home. When I opened up the song again in New York, I felt like the song was ready for a major shift. I kept working on it in bursts and stepping away, a process that was new for me. Hundreds of hours and several hiatuses later, Phoebe resang the vocal, and 'Wasted' began its new life."

You can watch the video for "Wasted" below. Inflorescence is due out August 11 via Sony Masterworks. For more on Rob Moose, check out the artist's website.

Wyn Doran - "hold on for another day"

Photo via Facebook

"hold on for another day," the latest single from Wyn Doran, was written years ago and recently came back to Doran. It's an absolutely gorgeous song that is a little bit folk and a little bit pop. The focus of the song is Doran's vocals, and she sounds amazing in "hold on for another day." You can feel every single emotion in her voice. Doran releasing emotional music, particularly music with a heaviness and sadness to it, isn't anything new. But as sad as this new song is, there is also an audible sense of hope. It may not be the happiest of songs, but it is surprisingly uplifting.

You can listen to "hold on for another day" below. Wyn Doran just finished recording a new album with her band Wyn & The White Light. Hopefully we'll be bringing you more of that soon. For more on Wyn Doran, check out the artist's website.

Bootsy Collins featuring Baby Triggy and Fantaazma - "Funk Not Fight"

As part of the Funk Not Fight initiative which sees artists lend their voices to the anti-violence cause, funk legend Bootsy Collins has released "Funk Not Fight." The song also sees vocal turns from Baby Triggy and Fantaazma, and it perfectly bridges the glory days of funk that Collins helped usher in during his tenure with James Brown's band and Parliament-Funkadelic. It sounds perfectly vintage and modern at the same time. And, as with anything Bootsy Collins gets involved with, "Funk Not Fight" is just a pure party song that just happens to have an important anti-violence message. 

Bootsy Collins says of his new song:

"I just like to say, check out my latest video. Funk, not fight. We just wanna calm down some of that violence out there. Cause y'all know that it ain't right! Come on now. Jump on board. Let's get the One! For being funk, and not fight. Yeah that's right baby."

You can watch the video for "Funk Not Fight" below. The song is part of an ongoing Funk Not Fight compilation that will feature up-and-coming musicians as well as legacy artists to help end violence. For more on Funk Not Fight, check out the organization's website.

blindspot - "Still Breathing"

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The latest from Boston's blindspot occupies an interesting sonic territory. "Still Breathing" is far too pop to be considered a rock song. In particular, Alexa Economou's vocals are enchantingly poppy. But, the song just has too much of an edge to truly be pop. If anything, it's edgy power pop that leans way into the pop side of things without quite diving all the way in, while still being a rock song. I'm going to implore you to listen to "Still Breathing" all the way through, especially if you normally turn away from more pop based music. Even if it doesn't fully grab you at first, blindspot have this natural charm that is destined to win you over by the time it's over.

You can watch the video for "Still Breathing" below. For more on blindspot, check out the band's website.

Nicholas Burgess Covers Nirvana and Pearl Jam

Boston's Nicholas Burgess has released a new two song single entitled 1993. It features two covers of songs from 1993: Nirvana's submission to the Beavis and Butthead Do America soundtrack, "I Hate Myself and Want to Die" and Pearl Jam's "Daughter." "I Hate Myself and Want to Die" is one of my very favorite Nirvana songs, and this might be the first time I've heard it covered. Both songs are interesting takes on the originals, featuring more electronic instrumentation than you'd expect on covers of grunge icons, but Burgess makes it work. "I Hate Myself and Want to Die" keeps the venom and force of the original, while "Daughter" is even more subdued (and groovier!) than Pearl Jam's original. Plus, the Nirvana cover features Rainy from Sapling on backing vocals!

You can listen to Nicholas Burgess cover Nirvana and Pearl Jam below. The songs re currently available via Bandcamp. For more on Nicholas Burgess, check out the artist's website.

Eight Foot Manchild - "Take It to the Chorus, Titanosaurus"

Massachusetts is lucky to be home to Eight Foot Manchild, "the world's first and therefore best DOOMBRASS band." Their latest single, "Take It to the Chorus, Titanosaurus," is somehow even more epic than previous singles they've released. The horns are somehow even more funky, and the riffs are more crushing. Despite the title, "Take It to the Chorus, Titanosaurus" doesn't actually have a chorus. In fact, there aren't actually vocals aside from some samples here. It's like Eight Foot Manchild's version of an all samples hip hop song. This is an interesting one, and it's fun to hear a band get even more experimental this early in their existence. 

You can listen to "Take It to the Chorus, Titanosaurus" below. The song is available now via Bandcamp. For more on Eight Foot Manchild, check out the band on Facebook and Instagram.

Jeanines - "Each Day"

Photo via Facebook

We've always enjoyed the retro 60's sound of Jeanines. Their latest single, "Each Day," still has more than a little of that retro sound, but this time they've added in a little more of a California sound than the groovy London scene. I'm still hearing a bit of London, but they've added in a little Jefferson Airplane and The Carpenters to the mix. You're also going to get some 90's DIY indie rock in here in the jangly guitars, but "Each Day" has such a gloriously retro sound that it's going to be fairly irresistible. 

You can listen to "Each Day" below. The song will be released as a 7" on July 7 via Slumberland Records, and is available to pre-order here. For more on Jeanines, check out the band on Instagram and Facebook.

Lupo Citta - "Only in Love"

Photo via Facebook

Regular readers of If It's Too Loud... will most likely know about my fandom of Chris Brokaw and his plethora of musical projects. The man is/has been in Come, Codeine, The Lemonheads, his own solo work, and many, many more projects. We can add Lupo Citta to the list. This new band features Chris Brokaw on guitar and vocals, Sarah Black on guitar and bass, and Jenn Gori on drums and vocals. As with any Chris Brokaw project, it fits into his musical repertoire without sounding quite like any of his other bands. Their new single, "Only in Love," is a dark and haunting indie rock track that drones on like shoegaze without being shoegaze. The song slowly plods along, pushed forwards by some driving guitar, but it mostly just sits in your gut creating a feeling of unease. (And I mean that as a compliment!) If it fits in any standard indie rock type of label, it would most likely be post-punk or No Wave.

You can listen to "Only in Love" below. The song will be included on an upcoming album due January 2024 on 12XU. For more on Lupo Citta, check them out on Facebook and Instagram.

Bombino - "Tazidert"

Photo by Noemi Monu

Omara "Bombino" Moctar hasn't released any new music since 2018's Deran, but the guitar master is back with "Tazidert." The Toureg folk hero has this unique sound that is all his. Hailing from Niger, he infuses African rhythms with modern rock and folk, and plays one of the most hypnotizing guitars out there. The guitar work on "Tazidert" is just mesmerizing. It's the kind of music that you aren't quite sure if it makes you want to dance or just sit with your mouth agape just taking the entire thing in. This is world music for those who don't think they appreciate world music.

Omara Moctar says of his new song:

“These are tips for being good, you have to be patient, the world has changed a lot but everyone has their destiny.”

You can watch the video for "Tazidert" below. The song will be included on a forthcoming album. For more on Bombino, check out the artist's website.