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Aloud – It’s Got To Be Now (2014)

Aloud - Its Got To Be Now Cover

Aloud
It’s Got To Be Now
2014

Let’s cut to the chase. Aloud’s new record, It’s Got To Be Now, is pretty great. It’s a hook-filled slab of rock, soul, passion and urgency. Here’s a quick breakdown of how it plays out:

“Back Here With Me Again” opens It’s Got To Be Now with a blast of sunshine.

“Don’t Let It Get You Down” is straight up rockin’ soul.

“The Wicked Kind” smolders with biting guitar riffs and swirling organ.

“Jeanne, It’s Just A Ride” is a slice of ’60s pop heaven.

“A Little Bit Low” is an absolute scorcher, complete with a barely restrained breakdown to make you realize just how blazing this song is.

“Such A Long Time” revisits Aloud’s ’60s influence. This time around you may want to pull your baby close.

“After The Plague” has a timeless groove, harmonized “ahhs” and a triumphant chorus.

“It’s Got To Be Now” is infused with the desperation implied in its title.

“Complicity” is too bold to lurk in the shadows; it brings the shadows to you.

“The Ballad Of Emily Jane” could pass as Big Star.

“You Will Know” radiates sentimentality. The song goes through a subtle and beautiful transformation from reserved to glorious. A great way to cap off a fantastic album.

OK, that’s it. Aloud have really outdone themselves this time. Wait, here’s another picture…

Aloud - Its Got To Be Now Inside

The vinyl version is a basic black 12″ record spun at 33&#8531 RPM. The label offers one of my favorite A/B side indications in recent memory. There’s a full color sleeve and a lyric sheet insert to round things out. It’s Got To Be Now is also available on CD and as a digital download.

Where to get it:

Aloud - Its Got To Be Now Back

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13 Things About 24 Bands – OR – The 2014 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble Starts Sunday Night

The 2014 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble starts Sunday night. Here are 13 things about the 24 bands playing this year’s shindig…

  1. Airport, Slowdim, Butterknife and Sinnet are all in The Rumble. That means you can catch four of the bands writing the best songs in the city at TT’s next week. Sinnet plays Sunday, Airport on Tuesday. Butterknife and Slowdim go head to head on Thursday. We’re a lucky bunch.
  2. I’ve seen Doom Lover twice, both times without Nikki Dessingue. I still haven’t had the full Doom Lover experience. I’m sure this is my loss. The Rumble will see this remedied on Monday night.

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  3. Riffs, riffs, riffs. I gotta have riffs. Color me excited to hear what Summoner and Yellabird are laying down. Summoner is up Friday. Yellabird is the last band of the whole Rumble on Saturday.
  4. Harmonies, harmonies, harmonies. Goddamn Draculas (Monday) and Airport have some of the best I’ve ever heard.
  5. Z*L(Tuesday) and Petty Morals(Friday) are two bands I’ve been dying to see. I really dig what the folks in these band have done in the past. I’m excited to (finally) see what they’re doing now.
  6. The Color And Sound played one of the most energetic sets I’ve ever seen. They’re going to impress a lot of people on Saturday.
  7. What will Gondoliers do on Thursday night? Seriously, what are they gonna do? You never know with these guys. They’re masters. Definitely one of my most anticipated Rumble sets.

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  8. It seems like there’s been a big surge of prog-influenced rock in this town. Emma Ate The Lion will be repping the movement on Monday night.
  9. Getting through the early part of Rumble prelims week can be tough. With three bands-I’ve-never-seen-much-to-the-dismay-of-friends-who-have-seen-them in the first two nights, I think I’ll make it through okay. Tigerman Woah and Guillermo Sexo are on Sunday. When Particles Collide follow on Monday.
  10. Rebuilder is the pop-punkiest pop punk band to play The Rumble in a while. They’ll get the whole thing started on Sunday night.
  11. I always enjoy seeing a band for the second time (for an explanation, see reason #18 here). In addition to the previously mentioned Sinnet and The Color And Sound, I’ll be catching second sets from Feints(Friday), Vary Lumar(Friday) and Await Rescue(Saturday).

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  12. Between The Life Electric(Tuesday), Barricades(Tuesday) and Western Education(Thursday) there’s a pretty impressive variety of highly polished modern indie rock on tap for this year’s Rumble.
  13. Harris Hawk will be kicking off the final night of the Rumble prelims, thus ensuring that any Rumble hangover from nights 1-5 will be quickly smashed to bits. Pay attention Saturday night. They don’t mess around.

That’s all I’ve got. The full 2014 Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble schedule can be found here. Maybe you should go to one or all of the shows.

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Oh, hey, it’s Daykamp Music’s 3rd Birthday!

Today is Daykamp Music’s 3rd birthday. Had I known how much work this site would be, I may never have done it. Score one for naivety. I love photographing bands in a live setting. I’m happy to have had a place to share my photos over the past few years.

Sometimes I get tired. Today I’m tired. I wanted to write some grand post about the site turning 3 years old, but I’m not sure I have it in me. I’ll have to settle for posting a few hastily chosen photos from the past year and giving thanks. Thanks for visiting the site. Thanks for sharing the photos with your friends. Thanks for caring about local music.

Lifestyle in The Rumble.

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Ruby Rose Fox at the For Boston benefit last April.

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Eddie Japan won The Rumble.

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