i started this blog for songs like this. Kim Normal’s new single, “I Don’t Even Mind”, is so, so good. go ahead and skip this paragraph and just stream it (on bandcamp) below. the song is from an upcoming record they’ve been recording the past few months, teasing during their live shows. that album, On Your Own Wave, is now one of my most anticipated CT releases of the year, in no small part because of this killer song.
Kim Normal is a band that wears their influences on their sleeves. The early years of the band are documented on youtube — a guitarist (Carl Gianelli) and drummer (Ethan Williams) playing covers of ’90s rock bands. and they wouldn’t just cover songs — they’d cover full albums from front-to-back. the videos are a lot of fun to watch (see below), but in recent years, Kim Normal has been prioritizing their original material. with bassist Conor McCarthy, you may have seen the band’s live work in central CT spots (the Cellar on Treadwell / Best Video, etc). but the early days of covering grunge bands can still be felt in their music today! listen to the guitar tone on “I Don’t Even Mind”. it sounds like a ripping Dinosaur Jr. riff! or maybe a little bit of Sonic Youth. or, to be a little more current and local, like Ovlov’s warm sound.
“I Don’t Even Mind” is the second single from the upcoming On Your Own Wave, following the initial “Piece By Piece”, which you can find on bandcamp and spotify.
and, in case you missed it last year, here is their full-band cover of Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins. with one guitar, they make it look easy. pretty sure i’ve never seen a drummer so comfortable playing “Cherub Rock”. and hey, do you notice that guitar tone?
