see — i didn’t lie. this music round-up didn’t take nearly as long to post as the last one. and still, i got you 30+ songs from Connecticut musicians. and: that. ain’t. even. all. there’s still more great music out there to hear and discover. Connecticut: we got our work cut out for us — let’s go get those new tunes. except maybe do it in the shade if you can, because it’s been hot as fuck lately.
check out this week’s songs below, and as always, if you like what you hear: share it with a friend! and if you have the means, consider buying their music. spotify is nice and all, but unless you plan on streaming a song multiple hundred times, bandcamp is best. you can follow us on instagram and twitter for more music during the week.
New Albums / EPs:
The Alex Butter Field – Psychedelipop
A new band featuring Hank Hoffman, who you may know from Best Video in Hamden! Psychedelipop is The Alex Butter Field’s debut album, and even though it’s been long in the making (the band’s origin traces back to 2002), these songs sound timeless. If you’ve been craving some shaggy, homespun psychedelia, look no further.
The Cryptids Are Alright – Embossed
The mysterious / anonymous songwriting behind The Cryptids Are Alright released a new album this summer! You can check out Embossed on bandcamp; it’s a home-recorded, semi-folk, semi-psychedelic work of art. If you find yourself feeling a little too good these days, let Embossed take care of that for you.
Drummi – Selfless Spirits
CJ Dioguardi is hella busy. You can find Dioguardi on the new Goldflame record (just came out last week), playing drums for The Ghost Tones, and working with the new label Graduate Records. But somehow finding time between all of that, Selfless Spirits was brought into this world. It’s kinda reggae, but with modern chill, spooky vibes. It’s hard to describe, so give it a listen.
Gambit – 11 Minute EP
Middletown’s Gambit has a new… EP? Music video? Song? The ambitious 11 Minute EP is one long song, created with its equally-ambitious music video. Like you can expect from Gambit, it’s old school, and laced with good humor. Produced by Jarv.
Gardant – Gardanthology
Gardant has a new album! The duo, a partnership between New Haven’s Anthony DeCaprio and Gary Sully, is adventurous and jammy.
Grim – Grim
Justis Hauser is grim. If you’ve ever wondered: “what would the venue Bebbs sound like if it got a hold of a DAW”, well, you have your answer. This debut EP is darkly shoegaze in just the perfect way. If you like, I dunno, Waveform* or Slowdive, but want something a little more jagged you owe yourself this listen.
The Last Years – Future Ghosts
Connecticut’s premiere retro synthwave project The Last Years has a new EP: 5 songs of beautifully vintaged anthems. If you want more fist-bumping neon in your life, Future Ghosts delivers.
People I Love – Lucky Magic
OK: hurry up and download this one while it lasts! A few months ago, People I Love (project from Dan of Waveform*) released a great album, only for it to vanish from Bandcamp without warning. Some of those songs are back in the new Lucky Magic, which has polished up some of People I Love’s sound (though that’s not a slur). You gotta hear “Ballroom”.
Sev7en Taylor – The Disobedience of Jimmie Taylor
New Haven’s Sev7en Taylor has a new album out, and if you’re now familiar with their work, Taylor has described his music as the love child of Biggie, Jay-Z, and Missy Elliott. The Disobedience of Jimmie Taylor is bold and ambitious, and you should check it out if you’re tired of mainstream hip hop tropes and beats.
Sketcha tha Cataclysm & Mandy Moorehole – Hella Kafkaesque
You know, just the other day I was thinking “It’s been a minute since Sketch had a new album.” Don’t forget, their Sharing is Caring EP from last year is terrific, but it’s so damn good to get some new tunes. Hella Kafkaesque was slammed out in a short period of time — Sketch planned to initially work on a new album, and Hella happened all at once, invigorated by the collaboration with Mandy Moorehol.
Soft Screams – Too Soft For This World
And speaking of long-awaited releases, I’ve been excited to hear Soft Screams’ album for months and months now, after catching a live set back at The Church in Hamden. Western CT’s dirty rockin’ emo project.
Sunday Morning – Nothing Matters
If you caught last week’s Bark List, you probably got excited as hell to see (and hear) Sunday Morning had a new music video. That was just a taste of Nothing Matters, the fantastic EP by the boys from Durham. Look, I’m not going to say this record is emo, because I don’t know if that’s an offensive word around these parts, but Nothing Matters is loud, anthemic, and big.
Sustinet – Lake
I love this blog. Yeah, I get to share great music with you, but I get to hear it before I do that. And every now and again I come across a band I didn’t know anything about that just blows me away. Sustinet is one of those bands, who recently released their debut Lake. Check out the video below (and hey, what do you know, there’s a close Kicker Pictures connection here)!
Xylorp – Xylorp
Lo-fi and washed out as fuck; I love Xylorp’s sound. Newtown’s Alec B. has released their most complete record yet with Xylorp.
New Singles and Music Videos:
Amanda Bellitto – “Fady to Grey”
Bellitto delighted us with “Haunt” earlier this year, and “Fade to Grey” came out by surprise this week. Her writing is so smooth and confident — we’re lucky to have these two songs, but we’re begging for more.
Beau Dega – “It’s Luv”
Even though Beau just a released a huge album last month, they’re back with a new single: “It’s Luv”. Beau teased that this song has been in the works for “most of their 20s”, and it feels like a huge one. This drama takes cosmic proportions.
Brian Ember – “Our Friends Don’t Know”
One of our favorites from Brian Ember’s The New Chastity! The music video from “Our Friends Don’t Know” is fun, strange, and surreal (like Ember). Check it out to see which of your friends makes a cameo at Cafe Nine.
Fiction – “Felonious Punk”
GlennVeryClose – “Lost Me, Lost You”
Ant from The 30th of February is gearing up to release a new EP under his GlennVeryClose project. This new single is pure doom-indie. It fucking rules.
Litvar – “Sertraline”
We shared Litvar’s “Sertraline” last week, and now it has a music video! Compiled from home movie footage and Rex + Joe’s beautiful faces. Their debut album will be out next month!
Mandala – “Mirror”
Just last year, Mandala released their best work yet: Damsel in Defense. And Mandala celebrated by throwing an anniversary livestream and also releasing this creative music video for “Mirror”.
Mighty Tortuga – “Reverie”
It’s a new phase for Mighty Tortuga! Their new EP, Gloom, will be out soon, so you ought to just go ahead and follow them on social media to prepare. And in the meantime, check out the Littleroot Collective — a community space created by some of M.T.’s members!
Similar Kind – “Nobody Loves You”
The third single from Similar Kind (one of our very favorites) this year is just as great as the ones that came before it. “Nobody Loves You” has one thing that “Maria” didn’t have though: Ben McNamara’s wild new haircut and mustache. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you’ll have to follow them on instagram to see it.
Sotolish – “Feral Fire”
Sotorious and Delish Music are back with a new cup of hot ramen to drop down your back. This is pure heat. Check out the unofficial video for the new song “Feral Fire”
Stout – “Under”
Last week, we were over the moon about Stout’s cover of Kendrick Lamar’s “u”. This week, Stout treated us all with this beautiful new song and video.
Tekowa Lakica – “Truth Will See You Free”
She’s been teasing a “stash” of unreleased music, so this great new song from Tekowa Lakica — a sequel to last month’s “Blue House” — might be the first in a series of new songs. We can hope, right?
Tha Red Baron – “I Am The One”
Tha Red Baron jumped in with “I Am The One”, the first new song since this summer’s “Rot”. Check it out!
New Extra Goodies:
Ari Elm – “Heat Wave”
Appropriately titled, Ari Elm’s new ambient track feels like the wavy bits of asphalt you see when it is hot as shit outside.
