Lake Kwan Do - Recordings

The few who know me know that I tend toward music that has no real categorization, and sometimes even less information. On occasion we get submissions of this kind and I instantly take to them. One such submission is by Lake Kwan Do, in the form the their EP "Recordings".

Straight To VHS - “Weekend, Weekend, Weekend”

They released one of the best records last year and now it seems New London Garage rockers Straight To VHS have struck again. With the release of “Weekend, Weekend, Weekend” the Wailing City three piece have solidified themselves as a band not to mess with.

Melt - Stay for a While

Here's a fun/cool/weird 3 track EP by Torrington/Litchfield's Melt. "Funny You Should Mention" is like a fuzzy old song from the glory days of underground rock. At once sounding both classic and new this song sounds brooding and dark but heartfelt, with uneasy guitars and sweet effected croons. This song also plays in 3 different tempos in a mere 3 and a half minutes.

"Let's Go For A Ride" is a little less dark and a little more sweet. Extremely cool bass guitar work in this song alongside those same lovely effected vocals. This song also slips in and out of different tempos, which is an interesting choice. "Sleep Until It's Dark"  returns to the uneasy but pretty guitar sound of the first track, feeling like a weird lo-fi combo of Elison Jackson and Werewolf Police. "Sleep.." is definitely more on the experimental side than any of the other tracks, and with the big picture we can see this band clearly has a lot they intend to explore in sound.

Big ups to this band and their late june release. Get your ears into it!

Sleepy Teens - shutupjake EP

We are back from a short holiday break here at CTIndie.com, and today's subject is the band Sleepy Teens and their EP "shutupjake".

Laser Week - Rose Beetle

Laser Week is a new mysterious band featuring members of the now-defunct (and totally amazing) Jake Ryder.

Untitled Album by SPerrin

Here's a little gem we overlooked this year. Totally lean and to the point, SPerrin's (Scott Perrin) "Untitled Album" is sweet lo-fi surprise!

The Free Whips - White Sheets VIDEO

According to the video description "The Free Whips was J Devin guitar and voice, Greg Dalton-Kay bass, Mike Therion drums". Check out this video for a track they made in 2008 called "White Sheets"!

The Free Whips - White Sheets from Jason on Vimeo.

Mercy Choir - “His Noiseless Ball, His Boxwood Rattle" Review

2013 has been a busy year for Paul Belbusti who heads the Mercy Choir. A Connecticut Music Award nomination for "Best Other," a slew of splits and the birth of a son are some of his accomplishments this year. One would say he has his hands full. However, amidst a full year of rock and roll and learning to be a father, Mercy Choir has had the time to release a full length album which may be the final of 2013. (Although knowing Paul, he may release something before the month is over).

Dead Wives - Buzzy Fuzzy

Lip Keebler's Dead Wives are back with Buzzy Fuzzy, part 1 of their "Basement Trilogy".

I Was a Skim Milk Kid - Teen heartthrobs don't listen to lofi

Welcome to the fuzzy, lo-fi indie sound of I Was a Skim Milk Kid, the heart-rending tune you thought up once in a dream but forgot immediately as you woke up, left with nothing but a new hole in your heart. Yeah, we found it, in Connecticut no less, and its here with five minutes and forty-eight seconds of the memory you lost in the dissonant void where all of your best dreamland discoveries go, the elusive bastards. I know, you want to thank us, but that can wait. First, your memories.

Straight to VHS - Rewinder

Article by Max Mercy (Via Mexican-robots.com)

People who think of Connecticut solely as a state full of country clubs and gold-lined streets have never been to New London.  And anybody who’s wondering where the spirit of punk-rock is these days can find it there.

While listening to "Rewinder," I smelled stale beer and sweat. I felt concrete under my sneakers. I saw dive bars and littered parking lots and empty strip malls. Suburbia after nightfall.

Stylistically, Straight to VHS makes use of early punk templates and can resemble pioneer groups like the Sex Pistols and the Wipers. Their production standards are relatively high for garagerock so I can understand the Jay Reatard comparisons. They’re working within the form, keeping the rough edges and apathetic attitude but it’s obvious they care how the sound comes across. They’re craftsmen.

At just over 20 minutes, the album is a sonic roller coaster ride with one song cascading into the next. The standout track that represents the whole experience is “patchwork city.” In the red vocals, sweet bass doodles, a chorus that turns the groove of the verses on its head and guitar with enough crunch to chip a tooth. The count-in alone is beautifully rock and roll.

Yup, the spirit of punk is alive. I’m not sure if it’s well but when has it ever been? One thing’s for sure: it takes equal amounts pain and love to play this kind of music.

Kevin MF King - Feral Kids (demo)

Clever local songwriter Kevin MF King has put out a couple of tracks to tease his upcoming "Feral Kids EP" which should drop sometime in the near future. Kevin MF King is a fantastic guitarist and singer and his songs are witty and elegant, check them out below!



An additional song, "Worker Bee" is also available to hear!

Werewolf Police - Vulture Club

After one listen of Werewolf Police's Vulture Club, I was completely blown away (and still am). Their songs, extremely catchy dance tunes hinting, slightly, at 90s indie-rock, druges up images of colorful neon-lighted night clubs filled with brightly dressed girls dancing along to obscure new wave songs somewhere in NYC. Wow, was a sentence and a half... Anyway, Werewolf Police have a great sound that only gets better with each listen.

Getting down to the songs... they have, at times, a dark sentimental tone, yet are not cheesy in any way. In fact, they are reminiscent of early Guided by Voices. Perhaps, Guided by Voices meets Simple Minds? Totally New Wave.

The recording sounds like it came off an old mix tape, circa 1986, which has been sitting in a dank basement for 26 years. These songs should be recorded on better quality equipment for sure. The 4-track sounds neat, but doesn't do these amazing songs justice--Werewolf Police loses some of it's magic being recorded on 1/8th in tape. But, nevertheless, this band has the potential to become huge. Check out their stuff. Email the band and get them to play some more shows too.

Werewolf Police - Vulture Club EP - 03 The Only One by mexicanrobots

Review: pools are nice “Then you’re thinking too much” by Mike Spinelli

Pools are nice is the best band name for this band’s sound. The quartet, hailing from Orange, provides a lofi garage funk sound to get you through a hot summer’s day. I would love to be cooling off in a pool right now, with two brews in my floatation device. So yes, pools are nice, and I think it’s safe to assume the band agrees with that statement as well. Their latest EP, “Then you’re thinking too much” is a must have for all post-punk lovers.