16 Songs for Your Week Ahead + The Best Stuff I Heard This Week 1/29/21

“Self Absorbed” – Celine Who

Smooth and sensual, “Self Absorbed” by Connecticut’s Celine Who could’ve just as easily been released by Jhene Aiko. “Self Absorbed” is a funny name for the track, because Celine Who doesn’t really come across all that self-absorbed. She wants to get paid, she wants to enjoy the finer things in life, and she wants to be loved. If that’s what it’s like to be self-absorbed, than I guess I am too.

“INANET” – Siul Hughes

Released as part of his 2020 album Hueman, “INANET” sees Siul Hughes stay true to his experimental, DIY roots. Hughes shows off a couple different flows, comfortably changing his cadence where he sees fit. He laments the negative effects the internet has had on society. The track sounds dream-like or something descending on us from the future, bringing to mind fellow underground MC Cities Aviv.

Keep Listening: DRKWALKER by Siul Hughes and Ceschi

“Baby Blue” – Clever Girls

“Baby Blue” is a dream pop ballad that will touch your soul. A distorted track, Diane Jean’s voice sounds haunting and distant, as if they recorded through a long empty hallway. The track is masterfully constructed, exuding feelings of loneliness and isolation. Anchored by Diane’s voice and some simple guitar, the song feels like a lost memory shrouded in an enigmatic mist. A gentle rimshots keep the rhythm. As the song reaches its climax, the distortion grows more and more disruptive, washing away the ambiance.

“Surface, Dogma II” – LOMELI

I had heard a clip of “Surface, Dogma II,” sometime in spring of 2020, then my attention was pulled away from writing and I didn’t catch it when it was released, but boy howdy, I’m happy I finally got to it. LOMELI put together a track that feels like psychedelic spring time, gentle and effervescent. It’s like a refreshing seltzer, the subtle flavors give you a nice flavor, which contrasts against the sharp, prickly carbonation that cuts through the malaise. Just listen to it. You won’t be disappointed.

“Kites” – Anna May

Just before 2020’s march lockdown, Anna May out of Waterford, CT delivered “Kites.” The singer-songwriter provides a folksy Americana cut for us to enjoy, and while that might be somewhat rare on the mvsicthovght blog, we’re trying to expand our palate.

“Tear My Heart Out” – The Alex Butter Field

New Haven’s The Alex Butter Field give us a fun, whimsical, take on psychedelic rock, and their album’s title, Popsychle signals as much. “Tear My Heart Out is a song that sounds like it could’ve been released along side something by The 5th Dimension, ? & The Mysterians, or Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. Released in the closing days of 2020, this EP brings us a refreshing, vintage flavor that will have listeners feeling sunshine on their shoulders.

“Had It for a Moment” – Among The Acres

A great band with a mature sound, Among The Acres out of Hartford takes the Americana vibes captured by Anna May and gives it a nice dose of pop to create something that resembles OAR (but in my humble opinion, better). The band has gaurnured several accolades since their inception and boast a “powerhouse of a live set.” You should mark them down as a band to see whenever we can see live music again.

“Here Comes The End of the World” – Balkun Brothers

Released in November as part of an album of the same name, “Here Comes the End of the World” is a fast-paced, power rock track for anyone who enjoys classic rock. The duo hails from Hartford and is one of the areas most successful bands, touring nationally and even internationally. Best enjoyed with a shot of whisky.

“Yoga” – Youth XL

“Yoga” is every bit the tribute to its ancient namesake you might expect it to be. The track extols the virtues of yoga, including better head space and improved flexibility. The track feels like a warm breeze coming off of Long Island Sound and is a perfect fit for the easy breezy form of exercise. Youth XL presents as a fun band that doesn’t take themselves too seriously, even if their music is seriously fun.

“We’ve Been Spotted” The Right Offs

Dripping with passion and joy, while also kicking off with a hot guitar riff, “We’ve Been Spotted” by The Right Offs is a high energy song that kicks ass. New Haven once again boasts its embarrassment of musical riches, flexing its stature as the cultural capital of Connecticut. They will be high on our list of local bands to see post-pandemic.

“Buried Men” – Zanders

Making the list for the second week in a row is John Rule III, last week as a member of Autopoet, and this week with “Buried Men” by Zanders. The band’s album Concentration Sixty-Four celebrated its first birthday recently which was occasion for your intrepid music blogger to give it a listen for the first time. The bubbly, poppy track exudes beauty, even as it draws on the sorrow of people we’ve lost. Listen and see where it hits you (it’ll be somewhere in the feels).

RELATED - NEW CT MUSIC: Autopoet’s “Out of Reach”

“RIOT” – King Kami

King Kami’s newest release “RIOT” is a hip hop anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement. Laying bare their grievances, South Norwalk’s Kami and Bridgeport’s Zenire deliver a message that should come across loud and clear. Both men are more-than-capable MCs and with rhymes to match their cold, hard beat. Delivered with the emotion and intensity of men who are sick and tired of being sick and tired, “RIOT” carries with it the urgent message of a community.

“Lost Dog!” – T!LT

A dark and ominous indie pop song, “Lost Dog!” is the latest entry in a strong catalogue of music from Connecticut’s T!lt. The four piece is fresh their first full length LP Blackl!t in October and is back at it again. T!lt puts forward a sound unique within the Connecticut music scene that brings wide appeal across the alternative spectrum.

“target practice” – T!LT

Off of their October debut BLACKL!T, “target practice” is mellow, beach-ready indie pop music that rounds out back to back tracks from T!LT. Littered with subtle details, this is a track that begs to be enjoyed with headphones.

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“Couch” – PONY

“Couch” by PONY; chicken soup for the intrepid entrepreneurial soul. It’s a song for people who believe in bringing dreams to reality. It’s music for people who persist in the face of long odds to create. Most importantly though, it’s music worth listening to. PONY is the second coming of The Go-Gos with a more aggressive edge. Bielanski’s sweet, saccharine voice rises above the fray, as the band shreds some tried and true chords and rhythms. “Couch” is about the struggle of making your way in the world and being surrounded by people who mean well, but don’t really believe in you. Now, maybe more than ever, we’re living in a world where there is a disconnect between those who have found success in the traditional economy, and those who have been forging a path through contract work and the gig-economy. It’s a song for Millennials and Gen Zers who are willing to bet big on themselves, and who” getting smarter” and “keep [their] head above the water” everyday.

“Run Down” – Banga Bandanaz

You want more promising rap out of Hartford? Enter “Run Down” from Banga Bandanaz. This is CT drill music that packs an edge, delivered with the fury of a person who’s lived hard. Bandanaz doesn’t let up for two seconds, bringing bar after bar after bar. It’s this demeanor and his relentless rhymes that make him one of Hartford’s most promising rappers.

BONUS: “Lose the Ego” – KR tha Specialist

It’s not on our playlist because it isn’t on Spotify, but KR tha Specialist’s track “Lose the Ego” off of Last Shall Be First deserves a second mention. With elaborate instrumentation featuring prominent horns, an old school snare and kick, and a tenacious MC, this is a great modern example of boom bap that old heads and new school kids should all be able to enjoy together.