The more music I hear from Connecticut’s Autopoet, the more unique they sound to me. As a writer who likes to compare the sound of one band to another, that’s a little bit of a dilemma. On the other hand, as a fan of music who likes to see the medium pushed, changed, and grown, I’m a big supporter. For anybody wondering which side will win out, music fandom will have the upper hand 10 times out of 10. On Wednesday, Autopoet released “Waiting on You,” their final single ahead of their debut album, The Nightlife Has Changed You, due out on Valentine’s Day.

Autopoet is a band that is hard to pin down. At this point, I’d say there’s some mixture of Ra Ra Riot and Phoenix, with a dash of Reviere Sound Revue and a splash of The Oohlas, but what does that even mean? I can’t tell you and I came up with that ridiculous classification. What I do know, is that Autopoet is making very interesting indie pop music and if you fancy yourself a Connecticut music aficionado, you should be paying attention.

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In terms of content, “Waiting on You” channels “Build Me Up Buttercup” by the Foundations. They’re both songs that bemoan the feeling of being let down by a lover. We think of being ghosted or dealing with a partner that can’t commit as being a problem of the 21st century, but it’s a tale as old as time. Analysis of early cave paintings have revealed that even 10,000 years ago, lonely singles were being left on read. What’s interesting about comparing “Waiting on You” and “Build Me Up Buttercup” is how the messages are conveyed to the listener. “Build Me Up Buttercup” uses the tactic of describing the action (or inaction) of the paramour, which leaves the listener to assign emotional value. That said, I think most people would say the song has a positive or even hopeful thrust.

In contrast, “Waiting on You,” is more explicit. John Rule and Rex Thurstan are assigning the emotional value and leaving the listener to imagine what form these series of little betrayals might take. Both can be powerful, but Autopoet’s angle brings more bite, because the listener is left to paint the picture and it becomes more personal.

The last minute of the track features Rule and Thurstan building and layering musical elements until they reach a passionate climax as the song reaches its conclusion. If “Waiting on You” features the cognitive dissonance of “Build Me Up Buttercup,” it comes from the composition. When you subtract the lyrics from the equation, you’re left with a rich, energetic, and encouraging track. That said, the bottom line is that you need to experience “Waiting on You” for yourself. Autopoet has built a musical ark, and it is up to you to sail it through your sea of emotions and discover where your journey will take you.

You can purchase “Waiting on You” through Autopoet’s BandCamp and it is available for listening via your favorite streaming platform.

Michael Stroneski, editor at mvsicthovght, has started several blogs and multi-media projects you’ve never seen. He is a life-long cheerleader for Connecticut and underground music. You can reach him at contact@mvsicthovght.com.