Some albums have such a glowing aura that surrounds them, The aura that surrounds the debut album via L’Appel Du Vide Des Disques, from Connecticut based indie art rock band , The Pretty Graves , glows so bright that it can be seen from space.

You can listen to The Pretty Graves, amazingly brilliant debut album on Bandcamp Here and on Spotify Here

Right from the stunning opening track, “Bending Reeds”, we were instantly connected the musical wonderment that is the debut album, from The Pretty Graves.

The burst of activity is all to showcase a record that embodies The Pretty Graves’ sound, a collection of poetic still life mosaics that emerge as indie, psych, and power-pop songs, where an abundance of hooks and melodies, whimsical vocals, and fuzzed-out guitars crystallize into a rock and roll force of nature.

Across 10 distinct compositions that unfold like chapters, a propellant intensity and detached-cool lethargy weave in and out of the track list,  illuminating a spectrum of sounds and emotions that slot the record alongside the classics of American bands and artists that came before, like The Velvet Underground, Pavement, Wilco, Dandy Warhols, and Elliott Smith. 

The Pretty Graves, composed of Christopher M. Listorti (songwriting, vocals, guitars, synth/keys); Hollis Dunlap (lead guitar, back-up vocals); Glen Metcalfe (drums, percussion); and Mike Pace (bass, pedal steel, synth/keys), have come together to craft a striking debut effort, one that bridges the familiar assurance of rock and roll’s therapeutic nature with a propulsive tension that exists in everything we do in 2026. 

“It’s an honest, unvarnished look at being an ‘underdog’ in a world that feels increasingly like a black mirror,” says Listorti. “We wanted it to sound like the room it was recorded in, with no digital safety nets, (maybe one adjustment or two) and as close to our live set, feeling the music vibrating through your body, and so that the listener can crank it at home or on their drive to work.”

That room Listori mentions was Rare Signals in Cambridge, where mixing and mastering were also completed, as co-producers Brian Charles and Annie Hoffman were able to bring these songs to their maximum-volume fruition. Charles first caught the band live at the 2024 International Pop Overthrow, and immediately understood how to harness their onstage energy and translate it to the record.  

Every track is loaded with it’s own individual magic that forever leaves the listener wanting/ needing more.

The Pretty Graves , are by no means a band that limits their sound in to a particular sound or vibe , they artfully and authentically craft a sound that is both fresh and highly thought provoking.

“Feels Good”, “Queen Of Lies , and the epically beautifully awesome, “Up On The Hill”, are exactly why The Pretty Graves, are indie art rock legends in the making .

The one song that really stands out for us is , “Do It Again “ We are absolutely smitten with the 1960’s feel and vibe on this one . The vocals are magical, memorable and mesmerizing.

The record release party, part of a flurry of activities that finds the foursome playing festivals, clubs, and DIY spaces across New England, arrives Saturday, May 16 at The Oasis Pub in New London alongside Blood Handsome and Clone. 

Music is art, art is important . The Pretty Graves, are an important band , who on their debut album, make beautiful music.