Three Quick-Hit Reviews of Local Albums

Sudden Unknown Signal, Missy (OnlyBands, digital) Burlington alt-rockers Sudden Unknown Signal (sometimes known as SUS) carry the torch for '90s guitar rock, once the dominant force in the Queen City music scene. Gone are the days of the Pants, Wide Wail and Guppyboy, and the city needs some new blood. Enter the quartet of Stephen O'Brien (guitar and vocals), Tobias Yandow (drums), Raven Aoyagi (guitar) and Tim Woos (bass), who dropped their debut album, Missy, toward the end of 2023. Existing somewhere between the grunge-meets-post-punk of Los Angeles rockers Health and shoegaze pioneers Swervedriver, SUS can go from a whisper to a scream in a heartbeat. On "Stain," which features O'Brien howling, "I want to be something / But I know I'm nothing," all the lyrical angst and sonic dread are collected into a tidy package. "Our August Evening" is another highlight, showcasing the band's ability to get heavier as it gets slower. "I Hate Models" is the record's standout, edging into new-wave territory. Missy is a dark, surprisingly melodic collection of music and a promising debut from SUS. It's available now on all major streaming platforms. Lilly Golden, Instar (Self-released, digital) Hartland's own Lilly Golden dropped her debut LP in March. No tepid, dip-a-toe-in-the-water introduction, the six-track Instar is the product of a theater-trained vocalist and music student at Bennington College. A natural mezzo-soprano, Golden puts what she describes as a "sapphic spin" on indie pop, and tracks such as "Cigarettes" sound exactly as described. "I think you should quit cigarettes, get hooked on me instead," Golden sings. "I'll knock the air out of your lungs / And I promise, the addiction will be more fun." It's a candy-coated mix of indie pop and Americana, blended with skill by a capable and intriguing new songwriter. "Back to the Mountains" is an anthem for the underdog, as Golden writes about returning to a town where she always felt like a bridesmaid, never the bride. "And you know, wherever I go, you'll be wondering what could have happened / if you'd bet on me," she sings. Golden took the name of her record from a phase in the metamorphosis of insects, such as caterpillars transforming into butterflies. Instar serves as her emergence from the chrysalis as a singer-songwriter, a talented and ambitious new voice on the Vermont music scene. Give it a listen on major streaming platforms and…