Arlen - "Gloria"

Lowell, MA is the kind of dying mill town New England is kinda famous for. It's best known as the birthplace of Jack Kerouac, but also had an HBO documentary called High on Crack Street: Lost Lives of Lowell back in 1995. It's also the hometown of boxer Mickey Ward (as played by Mark Wahlberg in The Fighter) and comedian/podcaster Matt Mira. The city is this bizarre blend of working class with a drug problem and artist haven. From this mill town comes Arlen.

Right now Arlen has a three song demo that came out earlier this year, plus they just released the first song of their forthcoming EP. "Gloria" is a post-punk masterpiece, combining Fugazi and Jawbreaker with Joy Division. Somehow that is a sentence I've never typed before even though it is one of the best combinations I can imagine. The song clocks in at just under 3 minutes, but somehow crams one of the most epic songs I've heard all year into that short time.

Right now, "Gloria" is available for free for the beloved "Name Your Own Price" option on Bandcamp. While you're at it, be sure to like Arlen on Facebook.