I’m often surprised by the fact that many indie rock fans aren’t familiar with The Stranglers, one of my favorite punk/new wave bands of the 80s. The English group had 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, but they are a little more than a cult band in the States. Listening to their music automatically puts a grin on my face, because of their frontman "Teutonic" way of singing. This in my own little musical vocabulary means that he sings like an English speaking person pretending to be a German nazi: commanding, resolute, spiteful… asshole! I guess the Sex Pistols started that, but The Stranglers refined the idea, adding a baroque musical element that enhanced the "teutonicness" (baroque art was big in Germany). Brooklyn based The Sleepies’ music put that same grim on my face. They play highly charged post punk with that same kind of vocal style that makes you feel like punching somebody for a laugh. Feelers (stream it below) is the best punk song we’ve stumbled upon in a long time. Don’t miss their next show at Silent Barn on May 27.