Latest Posts

The Mystery Divide – “Wars”

April 6, 2026

Have you ever taken a hot minute to finish something? Joseph Mendola of The Mystery Divide started his journey making music way back in 2003 (then, with the project entitled The Blue Romantics). His latest single is “Wars” and it’s jangly dream pop sonovagun. If you’re like me and have the album pulled up, don’t mistake it for another track called “Mars” in your dyslexic haze.   Mendoza’s lyrics sometimes seem hover above the synth and guitar while other times they mesh together as one. The level of polish is absolutely pristine and you’re in for a treat, especially if you’re into Siamese Dream era Corgan et al.   You can hear it below on YouTube as well as Spotify. The rest of the album, Questions I, is well worth the listen, especially if you’re into that dream pop vibe like I am.  

Doubleplus Alright – “February Burn”

March 23, 2026

Oakland based Doubleplus Alright bring us their latest, “February Burn.” The track is a beautifully crafted buildup that feels like it could fill an arena and then some. Acoustic guitar and raspy vox give way to the full band and it just feels satisfying. The band accomplishes more in two minutes than many manage to on an entire album.   Written as part of bandmember Chris (no relation) ambitious “song-a-day” project, it certainly doesn’t feel like a filler day! As if to verify a thought that had swam in my head on the first listen, the next track was Nirvana. While this is not a Kurt Cobain throwback, if you listen to their drummer’s follow-up band you might pick up what I’m putting down.   You can hear the track on YouTube, as well as Bandcamp below (and Spotify). While I’m no agent or money man, I’d be willing to[...]

Unwed Sailor – “West Coast Prism”

March 20, 2026

Are you ready to catch a vibe? Unwed Sailor is ready to bring it with their latest single “West Coast Prism.” Instrumental-only tracks are funny, especially this one, because I swore that I could hear singing. Maybe my soul merged with the song and felt what words were left unsung? Or it could be the hearing loss (I would like to think it was the former).   Founding member Jonathon Ford did say this was inspired by “a deep fondness for the ocean, surfing, redwoods, and rocky coastline of Oregon” (and I felt that). I have been thinking about taking a trip out to the PNW soon, so maybe this will be part of my soundtrack (as it should also be for you).   You can hear “West Coast Prism” below from YouTube and on Spotify.  

Youth Valley – “cerberus”

March 20, 2026

Seriously, you need to check out the album art for Youth Valley‘s latest, “cerberus.” It should be in the embed at the end, but you need to really focus on it for a minute and how cute it is. If you don’t think that’s cute you can stop reading. For everyone else, if you’re feeling some post punk that knows how to do cute, you have come to the right place.   It’s all about the guitars here baby! The intro is a gentle combo of synth and guitar that slow builds to blistering guitars around the halfway point that continue until the end. You can find some synthy flavoring interspersed throughout, but this is a shoegaze track that does the “blistering guitar” exceedingly well. Speaking to the track (and the three headed dog), the band had this to say:   “This song is an honest confession of a broken[...]

MUANH – “u wanna have it”

March 20, 2026

“u wanna have it” is the latest from MUANH, the brainchild of Anna Anh Petry. It’s a dreamy slow jam and her vocals will make you feel like you’re floating on the clouds.   I got some Now, Now (one of my personal favs) vibes because, like them; her (non-live) songs sound like you’re at the most intimate concert of your life. Speaking of intimate, the lyrics paint that perfect, slow-sex-jam vibe that never cross the border into TMI. The rest is mostly drum machine and synth with a little guitar, as the focus is (surprise) Petry’s breathy vocals.   You can hear “u wanna have it” below from Bandcamp as well as Spotify.   u wanna have it by MUANH

Pale Puma – “TBV (EP version)”

March 20, 2026

So imagine you’re me and you’re maybe a little tired, listening to music and writing a few blogs. My editor usually includes a note “hey we’ve written about so-and-so before, be sure to include that.” No big deal, right? I search the internet  for “pale puma buffablog” and I found a Facebook post from Pale Puma (aka Django Duyns) praising our coverage of “TBV.” I thought I was in a time warp. Silly me, he pulled a Taylor Swift and re-recorded it under his dreampop moniker Pale Puma (we covered the original here).   It’s interesting hearing the two tracks back to back; the “EP version” leans harder into the dream pop vibe as opposed to the post-punkiness of the initial recording. There are some lyrical differences as well but the heart and soul feels the same – Duyns brings his distinctive vocals and steady as fuck guitar pushing the[...]

Night Moth – “Horse”

March 13, 2026

Night Moth is not horsing around with “Horse.” Their latest clocks in at just 1:28, but jams a lot in within that fleeting timeframe. The opening words “If I could be anyone else/I’d be a horse/Galloping through the Montana fields” say it all, and I can’t agree more. The vocals and guitar are clean with a folk indie mouthfeel that anyone with a modicum of good taste can get into (looking at you fellow buffaBLOGGER Ron).   You can hear “Horse” below from Soundcloud, as well as on Bandcamp. Their socials are currently set to private but I’m sure if you pop a follow you’ll unlock the access you so crave. You can dig deeper with their label, Worry Bead Records (based out of NYC in Queens) if you care to dive down the rabbit hole – we certainly have in the past.  

figure eight – “hummingbird”

March 13, 2026

California based figure eight brings us their latest with “hummingbird.” Low key AF vocals go for the slow burn, so much so that you’ll be lost betwixt the harmonies and mournful guitars. If you could quantify the feelings and longing the band creates atmospherically with the instrumentals alone, you’d probably have a cure for loneliness. I felt equal parts sadness and hopefulness and I’m still not sure which was the stronger emotion.   “hummingbird” is available below from Bandcamp and on Spotify. “until the sun swallows the earth” is the second half of the single and well worth your time if you enjoyed the first half. Shorter but somehow a deeper dive, you’re certainly not left wanting.   until the sun swallows the earth / hummingbird by figure eight

The Library is On Fire – “Intrusive Thots”

March 13, 2026

The Library is On Fire and you can lay that at the feet of Steve Five, the founding member of the band. “Intrusive Thots” is hilariously current while giving a nod to the melodies of yesteryear. Diving right into the lo-fi 90’s aesthetic, the band finds their blissful, lo-fi tone and stays there. Slacky raucous guitars and that “idgaf” grunge carelessness come home to roost – you won’t be disappointed. Plus, who doesn’t love a good pun about thots?   “Intrusive Thots” can be found on both OnlyFans and the YouTube music video below.  You can hear that and the rest of their five track EP on Spotify.          

COOL HEAT – “Not the Same”

March 13, 2026

You may or may not feel the same after COOL HEAT’S “Not the Same,” but you’ll be able to accurately question what the same might feel like. The brainchild of Chicagoan Eden Sierotnik, he holds the honor of being only the second person I’ve heard of with the name Eden. He differs from the Eden I know with his love of the post punk synth and eerie soundscapes… Whereas the Eden I know might be a bit more into show tunes, or perhaps the soundtrack to Wicked.   Eden’s vocals adapt to the humdrum of the instrumentals and will put you in that good, numbed-out spot that you can’t help but be attracted to. Icy-cold electronic textures spin a dark and moody vibe, which, as astute readers can probably tell, is a surefire way into our blackened hearts. We’ve previously covered the band here and, much like then, have nothing[...]

Lateral – “Fruit Bearing Yields”

March 13, 2026

“Fruit Bearing Yields” is the latest from self described the “scrongly rockers” of Lateral. Coming out strong with a proggy math rock kick in the teeth, you can tell they’re just showing off how fucking good they are as a group. Bass/drums/guitar are hitting all the shots in the corner pocket while you’re waiting for the breakdown (that’s already happening and the song is done, jeez, you need to pay attention better). Speaking to the track, vocalist Erik had this to say:   “‘Fruit Bearing Yields’ is about feeling guilty for not liking a gift you’ve received for Christmas or birthday, but then after getting further into it I realized it was about self actualization and coming to terms with parts of myself I fall short and addressing the root causes of said problems- while kicking myself for not doing it sooner.”   You can hear the track below on[...]

Cape Crush – “Calm & Delivered”

March 3, 2026

Released in anticipation of their debut album, Cape Crush has shared their newest single with us, “Calm and Delivered.” Based out of Massachusetts, this four piece is unabashedly emo and we love it. Epically bodacious guitars wail in your face with the fury of a thousand room temperature PBRs.   Ali Lipman’s vocals feel heartfelt but never whiny or self righteous; with the story behind them coming from her experiences as a parent and a woman. She goes on to say it:   “…is about the pressure to be emotionally regulated when everything around you is overstimulating.. .It’s inspired by my journey as a parent… As well as my journey as a woman, where setting boundaries is often interpreted poorly… So it’s really about finding your inner-power as a woman and not being afraid of your rage or frustration.”   You can watch the music video for “Calm and Delivered”[...]

Wolfschmidt – “file”

March 3, 2026

Sometimes you just fucking crush it. Good day at the office? Beat someone in an arcade video game? Make the perfect Tik-Tok? You get the idea. Swedish band Wolfschmidt decided to knock it out of the park with “file,” their latest single. Describing themselves as “nu-gaze” (elevator pitch is “cleaner” shoegaze or “second wave” shoegaze). It still has that polished/unpolished enigma feeling from the guitars and effects that any shoegaze fanatic will latch onto (so don’t let the nu-gaze name ruin your mood!).   You can hear it below from YouTube or over on Spotify. It’s a hair under three minutes and well worth your time commitment if you enjoy tracks that ride the guitar all the way through. Other than a short bit mid-track you’re gonna be rocking the fuck out.  

Hit Like A Girl – “Are You In Love (feat. Zayna Youssef)”

February 27, 2026

Philly based Hit Like A Girl collaborated with Zayna Youssef for “Are You In Love.” You may want to sit down for this, but it’s a love song, and I think it’s just what everyone needs right now! It’s delightfully uplifting and starts with a synth intro that leads into bedroom pop vibes that give way to pop-punk tinged guitars. All of this meshes oh so well with with Youssef’s and Maroulis’s vocals.   You can hear “Are You In Love” below from Bandcamp. “Burning At Both Ends” is their next album, due out March 27 (Cryptid Records). They’ll be touring in support of it and may be coming near you (check their socials). Be sure to check out the non-profit, No More Dysphoria, mentioned on their Bandcamp page. They support trans and non-binary individuals financially with their transitions.   Are You In Love (feat. Zayna Youssef) by Hit Like[...]

Here if you need – “When It Falls Back into Place”

February 27, 2026

Nothing hits quite as good as some straight up emo mainlined into your ears, right? “When It Falls Back into Place” is the latest from Here if you need; Midwest Christian emo at its finest. Vocals delivered by Luke Whatman elicit fond memories of yesteryear when everyone could just vibe to some happy/sad and everything in between. We couldn’t dance and barely figured out how to mosh, but we figured it out, right? This is very much a guitar driven song in the spirit of TBS or Reliant K, and you’ll appreciate the ups, downs, and breakdowns.   You can hear “When It Falls Back into Place” below on YouTube or on Spotify. This is only the band’s second single, the first one being 2024’s “E-Mail,” but give the band a follow and maybe we’ll see some more soon!