Latest Posts

Carnival Youth – “Empire of Temptations”

September 23, 2024

Carnival Youth, a four piece based out of Latvia, bring us their latest track “Empire of Temptations.” With the groove and chill factors turned up to 11, this is an impossibly catchy track. Whatever synth they used in the making of this track should be given songwriting credits on it. The tones felt like warm Latvian Spring, so I’m guessing something vintage. The crescendo to the middle of the track felt like a spiritual awakening in its complexity with the inclusion of a brass track and just…listen to it and you’ll see what I mean. You can hear “Empire of Temptations” below from YouTube in all of it’s artsy music video glory. The track is also on Spotify for inclusion on your chill mix. Be sure to keep your ears peeled for more, as they’ll be releasing a new album in 2025 with more to come leading up to that[...]

Housewife – “Life Of The Party”

September 23, 2024

“Life Of The Party” is the latest from Canada based Housewife, the project of Brighid Fry (she/they). Written about about the difference between how people perceive how your life is versus how it actually is, “Life Of The Party” bubbling over with poppy beats and some dank synth (second track this week with the *perfect* amount). Fry’s vocals mesh well with the drums and bass; which aren’t so much driving the track but are in a quirky throuple relationship with the aforementioned synth. Fry’s voice manages to be airy in the beginning and maintains that, yet gradually crescendos through the track. Check out “Life Of The Party” music video below from YouTube or over the audio on Spotify. I would have recommended the Soundcloud link but if you’re in the USA, for some reason it doesn’t want to play there. We’ll forgive it though since we’re neighbors and these things[...]

Slark Moan – “Nervous Breakdown”

September 23, 2024

“Nervous Breakdown” is the newest track from Slark Moan, aka Mark Sloan. It’s been a minute since we last wrote about Slark Moan, (about three years) but we’re still loving’ what’s going on. I could try to explain how much I enjoy swapping consonants with first and last names, but that would be weird if you’re not in on it like Slark Moan is (they get it, glad it’s not just me). The track itself is a subdued affair, but that’s where all the magic happens. Wandering into bedroom pop territory with lightly fuzzed guitars and the *perfect* amount of synth. It just sort of comes in like a surprise guest but just the person you want to see walk through the door. Speaking to the track Slark/Mark had this to say: “The song comes from a place of anxiety and defeatism but there is a redeeming message – not[...]

Adulting – “Dumpster Fire”

September 19, 2024

Adulting is both something I’m mediocre at and a four piece band from Portland, Maine (aka “the real Portland” as per the band’s bio). Luckily, I’m writing about their new single “Dumpster Fire” off of their album Happy Fucking Congratulations and not my adulting skills. Falling into a jaunty, Midwest-y thing with hints of Saves the Day and The Get Up Kids, Adulting brings the perfect mix of punk and emo that both elder millennials and newer fans would find a lot to enjoy. Singer Stanley Beck nails every single high note and guttural scream with aplomb and you can just *feel* a band perfectly in sync from the first note to the last high hat. You can hear “Dumpster Fire” below from the band’s YouTube, or throw it on your emotastic Spotify playlist. If you enjoyed this track, their album has ten more that you should listen to, or don’t,[...]

Dr. Boat – “Catch A Foul”

September 19, 2024

Dr. Boat, a four piece from NYC, purportedly a ‘Medically Accredited Dreamboat Experience,’ recently released their newest single “Catch A Foul.” While I’m not sure which governing body decides on accreditation for dreamboat experiences, I am sure that this is definitely one of the rockingest tracks I’ve heard in a minute. Not only that, the band has a Buffalo connection in drummer Max Kalnitz, who hails from our fair city. This is glam rock through and through; with the guitar turned up to 11, slick as fuck bass riffs, drum kit on fire, and a singer who clearly has some swagger. I really couldn’t describe it any better. If you enjoy The Darkness, Wolfmother, or think Jack White’s love of the guitar should be shared by everyone… This do be the band for you. You can hear “Catch A Foul” below from YouTube, Apple Music, or Spotify. Be sure to[...]

ROE – “Caravan”

September 19, 2024

Based out of Northern Ireland, ROE has been steadily releasing new music since getting her big break at Glastonberry in 2017 – “Caravan” is her latest. If the acoustic guitar is the standard bearer here, ROE’s heartfelt vocals are the commander of her army of sound. This track is good ‘ole pop at its finest, plain and simple, but elegantly done. Fans of Soccer Mommy or Lucy Dacus will be familiar with this approach and find a lot to enjoy here. Speaking to the track, ROE had this to say: “‘Caravan’ is a song about friendship. Generally when you’re young you think everything lasts forever – but eventually relationships change, friends move away and suddenly the people you spent every hour and every minute of the day with once aren’t in your life anymore.” You can hear “Caravan” below from ROE’s Soundcloud or add it to your poppy Irish artists[...]

Matya – “Nosebleeds”

September 18, 2024

Los Angeles based Matya brings us her latest track “Nosebleeds,” released in anticipation of her EP Like The Roses, So It Goeses out October 3. The instrumentals are surprisingly bass centric with slick riffs throughout that is soooo easy to groove to. The poppy aesthetic with a side of synth keep the track on its toes and reminded me a bit of latter career MGMT with their lighter touch. Taking a few pages from MGMT’s book is never a bad thing, especially when you make it your own and go as hard as Matya goes -with a light dusting of solo era Gwen Stefani added for flavor. You can hear “Nosebleeds” below from YouTube, in music video format no less! If Spotify if more your thing you can check it out there. If you like what you hear don’t forget to check out the EP out October 3.    

Make Friends- “Maybe Tomorrow”

September 18, 2024

“Maybe Tomorrow” is the latest single from English four piece, Make Friends, off of their Loaded Fun EP. The guitar intro gave me Sting and the Police vibes, and while it keeps that vibe, it throws in horn accompaniment and keeps things interesting with a solid smattering of sounds. Clean guitars with a strong-yet-subtle bass track that pops up drive this track forward – think shoegaze without the effects. The inspiration from Foals is easy to see, but I also felt a connection to Vampire Weekend… But only if they slowed down a bit and instead of singing about Oxford [commas] they lived closer to Oxford. You can hear the track below from Soundcloud or add it to your indie Brit pop playlist (brindie pop?) on Spotify. Don’t feel like it right now? Maybe tomorrow. (but seriously, just go check it out it’s literally embedded below)      

Rachel Angel – “Bottom Seas”

September 16, 2024

A Miami native but very much a wandering soul, Rachel Angel brings us her latest track “Bottom Seas;” a rollickin’ alt folk tinged adventure. Dueling electric and acoustic guitars battle throughout, and everyone wins – especially our ears. Reminiscent of Waxahatchee or even Neutral Milk Hotel at their… milkiest? Most neutral.. est? You know what I mean. The track itself deals with feelings of loss, loneliness and a so-called “inexplicable dream.”  I’m terrible at parsing out lyrics without them right in front of me so I missed the dream sequence, but I’m sure it’s there. Angel is clearly a master of her craft, building up to such a wonderful crescendo and goes in a direction you may (or may not) guess (I won’t spoil). You can hear “Bottom Seas” below on YouTube, Bandcamp, Apple Music, or Spotify and figure out what part of the song I’m vaguebooking about.  

Boshe – “do it 4 u”

September 16, 2024

London based Boshe is the solo act of Ella Heaton and “do it 4 u” is her latest track, an atmospheric indie-electropop affair. Drawing inspiration from familiar acts like FKA Twigs and Grimes, there’s enough electric drum beats and effects that you’ll be bopping your head in short order. Heaton’s vocals are warm and reverberate throughout your skull while EVERYTHING ELSE is going on, which can be a lot to keep track of (but, I think, is part of the allure). On the B side of the single, there’s a demo of “do it 4 u” which provides an interesting look and almost sounds like an entirely different song that stands on its own. It’s a little more roughly hewn (duh, demo) but it makes the vocals found more machinelike, which reminded me a lot of Alice Glass. You can hear “do it 4 u” below from YouTube or add[...]

No Floor – “Forgetting”

September 16, 2024

“Forgetting” is the latest from No Floor, a ‘post shoegaze’ four piece out of Seattle. What’s the difference between shoegaze and post shoegaze you might ask? Great question! From what I could figure, when you add the “post” into the genre things get… fuzzy? The general composition trends a little more toward prog/experimental. Combine the two and you get lovely track. This ends up equaling a pedal-driven track that coalesces into a beast of song. Reminded me a bit of Brand New (before it was illegal to enjoy them) with elements of Title Fight and Ovlov; the hauntingly slick guitar wailing and dirge-like vocals really combine into a real treat. You can hear “Forgetting” below from the band’s YouTube page or add it to your post shoegaze playlist on Bandcamp or Spotify. Be sure to check out the rest of the ‘How to Drown’ EP if you like what you’ve[...]

Tear Veins – “Cypress”

September 12, 2024

Tear Veins, based out of Canada, has released a string of singles over the past year and “Cypress” is their latest. The brainchild of Tearyn Janvier – even if she’s not a ’90s baby, she at least has a strong appreciation for the grungier acts of the time, giving off vibes akin to Smashing Pumpkins or Hole (which is honestly the the same thing because Billy Corgan has either written four Hole songs or an entire albums worth, depending on who you ask). I particularly enjoyed “Cypress” for the beautiful simplicity of it; two minutes of light reverbed guitar and Janvier’s whisper-sung vocals really hit the spot on this cooler September evening. If you’re looking for something with a little more bite I would direct you toward “Beauty;” enjoyable in a similar vein (pun intended) but gives you a rougher edge. You can hear “Cypress” below from YouTube or you[...]

Pebbledash – “Killer Lover”

September 12, 2024

Ireland based four piece Pebbledash has a new single out, “Killer Lover” and it’s one we’ve grown quite fond of at the BLOG. The presser we got made comparisons to Pixies and Smashing Pumpkins (which isn’t inaccurate) but I felt a lot of early Modest Mouse vibes from this track (in particular, Fruit that Ate Itself era Modest Mouse). “Lover” is shoegazy and at times ethereal, especially with singer Fionnbharr singing parts in Gaelic (which I’ve always found a beautiful, if haunting language). The guitar truly does play second fiddle to the vocals, which sound like they were recorded on golden mics because every word sounds GORGEOUS and hangs in the air, almost solemnly. You can hear “Killer Lover” below on YouTube or over on Spotify. I couldn’t tell you how many Irish acts we come across, but I’m pretty sure it isn’t too many – so definitely be sure[...]

club hearts – “blood was on my skin”

September 11, 2024

New York based Barrett Bleeden is the self professed ‘button-pusher and self-appointed ringleader’ of club hearts. Citing influences from bands such as MGMT, Hot Chip, and Gorillaz, it’s easy to follow the breadcrumbs to Bleeden’s musical style. Described as a blend of indie-pop/alternative/r&b/80’s electronic dreamscape, every single effect he lays down blends together seamlessly without a single note out of place. Being self taught while writing/producing/recording everything certainly has it’s advantages, but if you don’t have the chops for it that will show in the music (like a wise sound person once said, “you can’t polish a turd”). No turds here, quite the opposite – and even if there were, they’re the good kind that nourish the soil with nitrates. You can hear “blood was on my skin” down below from YouTube or add it to your indie tinged electronica mix over on Spotify.      

EVNTYD – “Ever Left”

September 11, 2024

EVNTYD (‘even tide’) is an Austin, Texas based band lead by Julián Berdegué and their latest is “Ever Left.” We last heard from them… Well, ‘him,’ back in May here and not much has changed on our thoughts; we love the shoegaze-themed rollercoaster he throws the human experience into. Speaking to the track, Berdegué had this to offer: “‘Ever Left’ reckons with the expiration date on the horizon, so to speak, accelerated by one’s heedless actions. It’s an urgent rally cry to press forward against raising stakes.” Interestingly enough, the track starts out sounding disjointed and a little forlorn and then ebbs and flows between more upbeat tones throughout the different movements.” The track itself is chock full of plenty of guitar layers shot straight into to your eardrums with various effects – the drums in particular keep a steady oomphy rhythm (particularly in the aforementioned forlorn parts). Fans of[...]