Latest Posts

Jim James – Eternally Even

November 17, 2016

The mystical lead-singer and principal songwriter of My Morning Jacket, Jim James, has released a new solo album. Titled Eternally Even, it follows his 2013 solo debut Regions of Light and Sound of God and comes just a year after MMJ’s latest The Waterfall. The new record is a groovy and polished trip through multi-dimensional soundscapes. Here, James lets his soul influences shine through more than he has for most of his career. He expands upon the sound MMJ fleshed out on their last record, as well as some elements that, as producer, he helped Ray LaMontagne discover on his most recent effort, Ouroboros. It’s a focused and refined output; one that cohesively and infectiously joins R&B with psychedelia, and funk with prog. Its essentially Marvin Gaye meets Pink Floyd. James has a mesmerizing voice, no matter the lyrical content or musical mood. He sings lower, almost whispering at times,[...]

Connor Oberst – Ruminations

November 4, 2016

Conor Oberst has been around the indie scene for some time now. Most famously, he’s been the lead man of Bright Eyes since the late ‘90s, in addition to a handful of other collaborations and bands under his belt. But he’s been releasing his own solo material since the age of 13, and now Ruminations is his seventh studio full length, and tenth solo release overall. On his latest record, Oberst sounds incredibly alone, both in tone and in subject matter. Musically, Ruminations is stripped down to almost nothing. With his voice dead center, the only instrumental support comes from an acoustic guitar, and occasional piano or harmonica. Written and recorded over the course of a few days in the middle of winter, the music is a perfect companion for the desolate heft of his words. It’s almost startling in its emptiness, employing a classic folk artist’s process, made in[...]

Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker

October 27, 2016

Beloved Canadian poet and singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen has had a long and illustrious career. The 82-year-old returns with his 14th full-length study album, and possibly a hint at retirement. You Want It Darker is bleak and grim in tone, and exquisite in its execution. Cohen doesn’t shy away from the inevitable: death. The record plays out like he’s preparing himself for it, as he gets his affairs in order. His trademark hushed and low growl is as dark as ever, and truly suits the undercurrent of the music. The arrangements here are carefully constructed, with each production and instrument choice having a precise and integral place. Although it is stylistically eclectic and layered, it is still quite sparse and intimate. The record opens with the title track “You Want It Darker,” a grooving synth-bass driven hymnal that almost sarcastically begs to plunge further into the abyss. Complete with a repeated[...]

Various Artists – Say Yes! A Tribute to Elliott Smith

October 21, 2016

You would be hard pressed to find an artist in the indie realm that hasn’t been affected by Elliott Smith’s music in some way or another. On Say Yes! A Tribute to Elliott Smith, a collection of artists takes on the daunting task of interpreting the formidable singer-songwriter’s catalog. For this record, released through American Laundromat, a diverse group of acts is assembled, from Yuck to William Fitzsimmons. The wide range of Smith’s compositions are well represented, with new takes on everything from his most intimate hushed folk to his more symphonic basement pop. It is impossible to put a singular label on Smith’s songs because of how intricately he interweaves genres. The soul-crushing earnestness of his lyricism is undeniably relatable, providing a broad appeal that transcends just “rock” or “folk” music. Historically, his music is so difficult to cover because it is so complex, and so perfect in the[...]

Shovels & Rope – Little Seeds

October 14, 2016

Charleston-based Shovels & Rope are back with their fifth LP. The husband and wife tandem of Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst specialize in an energetic brand of Americana and alt-country. Their new record, Little Seeds, comes just over a year after the birth of their first child, an amazing feat even for this relentless duo. Shovels & Rope’s eclectic sound is rooted in the music found across America: blues, folk, country and rock & roll. Acoustic guitars are met with electric ones, mandolins with organs and wild percussion with thumping bass. The pair sings with an obvious chemistry, and an overt earnestness. Their vocal range is undeniable; both Trent and Hearst can achieve such quiet tenderness, as well as an all-out chaos at the top of their lungs. However, no matter the intensity, at no point do the harmonies ever falter. The fact that they are married only adds[...]

Bon Iver – 22, A Million

October 6, 2016

In 2012, Justin Vernon announced he was putting his musical brainchild, the beloved and acclaimed Bon Iver, to rest on an indefinite hiatus. In the years since, he has been essentially in hiding. There were occasional collaborative efforts with the likes of Kanye West and James Blake, a blues-rock record with The Shouting Matches, and other odd appearances. Now, the silence has been officially broken with Bon Iver’s third record, 22, A Million, a huge leap forward both sonically and creatively for his group. For many die hard fans, the first listen through may be quite jarring, and feel as if Vernon has lost his mind. In some ways, he has. There are many similarities between the events that led to his debut For Emma, Forever Ago, and what led to this new record. The world had broken him down, and he retreated inward. Out of the anxiety and depression[...]

Hamilton Leithauser and Rostam – I Had a Dream That You Were Mine

September 29, 2016

I Had a Dream That You Were Mine is the debut album from the partnership of Hamilton Leithauser and Rostam Batmanglij. Appropriately named Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam, the duo has found a delightful sound together as they venture into solo careers. Leithauser’s band The Walkmen are on an indefinite hiatus, and earlier this year Rostam left his group, the indie darlings Vampire Weekend. This collection of songs the pair has crafted is perfectly representative of their collective musical personas. Rostam possesses a mastery of the American songbook, as well as a penchant for DIY production techniques. Leithauser’s voice is unique and versatile, shifting through moods and tones with charisma. While his vocals take center stage and give the record direction, it is Rostam’s eclectic palette that is the backbone, expertly molding the arrangements. The two match wits, providing thoughtful counterpoint to one another as they dance through different styles and[...]

Tonight: The Growlers

September 24, 2016

California surf rockers The Growlers make their way to the Tralf tonight. Labeled by some as “beach goth,” the group offers an eclectic mix of garage, surf, psychedelic, pop and punk elements with disco beat undertones. Following their fun, guitar-centric 2014 release Chinese Fountain, they are gearing up for a new record, and their first for Cult Records. Titled City Club, it is available for pre-order now and due out September 30th. Doors are at 7pm, show starts at 8pm. $20 at the door. 

Wilco – Schmilco

September 21, 2016

On their tenth album, Wilco’s arrangements are as bare as ever. Following last year’s more effervescent release Star Wars, 2016’s Schmilco is laid-back, stripped-down and acoustically driven. The band themselves described the record as “joyously negative,” an intentional and enigmatic oxymoron. Acoustic guitar takes center stage, and beyond that it doesn’t get too heavy. The percussion is light and accentuated with brushes, while organ and piano lilt around the periphery. Electric guitar does make an appearance, but its role is ornamental. Wilco channels the twang of Neil Young style Americana and the jangle of mid-‘60s Beatles. On “Normal American Kids,” Jeff Tweedy looks back on his youth, not so much with nostalgia, but rather a longing for such a carefree time, with perceived and comparatively mundane plight. “If I Ever Was a Child” and “Cry All Day” are both breezy and emotional. “Shrug and Destroy” is Lennon-esque; contemplative and full[...]

Tonight: Super American

September 10, 2016

Another solid mix of bands is slated for Nietzsche’s. Tonight, Buffalo staple Super American headlines the evening’s 4-band lineup. Fresh off their latest single, “Sloppy Jazz,” the group brings their amped up, reformed pop punk to the table. Joining them will be fellow Buffalo rockers Cooler, who combine grunge and fuzz with early 2000’s emo undertones. Rounding out the bill are two Albany based groups. Jouska just released their debut album, full of DIY and lo-fi garage rock. County Mike combines indie and emo with a stripped-down alt-folk approach. Doors open at 9pm, with a $5 cover. The show is 21+.

Frank Ocean – blond

August 25, 2016

For most fans, the wait for new Frank Ocean has felt like more than just four years. However, four years is all it has been since his landmark debut album channel ORANGE firmly put him on the map. Much speculation and anticipation feverishly built up over that time span, with hints at new music along the way that went unfulfilled. Finally, late this summer, Ocean broke the silence and dropped two new projects. The first was a visual album entitled Endless, which included snippets of songs and ideas, pasted together and accompanying a video of him assembling a staircase in black and white. Two days later, he officially released his second studio album, blond (or Blonde; both are used intentionally in reference to his bisexuality). The record is a testament to Ocean’s ability to blend influences and genres, while escaping categorical definition. It’s a unified, singular statement from the singer,[...]

Chevron Bloom – EP

August 22, 2016

Buffalo-based indie rock act, Chevron Bloom’s released their debut EP earlier this month. The 4-track EP, aptly titled EP, was recorded in Geneseo, at Temperamental Recordings. In the band’s debut effort, the trio has crafted a tight set of tunes with psychedelic overtones. Each song, though short in nature, still goes through several different shifts throughout its runtime. The EP varies between moments of straight ahead rock and spaced-out meandering. They meld together elements of psychedelic pop, heavy alt. rock and shoegaze, and every transition through styles is seamless. Throughout, the vocals are light and airy, floating overtop of the arrangements, at times like they are barely there. The snare drum is front and center for most of it, sitting comfortably right in the middle of the mix, a consistent and heavy presence through each dynamic shift. In fact, it’s the snare drum that kicks off the record. Opener “Home?” begins[...]

Michael Kiwanuka – Love & Hate

August 12, 2016

British soul singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka has released his second album for Polydor Records. For this sophomore release, he enlisted the help of veteran Danger Mouse to handle the bulk of production duties. Love & Hate is a smooth and melodic record steeped in introspection and social commentary. Kiwanuka’s diverse set of influences is on display here, incorporating elements of ‘70s r&b and soul as well as gospel, blues, rock and folk. His voice, both as a singer and a lyricist, is reminiscent of legends like Bill Withers, Curtis Mayfield or Marvin Gaye. On Love & Hate, his slow jams pull less from the sexual side of r&b and more from the protest-song side, the realm in which Withers, Mayfield and Gaye were arguably at their best. The record starts out ambitious, with opener “Cold Little Heart” clocking in at over 10 minutes long. The mostly instrumental track is complete with[...]

The Branch Davidians – Sex, Death, and Things Less Boring

August 3, 2016

The Branch Davidians have released their EP Sex, Death, and Things Less Boring. Based in Rochester, the band began as an indie folk duo, before lead man Ben Stephanus expanded both the size of the group and the scope of its sound. Their five-song release is full of fuzz and shoegazey vibes. The lead guitar’s grimy buzz is a consistent force throughout the EP. They fuse throwback ‘90s tendencies with noise-rock elements to achieve a dissonant pop sound. Stephanus’ vocals are trippy with a dash of reverb, and reminiscent of melodies from underground ‘60s rock. The groovy “Bridges of Madison County” sounds like it could be a pop tune from The Zombies fed through the lens of a Tame Impala rocker. The lead guitar riff on “Your Sex Wants You Dead” is textbook pop punk, but with much more distortion. It’s not until the final track, “Blessed Water,” that the[...]

Tonight: Jeff Rosenstock

July 20, 2016

Tonight’s lineup at Mohawk Place boasts a slew of indie rockers. Long Island native Jeff Rosenstock brings his energetic brand of punk to Buffalo, with an extensive catalog of music to pull from. The veteran takes the stage with a few up and comers worth checking out. Rosenstock has been in and out of bands through most of his career. He has contributed guitar/vocals/songwriting to Bomb the Music Industry!, Kudrow, and The Arrogant Sons of Bitches to name a few. Now touring with his own solo material, he is well versed in the upbeat world of DIY indie pop. In addition to Rosenstock will be Columbus, Ohio’s own Sidekicks, as well as Salt Lake City natives Quiet Oaks, both supplying a chaotic element to the lineup. Also play are Buffalo’s Seven Thirty Seven who round out the bill with their skacore anthems this evening. Doors open at 7pm with a $14 cover[...]