Latest Posts

Why Not – “Dear Friend, Pt. 2”

December 11, 2017

Minneapolis band Why Not applies a formula of indie rock mixed with math rock and punk to their 2-minute-long single “Dear Friend, Pt. 2.” The track houses irrefutable energy brought on by cutting guitar riffage and unbridled percussive bashing, all of which leads to reminiscence of a Minutemen tune. Furthermore, the song’s somewhat clumsily placed and sung lyrics serve to underline its raw punk aesthetic. “Dear Friend, Pt. 2” was released as a single off the band’s debut full-length released on November 25th, entitled Friends.

NEWMEN – “Debbie Harry”

December 11, 2017

With a song title like “Debbie Harry,” it comes as little to no surprise this recent single from German indie rock band NEWMEN encapsulates a sleek new wave sound bearing partial resemblance to that of Blondie, the legendary New York outfit Harry famously fronted. The track is teeming with crisp dealings of guitar and waves of what sounds like ’80s-era synthesizer, not to mention a short passage of softly sung but inviting vocals. This verse is followed by nearly three minutes of building instrumental wonder, which lasts for the rest of the song.

Ruler – “Easy Life”

December 10, 2017

Matt Batey’s solo project Ruler finds the Montana-turned-Seattle-hailing musician pushing out the single “Easy Life,” a high-spirited pop-rock masterwork stitched together from the fabric of life’s woes. From dealing with a downer of a 9-to-5 job to a deteriorating relationship, the lyrics express a plea of “why me?” in a world that stomps on the idea of life being easier and more carefree than what reality presents. The final verse summons some advice, telling any soul in earshot to be the one who “takes the wheel.” The humorous music video for “Easy Life” shows Batey facing a slew of stumbling blocks, including opening his guitar case to the sight of broken strings, finding out too late that a practice session was relocated and discovering leaves in place of cash in his wallet.

Escapists – “Weirdo”

December 10, 2017

Escapists, a London-based quartet, lay down an air of menace as their recently released track “Weirdo” settles in with 10 seconds of radio-type frequency and sludgy distortion before breaking into a hard-edged, unrelenting rock groove. The track strikes a perfect balance between chaos and precision in this earworm of a tune lyrically centered around the outsider’s perspective and disillusionment. “Weirdo” is planned to be included on the second Escapists album, due out in 2018.

HAWAI – “Think About It”

December 10, 2017

The Orange County alternative rock four-piece HAWAI starts out their new, endlessly catchy tune “Think About It” with its elegant keyboard line in the forefront while twitchy vocal and separate instrumental cues hint at what’s to come. The track then jumps into a colorful synth-pop soundscape met with lyrics detailing a wordless but tension-filled interaction between two lovers, one sitting expressionless and the other overwrought with anxiety over whether or not he somehow angered her into silence. Written in large part by keyboardist Matt Gillen on a nine-hour flight from Iceland back to the states, “Think About It” is as relatable as it is anthemic. The track is one of five contained on HAWAI’s sophomore EP Hide in the Ocean, released on December 8th through Antler Records.

Passed Out – The Aforementioned and How It Pertains to Absolutely Nothing…

December 8, 2017

The Aforementioned and How It Pertains to Absolutely Nothing…, the new 18-minute album from Buffalo indie punk quintet Passed Out, is a no-holds-barred effort laced with fast-paced rhythms and clever turns of phrase. The opener, “Bukowski and Brautigan” is a single minute in length, but it should manage to touch any listener lyrically or at least make them jitter around the room. It’s carried into the next tune, a more subdued track, by way of feedback. This one, entitled “…and in Doing So” is a clever song speaking of a relationship under the guise of an endless, extremely cold winter. “Aimless Endeavor” is another less turbulent song, save for a brief guitar solo and the last 30 seconds, which consists of heavy blows of instruments and vocals. “Summer Thing” shows traces of both The Cure and The Clash in its tough exterior but vulnerable core, as thinly veiled jabs are[...]

Sonny Baker Returns with “Reluctant Thief”

December 5, 2017

Long-serving Buffalo musician Sonny Baker’s solo single “Reluctant Thief” is a 5-minute meditation on withering relationships perfectly suited for play at maximum volume. Sparse rhythm and slackened guitar accompany soothing, softly sung verses, while bursts of raucous guitar join in on the song’s tortured, soul-bearing choruses. With a command of both raw and reserved stylings vocally and instrumentally, Sonny Baker’s newest offering harkens back to the heyday of Dinosaur Jr. as well as bands who hit the music scene in the 21st century, like My Morning Jacket and Broken Social Scene. Check out Baker’s newest single, due out December 15th via Admirable Traits Records.

Tonight: Fast Romantics

December 2, 2017

Toronto indie rockers Fast Romantics are joining with Buffalo-based indie pop group The Tins for a show tonight at Lockhouse Distillery & Bar, located at 41 Columbia St., Buffalo. Compared by news outlet NPR to Elvis Costello & The Attractions and influenced by power pop, Fast Romantics released their most recent album American Love in April. Hailed by USA Today for their “brilliant pop exuberance,” The Tins will release their new content digitally on December 8. Doors open at 8 pm.\ for the show, which is set to begin around 9. The venue is only open to those 21 and over. The price of admission is $7 in advance (tickets are still available through ticketfly.com) and $10 at the door, but be sure to bring more for festive purposes just in case.  

Satin Jackets – “Mirage”

December 2, 2017

Satin Jackets’ new track “Mirage” encompasses a feeling that evokes the sound of perhaps a more pop-oriented version of Lorde. With danceable keyboard jabs and impassioned singing, it’s a tune tailored for a freewheeling atmosphere, such as a discotheque. The song is the follow-up to the group’s successful summertime collaboration with David Harks, which amassed a million-plus Spotify plays. “Mirage” is to be released on Friday through Eskimo Recordings but is now streamable on Soundcloud.

Gil Hockman – “Untitled”

December 2, 2017

South African musician Gil Hockman’s newest tune, which is either legitimately untitled or titled as such, is a relaxing ditty riddled with loose advice about letting things be and letting things go. Hockman lyrically and voice-wise can be compared a bit to how Damon Albarn would sound if he were maybe more into meditation. The song builds to a slightly more momentous conclusion as it approaches its last 30 or so seconds. Gil Hockman’s latest album, Becoming, on which “Untitled” was the second track, saw release on November 10.

Anteros – “Bonnie”

December 2, 2017

The new song, entitled “Bonnie,” from British pop group Anteros, bounces on a sleek beat, adding up to a boisterous, fun and ridiculously catchy tune stressing the idea of “dancing in the meadow.” The track is accompanied by a music video showing the band performing in a boxing ring while two women attack punching bags. The video, however, contains quite the twist ending.

Chow Mane – “Mooncakes”

December 2, 2017

San Francisco Bay Area rapper Chow Mane contemplates his obstacle-addled adolescence and heritage on new song “Mooncakes,” the title track from his six-song EP released in October. He spent this time in the care of his family, which consisted of Asian immigrants and Vietnam War refugees. He talks of sleeping on the floor, sharing space with eight in a house later seized by the government and his father leaving his mother. Nonetheless, Chow and his family managed to maintain a sense of hope in the face of adversity. The music video released for “Mooncakes” depicts Chow rapping beside his grandparents in between clips of old home video footage.

Sharks in the Deep End – “In My Bones”

November 29, 2017

Begun as a cheerful dedication to his wife, Sharks in the Deep End frontman Tucker Jameson was redirected during the writing process of “In My Bones” by a scare to his wife’s health condition, which forced him to evaluate her value in his own life as the light that feeds his soul, as the lyrics say, and cherish the things that aren’t permanent. The song chugs along with a deep-seated rhythmic groove throughout. Vocals and entrancing keyboards settle in to draw the listener close. The chorus erupts with a high-pitched, emotional howl of “I feel you in my bones” and a heartfelt guitar line before repeating this winning pattern. The track then falls into a glorious guitar solo and the wholehearted, full sound of its conclusion. The issuing of this single, submitted as “a plea to the winds of fate,” is part of the band’s one-song-a-month regimen, set to continue[...]

Deep Cuts – “Endlessly Refreshing”

November 27, 2017

It’s foreseeable that the chorus to the new Deep Cuts single “Endlessly Refreshing” could find a welcoming home in a doublemint commercial, but until that time comes, it serves just fine as simply a catchy tune, and a suitably titled one at that. Bolstered by breezy instrumentation, provocative vocals and the ding of a phone receiving a notification, the song contains an atmosphere that, in the vein of one such Ariel Pink, possesses a style kindred to 1980s cassette culture. All the while, the Houston-centered group addresses something ever so modern–the millennial attachment to their phones and the inescapable refreshing of by-the-minute news and social media feeds.

Veronica Bianqui – “Victim”

November 27, 2017

“Victim” the new single from Los Angeles garage pop singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Veronica Bianqui, should be the official song soundtracking a heavy weight being lifted off one’s shoulders, the feel of starting anew or the summoning of willingness to put a positive spin on something otherwise devastating. Written as a call to escape harmful emotional dependence beyond oneself, “Victim” came to greatly pertain to Bianqui’s sister’s untimely death at the hands of drug addiction. All of the song’s proceeds will go to non-profit organization Harm Reduction Coalition, which advocates for the health of drug abusers and aims to educate the public on the detrimental effects of drugs. The repeated, empowered assertion “I’m ready for big changes,” as well as her readiness to “chase the sun” and “shake these clouds,” convinces the listener that a reversal of any troublesome habits is wholly possible. Dressed up in a mostly easygoing melody, the song[...]