Latest Posts

Autoignition – “Plummet / Picking Daisies”

Buffalo based pop-punk quartet Autoignition just released “Plummet / Picking Daisies,” a two-track ripper that’s already found its way into our regular rotation. With anthemic choruses and their heart on their sleeve, these songs hit like a freight train. “Plummet” sees the band come out swinging, with blistering drums setting the stage. The earnest vocals have a sense of pleading, underscored with a slow-moving guitar countermelody. The energy captured on this track is very raw, that is undoubtedly reflective in band’s live performance.   “Picking Daisies” opens with a little more space, but no less energy. With a hooky guitar line, and driving drums, the track churns under the vocals. With echoes of early Blink-182, this is the perfect foil to ‘Plummet.”  High-impact release from a band that is getting a lot of well-deserved buzz. All in all, these tracks are a snippet into the project’s promising future in the[...]

Romcom Victims – Rainy Days

Buffalo’s resident jangly powerpop group Romcom Victims have released their sophomore EP Rainy Days – a buzzy, four-song ripper that has found itself on a shortlist of the best Buffalo releases of the year.   The EP opens with “Absent Minded,” which sets a fun, surfy pace right out of the gate. Anchored by floating guitar lines over a tight rhythm section, the vocals instantly command your attention with their light and airy delivery. Dipping in and out of the spaces present in the reverbed-soaked textures, “Absent Minded” is an immediate earworm. The second track “Street Rat” is a churning offering, led by earnest vocals recalling a hypocritical scumbag, or more appropriately, a rat.   The EP is anchored by the title track “Rainy Days.” A definite EP standout, “Days” is a bouncy two-stepper that alternates through slower orchestrated parts with blasts of shuffling drumbeats and an impossibly nimble bass[...]

Makeout Tactics – Skunk House

Buffalo indie-pop outfit Makeout Tactics has released their first EP, Skunk House. Waxing philosophical, we are presented with a slice of life view of a group of friends in their 20s. Seemingly mundane, these stories and experiences are elevated through their eyes, creating a compelling story that captures our attention.   The EP opens with “311,” laced with a heartfelt urgency that draws you right in. Anchored by the haunting vocals of Akasya Croiser, lyrics float ethereally over the jangly and enveloping guitar lines. The banality of placing a 311 call becomes a plea; a call to action. Second is the driving “Laundromat Thief” which opens with guitars that could play against a gunslinger showdown in a Western. We are then presented with a scenario in which someone has stolen our narrator’s underwear (amongst other things). “Laundromat Thief” is a driving track that underpins our narrator’s struggles. While the drums[...]

the Old Sweethearts – “Miles”

Coming off the heels of their hotly anticipated reunion at the 20th Anniversary of Harvestsum Records, The Old Sweethearts have dropped an alternate version of their song “Miles.”   Originally appearing on their 2005 record Arms of the Town, “Miles” is a a radio-ready single with buzzy verses and anthemic choruses. This previously unreleased version stands in stark contrast, stripping things back and slowing it down. Roger Bryan’s vocals sit in the front of the mix, giving an earnest and pleading quality to the previously uptempo song which remains anchored by Mark Nosowicz’s hypnotic synth lines. The toy piano interludes call back to early Wilco, particularly Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’s “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart.”   The release also includes two tunes previously on 2005’s Harvest Sum B-Sides collection. “Lost You” plays perfectly alongside “Miles,” leaning into the stripped back production that really lets the delicate instrumentation shine. The[...]

Boy Jr. – I Love Getting Dumped

Boy Jr. is back in a big way with their new record I Love Getting Dumped. A collection of 13 breakup songs, frontperson Ariel Allen-Lubman (they/them) commands your attention as strongly as ever with their trademark genrefluid style. They speak to us on a heartfelt level, connecting with us in a nostalgic, at times comical way that speaks to anyone who has ever dealt with the death of a relationship.   The album opens with the haunting “Your Mom Is Disappointed In You.” The vocals are delivered so earnestly, you can feel the pain in their voice, expertly underscored with sparse electronics.  “I Hope You Feel Terrible” is truly a standout, easily drawing parallels with “good 4 u” by Olivia Rodrigo, or contemporaries like Kim Petras or Billie Eilish. Allen-Lubman sets the scene with a fuzzy, bouncing riff that really lets the vocals shine. Slowly building the texture, by the[...]