Latest Posts

Gatto Black – “You Can’t Make Me Dance”

June 6, 2025

By now you probably know that Gatto Black doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to their highly emotive songwriting – project mastermind Sal Mastrocola confronts the realities of growing up queer AND Catholic on his latest single, “You Can’t Make Me Dance.” Insanely fast drumming, urgent chord progressions, and gritty vocals power this one forward with unmatched energy – perfect for skateboarding or just the simple act of feeling not-so-alone in your self-loathing. Aside from the skate punk, emo, and post-hardcore glory we’ve come to know and love from GB, “You Can’t Make Me Dance” takes aim at the formative traumas that pop up while you’re reconciling your burgeoning identity in an otherwise inhospitable environment. Mastrocola puts it better than we ever could below:   “When I was 14, my religion teacher told me I was going to hell for being bisexual… Years later it came out that he[...]

Far Caspian – “An Outstretched Hand / Rain From Here To Kerry”

June 3, 2025

Far Caspian has become a buffaBLOG regular (see here, and here, and here, and here). By now, you know we appreciate the Irish musician for his expansive take on the genre of indie rock. “An Outstretched Hand / Rain From Here To Kerry” is his latest, and a wonderful addition to his oeuvre – a 5+ minute offering led by a spindly guitar riff that’s both chiming and gripping in nature. Inspired by both a long-night drive and the feeling of wanting to spend all your time consumed with a fresh, new love, “AOH/RFHTK” encapsulates those heartstring-pulling feelings with simmering energies and blood-churning crescendos.   Follow the forbidden YouTube embed (below) to see the video for “An Outstretched Hand / Rain From Here To Kerry,” or, swing by Spotify.  

Cartman – Waves

May 30, 2025

One listen to the new album from Denver-based artist Cartman and you’ll wonder if he’s telling the truth about recording it in a walk-in closet in a guest bedroom. Residing at the vertex between hip hop, indie rock, and pop music, Waves is a collection of breezy, summer-sounding songs that rest heavily on excellent production, acoustic-guitar twinkles, squiggly synths, and Cartman’s past as a hip-hop artist. Expect plenty of earworms, perfect for putting on for your next poolside gathering.   The mysterious and nebulous “Gold” opens this fantastic album – at just about a minute in length, this one is fleeting, but hits hard. Cartman’s flow is smooth and unbothered, gliding over a 3:4 time signature like some sort of modern day waltz. Just when you think it’s about to explode into something beautiful, he launches into song two, “Tonight.” “Tonight” is an archetypal Cartman song – catchy hip-hop-inspired rhythms, twinkly[...]

Glitter Etiquette – CERULEAN, DEEP BLUE

May 29, 2025

Glitter Etiquette (GE) dives deep into synth-forward indietronica bliss on their latest release, CERULEAN, DEEP BLUE. Highly conceptual, the album dives deep into highbrow ideas about socioeconomic and cultural archetypes… And while we’re usually pretty good at parsing out the meaning behind lyrics, in these instances, it’s usually better to hear a snippet from the band’s own words – see below:   “The album contrasts the tranquil, expansive hue of blue (cerulean) with the ominous force of darkness thru the metaphoric red army, portraying a cosmic battle between clarity, empathy, and depth versus aggression, ego, and decay. These colors become metaphors for clashing worldviews: blue as the fading ideal of unity and imagination, with the antithesis showing the toxic acceleration of greed, polarization, and control. Through its swirling textures and lyrical critiques, Cerulean warns of the rise of socioeconomic and cultural archetypes—techno-feudal overlords and their machine counterparts, influencer-worship, manufactured identity—that[...]

Stephen Babcock – “Drunk”

May 28, 2025

Have you ever had a few too many Labatt Blues and not-so-accidentally told your friend off? Yeah, us too, and so has Stephen Babcock & co. It comes with being Buffalo-born.   “Drunk” is his latest offering, a natural continuation of his acoustic-driven indie folk that’s been building up buzz around town this spring. Gentle piano plinks in the background while a tasteful drumbeat taps out a perfectly-driven rhythm. Overtop it all is Babcock’s warm and inviting vocals – even if they are singing about being berated by a drunk bud. The chorus of “Why do you have to get drunk to say what’s wrong? Why can’t you just shoot straight for once?” hits like a Jägerbomb after a day at the Bills game – always remember folks, the truth will set you free.   Check out “Drunk” via the YouTube embed below, or, add it to your Spotify playlist.[...]

Slow Joy – “Te Amo”

May 23, 2025

Fresh off a hot gig in Buffalo last month, Slow Joy say “I love you” with latest single, “Te Amo.” With trademark grungy guitars and emotive vocals, “Te Amo” continues Slow Joy’s trend of emo-flavored singles that have melody, sincerity, and energy in spades. Fans of Citizen, Balance and Composure, and the like will love the heavy-hitting vibes found here.   Check out the video for “Te Amo” below, or, add it to your emo-adjacent Spotify playlists.  

Rob Finlay – Sunset | Darkness | Sunrise

May 21, 2025

Whatever happened to the humble singer/songwriter?! Rob Finlay is here to prove that the artform isn’t dead with his latest EP, Sunset | Darkness | Sunrise (SDS). As with any good, acoustic-driven music, SDS is a well-orchestrated and emotional affair, finding Finlay wearing his heart on his sleeve more often than not. With a bevy of pro musicians in tow (including session musicians from Feeder, Rag’n’Bone Man, Beyoncé, and Keane), this collection of songs is dripping with emotion and a longing-but-hopeful disposition. Led by Finlay’s ever-pleasant voice, this EP was meant for those that grew up in the 90s, particularly the late ’90s, when Matchbox 20, Edwin McCain, and your favorite one-hit-wonder bands were ruling 1998-era pop radio.   For those looking for a quick one-two punch, we’d recommend starting with lead single “Afterglow.” An archetypal Finlay jam, “Afterglow” jangles along with a deep and touching emotion, letting his poetry[...]

Fear Of Sleep – “Quirks”

May 19, 2025

Fear Of Sleep combine the flashiness of math rock with a penchant for punk rock energy on their first two singles – “Quirks” and “Crimes.” Fans of previous Buffalo-born stalwarts Feverbox may recognize a few members, and while those super-tight and familiar aspects return with Fear Of Sleep, the group is forging new ground with blistering fretwork, super-sweet melodies, and a fun guitar-driven energy. “Quirks,” with it’s sub-two-minute run time, is packed with nimble riffs, packaged up neatly in a pop rock package, complete with big choruses and overall anthemic vibes. “Crimes” leans more into their punk rock energies, leaning more into riff-rock territory, without sacrificing any of the tasty riffs that make “Quirks” so fun.   Check out “Quirks” via the YouTube embed below – you can find both available songs on Spotify if that’s more your speed.  

Don’t Worry – “Unbelievable”

May 18, 2025

Don’t Worry are about to jangle their way into your hearts with their new song, “Unbelievable.” It’s hard to believe we’re still talking about COVID-era songs in 2025, but that’s when it was conceived – after months of feeling uninspired, DW broke the spell with this lovely gem. It’s a guitar-forward indie rocker, certainly inspired by the ’90s greats like Oasis, Pavement, and the like, warm with both crunchy and acoustic guitar strumming.   “Unbelievable” is available to stream via Soundcloud (below). There’s always the trusty streaming services too – Apple Music and Spotify.   specialistsubject · Unbelievable

Romanie – “Uh Oh”

May 18, 2025

Romanie, aka Belgian-born Melbourne-based Romanie Assez, knows how to write a barnburner. We last checked in with her on 2023’s “Anthony,” and we’re happy to report she’s still putting out the emotionally-charged indie rock we liked upon our first listen. “I was going through a rough patch in life with some health scares and homesickness,” Romanie says, and that pain comes through in the gritty guitar work and driving drums. This one is grungy while still maintaining a certain beauty and we’re here for it.   “Uh Oh”  

Them Damn Dogs – “Weirdo”

May 18, 2025

Them Damn Dogs are back with a new single, their first in over four years. “Weirdo” is a triumphant return, a big blast of fun energy that falls somewhere on the spectrum between pop punk and whatever genre Weezer is these days. Fun guitar riffs are laden heavy with crunchy goodness, powering the wry, vocal-forward melodies. Oh, and stick around for the well-placed guitar solo.   You can find “Weirdo” on bandcamp (below), or, Spotify if that’s more your thing.   Weirdo by Them Damn Dogs

Charmer – “Night”

May 16, 2025

Kinda-Rochester-at-one-point-or-another-based act Charmer is gearing up for their first full-length in five years. They’ve shared their latest single with us, a tune called “Night,” which is certainly an evolution in the sound for the formerly triumphantly scrappy emo act. Channeling Alkaline Trio, Turnover, and The Cure with it’s dark and brooding vibes; swimmy guitars; and memorable choruses, you’ll be singing along with “cross my heart and hope to die” after your very first listen.   Downpour, Charmer’s upcoming release, will be out on Counter Intuitive Records on May 23rd, 2025. Get acquainted with it via YouTube or the bandcamp embed below.   Downpour by Charmer

The Sunmills – The Art of Burning Bridges

May 8, 2025

Seeing as how we’re located in the northeastern US, we don’t get a ton of opportunities to cover acts from Utah. Here’s hoping The Sunmills are our first of many – they’ve just released their debut album, The Art of Burning Bridges, an eight-song collection of riffy rock n roll that catalogues the messy roller coaster that is, well, love. Whether we’re talking ex-girlfriends, failed situationships, and self-deprecation, The Sunmills cover it with a wry smile and a healthy dose of sarcasm. You might leave a listening session of The Art of Burning Bridges wondering “… Are these guys ok?” At the same time, you’ll notice their songs have the same sunshine-y polish that you’d expect from ’90s luminaries like Third Eye Blind, Everclear, Fastball, or Semisonic… And it’s not like those guys weren’t singing about failed relationships to great success.   The album opens with “Take Me Away,” a blast of pop-punk energy[...]

little champion – Peaks Island and Other Places

May 8, 2025

It’s tempting to make a silly turn of phrase like “little champion… big sound” when discussing the new album from Asheville, NC-based singer/songwriter Dustin Goldklang (aka the aforementioned little champion)… But that would be a lie. The reality is that little champion specializes in intimate and loquacious slices of life – aurally painting what seem like oddly-specifically descriptions of oddly-specific places. Underneath the specificities of his writing lies a little pain – like that found in an awkward moment stuck in your head for eternity or, as LC puts it, “trying to laugh about things you’re not sure are funny.” That’s the vibe you can find throughout his latest album Peaks Island and Other Places – super intimate and a little awkward (in the most endearing possible way). at the end of a listen through this album, you really feel like you’ve grown up alongside Goldklang in the oddly-specific town of[...]

Laila Smith – “Diorama”

May 4, 2025

There are plenty of things that will break your heart in this world, so let the latest single from Laila Smith be solace that you’re not going through it alone. “Diorama” is a beautiful indie rock song that showcases Smith’s true pain – softly plucked acoustic guitars layered with spikes of electric guitar bring this one to life, of course, set off by Laila’s lilting vocal presence. She’s really putting herself out there with this one – here’s a snippet about the song:   “Diorama was born out of a very confusing time in my life, a period of deep denial about the quiet collapse of my marriage… We position ourselves as essential in someone’s landscape while knowing any fixed arrangement is a kind of death… The truth of intimate attachment is that all we desire is desire itself—not the messy reality of human connection.”   Check out “Diorama” via[...]