Latest Posts

Midheaven – “Heaven”

November 25, 2023

Midheaven (aka creative-and-romantically-involved couple Sarah Eiseman & Andy DeLuca) have been creating visual art for others for years, silently building up their own repertoire for this very moment. The stunning “Heaven” is the duo’s first foray into the musical world, a sparkly-but-sludgy blast of dream pop and shoegaze that sounds like it was ripped straight out of a late-90s witch/vampire movie. A dirty bass groove anchors the song while drippy guitars, swelling synths, and left-field percussive instruments go supernova in the background. Sarah’s soaring vocals are the centerpiece here and her hypnotic presence brings to mind other genre luminaries like Wolf Alice, Mazzy Star, and Slowdive. DeLuca’s been traveling the world for about a decade now, but we’d never forget his Buffalo roots… That’s reason enough to check out this outstanding new project. You can find “Heaven” on Spotify, Soundcloud, and Bandcamp. You can find lots of other ways to[...]

Field of View – “Mess”

November 25, 2023

Field of View is a Chattanooga-based punk band whose “Mess” caught our ears for it’s anthemic raucousness. With it’s punchy power chord grind, “Mess” constantly maintains the spirit of punk while injecting it with a fun, jangly, almost Midwestern-esque sound. This sound is absolutely made for basement show singalongs or sweaty VFW hall pits – fans of Title Fight, SUGAR COAT, or Joyce Manor are going to dig this one a lot. All the different ways to listen to “Mess” can be found via this handy link, or, check it out via YouTube below.

Joy Downer – “Alright”

November 25, 2023

buffaBLOG mainstay Joy Downer knows how to write an indie-pop banger – we’re recommending their latest offering, “Alright.” With its bouncing bassline, simple-but-driven guitar strumming, and a nicely lilting vocal presence, “Alright” has all the markings of an iconic indie rocker. There’s something to be said about simplicity perfected, and “Alright” definitely falls into that category. Fans of The Strokes, St. Vincent, or even the vintage appeal of The Cars are gonna love this one. We’re Joy Downer stans over here at the blog – check out our previous writeups here, here, and here. Peep the music video for “Alright” below, and when you inevitably enjoy it, be sure to add it to your Spotify playlist.

Sheer Calm – “Stagnant”

November 25, 2023

Three-piece London-based act Sheer Calm put out a staggering amount of noise for being a trio, and latest single “Stagnant” is perfect proof. The group has a penchant for cacophony – between the absolutely massive bass tones and screeching, squelching guitar energy, “Stagnant” could sit comfortably on a shelf next to your favorite Death From Above 1979 or Drive Like Jehu record. If walls of guitar noise and speaker-shredding tones are your thing, Sheer Calm may be your next great obsession. You can find “Stagnant” via Sheer Calm’s Bandcamp page below. Sheer Calm by Sheer Calm

Frog – “DOOM SONG”

November 25, 2023

New York-based duo Frog (composed of brothers Danny & Steve Bateman) are back on the grind with their latest release, the 11-song GROG. We’d like to highlight the discordant fervor of single “DOOM SONG;” with it’s cacophonous guitar-driven jangle and droning vocals, “DOOM” brings to mind genre luminaries like Pile or even Modest Mouse with a touch of swampy twang. Its ascending, chromatic chord progression also brings to mind the haunting and soul-crushing crunch of Alice in Chains’ “Them Bones” without ever dipping into grunge territory. About the album, Danny further elaborates: “There are really exciting places we were able to get to on this record, places that I didn’t know existed before I found them. It feels both gothic and cartoonish to me, big gargoyles, dark skies, storms, but the statues are of ‘Aaahh!!! Real Monsters.’ Every song is a step deeper into the abyss.” Be sure to check out[...]

ALIAS – “Cursed”

November 18, 2023

French act ALIAS is here to crush your soul with the menacing indietronica of their latest single, “Cursed.” Propelled by an ultra-distorted bass thump, “Cursed” gradually transforms into a neurotic indie-rock tinged banger that seems tailor-made for dancing around your living room. Fans of the smart-but-smarmy stylings of LCD Soundsystem or the synthed-out pulse of CHVRCHES are gonna love this one. About the song, ALIAS says: “CURSED is the sweet spot where everything goes wrong.” Check out the music video for “Cursed” below, or, add it to your favorite Spotify playlist.

Found Space – “What’s Yours Is Mine”

November 12, 2023

Found Space jangled their way into our hearts with the dreamy goodness of new single, “What’s Yours is Mine.” Co-Produced by Day Wave (Jackson Phillips), you can really hear the bedroom-pop, well, pop, in this sparkly and washy new tune. Pulling from strong (and timeless) 80s and 90s influences, “What’s” nods respectfully to its forefathers without ever sounding dated or trite. Fans of The Pains of Being Pure at heart, The Radio Dept., or the aforementioned Day Wave are going to vibe on this immediately. You can find “What’s Yours Is Mine” on Spotify. Found Space · What’s Yours Is Mine

James Bannon – Heat Ghosts

November 7, 2023

James Bannon is a New Jersey-based act who just released the six-song EP Heat Ghosts (HG). Full of folksy strumming and plenty of 90s-era adult contemporary flavors, HG tells several poignant stories of love, loss, and human connections. Album opener “Kitchens Everywhere” was a lovely way for Bannon to kick things off. With the same warm energy as James Taylor or John Denver, “Kitchens” leans heavy on strong, narrative lyrics and Bannon’s vulnerable vocal presence. Of particular note here is a nimble bassline that undercuts the lovingly-strummed acoustic guitar, giving this drum-less song a bit of a rhythmic presence. “Kitchens” is a perfect summation of what you can expect from HG, as it warms you up to the heart-on-your-sleeve energies that can be found throughout the EP. Song two, “Dinner Party,” is a love story centered around the relationship of two queer high school girls. Hints of emo worm their way into the[...]

maxime. – “the life and death of a dog”

October 27, 2023

Montreal act maxime. is no stranger to the blog – check out our previous features here and here. They’re back with another heady jam, this time dipping into hyperpop territory with the sludgy bass groove of “the life and death of a dog.” Sounding utterly 2023-flavored (think Aries or Paris Texas) while paying homage to 90s-era acts like Prodigy and Fatboy Slim, “dog” slinks and slithers into your ears with its unabashed bombastic nature. It’s left-of-center, sure, but that’s what makes it so great… A genre-blending amalgam of all the things you love about music. “the life and death of a dog” is available now on Spotify. maxime. · the life and death of a dog

Playing With Fireworks – Runaway

October 22, 2023

Playing With Fireworks (PWF) is the moniker of Luke Underhill. The Chicago, IL native is here with a new sound, shedding his singer songwriter roots for something a bit more lush and expressive. The result of this new identity is a fresh, new EP, Runaway, a four-song offering layered full of synth explosions, powerful blasts of guitar, an epic drum presence, and Underhill’s passionately gravely vocal presence. The songs have a distinctive 1980s flair without ever sounding dated, taking the best aspect of that decade and injecting it into the contextual oeuvre of 2023’s indie rock. Here’s a bit about how the EP came to life from Luke himself: “This EP was conceived and written on long train rides in and out of the city. Watching the world fly by, waving at strangers when they board, it was a lot of time to think and write. I hope the music[...]

Vast Robot Armies – The What Gallery

October 21, 2023

Vast Robot Armies (VRA) has existed for the better part of a decade, an impressive feat for any band. VRA rose from the ashes of many respected projects, think The Life and Times; Sometimes Why; Shiner; Failure; and Sundiver – bandleader Jason Thomson used his veteran experience (with the help of bandmates Jon Agee & Joseph Wells and a few other talented friends) to create his latest offering, The What Gallery (TWG). Informed by the storied sounds of his past but never fully aping them, The What Gallery is a collection of eight songs of dark pop, sludgy indie rock, and a pounding percussive presence that demands attention. Before I dive into the music, I’d like to highlight an important underlying theme here – ego death. Jason and producer Jordon Zadorozny (Sam Roberts, Hole, Chris Cornell) set out to record an album with an unshakeable vision. It wasn’t until Thomson/Zadorozny took[...]

Sonny Falls – “Cemeteries”

October 20, 2023

Sonny Falls turns a normally somber locale into something palatable and pleasant here on “Cemeteries.” Granted, I love walking through “Cemeteries,” but the soundtrack to my visit isn’t typically a pleasant indie-pop track… Songwriter Ryan “Hoagie” Wesley Ensley seamlessly melds an acoustic guitar backbone with tasteful percussion, swimmy guitar work, and his omnipleasant voice. Ensley ends the song with a jam of sorts that reads as powerful and meaningful without ever dipping into overblown-for-the-sake-of-epicness territory. Fans of Bright Eyes, Spoon, or (deep cut here) An Angle will love what Sonny/Hoagie has to offer. You can find “Cemeteries” on Spotify and Apple Music.

Chris Portka – Trash Music (Vinyl)

October 15, 2023

A few months ago, we reviewed Chris Portka‘s Trash Music (you can read our original review here) – as a creative, challenging, and utterly unique work of art, Trash Music goes down, at least in our annals, as one of the most left-field recordings we’ve ever had the pleasure of diving in to… Needless to say, when the opportunity came to get our hands on a vinyl copy of Trash Music, we couldn’t say no. Here’s a bit about our experiences revisiting Trash Music in a different medium – via the warm, comforting wash of analog vinyl. First, there’s something to be said about receiving and unwrapping a vinyl – seeing the uniquely colored wax, enjoying the “case candy,” and experiencing the art in a physical sense before diving into the aural aspect of the album. My copy of Trash Music came in a surfy, mint green (a personal favorite hue). It also came with a[...]

Lila Dupont – “Dance and Smoke and Sing”

October 12, 2023

Once upon a time, NYC-based singer/songwriter Lila Dupont had a cold. Instead of laying in bed and being a loaf, she put pen to paper and wrote “Dance and Smoke and Sing,” her latest single. With it’s upbeat guitar-based backbone and overall breezy vibes, you might be surprised to learn that “Dance” is actually about trying to breakup with a significant other… But the song’s perceived happiness is actually the embodiment of how free Dupont imagined she’d feel after breaking those proverbial chains. Fans of Phoebe Bridgers, Maggie Rogers, or the almighty Clairo are going to find lots to love here. Check out the YouTube vid from Lila below, or, add it to your favorite Spotify playlist.

Chief Broom – Hidden in Plain Sight

September 30, 2023

The story of Chief Broom (CB) is sadly a tragic one. Centered around the songwriting of Shadrach Tuck, this revolving cast of Boise, Idaho natives create songs that focus on “the fragility, monotony, beauty and horrors of everyday life.” Crafted in the wake of the death of co-founder TJ Tuck (Shadrach’s brother), Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) is a continuation of his musical journey – a fitting, if closing chapter on the life of a man who touched the Boise music scene in profound ways. TJ’s presence is felt all throughout HIPS – Shadrach and his revolving cast of characters (including mainstays Will Cheeseman and Frankie Tillo) saw to it that TJ was immortalized through painstaking attention to detail. Both TJ’s drumming and artistic vision are integral to HIPS – recorded by band father Terre Tuck’s at his home studio, this album has the sincere feel of a homebrew creation with a grand[...]