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small pockets – “kite”

October 10, 2022

Atlanta-based act small pockets hit us hard with their latest banger, “kite.” Falling somewhere on the spectrum between math rock, bedroom-pop, and alternative, “kite” is full of pitchy delay guitars; blippy splashes of keyboard; and a shuffling-but-crisp drumbeat. Throughout the song, SP ruminates on the highs and lows of life, trying to be mindful of the things that have a tendency to bring them down. While the song transfers from the spicy intro to a more introspective feel mid-song, it will remind you of the different phases of life – sometimes chaotic, sometimes relaxing, but in the case of small pockets, always interesting. You can also find “kite” on Spotify and Apple Music.

The Natural Lines – “It’s a Trap”

October 10, 2022

We’re big fans of Matt Pond PA over here at buffaBLOG – maybe it’s the incoming fall weather (or nostalgia for the first time we heard “So Much Trouble”), but when we heard “It’s a Trap,” the latest offering from newly-minted act The Natural Lines, we couldn’t help but think that it had some definite Matt Pond PA flavor. Turns out we were dead on – it IS Matt Pond PA, here to charm his way into your heart with his trademark chimey guitars; soothing raspy vocals; and a perfect mid-tempo groove that’s as propulsive as it is relaxing. About his new song, Matt says: “The desire to create is a total trap. The repetition and the honing and the quest for fulfillment can be frustrating—maddening, even. The trap is that you can’t stop once you start. It’s never completed, never done. I may never reach the pinnacle of music with[...]

SUGARFUNGUS – “Weekend at Toast’s”

October 10, 2022

Time to get down to a hot, fresh nu-disco banger. SUGARFUNGUS is here with the lighthearted bubbling of “Weekend at Toast’s;” full of bouncy basslines; spiraling guitar stabs; and delicate falsetto musings, this one is sure to get your body moving and your mood rising. The song actually has a great backstory – SUGARFUNGUS explains more below: “Weekend at Toast’s is a theme song for our keyboardist Jackson’s cat, a black American shorthair cat named Toast. We’ve all been there. You’re feeling a little stressed out, or maybe a bit down, and all of a sudden a little spilt oat milk or burnt toast sets you off. We’re here to say don’t let a little burnt toast get you down!” You can also find “Toast’s” on Spotify. SUGARFUNGUS · Weekend At Toast’s

beachtown – “Spin”

October 5, 2022

Bedroom-pop duo beachtown hit our inbox with “Spin” and it captivated us immediately. There’s something intangible about their whirly brand of bedroom-pop that inspires feelings of longing, sorrow, and angst… Which by this point, any dedicated buffaBLOG reader should know we’re suckers for. A shuffling drumbeat powers this one forward, while dreamy guitar noodling, blippy synth textures, and plenty of production magic help to color the background. About the song, they say: “Spin came around a time where I was very frustrated with myself, people and things I couldn’t control. Because of the angsty kind of mood that the song had I just went along with it. The name “Spin” also resonated with us as it describes that feeling of falling into vortexes in your own mind that never stop spinning.”  You can find ALL the ways to listen to “Spin” via this link.

The Mañanas – “Sooner Than I Thought”

October 5, 2022

The last time we checked in with The Mañanas, we were vibing on the jangly sounds of then-latest single, “Don’t Think Your Love Has Given Up.” They’re back with another banger, this time in the form of “Sooner Than I Thought.” The band brings big aughts-era garage-rock flavor to their sound with a nice vintage twist. Despite the upbeat energy here, the song has a bit of a tongue-in-cheek approach to humor – they explain below: “There’s no better way to understand [our] cynical sense of humor than to hear [us] singing in unison ‘My lungs are getting worse and I’ll be gone… sooner than I thought’ as a reference to Unpingco’s cigarrette smoking habits.” You can also find “Sooner Than I Thought” on Apple Music and Spotify.

Thomas LaVine – “Giants”

October 5, 2022

We’re enjoying the easy-going indie folk vibes coming out of Thomas LaVine – we recommend starting with his latest offering, “Giants.” “Giants” is certainly an exercise in layers, pairing plenty of ethereal soundscapes with his otherwise organic acoustic guitar structures. It’s not all ambiance though – bringing to mind artists like Bon Iver and Iron & Wine, LaVine ramps up his falsetto on a hook-filled, ooh-laden chorus that shows just how well he can write a catchy refrain. About the song, LaVine adds: “Giants is about the time spent in adolescence, when you feel the grandest sense of possibility and freedom. The song leans into that feeling of openness, with that idea shaping the soundscape of the track.” You can check out “Giants” via YouTube below – it’s also available on Spotify.

A Little Nothing – “Hat and Sweater”

October 5, 2022

There’s something special about the indie-pop coming from A Little Nothing – we’ve been obsessed with their latest jam, “Hat and Sweater.” With a prominent bouncing bassline; big synth leads; and just-aloof-enough vocals, this one strips it down to just the elements that matter. At 2:40 in length too, “Hat” comes and goes without too much to-do, which in this case, makes it infinitely repeatable. About the song, they say: “The song is about growing up and finding a spot in an ever evolving world while remembering what is most important: the things that are close to you. The eponymous hat and sweater here resemble friends and family.” You can also find “Hat And Sweater” on Spotify. A Little Nothing · Hat And Sweater

Alix Page – “Pulling Teeth”

October 5, 2022

Alix Page stunned us with this stripped-down heartbreaker written alongside Irish actor, singer, and musician, Mark McKenna. “Pulling Teeth” is a guitar-driven acoustic ballad that brings to mind the work of Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Soccer Mommy – with heartfelt lyrics and a hush-hush intensity throughout the song, it brings a devastating beauty to the otherwise crushing atmosphere surrounding a breakup. About the song, Alix says: “This song came from a breakup, specifically during one of the final conversations with my ex who used the expression, ‘pulling teeth’, as a comparison to certain aspects of our relationship. I couldn’t get that phrase out of my head.” Watch the video for “Pulling Teeth” below. You can also find it on Apple Music and Spotify.

Pohgoh – “Hammer”

September 27, 2022

Pohgoh is carrying on the storied tradition of late 90s emo – fully evident in their latest release, “Hammer.” With plenty of guitar jangle and endearing and emotional vocals, “Hammer” continues their streak of excellent, basement-show emo tunes with an overarching theme of anxiety and depression. Heart wrenching lyrics give a powerful and poignant look at singer Susie Ulrey’s MS diagnosis, as well as the anxieties that came along with the pandemic. Pohgoh is planning an album, du und ich, due out November 4th… Get a taste of what to expect from “Hammer” below. ICYMI, we recently featured Pohgoh’s song “Weeds” too – definitely worth a listen. You can find “Hammer” in lots of places online – check them all out here.

Viewfinder – “How Long”

September 26, 2022

Colorado Springs’ Viewfinder fall at the crossroads of emo, post-hardcore, and post-rock, and their latest single “How Long” is a perfect demonstration of how to blend these very complimentary genres. A gravely vocal immediately grabs you before launching into a wall of guitar noise – they’re able to rein in their emotions in a quiet-loud verse/chorus structure, showing their depth as a songwriting vehicle. Fans of Title Fight, Pianos Become the Teeth, and Citizen will find lots to love here. Viewfinder’s upcoming album is due out on October 7th. Keep your eyes peeled – you can find them on Spotify. Viewfinder · 02 How Long

Rum Jungle – “Going Out Of My Way”

September 26, 2022

Last time we checked in with Newcastle-based act Rum Jungle, we were jamming on their then-latest single, “Upbeat Lord.” While “Lord” was an impressively upbeat and angular indie rock gem, their latest song, “Going Out Of My Way” is a bit more of a laid-back vibe – the perfect soundtrack to a lazy day. Full of twinkly guitar leads and a pleasant, longing chord progression, “Way” feels like a Saturday golden hour spent on a beach with friends. We’re suckers for when a song evokes a feeling so perfectly – we think you’re gonna like this one. You can find “Going Out Of My Way” on Spotify too.

My Son The Doctor – “MESH”

September 26, 2022

If you’d like your face blown off with any regularity, we’d recommend a treatment from Boston-based slacker punks My Son The Doctor (MTSD). Full of fancy medical jargon and enough guitar energy to give you an aneurysm, their latest single “MESH” is a rip-roaring good time – a two-minute punch-in-the-face that is as raucous as it is calculated. Bands sometimes have a tough time capturing their live energy on a recording, but not MSTD… We’re craving a basement show showcase so we can headbang and throw some devil horns to this one in-person. “MESH” is out now via Paper Moon Records – you can also find My Son The Doctor on Spotify and Apple Music. My Son The Doctor · MESH (Single)

Midi Memory – “Eternal Dream”

September 26, 2022

The latest song from Midi Memory is a dark and mysterious post-punker that we’ve had pumping on our playlists as of late. Full of dark, 80s-esque post-punk energy, this one makes full use of aloof vocals and a squiggly synth lead that’s both haunting and catchy. Fans of everyone from Joy Division, to The Cure, to Molchat Doma will find something to like here, whether it’s the swirling, chorus laden bass tones; far-off vocals; or jittering drum flavors. “Eternal Dream” is out now via Born Losers Records. You can also find Midi Memory on Spotify. Born Losers Records · Midi Memory – Eternal Dream

Lyrah – “In The Leaves”

September 26, 2022

We’ve been vibing on the dark-but-innocent feels on the latest single from Lyrah, “In The Leaves.” The song starts out with a forlorn piano intro but quickly evolves into a tasty dance-influenced track, complete with a pounding percussion backbone, tasty melodies, and wildly modulated vocals. “In The Leaves” has a fantastic origin story, best told by Lyrah herself: “I wrote this song about a dream I had before I decided to quit my stable, full-time job. In the dream I kept waking up outside, like on the sidewalk in San Francisco and in the leaves by a road. I kept choosing that over my bed or car, and it felt surprisingly calm when I’d wake up outside of my home. I had a session with Benji of Slenderbodies and we talked about this dream and how it seemed to mirror my life choice of staying in the comfort of a[...]

commander commander – “soho girls”

September 26, 2022

We’ve been digging the latest single from NYC-based act commander commander. “soho girls” is a Strokes-esque jangler sure to improve your mood; it’s full of choppy guitar flourishes, bouncing basslines, and lighthearted “doo-doo-doos.” About themselves, commander commander only have this poignant tidbit to say: “nyc-based bedroom loner pop loser stoner idiot never does anything right moron rock” We have to respectfully disagree – they’ve done at least ONE thing right – writing this banger of a song. It’s part of a seven-song EP that we think is called shut up, but that might just be commander commander being self-deprecating again. You can check out “soho girls” and more on Spotify too. commander commander · soho girls