Album of the Week

Space Cubs –What Iff

April 16, 2018

From the start, the reborn band Space Cubs cultivated a much needed air of mystery, from their magical debut last summer somewhere in Allentown to a captivating show at the Mohawk before disappearing to record What Iff, their excellent debut EP and our Album of the Week, and praise be, that glorious mystery is very much intact. Dreamy yet precise and very much  fully realized, What Iff only hints at this band’s tremendous potential, offering a  tantalizing glimpse into a possible future for  Buffalo’s music scene that you can totally get down to, which is always welcome. Originally a one woman bedroom dream pop project from Suzanne Bonifacio, Space Cubs expanded, assimilating electronic artist and enfante terrible Shawn Lewis as well as scene mainstay Ken Culton and Adam Pressley to become something beautifully new, and “Gnaw” captures that metamorphosis  perfectly in sonic amber. Hazy loops and haunted vocals give way to a de-tuned, underwater piano, buffeted[...]

Comfy – Thanks For The Ride

March 12, 2018

If you’re at all familiar with the upstate NY music scene, chances are that you know Comfy. The Utica-sourced garage pop act, which serves as the musical brainchild of Connor Benincasa, is known for its highly energetic live shows, feelings-on-his-sleeve style of songwriting, and general relatability. Benincasa recently packed up and shipped out to Philadelphia, but that hasn’t slowed his roll. The move seems to be the creative catalyst behind Comfy’s highly-anticipated sophomore album Thanks For The Ride–an unwavering rock-and-roll record self-described as an “exercise in independence,” also netting our album of the week. The hype that has waxed during the four years since Comfy’s debut Pillowhugger is not without warrant–not only is the album a local slam-dunk, but it picked up a bit of national attention when Rolling Stone (yeah, that Rolling Stone) named Pillowhugger one of the top 10 cassettes of 2014. All hype aside, Thanks For The[...]

Post Prom – Changing Weather

February 19, 2018

It’s mid-February, and winter should be in full force here in Buffalo… Instead we’ve been subjected to wild temperature changes and bizarre precipitation – topical, especially in the case of Buffalonian quartet Post Prom. Their debut EP, Changing Weather, came out earlier this month, and whether it was intentional or not, CW certainly lives up to its name. Last summer, the band was hard at work writing; they recorded the EP in the autumn and finally released it in the winter… All in all, these songs document the evolution of a new band across the changing seasons, and now, it’s our Album of the Week. Without wasting any time, Post Prom launch right into their upbeat title-track, EP opener “Changing Weather.” Fans of the Starting Line or Fall Out Boy, early aughts-style, will find themselves right at home. Sometimes, there’s just no substitute for fast tempos and energetic guitar-driven songs (set off by lead guitarist Charlie Rumfola’s snappy, nimble[...]

Passive Aggressives Anonymous – The Mauve Album

February 12, 2018

The Mauve Album is the perfect title for Passive Aggressives Anonymous’ first full-length release. The Rochester band’s music has more in common with the shade of violet than you might think–both have a pleasant and mostly disarming initial appearance, but upon scratching the surface you’ll find a little something extra. For Passive Aggressives Anonymous–or ‘PAA’–a band whose call to glory is their expertly-arranged romantic lounge style of instrumentation, that “something extra” comes in the form of frontman John Valenti’s tongue-in-cheek vocal delivery, which remains unabashedly intact on the new album. The Mauve Album is buffaBLOG’s Album of the Week. For those unfamiliar with PAA and have no idea what I mean by “tongue-in-cheek” vocal delivery, allow me to paint a picture. You’ve booked a suite in a hotel that’s near overly classy (not a t-shirt in sight, decked-out lobby bar, red velvet everywhere, etc.), but something about the elegance is[...]

Seafox – Eulogy of the Angels

February 5, 2018

Harnessing musical influence into something fresh and original is no easy feat. Unless you’re Seafox. The Buffalo-based folk-pop band upended the scene late last year with its impressive sophomore full-length Eulogy of the Angels, channeling the likes of Beck, Pink Floyd, My Morning Jacket, MGMT, and more. The amalgamation of these influences brought to the table something ambitious yet near-perfectly executed, as well as our album of the week. As the sophomore effort of singer/songwriter William Fortier, Eulogy carries some serious weight. A full ten songs deep and somewhat of a departure from the solo singer/songwriter vibes of Fortier’s debut Colours, the album enmeshes acoustic folk with some of the catchiness of modern alternative for a blend that makes repeat listens easy and often. Having begun initially as Fortier’s solo project, Seafox has evolved with the recruitment of brother Eric Fortier on bass/keys and Kevin Pryles on drums. Together, the[...]

Cooler – Buried

January 29, 2018

If the late 2000’s were a type of coming of age for the skinny jeans wearing, flatiron worshipping scene kids of the world, right around now is their approaching quarter-life crisis, and Buffalo trio Cooler is here to provide the soundtrack with their recently released EP, Buried. Cooler’s brand of indie-emo wears its careful cultivation like a fine wine, funneling that youth-driven angst into rigorous precision, vocal interplay, and a healthy layer of fuzz. As the band’s third release, it’s clear they’ve shot through the polite awkwardness of a new band learning their way and are joined at the head in a synchronicity that’s iron-tight. The EP shows off modern emo as multidimensional, if not more accessible to the mainstream. Through its five tracks, the band broods over a complex array of emotions, each with their own individual flavor and essence. “Will-o-the-Wisp” starts the ball rolling with hearty group vocals,[...]

Eric Beeny – Glass, the Wall’s Ghost III

January 22, 2018

Local indie folk singer-songwriter Eric Beeny’s latest project is part three in a series of albums under the moniker Glass, the Wall’s Ghost. The self-titled record (Glass, the Wall’s Ghost III) is his most unified piece yet, with a cohesive and polished flow throughout. Using only an 8-track digital portastudio and a condenser microphone, the album was recorded entirely at Beeny’s home. Engineered, produced and performed completely by himself, the album feels inherently all his own and extremely intimate. The songs are meditative and melancholic, reckoning with themes of death and despair. Throughout his GtWG series of albums, he has brought the listener on an emotional journey through his own personal trials and tribulations. This third installment is no different, and finds his words more contemplative and story-like. Musically, the record is steeped in hushed bedroom folk akin to Bon Iver, with ornamental elements of dream electronica in the vein[...]

John Toohill

The Midnight Vein – s/t

January 15, 2018

The Midnight Vein, the first solo record from Buffalo punk rocker, John Toohill recently was self released. You may be familiar with Toohill from one of his many bands like, JOHNS, Radiation Risks, Night Slaves, or Alpha Hopper. The Midnight Vein is a slight departure from his other works, focusing more on the acoustic side of things. The album opener, “When Palm Readers Lie to Fools” is a an eerie start down the winding path that makes up this first solo outing work. The Midnight Vein has a bit of something for everyone. The opener rolls in, like a morning fog with a strong allusion towards 70s pysch folk with its modulated vocals. The Midnight Vein flows on effortlessly into the second track, “The Awaited”. It’s the kind of acoustic track that only Toohill could put out. The first moments are a slicing electric guitar riff that sets up the skeleton of[...]

Sonny Baker – Steady Hands, Dead Tired

January 8, 2018

On his new release Steady Hands, Dead Tired, acclaimed Buffalo-area guitarist Sonny Baker solidifies himself as a purveyor of top-notch rock ‘n’ roll with a post-punk flair. The raucous and thrilling yet impressively considered first track “Basic Interactions” augments ravaging guitar, exclamatory singing and rollicking drums with surges of bass sure to course through the listener’s entire body. “Reluctant Thief” stays subdued and relaxing until about the 1-minute mark, when it lets loose to exhilarating effect with an impassioned cry of “I know it’s been years, since I made a fool of you.” Charged-up instrumental ascension is curtailed in a snap when the song returns to its relatively more easygoing, reserved verses. The next track, “Comfortable,” begins with stand-alone guitar riffage before pounding drums kick in to send the song into a melodic barrage. A biting, relentlessly catchy rhythm ensues, and two full minutes of interlocking guitar work escort the[...]

The Tins – City Lies

December 18, 2017

Buffalo mainstays The Tins’ have released the 4-song, 13-minute EP City Lies, a sure-to-be timeless offering of warmth and introspection. “Lifeline,” the introductory track, is couched in a sweltering texture that should mesmerize with its yearning harmonies and swaths of plush instruments, which hold onto a Tame Impala-esque dreaminess in the sense that it simultaneously comes across as relaxed and penetrating. The song conveys the spirit of hedonism by way of its plea to be brought to “the place where the sun will rise again,” an expression of escaping despair. The soothing title track is a slow-burning acoustic number encasing lyrics of welcoming opportunity and thankfulness, detailing a city lying wide open before the narrator. “City Lies” utilizes intriguing studio treatment without being weighed down by overproduction, giving it a raw but full sound. The EP’s penultimate tune “Meditation Song” is reminiscent of either Big Star or Elliott Smith, or[...]

Hundred Plus Club – Everybody’s Friend

December 11, 2017

Everybody’s Friend, the recently released album from Cheektowaga indie rockers Hundred Plus Club, gets going right from the start, with the frenetic opener “Twice the Pride, Double the Fall” bringing forth all the attitude one might expect from a tune about dismissing a relationship on the brink of toxicity, not to mention employment of a thrilling guitar sound similar to something one might hear on a Sleater-Kinney record. Despite its title seeming somewhat silly, the second song in the tracklist, “Grilled Cheese for Stephanie,” changes tones from its predecessor, deceptively acting as an emotional and romantic reveal of fervent feelings for the eponymous girl. “Exit” is a catchy-as-can-be track built upon unrestrained rhythm and a guitar line evocative of surf rock. The ensuing song, the subtle display of confidence “Cooler,” is engaging and soothing, with its guitar line trickling down like raindrops. It reaches an epoch two and a half[...]

Jacob Peter – Echolalia

December 4, 2017

The byline for Jacob Peter’s debut EP simple states the definition of the phenomena for which this release is named; Echolalia [ek-oh-ley-lee-uh]: the uncontrollable and immediate repetition of words spoken by another person. Throughout the EP, the Buffalo-based multi-instrumentalist and composer implements this theme both lyrically and musically. He explores, reflects upon, and calls to question the vast repetitions we experience in life, both harmful and beneficial, unwanted and intentional. The arrangements and production match the subject matter, taking the listener on an eclectic journey of recollection and repetition, mining a deep well of musical influences, ranging from The Beatles to Joanna Newsom to Debussy to Grizzly Bear. Echolalia starts off with the instrumental track “Pattern,” a piano progression that lilts forward before the bursting open with twinkling ambience across the speakers. From there, Peter takes us on a tour of sonic textures, never letting each song (nor the EP[...]

Small Smalls – Things Can Only Get Worse

November 27, 2017

Time freezes in an eighties neon haze on Things Can Only Get Worse, the debut full length album from Buffalo synth pop trio Small Smalls, accompanied with a bittersweet awkwardness  that keeps it vulnerable and new. The bright lo-fi synth lines always lift off, but never drift too far from the emotional core that holds Colette Montague’s lyrics and vocal performances together on a set of songs that encompasses New Wave, sixties pop, noise rock, and surprisingly in the end, surf punk. “Brave Bird” is a perfect album opener with it’s beguilingly shiny and upbeat synths and vocals and  fuzzed out guitar, which give way to the angular yet pensive New Wave of “Falling Blossoms” and pleasing atonal robotic textures of “Polystyrene Girl,” both of which play beautifully off of Colette Montague’s warm and airy soprano. The offbeat sonic textures continue on “Hamster Lunch,” featuring vox from guitarist Stephen Malczewski, punk rhythms from Dave Borden,  and[...]

A Relative Term – The Bleak

November 20, 2017

Indie folk singer-songwriter Mark Longolucco is back with his third full length record. Recording under the name A Relative Term, the Buffalo-based multi-instrumentalist is known for his exploration of varying genres. On The Bleak, he further expands his sonic palette, building off of his past releases. Having started out as a straight-ahead indie folk artist, on his second album Longolucco began to play with combining synthetic sounds with acoustic ones. Here, he takes it fully into the realm of folktronica, striking a perfect balance between warm finger-picked acoustic guitars and lush electronic soundscapes. It is reminiscent of notable hushed folk singers the likes of Sufjan Stevens or Bon Iver venturing into this electric-meets-acoustic realm. Although Longolucco’s synthesis of the styles isn’t quite as erratic as the former’s, and not quite as glitchy as the latter’s. On this album, he isn’t afraid to get pretty heavy at times, with moments of[...]

Ex-Pat – Does Life

November 6, 2017

Rolling solo when it comes to creative projects, especially music, comes with perks. For starters, you’ve got virtually unlimited creative space to wander around in. And with nobody to answer to but yourself, the exploration of that space becomes entirely unhindered and worth the wander. That musical wanderlust makes all too much sense to Ex-Pat, or Patrick Weil, whose experimental dreampop is a headtrip, a vacation, and a bit of sonic time travel all rolled into one package. His newest album Does Life hones in on a certain soulful airiness and polishes it as much as the lofi designation will allow. Does Life is our album of the week. Ex-Pat’s signature is as hazy as it is deliberate, much akin to the experimental stylings of Ariel Pink and the lofi tremble of newer artists like Elvis Depressedly. Does Life is decidedly less noisy than previous endeavors, focusing now on a[...]