Album of the Week

Johnny & the Man Kids – You Made Me Hurt

April 29, 2019

Buffalo indie garage rockers Johnny & The Man Kids are back with You Made Me Hurt, a brand new EP of downtown rock jams that will pleasingly transport you back to the pre financial meltdown glory days of the early to mid aughts. Yes, to hell with Generation X (we had it coming) and any notion of an overdue 90’s revival that we probably don’t really need, the Marciniak boys and crew have tightened up and expanded their rambunctious garage rock sound  to embrace a decidedly NYC vibe set forth by beloved bands like The Strokes and Vampire Weekend, and it works. Lead vocalist and guitarist Johnny Marciniak really goes for it, switching up that Rust Belt  post grunge wail and shred for something a little more urbane and jangly but no less rusted out overall. All over these five melodic and anthemic yet gritty jams the guy almost sounds like clean cut evangelist preacher man trying[...]

Planet Three – Equinox

April 8, 2019

Cosmic vibrations and cotton candy aural explorations abound on Equinox, the debut EP from Planet Three, yet another satisfying project from the shockingly prolific Reggie Clark and produced by the also shockingly busy Cody Morse. Emanating from the psychedelic wellspring that nourishes the sonic sorcery of psych legends The Flaming Lips, early 70’s Genesis, Tame Impala, and in a pleasing twist, proto metal gods Black Sabbath, Equinox feels unspeakably timeless and very easy on the ears. Trading VR Sunset’s  airy yacht rock for bold as brass guitar heroics and Kevin Parker’s cosmic drum sounds, “Visuals” kicks Equinox into high gear with splashes of pulsating color, reverb drenched multi tracked vocals, and a detour into faerie land before crashing into the crushing, Iommiesque, ur metal riffs  and throbbing, doom laden Jimmy Ciambor bass lines on “Decay.” As a guitarist Clark really digs in and shows off his skills and influences,  with “Sensorium” showing some appreciation for Houses[...]

Chevron Bloom – Henry

April 1, 2019

In the interim since Buffalo’s Chevron Bloom debuted their first recording, they’ve packed on some muscle with the addition of veteran axe-man Gerald Thomas, and the now-foursome has just released a second recording—another EP titled Henry. While this enhanced instrumentation affords them a bit more range and complexity, Henry remains largely rooted in their established lush and spacey indie rock sound, while marking a progression towards a slightly darker and more urgent place. However, unlike many other bands carrying on the torch of the 90’s shoegaze sound, Chevron Bloom crafts their dreamy soundscapes through solid and original songwriting rather than relying on a wall of effects noise and sonics, and that gives this album a unique soul and character. The raw sparkle of Galaxie 500 is a palpable undercurrent in these songs—especially in frontman Jay Sallese’s vocal delivery—but they also channel the moody intensity of late-era Unwound, especially on “Halfway[...]

DRIPPERS! – APSEN ZURTS

March 25, 2019

Rochester bizarro world psych rock act DRIPPERS! has tapped into some profoundly esoteric emanations on their debut LP APSEN ZURTS to create some seriously out there psychedelic progressive rock that’s our Album of the Week. Ideal for your next scheduled freak out, everything about APSEN ZURTS seems to come at us from some place… else, a thrilling and  exuberant ode to Syd Barrett transmitted from a parallel universe where Syd Barrett never existed. I’m not exactly sure what’s going on with this album to be honest because DRIPPERS! aka Mike Turzanski has put forth a record that’s somehow imminently listenable yet utterly disconcerting simultaneously, like attempting to merge data from totally incompatible programs, or acute aural cognitive dissonance wrapped in vaguely sweet ear candy up until the oddly menacing frankly bonkers vocal performances kick up. 60’s psychedelia, free jazz and doom metal coalesce into the perfect soundtrack for somebody’s nervous breakdown, possibly your own. Even[...]

Velvet Bethany – Rock & Roll Vacation!

March 4, 2019

Feminism is punk rock. If you don’t think so, you don’t know punk. Punk rebels against the status quo and focuses angst and anger to inspire change for the better. And in 2019, women have plenty to be pissed off about. Enter Velvet Bethany and their brand new full-length, Rock & Roll Vacation!. The latest is the band’s fifth release and stuffed with ten catchy tracks of garage punk rock that’s an absolute blast from start to finish. What started as singer and guitarist Allison Mitchell’s solo project evolved over the past five years into a four-piece powerhouse with the additions of Vivian on lead guitar, Lux Arnold on bass and Mike D behind the kit. These four bring out the best in each other to create candy-coated, sweet ‘n’ sour punk rock with badass and irreverent feminist attitude. After a brief 8-bit musical masterpiece, the album opens with the[...]

Green Slime – 2

February 11, 2019

Buffalo trio, Green Slime, are back and in full effect with their new speaker blowing and truly excellent 10-track stoner garage rock album, 2. Their sophomore full-length can best be described as the perfect combination of heaviness and melody. It’s the kind of songs Rivers Cuomo circa the Blue Album would have wrote had he snorted a mountain of coke and bit the head off a bat. The wonderfully raw and crunchy garage grooves from guitarist Eric Ellman and bassist Mike Euscher are so thick they practically ooze from their amps. The two shred at their heaviest and doomiest on “Survival,” a boisterous track that will possess you to throw up your lighter while headbanging deeply and lethargically along. Ellman also works double-duty as Green Slime’s lead singer with crooning vocals reminiscent of the ones you’d hear on a nostalgic 90’s alt-rock single. They’re an absolute blast to sing along[...]

VR Sunset – Artifact

February 4, 2019

Planet Three alum and Lesionread co-conspirator Reggie Clark has an electronic solo project under the name VR Sunset and his debut album Artifact is fluffy slice of psychedelic chillwave yacht rock heaven. Produced by Deadwolf’s Cody Morse and featuring tasteful drums from Deadwolf/Passed Out/M.A.G.S. polymath Tyler Mendola, and pretty much everything else from Reggie, Artifact is all in on it’s quest for exquisite ear candy sensations that channel a lot of tasty influences and inspirations including but not limited to Toro Y Moi, Neon Indian, Tame Impala, Flaming Lips, The Human League, The Beach Boys and Pink Floyd, and my ears loved all of it. Concise and to the damn point, Artifact wraps you up in a big fuzzed out hug from the start on “I’m Your Density,” a light bit of tongue in cheek electrofunk that grooves on a perfectly ethereal beat, some Crispin Glover weirdness, and an impossibly elastic synth line before “Clear[...]

Old Fame – s/t

January 21, 2019

Based out Rochester, Old Fame is a new band formed by veteran local musicians Ben Armes (guitar/vocals), Evan Clark (guitar), Jay Asarese (bass), and Doug Kelley (drums).  This four-piece band is bound to catch the attention of many following the release of their self-titled EP on January 7th. Upon initial listen, Old Fame draws comparison to Coheed and Cambria, mainly in vocals and narrative.  Comparatively, “Blue Savage” sounds closest to a Coheed track.  The instrumentals and vocal melodies in this track are similar to those in Coheed’s early works.  However, the two groups are distinctly different.  Building on such an influence, Old Fame crafts their own sound within the genre with this debut EP. Old Fame delivers intensity through methodical guitar riffs in a tone that captures one’s attention.  While brighter on most tracks, the tone has an underlying sense of eeriness between beautifully crafted solos.  It adds a subtle element of drama, driving[...]

Ian McCuen – Seasons Fleeting

January 14, 2019

Ian McCuen is a self-proclaimed “purveyor of sorrow,” and now may be a better time than ever to introduce his latest offering. For the depressed and the downtrodden, his somber, three-song EP, Seasons Fleeting, is here to queue in the bleak January blues. What better accompaniment to the false optimism of new year resolutions and the passing of the insincere holiday cheer than McCuen’s acoustic-guitar driven laments about the recently passed “most wonderful time of the year.” Title-track “Seasons Fleeting” is a sleigh-bell tinged ditty about the paradoxical nature of the holidays. Opening line “the tree is covered in twinkling lights” is imagery that directly opposes McCuen’s choice of album cover – a garbage can in a dingy kitchen, wrapped in cheap Christmas lights. Through vibes reminiscent of Bon Iver and Elliot Smith, McCuen gently strums his acoustic guitar and delicately shakes his sleigh bells to describe his hatred of the fleeting seasons. Christmas time[...]

SMUG – Gorgeous

December 10, 2018

SMUG’s new album, Gorgeous, knows exactly what it is: bratty pop-punk marked by massive, inescapable hooks. Through ten songs, “Gorgeous” never wavers from its goal to get you moshing with your friends now and humming to yourself later. Opener “Robbed Blind” sets the template for most of the songs on the album. A guitar tag and a quieter verse lead into a huge, anthemic chorus; repeat, add a bridge and you’ve made it. It’s a rhythm any listener’s familiar with, but that doesn’t make it less potent – on the contrary, the directness is kind of the point. SMUG doesn’t want to distract you with any frills. They want to upload the hooks directly into your brain. There are songs that break this mold a bit, and they’re the best on the album. “Earworm,” for instance, builds and builds and builds, starting with a calmer, almost power-ballady intro, but roars[...]

Night Slaves – III

December 3, 2018

Local dark electronica duo Night Slaves have returned with a killer live show and sophomore full length album in Night Slaves III that brims with soaring ambition, darkness, and evil, genre defying grooves that lift it above the noise. From start to finish musical polymath David Kane astonishes on III, bending so much to his will to create varied backdrops for his cohort John Toohill to summon some serious mojo, channeling Bowie, Nick Cave, 90’s Michael Stipe and Paul Banks to impressive effect, while the incredible guest vocals from Lucy Bell throughout kind of echo in your soul like ye old fairy magic… if that fairy magic wore boots and kicked ass. III crushes immediately with a bleak yet defiant drive through a post apocalyptic wasteland on “The Last Elephant” that grooves with menace and a Spectoresque wall of sound, layering haunting vocals among the droning guitars, loops, organ, etc to fill your ears.[...]

West Ferry – Bit

November 26, 2018

Sure, the four-song Bit may have come out in July… But what really matters is that West Ferry is back, and they’re ready to hit the ground running now. This emoish/pop-punkish quartet is touting a fresh new lineup and a batch of songs that were recorded by Paul Besch at Quiet Country Audio. There’s certainly a drunk, sad-boy rock approach here (their terms, not ours), but there’s also a surfy, 00’s garage-rock tinge to their songs. It’s an interesting juxtaposition – one that’s certainly worth 15 minutes of your time. “Weed Rage” encapsulates the prototypical twenty-something rage, in this case, induced by a weed coma. Despite the marijuana haze, it’s a surprisingly upbeat guitar-driven number about almost getting in a fight, but bailing at just the right time. Title-track “Bit” is also an EP highlight; again, West Ferry utilizes bright, major chords, complimentary lead guitar riffs, and some bass solo theatrics to get[...]

Feverbox – Political Theater

November 19, 2018

In the interest of fairness I’ve got to preface this review by firmly making the point that I’m not shading anybody else or their art while talking about the bold as brass new EP Political Theater from the beautiful fellas of Feverbox. There’s a number of ways to process these… interesting times personally and through one’s art, and there’s more than a few local acts speaking to the tumult politically and existentially raging in these United States, and representing for what they believe in, and it’s valued and appreciated. But what Feverbox (Griffin Smith, Nico Kelly, Josh Little, Drew Lazelle) is doing on Political Theater is something else altogether because it’s one of the most urgently direct and plaintively honest responses to the Trump era yet. There’s just very little left to interpret when Feverbox kicks off an ep titled Political Theater (featuring our beloved President in photoshopped Queen of Hearts drag)[...]

Carpool – I Think Everyone’s A Cop

October 8, 2018

Rochester quartet Carpool combine the urgency and emotion of emo with the washy bliss of shoegaze. With reference-a-many to smoking, sex, and wearing your heart on your sleeve, their debut LP I Think Everyone’s A Cop perfectly captures a moment in time. It’s a seven-song offering full of strong songwriting and even stronger emotions; see below. Opening track “Cigarette Cough” opens with a short skit before launching into a sloshy, mid-tempo rhythm. Carpool doesn’t skimp on the emo; their songs are certainly full of heartfelt vocals layered over guitar-driven skeletons about love and cigarettes. What really sets this particular group apart is their tasteful use of effects. Guitars are laden with swirls, noisy fuzz tones, and echo-chamber reverb tanks. Sidenote: I think these guys really like cigarettes. Track two, “Another Song About Rachel,” has a surprisingly straightforward fuzz chorus about making love to your s/o and listening to Morrissey. Moments like this particular chorus[...]

Bearhunter – Nothing Further Beyond

October 1, 2018

Buffalo indie rock mainstays Bearhunter have been around for over 10 years. In the life of a local band, that sort of staying power is almost unheard of… But when you’re crafting finely-tuned music like this particular trio, it makes sense to stick around. The trio, brothers David and Mike Calos and bassist Robert Pusateri, have recently released a new album called  Nothing Further Beyond. These nine tracks are a fitting ode to the fading summer, full of airy, danceable indie rock that goes down smooth. Bearhunter’s dynamic immediately brings to mind the sound of modern rock royalty like Arctic Monkeys, Raconteurs, or Spoon. The guitar work from David Calos is impeccably nuanced – his sense of dynamics is truly incredible and helps carve out Bearhunter’s niche in the crowded indie rock scene. What’s more, Calos’ vocals are a tasteful mesh between smooth and rasp without having too much of one or the[...]