Album of the Week

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[...]

Jon Lewis Band – Baby Brother EP

October 29, 2017

Not too far removed from the release of their Exquisite Corpse full length back in May, Rochester’s Jon Lewis is back with Baby Brother EP, a new collection of emotionally penned, fuzzed out indie rock. “Let It Go” opens Baby Brother with reckless abandon; Lewis’ hazy yet potent vocals underpinned with fervent driving indie rock, before the band opts for cleaner tones and bright melodies on the following “I’ve Got Mine.” EP standout “Hanging On” is instantly memorable thanks to culpable melodies that leap off the record as Lewis spins urgent bar after urgent bar (‘What should you say / When my light is fading / And all my bad decisions come collecting / To keep me hanging on / Would you keep me hanging on?’). The mid-tempo “Ride With Us” features perhaps the best work of drummer Jacob Walsh, and passionate closer “I Want Your Heart” brings Baby Brother[...]

dreambeaches – Disappearing Act

October 23, 2017

dreambeaches is a band who needs little, if any, introduction around Buffalo right now. The quartet has been making waves on the local indie rock circuit for a few years now, and after an electrifying show last week (and a forthcoming tour to boot) to celebrate the release of their latest EP, the band is bound for more than just a bit of local success. dreambeaches’ new EP Disappearing Act is our album of the week. Disappearing Act picks up just about where the band’s 2016 EP Habits left off, tightening the screws on their unique blend of math-infused indie pop. If you enjoy bands like Bombay Bicycle Club and Foster the People but crave a little something more out of your indie rock, Disappearing Act has your name all over it. The EP finds its best moments in sheer walls of tangled and exacting instrumentation, swooning choruses, and vocal harmonies[...]

Cavalcade – The Switch

October 16, 2017

Rochester’s Cavalcade has been around for a decade plus, an impressive tenure for any band. In that time, they’ve released a handful of LPs, with songs that combine the intellectual indie-rock of The Dismemberment Plan with the profound rock n’ roll vibes of Frank Zappa. Their latest offering, The Switch, is no exception, a six-song offering full of unconventional musicianship with a next-level mindset. On previous releases, Cavalcade took a much looser approach to songcrafting, peppering their songs with worldly percussion and extended, mind-altering jams. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a free-spirited approach, but The Switch sounds incredibly cohesive in comparison. A lush, ever-present organ provides a backbone to these songs, which have transformed from six-minute prog-rock epics into four minute pop songs with an equally unique approach. One of Cavalcade’s strongest assets comes from vocalist Michael Munn’s distinctive croon; his unique timbre makes him the perfect narrator to these delightfully profound rock[...]

Zillion Eyes – Demolished

October 9, 2017

Buffalo sludge rockers, Zillion Eyes are front and center with the release of their latest, Demolished, that came out mid September. Zillion Eyes are no newcomers to the scene either, the project consists of former members of Sonorous Gale and Ancients of Earth.  The trio showcase a solid collection of heavy riffs on this five track outing. For those that may not be familiar with sludge or stoner rock, or for those who have been all over the genre for years, Demolished is a step in a different direction from where the genre usually finds itself. The opening track, “Splendor In The Gas,” sets the pace for the rest of the album and shows some of what sets Zillion Eyes apart. There’s a hint of a 70s space/funk vibe throughout the record that really works in setting off the atmosphere of Demolished. Combined with the slow, crushing riffs, hallmarks of stoner/sludge, the album is chilling experience, in both senses[...]

Total Yuppies – CARE EP

October 2, 2017

Punk rock has a penchant for being uninviting. It’s just the nature of the genre–loud, often incomprehensible yawps from politically-charged bandleaders backed by blasts of noise. I’m not shitting on punk (I enjoy my fair share), but I realize these are some pretty broad strokes I’m painting with. My angle–punk rock is also a vastly multi-faceted genre. Take Total Yuppies for example–their flavor is decidedly punk, yet they somehow remain infinitely relatable and fun to listen to. Their lyrics are accessible, their melodies and progressions at once infectious and gritty. Their latest release, CARE EP, impresses once again, a testament to their ever-tight delivery of material and the quality of the material itself. CARE is our Album of the Week. CARE is both an appropriately and somewhat ironically titled record; the band strays from the emotionally-steadfast plane of punk rock with lyrics and themes that slice with every day relevancy. The 5 song[...]

M.A.G.S. – S/T

September 25, 2017

Our city’s been waiting on this one for a while now. We now have a full-length from M.A.G.S. I repeat: a full length from M.A.G.S. It’s been two and a half years since the band’s debut EP Cellophane made waves in the local scene and beyond, solidifying frontman Elliott Douglas’ status as the posterchild of local indie rock. Between then and now, M.A.G.S. has played a truckload of shows, landed licensing deals, and amassed a sizeable following on social media. Now with their self-titled debut album under their belts, there’s not much that can stop the M.A.G.S. train. Album opener “Real Talk” is a fast and furious blast of garage rock with an energy level to parallel “My Love,” one of the best tracks off of Cellophane (and most popular songs to date). Not surprisingly, “My Love” has been re-recorded and included on the full-length. M.A.G.S. seems to be in[...]

Damian – Back When I Was Marc Bolan

September 18, 2017

“It don’t fuckin matter / it’s so fuckin absurd.” This line repeats several times on the track “To Never Get Back Home Again,” the second track from Damian Weber’s new album, Back When I Was Marc Bolan. It is a sentiment that seems to define the record, as well as Weber’s own outlook. The moody and introspective singer-songwriter, who goes simply by Damian, possesses an unencumbered and carefree unrest that oozes from his music. Weber is a veteran of the mumblecore folk scene, having released several records that, at their heart, embody a bashful yet charismatic, understated quality. Having been bred by the Buffalo indie scene, he now (reluctantly) resides in Brooklyn. With the new scenery comes a new approach; Back When I Was Marc Bolan operates as a sync to the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. When viewing his synched up version of the film, it is[...]