Album Reviews

The Sven Curth (Huge) Trio – Live at your local Waterhole

March 3, 2026

Sven Curth and his cronies let loose a wicked live set in Live at your local Waterhole. Alongside featured keyboardist Chris Carballeira, these enviable musicians tailored a set of 60s and 70s rock – and blues-inspired masterpieces. This live set is fun-filled, kindly rebellious, and consistently full of next-to-the-bonfire coziness. Overall, The Sven Curth (Huge) Trio do justice to classic rock. No joke – they all know how to play! Always peaceful yet engaging, these performers offer a captivating sonic experience that has us raising our gaze away from our phones and up at the proverbial stage.   “How Come?” is the first track on this live recording. There’s a thumping shuffle on the drum kit. The bass guitar walks us along on a loose leash. Joining other songs on this collection that question important societal norms like marriage, Curth sings, “How come everyone’s looking for a partner?” Though Curth[...]

James Beastly – We Should Be Animals

February 27, 2026

Genre-defying songwriter Jim Paulos, AKA James Beastly, returns to buffaBLOG wielding a new sonic blade: his upcoming album, We Should Be Animals. As Beastly himself aptly puts it, he was once,   “… too indie to be punk and too punk to be indie.”   Nick Sessanna reviewed James Beastly’s previous album Junk Values here, giving it high praise. We’re happy to review his newest collection of songs – this time with a somewhat different approach. Overall more relaxed, the album ranges from buzzing shoegaze to dissociative, ambient folk. Moreover, We Should Be Animals is Beastly’s most ambitious attempt, starring key musicians like those from The Cast-Iron Canaries, Patrick Byers from Broken Social Scene, and Magdalena Żaczek of Smokey Robinson and Andrea Bocelli fame.   “Spring Violets,” the lead single from We Should Be Animals, queues with a disheartening, eerie synth pad. The quiet bellows of Paulos sit atop a decidedly[...]

Brock Davis – Nothing Lasts Forever

February 17, 2026

Americana is a timeless genre – one that feels inherently tied to history, nostalgia, and feelings of belonging. Santa Cruz-based singer/songwriter Brock Davis has found a home in that genre, especially on new album Nothing Lasts Forever, a 14-song offering that deals with heavy-but-relatable themes like the transience of life, love (and all its implications), and everything in between. A real-life health scare may have shaken Davis (luckily, he’s okay), but if anything, it seems to have steeled his resolve to create something heartfelt and real. The phrase “Nothing Lasts Forever” might be literally true in a vacuum – but at the very least, these songs will live on eternally, and they certainly have the classic songwriting backbone to withstand the slow, cruel hands of time. Here’s a little more from Davis himself about what Nothing Lasts Forever really means to him:   “As I was searching for an album title,[...]

Rayhan – EP 5

February 14, 2026

Here in Buffalo, we consider Toronto our neighbors to the North, so we were pleased to receive the latest EP from Canadian artist, actor, and comedian Rayhan Jabbar. On his latest offering, a three-song EP he’s titled EP 5, Jabbar flexes all of his creative muscles into something all-encompassing and undefinable. Between art, acting, and music, if you had any questions about Jabbar’s multi-talented nature, this EP shifts wildly between hip hop, indie pop, and… Bollywood? You read that right.   Obviously as fellow snow belt dwellers, a song like “Windchill Minus Twenty” might appeal to us, especially as February temperatures plummet to that point regularly… Although we’re probably talking Fahrenheit here in the US – that’s probably much, much colder where Rayhan’s from. Here, he uses  a tough and glitchy beat to rap about how “selling drugs is a right of passage,” and the journey from being a drug-slinging youngster[...]

Broke Royals – Campr

February 9, 2026

Returning for buffaBLOG to review are Washington D.C.’s Broke Royals – click here to see Nick Sessanna’s take on their single, “The Weather.” Campr, the album containing said single, is Broke Royals latest release. The album is stunningly calculated, referencing themes of restraint, emotional intelligibility, turbulent friendships, and self-empowerment.   Album opener “Better Off” is a lovely introduction to BR. Clean and airy guitars, breathy vocals, and tight drums power this one forward, culminating in a mid-song crescendo that makes use of crunchy guitars. They perfectly segue into title track, “Campr,” in a way that blasts in seamlessly from the opener. The singer laments, “I choose my words carefully / Look where that’s gotten me.” The music itself is tinged with yearning guitar licks that touch ever-so-slightly into Midwest emo territory, alongside wild, impressive percussion. “Campr” achieves depth within the mix with its soothing, string-like synth pads. Halfway through, the[...]

Singing River – Shoutin’ Good Time

February 5, 2026

It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly 10 years to the date that we featured Hawker M. James’ Long Playing Lo-Fidelity as our album of the week (yeah, we know, we’ve been at this for a long time)… But if it’s any indication that we’ve been on our BS for the last decade, we’re delighted to feature Singing River, which shares members (Mike specifically, more on that later); still NY-based, still making incredible music. They’re here with Shoutin’ Good Time, an Americana affair that pairs blues, country, indie rock, and folk into a rip-roaring, rowdy time… Like something you’d hear in a horn-soaked saloon. Project masterminds Mike James and Anthony Kuhn (and their accompanying band, in total, a six-piece ensemble) layer this EP thick with big guitar energy, bolstered by harmonicas, sleezy horns, and genuinely good vibes. It’s wrapped up in a nice little bow that pays homage to traditional[...]

Newman Bros Presents – Camping Trip!

February 2, 2026

Camping Trip! is a reiteration of an interesting 2014 concept album by Newman Bros Presents, a funk-punk band from Ithaca. The album demonstrates creative storytelling with intricate musical accompaniments that spans a handful of genres. To say NBP is a multimedia project is an understatement – Camping Trip! will be released as an album, a play, an illustrated children’s book, and even a pinball game (including an accompanying iOS version)! To add, their friends at Well Worn Boot released some fan-fiction about this multimedia effort that can be read here.   The album starts off with “The Opening.” Here, we meet our main character, a camp counselor named Paul Blart Jr., and his pet monkey, Toto. An upright bass and horn ensemble play behind the narrator as Paul and Toto move through their morning routine. Paul’s voice is raspy and young-sounding – it’s comparable to the SpongeBob SquarePants opening theme[...]

Jared Bill – Unknown Country

December 14, 2025

This ain’t Jared Bill‘s first rodeo… At least on buffaBLOG. The international man of mystery is back with another batch of interesting and captivating songs, their deeper meanings often inscrutable, but certainly never boring. The album is called Unknown Country – a 10 song collection of whatever the hell Jared wants, set off by his trademark deep country baritone. We’re gonna go ahead and say that Unknown Country is the perfect name for this album, because it is. Jared’s always going to keep you guessing – and laughing – while you make your way through these songs about Appalachia, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and… Jai Alai?   You might be expecting flat out country music from Jared, but opening song “The Cruise” is closer to a 1980s-era post punk jam. Electronic disco drums and plucky guitars power this one forward, with, of course, Jared’s trademark baritone. In case you’re questioning the absurdity that might[...]

Slow Coast – Home of the Restless

November 23, 2025

We last heard from San Francisco’s Slow Coast when buffaBLOG reviewed their singles “Double Vision” and “Perfect Lie.” We’re happy to report they’re back – Slow Coast just released their stellar album Home of the Restless, which sonically presents itself as beach-y and somewhat psychedelic. The lyrics cover several topics related to self-discovery – here’s a little more from the band about their headspace while writing the album:   “Most of these songs were written in moments where I felt like I was standing in my own way – caught between who I thought I was and who I actually am. It’s about the quiet fights that happen in your head, the stories you tell yourself just to get by, and the clarity that comes when you finally stop running from them.”   Overall, this album is incredibly consistent, offering tunes that are reminiscent of Tame Impala, The Strokes, and[...]

Stinkus – I love you, trackstar

November 19, 2025

By now, you should recognize Stinkus as a buffaBLOG favorite – we reviewed 23 last year, and have covered multiple singles leading up to their 2nd album this year (!), I love you, trackstar.   Before we get started, I think it’s important to cover the following: Tyler Thompson, Stinkus mastermind, acquired the nickname “Tink.” “Tink” eventually turned into “Tinkus” (as these nicknames tend to do). As a reminder to have fun and to not take the project too seriously, Thompson added an “s” to Tinkus, arriving at the playfully coy “Stinkus.” Thompson is a writer/producer based in LA – with a prolific pedigree, it’s not hard to see why Stinkus slaps so hard… But in all seriousness, Stinkus is Thompson’s project where anything can happen, free from industry notes. That sincerity, realness, and carefree, “have fun” nature comes through beautifully on I love you, trackstar. Now that you know[...]

Giuseppe Cucè – 21 grammi

November 16, 2025

Hailing all the way from Sicily, Italian singer-songwriter Giuseppe Cucè released a cathartic, intense album called 21 grammi. The album title, which translates to 21 Grams, refers to an old theory about the human soul: during the exact moment of death, the human body, according to legend, would drop 21 grams in weight. This loss of exactly 21 grams is apparently the soul and all that cannot be measured – memories, faith, love, and so on – escaping the body when one reaches Death’s Door. 21 grammi, released by TRP Vibes and produced by Riccardo Samperi, relentlessly attempts to explain the human experience, with Cucè himself stating, “Within those 21 grams there is everything: what we have loved, what we have lost, and what still keeps us alive.”   The album begins with the sprightly “È tutto cosi vero.” Immediately coming to mind is the work of Forro in the[...]

Vicious Clay – Bleecker Street Revisited

November 14, 2025

There’s something visceral about the music that comes from Vinny Silva – colloquially known as Vicious Clay. The multi-instrumentalist plays all the instruments on the album: drums, bass, guitars, vocals, and percussion, and it’s palpable – the music here is raw and emotional… Truly an artist’s singular vision. Over the course of 10 songs, Silva explores sneering rock ‘n roll sounds, dipping into garage tones; retro rock swagger; and bluesy emotions.   “Dark” is a fitting way to start the album – reminiscent of Stone Temple Pilot’s “Vasoline,” the song begins with a cacophony of swelling sounds before Silva rips a crushing line – “Feels so hopeless in the dark.” The groovy, guitar riffing here feels spindly and spidery, whipping and winding around your eardrums with nimble virtuosity, pairing raw chords with strong, start/stop rhythmic play. “Dark” is a fitting way to start the album, but it is certainly the[...]

Mark Arabia – HOW WE GOT HERE

November 9, 2025

Mark Arabia‘s debut album has an all-too-common backstory – it was inspired by a breakup… But let’s be real, the best albums always come from pain. There’s no surprises here – Arabia’s latest, the 11-song HOW WE GOT HERE is full of the stuff you would have gone crazy to back in high school (at least if you were in high school when I was). If you’re a high schooler now, I have no idea how to relate to you, but we’re pretty sure you’re gonna like this too. Mark’s stuff is a throwback to the storytelling greats of ’00s pop punk – and whether you decide to hear Blink-182, All Time Low, Owl City, or Machine Gun Kelly in Mark’s sharp and polished songwriting, he’s still entering the pop-punk oeuvre with a strong narrative of his own.   The album kicks off with title track “HOW WE GOT HERE,” and[...]

Gabriel Royce – Traveler

November 1, 2025

Gabriel Royce wrote an album that means something to him.   Inspired by his oldest daughter, Emery (and even featuring the voice of his father), Traveler is the culmination of a decade-long dream. There’s something to be said about a self-produced album like Traveler and the 2am nights that were spent to put out something of this magnitude. Across 12 songs, Royce builds a literal world – or rather a galaxy, parlaying space travel concepts into metaphorical lessons about life. This is truly a love letter to his daughter; an album that comes from a place like that is special.   Album opener “Blastoff” is more of a mantra than a song, but fittingly, starts with the voice of his father and ends with the voice of Emery. It sets the “space” scene perfectly, leading into song two, “Light Up The Sky.” Royce pulls no punches here – an ultra-polished song[...]

Drift City – Spectral Heart Mosaics

October 28, 2025

Kentucky-based musical effort, Drift City, plants a promising seed with their latest EP release, Spectral Heart Mosaics. From start to finish, the folk-and-jazz-and-blues-inspired band presents themselves very professionally – the sounds, accurate; the production (see: Kevin Ratterman), thick and palpable. There is a wide variety of instruments utilized throughout the EP, like lulling saxophones and zipping synthesizers. While the songs wrap the listener in a dampening mist of tangible relaxation, the overall feel of this music collection is hopeful, pushing toward self-growth, as well as somewhat spiritual.   The EP opener, “Leave Your Life,” listens like the soundtrack of a mood-lit lazy river. Immediately, one may take note of the vocal delivery, falling somewhere between Iggy Pop crossed with The National. After a brilliant saxophone solo, there is a pleasing shift in feel when the drummer strikes the ride with brushes more consistently, lending to a relaxing, jazzy feel. Song[...]