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‘Multo’ Stripped Down: Looking at Why Vulnerability is Terrifying Through the Lens of Cup of Joe’s Song

February 24, 2026

Filipino band Cup of Joe has been making waves in the OPM (Original Pinoy Music) scene since 2019, with hits such as “Alas Dose,” “Mananatili,” and “Estranghero.” But in 2025, the Baguio-based group dominated international music charts with “Multo,” a track from their album, “Silakbo.” The song hauntingly explores grief, regret, and healing, themes that resonate with any human being with a beating heart—despite it being in Tagalog. And if it wasn’t enough for it to gnaw at people’s emotions for months, Cup of Joe released a stripped-down version of the song in January 2026, yet again stirring emotions.   To Strip Down a Ghost   ‘“Multo”’ is described by music critics as a synth-pop, pop-rock ballad that evokes a melancholic sense. At first listen, you wouldn’t think the song is about reminiscing, regret, and introspection because of its lively and welcoming beginning beat. That is, until the lyrics begin,[...]

Kindatheart – “Perception”

March 22, 2016

Sometimes a song just hits you at the perfect moment and seems almost like you are in a movie. This is what happened to me when I popped on “Perception” by University at Texas  at Austin enrolled ndie act Kindatheart, when I was driving through into the nicest day since November watching dirty snowpiles melt into nothing. The quartet’s sunny sounds is obvious a product of their environment of constant and sometimes brutal Texas sun. If Buffalo’s Bryan Johnson and Family are Lake Pop,  Austin’s Kindatheart is River Pop.

slowshine – “Solid State”

July 6, 2015

I think it’s no secret at this point that I split my time between Albany and Buffalo. The drive sucks, but it definitely keeps my life interesting leading two completely different lives. One of the things I’ve liked about Albany life is being able to discover all the local bands/scene. Although there is are like two legit venues for indie bands to play in (with an additional two DIY venues that I know of), the quality coming out of the region is pretty remarkable with what seems to be little support. This brings me to the band slowshine, an Albany-based three piece that I first discovered when researching the 17 Best Bands to check out at Move Festival.  Consisting of the songwriting partnership between Noah Bondy and Cameron Castan, and a rotating drummer, the duo seems to be on the bill for every great indie show coming to the capital region. In[...]

Comfy – “Poetic”

June 9, 2015

Utica and Rochester BFFs, Comfy and Skirts, respectively, are set to drop a split EP later this summer on August 7th through Miscreant Records and Rochester tape label, Dadstache. While the first listen from Skirts’ half of the EP won’t come until next week (stay tuned…), the Comfy boys (who you may have caught at our firth birthday party last March) dropped a tease this morning through Impose in the form of the less-than-a-minute track, “Poetic.” With Cap’n Jazz like vocals and a touch of Tim Kinsella-esque depression, “Poetic” is a perfect little morsel of the Comfy world, one that appears to be changing a bit as the group goes through some line-up changes (drummer Zeno Pittarelli is exiting the group this summer). You can now pre-order the record over at Miscreant’s bandcamp page for the very fair price of $5. In the mean time, listen to “Poetic” below.

Neon Indian – “Annie”

May 26, 2015

Summer is definitely starting to jump, with show announcements and new music, and Neon Indian (aka Alan Palomo) is doing his part with his first new material since 2011’s excellent Era Extrana in the funky and reggae flavored “Annie.” It’s been far too long since we’ve been treated to the expressly psychedelic sounds of Alan Palomo, and even longer since we’ve seen him live in these parts (5 years since Soundlab), and even though there’s no word yet on a new album, this delightful morsel just might be enough to hold you over until beach season.

The Lagoonas – “Color Spectrum”

April 15, 2015

When Admirable Traits Records, a label with roots buried in Buffalo, Brooklyn, and soon to be Nashville, isn’t busy scooping up some of the Queen City’s best up-and-coming acts, the label is busy looking outside of NYS for burgeoning talent. For its latest signing, the AT crew has penned Memphis garage trio, the Lagoonas. “Color Spectrum,” the band’s first single off of its upcoming release, Welcome Home, begins with a piercing guitar line that quickly fades into a lo-fi, grisly fuzz that recalls Ty Segall or early Cloud Nothings. Expect Welcome Home to drop on June 2nd, and in the mean time, listen to “Color Spectrum” below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/200596177″ params=”color=5f90c1″ width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Tame Impala – “Let It Happen”

March 11, 2015

Tame Impala is preparing to unleash a currently untitled new album this year and to stoke the fires of anticipation, we’ve been gifted it’s lead track, the 7.5 minute epic “Let It Happen.” Available for download from the band’s website, “Let It Happen” is quintessential Tame Impala, but with some new wrinkles. Alongside Kevin Parker’s trademark spaced out drums, guitar and synths, and glorious multi-tracked vocal harmonies, there’s jittery freneticism , artful glitches, and a flirtation with 70’s prog rock. No release date or title yet for the third album from the Perth, Australia export or a Buffalo tour stop, but after two excellent albums and this appetizer, we’ll keep you posted.

AIMES – “Harmonique Cosmique” (Late Night Version)

February 24, 2015

Brooklyn-based electro-afficianado, AIMES, released a new single this month titled “Harmonique Cosmique,” via up-and-coming record label, Wonder Stories. The label put out four seperate versions of the song, including a disco version, a late night version, an AM version, and a beach version, making “Harmonique Cosmique” basically a dance song for all occasions.  AIMES’ latest effort proves the artist’s ability to make a variety of dance music that should serve as ambassador to the genre . Go rent a sexy sports car or spend 8 hours at Uniqlo, just make sure AIMES’ “Harmonique Cosmique” is queued up.

Sufjan Stevens – “No Shade In The Shadow Of The Cross”

February 16, 2015

Sufjan Stevens fans rejoice! Earlier this morning, we were given a taste of the prolific songwriter’s new album, Carrie & Lowell, in the form of the deliciously dark folk morsel “No Shade In The Shadow Of The Cross.” It’s been a while since we’ve heard Steven’s folksier side, and this first single returns to those roots, paralleling the romantic aspirations of his earlier material, namely Seven Swans. The angelic harmonies and delicately cascading acoustic melodies lay a nice foundation that contrasts the darker subject matter this time around. Have a listen below; Carrie & Lowell drops 3/31 on Asthmatic Kitty. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/190647487″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”160″ iframe=”true” /]

Kendrick Lamar – “The Blacker the Berry”

February 13, 2015

It’s not that often a song comes along and actually makes my jaw drop. Every once in awhile, I come across a great song, but it’s rare one is so powerful to shake me to my core. And that’s why I feel so compelled to talk about the new Kendrick Lamar single, “The Blacker The Berry”, because it is that kind of song. A discordant guitar plays over what sounds like repetitious chanting as the track begins, immediately creating an intense hellish atmosphere reminiscent of the production of Kanye’s recent Yeezus album, all before dropping a beat that wouldn’t be out of place on an old Wu-Tang record. Then Kendrick’s voice arrives, full of righteous anger and vitriol. Over the course of three verses Kendrick takes up the role of a young black man who has watched violence rip apart his culture, violence that ceaselessly plagues the black and poor[...]

Negative Death – “Burn” feat. Bad Cello

February 5, 2015

Consciousness and positivity is the mantra  of Negative Death, the new hip-hop pop duo combining Utica with Queens. Front man Paul Payabyab-Cruz channels the likes of Pharaoh Monch and Saul Williams in his poetic verses and Zeno Pittarella is the man behind the beats. Both have a history of musical ventures, with Utica’s Zeno coming from the acts Bad Cello (who gets the feature on the single) and Comfy. “Burn” is the lead single from Negative Death’s forthcoming project Conscious Pop. The track has evidence of Zeno’s poppy past, including the vocoder-y beginning of the track and the energetic electric beat. Paul brings the thoughtful heat the who time, with standout lines like “consider me Prometheus, yes I am somewhat heatheness, I’ve come to bring the fire down and make sure we are breathing it.” Great for both the ears and the mind, “Burn” is just one track of a great upcoming[...]

Krill – “Tiger”

February 5, 2015

One of my go-to bandcamp pages I frequent while zoning out to Super Smash Brothers is Boston’s up-and-coming trio, Krill. Although I love visiting wheretheresakrilltheresaway.bandcamp.com, I must admit that the songs were starting to get old with my roommate (“Are we fucking listening to Krill again?”).  Well, Alex will be delighted tonight to find out that Krill has a brand new song that has debuted via Rolling Stone.  The new single, “Tiger,” off of the band’s forthcoming junior release, A Distant Fist Unclenching, proves that Krill have graduated from the super cool underground indie playlists to super cool indie playlists. What I truly love about Krill is lead singer Jonah Furman’s free-wheeling, Tim Kinsella-like delivery. Oh and just so you don’t try to over think the lyrics, they are about a very likeable villager that’s mauled by tiger. Check it out below.

Computer Magic – “Dreams of Better Days (Don’t Pass Me By)”

January 29, 2015

Brooklyn-based electro-pop solo artist, Computer Magic, shared with the internet this week a blizzard inspired gem titled “Dreams of Better Days.” Originally a Sullivan County native (we had to look it up too), Computer Magic should be used to the snow. Regardless, the (another word for electro pop) songstress spun the time where the city was crippled by the biggest snow storm of all time (oh yeah, it wasn’t). The elegant yet tense “Dreams of Better Days” recalls Au Revoir Simone, a touch of Metric, and even Buffalo’s long lost project, Love Scenes. Check out “Dreams of Better Days (Don’t Pass Me By)” below.

Diet Cig – “Harvard”

January 27, 2015

We’ve been admiring from a distance San Francisco/Miami-based independent label, Father/Daughter Records, since its super impressive co-curated lineup with Miscreant Records at the co-presented 2014 CMJ party at Silent Barn. The label’s upcoming release which we are buzzing about in the office is from New Paltz-based duo, Diet Cig. With obvious comparisons to Swearin’, Quarterbacks, and Waxahatchee, Diet Cig is undoubtedly a band that should be on your radar in 2015. Coincidentally as of drafting this post, I just saw they are playing a show at the Glitter Box on Tuesday, March 24th along with Newish Star in support of the duo’s February 24th EP release, Over Easy. So see you then.

Williams Shift – “The Heads And The Bodies”

January 23, 2015

Being a music blog living on the internet, we get lots of tips on up-and-coming bands all over the world, upwards of 150-200 a day. This week, we got a hot tip on a rising band out of Philadelphia that just so happens to have the drummer of one of our favorite Rochester-based acts, Stephen Roessner of Pleistocene. Led by Matthew Stone (Saxon Shore, Soporus), Williams Shift released its first single off of the trio’s forthcoming full-length, We Were Wonderers, titled “The Heads And The Bodies.” With a March 24th release date via Burnt Toast Vinyls (who have an impressive list of past collaborations including mewithoutYou, Sufjan Stevens, and Unwed Sailor.) “The Head And The Bodies” is quite the tease for what the upcoming release consists of. The song is a shoe-gaze packed three minute song about having your head cryonically frozen. Yes really.