Yo, check out this fresh track from our friend Jacob Faurholt. Jacob is one of Denmark’s most prolific songwriters, and his latest single, “Go,” caught our attention. Faurholt combines a tight drumbeat with quirky vocals and fuzz-pop guitar stylings, perfect for any fan of bedroom pop or 90s fuzz sentiment. Fans of Daniel Johnston, (Sandy) Alex G, or The Front Bottoms will like this one. Pick it up on Bandcamp if you like what you hear.
Coming in hot off their last EP release, The Color Society supply another breezy hit with their single “Starlet.” The alternative duo combine jangly guitar lines and infectious drum work with hypnotic vocals to strum up a good old fashioned feel-good jam. After all, it’s hard to go wrong with surf rock-inspired guitar solos and a playful clap track thrown into the mix. “Starlet” tells the story of young dreamer lusting after Hollywood lights, providing a rosy soundtrack to a winsome narrative. Take the track for a spin below, and check out Coastal Visions EP for more from The Color Society.
Lately, buffaBLOG has been digging the exuberant pop-rock of NYC quartet Shiffley. We’re suggesting their latest song, “Up & Down,” which is sure to get your booty swangin’ with its synth-peppered pop rock. This jam was tailor made for fans of Jr. Jr., Two Door Cinema Club, or The Killers – check it out below. Freshen up your Spotify playlist with a little “Up & Down”
Ontario four-piece Soapboxer provide a subdued take on emo/punk vigor with their track “On The Mend.” From the band’s humble punk rock beginnings, they’ve traded in their impassioned negativity for a more laid back delivery and shifted their focus to shoegaze and dream pop. Meeting rapid-fire bass lines and blazing drum tracks with astral guitar strains and mellower vocals, “On The Mend” paints a sunny picture of a fresh start with endless possibilities – the lyrical pep talk you could probably use right about now. The track comes straight from Soapboxer’s latest album Lush, where you can find eight more tracks of alt-rock dreaminess just like this one. <iframe width=”100%” height=”166″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”no” src=”https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/345853821&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true”></iframe>
Garage rockers Sure pack a fuzz guitar-fueled punch in their single “Dog Pit,” off their recently released sophomore album. The track has an early 2000’s alt/punk sound, with a forthright, raw delivery akin to The Front Bottoms or Modern Baseball. With band member backgrounds spanning from metal to indie pop, Sure keeps it original with guitar/bass interplay, whiny vocals, and dexterous drum fills. From their 2015 outset, the British Columbian’s have built up their performance roster throughout Vancouver Island and parts of the mainland, anticipating more homey jam sessions in the future. If “Dog Pit” has you hooked, head over to band camp to experience Positive Mental Energy in full.
UK indie pop heartthrobs Two Islands provide even more proof that 80’s synth pop never has and hopefully never will die with their latest single “Still Life.” The band aims to pay homage to their native Liverpool’s iconic songwriting history, while bringing their own modern flare into the mix. From the first downbeat, “Still Life” is bubbling over with pure, unadulterated energy, utilizing elastic guitar lines, shiny synths, and stirring vocals to channel their bona fide new-and-improved pop nostalgia sound. With this track being their second single to date, Two Islands has certainly slipped past the growing pains stage, right to the spirited pop earworms that will certainly carry them far. Hop on the bandwagon early and jam to “Still Life” below.
We’re happy to share MIDDLESPOON‘s latest music video “LightningBug,” which premiered at the Austin Music Video Festival earlier this year. Besides the party atmosphere (full of cowboy hats, dancing bears, and sparkles), MIDDLESPOON specializes in hooky pop music meant to get you dancing. We dare you to listen and not hum, “You could be my girlfriend, you could be my queen” all day long… Give it a watch below. “LightningBug” is available via iTunes.
SoCal rock outfit HAWAI bridge the gap between 1980s sentiment and 2000s radio rock. This juxtaposition is super evident in their latest single, “Alive.” Having survived some major personnel changes (an accomplishment for any band), they were able to take a new approach to songwriting on this newest effort (and it shows). Fans of Bear Hands, Young The Giant, and Neon Trees will definitely like this one. If you want to know more about HAWAI, look here.
French dance-pop duo YELLE inspired us with their creative lyric video for “Romeo.” Non-French speakers fear not, the song is infectious and catchy even if you can’t understand the lyrics contextually… The karaoke-style words at the bottom might even inspire you to learn a bit. Either way, this sparkly nugget of pop greatness reminds us of Le Colour or Safari Disco Club – check it out if you like earworms. YELLE is on Bandcamp as well.
If you’re trying to fill a homespun bedroom pop void in the vein of Frankie Cosmos or (SANDY) Alex G, look no further than the cleverly tongue-in-cheek songs of Blaketheman1000. The Nashville-based singer/songwriter recently released an EP with highlight track “Vegan” taking the animal product-free cake. The song playfully mulls over miscommunication and youthful eagerness by way of glimmering synth tracks, mellow guitar lines, and some good-natured beatboxing. The vocal interplay, featuring Katy Kirby, is arguably the track’s winsome focal point, honing in on happy-go-lucky novelty a la Michael Cera and Ellen Page singing The Moldy Peaches’ “Anyone Else But You” at the end of Juno. For more endearing veritableness check out Blaketheman1000’s Tokyo EP.
Denver duo Motion Trap’s latest single “The Movement” sets up an electronic soundscape that radiates nothing but good vibes. With the help of pulsing synths, sharp percussion, and breezy, layered vocal lines, the track has an ethereal quality to it, while still supplying enough energy to ignite a synth pop-fueled revolution. Motion Trap has come a long way since their 2012 inception, where after various collaborations and band member changeovers, their penchant for electrifying disco dance tracks has never waned. “The Movement” comes from the duo’s recently released album Heavenly Bodies, featuring other juicy tracks like “Molecule” and “Youth Blood.”
If you’ve got the jitters or are feeling anxious, have we got the perfect song for you. Cuesta Loeb specializes in super chill electronica, perhaps best demonstrated by her latest single, “Festival 2017.” Combining curiously hushed vocal samples, blippy keyboards, and an ever-so-subtle beat, this is the perfect song for laying back with eyes closed and blissing out. Fans of Still Corners, Phantogram, or The XX should definitely check this one out. Add Cuesta Loeb to your Spotify playlist if you’re diggin’ it.
Sometimes all you need is a feel-good electropop song to groove along to, and today, we’re recommending JNNA‘s “Waking Up With You.” Produced by Tyzo Bloom (who we’ve also covered in the past), “With You” is an ode to young love and the feeling you get when you find “your person.” We are especially digging the left-field instrumentation and JNNA’s lilting presence – check it out. Learn more about JNNA from her website.
Buzzing post-punk act FEHM shot us the moody goodness of “Last Breath” and we’ve been hooked ever since. If you have any interest in Interpol, Ceremony, or Joy Division, you need to give this one a shot… This quintet specializes in abrasive and spacious post-punk, with an emphasis on song crafting and arrangement. FEHM has a website where you can purchase anything of theirs – here it is.
By now, you should know that we here at buffaBLOG are suckers for achingly personal songs… Well, Magnets has penned our newest favorite with the simmering indie-pop of “Dear.” About the song, Magnets (aka Siobhan McGinnity) explains, “[it is] an apology song to the ones I love for every time I’ve burned too bright.” Beyond that, any fan of St. Vincent, Now, Now, or Broken Social Scene could get down to this one… Give it a shot below. Magnets is on Bandcamp. If you like this song, head over there immediately and smash that buy it now button.