New Music

Widows Gold – “Gaslighter”

July 26, 2024

Don’t be a fool, Widows Gold is the real deal and “Gaslighter” is their latest track. Formed by Madeline Star and Ben Saurer during the pandemic, they’ve since put out numerous singles, and an album, Love Drops, released in early 2023. “Gaslighter” goes heavy on the guitars while still leaving lead lady Madeline Star time to shine vocally (but never really letting up very much). The sound and vibe match The Cardigans at their peak, The Strokes, or even Canadian juggernauts Metric. The band itself says their influences lie with the 2000’s rock revival/CBGB out of NYC. “Gaslighter” is very much a song by a band still on the upswing – the swagger and confidence is just unmistakable. This is another great example of a band who is a hair away from blowing up and you’d do well to pay attention *now*. You watch the “Gaslighter” music video down below[...]

Eliza & The Delusionals – “Lately”

July 23, 2024

It’s always fun to see bands I’ve written about before (here) pop back up in my rotation and Eliza & The Delusionals is no exception. It gets even better when you do a double take and say to yourself “is that the guy from Silversun Pickups singing too?” Spoiler alert: it is indeed the guy from Silversun Pickups and his name is Brian Aubert, and the track is a treat to new fans and fans of either band. Featuring a fabulous synth riff and a sub five minute run time with some rollickin’ guitar riffs, you’ll be fully invested in this track from the get go. Listen to the first thirty seconds now (I’ll wait); if you aren’t hooked within the first thirty seconds just don’t bother listening anymore. For everyone else, holy shit wasn’t that awesome? Can’t believe those aforementioned losers didn’t listen for thirty seconds. Be sure to[...]

Barcode Angels – “Coming Home”

July 23, 2024

Brooklyn-based Barcode Angels brings us their latest single “Coming Home;” their first release since 2023’s debut album Angels Forever. Recorded on a tape machine and clocking in at just over two minutes, we’re treated to wispy, echoey guitar-forward pop track (with some bonus violin accompaniment). Fans of Sargasso or Palehound (both personal favorites) would find a lot to enjoy with this track, as would anyone looking for some low key indie pop with an ear for, as the band puts it, “texture rock.” This is easily a band that could blow up in two seconds, so be sure to get in on the ground floor and you could say something like “I heard about them on buffaBLOG” (but we’ll forgive you if you pretend you discovered them some other way to look cooler). You can hear “Coming Home” down below from the band’s YouTube or over on Spotify. Be on[...]

Pocket Full of Crumbs – “I”

July 23, 2024

As foretold by us here, the forthcoming album from San Francisco based Pocket Full of Crumbs is here, and with it, another single. The single in question is “I” and in the humble opinion of I, is a *perfect* second single. It builds off perfectly from their first “In My Home” with an added layer of phuzzy goodness and still feels part of a cohesive unit without being a rehash of what they just did. They continue down the slacker shoegaze trail like a goddamn Johnny Appleseed – planting seeds that will eventually mature into full grown guitar pedals. You can hear “I” below embedded from the band’s label Cherub Dream or over on Spotify to add to your growing phuzzy guitar playlist (I know we’re responsible for most of it). Give the rest of the album “In My Hands I Hold a Lucky Crickey” too if you’re feeling the[...]

Olivia Valentine – “My Records Back”

July 23, 2024

New Orleans based Olivia Valentine brings us their latest with “My Records Back;” bits of indie rock and psychedelic mashed together into a dandy of a track. Throwing down a guitar/synth combo akin to Pink Floyd with some Radiohead-meets-Spoon vibes, you can’t help but be impressed by the scope of the work. Coming in a crisp 2:45 you’ll think it was longer with the journey you’re transported on – the aforementioned synth puts in a lot of work but this is still a very guitar forward piece. I’m of the opinion that a lot of modern music doesn’t give enough time to solos and blistering guitar – something that “My Records Back” attempts to correct and very much succeeds at. You can watch the trippy music video below from YouTube or check it out over on Spotify. Be sure to check out the forthcoming EP The Couch Cushion sometime this[...]

First Day of Spring – “The Rising Tide”

July 17, 2024

A band we’ve covered recently here, First Day of Spring, comes back like a bad habit with their latest track “The Rising Tide” (an acceptable bad habit like coffee, not hard drugs, to clarify).” A five-piece based out of London, this is the second track off of their upcoming EP Be My Hospital. I almost thought this was a full instrumental piece showing off their spindly guitar skills, but the vocals sneak their way in within the first minute. I particularly enjoyed the slow build and the feeling of inevitability portrayed through the music of the said rising tide. Sad yet soothing, and a perfect second single for a band that has been compared to Pixies, Modest Mouse, or Nirvana. Be sure to add “The Rising Tide” to your melancholic indie shoegaze Spotify playlist or down below courtesy of YouTube. As mentioned, their EP is due out sometime later this[...]

SOFT NO – “Melting Timelines”

July 17, 2024

Philadelphia based five piece SOFT NO brings us their latest track “Melting Timelines,” which will make you question the irony of their name, because this is assuredly a hard yes. Made up of five friends who have been involved in the music scene around Philadelphia for years, SOFT NO is a culmination of those efforts and you can tell because everything just sounds so perfectly in sync. Layered with enough guitars fuel a small army of foot pedals, that indie phuzz permeates from the beginning and whirrs through to the end. Vocals from Allison Lannutti dive and dip throughout, pairing well but holding her own against the onslaught of guitar and keyboard noise. Fans of that 90’s feel a la Dinosaur Jr or Pavement, or fuzz-forward acts like Pity Sex would find a lot to enjoy, as would any aficionado of the Electro Harmonix Big Muff. Give “Melting Timelines” a[...]

Cherry Angel – “White Lake (I Like You)”

July 17, 2024

Cherry Angel brings us her latest track “White Lake (I Like You),” a poppy affair gushing with the the unfettered feelings one has about falling in love the very first time. This seems to be Cherry Angel’s third major release in as many years, and while I couldn’t find much else about her, she definitely seems to be on the upswing. “White Lake” is led with a snappy bass track and a harpsichord-adjacent synth effect, which, along with Cherry Angel’s gushing vocals, pushes this toward the bedroom pop/indie pop genres. Fans of Alvvays, Clairo, or girl in red would find a lot to enjoy here, as would anyone who has a beating heart. You can hear “White Lake (I Like You)” below from YouTube or save to your romantic playlist over on Spotify for that special someone (or just to feel something). Be sure to check out her other two[...]

Poster Child – “K, Sarah”

July 15, 2024

Dust off your dancing shoes and bellbottoms, it’s time to groove with Poster Child and their newest single “K, Sarah.” The band is made up of duo Theresa Gorella and Andrew Royal (though they always perform with a five piece). Starting off with warm vocal intro, a switch is thrown and the bass comes in with the beats and guitars bring the funk. The band swears by vintage gear and this unsurprisingly lends itself to making a song with disco vibes (who woulda thunk it?) The attention to detail shows with Gorella’s vocals – she shines brightest as she’s floating between the various instrumentals, almost effortlessly. Be sure to have your ears peeled for the synth solo in the latter half of the song – for that alone, it’s worth the listen. Speaking to their process, Royal had this to say: “We love working with older processes. Film, tape, tube[...]

Space Cowboy Newt – “haberdashery”

July 15, 2024

Emma Rose Newton is the brains behind Space Cowboy Newt (SCN herein so I don’t have to type that out). Part dreampop, part surf rock, and filled to the brim with twee, this is “haberdashery” (their latest). The best way I could describe it would be if Kylie Minogue had done a little more LSD in her heyday. Frankly, the harp adds quite a bit and I was impressed with how well it fit in with everything; this track seriously goes all over the places in the best ways and it just works. You’ll love riding the waves up and down as this is most certainly not a one dimensional pop song – you’ll find yourself in the 4th dimension before the end. Speaking to the track Newton had this to say: “‘Haberdashery’ is a gender dysphoria anthem for all the non-binary babes who haven’t quite figured out who they are.[...]

Spill, Dance, Refine – “thats not real”

July 15, 2024

The newest track from Spill, Dance, Refine  is ‘thats not real.” We last covered the band wit their 2022 single “Wide Awake” here, and turns out we’re still fans. The only information I could find was that Jeremy Gene Berghorst has composer and lyricist credits for the three singles released, and dang it, he has some gritty pipes. Combining his gruff and guttural vocals with killer doomy sounding guitar riffs, this is very much rock ‘n roll. It’s the sort of song that can bring families together; your little brother in his hair metal phase and your Uncle who l o v e s Queens of the Stone Age would find common ground here. You can hear “thats not real” down below or over on Spotify. Genuinely interested in more info about the band so, Spill, Dance, Refine, please feel free to reach out to us! Respect if you prefer[...]

Stinkus – “Falling in Love”

July 10, 2024

“Falling in Love” is the latest from Tyler Thompson, known by his stage name Stinkus, and the first follow-up after his earlier 2024 album that we reviewed here. Musically, this song is so unbelievably relaxing and as you may have guessed…very much a love song. Acoustic guitar reigns supreme here with little licks of the ‘lectric geetar, along with a no nonsense drum beat – putting this very much in the slacker rock/bedroom pop realm. Fans of Alex G or MJ Lenderman would find a lot to enjoy with “Falling in Love”, as well as Pinegrove aficionados; a one trick pony he is not! There was also another artist named in the credits, an Ocean LeClair, who I assume provided the more feminine sounding lyrics (unless Stinkus just has an insane vocal range). So I suppose if you enjoyed her parts, be sure to give her a listen too! You[...]

CATBEAR – “Rush”

July 10, 2024

UK based Zoe and Sarah, the brains behind the outfit known as CATBEAR, bring us their latest track “Rush.” Gotta say, I was digging this track right off the bat with the strong synth and drum intro that really both drive this track forward with a “party-while-your-heart-breaks” vibe (their words, not ours). The south Londoners really emit a retro feel a la Madonna’s “Material Girl,” Bananarama’s “Cruel Summer,” or a-ha’s seminal 80’s gem “Take on Me,” but with that current, 2024 era indie charm. Speaking to the track Zoe had this to say: “Rush is probably our most upbeat and enthusiastic song yet….we were focusing on the warm, carefree days of Summer, where energy is endless and you’re excited to start each day. Thinking about times we’ve felt a ‘rush’.” You can hear “Rush” down below, embedded below, because I know you’re probably too lazy to look for new music[...]

make yourself at home – “High”

July 10, 2024

The latest single from make yourself at home is “High.” While we weren’t able to find out a lot about the band, we still enjoy what this Nashville quartet is creating. The track itself is noisy, yet surprisingly subdued (if that makes sense), falling somewhere between Midwest emo, shoegaze, and slacker rock. MYAT switches between bashing away at their guitars with distortion turned up to 11 to more thoughtful pickings with the distortion still at 11. This is shoegaze-y music at it’s finest and worth a listen if you’re a fan bands like Total Wife or They are Gutting a Body of Water. Fans of newcomers feeble little horse would also find a lot to enjoy here, especially if you’re a big noise queen. You can hear the track on the band’s Bandcamp or check it out over on Spotify. Be sure to add it to your playlist of choice[...]

bigfish – “Matchstick Man”

July 7, 2024

“Matchstick Man” is one letter away from Matchstick Men, the 2003 Nicholas Cage helmed black comedy, but more importantly, is the latest single from bigfish. This is off of their Punchlines EP and leans more to the “alt” side of their country alt-rock persona. I’m very selective about what sort of country music I listen to and was initially hesitant, but was won over very quickly and thoroughly enjoyed the track. The gentle guitar intro crescendos into feedback phuzz and then backing off gave me Midwest emo vibes in the vein of Alex G or American Football. The doleful lyrics really resonated with me, written as a love song about “a man who can’t deal with the dissonance between the depth of his love for his significant other and his lack of ambition.” I’m not sure where you can even find Matchstick Men, but “Matchstick Man” can be found on[...]