Latest Posts

NickyCortez115 – “Nicky Not Real”

June 4, 2025

I thought I was listening to the soundtrack to a pre-1950s family-friendly movie until NickCortez115 snapped me back to reality. The one and only Texas heartbreaker transitions from the intro of his latest single “Nicky Not Real” with a declaration that establishes exactly who we’re dealing with – “Nicky Not Real but your girl think I am.” This track’s beat drops poignantly alongside Nicky’s words – highlighted by swirling orchestral samples calling back to that Hollywood intro. Dipset gets a callout on the chorus, and the smooth aura Nicky displays in his rhymes and flows keeps that callout pertinent. Nicky’s hook is an immediate earworm, the concept of the track is a ton of fun, and the beat knocks. Add this one to your pregame playlists and check out more from Nicky on Spotify and our Underground Hip Hop playlist.

NappyHigh + ScienZe + Blu – “MMHMM”

June 4, 2025

L.A. artist NappyHigh touches all parts of the rap game with his output. The Producer, DJ, Singer and Rapper’s partnered with Brooklyn emcee ScienZe for a new project, and their latest single “MMHMM” boasts a tight feature from underground hip hop legend Blu. “MMHMM’s” highlighted by ScienZe’s relentless delivery, a grimy Wu Tang-style beat from Nappy, and head-spinning wordplay from one of the best to ever do it. “It’s Blu.” This one’s distinctly for the hip hop heads looking for depth in their rap. The duo’s new project Praises also features tracks with Benny the Butcher and Mick Jenkins, among other talented artists. If you’re digging this, check out similar artists on our Underground Hip Hop playlist.

Girl Time – “crack in the screen”

June 3, 2025

“crack in the screen” is the latest track from brother/sister duo Girl Time… And just like any heart-wrencher, it’s about a break up. It keeps a chill drum machine beat interspersed with appropriately mournful low-fi guitar riffs. Like a lot of Girl Times tracks, they keep it simple but goddamn if it isn’t almost flawlessly done each time (see also, their track “Something.”)   You can hear it below from YouTube or over on Spotify. I suggest this as a great wind-down track or a contemplative walk. Though you don’t necessarily have to have gone through a break up, it certainly hits different if you have. With this being their second single of the year, lets hope we don’t have to wait too much longer for another!  

The Electorate – “Don’t Go Out”

June 3, 2025

“Don’t Go Out” are the sage words of The Electorate, especially if you’re anxious and/or anti-social. It’s also their latest single from their new album By Design (May 30).   Based out of Sydney, this trio has crafted a rhythmic, guitar-heavy piece that feels scattered and all over the place. However, like the reveal at the end of an M. Night Shyamalan film, you see how wonderfully it all fits together (Bruce Willis conspicuously absent). This leans into the band’s punkier side of indie pop and feels like a strong finish leading up to the last track on the album.   You can hear it below from Bandcamp or over on Spotify/Apple Music. The rest of the album is a fun listen too, as it really showcases the range of the band.   Don’t Go Out by The Electorate

Must See Shows (6/4/25-6/10/25)

June 3, 2025

Wednesday, June 4th @ 7pm Sunny Day Real Estate @ Electric City   Second wave emo forefathers Sunny Day Real Estate hit the big stage at Electric City for a night of nostalgic feels mid-week. Formed in Seattle, Washington in 1992, the band has been credited for the recipe and rise of the Midwest emo sound. Sunny Day has been inspired many of the movers and shakers in the third wave of emo and early to mid 2000s pop punk fields, serving as a major influence and inspiration on their songwriting styles. If you’re a fan of The Get Up Kids, The Promise Ring, or Appleseed Cast then you already know about Sunny Day Real Estate and you already have your ticket most likely. It’s $49.32.   Diary (Remastered and Expanded Edition) by Sunny Day Real Estate Saturday, June 7th @ 7pm Lazlo Hollyfeld Plays In Rainbows @ Town Ballroom[...]

Far Caspian – “An Outstretched Hand / Rain From Here To Kerry”

June 3, 2025

Far Caspian has become a buffaBLOG regular (see here, and here, and here, and here). By now, you know we appreciate the Irish musician for his expansive take on the genre of indie rock. “An Outstretched Hand / Rain From Here To Kerry” is his latest, and a wonderful addition to his oeuvre – a 5+ minute offering led by a spindly guitar riff that’s both chiming and gripping in nature. Inspired by both a long-night drive and the feeling of wanting to spend all your time consumed with a fresh, new love, “AOH/RFHTK” encapsulates those heartstring-pulling feelings with simmering energies and blood-churning crescendos.   Follow the forbidden YouTube embed (below) to see the video for “An Outstretched Hand / Rain From Here To Kerry,” or, swing by Spotify.  

Tonite – “Breathe”

June 1, 2025

Australian rapper Tonite headlines a growing scene of conscious hip hop performers down under. The rising artist’s latest track “Breathe” discusses the communal energies that guide the human experience. Whether it’s a Frank Sinatra song, the noise of the news, or beautiful silence, Tonite considers how we interact with these forces around us. They’ll live and breathe, but it’s our choice how to interact with them. “Breathe’s” production counters lush with whimsey, as strings from an early Disney movie prance on top of medley of horns, bells and featured artist Wild Gloriosa’s sultry coos. If you’re digging this track from Tonite, check him out on Spotify and discover more exciting new artists on our Emerging Hip Hop playlist, updated every week.

KID NATIVE and Loose Tee – “SMOKE NICE”

May 30, 2025

Smoke them if you’ve got them, my dudes ✌️. “SMOKE NICE,” the latest stoner anthem from rappers KID NATIVE and Loose Tee is sure to fit right in with your 420 friendly playlists and elevate your elevated state. Loose Tee is vivid in his smoked-out lyricism, evoking a sight many of us are familiar with on his first verse with the line “Windows down, smoke roll out of them.” KID NATIVE takes the stick on the second verse and leans into the floatiness of the production – matching his flow with the relaxed but deliberate beat. This after an early Curren$y track is the ideal soundtrack for your next light up. Be sure to follow the KID NATIVE YouTube page and follow him and Loose Tee on Spotify. If you’re into discovering more underground rap artists, check out our Spotify playlist, updated every week.

Cartman – Waves

May 30, 2025

One listen to the new album from Denver-based artist Cartman and you’ll wonder if he’s telling the truth about recording it in a walk-in closet in a guest bedroom. Residing at the vertex between hip hop, indie rock, and pop music, Waves is a collection of breezy, summer-sounding songs that rest heavily on excellent production, acoustic-guitar twinkles, squiggly synths, and Cartman’s past as a hip-hop artist. Expect plenty of earworms, perfect for putting on for your next poolside gathering.   The mysterious and nebulous “Gold” opens this fantastic album – at just about a minute in length, this one is fleeting, but hits hard. Cartman’s flow is smooth and unbothered, gliding over a 3:4 time signature like some sort of modern day waltz. Just when you think it’s about to explode into something beautiful, he launches into song two, “Tonight.” “Tonight” is an archetypal Cartman song – catchy hip-hop-inspired rhythms, twinkly[...]

Jerry Big’s World Famous Band – JBWFB

May 29, 2025

If the walls of Rochester’s music venues could talk, they’d likely be buzzing–quite literally–about Jerry Big’s World Famous Band. This trio–Jared Effman on bass and backup vocals, Yassir Ahmed on guitar, and Max Wakeling handling drums and lead vocals–might be a newer name on the scene, but the word spreading about their super-tight garage punk and explosive live shows is well and truly deserved. Their new self-titled EP, JBWFB, which hit the streets on April 25th, is a four-song affirmation of this burgeoning reputation, delivering a sound that’s far bigger than the sum of its three parts. JBWFB is our album of the week.   Right from the start, JBWFB makes it clear that this isn’t background music. It’s a full-frontal assault of garage punk grit and melodic hardcore urgency. The production feels immediate and raw, capturing the kind of live-wire intensity you’d expect in a packed, sweaty club. Ahmed’s guitar work is a thrilling[...]

CATBEAR – “Who Cares?”

May 29, 2025

“Who Cares?” Well, you should. CATBEAR? Not so much (but they really do, just listen). Their latest single, named, you guessed it, “Who Cares?” is their third release off of a single I’ll let you guess the name of.   Crafting 80’s tinged indie pop tracks is apparently Zoe and Sarah’s specialty – it will make you feel right at home, what with the drum machine and synth. If the lyrics remind you of a certain feeling that you can’t quite a finger on, there’s an explanation for that! Speaking to the track, Zoe had this to say:   “It’s that quiet panic before you’ve even left the house… you want to go out and be part of things, but you’re already working out how long you have to stay before it’s okay to leave.”   You can hear “Who Cares?” below from Soundcloud as well as on Spotify. The[...]

feeling it fearing it – “i hate he left you”

May 29, 2025

Arkansas based feeling it fearing it brings us their latest “i hate he left you,” an impeccable mix of shoegaze and sadcore that will reel you in and break your heart… but we love it for that. The brains behind the act, Rupert Lange, also produced the track (making him the second triple threat this week, so far).   Lange uses some nifty effects to make his voice sound like it’s under water (and therefore more heartfelt, weird how that works) along with that phuzzy shoegaze phuzz we know and love.   You can hear it below from Soundcloud or over on Spotify and Apple Music. If you like what you hear, be sure to keep your ears open for the band’s forthcoming six track release. He has a couple other tracks out that are well worth the listen, especially “when times were simpler.”   feeling it fearing it ·[...]

Alannah Moar – “Sandpaper”

May 29, 2025

Triple threat (singer, songwriter, producer) Alannah Moar brings us her latest single “Sandpaper.” This is a nice slow burn of a pop rock track that takes you on a *journey*. Some tempo changes while maintaining the chill vibe of synth/bass/drums while still being introspective AND crafting a pop song is no small feat. Speaking to the track, Moar had this to say:   “The narrative is about realising you’re the problem in a relationship, which sounds depressing, but I think it’s actually quite optimistic—because it’s acknowledging that you have to do better, and that’s hopeful.”   You can hear the track below from YouTube or over on Spotify. If you’re left wanting for moar (sorry), she has a smattering of singles to sate your appetite on the aforementioned platforms. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for some….moar (sorry again).    

Glitter Etiquette – CERULEAN, DEEP BLUE

May 29, 2025

Glitter Etiquette (GE) dives deep into synth-forward indietronica bliss on their latest release, CERULEAN, DEEP BLUE. Highly conceptual, the album dives deep into highbrow ideas about socioeconomic and cultural archetypes… And while we’re usually pretty good at parsing out the meaning behind lyrics, in these instances, it’s usually better to hear a snippet from the band’s own words – see below:   “The album contrasts the tranquil, expansive hue of blue (cerulean) with the ominous force of darkness thru the metaphoric red army, portraying a cosmic battle between clarity, empathy, and depth versus aggression, ego, and decay. These colors become metaphors for clashing worldviews: blue as the fading ideal of unity and imagination, with the antithesis showing the toxic acceleration of greed, polarization, and control. Through its swirling textures and lyrical critiques, Cerulean warns of the rise of socioeconomic and cultural archetypes—techno-feudal overlords and their machine counterparts, influencer-worship, manufactured identity—that[...]

Stephen Babcock – “Drunk”

May 28, 2025

Have you ever had a few too many Labatt Blues and not-so-accidentally told your friend off? Yeah, us too, and so has Stephen Babcock & co. It comes with being Buffalo-born.   “Drunk” is his latest offering, a natural continuation of his acoustic-driven indie folk that’s been building up buzz around town this spring. Gentle piano plinks in the background while a tasteful drumbeat taps out a perfectly-driven rhythm. Overtop it all is Babcock’s warm and inviting vocals – even if they are singing about being berated by a drunk bud. The chorus of “Why do you have to get drunk to say what’s wrong? Why can’t you just shoot straight for once?” hits like a Jägerbomb after a day at the Bills game – always remember folks, the truth will set you free.   Check out “Drunk” via the YouTube embed below, or, add it to your Spotify playlist.[...]