Latest Posts

harper – Breach

June 13, 2026

Detroit, Michigan bestows upon us a rather interesting musical entity in harper, who, for the better part of three years, crafted their unique sonic signature for their debut album, Breach. Full of self-proclaimed melancholic fuzz and chamber instrumentation like pipe organ and harp, this stellar release was recorded, mixed, and produced by Nick West, the protégé of one of Nine Inch Nails’ founders, Chris Vrenna.   We start off with the title track, “Breach,” and are immediately soaring amongst cumulus clouds with stunning organ and massive guitar as our wings. The percussion bounces back and forth between the ears playfully, and the vocals are just as gentle as the clouds you’re flying through. The mysterious lyrics seem to tell of loving someone who hates themselves too much to do what’s best for them.   Song four, “Anymore,” has light acoustic guitar and an overdriven electric guitar that serve as warmth[...]

Neo Dimes – Alone

June 9, 2026

Denver, Colorado gifts us Neo Dimes – Stephen Edmunds’ primary, dystopia-inspired musical outlet. With mechanical auditory environments, ghostly vocals, and a shoegaze-y feel with EDM and industrial rock influences, Alone looks to address the social downfalls of the digital age as well as the battle within the self.   Song one, “Beasts,” is immediately notable for its reverbed-out depth. There is a slew of haunting keys and vocals, with the line, “Come down feed the need / Look now you’re the beast,” getting stuck in your head on repeat. The song eventually quiets into blips and bloops as well as a chant of the aforementioned line. After a breakdown of intense drum and bass, the song expands into a wide soundscape of sizzling electronics.   Across the next amalgamation of tunes, there are riveting drums, mind-bending guitar leads, and bleeding synthesizers. Song six, “Don’t Think,” stands out due to the[...]

Bubblegum Cistern – SYZYGY

May 31, 2026

Knoxville, Tennessee’s Bubblegum Cistern, a duo made up of Eddie Stephenson and John Seeber, recently released SYZYGY, a wonderfully rhythmic, space-influenced record that is bound to pique your interest. Whether it’s demonic vocoders joining a frenzy of vocals, or the extremely impressive percussion heard all throughout the album, SYZYGY lands successfully among the sun, moon, and stars.   “Low Gravity,” song one, blasts off with some sort of alien chime that disintegrates into static. The bass is huge, and the instrumentals are jazzy with a bowel-shaking groove. As noted previously, the drummer is going crazy. Surprise: there’s double bass in this astral bop! The track also features splendid vocal runs. Later on in the song, the frontman victoriously takes a ballsy risk by singing alone.   Traversing across the album leads us to “Back to Phoenix,” which stands out with its wistful happiness. There is big, thumping acoustic guitar and[...]

Zoe Konez – Everything’s Fine

May 21, 2026

We must keep going despite the notion that the life we built may not presently serve us anymore. Brighton-based, British singer-songwriter Zoe Konez’s Everything’s Fine is based on just that sentiment. The album is a kind respite that gives us space for self-forgiveness. The message is conveyed through clever, finger-styled acoustic guitar, brilliant vocal harmonies, and well-textured synthesizers. Sonically, everything within the album’s confines was executed by Konez herself.   The album starts with the gentle piano of “Paragon.” There is a percussive acoustic guitar playing in triplets before it eases into drums and auxiliary clicks. Immediately, the listener is tempted by the calm promised by Konez. Song two, “I Don’t Want To Be Lonely Anymore,” continues with the three-four meter and triplets. It is here that Konez fortifies her soft-spoken, truly beautiful vocal performance. “I Don’t Want To Be Lonely Anymore” is stripped-down, simple, and soothing, and seems like a[...]

Mike Stocksdale – Connectors

May 5, 2026

Exceptionally experienced, Californian songwriter, Mike Stocksdale, is releasing his newest collection of songs in Connectors, an effervescent and bold album where humans joyfully play blues-inspired indie rock: no AI or click tracks here. Stocksdale has years of discography to his name, and Connectors only further serves to demonstrate his overall musicianship and critical acclaim. The album is an impressively fluid listen, with each song transitioning into the next as easily as taking your next breath.   Album opener, “Nothing Like Beginning,” queues with echoing percussion and brilliant guitar and harmonica. A tambourine splashes in your ears. The song is overall very catchy and consistent, and immediately points to fantastic songwriting. The relatable lyrics, “And if God exists / Then sign me up / ‘Cause that means God made you…” are poetic, yet straightforward. “Nothing Like Beginning” bleeds into another single from Connectors called, “Elevator.” There is a fat, wet snare[...]

Outsideness – …From What?

May 1, 2026

Freidrich$ made his buffaBLOG debut back in late-August 2025, when our longtime contributor, Nick Sessanna, reviewed his genre-shattering album Wish – a collection chock-full of supremely relatable lyricism and dreamy mixes. Freidrich$ and fellow musician, Azalias, have combined their creativity into an outlet called, Outsideness, and the two couldn’t blend more seamlessly together. They’ve released a formidable collaboration album in …From What? With Azalias’ beautiful falsetto and Freidrich$’s rich tenor, their efforts amalgamate into a stunning, atmospheric collection of songs.   “Remedy,” the album opener, starts off with ghostly coos from Azalias. The zippy guitar is enthralling, like watching embers shoot up from a bonfire. Mood-wise, this song is easygoing and sensual, but it is pinned against pensive lyrics like, “I’m feeling hollow, but you have a way with me.” Azalias has a hushed vocal delivery in this one, not unlike the alt pop of Billie Eilish. Next, is “Pretend,”[...]

Axel Flóvent – Fleeing the Shore

April 26, 2026

Axel Flóvent comes to us all the way from Iceland with his latest EP, Fleeing the Shore. This batch of songs is truly an exercise in self-isolation – Axel holed up in his home studio in Húsavík, challenging himself to explore simplicity through solitude. Some might call this the “Bon Iver method,” but after a listen through the quiet crush of Fleeing the Shore, we’re feeling like we might have to rename it… Here’s a little snippet from Axel himself regarding what this EP means to him:   “If I had to choose three words to describe this EP, they would be change, self-isolation, and solitude. These songs explore different forms of change, changes of the mind, of place, and a longing for transformation in general.”   You might be expecting nothing but an acoustic guitar, but opening song “Another Year” is as lush and beautiful as anyone could ever ask for.[...]

By Million Wires – Not Over EP

April 25, 2026

After fourteen years of hiatus, By Million Wires, coming all the way from Tarnów, Poland, are releasing a gripping new offering with their upcoming re-entry, the Not Over EP. The EP’s themes range from survival to empty nostalgia, and the sound is akin to the overall messages.   The first song, “Over,” begins with jelly-like guitar that flirts with the math rock genre. This song is a solid jam, feeling all-encompasing as the deep, fuzzy bass envelopes you. Honestly, “Over” would be perfect for taking a no-destination cruise on a day where having the windows down is a statement that summer is on its way. The chorus is absolutely huge, with a fat tambourine cascading between your headphones.   “Glass Houses,” the second song, starts with a bit of an “Everlong” feel. When frontman Mirek Skrok cathartically delivers, “And though the ears cannot hear / And through this glass I[...]

Gas Station Boner Pills – First Movement

April 20, 2026

Atlanta-based party punk rockers Gas Station Boner Pills (GSBP) swing for the fences with their newest EP, titled First Movement, part of a bigger project (and soon-to-be LP) titled SIMPhony. This EP certainly feels like a progressive and comedic attack on those who struggle to make it in the dating world.   The first track “SIMP” begins with the singer rolling his r’s into a battlecry. GSBP are loud and rebellious in the best ways. The drummer is very talented – the fills are fast and accurate, perfect for an edgy, punk rock mouthfeel. The singer yells, “I’m not bored, but I’m not rich / I’ll be your simp and I’ll be your bitch!” Whether comedic or social commentary, these lyrics aim to dismantle modern dating tropes.   Next, we have “Two Pump Chump.” The song starts off syncopated with a crunchy, distorted guitar and sludgy bass. With hilarious lyrics like,[...]

Christo Sedgewick and The Fabulous Regrets – The Lonesome Tender Hollow Of The Night

April 3, 2026

Chicago is a hub for blues and americana – we’re happy to profile another tried-and-true musical group known as Christo Sedgewick and The Fabulous Regrets. March of 2026 saw the release of their third album, The Lonesome Tender Hollow Of The Night, in which the band has found a way to soundtrack the little things that can make or break you. With songs that evoke grit through tales of of sinking woes, Christo Sedgewick and The Fabulous Regrets do blues, folk, and americana sweet, sweet justice.   Song number one, “The Dead King Hunts And Eats The Gods,” demonstrates immediate depth of musicality here with dark, rhythmic blues. The band is groovy in every sense of the word, and on “Dead King,” Sedgewick and his bandmates deliver a remarkably classic tune. The drums patter along with a bluesy shuffle, making this song an undeniable head bopper. When Sedgewick delivers the[...]

Slept All Day – Yutori

March 23, 2026

Being the enigmatic music hub that it is, it’s no surprise Austin, Texas birthed the supreme electronica duo Slept All Day. Their newest release, Yutori, is a concept album, with “Yutori” functioning as a Japanese term for spaciousness. Perfect for easy listening, the album conveys serenity, peace, and welcomes the springtime thaw.   The first track, “Seagulls in the Waves,” starts off strong with a very deep atmosphere – something that is certainly true throughout Yutori‘s entirety. The singer mentions the “sun shin[ing] on [his] tired face,” a perfect lyrical accompaniment that compliments the experience of the duo’s guitar melodies melting away worry.   As you traverse out of the blippy electronica and textured guitars of “Pure Imagination” into song three, “Summer Tide,” you’ll notice the incredibly smooth flow of the album. With continued listening, one may realize that the pace of Yutori is purposely slow, offering time to relax and[...]

Bleach the Sky – Wash Away

March 6, 2026

Boston, Massachusetts’ Bleach the Sky have been kicking around for the better part of a decade – an indie/alternative/shoegaze trio whose latest album, Wash Away, has been blaring through the buffaBLOG office speakers non-stop. Their newest musical endeavor is a foundational five-song EP, all of which have been meticulously crafted over the course of the last three years. Produced by Jay Maas, formerly of the raging band Defeater, and mastered by Kris Crummet, Wash Away blends the best parts of late ’90s alt rock, emo, and shoegaze into the band’s best (and best-representative) stuff yet. With influences ranging from Teenage Wrist, to Incubus, to Jimmy Eat World, Wash Away is truly the sum of all its various inspirations.   “GIN,” the album’s opening track, is concise, blistering shoegaze. Perfectly noisy and concentrated, Bleach the Sky uses fuzzy guitars, an ethereal bass, and huge drums to back fittingly-crushing lyrics like, “Who’s to say[...]

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[...]

The Del-Viles – It’s Just A Kiss-Off

January 22, 2026

Minneapolis-based act The Del-Viles has been kicking around the City of Lakes since 2021, brandishing a gritty brand of rock ‘n roll that takes the best of ’60s mod and ’00s garage rock revival and mashes it into an unholy unity of blues and modern-day guitar rock. For a three-piece act, they make a surprising amount of sound – expect lots of blues-based riffing and gravel-voiced vocals with ’60s inspired lyrical patterns. They’ve been hard at work and are set to release their brand new album, It’s Just A Kiss-Off, full of blues-inspired jamming with a garage-rock sensibility.   Opening track “The City” is a perfect archetype for what to expect from The Del-Viles. Gravely-voiced, retro-inspired vocals rip through start-stop, 12-bar-blues. Big bouncing basslines rip behind the simplicity of the rip-roaring guitar tones. Track two, “What You Got” leans into these stabby blasts of guitar too, trading nimble basslines for[...]

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[...]