Latest Posts

Idaho Green – Gems of the High Plains

As purveyors of predominantly WNY-based music, it makes complete sense that we’d review a double LP from Montana-born, Brooklyn-based act Idaho Green (IG). Sarcasm aside, Idaho Green is one of those wacky bands that we would champion over here at buffaBLOG – we’re not intimately familiar with the group, but they seem like the type of loud, lightly-wacky act that pumps out good, passionate songs at a frighteningly efficient pace. Full disclosure, Idaho Green reminds me of a few beloved local acts (see here, or here), and I find that endearing. Buffalo is a secondary market (much like Billings, Montana I’d imagine), so we usually have to create our own fun. A place like Brooklyn seems like an obvious home for a quartet like this, but thinking about IG dressing up in stage outfits and getting wild in some dive bar in Montana makes me smile.   The double album[...]

Aberrant Kingdom – AK

Sure, as bloggers, we’re supposed to be the wordsmiths. But Pittsburgh-adjacent-based stoner sludge act Aberrant Kingdom seem to have hit the nail on the head:   “We play loud, heavy, strange songs in sweaty rooms.”   One listen through their latest album, the 10-song AK (ostensibly, short for Aberrant Kingdom) and you’ll see what they mean… This hard hitting trio of James May (guitar/vocals), Ian Tepper (drums), and Pat Herron (bass) craft the kind of music that seems tailor-made for sweaty basement venues and sweltering attic shows. Falling somewhere on an intangible spectrum between Black Sabbath, early Nirvana, and Primus, AK is full of quirky compositions delivered through a prog-rock lens with a dash of that wild, Les Claypool energy… And of course soaked in a grunged-out, Big Muff (TM) style fuzz.   The album opens with an eerie whirring of feedback as Herron starts hammering out a sludgy bass line. Soon the[...]

Wylie Something – Picnic

Buffalo local, Wylie Something, the songwriting vehicle for musician Jacob Smolinksi, is inviting you to a BBQ of freshly grilled tunes for the soul, with an all new record titled Picnic.   For an appetizer, we’re served our first track “Feel Like Jake.” For listeners looking for a classic taste, they may find that the jam-band like vibes of this song call back to the sounds of The Grateful Dead or the bluesy swing of Bob Dylan, while more modern-day listeners might enjoy the heavy indie-psych influence. “Jake” listens like a blue sky with whisky clouds on a slow day, where the smiles are warm and drinks are iced cold. This feeling is captured perfectly in the slow swaying guitar strums, the woozy bongo blips, and Jake’s soulful baritone belting – feeling like a hazy meditation without a care in the world.   This feeling continues into track two, “Stuck[...]

Carter Brady – Shopping Cart

Nostalgia is a powerful feeling, and the 90s influenced music coming from Carter Brady harkens back to those halcyon days of JNCO jeans and Pogs. His latest offering is the 13 song Shopping Cart, a guitar-forward LP full of upbeat and sunny-dispositioned songs that are reminiscent of simpler times. When the topic of 90s rock comes up, dark and moody grunge-era bands typically come to mind – think Alice in Chains or Nirvana… But Brady doubles down on that sunshine-y, late-90s sound (think Third Eye Blind, Weezer, or lighter Foo Fighters fare) that thrives in its four-chord simplicity, allowing for earworm melodies and rhythms to develop. Expect Brady’s music to go down real easy – the kind of songs that you’d hear at a dive bar on a Friday night, when you’re a few drinks deep and ready to dance.   Brady kicks things off with “We’re Talking” – a great[...]

Shutter – Above Us All

Emo isn’t dead, and New Jersey quartet Shutter is living proof. Every few years, a new wave of emo cascades through the airwaves – bringing heartfelt lyrics, dark vibes, and a new generation of emotionally-in-tune kids who turn to this poignant genre of music as a way to define themselves. Whether you’re a late 90s aficionado, a mid-aughts holdout, a Midwest fan, or anything in between, there’s a part of this genre that sticks with you for life. Shutter is a great band in a line of great bands who are making great music – Their latest EP is the five-song Above Us All, a “kinda rock” offering of cathartic, guitar-forward songs. Fans of the heavier variety of emo that flirts with hard rock and grunge – think Citizen, Balance and Composure, and/or Superheaven – will find lots to sink their teeth into here.   Above Us All kicks off with[...]

flora cash – behind every beautiful thing

flora cash is a duo who have made a buffaBLOG appearance before – needless to say, when their newest offering, behind every beautiful thing (BEBT), ended up in our inbox, we knew we’d have to give it a thorough listen. BEBT is the duo’s fourth proper studio album, and on it, they craft nostalgic and ethereal textures, exploring the juxtaposition between darkness and light with sounds ranging from orchestral to lo-fi in a brilliantly nuanced dark-pop package. Shpresa Lleshaj and Cole Randall, were once long-distance penpals connecting over Soundcloud… It’s astounding to think of the journey they’ve had so far and the near three million (!) monthly listeners they’ve garnered along the way; BEBT feels like a natural extension of that adventure – here’s why: BEBT kicks off with “Should Have Dressed for the Event,” a ballad-coded intro that symbolizes so much more than a token slow song. Vulnerable-sounding vocals[...]

Beach Tower – Another Beach Tower EP

Readers of buffaBLOG – by now, you should already know that when a Fredonia local band releases new music, it’s bound to be noteworthy. Coming off a short hiatus, Beach Tower has large shoes to fill (or should I say, fuzzy crocs), after their intriguing first album If We Make It To May. It’s safe to say that you should slip on some of your own fuzzy footwear and prepare yourself for a surfy, pop punk sensation with their long awaited follow up, simply and wonderfully titled, Another Beach Tower EP.    Before we even dive into this album, for fans of other Fredonia locals such as HitGRL and Ryan Terry Family Band, I suggest you drop everything and go listen to this latest release IMMEDIATELY!  Fun fact, Ryan Terry of Beach Tower is also in both bands making for an extremely recognizable sound that screams “this is Ryan Terry[...]

Jason Being – Glory

Jason Being is fresh off the release of his latest offering, Glory, a seven-song mix of folk, alternative, and rock music through an especially twangy lens. The singer/songwriter recorded the album at Temple Cabin Studios in scenic Naples, NY, not too far from our lovely, metropolitan Buffalo area (but probably closer to our neighbors in Rochester). A quick view of the rural location and cozy cabin vibes give enough insight into what you might get with a listen to Being’s new album… Expect classic compositions with a strong narrative, delivered with a backbone of acoustic guitars and emphasized with a bevy of various instrumental flourishes. Opening song “Glory” has a bit of a spaghetti western feel, with it’s tremolo-laced electric guitar accompaniment and bouncy rhythmic swagger. In the background, an interesting bongo track blips and boops alongside a rustic shaker. Soon, Being’s bluesy baritone comes in to bring it all together.[...]

MANY EYES – The Light Age

Keith Buckley is verified Buffalo royalty. In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last few decades, Keith was the charismatic frontman of Every Time I Die, the pride and joy of Buffalo hardcore, for 20+ years. His latest output comes in the form of MANY EYES, which feels like a natural continuation of his iconic presence and eccentric energy. Their debut LP, The Light Age, is a ten-song offering that both acknowledges the past and looks toward the future – fans of of Buckley’s previous work will find plenty to sink their teeth into here, as long as they can take a few new sounds, ideas, and mindsets in stride. While it’s almost impossible to separate Buckley from his previous catalog (especially for us Buffalonians), this does feel like a catharsis of sorts for him – see below:   “This is an expression of who I am…[...]

Croix – Self Soothe

Rochester’s Croix has proven riot grrrl to be alive and well with their debut album, Self Soothe. The punk band delves into the reality of heartbreak, self-discovery, and one’s worth through a rawness reminiscent of 70’s sensations like The Runaways or Heart. Each of the eleven tracks offer a unique sound that fuels listeners with an energy that can only be described as a “lighter-waving-type-of-head-banging.” The grittiness of “Howl” opens the LP with an ode to trans struggles written by lead guitarist and backup vocalist Jennifer Wameling, with the help of lead singer Carmen Lewis: “I won’t stop Until my breath Leaves my body My existence is resistance” In true punk nature, the song was written as a response to a transphobic speech given at conservative political convention in 2023. Now, Wameling hopes it can be a reminder of worth to other members in the trans community. Throughout Self Soothe,[...]

Michael Zucker – Absinthe

Michael Zucker is nothing short of a prolific musician with an incredible resume. Perhaps best known as founding member/guitarist of video-game-rockers This Place is Haunted, the Denver-based musician plays in multiple other bands (Musuji, ZEW, Living Easy) and has amassed a catalogue of over 40 solo releases (including a faithful reproduction of the Super Mario Bros. 3 soundtrack using guitars, drums, and bass). His latest offering, a six-song EP called Absinthe, is what you might expect to hear from a seasoned songwriter – expect complex compositions layered with sounds, noise, and everything in between. While a casual listener might find some of this challenging (in a good way), advanced listeners will feel like they’re listening to eternity encapsulated. “Blood Wound” is a wild introduction to Zucker’s music. The song starts out with some ambient chaos – pulsing, bizarre percussion; 80s darkwave synth swells; and twinkles of clean guitar wash over you[...]

SUKH – Heading East

Fun-fact, singer/songwriter SUKH may be the first bona fide doctor/musician that we’ve ever had the pleasure of reviewing here at buffaBLOG. In his decade-plus career, SUKH has drawn from his experiences in the medical field to create a hopeful and uplifting brand of pop rock. His latest offering is the eight-song LP Heading East, and we think you’ll agree – it’s exactly the kind of music I’d want my doctor creating. If Heading East is your introduction to SUKH, a listen through his impressive catalog might surprise you – his 2022 album Age of Strangers is dark, almost anxious at times, with spiraling guitars, introspective lyrics, and minor-chord mentalities (see the jaunty blues-inspired “Don’t Fall Behind” or the crushing crescendo of “Rendezvous”). Heading East feels like a genuine shift in both tone and mindset, full of lighthearted pop rock songs that go down with ease. Let’s just say while Age of[...]

Wexford – Silent Key

Who knew?! There’s more to Sandusky, Ohio than a bevy of excellent roller coasters. In this case, we’re talking about Wexford, a quartet with a veritable laundry list of expertise and talent. Their latest offering is Silent Key, a 13-song collection that combines their backgrounds in hardcore and metal with a reverence for alternative, post-hardcore, and OG emo. A listen through Silent Key is a peep hole into their varied influences, ranging everywhere from Social Distortion, to Fugazi, all the way to System of a Down. With said influences, it should be pretty obvious that this is an aggressive, guitar-forward album. Lucky for its listeners, it’s one that feels like a happy amalgam of its influences, rather than a reproduction of them. Wexford kicks off Silent Key with a verified banger, “Change Your Mind.” Here, we’re introduced to the mainstays of their sound – chugging guitars and blistering beats that absolutely bleed[...]

Bee Eigen – Sanguine

Nevada City-based singer/songwriter Bee Eigen is fresh off the release of her latest EP, Sanguine. A short-and-sweet four-song offering, Eigen specializes in heartfelt, bare-bones compositions that are lyrically driven. These songs are stuffed with clever verbiage that conjures razor-sharp imagery, leaving you feeling breathless and dewy-eyed. There’s no disguising anything here and that approach feels intentional – these songs are stripped-down to mostly acoustic guitar and Eigen’s winsome vocal character. With such a personal-sounding release, it’s best to hear a bit from the artist themselves – here’s an aside from Bee about where the inspiration from Sanguine came from: “The bliss of nothing. Uncertain footing and mourning old identities. The disgusting need for external validation. Life and all of its bittersweet qualities. These are some of the themes explored in my debut EP, Sanguine. Written over a span of 3+ years, these songs explore the ways in which my identity has[...]

Lily Meola – Heartbreak Rodeo

There’s something wild about Americana greatness coming from someone born outside the continental US, but Hawaii-born Lily Meola is busy putting out perfectly twangy pop. Her latest offering, the five-song Heartbreak Rodeo, is obviously Americana-inspired, but also flirts with country and pure-pop flavors, running the gamut between saloon-inspired balladry to straight-up hook factory pop songs. Lily was smart to kick Heartbreak Radio off with the most overtly catchy song on the EP, “Cowboy.” An indie-pop acoustic guitar progression bounces into your eardrums while a subtle shaker chicka-chickas in the background. The intro of the song is pretty enough, but around the thirty second mark, Meola unleashes an insane vocal run – it’s ruthlessly catchy and acts as a motif through the rest of the song. There aren’t many cowboys in Buffalo, NY (well, maybe in the suburbs), but it’s not hard to imagine “Cowboy” appealing to the Swifties of the world, especially[...]