Latest Posts

Infinitefreefall – “Desecrated Landscape”

August 29, 2024

“Desecrated Landscape” is the latest from South Carolina based four piece Infinitefreefall and it’s a lot of sound packed in just over three minutes (and we love it). Billed as “experimental pop,” this is a great vague term but, like most vague terms, doesn’t entirely do the band justice. The track leans into the shoegazey/psychedelic guitar and mashes together into quite the formidable force behind Maxton Strenstrom’s vocals. This reminded me a lot of Foals but if they had 30% less treble and smoked some DMT – which is nothing against Foals because we like them too! You can hear “Desecrated Landscape” below from Soundcloud or throw it on your trippy pop playlist today on Spotify. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve heard, be sure to check out the band’s back catalogue and upcoming album due out sometime before the end of the year.  

22° Halo – “Virtual You”

August 28, 2024

22° Halo, with this writing now a repeat Buffablog band, brings us their newest single “Virtual You.” We last heard their second newest single “Bird Sanctuary” back in April and, unsurprisingly, we loved it (you can see our review here). The project of Philadelphia based Will Kennedy, he tends to lean heavily into the lo-fi indie sound to great success and this track is no different. Singing about chasing that cruel mistress nostalgia, there’s a twinge of sadness but it pairs nicely with his bare bones guitar twang and his vocals that are moved along by the underlying bass and drums. As always, we’ve included the link to YouTube for your listening pleasure below as well as Bandcamp and Spotify if you’re looking to add (honestly both singles) to your playlist. Be on the lookout for their new album Lily of the Valley, due out November 8 from Far Caspian’s[...]

Polaroid Fade – “Delancey”

August 22, 2024

“Delancey” is the latest from New Jersey based Polaroid Fade. Born out of a love for bands like The Smiths and The Sundays, this is a full-steam-ahead love letter to alt rock and dream pop, with a hint of indie sleaze. Singer Nicoletta Giuliani belts out some fantastic lyrics with a guitar-forward backdrop and threatens to overpower them (seriously, she has some PIPES). Coming in at just under five minutes feels juuust long enough to hook me but leave me wanting for more, which, if quality of sound is any indicator, should keep happening for some time. You can hear “Delancey” below from YouTube, or add it to your presumably burgeoning dream pop playlist on Spotify (we have a type, ya know?). Their first album Chaos in Poetry will be out sometime this year, so be sure to give the band a follow on their socials or Spotify. Don’t forget to[...]

Johnny Cisneros – “IT’S TOO LATE”

August 22, 2024

LA based Johnny Cisneros‘ latest is “IT’S TOO LATE” and it’s somehow the most relaxing yet frantic track I’ve heard in a hot minute. A follow up to the first track, “NEEDY,” off of his upcoming EP, “IT’S TOO LATE” has a low key sound, but the BPM and Cisneros’ so-called “Spanglish Indie” lyrics for a really unique take that had me hooked from the start. This definitely had a post-punk vibe similar to Day Wave that I find myself enjoying more and more, especially with that crispy vintage crackle that makes it sound like it’s being played off of a vinyl. It’s not too late to listen to “IT’S TOO LATE,” (unless you’re up past your bedtime, in which case you can wait until the morning) available on the usual gamut of YouTube, Spotify, or Soundcloud. The new EP will be out in September, so keep your ears peeled[...]

Lila Holler – “Not Mad”

August 22, 2024

Liverpool-based Lila Holler brings us her latest with “Not Mad,” a fabulously mixed and performed indie pop track that is sure to work its way into both your ears and all your playlists. I particularly enjoyed how easy it was to understand what Holler was singing, because I have issues with some songs here and there where I just can’t understand the lyrics. Holler’s vocals float and flitter around the acoustic guitar and gentle piano track, giving a Phoebe Bridgers or Lizzy McAlpine vibe, but standing strong enough on its own. Speaking to the track Holler had this to say: “I wanted the music to feel as light and bubbly as I felt inside” (mission accomplished, btw). You can hear “Not Mad” below from YouTube or over on Spotify or Soundcloud. This will be on her forthcoming EP so if you’re digging this you’ll want to check that out. If[...]

Make Friends – “I Lose, You Lose”

August 22, 2024

Make Friends brings us their latest with “I Lose, You Lose.” The band is a group of friends who started out six years ago, inspired by indie-dance punk of Foals and Bombay Bicycle Club. The track itself is a tight mix of keys, drums, bass, and guitar with the rhythm section doing a lot of the heavy lifting and driving the track forward. The vocals are appropriately treated as another instrument; falling mostly in an upbeat, singsong, falsetto-adjacent range. The beats are undeniable and you can help but at *least* bop your head along, if not break out into dance. Fans of Hot Hot Heat or of Montreal would find a lot to enjoy here, as would anyone with ears. You can hear “I Lose, You Lose” on the band’s Soundcloud, Spotify, or the YouTube embed down below. I won’t spoil if it’s an actual actual music video, so I’ll[...]

Lean Tee – “800m”

August 14, 2024

“800m” is the latest track from Baltimore-based Lean Tee, and it’s the perfect thinking persons understated banger of the week. With the press kit they sent us, they (or their record label) called them “up-and-coming” but I honestly don’t think that’s a fair assessment Outdoor Cat records… Lean Tee is already here. This is a superior, fleshy guitar driven song that is absolutely perfect in its simplicity – the guitar refrain is somehow the catchiest thing I’ve heard all week. This isn’t all guitar though, plenty of synth makes its way into the mix and just… sounds perfect the whole way through? This is definitely a band to look for with a strong back catalogue that you’ll find plenty of enjoyment in, especially for fans of Sunny Day Real Estate, Duster, or Pinback. Be sure to check out our previous writeup of “bad dream/lethargy” here. You can hear “800m” on[...]

Mila Degray – “Masculine Charm”

August 14, 2024

Mila Degray is a Florida-based Colombian singer and “Masculine Charm” is her latest single. Starting with the softest of intros and working up to a guitar charged stanza, Degray decrescendos into in almost dream pop haze before picking back up again. These starts and stops wouldn’t work anywhere else, but this is done masterfully and helps it stand out from the rest of the pack. Fans of Phoebe Bridgers and boygenius would find a lot to enjoy here, as would any proper pop aficionado. Speaking to the subject matter and the spark of inspiration for the track, Mila had this to say: “Masculine Charm is about an experience I had with an older famous singer when I was 18 in a nice NYC hotel… He said I had “Masculine Charm.” You can watch the vintage vibe music video for “Masculine Charm” on YouTube or add it to your indie post[...]

Chrome Daphne – “Like It Does”

August 14, 2024

Self professed “Toronto based vibe machine” Chrome Daphne brings us their latest with “Like It Does” and boy, lemme tell ya, they sure friggin’ do here. Made up of childhood friends Ben Cherry and Chris da Silva, we’re treated to a fine ass synth intro that adds in drum machines and bass (with a cavalcade of effects). This is an impossibly smooth track – it’s actually the law that you need to turn the bass up to 11 on this to do it justice. Speaking to the track Cherry had this to say: “Toronto has always had this hustle-bustle/rat-race mentality kinda like New York and I think this song came as a sort of response to that. It’s this realization of the importance of stopping to smell the roses; a shift in perspective.” You can hear “Like It Does” from YouTube below, or add it to your funky synth playlist[...]

Tesha – “In the Fields of Malfunctioned Love”

August 14, 2024

“In the Fields of Malfunctioned Love” is both one of the most depressing song titles and also the latest from Israeli born, NYC-based artist Tesha. Hauntingly beautiful, Tesha’s vocals pull you in and lock you up and throw away the key (and it’s totally fine because we wanna be here). Underpinned by a LOT of sound and a drum machine, everything leads back to Tesha – you absolutely cannot avoid that. The best elevator pitch I could describe would be if Billie Eilish and Björk started a cover band along with copious amounts of weed. Stylistically you can’t ignore the presence Tesha brings; it’s literally impossible (check out her website if you still don’t believe me). You can hear “In the Fields of Malfunctioned Love” down below from YouTube or add it to your far out playlist alongside Billie Eilish and Björk over on Spotify or Soundcloud.

moon:and:6 – “Opportunity”

August 14, 2024

Canadian based moon:and:6 is a project of Michael Chambers and “Opportunity” is his latest; an ode to the Mars Rover of the same name. Musically this is a seemingly laid back affair with dirge-like guitars mixed together with synths on repeat that give an appropriate sci-fi vibe. If you’re a fan of Grandaddy or Postal Service and yearn for their deeper cuts slowed down, this is definitely up your alley. I have a HUGE soft spot for all of the rovers we’ve sent out to the great abyss so this song holds a particular significance for me. (Humans are funny and we will literally bond with a seemingly meaningless hunk of metal thousands of miles away). The tone is particularly somber and I wouldn’t have it any other way -Chambers uses Opportunity as a lens for the human experience and the inevitable end, yet finding the beauty in the struggle.[...]

Sugar Soap – “Living Uptown”

August 11, 2024

“Living Uptown” is the latest from Australian indie pop band Sugar Soap and we couldn’t be happier to hear it at the Blog. A band we covered a few years ago (here), we’ve missed a couple releases since then but not on purpose (it’s been a weird four years). The band has definitely grown, but not in a drastically different way (that I could hear at least – just the little things). 2020’s Like Minds was a bit more in your face and definitely rocks, while “Living Uptown” brings a sort of beachy/bedroom pop vibe that we’re all about. Don’t mistake that for not being energetic and fun though, the drums and guitar drive this track forward with some synth interludes to mix things up (plus some wacky effects throughout). If you put the Arctic Monkeys on a beach and made them listen to the Beach Boys for a couple[...]

Letting Up Despite Great Faults – “Dress”

August 10, 2024

LA and Austin based Letting Up Despite Great Faults has a new single, “Dress” off of the EP of the same name. A delightful indie dream pop four piece, they’ve been playing together in some form since 2009 and haven’t looked back (well, went on a hiatus for awhile but it sounds cooler to say they didn’t look back). The track is impeccably put together with a strong bass line underpinning the whole song, but never once overpowers the the wispy guitars or vocals. From the start to the end it’s a lesson in simplicity that doesn’t sound it; LUDGF is obviously teaching the 400 level course for it. Speaking to the track, songwriter Mike Lee had this to say: “…Thinking about old and former friends and loves, and then thinking about my own funeral, I quickly got stuck on this curiosity of what everyone would wear. You know, the[...]

MacGregor Burns – “She Never Took a Chance On Me”

August 10, 2024

LA based MacGregor Burns brings us his latest with “She Never Took a Chance On Me.” Producer Luke Temple pulls double duty and also contributes to the track musically. I’ve never heard of MacGregor Burns until this moment but I felt immediately connected to his slacker rock chill acoustic guitar, with some incredibly warm tones that feel vintage (maybe you can ask Luke, he might know). Fans of Car Seat Headrest would find a lot to enjoy here, as would anyone who pines for a Neutral Milk Hotel reunion tour (and maybe a dash of Conor Oberst). You can hear “She Never Took a Chance On Me” below from YouTube, Bandcamp, or Spotify. This will make an easy addition to your sad breakup mixes or general rotation. If you like what you’ve heard there’s an album coming in the fall and there’s and earlier release this year “Paradise Motel” that is[...]

baby tsar – “Have You Ever Heard the Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?”

August 7, 2024

“Have you ever heard the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise?” is somehow a song that I had not heard of until today, by the band baby tsar. For those unfamiliar, it’s a quote nerds like me are familiar with from the Star Wars universe. From what I can tell this has nothing to do with Star Wars (other than the name), but that’s okay because we love a cheeky title. Hidden behind the name (that I’m not typing out again, even copy and paste) is a well crafted emo pop song in a similar vein as Taking Back Sunday or The Starting Line. Midwest intro, drums, blistering guitar, all perfectly attuned to the vocals. It was really nice hearing this style again, as it caught me unawares; I haven’t jammed out this hard in a long time. It was never a phase MOM! You can hear “Have You Ever[...]