Latest Posts

Big Noble – “Peg”

November 10, 2014

The words “new music from Interpol” used to not send cringes down my spine. There was a time when this band was still good and that time is long up. Save for the throw-back opening track, El Pintor is another album that lacks the swagger Carlos D used to bring to the band. Still, my curiosity has remained strong whenever anything Interpol related is released,so naturally, the first track/video from Big Noble was at least click worthy. Big Noble is the side project from Interpol guitarist, Daniel Kessler, and upon first listen, its already better than most of Interpol’s last decade. Some of my favorite tracks from the band, “Untitled” and “Next Exit,” relied heavily on dreamy atmospherics, and that’s exactly what makes “Peg” so good. Its contemplative, minimal, and carries a lingering dense of dread that never really shows itself. The video pairs the song with gorgeous shots snowy[...]

Lesionread Shares Video For “So Lonely Without,” Preps Greatest Hits Album

November 6, 2014

The always busy performance artist, Lesionread (aka Shawn Lewis), recently released his latest music video for the track, “So Lonely Without.” The song will appear on the young performer’s Greatest Hits! Vol. 1 (Live God/Polygraph Records), a collection pf new tracks from Lewis in addition to remixes from Steak & Cake Records, the Get Money Squad’s Jon Bap, Young Stalin, Charles Bordeaux, Chauncey Tails, Ay Fast, and more. Keep an eye out for the album to drop sometime this winter. While currently on tour with fellow electro act, Kristachuwan, those looking to catch Lesionread’s next local gig should head down to Dreamland on Wednesday, November 12th as Lewis is set to open for Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt!. In the mean time, watch the video for “So Lonely Without,” which was directed by former Buffalo resident Tom Dennis, below.

Flying Lotus – “Ready Err Not”

October 31, 2014

Continuing the theme of spooky music videos around Halloween time is producer Flying Lotus. A single off of the super-critically acclaimed (and appropriately titled) Your Dead!, “Ready Err Not” is minimal-sounding, excellently produced song that I didn’t know was scary until this video. Straight out of the twisted mind of David Firth, the animator behind “Salad Fingers,”  “Ready Err Not” is a demented animation that looks into the lives of some deformed cannibalistic sub-humans. I’ve shown 5 people this video and every single one of them (dat sample size) voiced their uncomfortableness. It’s also an unconventional type of NSFW so if you don’t want to be looked at as the office weirdo I’d stay away for now. It’s artistic, intentionally off-putting, and allows you to re-imagine the song in a way that I know I didn’t see at first. Watch it below, and remember it’s NSFW.

Dreamers – “My Little Match”

October 31, 2014

No thanks to our current spooky season, I have been on a major found footage kick as of late with films like Afflicted, Wolf Creek, and in particular, the V/H/S series. The stories within a story, sort-of-anthology horror films have featured some truly disturbing video tapes of found footage hysteria, ranging alien abductions to zombie mountain bikers to the most fucked up cult I have ever seen. With a genre that is becoming increasingly played out, the films (a third was just released) have been a fun, and genuinely scary, watch. So I was happy to find the V/H/S inspired music video from surfy-grunge trio, Dreamers, in our inbox this morning. “My Little Match” is full of grainy clips of murders and other unexplained occurrences, plus a pretty clever use of a TV remote in the very V/H/S-type twist to finish. Its a fun watch right on time for Halloween. Watch the[...]

The Tins Release NSFW Video For “Let It Go”

October 23, 2014

Does a 4-song EP need a video for every song? Maybe not, but at least the Tins are making them interesting. From Freddie Mercury impersonators to violence on watermelons, the three-piece indie duo has been getting some major burn out of its latest release, Young Blame EP. The latest video comes from a pretty unlikely partnership in local motion picture artist, Malt Disney. The abstract visionary, who normally works with acts like Jact Toft and Dr. Ooo, took the reigns on the video for “Let It Go,” setting the single to sexy, topless shark girls walking around Outer Harbor/First Ward area, in addition to a lot of other really odd stuff. Regardless, its a fresh vision for the band, and anything Malt Disney gets his hands on is worth a peak. The video is NSFW so maybe wait a couple hours and watch the clip for “Let It Go” when you are safe at[...]

Interpol – “My Desire”

October 22, 2014

Early aughts NYC post-punk darlings Interpol released a video for “My Desire,” the latest single off their underrated 2014 release El Pintor, and it’s a doozy. Directed by Markus Lundqvist, the atmospheric and mildly disturbing clip features the band providing a slow burning soundtrack to one man’s alcohol fueled mental breakdown in an otherwise pleasant roadhouse. It’s another great single from a band enjoying a revival of sorts after the ho-hum Interol in 2010 and a four year break that some thought signaled its end. Hopefully Interpol will return to WNY in 2015, but in the meantime…

Routine Involvements Release Music Video For “UFO”

October 21, 2014

Last week, Rochester-based two-piece, Routine Involvements, released its first music video for the single “UFO.” Featured on the band’s early 2014 release, Future Days (Dadstache Records),  the video for “UFO” is superbly cinematic, displaying the Routine Involvement boys breaking free from their sheltered vision to experience a well-choreographed dance routine to an almost blinding light show. The instrumental song is clear, cohesive, and incredibly driving, almost like Queens of the Stone Age sat down with a Cloud Nothings album prior to going into the studio. The video is a collaboration between Michael Schifino (Director) Aaron Gordon (Director of Photgraphy), and Ciera Carhart (Executive Producer), and without a doubt, it is the most well-produced and expertly directed video we’ve seen from a regional band to date (sans Joywave, but are they even a “local” band anymore?). Routine Involvements “UFO” from Michael Schifino on Vimeo.

Frigid Giant Releases Spicy New Video Complete with Luchadores and Tequila

October 17, 2014

There are very few things in the this world more entertaining than a good music video, and lucky for us rising Buffalo emcee Frigid Giant has released exactly that with “I Didn’t Wanna.” Following “Shuma Gorath” as the second video off of From My Cold Dead Hands, “I Didn’t Wanna” follows the adventures of Giant after he awakens from a deep booze slumber to find himself shirtless on Hamburg beach with an empty bottle of Patrón to his side. As he finds his way through “Tijuana,” he re-ups on more alcohol at Don Tequila, meets up with guest artist MCKP, and discovers his new identity through a lucha libre mask. In between this cinematic adventure we also get some spliced in luchador action, really helping drive home the south of the border vibes. The song itself narrates a lot of the vid, and features a killer hook that is now stuck[...]

The RealBads Drop “Prom Night” Music Video

October 3, 2014

Beyond paying attention to the music scene in Buffalo and Rochester, we like to explore a bit in Ithaca and Syracuse’s music scene. Today was a good day to poke around, because Ithaca’s the Realbads just released their debut video, “Prom Night,” off the forthcoming album, Here Come The RealBads (Sweet Baby God Records). The album was recorded with Binghamton producer Hunter Davidsohn, who also worked on the new Porches and Frankie Cosmos records. As for the song/track, “Prom Night” sounds like a fuzzed out yet dreamy version of Sharon Van Etten or Angel Olsen with a touch of Jefferson Airplane thrown in. The animated video is a bit of a mind trip, tracking a purple mannequin through a variety of scenes that someone less sober than I may be able to decipher. Check out the Realbads music over on their bandcamp page and watch the video for “Prom Night” below.

Jon Lewis Releases Animated Video For “Tomorrow”

October 2, 2014

Earlier this week, we came across the new music video for “Tomorrow,” a Jens Lekman-esque track from Rochester singer/songwriter, Jon Lewis. The animated clip, which was directed by Johnny Mchone (Adult Swim’s Mr. Pickles), features a reflective, gumby-like man looking at past memories and getting sucked into the drawing. Kids who grew up on Nickelodeon in the early 90s should get a nice shot of nostalgia from the clip. Check out Lewis’ material on bandcamp and watch the video for “Tomorrow” below.

Joey Bada$$ – “Christ Conscious”

October 1, 2014

The hype is building for the debut album from young Brooklyn rapper Joey Bada$$. Cleverly titled B4.DA.$$ (Before Da Money/BADASS), the album hopes to continue the streak of very strong records from Joey. 2012 saw the then 17-year-old release 1999, a mixtape of boom bap beats and a laid back flow of monotony. Joey appeared wise beyond his years as he narrated life on the street as well as life with the homies of Pro Era, and the project garnered critical acclaim (it remains one of my favorite mixtapes ever). Last year, Bada$$ released Summer Knights, again well-received, but with somewhat of a change stylistically. A characteristic of pre-Summer Knights Joey was his consistently smooth, easy flow. The new project saw him go in a direction aimed towards aggression. “95 Til Infinity,” “Amethyst Rockstar,” and even the rasta-flavored “My Yout” featured a harder, raspier voice from Joey, distinctly removed from his old[...]

Hot Tip Releases Simple, Fitting Video for “Human Cage”

September 22, 2014

Some of the best music videos (any maybe pieces of art in general?) are single concepts carried out simply and directly. I’m thinking of one in particular, the video for The Pixies’ “Velouria,” but Hot Tip‘s new video for “Human Cage” is pretty much in the same vein. It’s a single, claustrophobic shot following singer Katherine Goewey through some cornstalks. That’s also not a bad way to describe the song: there’s all this noise closing in and Katherine’s wails are all you really have to hold on to and even then, it’s not like she’s waiting for you. Check the video out below:

Alleys Post Wordy New Music Video

September 22, 2014

Alleys get existential in their new video for “Can’t You Just Make Fun of the Way I Talk Again…?” Singer/drummer Sebastian Cichon literally faces himself in a minimalistic video featuring the two-piece’s riffy emo/skramz. Cichon’s distinctive Sprechgesang is equally heartfelt and heartbreaking over Alex Cadwalladder’s nimble guitar – recommended for fans of TWIABP or Nai Harvest… Just no matter what, don’t accuse these guys of being WR.

Yung Lean – “Ghosttown”

September 19, 2014

On the heels of news that debut album Unknown Memory has leaked (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), Lean has blessed his emotional disciples with “Ghosttown,” the album’s second single. With a seriously good feature from GOOD Music’s Travis Scott, “Ghosttown” is likely Lean’s greatest achievement in music. By collaborating with his signee, Yung Lean is literally one degree of separation from Kanye West. Think about that. Will Yung Lean appear on a Kanye album in the future? Probably not, but I’m just happy to be able to ask that question. This track is seriously excellent. Lean attacks it in his usual autotuned droning sing, and it’s as surprisingly refreshing as ever. Travi$ Scott is currently dominating the autotune singing game, something that he probably learned from Ye. “Ghosttown” is a true collaboration between the artists, somewhat surprising due to the disparity in their fame. After exchanging verses, the two serenade each other as the track[...]

Handsome Jack Releases Music Video For “Right On”

September 17, 2014

Following the release of their new single “Echoes,” Buffalo retro rockers, Handsome Jack, have continued to tease their forthcoming record, Do What Comes Naturally, with a new music video for the song “Right On.” The Go Pro (?) filmed clip for the soulful, slow burner finds the band performing the single while making some late night stops around the city. If you like what you hear, make sure to join Handsome Jack at Mohawk Place on October 24th to celebrate the release of Do What Comes Naturally, or if you are impatient like me, head down to Nietzsche’s this Saturday to catch the boys open for Buffalo Killers. New songs will sure to be tackled. Watch the video for “Right On” below.