Latest Posts

Two Point Oh – “Jackie Smile”

October 26, 2024

New Jersey based emo act Two Point Oh not only seems to have a marketing degree and have spelled their name phonetically, but also has a new single out, “Jackie Smile.” Bringing in some raw emo and pop elements is just what the doctor ordered here; the lyrics are heartfelt (about a long lost acquaintance flashing a smile from across the street); the guitars are somber; and the hooks are… well… hook felt. I’d be interested to hear how many vocal cords and guitar strings were destroyed with this intro alone (seriously, try screaming YEAAAAAHHHHHHH and imagine doing several takes of that). If anyone from the band has that number, I’d be interested to hear. You can hear “Jackie Smile” from YouTube below or add it to your cathartic outside feelings playlist on Spotify or Apple Music. This is an easy one to rock the fuck out to, which you[...]

Mondaze – “Son of the Rambling Dawn”

October 26, 2024

Four piece Mondaze brings us their latest dose of Italian shoegaze with “Son of the Rambling Dawn,” a phuzzed out affair that we’re diggin’ this week at The Blog. Robust guitars wail and whine, only barely ceding to give the vocals room to breathe (and hold their own!). Fans of Slowdive, My Bloody Valentine or their ilk would find a lot to enjoy here. Speaking to the track, the band had this to say: “[It delves into] the fleeting nature of life and the unavoidable fate that accompanies it, where uncertainty reigns and everything is destined to change.” You can hear “Son of the Rambling Dawn” below from YouTube. As always, it can be found on your preferred streaming service (if not YouTube): Bandcamp, Spotify or one of one of eight million others. You’ll also be able to find it on their upcoming album Linger due out November 11.    [...]

Slow Coast – “Double Vision”

October 26, 2024

Bay Area based Slow Coast brings us their latest track “Double Vision.” Not to be confused with fellow Californians Best Coast (based on the name alone). The track itself is a layered guitar leaning affair in a similar vein to Arctic Monkeys with boss vocals to match. The instrumental breakdown is something purely of beauty and well worth the experiencing as a whole with the rest of the track.  Speaking to the track, the band said: ” This song explores the paradox of feeling on top of the world one moment and worthless the next; and the internal battle of overcoming this feeling.” All completely valid feelings and easy to communicate.  The up tempo lyrics contrast starkly with the deeply inward lyrics and play hard into the experience Slow Coast is working toward. You can hear “Double Vision” over on YouTube or add to your Soundcloud/Spotify playlist of hook laden[...]

Beach Tower – Another Beach Tower EP

October 25, 2024

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[...]

Pena – Pocket Sized Pocket

October 24, 2024

Pena is the moniker of Rochester-based Isaiah Welch-Novels, who has just released their latest offering, Pocket Sized Pocket (PSP). Inspired by Rob Crow (of Pinback, Thingy, and solo-project fame), PSP is an understated and mysterious project built primarily around Isaiah, a four-track tape recorder, and his acoustic guitar. Any fan of Crow’s extensive discography knows his work is all-encompassing, including found sounds and a creative aesthetic that some might describe as “low effort” (check Pena’s bandcamp tags for proof)… but others see as genius. Pena follows a similar path – expect perplexing sound clips, room sounds, and other artifacts as you make your way through this intriguing LP.   The album opens with a wash of white noise on “Recycling Song.” Right away, Pena’s hallmarks become evident – noisy, direct-to-tape recordings; lyrical meandering; and pleasant-but-somber guitar riffs that don’t stick around for too long. In fact, there’s only one song on PSP that tops[...]

Niall Summerton – “Tear Me Apart”

October 24, 2024

North-Yorkshire based Niall Summerton roughs up the smooth edges of his debut on his latest single, “Tear Me Apart.” The indie crooner plays with simmering vibes that still somehow feature blown-out instrumentals. It makes for a low key experience that still capture sthe best bits of of urgency and anxiousness that post-punk is typically known for. Perfect for folks who at one point loved their Big Muff (TM) to death, but now enjoy a calming (but still cool) playlist during their 9-5. Check out “Tear Me Apart” via Soundcloud (below), or, add it to your favorite Spotify playlist. Niall Summerton · Tear Me Apart

mani zuko – “NeedNeedNeed”

October 23, 2024

“Australia’s underground rapper” mani zuko shows off more than just a hip hop pen on his latest single “NeedNeedNeed.” With a soft, melodic voice, mani hovers between singing and rapping as he pleads with his love interest to be “real” with him on this R&B-flavored track. Channeling Sampha, but with a pop-friendly hook, mani is a manic man holding onto his dream girl for dear life – how mutual is this interest, how unrequited is this love? Zuko’s rapping pen makes his verses tight, but his vocals and its accompanying production shine most as he wails to an audience of perhaps none. Boasting a tight 2 minute runtime and an earworm hook ready to latch on after one listen, “NeedNeedNeed” is needed on your R&B and pop rap playlists. Get a taste for more indie R+B and neo soul on mani zucko’s Spotify page.  

Matilda Schyborger – “Overthinking”

October 22, 2024

“Overthinking” is the latest from Swedish based Matilda Schyborger and it’s one of our favorites this week at The Blog. Synth and guitar feature prominently – with the former popping off within the first minute. Clever lyrics delivered smartly are a big thing for me and I’ll always tip my cap to word play (I think I overthink again/questioning whether I’m relevant). The slow parts really make this song and help it stand out from an otherwise oversaturated market of phuzzy synth based pop goodness. Musically, this reminded me a lot of Courtney Barnett as far as general sound – fans of Wet Leg and Soccer Mommy will be pleased as well. You can hear “Overthinking” below from YouTube over add it to your introspective pop mix on Spotify. Let us know how you feel about it so we can        

Caleb L’Etoile – “Tick (feat. Jessy Leigh)”

October 22, 2024

Fresh off of the I’m Always Haunted EP, “Tick” is the latest from Caleb L’Etoile and it’s here just in time for spooky season! Using everyone’s favorite insect arachnid (the tick, who knew?) the song becomes an extended metaphor for obsessive love but stops short of mentioning Lyme disease by name (thank you). The track itself features dueling vocals between L’Etoile and Jessy Leigh and a cavalcade of chillwave-ish sounds and effects which create a fun juxtaposition with the gross subject matter. Also, mad props to Jessy Leigh’s Twtter background (it’s from Junji Ito’s Uzumaki). You can hear “Tick” below from YouTube or add it to your spoopy season mix on Spotify or Soundcloud (or main playlist if you’re spooky all the time). The rest of the EP is available now as well, so be sure to check out the rest -including a couple punk covers!    

dayaway x draigh – “Lost on You”

October 22, 2024

Amber Renee of dayaway and bandmate Graham Marsh (under the guise of their side project draigh) bring us their latest with collab track, “Lost on You.” You’ll be lulled into a delightful indie daze for days with strumming guitars that have a mournful indie folk tinge playing along with Renee’s impossibly gorgeous vocals. Speaking to the track (and explaining how I detected the “mournful” bit) Renee had this to say: “Lost on You’ is really quite a sad song. It’s about the realization that you love someone who isn’t in a place to receive it. Your love is real, but it’s wasted on someone who can’t hold its weight.” You can watch the music video for “Lost on You” below via YouTube or add it to your melancholy playlist over on Soundcloud or Spotify. You can hear it on the new EP, A Dream Away out December 12 (Turn to Wind[...]

Teefa – “Confess”

October 21, 2024

Chicago emcee Teefa channels Lauryn Hill and the Fugees both in lyrics and production on her latest single “Confess.” Sampling some elements of the “Ready or Not,” beat, and most notably Lauryn Hill’s lyric “I must confess, my destiny’s manifest,” Teefa discusses the journey and pressures to be the best version of one’s self. Growth, motivation and drive are lyrical themes in a lot of Teefa’s projects as she works to bring excellence to her day-to-day. With a tight flow and sharp lyrics, Teefa delivers a smooth, inspiring single that will be at home on your conscious rap and alternative hip hop playlists. Take a deeper dive into Teefa’s previous releases ahead of her debut project, “The Making.”

Melo Griffith & seantommy – “READY YET”

October 21, 2024

Toronto-based artists Melo Griffith and seantommy join forces for a short and sweet track with elements of hip house and traditional rap on “READY YET.” Rapper/singer Melo carefully navigates a tight 1:33 runtime, taking advantage of every second to flex his quick flow, tight songwriting, and catchy interplay with the groovy beat. seantommy on production delivers a thumping, drum heavy, club ready beat that gets the head bobbing and feet moving. Melo’s mic E-N-E-R-G-Y and seantommy’s beat switchups ensure both artists get to shine equally on a really tight track that will fit in nicely with your higher energy party playlists. Both Melo Griffith and seantommy have a variety of sounds in their back catalog – take a look at their Spotify to learn more about these exciting artists up North.

Pekoe Cat – “The Down and Outers”

October 18, 2024

High energy indie project Pekoe Cat has a new single called “The Down and Outers” that is blaring from the office speakers today. Pekoe Cat is the recording name for multi-instrumentalist comedian Kyle Woolven. Hailing from Belleville, Ontario, Woolven’s Pekoe Cat project displays his more serious side and is a counter balance to his comedy work. The track “The Down and Outers” is an upbeat indie pop song that goes hard on the tempo. Fans of The Strokes, Vampire Weekend, or The Drums would be into this one. Check it out.

Idaho Green – “Studs Up at the Suds Hut”

October 18, 2024

Idaho Green’s single “Studs Up at the Suds Hut” may hold the record for the shortest song we’ve covered at the blog. In fact, you may even linger longer on this page than listening to the song, which is pretty good for our backend stats so I would encourage you to do so. The band originates from Huntley Project, Montana and has been creating fuzzy diddies since 2008. In 2015, Idaho Green relocated to Brooklyn where they found themselves in a weird dichotomy, they were too artsy for Montana, but too redneck for Brooklyn. The single, “Studs Up at the Suds Hut” is a 40 second track that fans of Rozwell Kid, Sleeping Bag, or Diarrhea Planet would appreciate. Check it out below and give them a follow on Instagram.  Gems of the High Plains by Idaho Green

Genra – “Insecure”

October 18, 2024

You know that feeling when you see a particularly tough picture of yourself? “Is that what I really look like – this is what people see?” That will put a hole in your soul. Bay Area rapper Genra digs into this how crippling this experience can be on his latest single “Insecure.” Genra runs through the checklist of things he’s done instead of rapping: got a new job, paid his taxes, trips to Costco, watching UFC – anything besides releasing music. The hiatus isn’t out of laziness. Genra admits his procrastinations come from self-doubt after he caught an unflattering glimpse of himself, tying the track title into the hook. It’s a highly relatable track from the alternative hip hop artist. In Genra’s hands, this idea is a catchy off-my-chest track featuring an evolving, sparkling, keyboard loop for a beat. You can find more from Genra on Spotify – check out[...]