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Manzo – “Venice”

November 5, 2016

Milwaukee’s Manzo has his eyes set west on his second release “Venice.” The track details his emotions during transitional periods and jobs while pursuing his music career. It’s not all glamorous, but there’s a give and take, Manzo describes with “spent my last paycheck on groceries, Dulce, and a muhfuckin’ gold chain.” “Venice” has an excited drum pattern with some strong, sustained horns. It’s a great landscape for Manzo to lay out his path, and he takes off with it. Give it a listen below.

Cliz – “Class Is In Session”

November 5, 2016

Cliz’s “Class is in Session” is a controversial, fiery take on the true value of a college education. For a creative like Cliz, it’s necessary to beg the question “how do you tell me that I need a master’s or bachelor’s when I’ve already mastered what I want to become on this Earth?” He stands up to the narrative that successful people need to go to four years of college, and challenges the logic of making a lifetime financial commitment when you’re a naive 18-year-old. Cliz doesn’t  condemn it all, but he’s adding quality insight to the conversation. Give it a listen below.

E-Pro – “Jam Bands Ruined Your Life”

November 5, 2016

Upstate NY’s E-Pro has whittled together a hilarious song and accompanying video for his Joke Rogan single “Jam Bands Ruined Your Life.” The rapper spins the tale of an impressionable freshman who did acid with his new friends at college and ended up being the biggest Grateful Deal fan you’ve ever met. He’s relentless, and informed with his roasts namedropping notable psychedelic pioneers like the line “Even Terrance McKenna thinks you’re retarded.” It’s a fun, hilarious story about someone we all know, with the badass ending “Moral of the story: You don’t gotta be this kid, you could listen to boom bap rap like E-Pro did.” Check it out below and more from E-Pro on the Joke Rogan project.

Connor Oberst – Ruminations

November 4, 2016

Conor Oberst has been around the indie scene for some time now. Most famously, he’s been the lead man of Bright Eyes since the late ‘90s, in addition to a handful of other collaborations and bands under his belt. But he’s been releasing his own solo material since the age of 13, and now Ruminations is his seventh studio full length, and tenth solo release overall. On his latest record, Oberst sounds incredibly alone, both in tone and in subject matter. Musically, Ruminations is stripped down to almost nothing. With his voice dead center, the only instrumental support comes from an acoustic guitar, and occasional piano or harmonica. Written and recorded over the course of a few days in the middle of winter, the music is a perfect companion for the desolate heft of his words. It’s almost startling in its emptiness, employing a classic folk artist’s process, made in[...]

Magic Bronson – “What A Week”

November 3, 2016

LA’s Magic Bronson impressed us when we heard the smooth pulse of “What A Week.” His latest single is sexy and mysterious, blending a stuttering backbeat, with pulsating synth bursts and distant, washy vocals. Plus, if you let out a deep, long sigh of relief at the end of a tough week, you can surely relate to this one. Bronson has a distinct flavor that would appeal to fans of Alt-J, Phantogram, or Gnarls Barkley. Snag it from iTunes if you dig it. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/288903624″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Holy Fawn – “Reykur”

November 3, 2016

Three adjectives to describe Holy Fawn‘s latest single, “Reykur:” swelling, anthemic, and a little off-kilter (in a good way). This Phoenix quartet boasts a sky-high vocalist, swirling math rock sentiment, and overwhelming post-rock ambience. All in all, it’s a really cool listen. Fans of Animal Collective, DIIV, or Deerhoof will dig Holy Fawn. “Reykur” is available via Bandcamp for a “pay what you want” rate. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/286099059″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Hippo Campus – “Boyish”

November 3, 2016

Hippo Campus put out a song we’ve been digging lately. “Boyish” is an upbeat jam with a youthful, alternative-rock energy. About the song, Hippo Campus says, “There’s a moment in growing up when it becomes clear that the road you walk is your own to cultivate…” “Boyish” deals with confronting the ghosts of your pasts. For fans of Coheed and Cambria, Mute Math, or Young The Giant. You can buy “Boyish” on iTunes if you dig it.

Deep Sea Arcade – “Learning To Fly”

November 3, 2016

Deep Sea Arcade is a duo from Sydney, Australia who just released their first new music in four years. Lead single “Learning To Fly” is a psychedelic-pop journey, combining Casio-tone strings with droning acoustic guitar strums and dreamy vocals. Fans of MGMT, Flaming Lips, or Scissor Sisters will feel right at home. Check ’em out on Spotify too. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/286937211″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Tonight: Berwanger

November 3, 2016

Kansas City rock ‘n rollers Berwanger are playing Mohawk Place tonight, celebrating their latest release, Exorcism Rock. You might recognize Josh Berwanger from emo stalwarts The Anniversary, who just completed a reunion tour (the band also features members of Limbeck and The Promise Ring). Urban Reverie and Elemantra are also in tow tonight. Doors are at 8pm and the cost to get in is $8. While you wait for this evening, check out the new video for “Exorcism Rock” below.

Warpaint – Heads Up

November 2, 2016

Warpaint is a sly quartet of women whose coolness seems unparalleled at times. Their style runs it’s course on you – it’s all-consuming, relaxed, sexy, slithery… Heads Up marks the band’s fourth release, with “New Song” as their debut single. “New Song” is Warpaint’s attempt at becoming a pseudo-electronica pop band. Roaring synths and malformed voices accompany typical soft vocals and a thumping bass. It’s safe the say the the chorus is catchy. A plate-y tambourine shakes on the one of every other measure serving the song as a calling card. The song eases from part to part, but maintains a form of pure excitement that consistently pulls you in. Other necessary listens are “Whiteout,” “So Good,” “Dre,” and “Today Dear”. “Whiteout” is this album’s first. Brilliant accented drums and distant guitar coo the listener. “You wouldn’t know it but you’re really in your prime,” is a sentiment one could[...]

Ugly Sun Shares Debut Music Video

November 1, 2016

Ugly Sun is off to a good start – we last checked in with them when they sent us their rowdy debut single, “Mock Me Out.” In case you live under a rock, this power trio has been a part of several well-respected local bands (including Nelson-Type, Arctic Death, Father Baron, and Mandy K). They are certainly keeping up the momentum with their new music video for “Burned Alive.” Ugly Sun’s sound recalls the recent wave of lo-fi garage rock bands like FIDLAR and Wavves but with a more expansive dynamic and melodic sound. It’s wildly infectious and had a wonderful manic energy to it that’s utterly winning. The video for “Burned Alive,” features frenetic editing and images of indulgence and reckless abandon perfectly capture the youthful spirit of the band’s music. This is a fresh arrival on the WNY music scene but on the basis of their latest release,[...]

Space Cubs – Something For Us

October 31, 2016

Something For Us is a chilling inhale and a warm reprieve. This eight-song release serves as Suzanne Bonifacio’s most recent full length as Space Cubs, the one-woman experimental electronic project based out of Buffalo. With vocals that are pure, direct and at times otherworldly, Bonifacio constructs an atmosphere around her listener. Each song is a tapestry, thickly woven with minute detail, unique depictions interlaced into each one. The speaker on this album is adrift, dealing with the seemingly impossible burden of being unsure and living uncomfortably with the desire to change. On “That First Day”, she sings: “I’m planting myself tiny seeds / But picking them up cause they won’t be stomached today / I’m losing myself in another day’s due / Now watching the days growing old / To learn what is sweet is the greatest hill I am climbing / Now I sit within my findings / I[...]

YJY – “Past My Prime”

October 30, 2016

YJY are a group of fuzz rockers with a charming new single, “Past My Prime.” If anyone else is lamenting their 10-year high school reunion, you might be able to relate to this one. “Past My Prime” reminds us all that (for some of us), high school was the best time of our lives. They do this via music video which highlights their cheeky lyrics and fuzzy, surfy guitar-pop. Fans of Wavves, Cloud Nothings, or Modern Baseball will dig it. Their latest, The Same Noise, is out now via Bandcamp.

Wildhart – “Shake Off”

October 30, 2016

Swedish trio Wildhart is tough to pin down, but that’s why we’re digging their latest track “Shake Off.” Their effervescent pop is jazzy with a touch of electronica. Though it doesn’t smart of traditional pop songwriting, Wildhart is one of those bands that simmers alongside of you. Comparisons include: Warpaint, Grace Potter, or Dum Dum Girls. Send Wildhart some love and visit them on Bandcamp. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/287123516″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Pronoun – “A Million Other Things”

October 30, 2016

Self-professed emo-kid pronoun is an indie-popper who we’ve been digging lately. “A Million Other Things” is the result of a few late night sessions spent holed in her Brooklyn apartment. We especially liked her use of hushed vocals and straightforward indie vibes. Pronoun sounds a bit like Tegan and Sara, Metro Station, or Say Hi. Check Pronoun out on iTunes… Her debut EP will be out Nov. 18th. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/283847843″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]