Latest Posts

Newish Star Shares You Missed Everything Pt. 1

October 6, 2015

Well, they’ve done it again, and it doesn’t even really come as much of a surprise anymore. Coming as their THIRD release this year, local lo-fi punk/indie act Newish Star has announced another new full length, titled You Missed Everything, and put the first half up on bandcamp this past Sunday. It also comes as no surprise that this clocks in at less than 10 minutes. At this point, one would guess that at three releases in just this year, the trio’s material may begin to become stale, but that is not the case. On the first half of You Missed Everything, it’s clear that Newish Star is showing no signs of slowing down, presenting some of their hardest hitting, down to earth, and catchiest tracks yet. The band’s punk influences show in moments like the ripping drum tracks on “Pinball / Dirty Pool” and the short but sweet “Cream,”[...]

Avicii – Stories

October 6, 2015

The scene starts out black. Forceful, bright MIDI grand piano chords play. The scene fades in. A tattered pair of old sneakers are walking down a sidewalk “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” the lyrics tell you as the MIDI instruments break into a full MIDI arrangement. The camera pedestals upward from the ankles of your tan work pants (Levis, of course) as you walk hurriedly towards your destination. From your Levi pocket, that your right hand is stuffed into, runs a white chord (your Samsung Galaxy S3 stock headphones, of course) that droops across the baggy green work polo you’re wearing. The small red logo on the shirt reads the same as your destination that lay ahead– Budwey’s. As you get closer to work on an overcast and cool fall day, you begin to dread your first task– clocking in and taking off your headphones. You remember that[...]

Total Yuppies Drops First Single

October 5, 2015

Freshly-formed Rochester unit Total Yuppies, featuring members of Skirts, Jon Lewis Band, and Full Body, dropped its first single over the weekend. The garage pop quartet channels the dreary vibes of Neva Dinova with an accessibility akin to The Front Bottoms on the new track, titled “Normal Life.” The whole package is lonesome and catchy, highlighted by the song’s pitch-perfect vocal harmonies sung longingly over the sprightly drum work. Keep an eye out for this impressive new formation on the live circuit and an ear to the ground for future releases. For now, relish in the rainy day that is “Normal Life,” streaming below.

California Cousins – George’s Bridge

October 2, 2015

Rochester emos California Cousins are no stranger to buffaBLOG. We’ve been following them and theirs since the dissolution of Keeler last year. Luckily, Cali Cousins are still hanging around, blessing us with a new EP full of noodly emo jams that they’ve christened George’s Bridge. I’m sure you can all reminisce of a time where you and your high school friends jumped off an old derelict bridge or had a clandestine rendezvous by a graffiti-laden abandoned structure. California Cousins tug on your nostalgic heartstrings in that way (and boy am I a sucker for some good emo jams). “Soft Earth” kicks off this EP with some twinkly guitar riffs reminiscent of Snowing, Del Paxton, or Tiny Moving Parts. Guitarist Christian Ortiz is a twinkle daddy for sure (it’s a Facebook group for twinkly guitar-riff lovers, so get your mind out of the gutter). Drummer Juan Ortiz skillfully weaves his rhythms in between  Christian[...]

Short Moscato Releases Debut Full-Length Whatever / Forever

September 30, 2015

Short Moscato has been fervently involved in the Buffalo hip hop scene. Whether it’s showing other acts love on Twitter, or collabing on tracks with some of the city’s other great artists, the Good Hueman remains ever-present and dedicated. His full-length debut Whatever / Forever is a fine testament to city and craft, boasting a whose-who of features and great new Buffalo music. The feature list is really something, with appearances from Dr. Ooo, Komorebi, Hitch Burney, Gaines, M-A, Illusive, WZA, and Truey V. The Dr. Ooo-assisted “Swishers” is a project highlight as Ooo’s signature jazzy flow pairs perfectly with the gruffness of Moscato’s voice. “Face It” with M-A is the project’s banger, as Moscato and the MileHigh rapper take exchange frantic flows over a knocking beat. Though packed with impressive features, Moscato’s solo tracks stand as some of the project’s best. Opener “Steady” sees his wordplay on full display, with clever[...]

Cooler Releases Debut EP 1993

September 29, 2015

Cooler’s debut EP is nothing less than a power statement. The Buffalo four-piece has brought a hard hitting slice of 90’s infused fuzz-rock to the table in the form of 1993, and it certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed. With wailing vocal melodies and smoky undertones, you’re given something to latch onto right away as a listener. The fuzzed out guitar riffs top off their entire sound, which I can only imagine is intensified in a live setting. The whole outfit is reminiscent of Pity Sex but with discernible vocals, mixed with the grit of local rock trio The Naturalists (whom Cooler make the perfect counterpart to in my opinion). At three songs long, the EP is short and sweet, but still a cutting testament to the natural craft they have. Give it a listen below.

Deadwolf Shares First Single “Now & Then”

September 29, 2015

The revamped psych rock outfit Deadwolf, now featuring singer/songwriter Andy Pothier on drums, made its live debut this past Friday supporting Sleepy Hahas’ tour kick off show at Nietzsche’s. And because timing is everything, the five piece shared its first single, “Now & Then,” online prior to shaking the stage. The track features bluesy riffs and just enough retro swagger for fans of acts like the Black Angels and the Bright Light Social Hour. The single’s groovy artwork comes courtesy of Peter Cahlstadt’s Moody Designs. If you like what you hear, you can catch Deadwolf next live at Mohawk Place on November 25th with Second Trip and Malarchuk. In the mean time, listen to “Now & Then” below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/225396742″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

KOPPS – The Sound of Music

September 27, 2015

One of my favorite shows this year was easily !!! with Rochester’s KOPPS downstairs in the Ninth Ward at Babeville this past May. If the acoustics in Asbury Hall are dodgy, the acoustics in that brick basement are downright sublime, and that was a show you felt in every cell of your being, the energy created by both bands a thing felt that night. After being dogged by sound issues earlier in the week at Waiting Room, KOPPS in particular sounded spectacular, getting the crowd moving and playing new songs pointing to an even denser, ambitious sound to go with their never secret weapon, vocalist Patricia Patron. This latest iteration of blog favorite KOPPS is on full display on The Sound Of Music, a four track EP co-written with Joywave’s Daniel Armbruster released last Friday via Cultco which fulfills those ambitions and then some. “My Gold” was a huge hit live[...]

The Front Bottoms – Back On Top

September 25, 2015

I’m not sure if it was the choice of the Front Bottoms or their new label, Fueled By Ramen, but in an exceedingly strange move, prior to the release of their new record, Back On Top, SIX of the record’s eleven songs were made available to the public. Why they did this, I’m not too sure, but what I do know is that coming from someone who had this record as one of their most anticipated of the year, it almost totally killed all of the hype behind it.  That’s not to say that the tracks they released were bad or anything, but knowing what half of the record sounded prior to the release really was a buzz kill. The release of the first track, “West Virginia,” actually came as a pleasant surprise. The band had taken a somewhat more advanced approach to song construction, and vocalist Brian Sella’s lyrics seemed as on point[...]

The Fox Sisters Release New Album Under The Stars

September 25, 2015

Ever wish you could get away with doing the mashed potato or the hitch hike at a show nowadays? The Fox Sisters provide the perfect musical backdrop for some old-timey jivin’ of that variety. The Fox Sisters are a big band with a big sound. This seven piece group out of Rochester will transport you to a different time period with their zippy rock ‘n’ roll tunes that are reminiscent of King Kahn & BBQ Show. Their newest full length release, Under The Stars, combines 60’s R&B with a lo-fi, garage sound to give us a retro frat-rock feel. It’s a feel good record that brings about the ruckus of a full fledged 60’s dance club in the best way possible. Grab your sweetheart and/or your dancing shoes and give it a listen below.

Kurt Vile – b’lieve i’m goin down…

September 24, 2015

For the past year or so, Kurt Vile’s last full length, Wakin on a Pretty Daze, has been my go to road trip album. The sound was so expansive, warm, and spacious, it almost seemed perfect compliment for a long drive in the sunshine. I guess that this might partially due the fact that the majority of the record was written by Vile while on the road, and I guess to me, that really showed. While Wakin on a Pretty Daze was far from his most depressing sounding release, the idea that every track was lyrically rooted in something dark was hard to escape, as is the case with most of Vile’s releases. His newest record, b’lieve i’m goin down…, might work on a road trip, but only the part of the road trip where night falls and your friend fell asleep in the passenger seat, and you are left[...]

Chill Ali Drops New Track “Free Energy”

September 23, 2015

Buffalo rapper Chill Ali is an artist who has the ability to keep his flow “chill” at all times. His latest track “Free Energy” is a testament to that, as Ali takes on real life hardships while still committed to the style that we’ve come to love. While speaking of friends and family who are users (“you give em what they’re asking for, but now they’re coming back for more.”) and watching other rappers stretch the truth (“a bunch of actors, how you play that tough?”) Ali’s flow is composed as ever. It’s one of his realest songs to date, and an exciting hint at future material from one of the city’s coolest. Keep an eye out for a Chill Ali project in the near future, and check out the track below.

Ryan Adams – 1989

September 22, 2015

When Taylor Swift finally dropped 1989 last year, it’s success was hardly a surprise. The singer’s new album had felt like the final chapter in her carefully cultivated image as pop’s biggest underdog. Going back to her debut as a teenage country star who’s lyrics read with the vulnerability of a livejournal entry, she was pop music’s ultimate good-girl. But the moment Kanye stepped up on that stage, both were cast in roles in the public eye that would define them for years: Kanye the asshole and Taylor the victim. With every successive album since then, using her every girl persona her private life as the base of her lyrics, Swift increasingly drew a portrait of her life as someone constantly downtrodden, defiantly picking themselves up. In the process, her music became increasingly poppy and her songwriting grew sharper. This finally culminated in 1989, the triumphant pop album that with the[...]

Mac Miller – GO:OD AM

September 22, 2015

Finally. You log onto Spotify. You click the search bar. You frantically type in “mac.” You realize you could have probably just typed in “M” because what bigger “M” artist is there than Mac Miller? Your hand starts to shake as you click on the name, which may as well have been inscribed in #ffd700. After a quick scroll, you’re in. You try and double click on the intro track, “Doors,” but you miss the second click and have to repeat the process all over again. You miss the second attempt.“Fuck,” you utter to the empty room. You take a sip of the Miller Light classic logo aluminum bottle-can that you’ve fetched from the mini-fridge. It was originally intended for the most serene listening experience, however, now it’s become a tool to calm your nervous hands, just as it did at Alfred a couple years ago before that huge exam.[...]

The Young Couples Release Debut Single

September 21, 2015

Rochester is always bringing us tasty tunes these days. From the neighboring land of indie gems comes the Young Couples, a hodge-podge super group of sorts led by former SPORTS front man Ian Proper which features contributions from members of Howlo, Pleistocene, Passive Aggressives Anonymous, and Amateur Radio Club. The debut single “Carnivores” from the band’s upcoming debut EP is an upbeat fusion of styles. It’s a little Vampire Weekend-ish with a unique 80’s inspired twist of their own. The super singable chorus and crunchy guitar solo makes it the perfect cruise-around-in-the-T-Bird-I-don’t-have type of song. Definitely expecting awesome things to come from TYC. Listen to the single below and keep your eyes and ears peeled for their upcoming release near the end of 2015.