Latest Posts

Aircraft – 7 Gems From the Sparkling Void

August 31, 2015

Aircraft is the band you’d picture being propelled 200 years into the future and selling out venue after venue in Saturn’s ringside (presumably flourishing) psych-pop music scene. It’s spacey, surf-like indie rock that maintains a tastefully flashy appeal, but it’s stuff that all of us earthlings can cut loose to in a grungy basement or bar, also. The Buffalo quartet (comprised of Justin John Smith, Tyler Skelton, James Warren, and Matt Cosmann) released their long awaited sophomore album, 7 Gems From the Sparkling Void, through local label Admirable Trait Records this past weekend. It’s a neatly packaged seven song album that offers a clean sound with modish aftertastes. The album had a slower build for me, but I often discover that to be one of the greatest qualities an album can have. I found myself humming the first tune to myself by the time I got to the last and wanting to[...]

Cooler Releases Debut Track “Cringe”

August 28, 2015

Although Cooler is an infant in band years , the group is already well on it’s way to explode beyond Buffalo’s music walls. Composed of a blend of solo artist Aileen Yates, two members of Brother Keep (Nathan McDorman and Nick Sessanna), and rounded out by former Lancer drummer-turned-bassist Adam Cwynar, the band has hit the ground running, already landing a deal with emo upstart label, NDE Records. With an EP titled 1993 coming out September 22nd and another batch of studio sessions already completed, 2016 is set to be a breakout year for the fledgling four piece. This past week, Cooler’s grungy debut track “Cringe” hit the internet on esteemed scene blog CouchKing. Unsurprisingly, the song is all about looking back at all those things you regret doing in the past. Those moments that haunt you in the final minutes before falling asleep or the “on-repeat” moments you have when driving all alone. Fans of[...]

Edwang Releases 333 Remix Album

August 26, 2015

As one of the city’s most creative hip hop producers, Edwang’s output is always worth checking out. He’s cooked up original songs with rappers and also done some great remix work, the latter of the two being the inspiration for this post. Ed’s taken on remixing duties for some tracks off of The Tortoise and the Crow, an album from LA/Hawaii duo the Grouch and Eligh in a project called 333.  The Grouch and Eligh present a nice canvas for which Ed to work on. Eligh usually comes through with the faster of the flows, whereas the Grouch has a gruffer approach to his rapping. It gives Edwang more variety with how he wants to attack his beats. The first minute and a half of “All These Lights” is centered around some nice piano keys and then the beat is turned on its head as it evolves into some crazy post-dub electronica. Its[...]

Matthew McCheskey Shares Rapture EP

August 26, 2015

Former Early Attic vocalist Matthew McCheskey debuted his new solo EP Rapture earlier this month. The five track release features an energetic synth pop style with melodic vocal hooks and visceral drums as well as bittersweet instrumentation. The singer’s slightly melancholic vocals on “Time to Go” create a pensive atmosphere, which along with emotive synths and expansive sound design make for one of the more memorable cuts from the record. More experimental moments can be found on “Circle in the Square” and “Principle” where cerebral sounds are balanced with tranquil vocals and lush breakdowns. Listen/download Rapture on McCheskey’s Bandcamp page.

The Weeknd – Beauty Behind the Madness

August 25, 2015

At the age of 25, Canadian R&B singer The Weeknd is set to drop his second studio album, Beauty Behind the Madness, on Friday, and while the record is still pending an official release, nearly half of its tracks have already had success as chart-topping singles. Abdel Tesfaye, the man behind The Weeknd, possesses a uniquely contemporary sound that acts as a soundtrack for the restless and experimental youth of today, leading critics to categorize Tesfaye’s sound as PBR&B, a genre alternative to R&B. As a whole, Beauty Behind the Madness gives you what you’d expect from The Weeknd: sex, drugs, partying, more sex, and lots of falsetto. Despite Tesfaye’s frequent recycling of these themes, he manages to spin them in an irresistible way that will have you humming along, whether you want to or not. Following 2013’s Kiss Land, which was, in my opinion, a considerably mundane album, Beauty[...]

Beach House – Depression Cherry

August 25, 2015

At this point, you really have to hand it to Beach House. With a decade under their belts, the duo of Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally have managed to constantly put out well received material, drawing clear shoegaze influence and crafting it into their own dreamy, synth soaked sound, all while managing to create something special on each release. As my listen counter of the band’s newest release, Depression Cherry, began to rack up, I noticed something: this band has done an absolutely incredible job with recycling the same sound for their past four albums. No one has seemed to bat an eye as Beach House reuses their instrumental style of dream pop release after release, droning backing organ chord by droning backing organ chord, programmed drum beat by programmed drum beat. That being said, while their instrumentals have remained stagnant for the most part, the duo seems to have[...]

done. Releases New Singles

August 25, 2015

As we wind down the summer months and students start preparing for their dreaded return to classes, there is a certain influx of cool new music that usually hits us from the college towns. The creative last gasp of summer. Today’s scouring of the interweb yields a late-summer two song ripper from emo-math duo done., who have ties to both Buffalo and New Paltz. The singles bring us the notable “Ghost House,” a mathy and meticulous tribute to the emo revival movement, sharp riffs slinging akin to vets Sunny Day Real Estate or The Appleseed Cast. “Pawns,” the latter of the two tracks, follows in that same vein. Check it out below.

A House Safe for Tigers – A House Safe for Tigers

August 24, 2015

It’s been an album of the summer since it’s release at the end of June, but in honor of it’s delayed and now hot anticipated album release party this Saturday at the Mohawk, the eponymous debut from WNY supergroup A House Safe for Tigers is our Album of the Week. The resoundingly succesful collaboration between WNY music scene stalwarts Brandon Delmont (Girlpope, Son of the Son, Lindburgh Babies) and Mark Constantino (Exit Strategy, Returners), A House Safe for Tigers hits a variety of sweet spots From the opening vibrations of the w’sm Mercury Revesque instrumental “Entrance” that kicks it off, A House Safe for Tigers immediately signals it’s attention to sonic detail and keen sense of history, a point driven home by lead single “Ann Marie.” A shimmering ode to Brian Wilson’s lifelong affection for the sonic architecture of fellow troubled by brilliant savant Phil Spector, “Ann Marie” is a[...]

King Midas Releases “Take a Trip” Video

August 19, 2015

“Take a trip, make it flip.” Its not a complicated formula, but its absolutely working for Buffalo rapper and Loot Boy King Midas on his latest track “Take a Trip.” With youthful exuberance, Midas flips and whips over a playful instrumental remnant of the ringtone era of rap music. Catchiness has been the law of the land in rap, and Midas is certainly doing his part with this head-nodding chorus and digestible verses. The beach-vibe video maintains the fun summer sounds. The track serves as the second single from Midas’ upcoming project Midas Touch, and the Loot Boys are cooking up No Free Loot for release in September. Give “Take a Trip” a watch below.

Father Baron Releases Debut EP

August 18, 2015

Strung Way Out is the new EP from the Buffalo crust punk outfit Father Baron. The three piece is no strangers to buffaBLOG – the Crook brothers and Trey Hollowood have been previously seen in impressive Buffalo acts that span multiple genres (think Mandy K, Arctic Death, and Nelson Type). But if you’ve come here expecting jaunty indie rock or dream pop, you should brace yourself. In typical fashion, these dudes have genre-hopped again; Father Baron is about as filthy as it gets. Some other great words to describe the act include (but are not limited to): disgusting, vile, angry, and brutal. Not convinced? Listen below.  

Dumb Angel Readies Antenna, Shares “In Sun”

August 18, 2015

About four years ago, members of Rochester act the Instruments Band began recording the debut album for their new project, Dumb Angel, a trio featuring now Howlo band mates Justin Pulver (Europa & the Great Red Spot) and Ben Morey, in addition indie pop artist Blake Cooper. The threesome finally completed work on the album, titled Antenna, nearly a year ago and will be celebrating the release of the record next month on September 18th. Antenna will be available to purchase/stream via Dadstache Records and pre-sale orders are already being taken here. In preparation for Antenna‘s release, Dumb Angel premiered the record’s first single, “In Sun,” today. Fans of Howlo should be immediately drawn to the song’s nervy opening guitar line, but where as the former seemed to focus on crunchier alt-rock sounds, “In Sun” brings an easy going vibe and lo-fi guitars to the table. Think a straight forward Yo La[...]

Joe Mason Releases The Feels EP

August 13, 2015

Multi instrumentalist and songwriter Joe Mason released one of the more infectious local debuts last year when his infectious, melodic self-titled LP, which earned Album of The Week honors here at buffaBLOG. With vocals similar to Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew, hazy synths, and soulful rhythms, the artist’s dense arrangements feel vibrant and evocative, bringing a sense of wonder to the listener. The straightforward, patient songwriting style present throughout Mason’s releases is present on his latest EP, titled The Feels, a five track effort with a psych-pop flavor and melodic instrumentation. Opening track “Stay The Same” begin with a sonorous synth and offers a spacious sound defined by reverb-heavy, soulful vocals and beaming keys. “Pretty Sun” sonically reflects its’ namesake with reflective melodies and dusty percussion, which along with “When I’m Away,” presents a dream-pop oriented sound previously unheard from the artist. In contrast, the immediacy of the title track takes[...]

Mac DeMarco – Another One

August 11, 2015

So the Pepperoni Playboy has done it again. Who is the Pepperoni Playboy, you ask? And what exactly has he done? He is none other than the slacker king of “jizz jazz” (self-proclaimed), Mac DeMarco, and he’s just put out his first release since 2014’s Salad Days. DeMarco brings back his inner goofball on his newest mini-LP Another One, and lays it on thick this time. The new album is polished and tight, and doesn’t stray too far from the jangly wryness of its predecessor. Though it does stray a little. I remember first listening to Salad Days and thinking to myself how brilliant and engaging each of the album’s eleven tracks were, how each song told a different story and how I just wanted to lay in a dirty field somewhere and listen to the album on repeat. It’s an excellent album. Another One falls a bit short of[...]

Comfy // Skirts Split

August 10, 2015

It can be difficult to view a split release as a singular piece of work, and in some sense, it’s much more common and appropriate to view each artist’s contribution of songs as an individual creation. Comfy and Skirts’ latest joint EP release from Miscreant and Dadstache Records seems way more accessible as one harmonious album than usual. These two bands work well on their own, but are also incredibly compatible with one another. To me, Comfy is the unkempt, rebel of a sibling and Skirts is the slightly more ordered, quirk-ridden one. Both are deliberate in their sound. Both are equally expressive. I saw Comfy, a lo-fi garage pop band out of Utica, for the first time at Nietzsche’s not too long ago. Their live performance involved swaddling a fake baby fashioned from a blanket full of red string and disassembling it in a frenzied manner (the fake baby was[...]

Chelsea Wolfe – Abyss

August 9, 2015

About a week after listening to Chelsea Wolfe’s new album, Abyss, out on Sargent House Records, I had a lucid dream of what it was like to suffer from sleep paralysis. In the dream, I woke up, but my body was still, unmoving. A shadowy, demonic figure attempted to attack me, as I screamed obscenities and chants to make it go away. I woke up, finally, only to realize it had been an illusion. Upon waking up, again, in my bedroom in Buffalo, I felt disturbed and a little violated. This is a condition that Ms. Wolfe deals with frequently. Sleep studies say these figures, aka “hypnagogic hallucinations,” are a combination of the fact that we are still dreaming and the ability to access collective realms beyond the mind. While someone is experiencing sleep paralysis, their amygdala (what controls our fear systems) gets jacked up, and if we’re still dreaming, this projects[...]