Latest Posts

Scope & Figure Shares First Single From Forthcoming EP, Exemplary Sports Magic

March 16, 2015

Late last week, Rochester quartet, Scope & Figure, released the first single from its forthcoming EP, Exemplary Sports Magic, set to be released on May 1st via Dadstache Records. Titled “Cincinnati Fire Kites,” the track is pretty different from last spring’s single “Entropy Knows Best,” sounding like clean mathy indie rock (think Minus the Bear meets Two Door Cinema Club with a hint of Early November). The band seemed to take a nod from fellow Roch math rock act, Fowls, distancing its from the robust, folkier sounds of the previous single. Look for the Scope & Figure full EP to drop this spring. In the mean time, listen to “Cincinnati Fire Kites” below.

Newish Star – How Soon We Forget

March 14, 2015

There’s a certain word that comes to mind when I think about the genre of pop-punk: “bratty.” In this context, it’s a compliment, or at least not an insult. Good pop-punk tends to come with a sneer and a stuck-out tongue, the objects of its quasi-ironic, sometimes petty derision usually the self, and then everybody else. That’s not a huge emotional range, and really good pop-punk often cleverly plays with those limits. It’s those kind of moments that make Newish Star’s new tape, How Soon We Forget, especially interesting. Musically, it’s in the same ballpark as their past releases, but past the power chords, the slightly-off vocals, and the driving drums is a level of nuance that serves as evidence of growth. The very first moments of the tape serve as a pretty good metaphor for where the band’s at. It’s a recording of the trio between songs at a[...]

The Slums Drop New Track, “Plain Pine Box”

March 13, 2015

This Friday the 13th is shaping up to be a pretty lucky day for punk / hardcore fans. Following news of JOHNS’ fresh music video, we’re graced with another golden nugget in the form of a spankin’ new track from Buffalo post-hardcore quarter, The Slums. The track, titled “Plain Pine Box,” capitalizes on that nervous, raw energy that the band has earned their keep with; guitars-a-blaring, chunky bass blasts, and vocalist Steven Floyd’s signature panther-esque growl. Harnessing the grit effectively is no easy feat, but The Slums’ consideration for both tone and tension is evident in this one; the combination makes for an uneasiness that satisfies. Keep ’em coming, boys. With the band now going into “writing hibernation mode,” we’ll have to wait a little while for more of that Slumsy goodness.” We’ll have plenty more to feast on come summertime.” cites the latest post on the band’s Facebook page. “Plain[...]

Dreambeaches Premiere Debut Single, “Trademark”

March 13, 2015

Earlier this morning, Dreambeaches, the new project from Humble Braggers‘ bass player, Corey Bzibziak, released its debut single. Titled “Trademark,” the track ditches HB’s soaring vocals and synths for a burst of lo-fi, surf-rock. The song sounds like the product of Cloud Nothings and Beach Fossils entering the studio together and having a bit of fun. Expect to see Dreambeaches live in the near future, with a full EP dropping sometime this summer. Listen to “Trademark” below.

Alex Berkley Premieres Annual “Fun-a-Day” Album, 28 Days of Fun: Shuffle

March 12, 2015

This being a music blog, my favorite project to look forward to during Sugar City’s annual Fun-a-Day exhibit (create something artistic for every day of the month) is the concept album from Alex Berkley. His first year album for Fun-a-Day, 28 Days of Fun, was a collection of songs, one recorded every day of the month: a simple, yet quality undertaking. For year two, he went more ambitious, recording a collection of diary-like entries chronicling the day to day life of the Elmwood Village every man for 28 Days of Fun: Sick of the Sound of My Voice. As for this year, his third musical installment for Fun-a-Day, the singer/songwriter put his iTunes on shuffle daily and proceeded to write a song, resulting in 28 Days of Fun: Shuffle. Some of the random songs that inspired the album were “Our Singer” by Pavement (Song 19: “Wings & Billy Madison”), “Jamming” by Bob[...]

Tame Impala – “Let It Happen”

March 11, 2015

Tame Impala is preparing to unleash a currently untitled new album this year and to stoke the fires of anticipation, we’ve been gifted it’s lead track, the 7.5 minute epic “Let It Happen.” Available for download from the band’s website, “Let It Happen” is quintessential Tame Impala, but with some new wrinkles. Alongside Kevin Parker’s trademark spaced out drums, guitar and synths, and glorious multi-tracked vocal harmonies, there’s jittery freneticism , artful glitches, and a flirtation with 70’s prog rock. No release date or title yet for the third album from the Perth, Australia export or a Buffalo tour stop, but after two excellent albums and this appetizer, we’ll keep you posted.

Will Butler – Policy

March 10, 2015

A few weeks ago, Arcade Fire keyboardist/drummer Will Butler shared an interesting, but ultimately inconsequential tidbit about his upcoming debut solo album: inspired by early Bob Dylan, Butler would write a song each day based on a headline in The Guardian. He allegedly culled the songs from a week’s worth of headlines – specifically the week of Feb. 23, 2015. Given Dylan’s long, exemplar history of protest songs and storytelling, Butler may have set a bar of expectations that was all but impossible to attain. But Butler doesn’t even seem to be trying to write next “Hurricane” or “Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” (his purported inspiration behind the project). Rather, Policy – what became of that challenge – is a collection of eight breathtakingly concise pop songs that rarely sound political or even remotely literary. The whole affair clocks in at just past 26 minutes, barely eking past the standard[...]

Transfer in Jamaica Releases Speculative Dance Party Vol. 2

March 10, 2015

Known for eclectic, scatter-brained mixes and mashups, Buffalo artist, Transfer in Jamaica, brings together disparate tracks, shifting tempos and vocal pitches as well as placing club music side by side with more introspective genres like post-rock and ambient. The latest release from the artist, titled Speculative Dance Party Vol. 2: Too Drunk, continues this trend as an afro-beat intro leads to a track from Bow Wow and Ciara, creating an interesting juxtaposition to say the least, along with the sample of American composer Philip Glass which lays atop Flo Rida and T.Pain’s “Low.” The mix is separated into six parts each containing r&b and hip hop hits as well as more underground electronic productions from Caribou, Nicolas Jaar, Pantha Du Prince, and Burial. Transfer in Jamaica opens up a world of warped pop culture as a glitched-out track from pop singer Britney Spears begins one of the mix’s, blending hazily into[...]

Space Wolves – Space Wolves V

March 9, 2015

There is something honestly comforting about Nick Reynolds’ guitar playing. It suggests an alternate world of infinitely catchy pop rock where everyone is walking down a sun filled street whistling Space Wolves. Given that Reynolds’ lyrics are as angst ridden as his guitar is bright and chipper makes it all the better. On Saturday, Space Wolves released their 5th full length, appropriately titled Space Wolves V, after an almost two year hiatus. The duo has returned as if they never left, with no loss of their original immediate appeal. I find it sometimes very difficult to write a review of music like this,  harboring personal suspicions that magazines that run 4 sentence reviews have it right in general. This is not a dig against Space Wolves, far from it, it is meant to underscore that this tape’s pleasures are simple and immediately apparent (again in my alternate world where everyone[...]

Jeff Rosenstock – We Cool?

March 5, 2015

The opening lyrics on We Cool? are softly sung, “When your friends are buying starter homes with their accomplishments, drinking at a house show can feel childish and embarrassing. People glaring because despite what the advertisement said, drinking malt liquor doesn’t make you young.” This is an amazing preface to the overall tone of Jeff Rosenstock’s latest solo effort. Jeff Rosenstock is the former frontman and vocalist of the now broken up punk / indie group Bomb the Music Industry!  After the band’s breakup, Rosenstock has taken another stab at his own self titled solo project. I will admit, while I have heard off Jeff and Bomb the Music Industry!, I never really gave them a fair listen.  After listening to We Cool?, I am really starting to regret that. The most notable quality  on this record is the honesty in Rosenstock’s lyrics.  From the aforementioned first lines, the album[...]

Saint Opal Returns with More Dark RnB

March 4, 2015

Saint Opal is the alien tune songstress of the Erie County hip-hop RnB collective, Black Sol. Her first single, “Glass Jars,” got our attention for the dark undertones fueling Opal’s lovely singing voice. Her latest, “Secret Flame,” is in this same vein of the new wave of RnB: heavy on mystique and ambiguity. Seeming to be about a scorned love, or one that never came to fruition, “Secret Flame” exudes a longing that hurts even the listener. “I knock.. but you won’t answer me,” she cries out to conclude the track. Her vocals themselves are worthy of praise, but Opal’s admirably bleak songwriting and lyricism have turned her releases into the total package. Give it a taste below, and stay tuned for more from Opal and the Black Sol crew.

Speak Daggers Post New EP

March 3, 2015

Our obsession with WNY music often takes us as far out as Ithaca, NY… A special place that has birthed many great bands. Speak Daggers is our newest discovery, fitting in somewhere between melodic punk, hardcore, and emo. In fact, Speak Daggers might be Ithaca’s answer to Buffalo’s own Lancer. The passionate slow-burn of “Get Up” is a particular highlight and leans more on the melodic side… But “My Light” and “Alan Ginsberg” make me want to mosh into my friend (chalk that up to things I never thought I’d say). Please click the play button on the widget below.

Ghostface Killah and BadBadNotGood – Sour Soul

March 3, 2015

After the needlessly complex, multi-sectioned production on A Better Tomorrow, Wu-Tang fans probably want another album of live-instrument production about as much as the MidEast wants another W. Bush administration. But where the RZA’s work on Tomorrow was too often flowery and excessive, Sour Soul’s sparse, brooding beats mesh perfectly with Ghostface Killah’s trademark intensity. In fact, it’s some of the best production on a Wu-Tang record in years. For that we ought to thank BadBadNotGood – a superb instrumental trio out of Toronto, discovered first by Tyler, the Creator (who, interestingly, has his own jazz aspirations). Their work on Sour Soul runs the gauntlet from post-bop jazz to soul to trip hop and electronica, sometimes all in the same track. More importantly, they prove themselves masters of tone and texture: it’s some of the most head-spinning production this side of Portishead. As for Ghostface, it could nearly go without[...]

Del Paxton Shares First Track From Forthcoming Split EP

February 26, 2015

If you haven’t heard about Del Paxton yet, this might be your first time on buffaBLOG. Hello. The Buffalo-based three-piece topped our top 20 list in 2013 with the song “Motion Sick,” played a slew of legit Buffalo shows, and most recently signed to emo revival label, Topshelf Records. Today, the wheels were put into motion of the upcoming 7″ split with Gulfer as the band premiered its new single “Bad Batch,” via Absolute Punk. Although I haven’t figured out how browse Absolute Punk for close to ten years, this is a major accomplishment. Thank you for the direct link. “Bad Batch” follows a similar formula that Del Paxton has mastered: Zach Schoedel and Dylan England’s dueling vocals, mathy clean heyday of Chicago emo guitars, and Greg McClure’s impressively tight drumming all culminating in a crescendo that make you want to jump over your friend to shout the chorus. Check it out[...]

Dan Deacon – Gliss Riffer

February 26, 2015

I have always had mixed feelings for Dan Deacon. Admittedly, I did not get into his music until his 2012 album, America, was released and immediately started back with his first album,2003’s Silly Hat vs. Egale Hat. His early material is some really abstract, sometimes ambient, and generally weird music that is definitely not for everyone. One track on his first record, “Glass and Metal,” just features smashing and banging metal and glass with added post effects. But the samples he used on these albums were amazing, making the three records incredible sounding, each one its own unique experience.  As he released more albums and his time progressed, so did his sound. That growth is most notable on his his 2009 album, Bromst. On this album, Deacon stayed with some of his sample based tracks, but added a heavy amount of rhythm and melodies, making much of the material catchier. Despite[...]