Latest Posts

Kendrick Lamar – untitled/unmastered.

March 8, 2016

After several rumors surfaced last week regarding a new project, Kendrick Lamar surprise-released a compilation of previously unreleased material in the early hours of Friday morning. untitled unmastered. consists of eight tracks that were recorded during sessions for his 2015 masterpiece To Pimp a Butterfly, but were eventually dropped in favor of other songs. Each song name is simply “untitled” followed by the date it was recorded, spanning 2013-2014. In untitled unmastered. all of the free-form jazz backing and dense lyricism is still present, but without the finely tuned narrative focus that was employed on To Pimp a Butterfly, it plays out like a loose jam session or rehearsal. It has the same inherent feel and inspiration as its predecessor, while at the same time taking on a life of its own by being presented in a new, unhinged context. The content of the album spans an array of subjects, as the[...]

DIIV – Is the Is Are

March 3, 2016

DIIV has acquired quite the reputation among independent music fans over the last couple of years. For both their music and through offstage controversies, like when the bassist of the band, David Ruben Perez, was accused of making bigoted statements on the image board 4Chan. Not to mention since the release of their last album, Oshin, there have been various accusations of singer Zachary Cole Smith and his girlfriend, Sky Ferreira, of being addicted to heroin after their drug-related arrest in 2013. This is the first full-length release from DIIV in four years after receiving mostly positive reviews on their debut. All this aside, Is the Is Are is a double LP clocking in at a little over an hour long, which sort makes it justifiable to the fans who have been patiently awaiting new material from the band. This album is not drastically different from DIIV’s first release, but[...]

Madeleine McQueen and the Breeze Release Impressive EP

March 2, 2016

With nearly every city having a crowded folk scene, it takes a truly special talent to stand out; and that’s why we take the time to bring you, Rochester’s Madeleine McQueen and the Breeze. At the tail end of 2016, when the music blogosphere was busy compiling their top lists of 2015,  McQueen quietly released  her EP titled Entangled. While the sharp songwriting and mesmerizing vocals of her earlier release seem to continue to have grown, it’s the addition of the grand layered arrangements that help it stand out from the work of other local singer-songwriters. Each song from opener “Long Gone” to “SMIC” have sweeping instrumentation that give them an energy and passion often missing from the local folk scene. This is not to miss the excellent songwriting though, with title tracks like “Entangled,” Madeleine finds a way to perfectly sum up the conflicting barrage of emotions that swirl around one when[...]

Joe Mason – I Sold My Soul For Five Dollars

March 1, 2016

With so many colleges concentrated along the 90 from Rochester to Fredonia, intense winters, and a long time epicenter for sonic exploration in Dave Fridmann’s Tarbox Road studio in the woods outside Fredtown, Western New York should totally be a hotbed for modern psychedelic music and for fans of music that makes ears feel WEIRD. Those fans just got something else to feast on in the form of a collaboration between Moody Cosmos and Joe Mason, Mason’s sophomore release I Sold My Soul For Five Dollars. Alternately bright and dark, and joyfully freaky all over, this album is seriously aural cotton candy for your brain. Swinging from outsized kaleidoscopic bursts of sound on jams like “Crazy Legs” and “Wide Eyes” (featuring Moody Cosmos) and “Alright” to the spaced out minimalism of chilled cuts like “Come Back” and “Waiting For The Day,” I Sold My Soul For Five Dollars keeps everything sweet[...]

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – This Unruly Mess I’ve Made

February 29, 2016

Seattle-based hip-hop duo, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, have a lot to say on their sophomore album. This Unruly Mess I’ve Made is a hodgepodge of genres, thoughts and stories. A lot of the tracks do actually hit their mark, while others fall short of the massive hype. Musically, the pair continues their brand of underground-cultivated indie-gospel, with heartfelt piano, dramatic strings and joyous choir. Unfortunately, the lyrical content is all over the map. The record starts off earnestly enough, with a song about Ben Haggerty’s (aka Macklemore’s) disdain for award show culture. But after that it begins to wander through a strange assortment of politically charged, inspiring tunes and quirky joke-rap. The contrast between the two doesn’t quite add up to the overall intellectual statement Haggerty would like it to be, instead creating a frustrating ambivalence toward a record that could have been truly great. The silly tracks actually undermine the[...]

Strange Acres Deliver New Single/Video

February 24, 2016

The music video is not dead. MTV may have done away with them in favor of dramatic hour long  blasts of teenage pregnancy and whatever else, but to the few who keep this underrated art form alive and breathing: I salute you. Salutations to Strange Acres, the mood rock pioneers of East Aurora, who have teamed up with local rock photographer / videographer Andy DeLuca to bring us the video for “Parlor Girls”—the band’s first single since 2013. “Parlor Girls,” recorded at Quiet Country Audio, mixes a fresh, ambient electronica vibe with the almost cinematic-esque mood-setting prowess Strange Acres is known for. Chillingly seductive, dark, and a total midnight simmerer, “Parlor Girls” mashes moodcraft likeness with Zero 7 and Blonde Redhead. The video follows perfect suit, matching the swirling ambience with hazy filters and light effects to create a cohesive and affecting multimedia experience. If you’ve been waiting patiently for new[...]

Hundred Plus Club Releases Debut EP

February 23, 2016

Local garage rockers Hundred Plus Club have just released their debut three-song EP, full of frantic, dance rock. This fresh-faced act recently recorded with Nick Borgosz at World of Noise Studios (Bryan Johnson & Family, M.A.G.S.). We recommend these guys if you would be interested in hearing what Dave Monks (Tokyo Police Club) would sound like as front man of The Rapture or Interpol. You can check out our personal favorite track from Three Songs, “Reversed,” below.

Blue Falcon Release Paranoid Single

February 23, 2016

Rochester power-pop revivalists Blue Falcon just dropped “All Illuminati” and have delivered a sharp, hilarious and infectious take on our current and ongoing infatuation with that mythical secret organization. Whether you’re an old timey conspiracy theorist, a Marvel Comics fan, or puzzled to the point of paranoia by the rapid ascent of Kanye, Lady Gaga, and Justin Beiber, Illuminati-Mania is in full swing and “All Illuminati” takes it apart with driving guitars, groovy dual vocal harmonies, Cars synth lines, and lyrics hitting on the allure and wish fulfillment that underlies every conspiracy theory and this one in particular. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/246880416″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Ithaca Underground Releases Fundraising Compilation

February 18, 2016

Earlier this month, Ithaca Underground released their second annual fundraiser compilation, featuring an array of artists that span many genres. If you are not in the know of Fingerlakes DIY community, Ithaca Underground has been promoting indie gigs since 2007 and is registered as a non-profit, think of it as something similar to if Sugar City did not have a home-base. The collective’s latest compilation has 51 tracks, ranging from Ithaca-based acts (Sammus, Izzy True) to some buzzing up-and-comers (Aye Nako, Cold Sweats)and even some bands with Buffalo roots (CCDS [Death Squad], Why The Wires [on local label, One Percent Press]). Ithaca Underground will be holding a fundraiser this Friday on February 19th at The Haunt, with sets by Anna Coogan & Willie B, Mary and Billy from Madder Rose, Circus Culture, Scopes Monkey Trial, and Viva Mayhem. If Ithaca is too far from you, feel free to donate to the cause either directly[...]

Ty Segall – Emotional Mugger

February 17, 2016

Ty Segall is arguably one of the most hardworking artists in music right now, and he’s only improving with an increasing catalog of releases and side-projects. The guy has kept good company since he started making music in his early years with the likes of Mikal Cronin and King Tuff whom are both featured on the new project titled Emotional Mugger. The band also features members from the band Wand, Corey Hanson and Evan Burrows, making The Muggers somewhat of an all-star lineup. If you’re familiar with Ty’s work you know his projects are usually reliant upon some heavy guitar riffs, and show the music of those he’s been influenced by such as The Gories, The Mummies, Alice Cooper, The Cramps, and Black Sabbath to name a few. Simply put, Ty Segall makes rock n’ roll music for people who appreciate its history. Emotional Mugger is definitely a bit more experimental and chaotic than his previous records. The guitars often sound frenzied[...]

Saint Opal Drops Video for New Single

February 17, 2016

Saint Opal may be relatively new on people’s radars, but one thing is certain; she has announced herself in a tastefully bold and dramatic way with each and every single that’s been dropped. The newest release for “Lilac Corona” is no exception. The song is brought to life in the accompanying music video, produced by Haute La Vie, which is both creepy and hair-raisingly poetic. There’s a moment in the video where Saint Opal submerges herself in a tub of black water and kind of tussles with the heavy garments she’s wearing, wrapping them around herself. It’s a perfect representation of how I felt listening to this tune —  totally enveloped in the phantasmal imagery and weighed down by the melancholy timbre. The video also features two dancers, Max Darling and Angela Lopez, who beautifully make use of movement to represent some sort of vexing relationship between the two characters.[...]

Attic Abasement Drops First Single of Forthcoming LP

February 17, 2016

Preceding a highly-anticipated LP release via Father / Daughter Records, Rochester DIY rockers Attic Abasement have given the masses a taste of said LP—titled Dream News—with “Guarantee Jesus,” the first single of the record. Sauntering through jangly chord progressions, bumbling bass lines, and the passionate sounds of AA centerpoint Mike Rheinheimer (holy shit @ 1:16, 2:15), the track is without question an extension of Attic Abasement’s aching indie rock aesthetic—music for the rest of us. The sounds have matured a bit from the lower-fi recordings of previous albums, but all of that unassuming charm remains. You’ll find “Guarantee Jesus” streaming below, and preorders for the new album are available now via Father / Daughter. Dream News hits shelves on 5/27/16. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/246094758″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

Hinds – Leave Me Alone

February 16, 2016

Hinds’ debut album Leave Me Alone is bursting with sunny energy. Direct from Madrid, Spain, these indie rockers come out with a bang. Leave Me Alone was released in the middle of winter and their spin on garage-rock pop is a much-needed doldrums-reliever. From the first echoing, reverb-laden chord of the album, these four ladies have you hooked. The music spouts easygoing vibes and playful mirth, fit to accompany a beach party. Catchy guitar riffs jangle while carefree rhythms achieve the right kind of groove for a summer’s night.  Mix in some old-school punk undertones (a la The Velvet Underground) and you can’t help but get carried away with these tunes. But it’s the vocals that really bring the album to life. Co-singers Carlotta Cosials and Ana Perotte share lead duties, singing most often in unison rather than in harmony. They weave in and out of the melody with an[...]

Hawker M. James – Long Playing Lo-Fidelity

February 15, 2016

The bedroom recording is catnip, nay, manna for music bloggers, but Long Playing Lo-Fidelity by Rochester wunderkind multi-instrumentalist Hawker M. James hits so many sweet spots, it’s almost ridiculous. A brilliantly curated four track recording that successfully summons the gorgeous ear candy sounds of The Flaming Lips 1999-2006, I’m From Barcelona, Mercury Rev and Brian Wilson, it’s another tremendous record from our neighbors to the east, and our Album Of The Week. Right off the bat it has to be noted that the mix by Al Carlson at Gary’s Electric is beyond superb. Everything on the album has a scale and sense of space to it, helping HMJ’s home recordings operate in the sonic sandboxes of Phil Spector, Brian Wilson, Steve Drozd and Dave Friddman. The sense of density that permeates  Long Playing Lo-Fidelity makes it feel timeless yet immediate and showcases the talent and ambition that’s been part of Longwave and done production work for (blog favorites)[...]

J. Cole – Forest HIlls Drive: Live from Fayetteville, NC

February 12, 2016

J. Cole released his fourth album,  Forest Hills Drive: Live from Fayetteville, NC at the tail end of January. This is a live album of Cole’s third album Forest Hills Drive, except with the bonus addition of “Note to Self.” The album is very different from the studio version. The intimacy, and emotion with his lyrics are brought to life. The big hits like “Fire Squad,” “Wet Dreamz,” and “G.O.M.D.” are told with so much passion emotion that the listener will feel as if they were at the concert with their eyes closed. Forest Hills Drive: Live from Fayetteville, NC runs through each song starting with “Intro” and ending with “Love Yourz.” Throughout this album, you get a chance to experience J. Cole on a personal level. The story he tells through Forest Hills Drive is explained in easier terms through this live album. It gives us an intimate experience where we[...]