Latest Posts

Lateral – “Fruit Bearing Yields”

March 13, 2026

“Fruit Bearing Yields” is the latest from self described the “scrongly rockers” of Lateral. Coming out strong with a proggy math rock kick in the teeth, you can tell they’re just showing off how fucking good they are as a group. Bass/drums/guitar are hitting all the shots in the corner pocket while you’re waiting for the breakdown (that’s already happening and the song is done, jeez, you need to pay attention better). Speaking to the track, vocalist Erik had this to say:   “‘Fruit Bearing Yields’ is about feeling guilty for not liking a gift you’ve received for Christmas or birthday, but then after getting further into it I realized it was about self actualization and coming to terms with parts of myself I fall short and addressing the root causes of said problems- while kicking myself for not doing it sooner.”   You can hear the track below on[...]

Lynx Cane – “mistletoe”

March 12, 2026

Do you remember your first love? Raw, innocent, and as real as anything you’d every experienced. South East London producer and rapper Lynx Cane recaptures that emotion, and blends in a little bit of slowcore for his latest track, “mistletoe” “Our love was mystical. but you miss those lips on the mistletoe.” Lync channels a sullen, spacey beat into his lyrics. Over a tight 1:45 track, Lynx recaptures the emotion of first love. No matter how that ended in reality, there was a devastation to its closure. Playing producer too, Lynx develops an emotive undercurrent to accompany his lyrics. Wandering guitar notes pair with a driving beat, as Lynx attempts to recapture the a moment in time. It’s a statement track for the tight run, asking the listener to explore more of this journal on subsequent tracks. The visuals for this track are a great intro to the artist too[...]

Alex Northrup – “Golden Child (pt. I)”

March 10, 2026

Alex Northrup is at it again, creating his hyper-unique brand of electro chamber pop with a brand new single, “Golden Child (pt. I).” Northrup has a very unique retro-meets-contemporary style that utilizes Beatles-esque instrumentation, Supertramp jauntiness, and modern-day ideation to create something just left-field of timeless, at least in the sense that it doesn’t sound quite like anything else. Plinking harpsichords and “Simply Having A Wonderful Christmastime” type synths give this a truly vintage feel, but Alex’s eclectic style keeps this rooted in 2026-type magic. Beyond all that, where are all my fellow gifted-kid-burnouts at? This one is for you, especially lyrically.   “Golden Child (pt. I)” is available now on bandcamp (embedded below).   Golden Child (pt. I) by Alex Northrup

MEMORIALS – “Dropped Down the Well”

March 8, 2026

The frantic new single from MEMORIALS is the latest banger blaring through the buffaBLOG office speakers as of late. Soaked with organ and brimming with neurotic post-punk energy, we’re reminded of SPRINTS, The Walkmen, and even Ceremony when we listen to this jam. Ripping basslines, monotone vocals, and blistering drums are the engine that make “Dropped” roar – get this one going on your next road trip, just be careful not to push the pedal all the way down to the metal.   Check out the video for “Dropped Down the Well” below. It can also be found on Spotify and bandcamp.    

riley hp – “finelovin”

March 8, 2026

riley hp sounds like he’s about to fall apart on latest single, “finelovin.” Bridging the gap between Mac DeMarco and Atom and his Package, “finelovin” has all the straight-through-the-interface-DI tones you could hope for. It’s a fitting, lo-fi approach for riley hp’s lyrical content about impostor syndrome and how it relates to love. Janky and fun, “finelovin” is the kind of song that simultaneously feels like it cares too much and not at all… And that’s worth writing about.   Check out “finelovin” on Spotify and Apple Music    

The Mad Mile – “Smiths”

March 7, 2026

Last time we heard from London-based duo The Mad Mile, we were waxing poetic about previous single “Wendy Houses.” Perhaps topically, new song “Smiths” deals with the fallout and feelings from your favorite neighborhood bodega going under new management and turning into convenience-store-slop. The duo have an uncanny way of making their songs sound haunting and mysterious while still retaining a catchy quality – this one reminds us a lot of Autolux with hints of Pinback and Wombo.   Check it out below or peep it on Spotify.   The Mad Mile · Smiths

JIRI – “ClockWork”

March 5, 2026

Raleigh-based emcee JIRI emphasizes substance and skill with each of his releases. In his latest track, “ClockWork, ” JIRI makes it clear he’s a different cat. It has all the markings of a single – earworm beat with a tasty looping melody, rapidly evolving sing-songy flows and a chorus that can get stuck in your head on initial listens. JIRI sets himself apart with the skillful storytelling he’s able to weave into a song this accessible. “ClockWork’s” narrative tells the story of a lady who falls for JIRI’s inevitable charm — or does she have different, more sinister intentions? A couple expertly placed lines take this from a typical braggadocious track into one that subverts your expectations. Give it a spin. Check out more from JIRI on Spotify – while you’re there, take our Best of 2026 playlist for a spin. You’ll see JIRI and other talented rising rappers on[...]

Stephen Becker – “Bad Idea”

March 3, 2026

Stephen Becker bridges the gap between Wilco and Big Thief on latest offering, “Bad Idea.” Slow-moving, but not lacking in artistry or intensity, Becker fills “Bad Idea” with jangly acoustic guitar, layered thick with tasty guitar licks. His lilting brand of folksy bedroom-pop is ethereal and easy-going, even if the subject matter is a little heavy. Sometimes it’s best just to hear it straight from the artist’s mouth, so here’s a poignant snippet from Stephen on where his head was at when he was writing this song:   “‘Bad Idea’ is about a breakup I went through after seeing the ballet – the haunting feeling of the dancers’ movements lingering in my mind, the sad-sweet taste of spiked lemonade on the train ride home. I was thinking about, and trying to manifest, change with a newfound determination to break free from unhealthy routines and patterns in life and in love.”[...]

Cape Crush – “Calm & Delivered”

March 3, 2026

Released in anticipation of their debut album, Cape Crush has shared their newest single with us, “Calm and Delivered.” Based out of Massachusetts, this four piece is unabashedly emo and we love it. Epically bodacious guitars wail in your face with the fury of a thousand room temperature PBRs.   Ali Lipman’s vocals feel heartfelt but never whiny or self righteous; with the story behind them coming from her experiences as a parent and a woman. She goes on to say it:   “…is about the pressure to be emotionally regulated when everything around you is overstimulating.. .It’s inspired by my journey as a parent… As well as my journey as a woman, where setting boundaries is often interpreted poorly… So it’s really about finding your inner-power as a woman and not being afraid of your rage or frustration.”   You can watch the music video for “Calm and Delivered”[...]

Wolfschmidt – “file”

March 3, 2026

Sometimes you just fucking crush it. Good day at the office? Beat someone in an arcade video game? Make the perfect Tik-Tok? You get the idea. Swedish band Wolfschmidt decided to knock it out of the park with “file,” their latest single. Describing themselves as “nu-gaze” (elevator pitch is “cleaner” shoegaze or “second wave” shoegaze). It still has that polished/unpolished enigma feeling from the guitars and effects that any shoegaze fanatic will latch onto (so don’t let the nu-gaze name ruin your mood!).   You can hear it below from YouTube or over on Spotify. It’s a hair under three minutes and well worth your time commitment if you enjoy tracks that ride the guitar all the way through. Other than a short bit mid-track you’re gonna be rocking the fuck out.  

Stratosphere – Haze / I’m Yours

March 3, 2026

Fredonia’s Stratosphere continues reaching for the stars – the four piece from Buffalo’s beloved college town neighbor (and beloved college rock band incubator) has been wrecking eardrums since their debut in 2024, and latest double single Haze / I’m Yours is an excellent continuation of the band’s sound. “Haze” feels like a continuation of their namesake, both thematically and sonically. Squiggly guitars give way to wall-of-noise guitar choruses, continuing the storied tradition of quiet/loud, guitar-driven anthems made timeless by Pixies or Nirvana. “I’m Yours” leans a bit more into Bleach-era Nirvana sounds, layered thick with Rat (TM) pedal distortion and Grohl-esque drumming. One thing’s for sure, this band makes a tremendous amount of noise – something that’s often hard to capture in a recording, but Stratosphere does surprisingly well. We’re hoping to catch them live soon, but when we inevitably do, we’ll be making sure to bring earplugs (and maybe[...]

James Beastly – We Should Be Animals

February 27, 2026

Genre-defying songwriter Jim Paulos, AKA James Beastly, returns to buffaBLOG wielding a new sonic blade: his upcoming album, We Should Be Animals. As Beastly himself aptly puts it, he was once,   “… too indie to be punk and too punk to be indie.”   Nick Sessanna reviewed James Beastly’s previous album Junk Values here, giving it high praise. We’re happy to review his newest collection of songs – this time with a somewhat different approach. Overall more relaxed, the album ranges from buzzing shoegaze to dissociative, ambient folk. Moreover, We Should Be Animals is Beastly’s most ambitious attempt, starring key musicians like those from The Cast-Iron Canaries, Patrick Byers from Broken Social Scene, and Magdalena Żaczek of Smokey Robinson and Andrea Bocelli fame.   “Spring Violets,” the lead single from We Should Be Animals, queues with a disheartening, eerie synth pad. The quiet bellows of Paulos sit atop a decidedly[...]

Hit Like A Girl – “Are You In Love (feat. Zayna Youssef)”

February 27, 2026

Philly based Hit Like A Girl collaborated with Zayna Youssef for “Are You In Love.” You may want to sit down for this, but it’s a love song, and I think it’s just what everyone needs right now! It’s delightfully uplifting and starts with a synth intro that leads into bedroom pop vibes that give way to pop-punk tinged guitars. All of this meshes oh so well with with Youssef’s and Maroulis’s vocals.   You can hear “Are You In Love” below from Bandcamp. “Burning At Both Ends” is their next album, due out March 27 (Cryptid Records). They’ll be touring in support of it and may be coming near you (check their socials). Be sure to check out the non-profit, No More Dysphoria, mentioned on their Bandcamp page. They support trans and non-binary individuals financially with their transitions.   Are You In Love (feat. Zayna Youssef) by Hit Like[...]

Here if you need – “When It Falls Back into Place”

February 27, 2026

Nothing hits quite as good as some straight up emo mainlined into your ears, right? “When It Falls Back into Place” is the latest from Here if you need; Midwest Christian emo at its finest. Vocals delivered by Luke Whatman elicit fond memories of yesteryear when everyone could just vibe to some happy/sad and everything in between. We couldn’t dance and barely figured out how to mosh, but we figured it out, right? This is very much a guitar driven song in the spirit of TBS or Reliant K, and you’ll appreciate the ups, downs, and breakdowns.   You can hear “When It Falls Back into Place” below on YouTube or on Spotify. This is only the band’s second single, the first one being 2024’s “E-Mail,” but give the band a follow and maybe we’ll see some more soon!          

The Same Sky – “What’s Left”

February 27, 2026

“What’s Left” is the end result of Montreal based act The Same Sky mashing together a breakup through the lens of The Odyssey (the Greek one, not the Christopher Nolan one). The trip back to finding yourself after a breakup probably makes one feel like Odysseus trying to get back home, though I don’t recall if he fucks with a guitar and Big Muff pedal this hard (I never read the whole thing, but neither did your English professor).   I doubt Homer could have fathomed the crossover of his epic to a shoegaze track some two thousand years later, but I’m sure he would have at least appreciated the artistry.   You can hear “What’s Left” below via Bandcamp and on Spotify. You’ve not long to wait for more from The Same Sky as their album “Haunting in the Mountains” is out in April (Casa Joven).   Haunting in[...]