Latest Posts

James Rapp – “In Your Tomb”

June 30, 2014

Steak and Cake Records is to set to release the debut solo LP from James Rapp, whose primary band, The Rotaries, you may or may not remember was part of a SnC anniversary show a couple years back at the Vault. Titled Islander, the self-recorded album is set for release next Tuesday, July 8th, and features Rapp on every instrument. Lead off track and first single, “In Your Tomb,” sets the tone for the laid back affair: think Little Joy without the international flair or a less beat driven Islands. Islander is pleasant, summer soundtrack whether you are sweating out your Saturday Night at Bidwell Park or cooling off over at the harbor (pro tip: the best spot is behind the Outer Harbor stage). Keep an eye on Steak and Cake’s bandcamp page next week for the full album stream/download, and in the mean time, listen to “In Your Tomb” below.

Every Time I Die – From Parts Unknown

June 30, 2014

Do I really need to introduce Every Time I Die? Maybe I should, because every person who listens to them winds up with a melted face. I’m not kidding, check any comment section on any reviews of any of their albums. Anyone who has ever been to their perpetually sold-out Christmas shows knows what ETID is all about: brutal, guitar smashing, oft-hilarious dudes playing ugly chords on Lisa Frank guitars. What isn’t amazing about that? All that aside, ETID is nothing short of legendary. Album number seven is called From Parts Unknown, and this time around, ETID have enlisted Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou as a producer. Let me tell you something. It shows. This is ETID’s heaviest stuff yet. Album opener “The Great Secret” was my personal favorite song, probably because it was like two minutes of getting punched in the face. I like to listen to music to relax and drown out the[...]

Ab-Soul – These Days

June 27, 2014

Towards the end of 2012, Kendrick Lamar brought him and his crew into the mainstream with the masterpiece Good Kid, Maad City. Kendrick, ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, and Jay Rock had been releasing high quality free projects and independents albums for the last few years as the collective Black Hippy, and after Kendrick’s success, it became a waiting game to see who was going to follow him into the spotlight. ScHoolboy released his first major album, the well received Oxymoron a few months back, and saw some notoriety with singles like “Studio” and a feature on one of Macklemore’s singles. Ab-Soul has been looked at as perhaps the best lyricist in the crew, and his previous project, Control System, lets listeners into his warped thoughts and conspiracy theories, while demonstrating great technical ability. He’s proven time and time again that he has the talent to be one of the best rappers on the planet, so[...]

Mink Releases Debut EP, Point Break

June 27, 2014

From the brains behind Inquiring Mind comes Mink, a new three piece band featuring members of the former said band and Tony Rocky Horror. The trio’s debut EP, Point Break, a surf rock nod to the great(?) Patrick Swayze/Keanu Reeves vehicle, is a fun, yet tense collection of attitude filled vocals and playful bass lines. With a growing surf rock scene on Buffalo’s West Side (Aaron and the Burrs, the Hamiltones), Mink will be in good company. Surf’s up.

Grimes – “Go”

June 26, 2014

I would be lying if I said I didn’t get chills while listening to the latest Grimes release for the first time. “Go,” released today, has that ethereal sound and angelic vocals that the Canadian musician is iconic for. The production work for the track, however, hits much harder and heavier than her usual dreamspace sound. The lyrics are powerful, the build-ups are perfect, all with an overall XXX feeling. The track features Blood Diamonds, a DJ and producer from Los Angeles, who has collaborated with Grimes in the past. A perfect match with a clear ability to diversify, a year later and their collaboration for “Phone Sex” is a tune I found myself never losing interest in. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/156075705″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

RIFF RAFF – NEON iCON

June 26, 2014

Gonzo internet rapper RiFF RAFF has achieved the kind of success that is uniquely 21st century; his distinctive look, humorous Twitter account, and cartoonish brand of materialism have made him something of an absurdist icon within the rap community, despite his remaining unsigned for the majority of his career. In this way and others, he is similar to Lil B – both have become popular through Twitter, developed a distinct lexicon (RiFF RAFF with his constant Versace references, and Lil B with his Based terminology), and been given beats by Mac Miller. Another thing the two have in common is the skepticism with which they have been greeted by rap traditionalists. Neither have much in the way of technical skills, and volley between serious rapping and humorous swag rap. But while Lil B has a clearly defined personality in his music, RiFF RAFF has always been harder to peg –[...]

Pony Hand Releases Debut Album

June 26, 2014

Raucous Rochester-based three-piece Pony Hand has been on radar for a bit since we’ve been spotting them on showcases with 585 located bands we are into for the greater part of a year. We finally associated a sound with a name last week with the trio’s debut self-titled release. The band’s sound is both psychedelic and garagey, sort of like if the Donnas shot dice in the alley and were produced by Jack White or if Karen O. had creative freedom on a Death From Above 1979 collaboration.  With plans for a physical tape release via Dadstache Records, you can grab a tape deck before the price is massively inflated due to the influx of bands releasing tapes/increasing demand, or stream on bandcamp. Check it out below.

Lone – Reality Testing

June 25, 2014

British producer Matt Cutler began recording as Lone in 2007 and has since been responsible for the some of the most inventive, dynamic tracks in dance music in recent years, layering hip hop drums with 90’s rave-inspired synths  to create a maximalist sound that feels equally suited for a solitary headphone trip as it does for the club. Reality Testing, Cutler’s fifth full length and second LP for the esteemed, rehashed dance label R&S Records, delivers much of the same kaleidoscopic bliss as 2012’s Galaxy Garden, but with more concision and emphasis on texture and reflective atmospherics than its’ predecessor. As a result, the album presents itself as synthesis of 90’s hip hop grooves and jazzy, melodic house, two genre’s that share both a common past and formative purpose. When last year’s J-Dilla referencing single “Airglow Fires” was released along with the ethereal b-side “Begin To Begin,” it was apparent Lone’s return would be marked[...]

New Music from SLPCLSDTH is Great for Sad Ears

June 25, 2014

If you want to listen to a happy song, “The book of plans were not doing,” is not the right choice for you. SLPCLSDTH talks of loneliness, disappointment, and suicide before letting the instrumental take over the conversation. His tone of despair while providing thoughtful lyricism is something we’ve seen in the past, and is a characteristic of his artistry. The beat also has a mystique to it, with swindling strings and nonsensical vocal samples. There’s music for every mood, and SLPCLSDTH continues to refine his conveyance of sadness. Check it out:

Pogo – Younghood

June 25, 2014

Mostly everyone understands the idea of a sample or snipped included in a piece of music. The point, if the musician gets it right, is to relate the clip to the thematic vibe of the music or lyrics. Many hip-hop artists do this successfully (Wu-Tang Clan, Aesop Rock) as do electronic musicians (Ratatat, Ott). One unique thing about Australian electronic artist Pogo is his usage of strictly taking samples from movies, television shows, and film scores to create a new composition. He is certainly a master at collage, and perhaps a Pop artist. A few years back, he created a famous mash-up of the score of Alice In Wonderland simply titled “Alice.” The YouTube hits skyrocketed, and I even remember stumbling upon the shocking goodness of the piece. With his latest release, Younghood, he doesn’t stray too far from his down-right trippy instrumentals. First track “Kermit Clouds” samples the voice of Kermit The[...]

Total Control – Typical System

June 24, 2014

Just when the world thought it had enough modern 80’s synth-rock reincarnations to sort through, Australia’s Total Control releases Typical System, an album that churns out all the goth-rock nuances in all the right places. But with any genre-replicating album, it matters more what the band does to update the style, rather than what they do to pay homage to it. With that being said, Typical System is a good listen, however hampered by a lack of innovation. Speaking of what Total Control does to sway from their 80’s inspirations, the most prominent difference is in the album’s production. Instead of toting reverb soaked drums and overly compressed instruments, the band utilizes a more modern mix style, bringing the vocals and guitar to the forefront while keeping the backbeat and groove more secondary. This results in making the songs sound more present and reminiscent of Depeche Mode’s more plug-and-play records.[...]

Harvest Sum Releases 10th Anniversary Compliation

June 23, 2014

This past Saturday at Nietzsche’s, long time local label, Harvest Sum, celebrated ten years of music in Buffalo. In conjunction with the anniversary party, which was put on as part of our weekend long Herd Fest, the label released a compilation of previously unreleased, new, and rare tracks from Harvest Sum’s past and present. Featuring cuts from Wooden Waves, Roger Bryan & the Orphans, Fourem, Applennium (who, BTW, may have had the best performance of Saturday night), and more, the 8-track comp is a great way to familiarize yourself with one of Buffalo’s best music treasures, which hopefully will still be running strong in another ten years. You can download the entire compilation over at Harvest Sum’s facebook page. While it’s downloading, check out the stunner of a closing track, “I Hope You’re Well, Brother” from Fourem, below.

Besnyo – Worry

June 23, 2014

I was conned. The year was 2008, and I had made my way downtown to see my fellow Eden-ites in A Hotel Nourishing play a show presented by Harvest Sum at Nietzsche’s. Alex Berkley had just finished playing his acoustic solo set, during which he had repeatedly suggested that the audience buy his new record, Worry, at the merch table in the front. Having enjoyed his set and completely oblivious to his clever ruse, I weaved my way to the merch table and paid for my copy of Worry. It wasn’t until later that night that I realized, somewhat shamefully, that the CD that I paid for was not the work of Alex Berkley. It was the work of Harvest Sum heavyweights Besnyo, and I am happy to say that the embarrassment resulting from my gullibility dissolved away just a few short minutes into their set that night. Worry is buffaBLOG’s[...]

Sea Planes Release Latest Single, “Right Now”

June 20, 2014

After a year plus wait between Sea Planes’ debut single and its superior follow up, the Rochester synth-pop duo has dropped its third track in the anthemic “Right Now.” Similar to last month’s “Young At Heart,” the new track finds the pair sticking with the big 80s sounds of drum machines, arena ready guitar solos, and shouting choruses. Fans of the Killers and M83 should like what they hear, especially as those “oh oh ohs” take us through the bridge. Check out “Right Now” below and visit Sea Planes’ bandcamp page to listen to past singles.

Cove Explores Humanity’s Strongest Emotion On love.gained/love.lost.too

June 20, 2014

The Essential Vitamins Crew (EVC) of Buffalo boasts “no additives or preservatives,” and that’s exactly what EVC member and hip hop producer Cove has testified to on his latest album love.gained/love.lost.too. The release is a follow up to Cove’s Love.Lost/Love.Gained. release of last February, and it follows a similar soundscape. Cove keeps the track name nearly as simple as possible. Most of the titles are just their number, with the exception of a few dates and the album’s closer. Track “two”begins with a quote from Love and Basketball, in which the main characters as children begin dating. Throughout the album Cove rips scenes depicting different stages of love from movies and uses them as interludes to further portray the album’s themes. “Apr.20” was hardly the pot-smokers anthem one would think considering it’s name. Cove chops up the same vocal sample we’ve heard on Black Hippy’s “Black Lip Bastard” remix, and combines[...]