Latest Posts

The Observers Release Self-Titled Debut Album

May 6, 2014

A lot can happen when a bunch of local songwriters and musicians happen across each other’s paths and subsequently decide to make some music. Sounds come together, voices fall into harmony, and direction begins to take form. Coming off their self-titled debut release, The Observers seem to have little else on their minds than following a road they have ardently begun to forge for themselves and busting out of Buffalo’s coddling grips. “The trajectory seems to be moving in a positive direction,” says Josh Gage, multi-instrumentalist and founding member of the now seven-person ensemble. “Coming off the CD release, our goal is to get on the road as much as we can…and possibly do a house-concert tour along the 90 corridor.” It couldn’t be a more perfect regional introduction for an acoustic band that is just coming of age. “It’s kind of our bag. When we can forget about the[...]

Brother Keep Releases To You and Yours

May 6, 2014

Brother Keep are some angry mo-fos! Their new EP, To You & Yours, listens like a middle finger to the “empty girl” who ran off with guitarist/vocalist Nick Sessanna’s former best friend. The four track release opens up with the pop punk “Windy City” and ends with the whimsical “Laces”. In a lot of ways, this recording is classic boy meets girl, girl betrays boy. Just listen to any Senses Fail record. Where Sessanna and company differ from Buddy Nielsen and Senses Fail is that there isn’t any huge climax where Sessanna kills his ex. To You & Yours is more than a revenge record.  It has real sustenance, something that can really hold you over until dinner time. To You & Yours is that ‘Dear Jane’ letter that you drunkenly leave on the nightstand after you have packed the last truck load of your belongings from the studio apartment the two[...]

Lykke Li – I Never Learn

May 6, 2014

The Swedish-bred Lykke Li has an incomparable way of conveying her self-reflecting lyrics on I Never Learn, her third and final installment in what she describes as a trilogy about the whirlwind emotions of a young woman. As was the case for her previous two albums, I Never Learn lets listeners intimately peek inside the mind of one of the most quintessential contemporary, indie soul-pop singers today. Showing that she doesn’t need some sort of complex instrumental setup to shine, the title track is heavily rooted in melodic guitar strokes and Li’s harmonious vocal talents. The song is a hauntingly personal view. “I lie here like a starless lover. I’ll die here as your phantom lover,” Li sings. On “No Rest For the Wicked,” a wholesome representation of simplistic designs with a catchy flare, Li keeps true to classical music traditions by leaning towards the always-powerful instrumentation of a punchy percussion[...]

Mooses – Tales From The Elephant’s Nest

May 5, 2014

There’s definitely something going on down the 90 in Fredonia. The proximity of Dave Fridmann’s Tarbox Road Studios in nearby Cassadaga, NY has contaminated the water or affected the electromagnetic fields emanating in that area in a way that wildness and psychedelia have become hallmarks of Fredonia’s music scene, which is of course a huge boon for WNY’s music scene. Case in point: Mooses, a young four piece from Fredonia who dropped itsdebut EP, Tales From The Elephant’s Nest, a tight and bold five song collection that sounds sweet in the ears and screams “POTENTIAL,” last week. Mooses get things started with the snarling, schadenfreude and 90’s drenched “Hypocrite’s Fall,” a slow burner that lures you in with restrained buildup before unleashing evocative new wave vocals reminiscent of Robert Smith and stirring Bends worthy guitars. The new wave swagger continues on the exuberant “Bette Davis,” a straight ahead rave up complete with[...]

Hooray For Earth – “Keys”

May 1, 2014

Yesterday, NYC’s Hooray For Earth released the first single from Racy, its highly anticipated follow up to 2011’s True Loves. Featuring crunchy guitars and a soaring ethos, “Keys” is ambitious, smart , pleasingly accessible, and one hell of a teaser for Racy, due out July 29th.

Bad Cello – “Cover Your Smiling”

May 1, 2014

What has been up with Utica lately? With impressive acts hailing from the region like Comfy  and Twin Speak, we’re beginning to think there is something unique in the Mohawk River. This week, we stumbled on an equally impressive act from the 315 under the moniker Bad Cello.  The project featuring Zeno Pitarelli and pals recently released the teaser for the grandiose sadcore single titled “Cover Your Smiling.” Set to be the starter single for an EP this summer via Miscreant Records, the song phases in and out of earnest vocals deserving of sympathetic back rubs and 90’s slack rock. Check out the  “Cover Your Smiling” below.

Admirers Remaster Night Night EP, Premiere Title Track

May 1, 2014

Ever since Mike James’ former band, Longwave, dropped its wonderful The Strangest Things LP, which included this all time great WNY jam (that’s James in the left rear) way back in 2003, the ever busy Rochester musician has been floating around my, and now the blog’s, radar for some time. Between his former work in Mikey Jukebox, and current projects Hawker M. James and the Demos, James has found the time to remaster his 2003 EP, Night Night, from his OTHER project, Admirers. Set to drop on May 13th, the EP will include some fresh takes on the original cuts, in addition to remixes. As for the title track, the song delves into the retro synth-pop vibe that fans of any Johnny Jewel project, chilled Holy Ghost, Chromeo, and the Drive soundtrack will eat right up. Check out Pet Shop Boys-esque “Night Night,” which features a subtle, Niles Rogers like[...]

Damon Albarn – Everyday Robots

May 1, 2014

Damon Albarn, of Blur and Gorillaz fame, has always been a maverick, pushing pop music into fairly atypical, frequently imaginative territory. On his first full-length solo album, the legendary alt-rocker, working from a slower, more subdued, sonic position, has mostly eschewed easy hooks in favor of a meticulously produced palette of gray sounds. Though much of Everyday Robots is rainy day music at its most drizzly, Albarn remains a consummate artist, bringing a certain level of affable whimsy to a somewhat melancholy affair. The record begins eerily on its title track with a 1960 sample from Lord Buckley as the former British comic declares, “They didn’t know where they was going, but they knew where they was, wasn’t it…” In the context of Albarn’s skeptical ruminations on modern technology, the quote provides indirect commentary on our contemporary sense of self, and our present reliance on digital tools to locate and[...]

The Mercy Beat – “Sweet”

April 30, 2014

Thanks to My Old Kentucky Blog’s Blog Radio show on Sirus XM U yesterday for turning me on to LA-based pop act The Mercy Beat, and in particular, its celestial single “Sweet.” The group dropped the track a couple months back, but it seems to be getting more play as of late due to its airy vocals and dreamy synths. Fans of Trails and Ways, Young Galaxy, St. Lucia, and even the Radio Dept should check it out. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/136016045″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Mystic Braves – Desert Island

April 30, 2014

Mystic Braves is one of those groups that tend to ramble on. Since their last, self titled album, they haven’t quite figured out how to stray from their original sound, which is a western-influenced, rawhide feel. For starters, I’m not asking that a group create dramatically new content with each work, but when I can’t tell the difference between song A and song B, there’s a cog missing in the clock. On Desert Island, guitar licks are swinging in the wind like a pair of balls too big for their boxers. Indeed, this is good music to listen to if you’re driving or trying to get through the day at work. It’s casual surf rock, almost like they didn’t know what to play when they started, so they decided to rehash the same motif heard in groups like Tame Impala and Ariel’s Pink Haunted Graffiti. On “I Want You Back,” they[...]

Seahaven – “Karma Consequential”

April 29, 2014

Seahaven have traded distortion for chilled-out guitars and effected drums on this ambient track from Reverie Lagoon: Music For Escapism Only. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/140537809″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Ben Morey Releases Howlo Project EP

April 29, 2014

Rochester’s Ben Morey appears to be trying to rival Buffalo’s Sonny Baker for busiest musician in WNY. Between his inviting solo work, including this solid live session with Genesee Live, and being a featured member of fellow 585 acts like Dumb Angel, New Socks (we think), and the Wallpaper, his latest project Howlo, released its three song EP, Attic Tapes, via bandcamp this weekend. Howlo’s sound is reminiscent of a pre-diva Kevin Barnes/of Montreal, equally lo fi and catchy. Listen to the capturing “Blanka” below.

tUnE-yArDs – Nikki Nack

April 29, 2014

If ARTPOP was a small trip into Lady Gaga’s creative mind that tried to combine art and pop culture into one musical form, then tUnE-yArDs’ new album, Nikki Nack, is a full on exploration of pop culture sweetly crafted into an unorthodox collection of rhythms and beats. The omni-present creative force behind tUnE-yArDs, Merrill Garbus, who also doubles as lead vocalist and a multi-instrumentalist, decided to switch the production team behind her third album, making it one of her most sonically pleasing to date. What has always stood out in Garbus’ music is her almost childlike appearance in accompanying music videos. One of her trippiest to date, in which she tackles the issues of undrinkable water in a very Saturday morning cartoon kind of fashion to mask the harsh topics at hand, is for “Water Fountain.” Garbus flaunts her signature quirky personality through multiple eccentric poses and places her restless stamp of importance on[...]

Secret Pizza Releases Debut EP

April 28, 2014

We’ve been reading about Secret Pizza for the past six months or so, but could only attribute their sound to grainy facebook videos. Needless to say, we were delighted to stumble upon their debut EP, Self Titled E.P.. The Rochester post-rock outfit sounds like a more driving Frightened Rabbit or if the Men decided to dabble in shoegaze rock on their next album. Listen to EP stand out “Oh My My” below.

Peter Matthew Bauer – “Philadelphia Raga”

April 25, 2014

The most intriguing solo project to rise from the Walkmen ash is not from former front man Hamilton Leithauser, but rather the band’s bass/organ player Peter Matthew Bauer. The latest track from his solo debut, Liberation! (6/24), comes in the form of “Philadelphia Raga.” Leading off with a worn down instrumental, which recalls the Walkmen’s dreamy “Line by Line,” the song turns into a drifty folk number in the likes of Cass McCombs and even Calexcio. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/145816077″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]