Latest Posts

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Days of Abandon

May 15, 2014

When The Pains of Being Pure at Heart debuted in 2009, the band endeared instantly.  A song like “Young Adult Friction” felt wide-eyed and wistful, vividly realized and alive with youth. The tracks on Days of Abandon, the New York City act’s third album, are aged and exhausted in comparison, sleepy little getaways squatting on acres of sound long occupied by Belle & Sebastian. The record’s stronger second half partly compensates for its listless start. “Eurydice” stands out as a legitimate pop single, full of gentle longing and loss. Yet both Nick Cave and Arcade Fire have performed better art rock takes on the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, and the track still suffers from the same aesthetic gutlessness that permeates most of the album. “Until the Sun Explodes” fares better as a brief nova-burst of twee energy. Perhaps a cleaner, more naked production approach makes Days of Abandon feel less rapturous and[...]

Cymbals Eat Guitars – “Jackson”

May 14, 2014

Man, who knew these guys were still around? I am sure I am not the only one who left Cymbals Eat Guitars for dead after the band followed up its incredible Why There Are Mountains with the somewhat disappointing 2011 release, Lenses Alien. The band returned in a big way yesterday by sharing “Jackson,” from forthcoming album, LOSE (8/26). The epic album opener, with its layer upon layer building towards that release and big classic rock guitar lines, could easily have led off WTAM too. Its thats good. And that big pay off at the end? Well worth the 6+ min wait.

Sylvan Esso – Sylvan Esso

May 14, 2014

There are very few new albums in 2014 that have struck me song by song. The War On Drugs’ Lost In The Dream and Porches’ Lost In The Cosmos are two of those. It pleases me to say that I have found a third. Sylvan Esso, comprised of former acapella-folk singer Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, former bass player for Megafaun, merged together as solo artists to create a work of art. Sanborn brings the vision of an electronic music producer to the front, and Meath works her wide range of crafty vocals. The first track, “Hey Mami,” introduces us to the soundscape of walking in a city. Meath slowly builds on the phrase ‘hey mami’ into an arpeggio, as thick drops of bass plop in while the chorus repeats. Meath’s voice is remniscent of the quality of Feist’s–smooth, elegant, and raw. This song is the feeling of being a woman on the street–it’s[...]

The Black Keys – Turn Blue

May 13, 2014

It’s been a busy week for Patrick Carney. The Black Keys have just released their 8th (can that be right?) studio album, and he’s somehow managed to find time to reignite his old beef with Justin Bieber. While he’s correct in his opinion that Justin Bieber is pretty much the worst type of person the world has ever seen, it’s not his responsibility to make everyone aware of it. His responsibility is to be a sick drummer in one of the better bands we’ve ever heard. If this is a PR move, I think we can all agree that it is pretty shameful. I really, really don’t think it is, but I can’t completely dismiss the idea. Offstage, The Black Keys have always struck me as a bit goofy. I remember watching them as extras in an SNL skit a few years ago and being surprised at how remarkably unfunny[...]

midnight Releases Sensual Single “Adonis”

May 13, 2014

Buffalo-bred, Rochester-raised electro R&B artist, midnight, released his first song in more than a year today, titled “Adonis.” The single is a sip of sorts to midnight’s upcoming reservoir, with collaborations this summer set with buffaBLOG favorites JOYWAVE and Crookers. With comparisons to Maxwell, The Weekend, and How to Dress Well, midnight’s raspy soulful vocals backed by My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy-era Kanye productions create both an ethereal and seductive climate. Listen to “Adonis” below.

Zealot Shares “Blanket Fort” Demo

May 13, 2014

For all of the talk this blog has give to Fredonia fuzz trio, Zealot, over the last few months, the band only has one track to its name, the very good debut single “Magic Eye.” The band doubled its catalog size today by releasing a fresh demo titled “Blanket Fort.” The welcome No Age comparisons are going nowhere on this reverb and shout heavy track. Word is the band will be releasing its debut EP some time this summer to keep an eye out. In the mean time, listen to “Blanket Fort” below.

Frigid Giant Drops From My Cold Dead Hands

May 13, 2014

This past weekend, Buffalo rapper Frigid Giant held the release party for his excellent new album From My Cold Dead Hands. Those who attended that show have a vital recording of one of the freshest voices to emerge on the Buffalo hip-hop scene. Throughout its 42-minute running time, From My Cold Dead Hands is packed with witty, conscious lyrics, and well-produced beats with a futuristic sound that points to hip-hop’s next wave. It’s a brilliant record all around. A big part of Frigid Giant’s charm is the ability to mix bravado with self-deprecating humor. While he often boasts about his skills as an MC (he can definitely back these claims up), he also is quite honest when he jokes about sleeping till noon and being broke. Our narrator is aware of his considerable talents and his not shy about his ambitious. But he also acknowledges that for now, as he’s[...]

Jeremy Jermaine Jerome Releases Video for “coexist”

May 12, 2014

It’s been a while since we last heard from Jeremy Jermaine Jerome, a Carolina-raised, Buffalo-rooted abstract emcee (mostly because he has sworn off any-and-all social media). So with this, we were delighted to receive an e-mail from him this morning  which included a link to his latest music video, “coexist.” The video, much like others in JJJ’s repertoire, is an avant-garde piece layered with Jerome’s hushed staccato rapping . In “coexist,” Jerome proves once again his divergent performance art and poems are something to be noticed. This may be a little editorializing, and whatever this is a blog, but JJJ makes the best music videos in Buffalo. Every one is different and it is obvious that the rapper thoroughly thinks through his projects’ locations, props, and scenarios.  Other acts should take notice because we’re becoming a little waned from these repetitive narratives. coexist from ROY Productions on Vimeo.

Joe Mason – Joe Mason

May 12, 2014

As technology has gotten more sophisticated and more accessible, it’s become harder to to nail down a bedroom record. I mean that in the sense that it sounds like it was recorded in someone’s bedroom, not in the sense that you could throw it on and screw. Excepting the people who seek out obsolete technologies, the bedroom record is no longer something you whisper into a four-track recorder while your parents are asleep. You get 255+ tracks, a whole Internet full of sounds and samples and maybe your own apartment. Which is great in its own way. I don’t necessarily agree with the notion that more music getting made is an unmitigated good, but I’ve heard some excellent tunes that never would have gotten produced if the cost of recording were greater than zero dollars. That said, some of the best creative advice I’ve ever heard was to “set limitations[...]

Orations Debut Two-Track EP

May 8, 2014

While you await the next installment of Transmission Dance Party, give a listen to the new project from Jason Draper, one half of Transmission (and bass player for Failures’ Union), called Orations. The four piece outfit dropped a short, two track EP full of driving and hypnotic post-punk on Tuesday. I bet they could easily sneak one of the songs onto the next Transmission set list and no one would miss beat. Keep an eye out for future music from this interesting project, and while you are here, listen to “Early Spring” below.

Le Printemps Readies New Album, Shares Tracks

May 7, 2014

It’s been a while since we last heard from Buffalo expat/Portland transplant Jon Riggie and his project Le Printemps. For those unaware, Riggie was the drummer of 2011 Buffalo buzz band, the birD Day. Le Printemps is probably as opposite of the birD Day as it can get, with jazzy guitars, swung drums, along with a healthy does of south western Americana, almost like a Cass McCombs meets Jose Gonzales. Riggie and crew are prepping the release of their new album, Long Walk Home, which was recorded at Supernatural Sound Studios, a notorious noise factory that has recorded some of the very best west-coast acts including Modest Mouse, the Shins, and Portugal the Man. Le Printemps is clearly in some good company. The band has shared three of the tracks on its soundcloud page, all of which sound like they would be the perfect soundtrack to a drive along the coast.[...]

Monty Python – “Lousy Song”

May 7, 2014

Today, Monty Python released “Lousy Song,” a previously unreleased collaboration between Eric Idle and the late, great Graham Chapman. The remaining members of the Python troupe (Idle, Cleese, Palin, Jones, Gilliam) are currently gearing up for live shows and hopefully a world tour as well as the release of Monty Python Sings (Again) June 9th, because there’s always something left in the vaults.   Thanks to NME for the tip.

Andrew Jackson Jihad – Christmas Island

May 7, 2014

Andrew Jackson Jihad is the type of group that can make you want to laugh and cry at the same time. Their lyrics are undeniably witty and hit you with a punch, and after settle in with a pinch of reality. Christmas Island, their latest album-length release, is both cryptic and hard-hitting. Lyrically, the words resonate on a dual plane, touching on the beautiful and the ugly. Musically this album stands in line with their previous work, exploring more accompaniment but still following suit in a folk-punk tradition. “Temple Grandin,” the opening track, sets the tone for the rest of the work. Sean Bonnette’s voice comes off sounding more broken and exasperated than usual as he chimes the words, “open up your murder eyes and see the ugly world that spat you out.” It’s set in a lo-fi stage without bleeding together the separate components. In the backdrop, the organ[...]

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[...]