Latest Posts

Twin Shadow – Eclipse

March 19, 2015

After a delayed release date last year and a rescheduled tour, George Lewis Jr.’s new wave synth-pop outfit, Twin Shadow, is back with its third studio full length, Eclipse. On his latest release, Lewis really pushes the “pop” in synth-pop. He has definitely been leaning more towards this transition over time since his 80’s synthesizer filled new wave 2010 debut Forget to the 2012’s Confess, which featured more rock oriented instrumentals. The main appeal of the debut record was the incredibly simplistic approach to synth-pop Twin Shadow took. Everything was so smooth as Lewis’ vocals seemed to sort of ebb and flow along with the electronic drums and synthesizers, giving a distinct R&B type feel on many of the tracks. On Confess, Lewis went for a more grand approach, with similar verse structure to Forget, but as soon as the choruses hit, the vocals and instrumentals exploded. While most songs followed the similar instrumental[...]

A House Safe For Tigers Release Debut Single “Evaporate”

March 19, 2015

Buffalo multi-instrumentalist Brandon Delmont (Girlpope, Son of the Sun, Odiorne, Lindbergh Babies) has a new project called A House Safe For Tigers, this time collaborating with Mark Constantino (Exit Strategy, Returners), and the pair’s first track from its forthcoming album is terrific. Harmoniously fusing Constantino’s gentle, plaintive, searching vocals to lush Beatlesesque psychedelia by way of Mercury Rev and late 90’s Wilco, “Evaporate” is straight up headphone music. Sweetly melancholic, beautiful, and loaded with mellotrons and Ringo drum fills from Delmont, it’s a hell of a change-up from hardcore stalwart Constantino and a great teaser for the upcoming full length vinyl release from Headless Actor Records.

EdWang and Mad Dukez Link Up for MadWang

March 18, 2015

Buffalo producer EdWang has a knack for remixing songs, giving them vibrant, weird beats. Mad Dukez is one of Buffalo’s premier MCs, and has a CMJ chart topping album to his name. 2013’s Gettin’ Gatsby was a critically acclaimed collaboration between Dukez and Toronto beatsmith Fresh Kils. EdWang has taken to reinventing some of the album’s songs, along with a couple of the duos tracks from The Open Affair EP in a new EP with Mad Dukez, with the DOOM-esque blended name MadWang. One of the two Open Affair tracks on the project, “World Wide” features a delicious beat of trap sounds and video game blips and bloops. “Rearview Reminders,” an inspiring track appreciating the path you’ve taken, features Rhymesayers artist Blueprint. On Gatsby, the beat was a mellower one, built around some humanized drums. EdWang takes his version in the opposite direction, making his beat heavy on robotic synths. The newly imagined track has a[...]

Brass Palace Continues “50 Bands 50 Weeks” Compilation, Releases SPEIRS’ “Threshold”

March 18, 2015

Last month, we wrote about the Rochester recording studio, Brass Palace, and its ambitious “50 Bands 50 Weeks” project. At the time of writing, producer and engineer Chris Vandeviver had already released tracks from bands like Druse and Edge of Jupiter. For the latest installment in the ongoing project, Brass Palace premiered a song from SPEIRS, who you may remember us introducing you to earlier this year when the ethereal, female-fronted post-rock act from Rochester released its debut single, “Headwarm.” For the five piece’s contribution to “50 Bands 50 Weeks,” the group recorded its newest offering, “Threshold,” a track full of swelling, guitar-driven ambiance a la Appleseed Cast or Now, Now. Listen to “Threshold” below and follow the progress of Brass Palace’s “50 Bands 50 Weeks” compilation here.

Modest Mouse – Strangers to Ourselves

March 17, 2015

Over the last couple years, Modest Mouse’s new album had become arguably the most anticipated release in alternative rock. The eight-year gap so soon after their mid-aught heyday was made all the more intriguing by the bits of news that did emerge. Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr had already left the band, they worked with OutKast mastermind Big Boi (but mostly just got fucked up), and of course, the tongue-in-cheek name for front man Isaac Brock’s record label, Glacial Pace. But Strangers to Ourselves is classic Modest Mouse – overstuffed, over-the-top and overdramatic in all the best ways. Even still the record shows a sense of maturity and growth. The music is darker, more brooding and abrasive than their last two records – yet still retains the pop influences opened up by their breakthrough Good News for People Who Love Bad News. And perhaps most important: Brock’s frenzied vocals and razor-sharp[...]

Blue Falcon Drops New Single, “S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder)”

March 17, 2015

After an extended lull out of Rochester, our sister city’s music scene had a sudden surge last week with the release of some quality, blog worthy material. One of those bands, Blue Falcon, released its latest single during the tail end of last week. Titled “S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder),” something I would have to assume most WNYers were hit hard with this past, insufferable winter, the song has a laid back Mac DeMarco meets Earlimart slacker feel, a bit of a departure from the band’s blues-rock sounds on its previous EP, First Flight. No word yet on whether the single is going to be included on a future release, so in the mean time, listen to “S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder)” below.

Scope & Figure Shares First Single From Forthcoming EP, Exemplary Sports Magic

March 16, 2015

Late last week, Rochester quartet, Scope & Figure, released the first single from its forthcoming EP, Exemplary Sports Magic, set to be released on May 1st via Dadstache Records. Titled “Cincinnati Fire Kites,” the track is pretty different from last spring’s single “Entropy Knows Best,” sounding like clean mathy indie rock (think Minus the Bear meets Two Door Cinema Club with a hint of Early November). The band seemed to take a nod from fellow Roch math rock act, Fowls, distancing its from the robust, folkier sounds of the previous single. Look for the Scope & Figure full EP to drop this spring. In the mean time, listen to “Cincinnati Fire Kites” below.

Newish Star – How Soon We Forget

March 14, 2015

There’s a certain word that comes to mind when I think about the genre of pop-punk: “bratty.” In this context, it’s a compliment, or at least not an insult. Good pop-punk tends to come with a sneer and a stuck-out tongue, the objects of its quasi-ironic, sometimes petty derision usually the self, and then everybody else. That’s not a huge emotional range, and really good pop-punk often cleverly plays with those limits. It’s those kind of moments that make Newish Star’s new tape, How Soon We Forget, especially interesting. Musically, it’s in the same ballpark as their past releases, but past the power chords, the slightly-off vocals, and the driving drums is a level of nuance that serves as evidence of growth. The very first moments of the tape serve as a pretty good metaphor for where the band’s at. It’s a recording of the trio between songs at a[...]

The Slums Drop New Track, “Plain Pine Box”

March 13, 2015

This Friday the 13th is shaping up to be a pretty lucky day for punk / hardcore fans. Following news of JOHNS’ fresh music video, we’re graced with another golden nugget in the form of a spankin’ new track from Buffalo post-hardcore quarter, The Slums. The track, titled “Plain Pine Box,” capitalizes on that nervous, raw energy that the band has earned their keep with; guitars-a-blaring, chunky bass blasts, and vocalist Steven Floyd’s signature panther-esque growl. Harnessing the grit effectively is no easy feat, but The Slums’ consideration for both tone and tension is evident in this one; the combination makes for an uneasiness that satisfies. Keep ’em coming, boys. With the band now going into “writing hibernation mode,” we’ll have to wait a little while for more of that Slumsy goodness.” We’ll have plenty more to feast on come summertime.” cites the latest post on the band’s Facebook page. “Plain[...]

Dreambeaches Premiere Debut Single, “Trademark”

March 13, 2015

Earlier this morning, Dreambeaches, the new project from Humble Braggers‘ bass player, Corey Bzibziak, released its debut single. Titled “Trademark,” the track ditches HB’s soaring vocals and synths for a burst of lo-fi, surf-rock. The song sounds like the product of Cloud Nothings and Beach Fossils entering the studio together and having a bit of fun. Expect to see Dreambeaches live in the near future, with a full EP dropping sometime this summer. Listen to “Trademark” below.

Alex Berkley Premieres Annual “Fun-a-Day” Album, 28 Days of Fun: Shuffle

March 12, 2015

This being a music blog, my favorite project to look forward to during Sugar City’s annual Fun-a-Day exhibit (create something artistic for every day of the month) is the concept album from Alex Berkley. His first year album for Fun-a-Day, 28 Days of Fun, was a collection of songs, one recorded every day of the month: a simple, yet quality undertaking. For year two, he went more ambitious, recording a collection of diary-like entries chronicling the day to day life of the Elmwood Village every man for 28 Days of Fun: Sick of the Sound of My Voice. As for this year, his third musical installment for Fun-a-Day, the singer/songwriter put his iTunes on shuffle daily and proceeded to write a song, resulting in 28 Days of Fun: Shuffle. Some of the random songs that inspired the album were “Our Singer” by Pavement (Song 19: “Wings & Billy Madison”), “Jamming” by Bob[...]

Tame Impala – “Let It Happen”

March 11, 2015

Tame Impala is preparing to unleash a currently untitled new album this year and to stoke the fires of anticipation, we’ve been gifted it’s lead track, the 7.5 minute epic “Let It Happen.” Available for download from the band’s website, “Let It Happen” is quintessential Tame Impala, but with some new wrinkles. Alongside Kevin Parker’s trademark spaced out drums, guitar and synths, and glorious multi-tracked vocal harmonies, there’s jittery freneticism , artful glitches, and a flirtation with 70’s prog rock. No release date or title yet for the third album from the Perth, Australia export or a Buffalo tour stop, but after two excellent albums and this appetizer, we’ll keep you posted.

Will Butler – Policy

March 10, 2015

A few weeks ago, Arcade Fire keyboardist/drummer Will Butler shared an interesting, but ultimately inconsequential tidbit about his upcoming debut solo album: inspired by early Bob Dylan, Butler would write a song each day based on a headline in The Guardian. He allegedly culled the songs from a week’s worth of headlines – specifically the week of Feb. 23, 2015. Given Dylan’s long, exemplar history of protest songs and storytelling, Butler may have set a bar of expectations that was all but impossible to attain. But Butler doesn’t even seem to be trying to write next “Hurricane” or “Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll” (his purported inspiration behind the project). Rather, Policy – what became of that challenge – is a collection of eight breathtakingly concise pop songs that rarely sound political or even remotely literary. The whole affair clocks in at just past 26 minutes, barely eking past the standard[...]

Transfer in Jamaica Releases Speculative Dance Party Vol. 2

March 10, 2015

Known for eclectic, scatter-brained mixes and mashups, Buffalo artist, Transfer in Jamaica, brings together disparate tracks, shifting tempos and vocal pitches as well as placing club music side by side with more introspective genres like post-rock and ambient. The latest release from the artist, titled Speculative Dance Party Vol. 2: Too Drunk, continues this trend as an afro-beat intro leads to a track from Bow Wow and Ciara, creating an interesting juxtaposition to say the least, along with the sample of American composer Philip Glass which lays atop Flo Rida and T.Pain’s “Low.” The mix is separated into six parts each containing r&b and hip hop hits as well as more underground electronic productions from Caribou, Nicolas Jaar, Pantha Du Prince, and Burial. Transfer in Jamaica opens up a world of warped pop culture as a glitched-out track from pop singer Britney Spears begins one of the mix’s, blending hazily into[...]

Space Wolves – Space Wolves V

March 9, 2015

There is something honestly comforting about Nick Reynolds’ guitar playing. It suggests an alternate world of infinitely catchy pop rock where everyone is walking down a sun filled street whistling Space Wolves. Given that Reynolds’ lyrics are as angst ridden as his guitar is bright and chipper makes it all the better. On Saturday, Space Wolves released their 5th full length, appropriately titled Space Wolves V, after an almost two year hiatus. The duo has returned as if they never left, with no loss of their original immediate appeal. I find it sometimes very difficult to write a review of music like this,  harboring personal suspicions that magazines that run 4 sentence reviews have it right in general. This is not a dig against Space Wolves, far from it, it is meant to underscore that this tape’s pleasures are simple and immediately apparent (again in my alternate world where everyone[...]