Latest Posts

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” /]

Stepfriends Premiere New Song From Forthcoming LP

April 25, 2014

Lucky day! We here at buffaBLOG have recently stumbled upon an exclusive track from the new Stepfriends LP, set to drop by early summer. Stepfriends, of course, is a collective of sorts, featuring all sorts of musicians from the WNY area, but mainly focuses around the duo of Johnny Lucas (from Buffalo but currently based in NJ) and Greg McClure (who you might recognize from Buffalo-based band Del Paxton). “I Know You” blends a subtle horn section, some beautiful vocal harmonies, and nimble guitar lines.  Check it out below. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/146290766″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Chad VanGaalen – Shrink Dust

April 24, 2014

As a newcomer to the land of Chad VanGaalen, Shrink Dust is quite the brazen introduction to the Albertan singer-songwriter’s musical ethos. Known for his imaginative lyrics, full of sci-fi world-building, offbeat preoccupations, and demented wordplay, VanGaalen is on his fifth full-length oddity with the Flemish Eye record label. A compelling cross between OK Computer-era Radiohead and the delicate indie-folk of Daniel Johnston, VanGaalen’s approach feels both richly realized and disarmingly sincere. His latest work is awkwardly arresting from its starting lyric: “Cut off both my hands and threw them in the sand / Watched them swim away from me like a pair of bloody crabs.” The starting track is a mild ditty, however, compared to the howling desperation of its follow-up, the drum-driven “Where Are You?”.  After a bit more experimental dabbling, the album quickly backs away from immediate Radiohead comparisons, blending the countrified with the psychedelic (VanGaalen claims The Flying[...]

The Afterbirth Tycoon Releases The Filthy Late Bloom

April 24, 2014

The ground is finally thawing and Buffalo is alive and well. To celebrate our survival of old man winter, several bands released new music this past weekend. The Afterbirth Tycoon is one of the bands which decided to get in on the celebration of spring with the righteously titled Late Bloom. Late Bloom is a 10 song, crusty, whiskey swilling, honky tonk bar brawl of a blues record. You can feel the broken beer bottles whizzing past your head with this one. The record makes you want to go out and do some day drinking out on Allen Street, and get into as many bar brawls as possible. Just make sure you have your bail money on the ready, though, because you have to work tomorrow. Late Bloom marks the first release from the band in nearly ten years. Originally formed in 1998 by Jason Pitcher (guitar/vocals) with a revolving door[...]

Melted Toys – “Blush”

April 24, 2014

Our inbox was greeted to a nice treat this morning from San Fran based pop group Melted Toys. “Blush,” the lead single from the band’s self titled debut (7/15), sounds like Dearhunter if Bradford Cox decided to dabble in sugary pop music. There is a little lo-fi Ariel Pink or Pains of Being Pure at Heart goodness in there too. Listen to the song below and judge for yourself. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/143686196″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Pizza Pizza Comes Through With Some Fresh Slices On Pie I

April 23, 2014

Airy synths, lead bass rhythms, and a variance of drum noises help form an impressive first album for Buffalo electronic hip hop artist DJ Pizza Pizza.  A pitched down “Pizza Pizza” DJ drop spatters throughout the songs, and they are probably the only words that matter on the whole project. The rest of the vocals heard serve as instruments as Pizza Pizza crafts a debut full  of different head-bobbing trip-hop/trap instrumentals.  Pizza Pizza is probably worth looking into due to his image alone. Every picture on his social media accounts is pizza related, and  his logo is of Little Caesar’s mascot holding an MPC and rocking a gold grill in his teeth with some gold on his wrist.  The format of the album, titled Pie 1, is that each song is a numbered slice that makes up the whole pie. The first song, “Slice 1,” is a really hard hitting trap beat[...]

Network Releases New “Winter” Single

April 23, 2014

Buffalo experimental hip hop project Network have been hard at work on their latest album, expected out sometime early this summer. In the meantime, the group, who recently added former New York producer/songwriter Jon Bap as a full-time member, has shared a new track titled “Winter.” The wavy instrumental moves with a creeping pace, with sharp percussion and washes of feedback, providing a surreal soundtrack to lyricist Quinton Brock’s stream-of-consciousness delivery. The track is available as a free download and hint’s at more genre-defying, ambitious material from the group in the future. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/144872404″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]

Sexist Releases Updated Demos

April 23, 2014

Since Record Store Day, everyone has been talking about Jack White’s new song, “Lazaretto,” the world’s fastest record. Seriously who cares about Jack White? Yes, he’s a genius, and he’s going to be making great records for years to come. Rather, let’s talk about Buffalo’s feminist riot grrrl outfit, Sexist, instead. Sexist not only played at Spiral Scratch for Record Store Day, but the trio also released some much anticipated demos. Now I know I have said in the past that you shouldn’t ever judge a band based on its demos, but after having a few conversations with these girls, I feel it is perfectly acceptable for Sexist Sexist Demo represents the Queen City girls perfectly. It’s chocked full of  fast, aggressive ammunition loaded ADD feminist anthems, from the opening audio clip of the right wing puppet Rush Limbaugh on “Respect” to the closing “I am Woman.” Still, the real[...]