Latest Posts

Mutes – “Televangelist”

February 21, 2024

Self-described “post-everything” band Mutes recently released their latest single, “Televangelist” in anticipation of their new album due out May 17. Bringing a distinctly 90’s vibe into the 20’s (or whatever we call these strange times), “Televangelist” is a non-stop layered guitar fest. Coming in at just over two minutes, you’ll find yourself thrashing along to this seething, post-punk feeling track, or, as the band puts it, “a sub-three-minute nugget of existential crisis carried with motorik purpose.” Speaking to the lyrics behind the song the band said: “Theological projections of an irresolute agnostic; torn between clinging to the assuaging hand of statism and laying waste to internalized idolatry. Catholic guilt is one hell of a trip” (Damn right). You can hear “Televangelist” in its single form on Spotify or Apple Music, while the full length …buried where you stand will be in the usual streamy places May 17 (via No Sound[...]

Julien’s Daughter – “Rockefeller”

February 21, 2024

Winnipeg indie wunderkinds Julien’s Daughter are back with another single, “Rockefeller.” Tight bass lines coupled with singer Emma Murphy’s vocals give a noise rock vibe akin to the Sonic Youths and My Bloody Valentines of yesteryear while simultaneously channeling the tight indie rock of Metric and Blondie. This caliber of sound isn’t easy to come by, and is the result of playing together for five plus years – starting off in their teens. Speaking to the making of the song, Murphy said: “It’s a song about how exhausting the breakup process can be. I wrote this song at a time when a lot of people were making different narratives about me and I was just trying to focus on healing.” If this is a harbinger of things to come, I hope that it doesn’t take more traumatic events to keep the bangers comin’. You can hear “Rockefeller” on Spotify or[...]

JW Francis – “Orbit”

February 21, 2024

A perennial Buffablog favorite (here and here), NYC based JW Francis brings us his latest with “Orbit.” Falling firmly into the bedroom pop subgenre (and a love song to boot), swimmy synth and squiggly guitar blend together with Francis’ vocals for a non-stop party in the vein of Vampire Weekend and Mac Demarco. Speaking to the track, Francis had this to say: “I wrote Orbit after falling in love with my partner Milla. I was awe-struck, dumb founded, blinded by the light, however you want to call it. I could not believe my luck, and I wanted to write a song about it. I wanted the song to race fast like a heartbeat, and to get up in your face like feelings.” You can hear “Orbit” on Spotify, Soundcloud, or Bandcamp. Be sure to let us know if you want more from Francis or more like this! Born Losers Records[...]

Famous Friend – “Nora”

February 21, 2024

Los Angeles based writer/producer/artist Zachariah Carlson a.k.a Famous Friend (check our previous feature on them here) returned to the spotlight last year with the viral sensation “Tanlines.” Carlson has tapped into his indie pop muse again for the new single “Nora,” a brooding, sun-bleached surf pop track. The new song is a pink-hued heat haze, featuring bubbling bass that pairs with programmed drum beats that staccato with a aerosol chill. Carlson wields atmosphere masterfully as he hooks you with washed out guitar melodies and a chorus that is eerie and romantic. You’ll easily find yourself bobbing along with “Nora’s” chorus belting out the line “Been trying to ignore Nora, put your hands my neck but I can’t help but adore ya…”. Fans of Wallows, The Drums, Dayglow, Chromatics, or Magnetic Fields can find lots to love on this track. Listen to the new single “Nora” from Famous Friend on Youtube[...]

Divorce Culture – “FM”

February 21, 2024

Jacksonville’s alternative rockers Divorce Culture have just released the incendiary new lead single for their upcoming EP. Their new alt-rock cut “FM” features lead guitar that scorches as it cleaves through the melodious track, reminiscent of the wicked riffs from Dinosaur Jr. That lead guitar wails on top of a bed of rock solid mids and lows created by rhythm, bass and drum all working together to create a cavernous thunder melody that fills your chest while lead guitar crackles and arcs above it. Their lead vocals hold a satisfying weight, each lyric plotted and delivered with mellow menace that expands with harmonized goodness during the chorus. Divorce Culture show strong songcraft chops throughout the whole track, verses link seamlessly into catchy, impactful choruses that you want to hear over and over, each building to a breakdown that opens into deeply rewarding final chorus. Listen to the new single “FM”[...]

Blondfire – “Foolish”

February 17, 2024

Blondfire, based out of Michigan, brings us their latest synthpop gem with “Foolish.” Led by Erica Driscoll’s vocals, “Foolish” is a synth-heavy track with 80’s pop vibes that tickles your ears in just the right way. Blondfire was initially started with her brother, Bruce, until he left to focus on his act Freedom Fry. Unabashedly written about diving in completely to take a chance on love, even at the risk of being a fool, you can’t help but be wrapped up in the amalgamation of perfectly mixed sounds. Blondfire brings to mind one of my personal favorites, Dragon Inn 3 (that we wrote about here) mixed with a hint of Metric and Tame Impala. I’m always hyped when artists embrace that deep synth vibe as masterfully as Blondfire does here, and you should be too! Be sure to check out Foolish on Spotify or down below from Soundcloud.

Pet Snake – “Getting Older”

February 17, 2024

“Getting Older” is the latest from Evelyn Halls, aka Pet Snake. Singing in a lovely lullaby singsong voice, Halls evokes fellow indie luminaries boygenius and Mitski on this slow burning indie rocker. The buildup and layering of guitars is masterfully done, leading up to a lyrical crescendo that ties everything together with a crushing narrative. At five-plus minutes, “Older” comes and goes before you know it – definitely a beautiful addition to the subdued indie rock scene and certainly someone to keep an eye one. Speaking to the song, Halls had this to say: “It’s an anthem for myself to shout from the rooftops that I’m overjoyed to be alive and grateful to those who helped get me here. It’s me trying to turn my contentment into a song and the fact that I get to shout out my therapist…” You can hear “Getting Older” on Spotify or the embedded YouTube[...]

Highline – “Believe Me I’ll Run”

February 17, 2024

Sidney based five piece, Highline, brings us their latest single “Believe Me I’ll Run” and released it February 15. The opening strums bring to mind a more subdued take on REM’s “Losing My Religion” and the rest of the track continues in a similar vein. More contemporary influences feel like the lighter side of Arctic Monkeys or Killers songs, falling into that uplifting-yet-mournful feel. The steady strum of acoustic guitar is punctuated by synth and backing guitar, dancing beautifully around singer Sam Rigney’s vocals. Speaking to the track, Rigney had this to say: “‘Believe Me I’ll Run’ is an admission of sorts that you’re all in on a relationship, regardless of whether the other person is feeling the same way.” You can hear “Believe Me I’ll Run” over on Spotify or down below courtesy of Soundcloud. Be sure to check out another track of theirs we reviewed; “Enough for You[...]

Kindsight – “Tomorrow”

February 17, 2024

Swedish band Kindsight’s latest single is “Tomorrow,” released in anticipation of their upcoming album No Shame No Fame due out in April. Singer Nina Hyldgaard Rasmussen’s vocals shine through the band’s impeccably crafted jangle pop sound. We’ve previously covered Kindsight at the blog a few times now (all here) and enjoyed what we heard then (as with this track)! Fans of Alvvays or Hazel English will find a lot to enjoy here, as would anyone who enjoys heartfelt lyrics sung with as much aplomb as Rasmussen. Speaking to crafting the track, the band had this to say: “This is one of those weird songs where 95% of it writes itself, but the last 5% is really hard to get right. No blood was shed in the process, but it cost us plenty of sweat and tears, and it might have caused Nina to forget her guitar on the train on the[...]

Mary Middlefield – “Heart’s Desire”

February 13, 2024

Switzerland based artist Mary Middlefield is a burgeoning singer-songwriter who reshaped herself during the pandemic after being a classically trained violinist for most of her life. She released her debut LP last year and is already releasing more new music, the most recent being “Heart’s Desire,” an indie cut filled with sharp daggers of unrequited love. The new single’s clean guitar melody intertwines with a hushed backbeat with seamless fluidity that feels like the quickened pulse you get in the orb of influence of your infatuation. This musicality matches Middlefield’s writing perfectly, her stanzas are filled with yearning for a crush that’s doomed because of their age difference. The new song has atmosphere and effortless flow that will sweep you into its current. Fans of Jeff Buckley, Phoebe Bridgers/boygenius, or Lucy Dacus will find lots to love on Middlefield’s new single. Listen to “Heart’s Desire” the new release from Mary[...]

Landon Conrath – “Replay”

February 13, 2024

Landon Conrath is a young artist but has quickly built both his catalog and a passionate fan base that has branched well beyond his home of Minneapolis. Since his debut in 2022, Conrath has continued gaining momentum with new single “Replay,” a livewire electropop track soaked in messy entanglements. Layered and processed vocals dance hand in hand with a romantic guitar melody as Conrath starts a fall into the memories of a past love, every reminisce causing a wince deeper than the last. He has a undeniable talent for textures, which you’ll hear as the track shifts from crooning guitar to breathy verses, perfectly placed between an electro glitch rhythm that matches the untethered torrent of jealousy, loathing, love, and lust that flood you as you run into a messy ex-love, IRL or digitally. “Replay” hits strongest as Conrath belts out the chorus “Alcohol and mental arrest, when I saw[...]

Samantha Clemons – “Spectacle”

February 13, 2024

“Spectacle” is the latest from St. Louis based singer/songwriter Samantha Clemons, a supremely talented musician whose influences include (but are not limited to) gospel, jazz, Caribbean, and soul music. “Spectacle” starts with a stunning strumming guitar with keys, with Clemons’ voice quickly taking the lead. Her words are heartfelt and dripping with emotion, always at the edge or muscling out the instrumentals but finds a way back to equilibrium without being overwhelming. As NPR’s Pilar Fitzgerald noted of her 2021 Tiny Desk submission: “Clemons’ voice is striking: secured in deep depths in one moment, then bursting like wildfire in the next. And just as complex as her range are her lyrics — the story she tells… is so beautifully imagined.” Be sure to give “Spectacle” a listen over on Spotify or Soundcloud, we think you’ll be impressed with the depth and feel of her songwriting.

BIRDWAR – “Tiny Door”

February 12, 2024

Portland Oregon based four piece, BIRDWAR, brings us their first single “Tiny Door” off of their upcoming full length due out this summer. The band describes their sound as a “Dinosaur Jr. meets Elliot Smith” and is certainly accurate in all of the best ways. Much like Dinosaur Jr., the guitars are the strongest suit in “Tiny Door” with plenty of layers and that gruff grunge fuzz that pervades throughout. Singer Matthew Holland’s voice is harmonious and measured; deftly weaving between the bass and guitars but still with plenty of emotion. Fans of the aforementioned bands or perhaps Pixies or Yuck will obviously find a lot to enjoy here – as will casual grunge/post grunge fans. You can hear “Tiny Door” on Apple Music or Spotify, as well as their as yet-unnamed album later this year.

Club 8 – “Just Like Heaven”

February 8, 2024

A duo based out of Sweden, Club 8 brings us their newest track “Just Like Heaven” – a follow-up to 2023’s “Sunny“ (that we covered here). Not to be confused with The Cure’s seminal hit sharing the same name, this is a slow jam more so in the realm of bedroom pop and we’re loving it. Formed in 1995, Karolina Komstedt and Johan Angergård have made their rounds through indie pop, bossa nova, and dancier tunes (with a hiatus or two thrown in). Komstedt’s voice is given plenty of room to spread it’s wings throughout the track with subdued guitar and drums – not unlike a dream-pop reimagining of The White Stripes. I’ll be honest and say that I’ve never heard of this band before today, but this really scratched an itch for something that’s pure and not overproduced. It also goes to show you that you can follow your[...]

meija x JAWNY – “Magic”

February 8, 2024

LA based Jamie Sierota, aka meija (“it’s pronounced “meija” per his social media) drops his latest “Magic” with fellow artist JAWNY. The track itself is absolutely one of the chillest tracks I’ve heard so far this year – driven by guitar and a simple-yet-effective drum beat that keeps the lo-fi groove going. You’ll also find a fun synth effect that shows up every few stanzas along with a bumpin’ bass riff. As per meija, “Magic” is very much a biographical one; the entire first verse a quick summation of the last ten years of his life. He goes on to say: “At its core, it’s a song about trying to find the beauty in the everyday. Even in my hardest times, there’s always been something good.” Between the grooviness, effects, and meija’s vocals, the way this song was put together gave me Talking Heads vibes (“Once in a Lifetime,” to be more[...]