Latest Posts

Gold Spectacles – “Man or Machine”

May 21, 2023

buffaBLOG and Gold Spectacles have a long, storied history – in case you’ve missed all of our previous articles, you can find them here and here and here and… here. They’ve certainly caught our ears a number of times, so it’s no surprise that they’ve nailed it yet again, this time on effervescent new single, “Man or Machine.” Twinkly synth sprinkles and spaghetti-Western guitar tones give this one a lighthearted feel and the perfect backbone for soothing, cooed vocal melodies. Sure, Gold Spectacles know how to write a hook, but they also know how to inject some true meaning into their songs – here’s what they had to say about “Machine” below: “… the lyric[s] came after chatting about a person that is very close to our hearts and how gritty they are. They have this deeply caring nature and desire to make sure everyone is OK even down to[...]

Sarah Coolidge – “Ice Pack”

May 21, 2023

“Ice Pack” is the lead single from Bay Area Sarah Coolidge’s upcoming debut album, Call Me When You Get There. Currently residing in the Bay Area, this is Sarah’s second song written about an injury, the first being her 2020 single “Nosebleed.” The ostensibly injury prone Coolidge’s “Ice Pack” is a well crafted indie-shoegaze gem that, while at first unassuming, packs quite a punch between the impeccably-layered guitars and Sarah’s frank and creative songwriting and delivery (pepper flake in the eye, people cry when they fall down/everyone needs something to laugh about). Fans of Courtney Barnett or Kurt Vile (rocking a My Bloody Valentine pedal board) would certainly find a lot to enjoy here, though Sarah Coolidge and company manage to bring enough of their own flair to stand on their own. You can hear “Ice Pack” as well as the back catalogue of singles over on Bandcamp as well[...]

The Landing – “This Way”

May 21, 2023

Looking for an out of this world trippy soundscape? Look no further than The Landing‘s “This Way” off of their upcoming debut album Beautiful Human, Beautifully Human. Bringing a pop-forward track with some hip hop beats snuck in for extra flavor, The Landing shows up their composition chops quite spectacularly. Synth heavy with with lots of fun little flitty effects interspersed through, you’ll hear something new on each subsequent listen. Telling you TL is an amateur astronomer shouldn’t surprise you at all after listening, but if you didn’t pick up on that, look at http://www.whatisthelanding.com/ and you’ll see a quote attributed to Neil Degrasse Tyson – “Cosmic discovery doesn’t become mainstream until the artists embrace the fruits of those discoveries.” You can hear “This Way” over on Soundcloud or Spotify, be sure to check those out along with their future LP, unless you’ve discovered faster than light speed… In which case[...]

CatchTwentyTwo – “Heartbreak Dance”

May 20, 2023

Up and coming Florida native CatchTwentyTwo has released a celebration of slick soulful disco and neon synths with his new single “Heartbreak Dance.” Smooth, dulcet vocals layered and electrified deliver emotional lyrics that originate from his heart while he is lost in the romance of a warm Californian night. A groovin’ bassline and four on the floor drum pattern carry CatchTwentyTwo’s production while synth stings dance and glimmer in the night sky as they pulse from you head to your feet and hips, making for a deliciously melodic dance track filled with hooks and mouthwatering production. “Heartbreak Dance” has influences ranging from Michael Jackson, The Weeknd, Pharrel, and Daft Punk all of which come together in CatchTwentyTwo’s undeniable and joy filled single. Listen to CatchTwentyTwo’s new song “Heartbreak Dance” on Spotify, Soundcloud, Youtube, and Apple Music.

Blondes – “Beautiful World”

May 20, 2023

Nottingham’s Blondes are on a bit of a hot streak lately (ICYMI, here’s our writeup of their previous single, “The Basement”). The quartet strikes again with their warm and luscious take on dream-pop, this time in a song called “Beautiful World.” A bouncing bassline provides the root for twinkling guitar leads to spiral around your ears – it’s topped off with a beautifully-delivered vocal, airy and gentle, that seems to yearn for better times. The band further explains their perspective below: “Beautiful World feels like our first proper pop song. It’s my favourite that we’ve written so far. It’s about our relationship with our environment and each other. We wrote it to speak not just for ourselves but to anyone that finds themselves looking around at our world and wondering just how we’ve become so disconnected from one another and the planet. We hope you like it.” Fans of Turnover,[...]

Dreamhouse. – violencewave

May 17, 2023

The latest release from local electronic artist, Dreamhouse. is titled violencewave. The album is a forlorn stare into the causes and effects of violence in light of the racially motivated 2022 Buffalo shooting. Regarding the tragedy, Jordan Walker, the beatmaker behind Dreamhouse., said: “I was driving around North Buffalo. It’s not really over there, but it’s about a five-minute drive if I took the right streets.” His girlfriend let him know there was an active shooter at Tops, and that was all he knew until he saw the full news coverage. After this intense experience, Walker dove headfirst into the main theme of violencewave, expressing his feelings while discussing humanity-wide violence. While creating this auditory collage, he sourced samples that represent the inescapable anxiety surrounding violence. The ambient intro track, “dreamers intuition,” features an undulating airy melody, glittery sample splashes, and a toaster oven-like dinging sound that signals the palatable[...]

Paper Lady – “Starcross”

May 15, 2023

There’s just something about a Big Muff that screams romance-gone-awry… Massachusetts-based act Paper Lady crank up the fuzz on latest single, “Starcross,” a scathing account of a farmer who (star)crossed the wrong lover. Singer Alli Raina’s vocals lay perfectly atop the buzz saw guitars and angry drum bombast, creating a sound that’s equal parts alt-rock and shoegaze. Feedback squalls and walls of guitar distortion will have you thinking of Pity Sex, My Bloody Valentine, and Nothing as you lay back and let PL’s sound tear up your heartbroken soul. You can find “Starcross” on Spotify, Instagram, and their website. Check out the YouTube embed below.

Isaiah Josiah – “Dumb To Fly”

May 15, 2023

Providence’s Isaiah Josiah is a bit of an enigma – one listen to his latest single “Dumb To Fly” will have you knowing exactly what we mean. “Dumb” is a pleasantly verbose song that falls somewhere near the cross sections of post-punk, hip hop, and synthed-out indie rock. Squiggly keyboards, punchy Casio-keyboard drumbeats, and Josiah’s enigmatic wordplay will leave you stunned as they fly (pun intended) in and out of your ears and leave you wondering how this could possibly be his debut single(!). If you’re into tongue-in-cheek or slightly self-deprecating vibes (think LCD Soundsystem or Viagara Boys), we think Isaiah’s got something up his sleeve for you. You can find “Dumb To Fly” on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

k0d4m4 – “valkyrie”

May 15, 2023

It’s fitting that a song as mysterious sounding as “valkyrie” would come from an artist as mystifying as k0d4m4. Walking a fine line between haunting, ominous, and gorgeous, “valkyrie” takes elements from witch house, darkwave, and 8-bit music and combines it into a song about arguably the least electronic thing in the world – k0d4m4 explains below: “[‘valkyrie’ is about] a valkyrie, as in norse mythology, taking a fallen warrior to valhalla” Dark, danceable, and gauzy, “valkyrie” makes you want to dance just as much as it makes you question your reality – fans of Crystal Castles, Crim3s, or Pastel Ghost are going to love this one. Check it out below via the YouTube widget, or, check out k0d4m4’s latest album, white hearts, upon which “valkyrie” resides.

Frogs Show Mercy – “Stallion”

May 15, 2023

Miami-based Frogs Show Mercy are back with another spastic jam that is sure to scratch all of your basement show itches. If you remember our previous feature of FSM (ICYMI, see here), you already know that they specialize in pleasantly-wonky indiemo compositions reminiscent of The Dismemberment Plan, Cap’n Jazz, or DIIV. “Stallion” continues that trend with a hint of post-punk angularity, pairing clean guitar plucks with nimble bass theatrics and a guttural howl that’s as emotional as it is intense. The band completed the song in a single, fateful night, and the of-the-moment urgency of the song’s composition clearly shines through in the finished product. You can find “Stallion” on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

Sleepy Kitty – “Do It Without Me”

May 14, 2023

“Grimy meets shiny” is a perfect way to self-describe the music coming from New York-based act Sleepy Kitty. Their latest single, “Do It Without Me” caught our ears with its tried and true formula of chugging guitars, bouncing drum bombast, and upbeat but heartfelt vocals reminiscent of Best Coast or Beach Bunny. With sonic influences ranging anywhere from 60s girl groups to Weezer to the aforementioned acts, “Do It” starts with a bit of restraint before launching into an emotionally cathartic ending – perfect to get you amped up if you’re ever in the need for some angst. If you like “Do It Without Me” as much as we do, be sure to check them out via Bandcamp (below) or Spotify. Do It Without Me by Sleepy Kitty

Babe Rainbow – “Super Ego”

May 12, 2023

Today we have the joy of bringing you the latest single from Australia’s stoner-pop group Babe Rainbow, with the eccentric and wonderful “Super Ego” off their upcoming EP Fresh As A Head Of Lettuce, due for release on June 16th.  These psychedelic, permaculture farming, surf-cultists plant blurred, neon guitar lines and other worldly vocals in your ears while a joyous, groovy head trip blossoms. A sound evocative of Mort Garson’s Plantasia, Devendra Banhart’s freak folk, Junior Murvin’s reggae, and surf rock culminate in a singular and wholly lovable sound. Employing impeccable production, the song is a headphone trip that tickles the psyche while an effortless cool oozes into your chakras and wraps you in a psychedelic pop calm. Don’t deny yourself the joy of this trip. Listen to “Super Ego” by Babe Rainbow on Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube. Find more from Babe Rainbow on Instagram.

Flora Summers – “Obsessions”

May 12, 2023

The entrancing new pop single “Obsessions” has just been released by songwriter and producer Ida Johansson AKA Flora Summers. “Obsessions” is the first single from Flora Summers’ upcoming debut EP and will be Ida’s first foray into solo work after finding successes with pop duo Isle of You and contributing to the Grammy winning band Ghost’s latest album. Listen as the sun-soaked pop phrases swirl together with evaporating guitar lines that shimmer in the heat of obsessive love that burns hot and consumes you. Infectious rhythms from the bass and drum creates the head bopping root that Flora’s pop sonics flower from. Flora’s peerless vocals take center stage with evocative imagery and luscious delivery that will give you chills as you join her in finding your latest obsession. Here is Ida talking about the song’s creation: “Obsessions is the kind of song that fell from the sky. All of a[...]

Ellur – “Anywhere”

May 9, 2023

Halifax’s Ellur is here with a guitar-pop jam that encapsulates an entire coming-of-age story. With soaring melodies, a driving beat, galactic synth plunks, and Ellur’s passionate vocals, “Anywhere” brings to mind indie luminaries like Angel Olsen, Lorde, and HAIM. We’ve all been enthralled with people that are no longer in our lives at one point or another and Ellur zeroes in on those feelings of regret and longing with pinpoint accuracy – further explaining the song, Ellur explains: “Anywhere is a song written for your ex (the one that you’re not over). Set on a summer night, at dusk, after a day of drinking in a park somewhere with your friends. Your skin is warm, your head is dizzy and your recent ex is walking towards you. A song about a feeling I think everybody has felt. The building tension between you both; your past relationship and all the feelings[...]

STARRY EYES – “No Show”

May 9, 2023

The emotion is tangible in the newest single from Californian duo STARRY EYES. “No Show” is a grunge-pop ode to a heroin-addicted father – with a guitar-driven backbone and somber melodies aplenty, the ennui comes pouring out over the course of this song’s 4:46 runtime. With plenty of 90s alt-rock energy (think “The Freshman” from The Verve Pipe or “Stars” by Hum) and a pinch of emo revival energy, “No Show” checks all our emotional boxes with a healthy dose of starry-eyed (pun intended) nostalgia. About the EP, singer guitarist John Shippey adds: “These songs are for people who’ve been through some shit — music is our catharsis. Many of the songs on ‘Ciao Bella’ wrestle with the issues of addiction and loss, but we always try to balance the negative with the positive and keep looking toward the future.” “No Show” is available on the band’s new EP, Ciao[...]