Fresh off a hot gig in Buffalo last month, Slow Joy say “I love you” with latest single, “Te Amo.” With trademark grungy guitars and emotive vocals, “Te Amo” continues Slow Joy’s trend of emo-flavored singles that have melody, sincerity, and energy in spades. Fans of Citizen, Balance and Composure, and the like will love the heavy-hitting vibes found here. Check out the video for “Te Amo” below, or, add it to your emo-adjacent Spotify playlists.
Whatever happened to the humble singer/songwriter?! Rob Finlay is here to prove that the artform isn’t dead with his latest EP, Sunset | Darkness | Sunrise (SDS). As with any good, acoustic-driven music, SDS is a well-orchestrated and emotional affair, finding Finlay wearing his heart on his sleeve more often than not. With a bevy of pro musicians in tow (including session musicians from Feeder, Rag’n’Bone Man, Beyoncé, and Keane), this collection of songs is dripping with emotion and a longing-but-hopeful disposition. Led by Finlay’s ever-pleasant voice, this EP was meant for those that grew up in the 90s, particularly the late ’90s, when Matchbox 20, Edwin McCain, and your favorite one-hit-wonder bands were ruling 1998-era pop radio. For those looking for a quick one-two punch, we’d recommend starting with lead single “Afterglow.” An archetypal Finlay jam, “Afterglow” jangles along with a deep and touching emotion, letting his poetry[...]
Fear Of Sleep combine the flashiness of math rock with a penchant for punk rock energy on their first two singles – “Quirks” and “Crimes.” Fans of previous Buffalo-born stalwarts Feverbox may recognize a few members, and while those super-tight and familiar aspects return with Fear Of Sleep, the group is forging new ground with blistering fretwork, super-sweet melodies, and a fun guitar-driven energy. “Quirks,” with it’s sub-two-minute run time, is packed with nimble riffs, packaged up neatly in a pop rock package, complete with big choruses and overall anthemic vibes. “Crimes” leans more into their punk rock energies, leaning more into riff-rock territory, without sacrificing any of the tasty riffs that make “Quirks” so fun. Check out “Quirks” via the YouTube embed below – you can find both available songs on Spotify if that’s more your speed.
Don’t Worry are about to jangle their way into your hearts with their new song, “Unbelievable.” It’s hard to believe we’re still talking about COVID-era songs in 2025, but that’s when it was conceived – after months of feeling uninspired, DW broke the spell with this lovely gem. It’s a guitar-forward indie rocker, certainly inspired by the ’90s greats like Oasis, Pavement, and the like, warm with both crunchy and acoustic guitar strumming. “Unbelievable” is available to stream via Soundcloud (below). There’s always the trusty streaming services too – Apple Music and Spotify. specialistsubject · Unbelievable
Romanie, aka Belgian-born Melbourne-based Romanie Assez, knows how to write a barnburner. We last checked in with her on 2023’s “Anthony,” and we’re happy to report she’s still putting out the emotionally-charged indie rock we liked upon our first listen. “I was going through a rough patch in life with some health scares and homesickness,” Romanie says, and that pain comes through in the gritty guitar work and driving drums. This one is grungy while still maintaining a certain beauty and we’re here for it. “Uh Oh”
Them Damn Dogs are back with a new single, their first in over four years. “Weirdo” is a triumphant return, a big blast of fun energy that falls somewhere on the spectrum between pop punk and whatever genre Weezer is these days. Fun guitar riffs are laden heavy with crunchy goodness, powering the wry, vocal-forward melodies. Oh, and stick around for the well-placed guitar solo. You can find “Weirdo” on bandcamp (below), or, Spotify if that’s more your thing. Weirdo by Them Damn Dogs
Kinda-Rochester-at-one-point-or-another-based act Charmer is gearing up for their first full-length in five years. They’ve shared their latest single with us, a tune called “Night,” which is certainly an evolution in the sound for the formerly triumphantly scrappy emo act. Channeling Alkaline Trio, Turnover, and The Cure with it’s dark and brooding vibes; swimmy guitars; and memorable choruses, you’ll be singing along with “cross my heart and hope to die” after your very first listen. Downpour, Charmer’s upcoming release, will be out on Counter Intuitive Records on May 23rd, 2025. Get acquainted with it via YouTube or the bandcamp embed below. Downpour by Charmer
Seeing as how we’re located in the northeastern US, we don’t get a ton of opportunities to cover acts from Utah. Here’s hoping The Sunmills are our first of many – they’ve just released their debut album, The Art of Burning Bridges, an eight-song collection of riffy rock n roll that catalogues the messy roller coaster that is, well, love. Whether we’re talking ex-girlfriends, failed situationships, and self-deprecation, The Sunmills cover it with a wry smile and a healthy dose of sarcasm. You might leave a listening session of The Art of Burning Bridges wondering “… Are these guys ok?” At the same time, you’ll notice their songs have the same sunshine-y polish that you’d expect from ’90s luminaries like Third Eye Blind, Everclear, Fastball, or Semisonic… And it’s not like those guys weren’t singing about failed relationships to great success. The album opens with “Take Me Away,” a blast of pop-punk energy[...]
It’s tempting to make a silly turn of phrase like “little champion… big sound” when discussing the new album from Asheville, NC-based singer/songwriter Dustin Goldklang (aka the aforementioned little champion)… But that would be a lie. The reality is that little champion specializes in intimate and loquacious slices of life – aurally painting what seem like oddly-specifically descriptions of oddly-specific places. Underneath the specificities of his writing lies a little pain – like that found in an awkward moment stuck in your head for eternity or, as LC puts it, “trying to laugh about things you’re not sure are funny.” That’s the vibe you can find throughout his latest album Peaks Island and Other Places – super intimate and a little awkward (in the most endearing possible way). at the end of a listen through this album, you really feel like you’ve grown up alongside Goldklang in the oddly-specific town of[...]
There are plenty of things that will break your heart in this world, so let the latest single from Laila Smith be solace that you’re not going through it alone. “Diorama” is a beautiful indie rock song that showcases Smith’s true pain – softly plucked acoustic guitars layered with spikes of electric guitar bring this one to life, of course, set off by Laila’s lilting vocal presence. She’s really putting herself out there with this one – here’s a snippet about the song: “Diorama was born out of a very confusing time in my life, a period of deep denial about the quiet collapse of my marriage… We position ourselves as essential in someone’s landscape while knowing any fixed arrangement is a kind of death… The truth of intimate attachment is that all we desire is desire itself—not the messy reality of human connection.” Check out “Diorama” via[...]
Buffalo post-metal act Thought Trials are here to blacken your heart with their latest, two-song EP/split, EARTHRISE/GAIA. If you’re expecting a quick, six-minute listen – think again… This quartet specializes in the kind of epic, meandering, atmospheric black metal that journeys on and on through a never ending abyss… or at least 17 minutes worth of the abyss. Guttural vocals from singer Lauren Davis ring out angrily over drop-tuned guitars from Josh Martin and Erin Malone, while an epic drum performance from Chris Wall thunders underneath. Track one “EARTHRISE,” may be the archetypal Thought Trials song – it crescendos endlessly, with an epic (if aptly creepy) climax that cuts straight to the bone. “GAIA” shows the wide width of the band’s range, running the spectrum from ambient to crushing, channeling everything from Explosions in the Sky to Deafheaven along the way. As with most sprawling and/or atmospheric projects, this[...]
The Ram, the affectionate nickname for singer/songwriter Mark O’Donnell, is an “American triptych” (I wish I came up with that, but those are his words, not mine). Living a refreshing Southern California lifestyle while remaining influenced by his northeastern roots (go Bills), his latest album, the Americana and surf inspired I Am Nowhere, I Am Everywhere (IANIAE) is an amalgamation of everything that has made The Ram’s long and winding life what it is. Full of rosy-colored reflections on family life and his beloved late father, IANIAE glides through your speakers with the ease of California living while not-so-subtly informed by his snowier roots. A cursory observation of IANIAE will show that there are only a few songs that are less than five-minutes long. While there are no three-minute, hook-in-your-face, ruthlessly-catchy radio rock hits on this LP, you’ll soon realize that IANIAE is more of an artistic expression – a picture[...]
Boston-based act Mission to Sleep have recently dropped their debut album, a seven-song collection of relentless and cinematic alt rock they’ve titled A Spark or The End. Across the EP you’ll hear downtuned guitars, impassioned vocals, and layers upon layers of textures. Fans of the nuanced side of nu-metal (think Deftones) will love what they hear here, as well as fans of heavier, mid-aughts emo-influenced acts like Thrice, Glassjaw, or The Receiving End of Sirens. The album starts out strong with “No Anchor” – here, you’re immediately thrown into the maelstrom of Mission to Sleep’s sound. This band has found a way to weave intricate, metal-inspired instrumentals into catchy, pop-oriented melodies. They were smart to start here – there’s an immediate hook in the chorus: “Search mission is over!” It’s a juicy earworm, and a harbinger of what to expect as you meander through the rest of this album. Song[...]
Newly minted Rochester-based act Milo has just released a debut, two-song EP called Valve/Whatever. Inspired by raw and emotive music (think Buffalo greats Lemuria or the late ’90s/early ’00s output from Rainer Maria or Rilo Kiley), their music is largely guitar driven with raw-but-endearing vocals. Their poetic and nuanced lyrics focus heavily on storytelling with a hint of attitude; so much so that these songs, especially their charming production value, will make you want to dust off your thick, black rimmed glasses and pull out your ratty Get Up Kids track jacket like you’re discovering your favorite 2nd wave emo bands all over again. You can catch Milo live at their next show on June 13th at the Psychic Garden in Rochester. Until then, get acquainted with Valve/Whatever (April 18th, 2025) – available now via bandcamp (embedded below), or, via Spotify or Apple Music. Valve/Whatever by Milo
We’re Kai Bosch stans here at buffaBLOG (see here, here, and here), but at this point, can you blame us? The alt pop luminary has had a legendary output with no signs of stopping – evidenced by his latest offering, “Popstar Of Your Dreams.” A pulsating electro bass gets the blood pumping while Bosch’s effervescent vocals paint a scintillating picture. This is by all measures a flamboyant and unapologetic pop song, but Bosch knows when to let his emotions fly too. Kai Bosch has you covered – “Popstar Of Your Dreams” is up now on Spotify, Apple Music, and even Deezer. Kai Bosch · Popstar of Your Dreams