Latest Posts

Tristan Turdean – 5 SONGS TO GET OVER YOU

July 17, 2025

Tristan Turdean aims to tug at our collective heartstrings with a brand new breakup EP that traverses all the different stages of grief… From denial all the way through acceptance (we omitted anger, bargaining, and the all-encompassing depression, but Tristan sure didn’t), 5 SONGS TO GET OVER YOU is a nu-age pop-punk journey that aims to assault all of your senses with powerful musical compositions, heart-on-your-sleeve vocals, and excellent production.   Normally we’d start with the opening song, but we’re giving our nod for album favorite to album closer, “Leave You In The Past.” While the rest of the EP is an incredible ride, there is something special about hearing Tristan’s acceptance of his situation. Especially since, as per his words: “This project is about feeling everything, surviving it, and moving forward stronger.” on “Leave You In The Past,” Tristan delivers vocals that are restrained yet emotionally resonant, while the[...]

Bad Self Portraits – “Pensive”

July 17, 2025

Omaha-based act Bad Self Portraits nailed it on their latest single, “Pensive.” Blending the perfect amounts of jaunty indie rock and angular rhythms with soaring-but-reserved vocals that are lightly dripping with a succulent, pain-based sauce, “Pensive” is the kind of song that has it all. Musicianship. Sincerity. Hooky melodies… It’s the kind of rare song with “musical architecture” that manages to also be repeat-listenable. We’re assuming the band conjured up the following quote – it was too perfect not to include:   “A hushed, emotionally precise portrait of love shaped by faith, fear, and difference—capturing the quiet negotiations that make relationships real.”    “Pensive” can be found via the bandcamp embed (below), or, via Spotify and Apple Music.   I Think I’m Going To Hell by Bad Self Portraits

Weakened Friends – “Tough Luck (Bleed Me Out)”

July 17, 2025

Weakened Friends are doubling down on the feelings over apathy debate… And for that matter, did the apathetic ones ever even start debating, or are they still busy whispering vague nothings in the corner? Either way, emotions are being worn proudly on sleeves on the trio’s latest track, “Tough Luck (Bleed Me Out).” Eschewing agonizing over every detail for sharp, tip-of-the-tongue bursts of energy, “Tough Luck (Bleed Me Out)” is a natural and welcome continuation of the band’s fiery brand of post-pop-punk. There aren’t enough bands just letting it rip the way Weakened Friends do – so dig into this one and remember what it felt like to feel something again.   Feels Like Hell, the album upon which “Tough Luck” resides, will be out October 10, 2025. Until then, follow the embed to the forbidden YouTube link to the song (below), or, add it to your favorite Spotify playlist.  

madrone – “Lucifer”

July 17, 2025

“A song that seems like it’s about the devil but really is about love, and love lost. A song about death that doesn’t feel like dying.”   Vague and pensive words from madrone that perfectly describe the dreamy/gazy goodness of their latest single, “Lucifer.” We know barely anything about this band – except that this song rips. Light and airy with the gravitas of the title, the band uses a guitar-driven ethos and glassy-eyed vocals to great aplomb. It appears on the ostensibly tongue-in-cheek-titled Eponymous Debut Masterpiece, full of other shoegaze-adjacent rippers.   Check out “Lucifer” lyrically via the YouTube embed below, or, find it on Spotify.  

Stephen Babcock – “Dumb Luck”

July 14, 2025

The Bab-man (aka Buffalo-based singer/songwriter Stephen Babcock) leans into song-of-the-summer vibes on his latest offering, “Dumb Luck.” Armed with his usual tools of the trade – an acoustic guitar, shuffling drums, and his soulful drawl, “Dumb Luck” touches on not ever knowing if things are getting better or staying exactly the same. It’s a shared Buffalonian experience – to wonder if our “small town” vibes are holding us back or propelling us forward faster than we can handle, so fellow WNYers should find solace in knowing that you’re not the only one wondering WTF is going on with your life. “Dumb Luck” is one of those songs that tackles something potentially heavy without ever losing that upbeat, feel-good feel, and for that reason, we think Babcock’s oeuvre is worth your time.   “Dumb Luck” is available on all your favorite streaming services. Preview it via YouTube (below), and then take[...]

The Dog’s Body – “Skeletons”

July 8, 2025

The Dog’s Body describe “Skeletons” as the “weird” single on the album, which we can fully get behind. The angular and jaunty post-punk-ish jam deals with the ugliness of death, and perfectly so. Guitars swirl like a maelstrom, vocals pontificate plainly-but-effectively, and drums sound like they’re about to bash through your speakers at any second. If you’re a fan of band-in-a-room type sounds, The Dog’s Body has got you covered in spades.   Side note: for all you audiophiles out there – this one was recorded live to two-inch tape. That’s real band shit.   Check out “Skeletons” via the Spotify embed below.  

Nadia Faye – “Smoke in the Room”

July 8, 2025

Nadia Faye has been on fire with her recent releases – perhaps both figuratively and literally. Her new single “Smoke in the Room” (ostensibly from being on fire) picks up where her previous single (“Swallowing Spit“) left off – pairing Faye’s lilting vocals with shimmering indie-pop instrumentals. Expect tape drum machines working perfectly with gauzy synths and ever-present pillows of guitar working in tandem with Faye’s confessional lyrics about a love lost.   “Smoke in the Room” is on YouTube (below) and Spotify.  

Band Argument – “specs”

June 29, 2025

Just like most of the disagreements you’ve had with your bandmates, it’s tough to put your finger on what’s really going on when it comes to mathy three-piece Band Argument. My previous statement is assuredly, if awkwardly-said, a compliment, and with a storied pedigree like theirs (Oso Oso, Weatherbox, Miss New Buddha), it’s no surprise this trio was going to throw together something wild. Shimmery atmospherics bloom in your headphones while the band hits with angular stabs of guitar. Nimble drumming and bass work are simply the cherries-on-top of this wild, but surprisingly (and pleasantly) understated jam.   Peep “specs” via Band Argument’s bandcamp page below – it’s also on Spotify.   if the accident will by Band Argument

Fortitude Valley – “Video (Right There With You)”

June 29, 2025

Gotta love a little slice of upbeat jangle-pop. Fortitude Valley is going to appeal to fans of The Beths, Alvvays, and Pavement’s lighter side, especially on their latest single, “Video (Right There With You).” Shimmery guitars and lilting vocals lay overtop a jauntily-played drumbeat, sounding summery and winsome with only a hint of pensiveness. Singer Laura Kovic elaborates more eloquently than we ever could below:   “The song is about trying to get inside the head of someone you love, and how hard it can be surviving together in what feels like an increasingly hostile and scary world. It also plays into the central theme of the album, which is about feeling distant from people you care about, both literally and figuratively”   Check out the clandestine link to watch the video for “Video” below. It’s also on Spotify.  

Glassio – “Heartstrings”

June 29, 2025

Awful pun incoming – we’re thinking the tellingly-named Sam R. Known should be more… well-known. We’re talking specifically about his latest offering via his synthpop project Glassio, a tune he’s calling “Heartstrings.” Perfect for a summer pool party or a windows-down drive through the countryside, “Heartstrings” is infectious, upbeat, and light like a refreshing mimosa (or a freshly-cracked seltzer, if you don’t drink). This one is super catchy and super digestible AND super relatable; as Known puts it:   “[‘Heartstrings’ is] a sun-kissed Indie-Pop goodbye to an era of naivety and innocence.”   Check out the visualizer for “Heartstrings” below, or, add it to your favorite Spotify playlist.  

Plàsi – Camino

June 23, 2025

“Scandinavian clarity and Mediterranean warmth” – a design element that fits oddly well when describing singer/songwriter Plàsi. On his latest EP, Camino, the Greco-Swede explores gentle, acoustic-folk with his trademark vulnerability. Hushed and intimate while simultaneously exploring the genre’s infinite bounds, Camino is an album that encourages you to break free from expectations and societal pressures. Instead, project mastermind Mikael Bitzarakis crafts natural-sounding songs that are the aural embodiment of following your passions and retaining a childlike sense of wonder.   Even when Plàsi is exploring heavy topics, like a rough father/son relationship on album opener “Father’s Eyes,” his music sounds warm and inviting. It speaks to his talent as a writer – exploring these hard-to-breach subjects with an underlying musicianship that makes them feel approachable and normalized. Here’s a little more from Bitzarakis about the powerful message beneath the song:   “… We don’t want to see or learn from our similarities.[...]

Don’t Worry – “This Time”

June 22, 2025

With a name like theirs, do you think Don’t Worry worry about anything? Maybe they worry about SEO.   Now that I got that out… “This Time” is another lovely jam from the Essex-based quartet. Taking inspiration from Smashing Pumpkins and other 90s/00s band of that ilk (not unlike their previous feature here), Don’t Worry squeeze a powerful and emotional lyrical message into this alternative-coded jam. Here’s a little bit about the tune from the band themselves:   “‘This Time’ is a song about learning from bad experiences and making sure you don’t make the same mistakes again. It’s about growing as a person and coming out of a rough period into a better time”   Check out “This Time” via Soundcloud (below) or Spotify.   specialistsubject · This Time

Grave Secrets – “BLUFFSIDE”

June 22, 2025

Sometimes you just need a well-written punk banger to get your blood pumping, and we think the latest from Grave Secrets might scratch that itch for you. In their Bayside-name-dropping new single, “BLUFFSIDE,” the band channels hard-hitting indie punks like PUP while nodding to the genre’s roots (Think Blink-182 or MCR) with catchy na-na-na singalongs. This is full of rip-roaring guitars, ruthlessly catchy melodies, snotty vocals, and even some tempo changes – a subtle (or maybe not-so-subtle?) nuance that you might not typically expect from a punkish act, but it fits oh-so-perfectly here.   Check out the music video for “BLUFFSIDE” below. It’s on Spotify too.  

Nuovo Testamento – “Picture Perfect”

June 18, 2025

Get on your high tops, acid washed jeans, and find one of those purple/turquoise “jazz” cups, because Nuovo Testamento is about to transport you back to the early ’90s dance craze with their latest jam, “Picture Perfect.” With infectious, club-ready beats; bombastic snare hits; and a perfectly effected vocal performance, you could squeeze Nuovo Testamento on any playlist next to hits from La Bouche, SNAP!, or Technotronic. This one is infectious as all get out – the trio seems to be drilling into a yet un-tapped nostalgic sound while still cranking out catchy melodies and danceable rhythms.   Check out “Picture Perfect” via the clandestine YouTube link below, or, add it to your Spotify playlist. Trouble, the EP upon which “Picture Perfect” will inevitably reside, is out July 25th, 2025.  

Zach Tabori – Attack of the Clout Chasers

June 17, 2025

For once, we may have found ourself at a loss for words… But we’re still going to pump out about 400 of them regarding Zach Tabori’s latest offering, Attack of the Clout Chasers. This album is a wild ride – a kaleidoscopic, genre-defying, Zappa-esque grind that’s equal parts progressive experimentalism, sci-fi dystopia, and political satire. Tabori throws listeners head first into this ten-track, 40 minute concept that whirrs with chaotic energies – a meticulously-crafted opus that has a hawk-eyed glare (and eagle-taloned grasp) on today’s modern dystopic existence… And while you think Tabori might be all-Zappa-all-the-time (and we wouldn’t be surprised, seeing as how he’s a member of Dweezil Zappa’s band), he’s got an impressive pedigree, having written for pop luminaires like Téo and Jaden Smith. Are you as bamboozled as we are? It’s ok – Tabori is probably reveling in your wide-eyed stupor.   In what I can only[...]