Latest Posts

Oh Maddie – “Youth”

February 21, 2018

Oh Maddie has already been drawing comparisons to The Killers and The War on Drugs, perfectly evident on their latest single, “Youth.” Somehow, the song juxtaposes stark lyrics about trauma and shortcomings with a danceable, indie-rock backbone. Having been adopted as a baby from Romania in the years following the Soviet Union’s collapse, singer Ben Rowntree certainly has a unique perspective – check it out below. Like what you hear? Keep up to date by following Oh Maddie on IG.

Into The Wake Release Dark, Three-Song EP

February 21, 2018

Into The Wake has been through a lot… For them, 2017 was a year of many shows (solo and otherwise), but an equal amount of loss and frustration. They soldiered on through a member change and still managed to hit the studio with Jay Zubricky at GCR this past autumn… Now standing strong as a solid quartet, the band is moving forward as always, having just released a three-song EP called Listening Through Silence. On Listening Through Silence, the band has honed their biting, political approach into something more emotional and nuanced. Into The Wake has polished many of their rough edges here – their songs are flush with lead guitar, and layered thick with shimmer and ambiance. There now exists a palpable darkness to their hard rock/heavy-emo songwriting – think somewhere between A Perfect Circle and Thrice. On lead single “The Note,” the band trades anger and guttural screams for tasteful[...]

Post Prom – Changing Weather

February 19, 2018

It’s mid-February, and winter should be in full force here in Buffalo… Instead we’ve been subjected to wild temperature changes and bizarre precipitation – topical, especially in the case of Buffalonian quartet Post Prom. Their debut EP, Changing Weather, came out earlier this month, and whether it was intentional or not, CW certainly lives up to its name. Last summer, the band was hard at work writing; they recorded the EP in the autumn and finally released it in the winter… All in all, these songs document the evolution of a new band across the changing seasons, and now, it’s our Album of the Week. Without wasting any time, Post Prom launch right into their upbeat title-track, EP opener “Changing Weather.” Fans of the Starting Line or Fall Out Boy, early aughts-style, will find themselves right at home. Sometimes, there’s just no substitute for fast tempos and energetic guitar-driven songs (set off by lead guitarist Charlie Rumfola’s snappy, nimble[...]

Hanne Mjøen – “Vanilla”

February 18, 2018

Chocolate? Strawberry? Eat your heart out Neapolitan… Hanne Mjøen knows where its at, case in point, her latest banger “Vanilla.” The Oslo native sings about the classic flavor, metaphorically of course. She says, “Vanilla is in many ways a synonym for something ordinary and boring… The song is really about wishing for more of what’s good and exciting.” Let’s just say, we think her synth-pop is VERY flavorful. Enough ice cream puns – get down to business and give “Vanilla” a listen below.

Riah – “Prom”

February 18, 2018

LA is surely full of talent, but we’ve been especially drawn to the latest single from indie-pop singer-songwriter Riah. “Prom” is a pulsing, mid-tempo gem, boasting an incredibly catchy chorus and smooth, swelling synth work. Riah’s on a hot streak lately, having recently racked up 700k Spotify followers, four million streams, and some pretty cool placements on TV… Have a listen below and hear what all the hype is about. “Prom” is out across a number of different platforms – check them all out here.

Keenan O’Meara – “God’s Song”

February 18, 2018

Keenan O’Meara has a thing for “God’s Song,” originally by legendary songwriter Randy Newman. Though not a religious person himself, Keenan was drawn to the haunting vibes of the original, and how the positivity of a higher power might bring someone’s psyche a little comfort. O’Meara’s haunting vocals and Bon-Iver-esque instrumentals certainly paint a yearning and ghostly picture of the Newman original… Check it out below. Learn more about Keenan here.

Common Holly – “Thinkin’ ‘Bout You”

February 18, 2018

Common Holly, a.k.a. Montreal singer-songwriter Brigitte Naggar, recently contributed her own take on Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin’ ‘Bout You” to a Valentines Day themed Amazon Music playlist… The song is sparse on percussion, driven strongly by Naggar’s ethereal vocals. Otherwise, the song features blippy electronic elements, vocal samples, and Postal-Service-esque keyboard riffs. We think Naggar’s wispy take on Frank Ocean does the original justice… Have a listen below and judge for yourself.

Buffalo Trio Ghostpool Releases Debut EP

February 13, 2018

Pop-punk refuses to die, and it probably never will… Mostly because of bands like Ghostpool, a Buffalo-based three piece whose m.o. is crunchy guitars and hooks aplenty. Their debut EP, There is a Hole at the Center of Everything, is a five song offering chock full of catchy pop-punk tunes, set off by emo-esque vocals about longing, self-hatred, and growing up. Fans of Alkaline Trio, Green Day, The Menzingers should give this one a listen. “Nightmare Eyes” kicks things off perfectly with a simple chord progression, backed by a catchy lead guitar riff, and distant vocal ooohs. Ghostpool is at their most nuanced here, channeling bands like The Hotelier through unique progressions and dynamic changes. Songs like “Dropout” and “Humanoid” are more Green Day/Alk3 oriented, pairing spitfire guitar work with big, irresistible vocal melodies. It’s worth mentioning that Ghostpool has a knack for writing big pop hooks… They just happen to be wrapped up in a gritty punk[...]

Marigold Releases Fresh Acoustic Take on Debut EP

February 8, 2018

Early last year, Marigold (aka Benjamin Lieber) put out an EP packed with shimmery, dreamy emo-pop called Counterfeit Art. Full of fully fleshed-out songs, the EP was almost entirely written and performed by Lieber (with a little help from bassist Alexander Matos) at GCR Studios with Jay Zubricky. As any determined solo artist will tell you, it’s tough to acquire and keep a full band going… So Marigold is now predominantly an acoustic act. His latest EP, aptly titled Counterfeit Art (Reprise), embraces his newfound approach with a fresh acoustic take on five of the songs from Counterfeit Art. “Foothold (Reprise)” is a gentler take on the driven emo rock of the original “Foothold.” Lieber’s debut EP was reminiscent of the new wave of emo dream rockers like Turnover or Citizen… But “Foothold (Reprise)” is a good introduction to Marigold’s impressive range. Here, he trades a full drum kit and distortion pedals for shakers and acoustic[...]

aeseaes – “Two Knocks”

February 1, 2018

aeseaes is a husband-and-wife duo based out of Austin, Texas whose debut EP, Six Songs,  came out late last year… They sent over the video for “Two Knocks” and we immediately enjoyed its deeply aesthetic animation. Beyond the video, their music is intimate, folksy indie rock with lyrics that touch on “the push and pull of perspective and how difficult it is to pin down an ever-changing sense of self.” Fans of The Shins, American Analog Set, or Sea Wolf will love this duo’s music. Learn more about aeseaes on their website.

Stay South – “If You Leave LA”

January 28, 2018

Fullerton, CA solo-act Stay South nailed it on her latest single, the sad dreaminess of “If You Leave LA.” The song is indie-rock at its heart, but is genre-blending at its finest, injecting tinges of emo and indietronica into an otherwise straightforward song. She pairs frantic rim clicks with ethereal guitar strumming for a calm, but yearning vibe. Perhaps most notable is Stacey Park’s sweet, unassuming vocal delivery… She does a great job at encapsulating the feelings of tension that you might experience when being abandoned. Be sure to give it a listen below. “If You Leave LA” is available via Bandcamp.

ANNALIA – “Wavelength”

January 28, 2018

Pure-pop vibes are nothing to be ashamed of, especially in the case of LA’s ANNALIA. Her new single “Wavelength” combines real instrumentation with unparalleled pop songwriting, resulting in a song that should impress the indie-rock purists while simultaneously making them want to dance. Beyond that, the song is ultra-relatable, tugging on heartstrings and playing with the nostalgia of memories both happy and painful. Don’t miss out on this one – add “Wavelength” to your feel-good-pop playlist on Spotify.

Grand Courriers – “Tempted”

January 28, 2018

The uncannily cinematic indie rock from Grand Courriers has been rubbing us in just the right way, especially lead single “Tempted.” Combining vibes from indie-rock mainstays The Killers with a wistful, disco feel, this jam is set off by a deeply emotional vocal performance and simmering synth work. This Minneapolis quartet has a bunch of songs on the horizon, so keep your eyes peeled for more great tunes in 2018. Keep up on Courriers happenings by following them on Instagram.

Hibou – “Fall Into”

January 26, 2018

Hibou sent us the retro-flavored music video for “Fall Into…” Beyond the striking visuals and retro flavor, “Fall Into” is a poppy and dreamy preview of his latest endeavor, Something Familiar (due out on Barsuk Records March 2nd). A funky, rolling bassline propels this song forth, peppered with Hibou’s distinct vocals and synth flourishes. The song ends in a beautiful, washy climax – better heard than read about. Check it out via the video below. There are many ways to consume “Fall Into,” check them all out here. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for Hibou’s next release, Something Familiar.

Russian Baths – “Slenderman”

January 26, 2018

Russian Baths specialize in incorporating dissonance into traditional song structures. “Slenderman” makes this perfectly evident by blending atonal noise, 70s space rock, and modern indie punk sensibility into a three minute wall of sound. This NYC four-piece has jammed their songs full of big muff driven guitars, rolling tom beats, and cavernous female vocals… Dirty, but beautiful. Russian Baths’ new EP is out 2/23/2018 via Good Eye Records. Check it out on iTunes.