Have you ever been standing awkwardly at a party, so awkwardly that you don’t even know what do do with your hands? Well, we’ve discovered the perfect song for you! “Things To Do With Your Hands At Parties” by Talk Less Say More is perfect art pop for 2017, combining infectious electronics, slap bass, and a charming British accent. Fans of Kate Bush, Talk Talk, or Tears for Fears will dig this one. Check them out on Bandcamp too.
The genre defying anthem “Now” drifted into our inbox recently and we’ve been jamming on it ever since. “Now” comes from Grace Mitchell, a 19-year-old iconoclast from Portland. She combines lilting piano-driven verses with more aggressive guitar-driven choruses for a sound all her own. Fans of Florence and the Machine, Feist, or Yeah Yeah Yeahs will dig this one. Check out Grace’s Tumblr while you’re at it.
Can we just go ahead and make PUP honorary Buffalonians already? Tonight marks PUP’s umpteenth return to the Queen City, and for good reason. Every time this quartet comes around, they bring a raucous live show brimming with unparalleled energy. They’ve brought along the perfect tourmates to boot – peppy Topshelf math/emo act Prawn is in tow tonight. PUP will be shredding at the Waiting Room this evening. Doors are at 7pm and tickets are $16 presale, $18 at the door. <iframe style=”border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;” src=”https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3847837544/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/track=3521443435/transparent=true/” seamless><a href=”http://puptheband.bandcamp.com/album/the-dream-is-over”>The Dream Is Over by PUP</a></iframe>
We think you should check out the infectious electronica of Swedish/American duo Djustin. The duo combines singer Rose Suau’s ethereal voice with producer Johan Angergård’s infectious instrumentals. “New Preset” is sure to hook you in with its sick electro pulse, full of memorable pop melodies and thick, lush synth work. If you dig it, buy it here. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/315700202″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
We’re really digging this banger from London trio Marlon Brando Island. “True Heroes” reminds us of the fervor that you might expect from TV on the Radio or METZ. They combine energetic guitar and bass ambiance with passionate scream/singing. The trio considers the razor-sharp lyrical content and emotional rise and fall of “True Heroes” their epic, and we can’t help but agree. Check it out on Spotify too. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/311398734″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Canadian producer SYRE sent us his ultimate chillout track “Next To Me.” This song pushes the limits of sound design and the EDM genre as a whole, combining chillwave sentiment with catchy, detuned vocals and swelling synth patches. Our recommendation: sit back, close your eyes, and let SYRE’s soundsmithing do its job. Add “Next To Me” to your Spotify playlist. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/316588805″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Fans of Best Coast, Hole, or Angel Olsen will dig this one. “Young Leo” from Mise en Scene is about a young Leo (the Zodiac sign, not DiCaprio) who is learning how to take life one step at a time and to not be so sad. It might also be worth noting that the singer of this track was born on August 10th. Beyond its message, this is a straight up raucous indie rock jam that we think is worth checking out. The band also released a music video for “Young Leo” which you can check out here.
Solomon O is an Australian indie crooner whose “Holograms” has been rubbing us in just the right way. This indie-pop nugget has a luscious rhythm section and plenty of shimmering guitars and synths to please any fan of modern-day alternative rock. Fans of Foster The People, Imagine Dragons, and The Killers will get down to this one. If you dig it, add “Holograms” to your Spotify playlist. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/312123977″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
We’ve been jamming on this slow-burner by Ruby Haunt as imagined by Australian producer Nutrition. “Freeway Crush” takes a skittering beat and pairs it with haunting synth swells and breathy vocals, resulting in a perfectly chill electronica jam. Nutrition is a relatively mysterious dude, so we’ll let the remix do the talking – give it a whirl via the widget below. You may enjoy this track through a variety of methods – check them all out here. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/307424040″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Late Guest At The Party are a Brooklyn quartet crafting crazy catchy house jams. We recommend starting with “Give You A Life,” a succinct banger about wanting to let somebody into your life… Problem is, sometimes that person doesn’t need you the way you need them, and that’s the feeling LGATP try to capture. Give it a whirl if you’re feeling froggy. If you dig it, here are a few simple instructions. Go to iTunes. Click buy. Enjoy. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/315953573″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Mountain States are a jangle-pop quartet from the Netherlands whose “Here It Is” has been giving us good vibes. Their video for the track is a bunch of abstract visuals with a vague nature feel. More importantly, their spacey indie rock reminds us of a mixture of 90s college rock a la REM or Polaris mixed with modern day bands like Le Colour. If you dig it, peep their website to learn more.
The Sunjays hit us up with a music video for their new jam “Konnichiwa” and we think it’s worth a watch. The video was captured on Super8 film, definitely a lost art. It resulted in a cool, slightly spastic looking video that matches the jangly, nervous-energy indie rock that The Sunjays execute so well. For fans of The Shins, Matt Pond PA, or Pavement will dig this one. “Konnichiwa” is available via many platforms – check them all out here.
When The Otherme‘s (aka solo artist Aidan Licker) new album came floating into the buffaBLOG inbox, it brought us back to a simpler time… Namely, the mid to late aughts where emo acts were blossoming from basement show staples to full-blown rock stars. Blacksheep is a startling tonal shift for The Otherme, whose previous efforts have been more hip-hop flavored (think Asher Roth or Atmosphere). This time around, Licker has eschewed the beats and the raps for personal, heart-on-your-sleeve anthems about long-lost relationships, summers past, and existential novelists. Licker is armed with nothing more than a lone electric guitar and his voice, bringing to mind Drive Thru acts like Dave Melillo or even The Starting Line. Blacksheep‘s most poignant moment comes in the form of the title-track, a song about yearning for approval, despite an unshakable “black sheep” status. On one of the catchiest moments of the album, Licker proclaims, “I stopped living for the people[...]
If you’re into dreamy indie rock, we think you should peep the new track from California’s People Flavor. “No Vox” pairs some swirly guitars with anthemic vocals and an overall chill vibe – perfect for a relaxing commute home after a stressful day of work. “No Vox” is on Bandcamp if you dig it. [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/295764409″ params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]
Blaenavon has us jazzed on their new video for “Alice Come Home.” Featuring live footage of the band performing in NYC at four in the morning, “Alice Come Home” is packed full of frantic guitar strumming, beautiful falsetto vocals, and a stunning outro that drones out for the last two and a half minutes. This is one of those songs that is truly an experience the whole way through, falling inexplicably on the spectrum between Sigur Ros and Pavement. Their music is available via a variety of platforms, all of which can be found here.