Retro Kid – “The Room”
"We've all been in a room with no way out. Whether it be in relationships or falling back into bad habits." Copenhagen's Retro Kid embodies that itchiness perfectly with this indietronica-meets-soul jam called "The Room." Full of Korg minilogue synth splashes, samples...
nolo – “Deals”
Austin, TX-based emo-punks nolo set out to write something snappy... "Deals" came out of that writing session - and even just ten seconds of listening to its blistering pace is enough to know they hit their mark. The quartet each took a turn at the microphone in this...
Alien Hellbop – “Take Me Home”
Alien Hellbop is a duo from Lawrence, KS that is pumping out way more sound than they should be capable of - we've been vibing on their latest single, "Take Me Home." In true power-duo fashion, AH is spring-loaded with raucous indie-punk energy, layered thick with...
Sophie Meiers – “Mutt”
Sophie Meiers is a 20-something musician who seems to have their pulse on the indie rock of the moment, case-in-point, the downtrodden-but-vibey dirge of "Mutt." Reminiscent of Soccer Mommy or Snail Mail, "Mutt" is angsty af, built around unique guitar tones, a...
Blanco Tranco – “Shapeshift”
Melbourne quartet Blanco Tranco here with their patented blend of melodramatic shoegaze flavor - we're highlighting "Shapeshift" today for several reasons... 1.) It's got really cool swimmy guitar tones. 2.) It's satisfyingly emotional without being too sappy. 3.) The...
Broken Chanter – “Dancing Skeleton”
"I didn’t want to have an album that spent it’s entire running time reflecting on the past year and a half. Folk need a lift. They don’t need to relive the pandemic, and the associated trauma, right now." Well said, David MacGregor (perhaps better known as Glaswegian...
Captain WildChild – “Peace In Life”
Hamilton, ON trio Captain WildChild aim to change the world with their brash and bratty brand of indie punk. We've been psyched on their latest offering, the jaunty guitar-driven rock ripper "Peace in Life." The single is the trio's first off of their upcoming 2022...
The Creepy Eepys – “You’re Creepin”
Sure, we're a little bit past Halloween now... But The Creepy Eepys feel as evergreen as ever. Their debut EP, Teenage Feeling, has been on rotation at the buffaBLOG offices as of late - we'd like to direct your attention to lead single, "You're Creepin." True to the...
Man or Astro-Man? – “Tenth Planet”
Man or Astro-Man? have been kicking around since the early 90s as a vital part of the surf revival movement. At this point, they've honed their song crafting into something special... Case-in-point, the upbeat bedroom-surf of "Tenth Planet." Plucky guitar leads,...
Damn Janis – “A Doctor, A Cop, A Judge”
Miami-based quartet Damn Janis slammed their way into our inbox with the menacing shoegaze sound of "A Doctor, A Cop, A Judge." Filled with swirling guitar tones, a dark minor key, a blistering guitar solo, and Sprechgesang-style vocals, "Doctor" finds the band...
Don’t Worry – “Crushing Weight”
Last time we checked in on Essex indie punks Don't Worry, we were psyched on their previous, wry single, "Get Out." They sent us another angularly-catchy song called "Crushing Weight" and it calls upon that same sardonic wit that we fell in love with before. It's a...
Timi Temple – “Gasoline”
Sydney-based enigma Timi Temple recently caught our attention with the wickedly catchy indie pop flavor of "Gasoline." Full of whistled hooks, a low-key drumbeat, and Timi's effervescent vocals, he has crafted a deceptively upbeat song about the perils of Stockholm...
Letting Up Despite Great Faults – “Corners Pressed”
Dream-o quartet Letting Up Despite Great Faults hit us up with the twinkly magic of "Corners Pressed" and we've been hooked on it ever since. This Austin, TX crew specializes in sparkling guitar riffs, a tight percussion presence, and far-off shoegaze vocal prowess a...
Gabby Holt – “Songbird”
Portland singer/songwriter Gabby Holt is on fire - one listen to her latest single "Songbird" is all you'll need to confirm. Full of blistering, fuzzed out guitar riffs; sugary-sweet melodies; and sparkly keyboard textures, "Songbird" shows off Holt's guitar prowess...
Mediocre – “Give In”
Here's a beautiful return-to-form for dreamy indie-pop act Mediocre. "Give In" pairs jangly guitar magic with lilting vocals, a mid-tempo pace, and an epic string ending. Fans of Jay Som, Alvvays, or Girlpool will find lots to love here - it's set off by a swirly,...
Eden Rain – “Sugar Baby”
Loving this sassy new single from Eden Rain about a very particular type of relationship. "Sugar Baby" is a straight up pop banger with tasteful hints of r&b, hip hop, and indie pop peeking through its left-of-center appeal. Eden's lyrical prowess is nothing short...
Crush – “So Strange”
Manchester quartet Crush is a mysterious band whose "So Strange" caught our ears for its dreamy, shoegaze-y approach. Singer/guitarist Amber Warren describes the song as: "A head-on challenge to negative feelings... It’s a dialogue in the first-person addressing...
Trentemøller – “All Too Soon”
Copenhagen's Trentemøller teamed up with singer Lisbet Fritze to create the stunning, yet simplistic dream pop of new single, "All Too Soon." Sparsely-tracked guitars interact perfectly with Fritze's lilting vocals, creating a dark-pop atmosphere that sounds dusky,...
llo llo – “Tethered”
Chicago-based dream-grunge band llo llo caught our attention with the soaring midwest vibes of their latest single "Tethered." Combining Billy Corgan-esque guitar tones with the shoegaze approach of Slowdive and the midwest sound of early American Football, "Tethered"...
Cheap City – “Witch In The Alley”
Fun, raucous, and weird are three apt words to describe this impressive new single from Cheap City... Let's just say we think fans of Pile, The Dismemberment Plan, and The Growlers will come together to find a common love in this unique crew. A strong bass line helps...
Baby Bulldog – “Daddy”
Last time we checked in with Baby Bulldog, we were intrigued by the lighthearted indie-pop of "I Rly Rly Like You." Steph Barker is back with another jam, albeit, this one's just a bit more menacing. "Daddy" takes the same amazing energy of "Rly Rly" and packs it into...
HUSBANDS – “Ancient One”
Let's just put it out there, we like HUSBANDS. We've previously featured their singles, "Culebra," "Mexico," and "Neuromancer," and today we're overjoyed to feature their latest single, "Ancient One." The multi-city duo (OKC x Seattle, to be specific) get a bit more...
June Swoon – “Queen of Hearts”
Don't let the summery name of LA's June Swoon fool you - her latest offering, "Queen of Hearts," is about as autumnal as it gets. Mixing the anthemic appeal of bands like War on Drugs with the shimmery indie pop of bands like Alvvays, "Hearts" finds June exploring...
Past Life – “Connect the Dots”
Philly-based joy rock band Past Life hit our inboxes with "Connect The Dots" and we've been hooked on their unique, bouncy approach ever since. Fans of Two Door Cinema Club, Phoenix, and Grouplove are going to like this one a lot - expect screaming guitar riffs and...
An Hour A Minute – “Honeydew (Honey Don’t)”
An Hour A Minute hit our inboxes with the uniquely laid-back vibes of "Honeydew (Honey Don't)" and we've been hooked ever since. There's a distinct island vibe to their bedroom-y/indie pop approach - think bongo percussion providing a steady backbone for the duo's...
Chloe Rodgers – “Bones”
Nottingham-based singer/songwriter Chloe Rodgers is here with an understated stunner called "Bones." Boasting a set of lyrics that are shrouded in abstract mystery, "Bones" plays with haunting electronic elements, unique chord progressions, and Rodgers' ever-pleasant...
tummyache – “Soak”
US-born, London-based act tummyache (aka producer/musician Soren Bryce) caught our ears with the unique alternative rock flavors of her new single, "Soak." Inspired by the out-of-the-box ways we've learned to live with ourselves throughout the pandemic, "Soak"...
Creature of Doom – “Dead Ringer”
Just in time for Halloween, LA-based band Creature of Doom has released their menacing single, "Dead Ringer." Full of squelchy synth atmosphere (that sounds like a dank, bubbling cauldron) and haunting vocals, this one falls on the spectrum somewhere between the cold...
Odaiba x Anna Majidson – “Help”
Digging this in-the-pocket bedroom-funk collab between Odaiba and Anna Majidson. The French musicians hit it out of the park with "Help" - a funky mix of nu-disco and bedroom-pop with an ultra-catchy refrain. We all know someone we need to tell "Please go get some...
The Voxes – “Closer Than Ever”
LA-based quintet The Voxes hit our inboxes with a stunning indie rocker called "Closer Than Ever." Influenced by an equal mix of Latin music and modern bedroom pop, "Closer" takes a plucky acoustic guitar and juxtaposes it against a fuzzy bass. The song is capped off...
Oberhofer – “SUNSHiiNE”
Oberhofer teamed up with The Strokes’ Nick Valensi Shamir for this (third) eye-opening, psyched-out jam called "SUNSHiiNE." Oberhofer is no stranger to the limelight (just ask his myriad of placements and collaboration partners), but that didn't stop us from diving...
Perry Zoso – “Guadalupe (2021 Mix)”
Perry Zoso just doesn't know when to quit... And we're grateful for it. The Burbank crew revisited an old track called "Guadalupe" and gave it a facelift - think a new mix, a new guitar track, and some overall refreshed energy that really helped take it to the next...
Loose Buttons – “First To Know, Last To Understand”
Loose Buttons has felt a little stagnant these last 18 months... Haven't we all? Their latest slice of guitar-pop, "First To Know, Last To Understand," reckons with those feelings of stagnation - pondering what the best version of ourselves is, chasing after it, and...
CARR – “Sprinter Van”
An ode to all the band dudes out there! We're using the word "ode" lightly, of course... CARR is here nailing it on her latest grunge-pop jam "Sprinter Van," a tune she describes as "about falling for the wrong type of boys over and over again." Whether it's the...
The Klittens – “Canned Air”
Amsterdam-based quintet The Klittens maximize their happy/sad aesthetic here on the low-key indie punk of "Canned Air." What do we mean exactly by happy/sad? It's one of those songs that has an easy-going (almost upbeat!) instrumental presence that's laced with just...
Endearments – “Ocean”
The tellingly-named Endearments explore themes of heartbreak on their latest synthpop/dreampop hybrid, "Ocean." Endearments is more colloquially known as Brooklyn native Kevin Marksson - the songwriter and synth-head describes, "Ocean" as: "A no-stone-unturned glimpse...
Interesting Hobbies Club – “Middle of the 110”
Interesting Hobbies Club here with a lo-fi riff rocker that is sure to make you feel something. This time around, IHC made a conscientious effort to bring a bit more melody to their music and the result is something delightfully rickety. Bringing to mind the rawness...
Liily – “Anvil”
Fresh off a tight September gig at Mohawk Place, we're happy to feature LA-based quartet Liily and their mathy/shoegaze hybrid, "Anvil." This young band is no stranger to the press - they've been featured heavily in Spotify and Apple Music playlists and have even...
Belaver – “Mount Misery”
Belaver stepped out of his comfort zone to put out his first "upbeat" single and we think it paid off big time... "Mount Misery" is a look at the so-called American dream and how creatives in today's society tend to get exploited by faceless corporations. Belaver set...
Humble Braggers Release New Single, “So Alive”
Buffalo indietronica mainstays Humble Braggers are back again with another lush single they're calling "So Alive." By now (we hope!) you're familiar with the quartet's euphoric sound - songs filled with what seems like hundreds of synth textures; big vintage drum...
Ice In My Eyes – “Arpeggiator”
Luxembourg-based quintet Ice In My Eyes nailed it on this high-energy synthpop-meets-indie-rock jam they're calling "Arpeggiator." With a big synth bass bouncing the song along, the song lurches forward at a great, blood-pumping tempo. Even though this has an upbeat...
The Washing Line Economy – “Mirrors”
Last time we checked in with The Washing Line Economy, we were excited to share their swirly, sunny slice of indie pop called "In As Many Minutes." They're back again with a new tune called "Mirrors" that continues their trend of slightly-squiggly indie rock with a...
Schedule 1 – “Paint It Red”
Vancouver-based post-punkers Schedule 1 caught our ears with this super urgent song about "familial identity, purpose, and pain." We were drawn to the sheer energy of "Paint it Red" - a blistering tempo, sing/shout vocals, shreddy guitar riffs, and a chord progression...
Vagrant Sabbatical – “past mary”
Beyond the crushing, stripped-down simplicity of "past mary," Vagrant Sabbatical has an amazing backstory. Having been sent from "Hawaii to Queens to Vermont to California" over the past few years and holding three different jobs, he simply hasn't had the time or the...
Gabe James – “FLICKER”
Viral TikTok sensation Gabe James struck it big with a flip of Olivia Rodrigo's smash single "good 4 u..." Now he's trying his hand at his own stuff and it's going remarkably well. "FLICKER" is our latest recommendation - beyond the flashy music video treatment and...
Abbreviations – “Turn On You”
Dallas-based quartet Abbreviations nailed it on this hush-hush indie rocker they're calling "Turn On You." Rather than stick to a traditional love ballad, this is a song about realizing you have feelings for someone else outside of your relationship... Or as they put...
Varsity Star – “Pipes”
There's something to be said about a visceral song like "Pipes" by Varsity Star - rather than try to make a melodic/traditional song, "Pipes" is all about being an "extremely physical" listen. The textures in the song seem to pop out of the speakers; Varsity Star...
VANT – “All I Need To Get By”
There's something delightfully raucous about the latest offering from VANT - "All I Need To Get By" is an ode to OCD, addictions, and insecurities set perfectly to a chaotic-but-enjoyable palate of synths and guitars. For all the pre-existing VANT fans out there, this...
Dave Monks – “Can’t Put My Fire Out”
Buffalo is a Tokyo Police Club town, so hopefully our friend Dave Monks needs no introduction - he's here with a super-catchy solo-outing called "Can't Put My Fire Out." This one has a lot of positive, upbeat energy, starting in the jaunty-but-simple guitar backbone...
Sam Wright – “Closer”
Sam Wright is here crafting the kind of swirly, lo-fi pop that truly matters - case-in-point, the groovy whirl of "Closer." Jangly guitar stabs; noodle-y bass lines; and spiraling riffs are jam packed into this tune... Fans of Crumb, TOPS, and and Unknown Mortal...