Brat'ya, one of the side projects from Smart House and Automap member Alek Ogadzhanov, released a new song via the act's soundcloud page yesterday. As you may remember, Ogadzhanov was the brains behind our #3 Buffalo track of 2013, "Car Ride." "Maps," his latest, is a very driving cut of 80s synth's mixed with experimental percussion, and fans of Metronomy would be wise to check out. We are still trying to figure out the difference between all of Ogadzhanov's projects here at the blog, but in the mean time, check out "Maps" below.
Well, here we are, our top 10 Buffalo songs of 2013. I took some time last night and re-listened to every song that we included on our countdown of Buffalo's best, and at the end of the night, I realized Buffalo is in a pretty good place right now when it comes to music. We have a great variety of bands all making entertaining and even, at times, genuinely thought-provoking music. A friend and I were talking the other day about how it is easy to knock local music. Statements like: "it's good...for Buffalo," are so casually tossed around because giving ourselves credit is sometimes really hard. The Super Bowl losses, lack of jobs, the weather, frequently color our opinions and are just projected onto our music scene. We end up thinking that if one thing is going to suck, then it's all going to suck. Growing up here has made me an eternal pessimist, but you can feel the city changing for the better, and I think our music scene is a perfect example of that. Why can't there be great bands in Buffalo? What is so different about this city than any other? Creativity flows just as fast as Blue Light you know. This was a great year for Buffalo music and I am proud to be part of it in some way or another. I hope you enjoy our top ten list as much as I do. It was a lot of fun to make. See everyone in 2014.
- Mac McGuire, Editor-in-Chief
10) The Malones - "Clenched Fist"
Even if you only casually follow buffaBLOG, you probably know that The Malones were probably one of the bands we covered most this year, and for good reason. With a sound that mixes the best aspects of The Strokes and Hot Hot Heat, these veterans of the scene (including Steak & Cake records mastermind Brandon Schlia) released their debut EP this year, and it was excellent. We decided on “Clenched Fist” for our top 20. The song doesn’t even breach the two minute mark, but when singer Steven Floyd yelps that his “ears are tape recorders and his mouth is a microphone,” you can’t help but get riled up. Oh, and I won’t forget to mention the band's secret weapon - Elliott Douglas’ delicious Steak & Cake bass lines. - NAS
9) Jack Toft - "Jump Up and Down" Jack Toft had an amazing 2013. Between his numerous music video appearances, collaborations with up-and-coming emcees, and dropping singles so fast that buffaBLOG just simply could not keep up, Toft found time to partner up with producer TEEN WOLF to make an exceptional full-length album, TEENWOLF AND JACK TOFT. “Jump Up and Down” is arguably the most listener friendly track on the an already very listenable album. The song is abstract rap-pop where Toft hypes the listener to, well, jump and down, while also incorporating his signature delivery of one-liners, Allentown observations, and dated cultural references. Toft's partnership with TEEN WOLF spurred Toft's momentum this year which is on course to translate well into 2014. "Jump Up and Down" makes you want freak out with your buds, jump uppin' down and bust your nuts. - MJM
8) Bryan Johnson & Family - "Mt. Vesuvius" Bryan Johnson & Family are Buffalo’s resident surf rockers. Despite Johnson's omnipresence in the Buffalo scene, he had yet to release a large batch of recordings of his songs until this year. BJ released “Mt. Vesuvius,” which might be one of the catchiest joints to come out of Buffalo in the history of time (perhaps even since the tragedy at Pompeii). With the surf rock tag, there are hints of Beach Fossils, Surfer Blood, and even a bit of Cloud Nothings. Regardless, BJ&FAM has perfected their surf rock sensibilities. Trust us when we say this is one of the best choruses of the year; 'I feel like, I feel just like Mt. Vesuvius' will be stuck in your head for days. - NAS
7) Failures' Union - "Between" Indie rock veterans/mainstays Failures’ Union have always been known to deliver and definitely did not go against the grain with the lead single, “Between,” which is from their late 2013 full-length, Tethering. "Between" made its internet debut via music video in late August, resulting in the buffaBLOGGERS spending the tail end of the summer rocking out to heyday '90s indie rock. The video also sparked an internal blog debate as to whether or not Will Sasso makes a celebrity cameo at 1:00, but that's not very important. What is important is that Failures' Union is brash Americana for a blue collar city like Buffalo. They are the rust belt's Hold Steady and with age/experience, Failures' Union continue to become more refined. - MJM
6) Forealists - "Livin' It Up"
For a city that seems to be dominated by punk bands and the latest wave of emo rock, the emergence of the party pop group, Forealists, this past summer was just the right amount of fun for the fairly pessimistic city. The funk/R&B/soul, hell even a little boy band, flavored outfit's debut single, "Livin' It Up," surfaced this past August with quite a bit of local buzz. The relatively simple music video, which mixes in performance cuts and the band 'cruisin round town' in a convertible on a pleasant summer day, became equally addicting. Who the hell is that guy in the mask by the way? No matter. "Livin' It Up" is a blast because it doesn't take itself too seriously. Sunny synths, great harmonies, and some of the best bass work in town make it hard for even the most anti-pop of people (that would include yours truly) to hate one of the more surprise hits to come out of Buffalo this year. - MPM
5) Cinnamon Aluminum - "Girls in Disguise" Cinnamon Aluminum has always been an unpredictable enigma, both as performance artists and musicians. Sometimes their songs are surface level electronic tracks, while others are best described as upbeat acid/jamtronica fronted by a nun with a strap-on dildo. Regardless of your favorite flavor of Cinnamon Aluminum, it’s undeniable that this band has a gift for commanding attention. Knowing this, we were pleasantly surprised to find “Girls in Disguise,” nestled as track four off of the band’s farewell EP titled Guys, Warlords. Girls. “Girls in Disguise” is enchanting dance-punk track featuring front man Hurricane Relic mumbling/babbling about girls lying/wearing disguises accompanied with Kristachuwan’s smooth jazz saxophone and a !!!-like percussion backing provided by Kid on Purpose. If you told me that "Girls in Disguise," was from the latest batch of DFA signees or a James Murphy production, I would believe it. It's that good. - MJM
4) Marine Biologist - "Allegro"
I noted earlier in this post that what I loved most about Forealists' "Livin' It Up" is that the song didn't take itself to seriously. It was a fun tune about, well, having fun. Now, take what I just said and throw that out when it comes to Marine Biologist. This post-rock four piece is dead serious and wants you to know it. Take the opening track to their devastatingly good EP New Works. Formally under the rather long working name of "WE'VE SEEN ALL OF THIS BEFORE. NOTHING IN THE WORLD IS NEW. IT'S ALL BEEN DONE," "Allegro" is a stirring call to arms with a slow building intro of muted riffs and big drums. Front man Aaron Folmsbee spends the first minute of vocals reminding us how fucking boring life can be: 'We've seen all of this before. Nothing in the world is new.' Hell yes we have! "Allegro," thematically, recalls the stuck-in-the-suburbs dread of Arcade Fire's Funeral or what many post-grads must be thinking after that first job honeymoon fizzles. Think the heavy emotions of the Antlers backed by post-rock heavy weights Mogwai or Explosions in the Sky, and you have yourself Marine Biologist. - MPM
3) Smart House - "Car Ride" Things have been a bit quiet on the Smart House front as of late, but earlier this year, the four piece electro pop act captured our attention with their incredible debut single "Car Ride." Led by the Ogadzhanov Brothers, Alek and Staz, Smart House recalls the sunny side of the Cure and just enough Wild Nothing to get you dancing. You can't listen to "Car Ride" and tell me you don't hear a lot of "Pictures of You" in that guitar or even a sans vocals "Boy's Don't Cry" in the song's first half. When we talked about this song at the year's half way point, nostalgia seemed to be the driving factor of our love for "Car Ride." For me, I am reminded of those endless nights as a teen in Amherst with nothing to do and nowhere to go, but everything still ahead of me. Those nights were perfect. I can almost pin it down to the exact second in song, right around that sun peaking through the haze moment at the 1:57 mark, where those feelings emerge. "Car Ride" reminds me of a time in my life when things were so much more simple, before bills and 9-5 jobs, before the thought of marriage and children were running through my mind, a time I still wish I could go back to every now and then. - MPM
2) JOHNS - "Worm Wall" When we got hold of the pre-release zip file of JOHNS’ House of Wrongheads, there was an instant excitement that 2013 was going to be a great year for Buffalo music. “Worm Wall” is the first track on House of Wrongheads, and is a droning, dissonant work of beauty with an eerie sense of urgency. From lead singer Johnny Toohill’s ghoulish 'ooo' ing introduction, to the band’s one-chord jam session breaking out at the two minute mark, and ending with drummer Ryan McMullen’s tribal drum outro, this haunted-garage rock five-piece has made one of the best songs we’ve heard in years. - MJM
1) Del Paxton - "Motion Sick" Well, it’s unanimous. Del Paxton captured our hearts this year with Worst. Summer. Ever., a six song EP of perfect emo-meets-math-rock masterpieces. It was hard to pick only one, but in “Motion Sick,” Del Paxton gradually crescendos out of their soaring, angular indie rock into a blissful, reserved sing-along, complete with jazzy drums and far-off harmonies. This EP perfectly encapsulates where the emo genre was headed before it was bastardized – Del Paxton is able to be introspective without being sad. The blend of emotion, complexity, intelligence, and just the right amount of pop sensibility helps this album appeal to almost anyone you can think of. Emo enthusiasts, fussy musicians, gear nerds… even punks. I think we can all agree on one thing, Del Paxton brought it home this year. This is music that makes you want to fall in love. - NAS
If you missed songs 20 - 11, you can check them out here.
Editor's note: If you missed any of yesterday's selections, you can check them out here. Jon Krol Album: David Bowie - The Next Day This pick should come as no surprise to those who know me. I pretty much worship at the altar of Bowie-anything, and, despite his relatively weak output in the nineties and early 2000's, looked forward to this album with hot anticipation. Let's just say I wasn't disappointed. The Next Day hearkened back to Bowie's bygone era, the Berlin Trilogy, which was arguably his strongest moment as a songwriter and creative provocateur. After his limelight faded a bit in the late seventies, Bowie moved to Berlin and released Heroes, Lodger,and Low, three criminally overlooked albums in the pantheon of rock history. During that time, Bowie experimented with soundscapes and angular post-rock. The end result was something rock had rarely seen, a truly unique exploration of the medium. Listening to The Next Day, I felt like Bowie was continuing this journey. The songs were undeniably rock-oriented with pop hooks and guitar crunch for days. They were something more though. Vibe and attitude as only Bowie can pull off, the songs were interesting, and they felt fresh and new. After ten years off, it was as if Bowie re-discovered that inner spirit. Still exploring, in search of that perfect pop song, Bowie pushed himself and the end result was an album that ranks amongst his very finest.
Song: Ghost - "Year Zero"
Ghost (or Ghost B.C. as the lawyers call them), are undeniably retro. Dressed as faceless, robed monks and led by a ghoul known only as Papa Emeritus, it is easy to write them off as a hokey throwback and a gimmick. However, Ghost is anything but. Their refreshing brand of melodic, proto-metal reminds me of Gypsy-era Mercyful Fate if Mercyful Fate had a pop singer instead of King Diamond. The band's popularity skyrocketed recently and that is as much due to their unbelievably catchy songs, as it is their persona. Check out "Year Zero" for instance, off the excellent Infestissumam, a creepy, crawling track that is as epic and fun as it is enthralling. Their appeal has no bounds and neither does this song. You either get it or you don't. I grew up with Venom and KISS. I get it.
Michael Moretti Album: Camp Counselors - Huntress
I don’t know if Buffalo has always been this talented or I have just been more in-tune with what has been emerging between writing for this blog and doing the WBNY Local Show but 2013 saw impressive releases from JOHNS, The Malones, Merchants, Bearhunter, Aircraft, Jack Topht, Space Wolves, and Tony Flaminio. It is going to be very difficult for the committee to narrow down the top 20 songs for Buffalo in December 2013. Although all of those albums are strong in their own right, my absolute favorite local release of 2013 is Camp Counselors’ haunting horror-movie inspired full-length, Huntress. Camp Counselors is the side-project of Cemeteries mastermind, Kyle Reigle. Huntress plays out exactly like the score to an 80’s horror movie, at times brave and motivating- at others eerie and sullen. It is almost as if it is a dreamy electro musical for ghosts. I could not understand or tell you one lyric from Huntress, as Reigle ghoulishly wails and doesn’t really enunciate any of the lyrics, but that makes it surprisingly stronger. If you are a fan of The Knife, M83, or the xx, then you need to hear Camp Counselors’ Huntress.
Song: Smart House - "Car Ride"
I believe fellow buffaBLOG writer, Brian Gorman, clued me in on local electro musician Alek Ogadzhanov and his various projects (Alek Ogadzhanov, Bratya, and Smart House) late last winter. When I first heard Smart House’s “Car Ride,” I remember shaking my head in disbelief that this was coming out of Buffalo. “Car Ride” is a three minute and 32 second , driving instrumental track a la The Cure or Wild Nothing. For some reason, this track reminds me of packing into a car and driving far away to see a show. I picture myself Billy Corgan-ing in the “1979” video to this song.
Jeannette Chin Album: Mount Kimbie - Cold Spring Faultless Youth When asked about their second album, Cold Spring Faultless Youth, the newly signed to Warp duo, Mount Kimbie, reported that unlike their first album, the music was largely inspired by elements of live performance, the approach towards songwriting being stimulated by being on tour for months on end without interruption. This difference in approach is easily traceable for Mount Kimbie fans upon listening to Cold Spring Faultless Youth. Brought to the forefront are melodies driven by electric guitars and synthesizers, rhythms that compel listeners to bob their head, and, perhaps the most surprising, the unrestrained use of vocals. That's right, in this album, the duo take turns singing discernible lyrics to discernible melodies. Two of the songs ("You Took Your Time" and "Meter, Pale, Tone") even feature the vocal magic of their music peer, King Krule. Despite having gravitated toward song-writing structures that some of us would lightly consider more "traditional," effectively stamped on each track is their unique signature, the sonic template of their style, whose appearance in 2009 had music critics speculating about the end of dub step. The duo was then listed among the list of artists leading what's left of it into a new era. Crackly textures, sudden transitions, idiosyncratic key signatures, scrambled drum patterns, and melodies that take multiple listenings to register, to fully coagulate inside our heads as listeners. It's all unmistakably packed in there. Moreover, their approach to vocals, to lyrics (with the aid of King Krule), is something that will be appreciated by those who pay homage to language considered to be poetry. Personally for me, out of any recent releases, it most closely resembles what I would imagine a Beat-Revival would sound like. Anyways, all this just scratches the surface of why, out of any album released this year, this one continues to be the most interesting for me to listen on repeat. Listen to it yourself and let me know what you think. Song: Kurt Vile - "Girl Called Alex" For me and many others, Kurt Vile is a significant songwriter because he effectively portrays the voice of youthful indifference. A sort of vague, widespread ideological climate that can puncture a generation. In my mind, his music listens like a halo of apathy; fueled by nostalgia and as tender as it is reckless. It is also impressive, in more ways than one, you can't help but admire his handle on the guitar, his intuitive songwriting, but you're also impressed that he managed to pull himself out of bed to record it. Overall, "Girl Called Alex" plays like a pure extract of everything Kurt Vile is good at, guitars that lull your head to the clouds, symphony moments, simple lyrics with bursts of rawness, and making you feel as though you are not alone in your strangeness. "I wanna live all the time in my fantasy infinity."
Josh Gordon
Album: Sonorous Gale - The Total Overcomers: A Saga
These have been some weird times for the Gale. Rumor has it they joined a cult who forced them to change their name and wear identical blue polo shirts in public. I hear tell they were ready to drink the Kool-Aid and rendezvous with the mothership floating somewhere above the southbound lane of the I-190, but snapped out of it just in time. Thank God (or Marshall Applewhite, if that's your thing). They've lived to tell the tale and their latest four-track EP is the result. Buffalo sludge has never sounded so good.
Song: Grouplove - "Ways to Go"
Maybe this is why I always get laid never get laid, because I'd be just as happy strapped into hip waders, slogging through the tarry peat bog of sludge rock with the stoners and the punks as I would be in loafers and salmon-pink shorts, drinking cheap beer with the "cool" kids. But neither clique will have me - and that's just the way I like it. I'm a rebel, baby, a real lone wolf. I'm also a sucker for synths, female vocals, and skeleton body suits - and Grouplove have all that in spades. The video for "Ways to Go" is the bee's knees (or the beloved leader's pajamas, if that's your thing). I've been pressing play every four minutes now for weeks. It's been days since I've heard from my family. But that's all right - this my family now. You are all my family. Hey, wait, anyone else feel funny? My eyes are burning. My legs are...No. Stop! This isn'tfunan y !!!more Don'tdoit,..,don't dtringk the Kool-
Kyle Reigle records ambient dream pop under the name Cemeteries, one of Buffalo's most interesting acts in recent memory. Reigle's ethereal songwriting style features elegant, reverb-laden vocals and melodic guitar riffs similar to Youth Lagoon and Porcelain Raft, both of whom Cemeteries recently opened for at Brookyln's Music Hall of Williamsburg. After catching national blog attention, and receiveing an album of the week nod here, last October with his full length release The Wildnernesson Lefse records, Reigle has been working on a side project under the name Camp Counselors and hopefully will put out another Cemeteries album before the year is over. Tonight, Cemeteries will perfom at the Waiting Room alongside fellow Buffalo acts Love Scenes, Bryan Johnson and Family, and Smart House. Tickets will be available at the door for $8 or can be purchased from the After Dark box office at 630 Elmwood Ave. Doors open at 9:30
Brat'ya is the solo project of Smart House's Alek Ogadzhanov. Unfortunately for us buffaBLOGGERS, both acts are suspiciously mum on the juicy details of each project... But what we can tell you is this - whereas Smart House crafts swimmy, electronica-tinged indie rock, Brat'ya focuses on the electronic aspects of music - playing with samples, drum machines, and synths. Either way, Ogadzhanov is the mastermind behind each project, and we predict he may be one of Buffalo's big breakout artists for this upcoming summer. Fans of The Postal Service and Four Tet will enjoy Brat'ya's offerings. Smart House falls somewhere in between The Pains of Being Pure at Heart or even Wild Nothing. Either way, it's all worth a listen. Listen below or check them out at their next show - Smart House is playing June 14th at the Waiting Room.
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