What's new in the world of music? Perhaps I will never know--at least to the capacity that I expect myself to know. One thing I know is that Alvvays of Toronto is bumpin' and begging the lend of my ear. Their video for "Adult Diversion," visually, has all the remembrances of the 60s and 70s, while in an audial sense, bears the qualities of the 90s in its foggiest moments. Producer Chad VanGaalen brings his ticky-lo-fi signature to the track and the sweet, twee-ness of the song is beautifully balanced with the lead singer, Molly Rankin's, deeper register, making it a widely-accessible hit. Although this song is one of few singles from their debut album previously scheduled for release early this year, it still seems to be running strong, despite being postponed for the summer.The simple beat of "Adult Diversion" leaves out all the complications of songs trying to be more than they are, and leaves the basics of a happy, summer-longing tune. A catchy song is burning to creep into your lack-luster winter playlist to shake off the cold with Alvvays and the warm song of yester-today-year.

I feel that's what good hip hop does. It grabs the listener, entertains them, opens their mind. Solid, classic samples line the background, while a smooth flow lines the foreground. The group pays respect to the borrowed music by creating something new and worthy of skilled ears.

Upon introduction to Hands and Knees via the track "Sitting at the Piano Disappearing," I was fairly certain I was shown something boundless. This not-so-big lo-fi band from Boston hasn't released anything remotely "new," BUT I thought I would use this opportunity to put the guys on blast for the great music they have released.

Their latest effort being 2012's Red Hot Minnows boasts a lively Americana feel-- think western circus. Each song on the album offers another scene of said western circus, identified by no more than one word. Yeah sure, there are technically some compound words in there, but NO MORE THAN ONE WORD names each song. It beats me what they're singing or oooh-ing about, but this detail is not important. The feel is what's pertinent here and Hands and Knees give a nice cavernous, yet full sound that makes some mighty fine house music. It almost makes you forget about the blizzard outside.

 
Moving backward here, we have the 2011 album Wholesome that more straddles the line of indie-folk-Americana. This is the show horse that spawned the aforementioned song "Piano Disappearing" that clippity-clopped its way onto my radar. No more puns, I promise. Further exploration of Wholesome led me to love other songs like hooky, dissonant "I Won't Miss You" and playful bitter dance hit "Dancing on Your Tears." The album grows more on the listener with every play.

 
Something worth knowing for indie slaves: Hands and Knees was recognized for their 2010 Christmas song "James Brown Died on Christmas" by the Cal Johnson of K Records/Beat Happening/Halo Benders fame on the K Rec site as something he was listening to at the time. That is all for that.

 
Moving backward still, H&K released Et tu, Fluffy? in 2009, which has its fair share of dynamic, high-energy tracks: "You Got Pop, You Got Style," "You Thought It'd Make You Feel Better," "Shove It Up Your Heart," etc. A nice close to this album is the delicate percussion and layered soft echoes alongside a gentle rant in "What Ever Happened to That Beautiful City?". This final soft melody satisfies a the polar ends of the emotional spectrum within Fluffy.

 
Finally [or rather firstly], H&K put out their self-titled work in 2007, where it all began. The band has kept glued to the same kind of styles that have been sprinkled throughout their music from the start. You'll hear some of everything in Hands and Knees: blues, pop, folk, motown, punk. Muah- perfection. The constant mix-up keeps me entertained, though a little sleepy. A three-day marathon leads me to this moment. These guys and gal have passed the test of repetition and are worthy of insertion into your library. GO!

They didn’t roll in along with the other trending bands swimming in the mainstream these days. All three members have been kickin’ late 90s emo since the late 90s, around when emo actually became a thing.

Dylan England, involved in the Fredonia college scene, has been in numerous bands [Longitude, Balto, Month being a few], all of which are commended in part to his excellent lyricism. From his Del Paxton repertoire: "I'd like your plans to fall right through me" from "Two Planes Away" and Buffalo's favorite line "Well I guess I'm burning a hole in your pocket" from buffaBLOG's BEST SONG OF THE YEAR "Motion Sick."

Sonny Baker done did it again! His highly melodic EP preview Mangled in the Front boasts not one, but two tracks (joking...it's a PREVIEW people) "It's Always Crowded" and the self-titled track "Mangled in the Front (Realigned in the Back)."

Where is "Mangled in the Front" taking place? Baker asks, "Who wants to be interesting? I wasn't even listening//Please let me be interesting. Give me a story or something to say." The song pushes a feeling of tiredness to compete to seem interesting, just as it is taxing to live without seeming such. Humanity can be so unforgiving sometimes.

On a lighter note, "It's Always Crowded" is my jam. It seems to me an acoustic version of something that never was. It's security lends to my mind the idea that this is so good, it was already thought up. I'm walking in circles trying to explain the tune; it's that great! Baker's voice familiarly sounds of Broken Social Scene's Brendan Canning's angel pipes, stroking softly my earballs.

Seriously, don't take my word for it. Stop your hectic lives and stay inside yourself for a good couple of hours replaying this preview whilst walking through the city. I promise you'll find everything more beautiful strolling along with a new age Nick Drake stroking softly your earballs.

Over the blog's near four year existence, we have had anywhere from the occasional contribution to regular staff writers come from a handful of Buffalo acts, including Merchants, the Tins, Early Attic, and Brother Keep. Yesterday, when Steak & Cake released the label's newest album, I Wrote This Song For You Fifty Years Ago, from new act Inquiring Mind, I realized we had another great musician on staff, that being one of our newest writers, Jaz Frazier. Now in all my talks with Jaz, she never once mentioned she was a musician, and in particular, that she had that voice. In hearing the recordings, though, I'm glad she kept this pet project to herself, as the surprise of the release was nearly as good as the release itself.

Looking at the contributor list on the album's bandcamp page, you pick up on sense of community behind the recordings. Some guitar tracks from a fellow local musician, lyrics from writing peers, and even vocals from some of Frazier's cohorts (including this sleepy guy) from Gate Circle Wine & Liquor, the shared "homebase" of fellow Steak & Cake artists Rackmastas, all are scattered over the album's 8 tracks. And over those 8 tracks, Frazier sure puts her broad musical taste out on the table. Punk, alt-country, electro pop, and other genres are all covered surprisingly well.

Now if you are frequent Steak & Cake listener, you can tell right away that this is a Brandon Schilia production. That is not meant to take anything away from the record, but Schilia has certain quirks, like signature writing and production, that you can't help but notice when listening to the label's ever growing catalog. What makes this stand out though is the strong vocal presence of Frazier, whether she is channeling her best Karen O on the Yeah Yeah Yeah like "Thomas versus Boo," or conjuring the smokey soul of Amy Milan on "Oliver at the Chinese Place." 

That community vibe I touched on earlier is perfectly demonstrated on the album's closing track, "Pie versus Cake." The playful, group harmony led song, which recalls Kevin Drew's campfire singalong tune "When It Begins," could easily have been a silly throwaway tune, but rather had me thinking of how fun this project was for Frazier and crew.

I Wrote This Song For You Fifty Years Ago has proven its worth to be considered as one of 2013's stronger Buffalo releases, and we look forward to hearing future collaborations between Schlia and Frazier, and any other musicians that Gates may be employing for that matter.