Showing posts with label camp counselors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label camp counselors. Show all posts
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buffaBLOG's Favorite Buffalo Tracks of 2013: 20 - 11


This past year, we at buffaBLOG carefully combed through hundreds bandcamp pages, e-mails, soundclouds, and even facebook music pages to pick out the 20 best tracks from the year of 2013. Yesterday we reviewed our five close call tracks. Today begins the first half of our official top 20 countdown. 


20) The Traditional - "Retribution"
It's not really a secret that Buffalo's indie/punk scene has a lot of talent. So with so many great songs and bands to choose from, it's definitely saying something that one of the best songs in the genre this year came from the Traditional. Recorded at Buffalo's own GCR with Jay Zubricky, "Retribution" is a painfully honest kiss-off to an ex. The song exemplifies precisely what makes emo so great - taking singer Anthony Musior's sincere, twenty-something angst and encapsulating it into a no-nonsense burst of energy and anger. There is nothing about this song that isn't catchy - even the instrumentals are flawless (Hint: Mike Bienias' blistering lead guitar lines). "Retribution" isn't overblown or over produced, and that's precisely what makes its so poignant. "All I wanted was some retribution for the things that you said, don't want to make it work - I want to make it hurt worse than it ever did." - NAS



19) Victory for Poland - "Save Yourself From Me"
V4P might be the youngest band on the top 20, but "Save Yourself From Me" shows an astounding amount of songwriting skill from a group of high school age musicians. Featuring a slew of horns, fiddles, and a guest appearance from Brimstone Blondes frontman Matthew Danger Lippman, "Save Yourself From Me" is saturated with all sorts of genres, including psych rock, ska, and even some folk, all with a "can't-quite-put-your-finger-on-it" flavor of  "that could only be from the UK." We buffaBLOGGERS have been mourning the loss of many of our favorite high school aged bands this year but luckily, Victory for Poland is still around. - NAS



18) Strange Acres - "Faith"
Strange Acres’ crawling “Faith” was arguably the most gripping track off of the band’s impressive debut self titled full length. A Harvest Sum super group of sorts, Strange Acres (featuring former members of Sleeping Kings of Iona and current members of Orphans) began as the score to an imaginary film, but the band eventually evolved beyond their original “cinematica” concept. The album's first track, “Faith,” accentuates the sultry songstress Molly Grace’s, chillingly dreary delivery as well as highlights her personal struggle with religion. Fans of chilled out electro (Fever Ray, Portishead), will dig this. - MJM



17) Andy Vaeth  - "Never Make a Sound"
As a member of Johnny Nobody, the Old Sweethearts, On Beta, and the Backpeddlers, Andy Vaeth has been entrenched in the Buffalo music scene for over a decade. For someone involved in so many projects, it was a welcome surprise when he released his solo EP, Sad Synthetic Sounds, via Steak & Cake Records. Vaeth, whose voice has long been one of Buffalo's secret weapons, sounds as fragile as ever on the gorgeous, alt-country tinged "Never Make a Sound." The track is a bare bones tune featuring the singer and his trusty acoustic guitar. Little touches like the layered vocals during the chorus, subtle electronic melody, and the digital drum beat remind you that this is a Steak & Cake release after all, but Vaeth, as always, manages to convey emotions through three and a half minutes better than almost anyone in Buffalo. - MPM



16) Cross Stitch - "Worst Dancer in the Room"
I have a confession. I get a lot of music sent to me via the internet and as a “music journalist” I would be bankrupt if I bought every digital release I liked. I am the guy that types “0” in the pay what you want option on bandcamp. Now that I got that off my chest, I enjoyed Cross Stitch’s debut six-song EP, The Early Years (Drug Party Tapes), so much that I bought it. Cross Stitch is an all-girl feminist punk band that sounds like a punkier Marnie Stern in a basement with Sleater-Kinney undertones. “Worst Dancer in the Room,” is the fifth track on their EP, a slow-to-start crescendo-ing diddy about the fear of being alone. - MJM



15) Space Wolves - "Too Short"
You would think that the lo-fi surf rock that comes from Space Wolves would be happy-go-lucky or at the very least, irreverent. Sometimes it is – some of their best songs are about buying cigarettes on the Res or driving out of state. That’s not quite the case with “Too Short”… not even close actually. After a burst of pipeline guitar, Nick Reynolds and Chris Scamurra launch into an intelligent, albeit self-deprecating song about being, well, just not quite good enough. “Too Short” is about that little voice in all of us that reminds us of all the insecurities  we secretly hope no one else notices.But at the end of the day, this is why buffaBLOG loves Space Wolves so much - we can count on them for both genuine emotion or a song about buying cheap cigarettes. Now that’s a balance I can relate to. - NAS



14) Mallwalkers - "Going Downtown"
If I were to make a video compilation of memories from summer 2013, Mallwalkers’ “Going Downtown” would be the soundtrack provided my memories were summed up in roughly three minutes. For those unaware, Mallwalkers is a super-group of sorts, featuring a few Buffalo’s major players in the rock and roll scene (Biff, Dan Carosa, Stephen Floyd, Tony Flaminio). They could best be described as an 11-piece punchy funk-punk band, complete with a horn section and interpretive dancer. “Going Downtown,” was the first single off the band’s August release, Shake Off The Rust, where singers Carosa and Jaime Rowitsch sing of gathering the masses in downtown Buffalo like punk rock pied pipers. - MJM



13) Lancer - "Elephant in the Corner"
Rarely does an album make me want to cuff my arm around my buddy’s neck and scream lyrics from a band, let alone a local band, in their face. Lancer’s Don is Rich EP is full of such moments, with “Elephant in the Corner” being the most outstanding on an already very strong EP. Lead singer Victor Castillo gravely vocals and delivery of “Elephant in the Corner's” chorus make me excited to see how this band will grow in 2014. Lancer does not make songs, they make pop-punk anthems. - MJM
 

12) Camp Counselors - "Charyou"
Haunting. OK, I got that word out of the way mostly because its the easiest/laziest description one could give to "Charyou," the standout track from Huntress, Cemeteries mastermind Kyle J. Reigle's side project Camp Counselors. "Charyou" leads off with an unnerving, throbbing beat that gives way to Reigle's airy vocals. Out of nowhere, (well specifically the 2:05 mark) "Charyou" transforms into a cut of atmospheric witchhouse. The sense of dread that Reigle loves to deliver lingers over the entire tune, never allowing you to get too comfortable. Fans of The xx, Atoms for Peace, Timber Timbre, and modern Radiohead, this is for you. - MPM

11) Applennium - "Island"
Applennium might be one of Buffalo’s most understated and underrated bands. If you think this is a point worth arguing, you should first listen to the dreamy groove of “Island.” Singer Stacey Stoll’s hushed delivery is flawless, reminiscent of Still Corners or even Karen O if she took a Xanax or something. On top of this, they’ve filled the background of “Island” with distant vocals that range from a haunting moan to a “tribal” howl. I can really appreciate when a band takes the time to fill out the background of a song. So, yes, this song isn’t quite a face-melting barnburner, but it is the perfect song to put on when you want to chill out and melt into your bed. - NAS




 Check out songs 10 - 1 here.
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Snowbeast Records Releases 1st Annual Halloween Compliation


The Halloween season will be in full bloom over the next few weeks, meaning the leaves will continue to change and countless of unfortunate purchases of candy corn will be made. In order to encourage your spooky spirit, Snowbeast Records, the local label started by Kyle Reigle of Cemeteries & Camp Counselors, released their 1st annual Halloween compilation, Rituals. Filled with and contributions from various electronic and dream pop artists, Rituals also contains a new track from Reigle's two projects. Both tracks are heavily influenced by horror films and the atmosphere of the coming holiday, which the musician appears to love with boyish glee. 

"Incantations," from Camp Counselors, sounds like a collaboration between Red House Painters and Dead Man's Bones, while the eerie, yet celestial Cemeteries track, "Sharpen Your Knives, Sharpen Your Teeth," could easily soundtrack a killer (get it?) 80's slasher flick. The entire compilation, which includes cuts from Psycho Twin, Field Mouse, and Tender Bats, whose "Seance" is the album's first single, can be downloaded here.






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buffaBLOG's Best of 2013 (so far): Part 2


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-

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Album of the Week: Camp Counselors - Huntress


Camp Counselors is the haunting side project of Cemeteries' Kyle Reigle. In fact, everything about this release, from the album art down to each and every synth patch can all be described as haunting. While Cemeteries has been a longtime favorite here at buffaBLOG, Reigle's new Camp Counselors album, Huntress, is a batch of songs that we have been eagerly awaiting to give some attention to.  

 Throughout the nine-song offering, Huntress ebbs and flows. There is a real sense of haze layered throughout these songs - Reigle uses an interesting mixture of vintage sounding instruments, soft percussive hits, and clean synth arpeggios to craft songs as Camp Counselors. Most of the vocals are unintelligible, but it all plays into their haunting atmosphere. All in all, it seems otherworldly, and that's truly the source of the enjoyment one should derive when they listen to Huntress.

 "Charyou" is a six minute onslaught of creepy synth backdrops and a sighing Reigle. As I stated before, most everything on Huntress is unintelligible, but again, that's really the appeal. There is some xx influence here, some Radiohead layered far beneath Camp Counselors' surface, and there is even an occasional tinge of industrial snuck into a track or two (for example, the fantastic "Vernal Limb").  "Vernal Limb" reminds me of a dark descent into an abandoned coal mine with The percussion sounding like some sort of mechanism, and the synths literally sounding like they are "hurt."  Reigle must be that lonely miner humming to himself in the catacombs.

 I'm not usually a fan of songs that run past the five minute mark - admittedly a weakness of mine. But I found the diversity in song length on Huntress to be quite interesting. In my opinion, half of Huntress' beauty is Reigle's ability to harness the power of - to put it simply, and yet somehow also very abstractly - the atmosphere.  Take for example "Stained Glass," a song that runs for 1:21, never really establishing a melody, but certainly establishes a mood. Reigle inserts a number of field recordings throughout the album, inevitably making all the more haunting. Despite sounding so otherworldly, Reigle successfully links Huntress back to the "real world," almost tangibly so.  You hear the sound of birds chirping, or even the shuffling of items in a room, and all of a sudden, Huntress could be a soundtrack to somebody's life, albeit, a suspenseful or horror-filled life.  

 But where Reigle succeeds in writing short bursts of atmospheric, mood-establishing genius, he also succeeds in the six-minute-plus chillwave anthems like "An Absence/Fawn" and "Attean."  There isn't much more to be said that I haven't already covered, but what we have here is a perfect example of the raw talent that Buffalo has to offer.  Don't be surprised when you see this in the top tiers of our best of lists later this year.



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Cemeteries Debuts Camp Counselors Side Project


Buffalo's goth popper Kyle J. Reigle, who records and performs under the name Cemeteries, recently debuted his Camp Counselors side project. In a possible a nod to Camp Crystal Lake's doomed staff, Camp Counselors continues Reigle's love for all things horror. The first single, "2/5/11," moves away from Cemeteries' dream pop sounds to more ambient soundscapes, while the B-side, the tense and uneasy "Oslo," is much more beat driven than anything heard on Cemeteries' full length The Wilderness. You can listen to the single below or download both the single and it's B-side at the project's bandcamp page. A full length Camp Counselors album will be released sometime this spring.




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