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Coming from Oxford, Mississippi, Young Buffalo are about to make their mark on music with this fine debut album, House.  A five-piece, Young Buffalo are like a fresh breeze on a warm afternoon – their guitar and keyboard-based pop sound immediately trigger a familiar feeling – the first thought that springs to mind is The dB’s, circa Stands For Decibels and you cannot get any better than that.  Melodies, great and plentiful harmonies all combined with a crisp production by Dave Schiffman (who worked with Weezer) – right off the mark, I dig it.

“Man In Your Dreams” is a stellar opener and a hell of an introduction; full of richness – upbeat, vocal gymnastics galore and instantly hummable; “Guilt” is tight – restrained on the verses and explosive on the choruses; chiming guitars and 100 m.p.h.; “Cliff Diver” is a little slower but no less sculpted and shaped with a wonderfully circular keyboard orbiting around the chiming guitar.  “Sykia” leaps out at you with a white tornado drum opening and arpeggio guitars reminiscent of early R.E.M. (or “Black & White” from The dB’s); “Summertime Blondes” is a 4/4 stomper and “Beat Back” is a keyboard-based track with harmonies and a steady groove, which is a wholly satisfying way to close this 11-track collection.

It’s obvious to me that this young band (who have been together since their teens) are developing at a rapid pace; like few bands I’ve had the pleasure to hear, if they were to stop now, they would have made an instant classic.  So let this pre-review serve as notice:  Young Buffalo are a must and their House is in order.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

House will be released on March 3rd, 2015

http://www.youngbuffaloband.com/

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About the Author

Rob Ross

Rob Ross has been, for good, bad or indifferent, involved in the music industry for over 30 years - first as guitarist/singer/songwriter with The Punch Line, then as freelance journalist, producer and manager to working for independent and major record labels. He resides in Staten Island, New York with his wife and cats; he works out a lot, reads voraciously, loves Big Star and his orange Gretsch. Doesn't that make him neat?

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