One Track Mind

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It must be nice to be eighteen years old and have your band signed to one of the world’s most enduring and influential indie rock labels. That’s what recently happened to Avigdor Zahner-Isenberg (aka Avi Buffalo) and his three bandmates when they were picked up by Sub Pop Records without so much as an EP to their name. The Long Beach, California quartet will be releasing their debut 7″ record on December 8th, with a full-length to follow next spring. Since their signing, the band has kept busy playing around their home state as well as at some festivals including Monolith and FYF Fest.

“What’s It In For?,” the a-side to their upcoming premiere, showcases the special talent that the folks at Sub Pop recognized in this young band. Buffalo’s tinny, earnest vocals could have earned him a spot as a vocalist on the score for Where the Wild Things Are, while the bright, jangly guitars and the spectral background harmonies recall contemporaries such as The Shins and Grizzly Bear. Especially for a debut recording, the song is nicely structured with layer upon layer of melody–The Beach Boys via Beach House. There is a splash of Band of Horses in there, too, most notably in the five minute song’s expanded format and sharp guitar notes. Most importantly, Avi Buffalo goes beyond forming a mere pastiche of their influences toward crystallizing a sound of their own; the inspirations may be obvious, but the music is a sui generis vamp.