Avi Buffalo - Avi Buffalo (2010)

Hailing from Long Beach, California, Avi Buffalo have a sound that hints at a childhood spent listening to Built To Spill, Nels Cline-era Wilco, and Neil Young. Of course, I have no idea what Avi Buffalo's main man, Avi Zahner-Isenberg, listened to growing up and am merely projecting the sounds bouncing around my head onto these altogether fresh new musical works (everyone likes a reference point).
The songs on this album were written across a three year period, beginning when Avi was only sixteen years-old and still in high school. To recollect the horrible school-boy-full-of-angst poetry I was spewing into my journal when I was sixteen is beyond cringe-inducing at the best of times; but when I listen to what someone like Avi is able to put to paper (and then to wax with beautiful music to accompany it), I want to go back in time and destroy all of sixteen year-old me's writing tools.
The music on Avi Buffalo's self-titled debut is upbeat and poppy, with some rather excellent guitar-work woven through many of the tunes (particularly the excellent Remember Last Time). The tunes are both rootsy and whimsical, with Avi's sweet falsetto croon creating an otherwordly feel. This is music to get lost in.

Listen To Avi Buffalo: Remember Last Time (from the self-titled album, Avi Buffalo)

Avi Buffalo - Remember Last Time by subpop