Buffalo Tom - All albums from 1988 - 2011

What are they?

Eight albums from Boston based band Buffalo Tom. Not Boston, Lincolnshire. Boston, Massachusetts.

Why should you listen?

Put it this way: if you listen to one Buffalo Tom album and like it, you’ll like them all. In a similar vein to REM, every album is virtually the same with a smattering of cracking songs throughout.

What’s it like?

Quite pleasant guitar based stuff. Sometimes distorted. Sometimes a bit more jingly jangly acoustic based. The songs can be split into two groups. The ‘Bill Janovitz on vocals’ songs and the ‘Chris Colbourn on vocals’ songs. I can put the difference into two easy equations: Bill Janovitz = Bob Mould, Chris Colbourn = Grant Hart. Hüsker Dü fans know exactly what I mean.

What are the best tracks?

Right, here we go. We’ll have the best song from every album starting with the most recent.

Skins (2011)

‘Arise, Watch’ - Quite a gentle one, but it’s got a gorgeous start. The demo version of it is pretty good too. 

  

Three Easy Pieces (2007)

‘You’ll Never Catch Him’ - Another gentle number. Beautiful song.

Smitten (1998)

‘Scottish Windows’ - Doesn’t sound like the sort of thing I’d like from the first part, but it’s got a great chorus. Smitten  also contains the best Chris Colbourn song, ‘Rachael’.

Sleepy Eyed (1995)

‘Summer’ - Another great anthemic chorus in this one too. When are we going to get to a rockier number?

Big Red Letter Day (1993)

‘Tree House’ - Not exactly rocky but definitely picking up the pace.

 Let Me Come Over (1992)

‘Taillights Fade’ - Back to a slower pace with yet another quality chorus.

Birdbrain (1990)

‘Guy Who Is Me’ - Proper rock. Quality. Distorted and shouty.

Buffalo Tom (1988)

‘Sunflower Suit’ - Right back to where it all started. The first song I ever heard by Buffalo Tom. Instantly liked it and I still love it now. Possibly their best song. Easily their best album too.

Who does it sound like?

Rival schools, The Twilight Singers, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart.

evlkeith