“I would like to think that the songs on this album are all pop songs at the core,” says Steve Hartlett, the band’s songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist. On first blush, Buds won’t shock longtime Ovlov fans, but on repeat listens, those fuzzy, crushing guitars start to feel less like the central focus and more of a delivery system for Hartlett’s grander ambitions. “For the past few years, the number of rock bands I’ve been listening to has grown smaller and smaller,” says Hartlett. “Unfortunately, it’s the only genre and style I’ve ever really felt comfortable writing. That’s probably mostly because I write everything on a guitar. Don’t get me wrong, I love rock music—there’s nothing more satisfying than playing an E chord through a Big muff as loud as the amp will go—I just want to slowly progress into writing the most perfectly poppy of pop songs.” Buds is dense and dark, but Hartlett’s assertion is dead-on: these are just big, bold pop songs. It’s still Ovlov, but a more assured version, one that isn’t so shy about putting their ambitions on full display.
Release date:
January 5, 2024
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
HumminGuru: Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner
Advanced ultrasonic technology with customizable cleaning cycles and a large tank capacity to thoroughly remove dust, dirt, and contaminants
-
Vevor Ultrasonic Cleaner
Thoroughly clean and restore your vinyl records, removing dust, dirt, and grime from every groove without damaging the surface
-
Audioengine A2 Plus
Precision-engineered 2.75-inch woofers and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, featuring built-in DAC and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless integration.
-
Nobsound Little Bear T7 Tube Preamp
Delivers rich, warm audio through its high-quality vacuum tubes, featuring multiple inputs and adjustable gain
-
Cartridges - Top Picks
A selection of turnatble cartridges that provide great performance and sound quality
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Cave In Creative Eclipses
Relapse
August 15, 2025 -
Idina Menzel Original Broadway Cast of Redwood Redwood Original Broadway Cast Recording [2xLP]
Masterworks Broadway
July 25, 2025 -
Prince Royce Eterno
Sony U.s. Latin
September 5, 2025 -
OASIS COMPLETE STUDIO ALBUM COLLECTION [8xLP]
Big Brother Recordings Limited
August 22, 2025 -
Helloween Giants & Monsters [2xLP]
Reigning Phoenix Music America, LLC
August 29, 2025 -
Van Halen Balance (Expanded Edition) [2xLP]
Rhino/Warner Records
August 15, 2025 -
Eli Young Band Strange Hours
UnLevel Records
August 1, 2025 -
Natalie Bergman My Home Is Not In This World
Third Man Records
July 18, 2025 -
Bloc Party Silent Alarm (Box Set)
Pias America
September 26, 2025 -
Bleary Eyed Easy
Born Losers Records
July 25, 2025 -
Arcadea Arcadea
Relapse
August 22, 2025 -
Grinderman Grinderman 2 Eco
Bmg
July 18, 2025 -
CODY JINKS IN MY BLOOD [2xLP]
Late August Records, LLC
July 25, 2025 -
KAROL G Tropicoqueta (Tropical Blue) [2xLP]
Bichota Records/Interscope
September 26, 2025