Avi Buffalo, At Best Cuckold (September 9, Sub Pop, avibuffalomusic.com) When Avi Buffalo emerged with its self-titled debut record in 2010, a lot of the buzz surrounded the band’s then-19-year-old songwriter Avi Zahner-Isenberg and the youthful sexual frustration he put into jaunty tunes like “Summer Cum” and “Five Little Sluts.” On this sophomore release, that frustration has morphed into a more refined and mature look at failing in love. Jagged guitar lines and squealing pop hooks are traded here for low, rumbling melancholy. The new tone fits the band surprisingly well, showing growth rather than stagnancy. The arrangements are more lush and refined, as on the serene lead single “So What” with its layers of clean guitars and a slow-moving bass line. The band tones it down even more on “Overwhelmed With Pride,” a subtle arrangement of acoustic guitars and horns with a stirring chorus whereon Zahner-Isenberg sings “And I’m relatively inconspicuously overwhelmed with pride.” Still, there are remnants of the absurdity and wit we heard on the debut. On “Memories of You,” Zahner-Isenberg ecstatically proclaims, “Bitch, I’m on fire/You got magnum desire/I’m a cheeseball on fire ’til the morning dew.” Growing up sometimes means putting childish things to rest, but At Best Cuckold offers listeners an alternative: Instead of changing one’s self entirely, we can change how we approach struggles, love, and loneliness. At 23, Zahner-Isenberg seems to get that more than some twice his age. (Mon., Sept. 8, Neumos) DUSTY HENRY

Deep

Sea Diver, Always Waiting EP (out now, self-released, thedeepseadiver.com) It’s baffling how much ground is covered here in just four songs. Maybe it’s because each beautifully arranged ambient-pop track confidently takes its time to develop, revealing surprising and gratifying turns along the way. Maybe it’s because frontwoman Jessica Dobson’s voice draws you in, soaring with confessional lyrics and melodies that offer a comforting intimacy. Maybe it’s the tasteful guitar shredding that plays with intricate, electronic percussion and synthesized blasts, laying a sparse yet powerful atmosphere of sonic textures. What is known is that in under 20 minutes, all these thoughtful qualities coalesce into a compelling collection. The instrumentation mirrors Dobson’s engaging songwriting, and the lyrics serve as a deeply emotional outlet. With passages like “I’m not afraid of natural disasters/Or any other thing for that matter/I’m in love with every emotion/What keeps my heart from exploding?”, Always Waiting invites you into a well of reflection. (Fri., Sept. 5–Sat., Sept. 6, 
Fremont Abbey) STIRLING MYLES