The band's previous album, Happy Ending, had been well received in New Zealand and had stirred some interest overseas. Just before Christmas 2009, the band self-released the Merry Kriskmass EP through Bandcamp, saying "this fun, slightly odd 6-track EP entered our lives during the time we were supposed to be recording our new album".
Recording
Recording of the album began at The Car Club, and was eventually completed with producer Lee Prebble at The Surgery in Wellington. Bass player Warner Emery left the band during the recording of Buffalo on amicable terms. He was replaced by Tom Callwood, who had previously provided double bass on the Merry Kriskmass track 'Forget It', and cello on Happy Ending.
Release
The first single from Buffalo was the title track, which was released in March 2010, six weeks before the album. The band offered it as a free digital download for a week upon release. The music video was directed by Nathan Hickey, and the B-side was the non-album track, "Dickheads Abound". Buffalo was released on 26 April 2010, on CD, vinyl and as a digital download.
International release
At the end of September 2010, the Phoenix Foundation announced a new record deal with UKrecord labelMemphis Industries, who released the first European single "Pot" in November 2010, and the album worldwide on 24 January 2011. In an interview with The Guardian, Samuel Flynn Scott said, "I honestly feel like Buffalo is the best album for us to be introducing ourselves to the rest of the world, because I feel like it's the album that sounds the most like us."
Touring
The Phoenix Foundation undertook an eight show album release tour in New Zealand in May 2010. To coincide with the international release, the band toured the UK and Europe in January and February, and returned for a longer tour from May to July 2011.
Critical reception
New Zealand critics mostly praised Buffalo. Prominent music writer Nick Bollinger said in the New Zealand Listener that the Phoenix Foundation "play like the best kind of band, all their skills put to the service of the songs", while Stuff.co.nz gave the album 4.5 stars, saying the band were "as good as ever". However some critics felt that the album was not as strong as their previous work, with Russell Baillie of The New Zealand Herald saying "much of the second half seems to go past in a pleasant mid-tempo haze". The album was generally well received internationally, particularly in the United Kingdom. Guardian reviewer, Dave Simpson, said it seemed "destined to be among the best of 2011", and the BBC's Andrzej Lukowski felt that "every second of Buffalo is wrought and layered with artisan care". As a result of the album's success, the band performed live on the BBC's ‘'Later... with Jools Holland'‘ on 25 October 2011. It was their UK TV debut. The band played two songs from the album, "Buffalo" and "Flock of Hearts".
