Heartbreaking Bravery

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July 13, 2019

Penelope Isles – Leipzig (Music Video)

Penelope Isles craft something uniquely charming on “Leipzig”, a track that carries influences like Deerhoof proudly on its sleeve while providing the band a distinct claim on their own territory. Warped slacker pop that crackles with warmth, fuzz, and syrupy synth tones, the track’s been afforded a magical clip, awash and faded in soft saturation. Subsisting of nothing more than footage of the band making their way through the song in the woods, cut through with a few shots of individual members miming along to the track in city streets, “Leipzig” comes off as immediately affable and endlessly welcoming. It’s a strong showing from a band that’s more than prepared to win over a small army of hearts as they take flight.

Watch “Leipzig” below and pre-order Until The Tide Creeps In from Bella Union here.

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July 13, 2019

Fog Lake – oh my god (Stream)

There’s pain, understanding, warmth, and empathy couched in all of Fog Lake‘s material, which continues to act like a well-loved worn blanket on a cold night, no matter the length. “oh my god”, the ambient pop project’s latest, is also its most brief, clocking in at a scant 67 seconds. Every one of them counts, suffused with tender meaning and a knowing intention. It’s half-haunting, half-peaceful piano plinking and clean reverb’ed out guitars lift up Aaron Powell’s voice and let it soar into the ether. “oh my god” also has the distinction of kicking off a tremendous, important charity compilation, Running from the Dark, that was released for mental health awareness month, with all proceeds going to National Alliance on Mental Illness. Donate whenever possible.

Listen to “oh my god” below and download a copy of Running from the Dark here.

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July 13, 2019

Tony Molina – Not The Way To Be + Can’t Find My Way (Stream)

Over the years, both as a solo artist and in Ovens, Tony Molina has mastered the art of the micro song. From incendiary punk bursts to plaintive folk hymnals, Molina’s covered a surprising amount of ground with an exceeding amount of poise, and with curiously short run times. “Not The Way To Be” and “Can’t Find My Way”, two of the songwriter’s latest, find Molina occupying familiar territory: ’70s  jangle and ’80s distortion collide with a breezy effortlessness on the former while the latter leans hard into Molina’s punk roots while also showcasing the songwriter’s pop and classical sensibilities. Packaged together, the songs barely eclipse two minutes but, as ever, feel exhaustively complete. Where others may only find an appetizer, Molina continues making meals. Leave these on repeat.

Listen to “Not The Way To Be” and “Can’t Find My Way” below and pre-order a copy of Songs From San Mateo County here.

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July 13, 2019

Palehound – Black Friday (Stream)

A name that’s no stranger to this site, Palehound has been a fixture of Heartbreaking Bravery’s coverage since around the time of its existence. Over that stretch, the band’s profile has only grown and the opportunities they’ve been afforded on that path have continue to expand along with their audience. Each of the records Palehound’s released have been exceptional and the same can be said of their latest, which is the most restrained work of their career by some distance.

One of the highlights of the record is its quiet — and quietly devastating — title track, which finds the band occupying territory not too dissimilar from Phoebe Bridgers‘ solo output (the melody of “Black Friday” and Bridgers’ “Scott Street” seem neatly intertwined). It’s a lovely song that simmers and finds bandleader Ellen Kempner exploring greater vulnerability. As transfixing as it is lovely, “Black Friday” is sure to be a sought-after staple of Palehound’s incredible live show for years to come.

Listen to “Black Friday” below and order a copy of the record from Polyvinyl here.

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July 13, 2019

Faux Ferocious – Drop Kick Heartache (Stream)

Every so often a song just kind of falls through the cracks when it comes to timing and coverage. With hundreds of songs being assessed every week, it’s not surprising when it happens. It’s only slightly more surprising when it’s a song that exists squarely in the crosshairs of this site’s typical coverage field. It’s exceedingly rare for that song to get a feature dedicated post after its original release window’s closed but Faux Ferocious‘ “Drop Kick Heartache”, released back in February, is an incredible explosion of insistent post-punk. There’s an irrepressible energy at play in the song’s simplicity and when the whole thing collapses into squalls of noise damage and sheer aggression, the effect is strangely liberating. All put into one compact package, it’s a song that demands exposure and shouldn’t be missed on any front.

Listen to “Drop Kick Heartache” below and pick up a copy of Pretty Groovy from Burger here.

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July 13, 2019

Evening Standards – World’s End (Album Review, Stream)

Last year, Evening Standards released their debut record, which was one of 2018’s best. The trio wasted no time in issuing a follow-up, releasing World’s End a little over a year after its predecessor. World’s End recaptures the spirit of their debut and finds the band knocking out another record of highly addictive mid-tempo basement pop. Coated in grit and laced with hooks, World’s End is a record that works as well for the party as it does the day after, providing just enough punch to cut through a wide array of moments.

There’s not a bad song to be found in the record, which again finds Chris Mott and Daun Fields harmonizing throughout close to the record’s entirety, creating an oddly spellbinding effect. Mott’s time in PURPLE 7 also clearly influences a lot of the material, with Evening Standards feeling like a galvanized next step rather than a tired rehashing. Everything that worked so well on their debut’s been ever so slightly tightened and continues to work to enjoyable effect on World’s End, which is well worth the listen.

Listen to World’s End below and pick up a copy here.

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July 13, 2019

B Boys – I Want (Music Video)

Jarod Taber crafts a wry clip for B Boys‘ “I Want” that’s impulsively watchable. Once the video starts, it’s nearly impossible to look away, with Taber sending vignettes crashing into each other with an exacting precision that forces the viewer to recognize the humanity of each mundane moment. All the while, “I Want” surges below the surface, proving a kinetic energy that brings each slice-of-life aspect into an even clearer focus, with the narrative musing on a simple, near-universal desire of hoping there’s more than just repeating the motions. It’s sharply observed black comedy that’s delivered with admirable force, enhancing the clip’s cumulative effect. An impressive work from all sides.

Watch “I Want” below and pre-order Dudu from Captured Tracks here.

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July 13, 2019

Girl Friday – Decoration/Currency (Stream)

Hearing a great new song from a new band continues to be a moment of quiet transcendence and slight transformation. Girl Friday’s “Decoration/Currency” is the latest to achieve this effect, combining elements of noisy post-punk and dreamy indie pop to a gnarled, heavenly perfection. “Decoration/Currency” is one of those tracks that can’t decide if it wants to soothe or batter so it finds a way to go about doing both with no reservations. That Girl Friday manages that unlikely marriage without difficulty it becomes increasingly clear that there’s is a name to remember.

Listen to “Decoration/Currency” below and pick up Fashion Conman here.

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July 13, 2019

The Glow – Am I (Album Review, Stream)

LVL UP was a band that meant an extraordinary amount to a handful of people and publications, this one included. Losing them last year was a hard pill to swallow but the band’s dissolution allowed its members to pursue freshly formed or revived projects that were of a more directly personal nature. One of those projects was multi-instrumentalist Mike Caridi’s The Glow, which had existed in various forms throughout the years but never released a proper album.

Am I corrects that fact with a kaleidoscopic grace. Caridi’s warped pop-leaning sensibilities shine though this material, even as it gets coated in fuzz and distortion. Am I effortlessly builds a surrealist world both around and inside of its songs, conjuring up images of schools, rivers, lost youth, and open skies. There’s a smoky nostalgia that lingers in the corners, as Caridi soothes, broods, reflects, and embraces various aspects of the songwriter’s personality.

Breezy and endlessly enjoyable, Am I is best enjoyed with a good pair of headphones — the production work throughout is remarkable — and without distraction. There are endless layers to be uncovered in the habitats that Am I creates and revisits, each teeming with fresh life. A quintessential spring record, Am I also doubles as a necessary reminder that when good things have to end, there are other memories to be formed and paths to be forged once the dust has settled. In all, Am I is a fresh start and a poignant reminder of Caridi’s outsize songwriting talent. One of the year’s most enjoyable basement pop listens.

Listen to Am I below and pick it up from Double Double Whammy here.

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July 13, 2019

Grim Streaker – No Vision (Album Review, Stream)

Following an EP and an incredible standalone single, Grim Streaker are proving they have so much more to add to their story. The quintet’s adrenaline-inducing debut full-length, No Vision, is a sharp, jagged burst of cutting basement punk. Frantic and energized, the band holds nothing back, opening with the sharp 1-2 burst of “A.D.D.” and “Today New York” that sends an immediate signal to listeners to buckle up because No Vision is the kind of ride that’s never going to slow down and only going to get wilder.

Only two tracks on No Vision exceed the 2:40 mark, and a small handful never make it past the two minute mark. Grim Streaker don’t typically traffic in anything other than breakneck pace, even when it comes to the macro, which is what makes the record’s centerpiece so surprising. “Cat Call” is a sprawling, vicious 5+ minute run through nearly every facet of the band outside of their affinity for tempos that set out at a sprint. It’s noisy, it’s damaged, it’s message is concise, and by the end, it goes fucking hard.

Similarly, album closer “Heaven” (the only other track on the record that exceeds three minutes), finds the band embracing restraint at its outset and settling into a mid-tempo groove before working themselves into a frenzied chaos. The urge to go for the jugular seems to be irresistible to Grim Streaker but it also suits them and their material to a tidy perfection. They’re finding ways to mine beauty from the wreckage and holding up those marred pieces as something to be cherished. In the process, they’ve made one hell of a record. Buy it whenever possible.
Listen to No Vision below and pick it up here.

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