Uncategorized | Heartbreaking Bravery

May 12, 2017

Ratboys – Elvis in the Freezer (Music Video)

In the past four days, a small handful of exceptional records have been released by artists like Tica Douglas, Jodi, Christopher Gold & the New Old Things, Taiwan Housing Project, Great Deceivers, Street Eaters, Show of Bedlam, Nick Pope, and Old Maybe. While all of those are worthy of celebration, this post’s feature fell to a different format: the music video. Ratboys‘ “Elvis in the Freezer” proved far too exceptional to let pass without a closer look.

Director Kenna Hynes was at the helm for the “Elvis in the Freezer” clip and Hynes’ deft touch ensures that the clip’s not only wildly engaging but both heartrending to the point of being emotionally shattering and just heartwarming enough to keep it vibrant. The crux of the story presented in the clip for “Elvis in the Freezer” is simple: a cat dies and a good friend comes to console its owner. What’s impressive is the way Hynes frames this story, utilizing a variety of effects to heighten each emotional beat. From the slo-mo reversals of the opening sequence all the way through the clever Julia Steiner (Ratboys’ guitarist/vocalist and principal songwriter) reveal.

As the clip works its way through each new movement, the song lends the sequences some additional dramatic heft. “Elvis in the Freezer” is the type of track that lets anyone paying attention to Ratboys know that the band’s evolving in increasingly successful ways, sharpening their strengths and injecting a greater sense of ambition into their work. Here, the song works wonders as the soundtrack to a familiar, everyday story that’s undoubtedly struck a major cord with an array of viewers. Both the song and the clip are heartfelt, bittersweet, and memorable pieces of work that deserve to be remembered. Thankfully, “Elvis in the Freezer” is very hard to shake.

Watch “Elvis in the Frezzer” below and pre-order GN from Topshelf here.

Leave a comment

May 12, 2017

Real Life Buildings – No News (Music Video)

Every week this year’s been a kind one to music videos and even though it’s not over yet, this week’s proved no exception. Dama Scout, Girlpool, Willie J Healey, Baby, Thurston Moore, Blessed, Blaire Alise & The Bombshells, Kevin Devine, Tobin Sprout, Saint Motel, Banditos, Diagrams, Round Eye, The New ResistANTS, Wall of Ears, and tricot all emerged with strong new clips. Real Life Buildings joined their ranks with their fairly modest and exceptionally clever video for “No News”.

A highlight from Significant Weather — a record full of highlights — Real Life Buildings enlisted the directorial talents of Jon Appel and Matthew Van Asselt for “No News” and were repaid in full. As the clip plays to the narrative’s focus on the mundane, it also makes room for the music the band uses to combat that monotony. Making time for each member, the clip cycles in and out of performance footage, travel footage, and footage of the band practicing and preparing.

It’s a humble presentation of what’s become one of music’s most unlikely supergroups (Vagabon‘s Laetitita Tamko and Crying‘s Elaiza Santos are among the quintets members). All in all, “No News” is a potent reminder of the band’s enormous strength and a beautiful document of the daily routines and quiet moments in the life of a musician. The song powers the clip and the clip remains true to the song, creating something that stands out on its own. It’s another in a long string of triumphs for one of today’s most consistent — and consistently overlooked — bands.

Watch “No News” below and order Significant Weather from Lauren here.

Leave a comment

May 12, 2017

Cende – Don’t Want To (Stream, Live Video)

The past four days have brought in a wave of excellent tracks from a variety of artists, Jet Trash, Michael Nau, Bjørn Torske & Prins Thomas, Single Mothers, Standard Legal, Yazz Ahmed, Hundredth, Pat Keen, Passion Pusher, Pet Cemetery, Gallery 47, Lando Chill, and Lød all among that extensive list. Cende also made another appearance with a third glimpse at the band’s forthcoming debut full-length, #1 Hit Song, and secured yet another feature on this site with the explosive basement pop of “Don’t Want To.”

In under 100 seconds, Cende manages to make yet another strong impression, this time emphasizing their more punk influences rather than scaling them back. It’s an effect that goes a long way in creating both energy and momentum, leaving “Don’t Want To” feeling surprisingly vital and a little volatile in the process. Guitarist/vocalist Cameron Wisch once again centers the narrative on self-doubt, self-deprecation, and self-awareness, which remains an intensely relatable combination. As sharp as both “Bed” and “What I Want“, “Don’t Want To” all but cements the lingering feeling that #1 Hit Song will wind up among the year’s best records.

Listen to “Don’t Want To” below (and watch the band rip through the song and an as-of-yet unreleased song beneath the initial embed) and pre-order #1 Hit Song from Double Double Whammy here.

Leave a comment

May 12, 2017

Surfer Rosie – Worms (Stream)

A little over half of this week has passed and it’s seen great new songs surface from the likes of Grey Gersten, Slowdive, Jesse, The Sea Life, VAJJ, Doghouse Charlie, Swimming Tapes, TOPS, Now, Now, Sheer Mag, Swiftumz, Kazyak, and Cutty Flam. That same stretch also produced Surfer Rosie’s outstanding “Worms”, a fine introductory track to an incredibly promising new project.

Last year this site was fortunate enough to host the premiere of Sun’s Out Bummed Out’s “Cut All My Hair“, a song that’s refused to relinquish its vice-like grip on my brain ever since. Laura Daegling, the songwriter responsible for that project, is back at it again with another new outfit: Surfer Rosie. Formed as a Pixies cover band, the quartet eventually morphed into something else entirely and they’re offering a glimpse at what’s to come with “Worms”.

Spiky, atmospheric, and a little bit vicious, “Worms” is a contained burst of oft-kilter pop, dressed up in a decidedly punk aesthetic. It’s a simple, effective, and even gripping work, making the absolute most of two minutes and injecting that time with a distinct personality. Invigorating and galvanizing in equal measure, its easy to see why Good Cheer Records — a label that continues to make all the right choices — has tapped the band for their debut release. While further details have been kept quiet, “Worms” will go a long way in filling that silence. Give into its minimalism for a maximal effect.

Listen to “Worms” below and keep an eye on this site for more updates on Surfer Rosie.

1 Comment

May 12, 2017

Lost Balloons – Numb (Stream)

Over the first four days of this week Grim Streaker, american poetry club, Hazel English, Ben Kastner, Wyatt Blair, Chastity Belt, See Through Dresses, Leather Girls, Big Thief, Clairo, The Baby Shakes, Terror Watts, and unhappybirthday have all unleashed outstanding songs. They weren’t the only ones, either. Lost Balloons joined in on the fun with the typically excellent “Numb”.

A project comprised of The Marked Men/Radioactivity‘s Jeff Burke and Blotto/Suspicious Beasts‘ Yusuke Okada, Lost Balloons excels in acoustic-driven basement pop, retaining all of the urgency, bite, and melodic sensibilities of the duo’s earlier projects and shaping into something less overtly aggressive. “Numb” is a perfect example of this formula, its energy seeping through the softer trappings and proving to be as infectious as anything in either songwriter’s discography. Hook after hook proves to be sharp and as soon as its over, there’s already an immediate instinct to go back to the beginning. Trust that instinct, hit repeat, and let the cycle wear itself out years down the line.

Listen to “Numb” below and pre-order Hey Summer here.

Leave a comment

May 11, 2017

Bent Denim – Diamond Jubilee (EP Premiere)

Very few music videos that have appeared as features on this site have resonated like Bent Denim’s “Good Night’s Sleep“, which remains a deeply affecting viewing experience. That song was a very strong highlight of Romances You, a record great enough to leave those of us that heard it eagerly awaiting a follow-up. Today, the band delivers on the promise of that record in kind by way of their new EP, Diamond Jubilee.

A name taken from a roadside casino the band spotted during a detour they took while traveling to attempt to sneak into Fort Maccomb (best known for its appearance at the end of True Detective’s first season), Diamond Jubilee ignores easy flash in favor of something far more substantial. As early premieres from Stereogum and GoldFlakePaint seemed to indicate, Diamond Jubilee continues the band’s penchant for rich narratives and melancholic atmospherics.

Both “All My Friends Are Dead” and “Miss You, Kid” were both fairly well-covered at the time of their release and it’s easy to see why. Each of the EP’s opening two tracks conjures up something warm and familiar, carrying a tinge of wistful nostalgia while both emphasizing and accentuating a much deeper emotional pull. Lo-fi elements converge with much bigger ideas and coast along a middle ground that brings out the best of each side. Tender melodies wash over the listener and then disappear into the sand, leaving a faint imprint that carries the promise of a welcome return.

As strong as both “All My Friends Are Dead” and “Miss You, Kid” are, the back stretch of Diamond Jubilee is what transforms the EP into one of the year’s best. From the opening piano figure of “False Leads to Dead Ends” to the gentle cadence of “Daisy” to the title track’s hazy epilogue, Bent Denim continues the most sublime stretch of their catalog to date. Those final three songs lead into each other seamlessly, strengthening the transcendental effect Bent Denim’s capable of producing when they’re at their best and, make no mistake, Diamond Jubilee is the most remarkable work of their career.

Heartrending and heartbreaking in equal measure, Diamond Jubilee finds Bent Denim hitting their stride. In collaborating with Young & Sick‘s Nick van Hofwegen, who contributes backing vocals across the record, the band also opens up their sound ever so slightly, taking it to breathtaking heights. Largely a sobering meditation on everything from conflicting ideologies to facing down mortality, Diamond Jubilee winds up being inexplicably moving. Unassuming and unforgettable, Diamond Jubilee is an EP worth holding onto long after its final notes ring out.

Listen to Diamond Jubilee below and keep an eye out for its official release tomorrow.

2 Comments

May 11, 2017

Sat. Nite Duets – Deep Peace (Music Video Premiere)

A lot of outstanding records were released last year and a handful of them wound up getting pushed to the wayside in favor of titles by more recognizable names. Among the best of those critically acclaimed outcasts was Sat. Nite Duets‘ Air Guitar, an innovative and explosive genre-demolishing blast that proved guitars could still be vital. Air Guitar was full of highlights, from the surging, giddy “Attached to the Lamp” to the acoustic-driven, nostalgic-leaning pop of “Sober July”.

One of Air Guitar‘s most unassuming moments came in the form of “Deep Peace”, the record’s melancholic penultimate track. While “Deep Peace” never seemed to be a song that was crying out for the music video treatment, Sat. Nite Duets have made a career out of eschewing the obvious decisions in favor of something more exploratory. Wrangling the talents of a trio of directors using the names Pizza Rat, Lord Stephen, and L.H. Burmesch, Sat. Nite Duets are given an appropriately minimalist turn for the visual treatment provided to “Deep Peace”, which is premiering below.

Recorded in Sat. Nite Duets member Ben Gucciardi’s Oconomowoc cabin last winter, “Deep Peace” is a decidedly low-key affair. Allowing the time stamp on some grainy home video footage to humorously jump backwards and forwards in time, the subjects of the film never really change, either slyly hinting at immortality — something that could be supported by the frequent cuts to the band surrounding a birthday cake adorned with an intense amount of candles — or just reveling in the simplistic absurdity of the anachronism. It’s a warm, tongue-in-cheek aspect of a similarly warm video.

More than anything, “Deep Peace” serves as a welcome reminder that sometimes the best thing about making music is simply getting to spend time with your friends. It’s immediately clear that the band enjoyed putting this together and there’s not even a trace of conflict to be found in “Deep Peace”, which turns out to be an incredibly apt title. “Deep Peace” is a familial affair that offers up an abundance of small riches, all anyone has to do is take the time to look.

Watch “Deep Peace” below and pick up Air Guitar from Father/Daughter here.

Leave a comment

May 11, 2017

Crushing – Crushing (EP Review)

During the back half of last week, a small collection of great full streams surfaced from artists like Wooden Wand, Max Gowan, Us Weekly, Piss Test, Gnarwhal, Hour of the Time Majesty Twelve, and HOTKID. While all of those were compelling listens that deserve no shortage of time or attention, it was Crushing‘s self-titled EP that made an impression deep enough to secure this post’s featured slot.

The songs that teased Crushing may have piqued some interest but now that the EP’s finally arrived in full, it’s fair to say that it wildly exceeded expectations. From the onset of EP opener “Oi Jealousy”, the band delivers with a combined level of confidence, conviction, and articulation that’s hard for most seasoned bands to possess. Each one of these basement pop tracks is razor-sharp, utilizing the genre’s history to its advantage. Whether it’s the incorporation of both dream-pop and powerpop aesthetics on “Sleeping Bag” to the bedroom pop trappings on “Telling Lies” to the more straightforward punk styling of “Oi Jealousy” and “Emery Board”, the band runs the gamut of what’s come to shape basement pop.

Everything works, no matter how many angles the band pulls from or at, managing to congeal those influences into a coherent whole that’s significantly more powerful than its individual parts. By the time it’s all over and the smoke’s cleared, it’s hard not to want to go straight back to the beginning and put a match up to the powder keg for one more explosion. One of 2017’s most unexpected surprises, Crushing is an incredible work from a band that’s carved out a strong identity. Both the band and their self-titled effort should stand as examples of 2017’s finest.

Listen to Crushing below and pick it up here.

Leave a comment

May 11, 2017

Lydia Loveless – Desire (Stream)

Before last week drew to a close, its final days offered up a large handful of excellent tracks from the likes of Oxbow, Superorganism, Girl Ray, Catch Prichard, Elder, Thunder Dreamer, Knox Fortune, The New Rebecca, Sleep Party People, Joey Agresta, Husky, OHME, Ultraviolence, and Kelly McFarling. Thankfully, that run of days also had something else up its sleeve: Lydia Loveless‘ “Desire”, a powerful entry into the acclaimed songwriter’s discography that was paired with a surprisingly gripping take on Justin Bieber’s “Sorry”.

Several years have passed since Lydia Loveless’ emergence and, time and time again, the songwriter’s proven to be one of today’s most formidable talents. Each of Loveless’ past handful of releases have been met with a heavy amount of anticipation and the songwriter’s still finding ways to surprise. Case in point: Desire b/w Sorry. While the gripping Justin Bieber cover constituting the B-side has been rightfully receiving a lot of press, “Desire” has been — somewhat unfairly — overshadowed, which is a shame because it ranks as one of the finest entries into Loveless’ increasingly impressive discography.

“Desire” is a swirling mix of aggression, melancholy, Southern rock, Americana, country, and punk-tinged rock n’ roll. In short, it’s one of Loveless’ most definitive songs. Shot through with the songwriter’s unmistakable voice, world-weary wit, and fierce power, it’s a five and a half minute reminder of Loveless’ seemingly innumerable strengths. Each decision, from ornate guitar figures to vocal sustain to the characteristically gritty instrumental tones, all serve a higher purpose rendering “Desire” an exhaustively complete work. “Sorry” may be the icing on the cake but “Desire” more than earns its place as the main attraction.

Listen to “Desire” below and download Desire b/w Sorry here.

Leave a comment

May 11, 2017

The Last Dinosaur – Atoms (Music Video)

Last week’s front-half came loaded with solid material and the back stretch proved to be just as strong, if not stronger. Outstanding songs from High Sunn, Jason Loewentstein, Milk, Sharkmuffin, Romantic States, Midday Swim, Walrus, Chris Bathgate, Abram Shook, Sebastian Blanck, Hikes, Daudi Matsiko, Wavves, Tim Woulfe, and Mount Song all made their way to the surface and each one brought something exhilarating to the table. Today’s feature falls to a separate format, shifting the focus back towards music videos: The Last Dinosaur’s atmospheric “Atoms”.

Occasionally, a video will surface from an act that’s not known and wind up having the power to freeze blood. It’s not something that happens often but it’s something that happened with The Last Dinosaur’s muted, elegiac clip for “Atoms”. Comprised of a seamless compilation of other people’s discarded Super 8 footage, the clip takes a deeply personal angle as the song, a hushed meditation on mortality and other limitations, underscores each frame with devastating clarity. Ambient, folksy, and more than a little haunting, it’s an unforgettable clip from an artist proving to be fully capable of taking the next big step. Watch it before it fades away.

Watch “Atoms” below and download it here.

1 Comment

Category: Uncategorized