EP | Heartbreaking Bravery

March 30, 2014

First Quarter Finish (Mixtape)

Well, Heartbreaking Bravery’s another 50 posts in, which means that it’s time for another mixtape- and the timing couldn’t be any better. As April springs forth, a new quarter begins and leaves the first part of the year behind, opening it up for examination. First Quarter Finish is a testament to the the startling strength of 2014’s first three months and is largely composed of music that’s been featured on this site. Perfect Pussy‘s “Driver” kicks things off in a typically frenzied fashion, reflecting the purpose of this collection as acutely as possible. Make no mistake, this is a batch of songs that traffic in very high intensity even in their quietest moments.

From tour-only tapes to standout cuts off early Album of the Year contenders like Burn Your Fire for No Witness, Here and Nowhere Else, and Rooms of the House to eerily hypnotic moments, deranged apathetic insanity, and a very long list of promising glimpses at upcoming records, it’s truly been a hell of a start and deserves celebration. Listen to the sounds of that celebration below (if the player is not appearing onscreen, it can also be accessed here).

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TRACKLIST

1. Perfect Pussy – Driver
2. La Sera – Losing to the Dark
3. Cheap Girls – Knock Me Down
4. Archie Powell & the Exports – Everything’s Fucked
5. Crow Bait – 83
6. Big Air – Cemetery With A View
7. PAWS – Tongues
8. Brain F≠ – Sicks
9. Antarctigo Vespucci – I’m Giving Up On U2
10. Playlounge – Waves and Waves and Waves
11. Vertical Scratchers – Memory Shards
12. Angel Olsen – Forgiven/Forgotten
13. Silence Dogood – Chairman of the Bored
14. Priests – Right Wing
15. Green Dreams – Eye Contact
16. Fucked Up – Paper the House
17. Creepoid – Baptism
18. La Dispute – Woman (in Mirror)
19. Sleep Party People – In Another World
20. Odonis Odonis – Order in the Court
21. PILE – Special Snowflakes
22. Young Widows – King Sol
23. Protomartyr – Scum, Rise!
24. Technicolor Teeth – Tomb
25. Cloud Nothings – I’m Not Part of Me

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March 20, 2014

Tashaki Miyaki – Cool Runnings (Music Video)

Tashaki Miyaki are continuing on their insanely prolific month by releasing their fifth music video- this one coming hot on the heels of their stunning videos for “Best Friend“, “Get It Right“, “Tonight“, and “Somethin’ Is Better Than Nothin’“. For anyone unfamiliar with the Los Angeles trio, the video for “Cool Runnings” will be as good of an introduction point as anything else in the band’s short but impressive catalog (though their swoon-worthy self-titled EP is definitely worth a look). “Cool Runnings” (no relation to the film) continues the band’s black-and-white clip aesthetic, this time simply showing three friends enjoying a day spent at a quaint, abandoned home. There’s genuinely gorgeous cinematography throughout that evokes Jim Jarmusch’s visual aesthetic as much as Roger Deakins’ (Nebraska is also brought to mind more than once). Somehow the visuals wind up complementing the band’s breezy shoegaze-tinged dream pop. It’s a great addition to a strong 7″ and a seductive appetizer that (hopefully) points to a forthcoming LP. Only time will reveal the details of such a thing but it’s certainly nice to have a soundtrack to wait to. Watch “Cool Runnings” below and start looking forward to warmer weather.

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February 1, 2014

The Trucks – Space Famous (Demo Review)

Between The Trucks’ Space Famous demo, the PRIVILEGE demo, EP’s from Miserable Friend, Green Kid, and teasers of the upcoming cassette releases for Black Thumb and Technicolor Teeth, Wisconsin’s had a reasonably insane past few weeks. While all of those titles are worth a listen or two, the first one’s going to be the one discussed today. There’s only so much room and so much time to provide coverage for a release influx as formidable as this slate’s been, so even if there’s a release that picks up a central focus, listening’s encouraged for every listed title. Now, with that out of the way, on to The Trucks and Space Famous.

Having started only a short while ago with a scrappy one-song demo to their name, the Appleton-based band had started playing out more consistently prior to the release of Space Famous, wisely finding their niche comfort zone before committing to recording. With a sound that falls somewhere between Superchunk and Archers of Loaf, there’s always a tough balancing act to overcome; how to sound impassioned about being relatively passionless. The Trucks are well on their way to finding that precise point and Space Famous indicates pretty strongly that they’re looking to perfect it.

With this being a demo, the band’s sound, already considerably thick, is made even thicker through the lo-fi production. It’s something that’s immediately evidenced on the title track, when one of the first noises blasting out is a guitar tone that sounds suspiciously like a brass section. What follows is a quick-witted and hard-charging powerpop song that carries a noticeable amount of 90’s indie punk influence. In that regard, the lyrics (courtesy of lead personality Jake Royer) frequently and appropriately recall those of Robert Pollard during Guided by Voices first classic lineup run.

Following the promising opener is “So She Says”, Space Famous’ longest track, which allows more space to provide emphasis on the talents of the members surrounding Royer; Danzo Clavers, Luke Crowe, and Ryley Crowe. This spread-emphasis continues to an even greater extent on closing track “Heartbreak Motel”. Throughout both tracks, there’s a palpable almost acerbic energy that’s anchored and held in check by the power drumming of Ryley Crowe (who also drums on the releases from Miserable Friend and PRIVILEGE mentioned above, likely on the upcoming Black Thumb cassette as well).

By the time “Heartbreak Motel” wraps up Space Famous in an inspired burst of cross-vocal performances, it’s clear that The Trucks are doing more than a few things right- chiefly, resurrecting the 90’s slacker punk sub-genre in a way that feels honest instead of forced. There are traces of early-era Weezer and their kin throughout that promise this band’s got a lot of interesting things to offer musically, many of which may very well be hidden up their sleeves. If they’re all as consistently great as Space Famous then there’s a very good reason to keep both eyes on them. During the wait to find out, relax, find some junk food, turn the volume up, keep an eye out for their upcoming shows (they’re absolutely on the mark live) and take a trip through Space Famous below.

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January 22, 2014

Sneak Peek: Failures’ Union, Neighborhood Brats, Corrections (Streams)

Apologies for the short post but there’s only so much that can be done in a day- especially when that day includes a four-hour drive to see Split Feet, Broken Prayer, and Perfect Pussy. That said, there’s a whole lot out there that deserves to be heard and over the past week, a few sites have unveiled some doozies. Expect all three of these bands or records to get extended coverage from this site in the near-future. Until then, it’s highly-encouraged listening material. First up, there’s the new Failures’ Union LP, Tethering, which is getting a joint-release courtesy of Sheets of Ten and Dead Broke Rekerds. Tethering is a necessary shake-up of the pop-punk genre that sounds similar to Cheap Girls re-appropriating early Weezer. It’s a vicious little piece of unbridled aggression and depth. It’s available for streaming via New Noise Magazine. There’s also the sugar-rush hardcore-leaning EP from Neighborhood Brats that recalls the Riot Grrl movement and the best of Midwest DIY all at once. It’s four tracks and an absolute joy. It’s called Total Dementia and can be streamed over at Punknews. Finally, there’s Corrections’ absolutely brilliant Year One which is available for streaming through Stereogum. Year One is a discography-so-far compilation that plays like Under the Bushes, Under the Stars given a modern update. The Corrections compilation arrives ahead of the groups third LP, which is due out at some point in 2014. These 32 tracks should prove more than enough to tide anyone over. Well, that’s it for now. Get to listening.

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December 7, 2013

Globelamp – Star Dust (EP Review)

As the end of the year approaches, it can be easy for late releases (especially smaller ones) to get lost in the shuffle of best-of coverage. Year after year, writers draw up articles including phrases like “which surely would have made best-of list last year, had i caught it in time”. It’s a misfortune that claims several victims, some of which are the most inexplicably fascinating releases of the year. Globelamp’s Star Dust will likely fall into this category. Recorded onto an 8 track cassette recorder, it’s woozy psychedelic-tinged folk that has improbable pull.

Star Dust comes courtesy of the recording and producing duo that makes up Globelamp; Sam France and Elizabeth le Fey. Together the two operate in the realms that fringe on, and occasionally intrude, freak-folk. There’s a mirage of genres and influences that permeate through Star Dust, lending it a sense of deep intrigue that welcomes repeat visits. “Breathing Ritual” gets the EP off to a start as strong as anyone could hope for, acting as a song that both accurately represents the band and sets the tone for what’s to come.

While the trio of tracks that follow “Breathing Ritual” don’t hit the same heights, that’s no fault of their own. All three are strong in their own right and have a few moments approaching twisted brilliance- Globelamp do wonders with their tangential elements. Each track on Star Dust comes loaded with atmosphere, ensuring that close attention is paid to it throughout. None of the songs go over five minutes and all three following EP standout “Breathing Ritual” are acoustic-driven.

“Time Warp”, the most plaintive track on Star Dust, slows the EP’s momentum but has enough surprises dialed into it to keep listeners rapt. It’s also one of the tracks that places a greater emphasis on the vocals, which plays into one of the band’s strengths; le Fey’s charismatic personality and entrancing voice. “Constant is the Calling” closes out Star Dust in quiet fashion, offering glimpses at what makes this release so curious- and so appealing. When all’s said and done, what’s left is one of the year’s most unexpected and strangely beautiful releases.

Star Dust is available as a name-your-price release at bandcamp and is available for streaming below.

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November 10, 2013

Midwives – EP (Review)

Milwaukee’s Midnight Reruns are set to unveil their debut LP next week and it’s likely to be one of the year’s best. Don’t let that serve as a distraction from Rerun’s frontman Graham Hunt’s other project, the equally attention-deserving hardcore act Midwives. After releasing a self-titled five song EP digitally through Bandcamp only a little over a month ago, Direct Current records will be pressing 7″ copies as their very first release. It’s one hell of a first release for both parties, occupying a space that falls somewhere between OFF! and Pissed Jeans.
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Hunt’s vicious guitar work here is matched in intensity by his bandmates’ respective performances. Blood is shed. The whole thing’s over in seven exhilarating minutes. With each track coming in at an average of only slightly over a minute, there’s no time to breathe. Midwives manage to execute on each of these tracks, going 5-for-5 on their first outing.

Midwives’ unfiltered frustration may be their most defining characteristic, coming to a head in “Twinkie” at the EP’s midway point amid repeated cries of “I can’t take this.” Their most valuable asset, however, surfaces in the inventive final minute of “Debonair”, which finds the band slowing down and descending into a gently chaotic pattern that’s somewhat reminiscent of the expansive instrumental pieces on Fucked Up’s The Chemistry of Common Life. “Debonair” giving way to new stylistic elements as the EP bows out suggests new and exciting possibilities for Midwives’ sound, which sets them up nicely and elevates anticipation for what they’ll manage with any follow-up’s.

From the pummeling “White Whine” through to those final quietly unnerving moments, there’s never a dull section. Midwives’ introduction piece should be an equally strong start to Direct Current’s operations. Both the band and the label seem well worth keeping tabs on. Add this to Perfect Pussy’s I have lost all desire for feeling, Pharmakon’s Abandon, and LVL Up’s Extra Worlds as one of the year’s best EP’s. Keep an eye out for the physical release and stream it below.

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Tag: EP