New Song | Heartbreaking Bravery

March 27, 2014

Priests – Right Wing (Stream)

Unless Tenement officially confirms a 2014 release date, the Don Giovanni LP to get most excited about definitely goes to another Heartbreaking Bravery favorite: Priests. Bodies and Control and Money and Power (due out June 3rd) will be the band’s first release for the label and they’ve already released the first taste by way of “Right Wing”. Anyone familiar with the band shouldn’t be surprised by that title, as they’re one of the more fiercely political bands on their respective circuit right now. A lot of those politics are fairly apparent in vocalist Katie Alice Greer’s commendable work as The Media‘s interviews contributor. Another thing that won’t come as a surprise to those lucky enough to already be on board with the band: “Right Wing” is an aggressive piece of post-punk minimalism.

What does come of a bit as a surprise is how clean “Right Wing” sounds. Previously, the band’s penchant for the most blown-out lo-fi recording was one of their calling cards, so to make the jump to something as immaculately produced as “Right Wing” without losing any of their reckless abandon is a considerable feat. Make no mistake, this is still very much a Priests song- it feels as dangerous and barely-stable as anything the quartet’s committed to tape, carving out the same exhilarating territory despite existing in a completely different sonic realm (not too unlike Tweens’ Frenchkiss debut). A completely fuzzed out bass helps retain some of the band’s lo-fi aesthetic and the clean guitars go to work on cutting everything apart, drums urging them both forward as Greer acts as the vessel to provide the maelstrom with some sense of direction, even when completely consumed by it. It’s thrilling, vital, and maybe even necessary. Here’s hoping the band winds up with the attention they deserve.

Hear the catchy, infectious “Right Wing” below and make sure to give Popstrangers’ first taste of their upcoming album Fortuna (due out May 27th via Carpark Records), “Country Kills“, a listen as well- it was nearly the focus of this piece but Priests haven’t been covered as extensively here. Their was also no way in hell “Right Wing” wasn’t going to get a write-up, one listen and the understanding of that should be immediate. Listen to one, listen to the other, it doesn’t matter- but really, listening to both is the best-case scenario and the one that should definitely be chosen. Make the right choice. Enjoy.

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January 27, 2014

Cloud Nothings – I’m Not Part of Me (Stream)

I'm Not Part Of Me

Only a short while ago, this song elicited a wave of excitement for Cloud Nothings’ upcoming follow-up to their early best-of-decade candidate Attack on Memory. Back when that live recording was posted, though, details on the upcoming record were scant. Today the band over-corrected that detail in stunning fashion, sharing that it’d be named Here and Nowhere Else, while also announcing that it would be released on April 1, 2014 via new label Mom + Pop records- and by sharing what looks to be one of the records many highlights. While second guitarist Joe Boyer has been forced to leave the band due to some legal troubles that preclude him from touring, the band seems to have found ways to fine-tune their sound into something that doesn’t call too much attention to his absence. It’s a sound that matches their strengths as well as possible while suggesting a few new influences that should make this record one of 2014’s more interesting releases. “I’m Not Part of Me” also boasts a chorus section that will immediately get lodged in the brain of anyone who’s paying attention. Cloud Nothings come across as particularly committed in “I’m Not Part of Me” and continue to heighten the growing interest in Here and Nowhere Else. Listen to “I’m Not Part of Me” (and then listen to it a few more times) below.

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December 13, 2013

The Dead Weather Unleash Killer New Single

The Dead Weather have been quiet as of late, with their only noteworthy news being a singles series campaign plan. As of today, the plan has come to fruition and the band has released the very first single in the ongoing series (available exclusively via Third Man’s Vault subscription) which features lead-off single “Open Up (That’s Enough)” as the A-side and “Rough Detective” as the flip. While only subscribers get the full benefit of the physical release, “Open Up (That’s Enough)” has been posted to YouTube and is currently streaming… and it’s a killer.

“Open Up (That’s Enough)” may be the band’s most accurate distillation of the band members various projects that preceded The Dead Weather to date. There’s a familiar organ that kicks things off that owes a clear debt to The Greenhornes, a dirty bluesy riff that drives the song worthy of Icky Thump, the start/stop dynamics that litter the best work of Queens of the Stone Age, and a vocal performance from Allison Mosshart that blows most of her work with The Kills out of the water. It’s a raggedy lo-fi blast that may stand as the group’s single best offering since they came into existence. This particular song is the first of many, each song eventually culminating in a 2015 record alongside some songs the band’s reserving specifically for the album. If each song that follows the extraordinary heights of “Open Up (That’s Enough)”, 2015 may have an unlikely Album of the Year contender on its hands.

Until 2015 rears its head, there’s still a year’s worth of singles to get through. It’s already hard to wait for the next one. Listen to “Open Up (That’s Enough)” below.

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