Yes, Sunbathing Animal is as good as everyone says it is. No, the band’s not reinventing any wheels but they’re one of the best at fully committing to the mechanics behind what makes them spin. Their minimalism has always been one of their strongest appeals and the way they use restraint is aggressive to the point of being abrasive- but it works. Everything somehow clicks in to this chaos that feeds off its own energy, like something that’s constantly trying to hold on to whatever life remains in a death rattle that never really comes.
One of Sunbathing Animal’s best examples of this is the infectiously ragged “Black and White”. True to its name, the video the band’s released for it is presented in grainy black and white footage. There are several pieces of what are designed to appear (and one that may actually be) found footage of pedestrians walking away from the camera that trails them on the New York street where vocalist Andrew Savage resides. By having their videos central figures firmly rooted in anonymity it nicely contrasts the fact that this was an in-house production; band members Austin Brown and Johann Rashid directed the clip. When the video finally reaches a conclusion, in an appropriate bit of subtle continuity, it winds up right where the video for “Sunbathing Animal” took place. Nice touch.
Watch “Black and White” below and take a long walk sometime soon (preferably while blaring Sunbathing Animal).
Getting Watch This back on pace, admittedly, has been a bit of a struggle. The reasons for this have been exhaustively detailed over the last few but it’s still gratifying to know that consistency is within reach. This will (hopefully) be the last delayed Watch This for quite some time, as it brings the series back to its normal rotation. The series wouldn’t be where it is without some astoundingly great live captures and performances, though, and this 28th installment is no exception. Ranging from old favorites to newcomers to an encore performance from the band that capped off Vol. 27 in a searing blaze, this entry just feels right. So, sit down, relax, take a bite of a vegan-friendly muffin, and Watch This.
1. Emilyn Brodsky – Someone Belongs Here (TCGS)
There are certain artists that can feel like a refreshing breeze rolling off some unnamed ocean and Emilyn Brodsky is one of them. Here, Brodsky takes her ukelele, considerable lyrical talents, and an enviably arresting voice to The Chris Gethard Show for a performance of “Someone Belongs Here”. Apart from not falling neatly into any genre, it’s a powerhouse performance that sees Brodsky adding emphatic exclamation points wherever possible. It’s a startling introduction to an artist that looks to be more than worth keeping up with.
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2. Vertical Scratchers – Break the Truth (The Mug and Brush Sessions)
2014’s only half over but it’s already packed quite a few pleasant surprises. One of the most notable was the duo Vertical Scratchers, who had an insanely strong pedigree and debuted a record full of gnarled powerpop jams (Daughter of Everything) on Merge. Here, they take to The Mug and Brush Sessions studio to play through a praiseworthy rendition of “Break the Truth”. It’s a great reminder of an astonishingly good record and showcases the band’s admirable chops in their respective roles, more than earning it a rightful spot on this installment of Watch This.
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3. The Orwells – Let It Burn (The Live Room)
Now that everyone’s had time to weigh in on Disgraceland, The Orwells’ latest full-length, the attention can be placed back on what they’re best at: performing. While there’s certainly an apathetic, lethargic, and almost nihilistic quality to the performance of “Let It Burn” here, it somehow feeds into the song and winds up making this whole thing almost terrifyingly bleak but utterly compelling. This is the best version of a paradox imaginable.
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4. Wish – Nothing to Say (Exclaim!)
Wish have been a fairly difficult band to find great performance footage of but, recently, Exclaim! made that much easier. Here the band showcases their own brand of post-punk and shoegaze marriage with “Nothing to Say”. It’s a fairly gorgeous clip and the band confidently strides their way through the song leaving little doubt that they’re worthy of the acclaim that will no doubt be coming their way.
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5. Big Ups (BreakThruRadioTV)
Yes, they get the 5 slot again. Why? Because these guys seriously aren’t fucking around.
As promised, here’s the second part of today’s Watch This double-headed. It’s decidedly more minimal than the last installment in terms of performance content (two of the videos featured here are solo performances) but the featured videos are just as impressive. Ranging from yet another video from Chart Attack’s coverage of the Sonic Boom Records jaw-dropping lineup for Record Store Day 2014 to another Exploding in Sound BreakThruRadio takeover feature, it’s one of the broader installments this series has ever offered up. It’s a great way to showcase some of the best bands from the DIY circuit and all of it’s just begging to be viewed. So, stay reclined, erase the last semblances of that hangover, and make sure to Watch This.
1. Laura Stevenson – The Hole (Radio K)
It’s hard to pinpoint what exactly makes Laura Stevenson so magnetic- it could just be raw talent but it seems to go beyond even that to something more transcendental. The singer/songwriter found a home on New Jersey’s Don Giovanni, a label full of some of the fiercest basement punk bands currently going, while leaning closer to folk than anything else. Impossibly, it managed to be a fit that felt more naturalistic than not and their collaborations have resulted in a handful of incredible releases (the most recent of which, Wheel, was an easy 2013 highlight). Here, she sits down for a stunning rendition of “The Hole”. It’s a mesmerizing performance from a singular talent that’s worth bootlegging for inclusions on a million different homemade mixtapes.
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2. Luke Lalonde – Needle (Chart Attack)
This is the third performance from Toronto’s Sonic Boom Records to be featured over the past two installments of this series. It’s also, arguably, the most arresting. Born Ruffians have always been one of the more intriguing powerpop acts making music and to hear them stripped down to their barest form is surprisingly rewarding. Great songwriting’s always worth listening to.
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3. Mutual Benefit – Golden Wake (Allston Pudding)
Love’s Crushing Diamond was a record that almost felt sacred while it wove itself in and out of dreamlike states. It was one of 2013’s most riveting listens, constantly coming off like the most reassuring hug. It was impossibly fierce in its gentleness, delicately assembled and expertly executed, it established Jordan Lee as an undeniable talent and ensured that just about everyone who should be paying attention to his project was doing just that. Allston Pudding was on hand to capture this video from Mutual Benfit’s first-ever sold out show and the results are entrancing.
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4. Krill (BreakThruRadioTV)
There’s just something about Exploding in Sound’s roster that makes throwing caution to the wind feel appropriate. This is the second video to earn a Watch This feature from the label’s BreakThruRadio takeover. Like Kal Marks before them, Krill took this spot by force through a series of incredible featured performances. Serious Business being Serious Business, there are also a few revealing interview moments intercut with a few separate performance clips. It’s all great fun and worth paying attention to. Oh, and Krill, Krill, Krill Forever.
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5. Radioactivity – Locked in My Head (Razorcake)
It’s been months since a video from Razorcake earned itself a spot in this series, which is a shame because of all the places that regularly wind up in one of these five slots, they’re likely the one that matches the DIY ethos this place celebrates most closely. That reasoning paired with a performance from Radioactivity was more than enough to land this a spot on the list. This is what this place is all about. Watch This and then go spin Radioactivity for the 800th time. It’s impossible to resist.
Technical difficulties have struck again, forcing another late entry into the Watch This series. While it’s sincerely doubtful anyone’s growing frustrated by the lack of the regular Sunday posts for this, the schedule should be resuming soon. This is partly in thanks to the astounding influx of great material that’s been happening lately. There were enough videos to have been released in the past week and a half to warrant a double-header of Watch This, which means that Vol. 25 will be coming soon after this goes live. This installment’s fairly heavy on bands that this place has a well-documented love for. From two of the bands to make the very first 5 to See at NXNE to the very first band to ever be covered here, it feels a little bit like a family affair. It’d be next to impossible to ask for better company. So, as always, sit back, eat a pizza to drive away any lingering hangovers, relax, and Watch This.
1. Audacity – Counting the Days (Jam in the Van)
As mentioned above, Audacity were the very first band to ever be written about here at Heartbreaking Bravery. They haven’t lost a step since that feature and their songs have only grown catchier with time. More good news? Jam in the Van is back at Burgerama which means there’ll be a handful of videos that are likely going to wind up being featured here. There’s something about that combination that just works- and this is a perfect example of that.
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2. Greys – Guy Picciotto (Chart Attack)
At this point, over 100 videos have been covered in Watch This. None of them have featured a performance as fiery as the one Greys turned in at Toronto’s Sonic Boom Records of this song. There really isn’t a reason not to hit play on this one. Have at it.
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3. Ovlov – Moth Rock (Little Elephant)
Yes, an Ovlov song from these same sessions was just featured in the last Watch This– but “Moth Rock” was only uploaded a few days ago. It’s also impressive enough to earn itself a spot on this list. “Moth Rock” sees Ovlov operating at the absolute top of both their songwriting and live talents, making this must-watch (and must-listen) material.
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4. PS I Love You – Sentimental Dishes (Chart Attack)
Judging from this video and the Greys one occupying the two slot this week, it’s fair to be jealous of just about anyone that was lucky enough to spend their Record Store Day at Toronto’s Sonic Boom Records. For the rest of us, an eternal debt of gratitude is owed to Chart Attack for being on hand to capture some of it in extraordinarily high quality. This performance of “Sentimental Dishes” only reaffirms the fact that PS I Love You need to be mentioned way more often in the “best musical duos” conversation. This is some seriously inspired work; don’t let it go unnoticed.
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5. The Men – Going Down (Radio K)
The Men’s discography is remarkably consistent for how frequently the band changes their sound. There are already several arguing their most recent effort, Tomorrow’s Hits, is their high water mark. There are also several that argue it’s impossible to judge the band from the studio alone and that the songs need to be put into a live context for a more accurate test. Occasionally, those arguments crossover. It’d be difficult to find someone from either party who was disappointed with this- and it’s also a perfect way to bring the 24th installment of Watch This to a close. Enjoy!
It hasn’t been all that long since Green Dreams’ last appearance on this site but the band appears to be moving at a very quick clip these days. The Rochester-based band will be following up last year’s Sweats with an upcoming 7″ that’s entitled Rich Man/Poor Man and have just released “Eye Contact” ahead of its release. While Sweats was certainly an impressive release, “Eye Contact” finds the band evolving and refining their sound in thrilling, immediate ways. There’s a newfound rawness and aggression to “Eye Contact” that more fully embraces Green Dreams’ hardcore tendencies. This is fierce, undeniable music. Jesse Armes’ vocals have never sounded more committed and neither has the music surrounding them. It’s an absolute must-listen and points towards Rich Man/Poor Man being a must-own. Listen to “Eye Contact” below and keep an eye out for the band’s upcoming tour with Perfect Pussy and Yamatanka//Sonic Titan.
Syracuse’s Sswampzz released an EP last year full of snarling lo-fi punk tracks. This EP, Sleeper, is chaotic and has more than a touch of menace. Sleeper also holds up on repeat listens and acts as a nice companion piece to another record to come out of Syracuse a year before that, Shoppers’ Silver Year, which boasted a similar formula; barely-contained chaos, a menacing atmosphere, and, importantly, a sense of unadulterated passion.
With those two releases being as close as they were, it shouldn’t have come as too much of a surprise when members of each band came together to form a new one. What is a little surprising (but entirely welcome) is how many people have latched on to this new project. Even though I have lost all desire for feeling came out in April, a recent run of eye-catching live performances has dramatically upped their profile and, suddenly, all everyone seems to want to talk about is Perfect Pussy.
I have lost all desire for feeling combines all the best attributes of the best releases from both Sswampzz and Shoppers (who are now sadly defunct). Perfect Pussy have also managed to incorporate other elements into their presentation as well, including the method for naming song titles. Continuing on vocalist Meredith Graves’ insistence in providing Roman numerals (something that dates back to her days in Shoppers) as song titles could prove problematic for listeners in the future but for now remains as intriguing as it is endearing. That intrigue acts as an important aspect of Perfect Pussy and could be a large part in what’s providing the band the levels of attention it’s currently receiving.
Graves’ intensity nicely complements the almost maniacal wall of noise that propels her forward. There’s a gleeful acceptance of being in her unintelligibly shouted lyrics that adds a certain depth of mystery to what would otherwise come across as a very bleak and frustrated record. One of the most effecting moments of I have lost all desire for feeling comes early on at the end of “I” when Graves spits out “I am full of light. I am filled with joy. I am full of peace. I had this dream that I forgave my enemies.” Each line comes across like a buried mantra that Graves is desperate to share with the world. That sense of desperation is one of I have lost all desire for feeling‘s most palpable elements. All four of these tracks seem scrappy and on edge, either looking for a fight or containing a fierce internal one.
By the time “IV” winds down and the dust clears, all that’s left is smoldering ash. Perfect Pussy never puts the brakes on and choose to careen out of control towards an inevitable impact. I have lost all desire for feeling easily stands as one of the most thrilling releases of 2013, EP or otherwise. Seemingly every move the band makes at this point will be subject to some sort of scrutiny after a few reportedly insane CMJ sets even furthered their profile (a glimpse at their unofficial Pitchfork CMJ showcase can be seen below). There’ll be a fight brewing with the mounting attention but, clearly, that’s not something Perfect Pussy seems too afraid of.
You can hear and purchase I have lost all desire for feeling here.
Heartbreaking Bravery 