PAWS | Heartbreaking Bravery

April 24, 2014

PAWS – Owls Talons Clenching My Heart (Stream)

PAWS’ Cokefloat! was one of 2012’s most refreshing full-lengths and now, two years later, they’re following it up with the bolder, more aggressive, and more fully-formed Youth Culture Forever (a title taken from a line in Adventure Time). The band offered up a first glimpse at their incredible upcoming record with “Tongues“, a song good enough to land itself in this playlist. Youth Culture Forever‘s release is still just around the corner (May 6 via Fat Cat) and the band’s continuing to drum up anticipation with another preview, this time in the form of “Owls Talons Clenching My Heart”.

One of the driving forces in the creation of Youth Culture Forever was the band’s disgruntlement with the lo-fi tag that was strangely prevalent in the reviews for Cokefloat!. Both “Tongues” and “Owls Talons Clenching My Heart” have definitely proven the band’s succeeded in accomplishing a sound that’s both fuller and more clean without sacrificing an iota of their character or identity. “Owls Talons Clenching My Heart” is as scrappy and melodic as anything the band’s recorded while being just as clever (and indescribably catchy). It’s another ripper from the Glaswegian power trio that packs plenty of bite and another great example of how forceful Youth Culture Forever really is.

Listen to “Owls Talons Clenching My Heart” below and pre-order Youth Culture Forever from Fat Cat here.

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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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February 26, 2014

PAWS – Tongues (Stream)

PAWS - Tongues

PAWS’ Cokefloat! was a record that helped make 2012 tolerable. Top-to-bottom, the Glasgow-based trio’s debut was laced with impressisve songwriting, an army of catchy-as-hell hooks, and pure musicianship. They’ve been touring hard since then, sneaking in a few new songs here and there to preview an upcoming record. They’ve finally allowed an official stream for a song off the upcoming record, Youth Culture Forever, and it sounds even more incredible than anyone was probably expecting. It’s called “Tongues” and continues in the same vein as much of Cokefloat!, only this time the band’s going bigger and getting really impressive results.

“Tongues” starts off with some power drumming that backs a deceptively melodic riff before they’re both consumed by a massive wall of sound that gives everything a solid punch. To top everything off, there’s an impressive piano line that sneaks its way into the mix and adds quite a bit by doing a little. Everything’s perfectly balanced and the song winds up being a masterclass in production value. While it only lasts two (admittedly thrilling and cathartic) minutes, it’s a clear indicator that the band’s not messing around with their sophomore effort and that Youth Culture Forever could be something special.

Listen to “Tongues” below and look out for the June 2nd release of Youth Culture Forever (that’s likely the album art up above).

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January 26, 2014

Watch This: Vol. 10

As the new year starts to find its footing, new material starts to continuously roll out. This week was one of the first indicators that the year-to-year turnaround lull is coming to a close, if not already over. For the first time in over a month there was actually an excess of material and the clips had to be cut down to the standard five. From KEXP to the storied stage of Schubas, here’s the (admittedly eccentric) tenth installment of Watch This. Enjoy.

PAWS (KEXP Session)

PAWS’ Cokefloat! was one of the best records 2012 had to offer. An absolute sugar-rush of manic basement punk from New Zealand, the record’s represented well here. KEXP presents it all in their characteristically outstanding fashion and manages to remind everyone that this band is far from finished.

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Mac DeMarco – Treat Her Better (La Blogotheque)

Mac Demarco, everyone’s favorite sleazeball, recently made a stop at the Sundance Film Festival to perform one of the new tracks from his upcoming record Salad Days. It’s exactly as goofy and earnest as it sounds. It’s also an absolute pleasure to watch.

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Moonface – Julia With Blue Jeans On (Live at St Pancras Old Church)

Heartbreaking Bravery’s debt to Moonface has already been covered in previous Watch This installments. Simply put; without Spencer Krug this site likely never comes into existence, at least not with this title. There are very few artists operating on an artistic level as high as Krug and the exploration of his most recent solo venture in live performance videos has been one of the more consistently rewarding video projects of late.

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Porches. – Xanny Bar (Out of Town Films)

Porches. just can’t seem to miss their mark these days. Every new instance of material from the band has been worth sharing with anyone who will listen. Bolstered by great performances on both ends of the loud/quiet spectrum, expect to hear a lot more about this band in 2014. Start here with this transfixing version of “Xanny Bar”.

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Perfect Pussy (Live at Schubas Tavern)

This particular selection, given recent events, was always going to have a spot in Volume 10. A sincere thanks to whoever the brave soul was that shot this.

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