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July 30, 2014

Cymbals Eat Guitars – Warning (Stream)

Cymbals Eat Guitars are gearing up towards the release of something special. This has been evident since the band unveiled “Jackson“, an absolutely stunning manifestation of personal loss and anguish so sincere that it’s still difficult to listen to. Since that first look at the band’s upcoming record, LOSE, the band’s released another miniature triumph by way of the decidedly more laid-back 80’s-indebted “Chambers” and, most recently, the absolutely incendiary “Warning”. Foregoing their usual restraint for something much more visceral, Joseph D’Agostino leads his band through a spiky post-punk blitz that eschews a lot of their past psychedelic influence in favor of a previously unheard immediacy. It’s a new look for the band and it suits them extraordinarily well. “Warning” is, far and away, the most direct song the band’s released and stands alongside “Jackson” as one of their very best. A million and a half things would need to go wrong to change what seems to be inevitable; LOSE being not only the band’s personal best- but one of the very best of 2014.

Listen to “Warning” below and pre-order LOSE from Barsuk Records here.

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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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February 19, 2014

Mozes and the Firstborn – Bloodsucker (Music Video)

Mozes and the Firstborn quietly released one of the best debut records of last year on Burger as a cassette and few people noticed. Now, though, on the brink of releasing that same record in all major audio formats (and in the midst of a tour with together PANGEA), lots of people’s heads are turning. All it takes is one listen to just about any song off of Mozes and the Firstborn to know that this quartet of kids from the Netherlands has tapped into something special. Serious songwriting chops paired with enviable pop sensibilities and enough dirtied up grit to make any Ty Segall acolyte blush. All of this is why this site’s already spent a fair amount of words on the band. They’re a band worth celebrating and undoubtedly deserve the praise and affection that will be coming their way.

Today, the band outdid themselves. Already prone to sneaking in nods to film (their name is a reference to the animated religious film The Prince of Egypt), they elevated their filmic tendencies by releasing a music video for “Bloodsucker” that’s a loving ode to The Big Shave, the 1967 short film that launched Martin Scorsese’s career. Only this time, instead of the principle subject shaving the bottom half of his face off, the band and director, Jeroen Dankers, give the stark story a blackly comic twist that prompts as much laughter as it does disgust. It’s an audacious move and may even become an iconic clip in certain circles. While the video’s dedication to a faithful aesthetic recreation of its source material is impressive, it’s the song that pushes this over the edge. “Bloodsucker” is the kind of vintage powerpop that’s incredibly difficult to get successful without sounding strained but is a style Mozes and the Firstborn manage to pull off effortlessly. With “Bloodsucker” backing the increasingly garish imagery that accompanies it, they create an incredibly memorable piece of art that deserves to be seen. Watch “Bloodsucker” below, pre-order Mozes and the Firstborn from Burger, and don’t take any brushes with fate for granted.

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February 14, 2014

Summer Twins – Carefree (Music Video)

Valentine’s Day is unavoidable. This is one of life’s many facts. It’s not without its options, though. Someone meeting it with joy and openness is just as likely to happen as a person reacting to it with unreserved bitterness and cynicism. No matter what the situation is, there tends to be something to celebrate- it just needs to be looked for. Today, at least on the music front, it was relatively slow-going apart from Perfect Pussy saying yes to love and the purchasing public saying yes to pre-orders of that record and a few more folks saying yes to clear vinyl copies that were swirled with Meredith Graves‘ menstrual blood. Then, Heartbreaking Bravery was gifted with an assortment of things this site loves unconditionally, one of them being the gift-givers responsible; Burger act Summer Twins.

Having already secured their spot in the 25 Best… year-end list that ran at the start of last month, the band’s now offered up a sun-splashed music video for Forget Me highlight “Carefree”. In a recent video from Great Cynics, a lot of words were spent here emphasizing the symbolism of something as trivial as a swimming pool. In that write-up, swimming pools were posited as a stand-in for the impermanence (and subsequent celebration) of youth. In “Carefree”, Chelsea and Justine Brown seem content to maximize the incredibly difficult area of youth retention with stunning poignancy and grace. Everything here is bathed in warmth, whether it be any of the video or audio aspects presented, and it makes for a beautiful experience- and Valentine’s day or not, a beautiful experience is something always worth having. Watch “Carefree” below and start counting down the days to summer.

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January 15, 2014

Perfect Pussy – Driver (Stream)

Perfect Pussy - "Driver"

Heartbreaking Bravery’s love for Perfect Pussy is the opposite of secret and even though this is already being covered seemingly everywhere else, there was never even a remote chance that this wouldn’t be today’s story. The Syracuse band has finally unveiled a wealth of details in regards to their upcoming full-length debut on Captured Tracks. It’s entitled Say Yes to Love (that’s the album art up above), and the iTunes pre-order of the record features four bonus live tracks, including their Beyond Inversion contribution, “Advance Upon the Real”. Say Yes to Love‘s official total is eight songs and lead-off track “Driver” has been made available for streaming.

“Driver” is a characteristically blistering run through no-fucks-given art-punk that saddles up to the borderline of vintage hardcore. As far as production value is concerned, this applies minimal polish to their otherwise completely in tact lo-fi aesthetic (though the blasts of artfully placed feedback are much more distinguishable). As hard-charging as anything on I have lost all desire for feeling, “Driver” comes off sounding like a band growing more progressively fearless. Twisting and turning at every opportunity, the song morphs in and out of its set groove multiple times with Graves’ vocals matching the building intensity of the music. With the sheer energy of “Driver” the band seems to be boldly facing their naysayers head on, funneling their frustrations into something increasingly undeniable.

If “Driver” is representative of Say Yes to Love as a whole, then it’s time to start counting down the days to its official release on March 18th. Listen to “Driver” below.

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