Heartbreaking Bravery

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Tag: Review

July 13, 2019

GHLOW – Hollow (Stream)

A little over an intro that pulsates for over 30 seconds, GHLOW’s “Hollow” erupts and charges ahead, clinging to an electro-punk concoction that breaks for vocals around the 1:13 mark, practically weaponizing its quasi-industrial tendencies by suffusing it with a hyperactivity that sets “Hollow” racing. It’s a fascinating, goth-tinged piece of punk shrapnel that’s looking to cut through as many unwitting targets as possible. Deeply unexpected and shockingly fun, “Hollow” will undoubtedly serve as GHLOW’s calling card as their status grows. It shouldn’t be long before their audience starts increasing.

Listen to “Hollow” below and download the song here.

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July 13, 2019

Florist – Shadow Bloom (Music Video)

Florist have crafted a career out of sweetly meditative indie folk, allowing occasional bursts of energy to spike their material. “Shadow Bloom”, one of the band’s most recent tracks, finds the project drawing further inward and embracing their most restrained sensibilities, leaning into an arrangement that’s focused entirely on a fingerpicked acoustic pattern and Emily Sprague’s tender vocals. It’s a beautiful track that’s been an equally beautiful, and strangely moving, music video.

Directed and edited by Carley Solether and shot by Joanna Nguyen, “Shadow Bloom” follows Sprague around everyday life, fixating in on the quieter moments. Slicing food, writing, a stroll outside, elevating those moments to something that comes across as nearly sacred. It’s easy to become immersed in the imagery, tracing over each shot with the delicacy Sprague’s afforded the song. A gentle whisper of an offering, “Shadow Bloom” is Florist at its finest.

Watch “Shadow Bloom” below and pre-order Emily Alone from Double Double Whammy here.

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July 13, 2019

Slaughter Beach, Dog – One Down + Good Ones (Stream)

Slaughter Beach, Dog formed around the end of Modern Baseball and carries on that band’s legacy with an attentive ease. Jake Ewald’s project’s been consistently impressive since its debut and “One Down” and “Good Ones” continue that trend. Both tracks find Ewald continue to excel at playing the part of the ennui-laden introspective young adult, finding meaning in fleeting moments. Cruising around, recalling history, questioning a larger place and the foundations on which identity is built.

All of this deceptively heady questioning could turn burdensome in less capable hands but Ewald gently guides his material to a place of profundity without ever overstepping. Deeply impressive and easy to admire, each track carries its own weight with admirable determination, cementing Ewald’s status as one of today’s finest young storytellers.

Listen to “One Down” and “Good Ones” below and order Safe and Also No Fear here.


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July 13, 2019

Cool Original – Not Like That (Stream)

A quick name change from Cool American to Cool Original preceded the project’s latest run of tracks and subsequent record, I Never Said I Didn’t Care. One of the highlights from the advance run of singles ahead of its release was the serene “Not Like That”, which foregoes urgency for tranquility and stands as one of Cool Original’s most transfixing moments to date. Impossibly lovely and surprisingly delicate, “Not Like That” shows off a more tender side of the project, adding even more depth and dimension to an already intriguing act. Four minutes of glimmering beauty and damaged romanticism, “Not Like That” is nothing short of breathtaking.

Listen to “Not Like That” below and order a copy of I Never Said I Didn’t Care here.

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July 13, 2019

Penelope Isles – Leipzig (Music Video)

Penelope Isles craft something uniquely charming on “Leipzig”, a track that carries influences like Deerhoof proudly on its sleeve while providing the band a distinct claim on their own territory. Warped slacker pop that crackles with warmth, fuzz, and syrupy synth tones, the track’s been afforded a magical clip, awash and faded in soft saturation. Subsisting of nothing more than footage of the band making their way through the song in the woods, cut through with a few shots of individual members miming along to the track in city streets, “Leipzig” comes off as immediately affable and endlessly welcoming. It’s a strong showing from a band that’s more than prepared to win over a small army of hearts as they take flight.

Watch “Leipzig” below and pre-order Until The Tide Creeps In from Bella Union here.

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July 13, 2019

Tony Molina – Not The Way To Be + Can’t Find My Way (Stream)

Over the years, both as a solo artist and in Ovens, Tony Molina has mastered the art of the micro song. From incendiary punk bursts to plaintive folk hymnals, Molina’s covered a surprising amount of ground with an exceeding amount of poise, and with curiously short run times. “Not The Way To Be” and “Can’t Find My Way”, two of the songwriter’s latest, find Molina occupying familiar territory: ’70s  jangle and ’80s distortion collide with a breezy effortlessness on the former while the latter leans hard into Molina’s punk roots while also showcasing the songwriter’s pop and classical sensibilities. Packaged together, the songs barely eclipse two minutes but, as ever, feel exhaustively complete. Where others may only find an appetizer, Molina continues making meals. Leave these on repeat.

Listen to “Not The Way To Be” and “Can’t Find My Way” below and pre-order a copy of Songs From San Mateo County here.

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July 13, 2019

Palehound – Black Friday (Stream)

A name that’s no stranger to this site, Palehound has been a fixture of Heartbreaking Bravery’s coverage since around the time of its existence. Over that stretch, the band’s profile has only grown and the opportunities they’ve been afforded on that path have continue to expand along with their audience. Each of the records Palehound’s released have been exceptional and the same can be said of their latest, which is the most restrained work of their career by some distance.

One of the highlights of the record is its quiet — and quietly devastating — title track, which finds the band occupying territory not too dissimilar from Phoebe Bridgers‘ solo output (the melody of “Black Friday” and Bridgers’ “Scott Street” seem neatly intertwined). It’s a lovely song that simmers and finds bandleader Ellen Kempner exploring greater vulnerability. As transfixing as it is lovely, “Black Friday” is sure to be a sought-after staple of Palehound’s incredible live show for years to come.

Listen to “Black Friday” below and order a copy of the record from Polyvinyl here.

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July 13, 2019

Faux Ferocious – Drop Kick Heartache (Stream)

Every so often a song just kind of falls through the cracks when it comes to timing and coverage. With hundreds of songs being assessed every week, it’s not surprising when it happens. It’s only slightly more surprising when it’s a song that exists squarely in the crosshairs of this site’s typical coverage field. It’s exceedingly rare for that song to get a feature dedicated post after its original release window’s closed but Faux Ferocious‘ “Drop Kick Heartache”, released back in February, is an incredible explosion of insistent post-punk. There’s an irrepressible energy at play in the song’s simplicity and when the whole thing collapses into squalls of noise damage and sheer aggression, the effect is strangely liberating. All put into one compact package, it’s a song that demands exposure and shouldn’t be missed on any front.

Listen to “Drop Kick Heartache” below and pick up a copy of Pretty Groovy from Burger here.

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July 13, 2019

Evening Standards – World’s End (Album Review, Stream)

Last year, Evening Standards released their debut record, which was one of 2018’s best. The trio wasted no time in issuing a follow-up, releasing World’s End a little over a year after its predecessor. World’s End recaptures the spirit of their debut and finds the band knocking out another record of highly addictive mid-tempo basement pop. Coated in grit and laced with hooks, World’s End is a record that works as well for the party as it does the day after, providing just enough punch to cut through a wide array of moments.

There’s not a bad song to be found in the record, which again finds Chris Mott and Daun Fields harmonizing throughout close to the record’s entirety, creating an oddly spellbinding effect. Mott’s time in PURPLE 7 also clearly influences a lot of the material, with Evening Standards feeling like a galvanized next step rather than a tired rehashing. Everything that worked so well on their debut’s been ever so slightly tightened and continues to work to enjoyable effect on World’s End, which is well worth the listen.

Listen to World’s End below and pick up a copy here.

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July 13, 2019

B Boys – I Want (Music Video)

Jarod Taber crafts a wry clip for B Boys‘ “I Want” that’s impulsively watchable. Once the video starts, it’s nearly impossible to look away, with Taber sending vignettes crashing into each other with an exacting precision that forces the viewer to recognize the humanity of each mundane moment. All the while, “I Want” surges below the surface, proving a kinetic energy that brings each slice-of-life aspect into an even clearer focus, with the narrative musing on a simple, near-universal desire of hoping there’s more than just repeating the motions. It’s sharply observed black comedy that’s delivered with admirable force, enhancing the clip’s cumulative effect. An impressive work from all sides.

Watch “I Want” below and pre-order Dudu from Captured Tracks here.

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