Heartbreaking Bravery

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Tag: riffs

June 25, 2014

The Midwestern Charm – Growing Pains (Trailer)

mxw

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Apologies for what’s been the longest content delay since the site started. Heartbreaking Bravery’s forthcoming NXNE content should both explain my absence and- hopefully- make up for the lost time.]

The Midwestern Charm have officially made the move from Oshkosh to Milwaukee and are preparing to release their new record, Growing Pains, which is an absolute scorcher of a follow-up to their much softer debut. In celebration of this fact, they’ve put together a trailer that includes tour dates, a few snippets of standout “Bloodbath”, and the same humor and spirit that was so prominent in The Sleepwalkers’ (their brother band) video for “Come Around“. Having heard an advance and been privy to the development of Growing Pains, it’s an honor to run this short teaser here. It’s a monstrous record that mixes a perfect selection of genre tendencies (powerpop, basement punk, noise, etc.) and something that’s entirely their own. The whole thing is a monumental stride forward for the band and deserves to be celebrated.

While the video may be willfully modest and intentionally goofy, Growing Pains is a masterfully produced and surprisingly mature record that will likely wind up as a personal selection for one of 2014’s very best. Watch the video (keep an eye out for the perfect full-room smash cut) below and bandleader Connor S. LaMue playing stripped-down version of Growing Pains‘ two lead-off tracks for the always-reliable Third Coast Digest here.

Pay close to attention to those tour dates and catch them live at all costs.

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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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