The last post to run on this site made note of yet another hiatus that Heartbreaking Bravery’s been forced to endure for nearly three weeks. Shifting focus from streams to music videos, this list compiles a host of outstanding music videos to emerge in the regular coverage interim. Bookmark the page and go exploring, everything here’s worth revisiting or finding for the first time.
Easily — and consistently — the producers of some of the most gorgeous Watch This clips in the series’ history, Buzzsessions hits a new high-water mark with this clip for Hazel English‘s “Fix”. Hazel English has become a staple on this site thanks to the project’s ability to churn out spellbinding pop that combines dream-like atmospherics with aesthetics from several compelling sub-genres to create something utterly winsome. To top off that formula, this is a committed performance propelled even further by breathtaking cinematography; Watch This at its best.
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2. Jay Som – The Bus Song (Audiotree)
One of last year’s biggest breakout success stories, Jay Som‘s continued to transform that newfound notoriety into something meaningful. Jay Som recently got to be part of an Audiotree concert series and some enthralling footage of “The Bus Song” has gone public. The band’s in good spirits, there’s an adoring audience, bandleader Melina Duterte is commanding, and everything clicks in just the way a great performance should; this is masterful from all angles.
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3. Surf Curse (Jam in the Van)
It’s been a while since a Jam in the Van session has been featured on Watch This but its also been a while since the series has boasted a session this fun. Surf Curse effortlessly blend together elements of surf-pop, basement punk, post-punk, and powerpop to conjure up the type of bright, sunny sound that’s difficult to dislike. Each of these three songs also boast their own brand of weirdness, giving a compelling slant to an aesthetic that’s both familiar and welcome.
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4. Fred Thomas – Echolocation (BreakThruRadio)
Changer, Fred Thomas‘ most recent full-length, stands in good shape to be firmly among 2017’s best records as the year winds to a close. Easily the songwriter’s finest effort to date, the record also features some of the songwriter’s most ambitious work. “Echolocation” is one of those more ambitious pieces and Thomas brings it to the BreakThruRadio studios for a gripping performance that showcases his talent for both ability and minimalist composition. Melancholic, haunting, and human, it’s a powerful look at one of today’s greatest songwriters.
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5. The Owens – Judgment Day (Allston Pudding)
Capping off the 160th installment of this series is another characteristically strong Basement Session, courtesy of Allston Pudding, by way of The Owens’ aggressively tense and intriguingly gloomy “Judgment Day”. The band’s been kicking around for several years but they’ve never sounded tighter or more in control than they do on their latest, Redemption Day, and that confident precision seems to have bled into their live show as well. Both a perfect document of a band coming into their own and a strong showcase for both Allston Pudding and The Owens, this is the type of clip worth remembering.
As the year-end list slate of material approaches, this publication (and many others) have a tendency to get backed up. Being run by a single person puts Heartbreaking Bravery at a greater disadvantage in those terms. Other mitigating life factors have proven to be fairly significant in terms of time allotment. However, no matter how many things there wind up being to balance, keeping up with the latest releases never gets neglected. While there are a handful of tracks, music videos, and full streams that will be receiving (likely brief) individual features, there are many others that have recently emerged which deserve celebration. Those can all be accessed below, split into each respective category. Enjoy.
Music videos from the likes of Green Dreams, Twist, SLØTFACE, Heidi Lynne Gluck, The Raveonettes, Trentemøller, NAKED, and Mick Jenkins closed out last week in a memorable fashion. In that stretch, emergent Wisconsin act No Hoax also finally offered up their first round of recorded material and a blisteringly effective music video to accompany that release. “No Hoax”, their untitled debut EP’s centerpiece claimed the distinction of being the band’s first visual presentation and it serves as a definitive statement of the band’s early identity.
At the start of this year, I was fortunate enough to share a bill with No Hoax and catch their live show, which has been building a steadily increasing amount of buzz for over a year. The set they played remains one of the most powerful I’ve seen in 2016, which has boasted some seriously memorable outings. Combining a shoegaze-friendly wall-of-sound with post-punk atmospherics and absolutely vicious hardcore leanings, they conjured up something visceral and unforgettable. Since that set, the wait for their first recorded material has been frustrating but, thankfully, that wait’s finally over.
Not only has the band offered up their ferocious EP, they’ve provided an accompanying music video. “No Hoax”, easily the quietest moment on the EP, gets some additional bite with a direct black-and-white clip of the band performing the song in various locations. There are no frills and no flashy editing tricks, allowing the band to boldly stand on their own immediate merit, which is considerable and backed up by the members’ collective pedigree. By the time “No Hoax” ends, it feels less like a music video and more like a warning shot. No Hoax is planting their feet in the ground, not moving an inch, and making their name known. Learn it now.
Watch “No Hoax” below and pick up the band’s debut EP here.
