urgency to bleed

The Grates are a highly energetic, insanely catchy trio hailing from Brisbane, Australia. Back in 2006, when their very good debut album - Gravity Won't Get You High - came out, I was extremely obsessed with this band for awhile, but by the time I started posting here, the obsession had waned and I haven't shared much of their music. But I still think they are awesome. I guess if comparisons have to be drawn, the easiest (and possibly laziest) ones to make are to bands like Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Be Your Own Pet, though the Grates are more poppy than both of them, more fun than YYYs, and less harsh than BYOP. Overall, their music is nothing terribly deep or life-altering, but it is tons of fun and sticks in your head for ages. Plus, frontwoman Patience Hodgson is perhaps the cutest, most adorable girl in the entire world - or at least in Australia. She has quite a voice on her as well and when it's called for, can belt it out with the best of them. And of course, there's that equally adorable Australian accent that just makes everything sound better.

Anyway, what propelled me to post about them now in the first place is that they have a brand new album due out in August called Teeth Lost Hearts Won and I just heard the single, "Burn Bridges", for the first time yesterday and as expected, it is terribly catchy and addicting. Patience's vocals are as charming as ever and as if that chorus isn't already perfection, there is also the added bonus of handclaps! Which everyone knows I love so this song is a complete winner in my book. Here is the video, which is quite odd and I'm not sure if I actually like it or not, but it sure is interesting, at least.


And, finally, here are a few of my favorite songs from Gravity Won't Get You High. They all come highly recommended, of course.

• Lies Are Much More Fun
• 19-20-20
• Howl
• Feels Like Pain