Brave Young Lion

This is slick, technically impressive rock from the Texas quartet Brave Young Lion. I want to say it's math rock, but I hate using that term, though there's enough going on – ridiculous chord changes on the part of the guitarist and pretty complicated drumming from the drummer – to make this sound mathy. I also want to call it emo but it goes too hard and not melodramatically enough for that. Then I want to throw out comparisons to Animal Collective and Vampire Weekend but then I'm like, "Do they REALLY sound like that?"

Same Old Game is a grab bag of rock sub genres that BYL (they already have the abbreviation of a recognized rock group), with the occasional hiccups, pull off masterfully. The surfy-emo of "Ebbs and Flows" does just that with searing guitar licks and foamy deliver of Rico Turrubiarte. But there's also the sweaty punch of 80s arena rock in "Same Old Game." The closer "Nomadic Love" has a distinctly garage rock feel, both in sound and lyrical matter (the coda goes "perpetuate nomadic love").

The most powerful thing Same Old Game has going on, besides the excellent drumming and the versatility of the guitar players, is how it cannot be easily pigeonholed. The contents within the music won't confuse or anger but accommodate and please. It's tough to skirt the genre lines of rock music without falling into one completely. To do it on five songs and manage to sound unique on every one? That's walking on coals, and Brave Young Lion emerge with cool feet.
- The Equal Ground Music Blog

This is slick, technically impressive rock from the Texas quartet Brave Young Lion. I want to say it's math rock, but I hate using that term, though there's enough going on – ridiculous chord changes on the part of the guitarist and pretty complicated drumming from the drummer – to make this sound mathy. I also want to call it emo but it goes too hard and not melodramatically enough for that. Then I want to throw out comparisons to Animal Collective and Vampire Weekend but then I'm like, "Do they REALLY sound like that?"

Same Old Game is a grab bag of rock sub genres that BYL (they already have the abbreviation of a recognized rock group), with the occasional hiccups, pull off masterfully. The surfy-emo of "Ebbs and Flows" does just that with searing guitar licks and foamy deliver of Rico Turrubiarte. But there's also the sweaty punch of 80s arena rock in "Same Old Game." The closer "Nomadic Love" has a distinctly garage rock feel, both in sound and lyrical matter (the coda goes "perpetuate nomadic love").

The most powerful thing Same Old Game has going on, besides the excellent drumming and the versatility of the guitar players, is how it cannot be easily pigeonholed. The contents within the music won't confuse or anger but accommodate and please. It's tough to skirt the genre lines of rock music without falling into one completely. To do it on five songs and manage to sound unique on every one? That's walking on coals, and Brave Young Lion emerge with cool feet.
- The Equal Ground Music Blog

A debut EP is, for most bands, an effort to find both unity and style – but not so for Brave Young Lion. Same Old Game is a tightly woven combination of delicious melodic guitar hooks, solid drum fills and 100% pure joy. The entire album is an exemplary piece of quality craftsmanship that demonstrates the commitment and natural raw talent embodied by the band. It’s hard to get more infectious than the hook-filled “Same Old Game”. If you haven’t had a chance to bust out some dance moves in front of your bedroom mirror lately, here’s your chance. A five minute listen to this album and you won’t be able to do anything else.

They “may not know where [they] are going” (“Bodies/Hours“) but we do. Keep an eye on this band, they are going places – and chances are it will be somewhere that provides bottle service.
- Obscure Sound

DENTON — Brave Young Lion is an alternative/indie-rock quartet from Denton, Texas who just released their debut EP Same Old Game in June 2013.

It was recorded in Denton at Redwood Studios (which was founded in 2012 by members of the band Midlake). It was tracked and mixed by wonderful sound engineer Jordan Martin, and then mastered at Crystal Clear Sound in Dallas.

Their goal is to play energy-filled live shows that people walk away from telling their friends how much fun they had. It is simply catchy rock 'n' roll that will be stuck in your head the next morning -- and hopefully many thereafter.

Band members:
•Rico Turrubiarte – Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocals
•Hunter Cannon – Drums, Guitar
•Spencer Turrubiarte – Drums, Lead Guitar
•Brian Shovlin – Bass
- Pegasus News

Brave Young Lion is an alternative/indie-rock quartet from Denton, TX who just released their debut EP Same Old Game in June 2013.

It was recorded in Denton at Redwood Studios (which was founded in 2012 by members of the band Midlake). It was tracked and mixed by wonderful sound engineer Jordan Martin, and then mastered at Crystal Clear Sound in Dallas.

Their goal is to play energy-filled live shows that people walk away from telling their friends how much fun they had. It is simply catchy rock and roll that will be stuck in your head the next morning—and hopefully many thereafter.

Rico Turrubiarte – Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocals
Hunter Cannon – Drums, Guitar
Spencer Turrubiarte – Drums, Lead Guitar
Brian Shovlin – Bass
- The Indie-Verse

I've come across this nice debut EP, listened, re-listened, and even started repeating a few songs just to see which one stood out. Usually when nothing stands out it's a bad thing, but in the case of this EP it just means everything is of about the same quality.

So if you like a raw Indie sound with some slight Pop (and what sounds like a sprinkle of Punk) influences, make sure and give at least one track a listen. You can start right at the beginning here, with the first track of the release.

And what a great introduction to their sound. It starts off with that fading chaos, with that simple bass line hovering over it and then eventually the guitar. It won't take long before it swoops out of it all and becomes Rock. Just Rock; nothing much more complicated than that.

The vocals are almost generically Indie, but it suits the mood well. There's some quality percussion for the genre, but it's the chemistry that pulls everything off. The vocals are just a detail for me, it's the combined effort that makes the track worth listening. The evolution of it all.

You know those songs where you listen to it once and you like it? Then you give it another listen and it's just a little better? And then you just keep listening and it progressively becomes one of the best songs you've heard all week— I know you're relating to this. This is an entire EP of that kind of song. Five short tracks, each capable to lift you off the ground like fairy dust. With enough exposure; of course.

If I could point out a flaw, aside from maybe being a little too simple sometimes, I'd just say the studio work could be a little better. I'd rather the sound quality fail a little than have some hot-shot producer ruin the vibe though.

And then again, the album is name-your-price, what's there really to complain about? So if you liked today's track, do give it a listen. Pay what you want for it, even if that means downloading it free. But like them on Facebook, follow on Twitter, or just share them with your friends. I'm sure they appreciate any form of support. - D4AM Music Blog

Brave Young Lion are a new indie rock band from Denton, Texas that have a Vampire Weekend, The Vaccines feel to them. The 5 track EP is full of catchy guriar riffs, nice drum pieces, and a good bass line. You can pick up their EP for free over on their bandcamp page, http://braveyounglion.bandcamp.com/

The second track, Ebbs & Flows, is a stand out to me. It has nice quiet verses and an energenic chorus that comes out of nowhere. I really like the surf rock, post-punk revival feel to this track, reminds me a lot of The Vaccines and The Drums style.
- American Radass Blog

Brave Young Lion, ‘Same Old Game’

It seems like lately, every time I press play on a new album from Denton, I end up falling hard. Brave Young Lion is no exception: Same Old Game is some of the sharpest local rock I’ve heard recently. Drummer/guitarist Hunter Cannon (who also logs time in another terrific Denton act, Death in the West), vocalist/guitarist Rico Turrubiarte, guitarist/drummer Spencer Turrubiarte and bassist Brian Shovlin roar out of the gate with the fantastic 122A, and proceed to maintain a breakneck pace over the next four tracks. It’s fabulous, kinetic stuff, and will have you itching to see the band live.

Online: braveyounglion.bandcamp.com
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram (dfw.com)

I’ve been in a little blog slump as of late. But with that said, not too much new stuff has really stood up and grabbed me. But that changed with one e-mail from a young band named Brave Young Lion. They come from Denton, Texas and just released their debut EP Same Old Game.

In their e-mail they say that they feel like they belong in a surrounding such as New York City, with influence from bands like The Strokes, Vampire Weekend, The Killers, Kings of Leon, & Artic Monkeys (I approve). All of this shows on their sharp and exciting EP.

Things kick off nicely on lead track “122A” which sets the tone in style. “Ebbs & Flows” hits the ground running with a powerful guitar riff that instantly catches on to you. Add its glorious chorus and it becomes something that you’ll have stuck in your head for the rest of the day. You sense that these guys know how to write a hummable chorus again on “Bodies/Hours” and hear some impressive instrumentation on the impressive “Same Old Game.”

There was an instant connection when listening to each track on this impressive little EP. This connection is really hard to find. But when you find it, or rather, it finds you, it really hits the spot.

Take a listen to two tracks below, and if you like what you’re hearing, be sure to grab the EP from their bandcamp page for free. I also have it posted after the jump. Enjoy.
- We All Want Someone To Shout For Blog