Genres
LCD Soundsystem Announce Final Show
LCD Soundsystem have announced on their website that they will be playing their last show ever on April 2nd at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The band will be playing a three hour set opened by Liquid Liquid and will play “stuff we’ve never played before.” They also requested that fans arrive donned in white, black, or black and white.
Tickets will be on sale February 11th at bowerypresents.com and ticketmaster.com.
Interview: Ace Enders
We had the chance to talk with Ace Enders (The Early November, Ace Enders and a Million Different People, I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business) about his Kickstarter project. We also discussed his future goals, his new album, touring possibilities, and thoughts on the music industry. He was clearly very passionate about his new projects and his goals. You can support his Kickstarter project here.
Ace: I guess just the separation between the supporters and musicians. I remember starting at a young age sort of seeing how the community was and what not, how the music scene has sort of changed. I think it’s the idea that came from all that, and making it more of a community-type thing. Now with the Kickstarter funding, it’s going to be our new thing that we’re pushing and I’m really excited about the whole new program that we’re about to start, that we’re going to unveil this week. It’s going to be pretty interesting, I think.
LitS: So you’ve already reached $20,000. Did you expect this project to be this successful?
Ace: No, I certainly did not. I thought we were going to come right down to the end trying to reach our goal, but I definitely didn’t expect it. I’m really, really just blown away. Every time I see it my breath is taken away a little bit. I’m like wow; I can’t believe we’re actually going to have a good shot at making this work. (more…)
Single: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – “Belong”
Track: “Belong”
Artist: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
Release Date: March 15, 2011
Label: Slumberland Records
“Belong”, the title track and second single from The Pains of Being Pure at Heart‘s, opens with a rather relaxed, sweet sound, before catching the listener off-guard and launching into a heavily distorted and hard-hitting guitar riff at around the fifteen second mark. This certainly isn’t the same Pains that we saw on their self-titled debut; the guitars are heavier, the drums rattle louder, and the band sounds bolder. The change in sound can be attributed to the new production team of Flood and Alan Moulder, the same team that crafted The Smashing Pumpkins‘ classics, explaining the huge distortion that appears on the track. While “Belong” may not have the same catchiness as past Pains tracks, it carries a more defined and confident sound, a markedly positive step forward for the band.
“Belong” is from Belong, out March 29, 2011 via Slumberland Records.
Rating: 8/10
Single: Yellowcard – “For You, and Your Denial”
Track: “For You, and Your Denial”
Artist: Yellowcard
Release Date: January 18, 2011
Label: Hopeless Records
After a 2 year hiatus from music, pop-punk/alternative band Yellowcard announced late last year that they have been working on a new album, which will be their first album released since 2007’s Paper Walls. A certain amount of excitement and hype has surrounded Yellowcard’s latest release, and last month they gave us a taste of what to expect with their single “For You, and Your Denial.” Taking us back to the early 2000’s, “For You, and Your Denial” reminds every Yellowcard fan out there what got them into the band in the first place. Opening with a classic fiddle intro, Yellowcard shows that they haven’t missed a beat as they deliver their trademark pop-punk sound in glorious fashion, taking us all back to a lighter days of jamming Ocean Avenue all summer long. Vocalist, Ryan Key’s vocals are on par with everything Yellowcard has released and the guitar hooks of Key and lead guitarist, Ryan Mendez are as infectious as ever. Drummer, Longineu W. Parsons III also unleashes an impressive performance, rounding out the track and leaving the listener smiling as this release marks Yellowcard’s imminent return to power.
“For You, and Your Denial” is from When You’re Through Thinking, Say Yes, out March 22, 2011 via Hopeless Records.
Listen: Via Yellowcard’s Myspace
Rating: 8.5/10
Augustana Announces New Album
Augustana will be releasing their self-titled third album on April 26, 2011 via Epic Records. The first single from the album, “Steal Your Heart”, will hit the radio on February 14.
Check out the tracklisting below.
Tracklisting:
1. Steal Your Heart
2. Wrong Side Of Love
3. On The Other Side
4. Counting Stars
5. Borrowed Time
6. Shot In The Dark
7. Someone’s Baby Now
8. Hurricane
9. Just Stay Here Tonight
10. It Only Means I Love You (You Were Made For Me)
The White Stripes Break Up
After 13 years together, Meg and Jack White have officially announced the break up of their band, The White Stripes.
Read more to find out the reasons behind the break up.
New Lupe Fiasco Song
Lupe Fiasco has released the second single from his upcoming album Lasers. The song is titled “Words I Never Said”, with the hook sung by Skylar Grey, and is described by Lupe as a “big, controversial record.” You can listen to the song below.
Lasers is scheduled for a March 8th release via Atlantic Records.
Review: Man Overboard – Real Talk
Man Overboard – Real Talk
Released: July 20, 2010
Label: Run For Cover Records
Purchase: iTunes | Amazon
I’ll be honest, I had no idea what to think about four-piece, pop-punk outfit Man Overboard when I first heard their debut full-length album titled Real Talk. I don’t know if it was the discreet use of auto-tune or the incredibly “cutsie” lyrics that nearly every song is contrived behind. But whatever reason forced me to set this album aside for months on end was a silly mistake, as recently I’ve given this legitimately fun pop-punk album the rotations it deserves.
Opening is the title track of Real Talk, which is the one song that lasted with me before I gave the rest of the record a chance. Beginning an album with a huge bang, “Real Talk” hits hard, showcasing the dual vocals of Nik Bruzzese and Zac Eiesenstein in a glorious, truly raw style that left me, as a huge pop-punk fan, salivating to see what came next. Upon first listen I was very disappointed when I heard the rest of the album after my ears witnessed such a stellar opener, but months after my first spin, I’m glad I gave this album one last chance. The addicting drums of then-drummer Justin Collier on “Fantasy Girl” and the huge sing-along outro to “Parting Gift” had left me itching my head in amazement. How I ever shelved this gem of a pop-punk album is beyond me, but once again, I was floored that I decided to give Real Talk a second chance, and I hadn’t even gotten to the meat of the record that is the latter half. “Al Sharpton” and “I Like You” show that Man Overboard know how to incorporate a catchy guitar line with an even catchier chorus, while acoustic driven “Sidekick” and the meaningful lyrics of “Septemberism” add a certain amount of depth to the previously somewhat one-dimensional album.
Though, this album has many major jams, it also falls victim to a common trend of what up-and-coming bands tend to offer with debut albums. The whiney vocals, accompanied by far too sugary sweet lyrics on “FM Dial Style” comes off as if Christofer Drew of NeverShoutNever had guest-written it, and re-released track, “Montrose” offers next to nothing. I would be undeniably satisified if one of these two tracks were scrapped during pre-production, leaving a perfect 11-track pop-punk summer rocker, but unfortunately, I can’t control the track listing.
Man Overboard has proven that they are very capable of contributing quality music to the recently rejuvenated pop-punk scene with this near stellar debut. And with their recent surprise signing to Rise Records, I expect nothing but huge things in the future for this group of young guys from South Jersey, which includes succeeding in their obvious goal to “defend pop-punk.”
7.8
Standout Tracks: “Septemberism,” “Al Sharpton,” “Real Talk”
The Dangerous Summer Announce Spring Tour
The Dangerous Summer have announced a spring tour with Sparks the Rescue, The Graduate, and The Scenic throughout the months of March and April. Dates are in the replies.
Tour Dates:
March 15 New York, NY – The Studio at Webster Hall
March 17 Allentown, PA – Crocodile Rock
March 18 Manheim, PA – Laserdome (supporting acts on this show are Ivoryline, I Call Fives)
March 19 South Hackensack, NJ – School of Rock
March 20 Philadelphia, PA – The Barbary
March 22 Pittsburg, PA – Smiling Moose
March 23 Akron, OH – Musica
March 24 Grand Rapids, MI – Mxtp
March 27 Madison, WI – The Loft
March 30 Sioux Falls, SD – Latitude 44
March 31 Omaha, NE – Sokol Underground
April 6 Bend, OR – Poet House
April 7 Walnut Creek, CA – Red House
April 8 Bakersfield, CA – Jerry’s Pizza
April 17 Oklahoma City, OK – The Conservatory
April 20 Nashville, TN – The End
April 26 West Columbia, SC – New Brooklyn Tavern
April 28 Harrisonburg, VA – The Blue Nile
New James Blake Video
Check out the music video for James Blake‘s song “The Wilhelm Scream” right here. His eponymous debut album will be released February 7th, 2011 on A&M Records. You can also check out the video for the album’s lead single “Limit to Your Love“, a Feist cover, right here.
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