Live Performance: Acoustic Performances w/ The Maine

Formed in Phoenix, AZ, in 2007 while most of the band members were still in high school, the Maine turned their '90s radio rock band influences into a generic but still infectious pop-punk sound. Featuring singer John O'Callaghan, guitarists Kennedy Brock and Jared Monaco, bassist Garrett Nickelsen, and drummer Pat Kirch, the Maine signed to Fearless Records and released a five-song concept EP, The Way We Talk, in 2007. After performing on the 2008 Vans Warped Tour, the band released their debut album Can't Stop Won't Stop, which was produced by Matt Squire.

This week I have a couple videos for you from The Maine performing some of their songs acoustically, if you want to see more videos like this check out the bands YouTube page because they actually have several, but I just picked my favorite two. http://www.youtube.com/user/themainebr

'Everything I Ask For'


'Mr. Winter'

Music Video: Every Avenue - Think of You Later (Empty Room)

Weekly Recap: 12/21 – 12/27

News:

1. Coconut Records' new album Davy comes out January 13th on Young Baby Records.
2. Farewell has completed pre-production on their new album and will begin tracking on January 2nd.

Streaming Music:

1. Yearling has posted a cover of Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas is You" on their myspace page.
2. The Mile After have posted a home-recorded acoustic version of "Little Things."
3. Select Start posted a new song entitled "A Playlist Killed the Mixtape" on myspace.
4. Melee have posted a new song for Hanukkah titled "When is Hanukkah This Year" on myspace.
5. Watch All-American Rejects cover Britney Spears' "Womanizer" here.
6. Red Car Wire posted "Check Your Voicemail," a Christmas song, up on their myspace.
7. The Wonder Years have posted a new song 'Don't Open The Fridge' on their myspace page.
8. Jesse Barrera of My American Heart has posted a new song entitled "Someday."
9. The Vanity Affair is streaming their new EP (produced Rob Freeman) on myspace.

Download:

1. You can download The Score's new full-length album Songs for a Halfway Home(produced by Ace Enders) for free right here.
2. Download Make Do And Mend's EP "Bodies of Water" free on their website.
3. At Amazon MP3 you can buy a new song from The Fray called "Syndicate."
4. Racing Kites new EP is now on iTunes for $4.95.
5. Coldplay has two holiday songs up for download on their site as a holiday gift.
6. Forgive Durden have just posted their cover of Sufjan Stevens' "Sister Winter" on their blog, but they've allowed us to make it available as a free download. Grab it on their AP.net Profile (bottom right corner).
7. Thieves and Villains just uploaded an acoustic/piano version of their song "I Have Spread Some Love" on myspace as a free holiday download. The band recorded the song in Chicago with Nick "Sexy" Scalice (October Fall).

Christmas Special Part 2

As promised here is part 2 which features many of my favorite bands performing my favorite classic Christmas tunes, rounded out with several tracks by Relient K, because I think they do Christmas best. Next week I will likely be posting a playlist featuring all the artists from Fueled By Ramen so stay tuned.



And here is a Christmas video from one of the Fueled By Ramen artists, VersaEmerge.

Live Performance: Fall Out Boy - I Don't Care (acoustic)

Typically today would be the day that I tell you about the new CDs coming out today, but it looks like nothing good is coming out this week so you get this instead, enjoy.

Patrick & Pete did an interview on NRJ (french radio) on October 24th 2008 and some acoustic songs.

Music Video: Socratic - A Christmas Coal Carol

Weekly Recap: 12/14 – 12/20

News:

1. The Secret Handshake has finished recording his new album which will be out in April.
2. Silverstein will be contributing a song to Punk Goes Pop 2.
3. Bayside is recording a song for Punk Goes Pop 2 today.
4. At a hometown show last night, The Forecast announced that they will be releasing an EP in January 2009 and a full album to follow.
5. Anthony from Bayside has started a blog.
6. We The Kings will be going out on a headlining tour in February and March called "The Secret Valentine Tour;" support includes The Maine, The Cab, There For Tomorrow, and VersaEmerge.
7. The Audition will release their new album on March 31st.
8. Panic at the Disco are writing over the holidays for their new album.
9. A bunch of bands have been named for Warped Tour.

Streaming Music:

1. Hit The Lights has posted their cover of Whitney Houston's "How Will I Know" on myspace.
2. We Shot The Moon posted new demos up on their myspace.
3. Lil' Wayne recorded a song specifically for Michael Phelps.
4. There's a remix of All Time Low's "Poppin' Champagne" on Alex Gaskarth's myspace.
5. Surrogate have posted their version of Christmas classic "The Most Wonderful Time of The Year" on myspace.
6. Tom from Houston Calls has updated his acoustic solo project, Breakfast in Bed, with a new song.
7. A new Christmas song from A Rocket To The Moon is currently featured on Hurley.com. The song is titled "Believe In Us (This Holiday)."
8. Danger Radio have posted their cover of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" on their myspace.
9. Christmas songs from Powerspace, This Providence, and The Friday Night Boys can be heard here.
10. Mae have posted a new demo on myspace.
11. MC Lars has posted three new songs.
12. Hidden In Plain View has posted two versions of their Christmas Song on myspace.
13. Coconut Records have posted a new track on myspace.
14. The Wonder Years have posted a Christmas tune on myspace.
15. The Sequence have posted a cover of "Disturbia" on their myspace. The song appears on their new EP, In Lights, which is available through Amazon now.
16. Treaty of Paris have released an original Christmas song.
17. Phonocast (Clark Harrison & Nick Foxer) has posted a Christmas song on myspace.
18. Inept have posted a new acoustic song, "Help Me Out," on their myspace.
19. Rookie Of The Year singer Ryan Dunson has posted a few solo tunes on myspace.
20. The Royal (ex-Rory) have posted new tracks on myspace.
21. Hear the new Taking Back Sunday song "Carpathia" here.

Download:

1. Single File's new single, “Mannequin Loveseat,” is now available on Itunes. The song is from their new record Common Struggles which will be coming out in Spring 2009.
2. The new Runner Runner acoustic EP, Stripped, went on iTunes today.
3. The Summer Set have released a new EP called Meet Me On the Left Coast.
4. We The Kings' new Secret Valentine EP, which features 2 new b-sides, a cover of Gorillaz' "Feel Good, Inc.," a Christmas song, as well as a radio mix and acoustic version of "Secret Valentine," is now available on iTunes.
5. Weezer's new EP, Christmas with Weezer, is now for sale at Amazon MP3.
6. Now, Now Every Children have posted their single, "Cars," for download.
7. Idiot Pilot have posted "White Christmas" for a free download linked to their myspace.
8. The Killers' new Christmas song featuring Elton John and Neil Tennant, "Joseph, Better You Than Me," can be downloaded on Amazon here.
9. Sherwood are offering a free download of their Christmas tune, "Snowing in Seattle," on their AP.net profile.

Playlist: Christmas Special Part 1

Christmas is my favorite time of the year and I think Christmas music is the perfect thing to include on this blog because who doesn’t love Christmas music. If you are a reader of my other blog Frickin’ Useless I have posted something similar over there, and that is pretty much what led me to the idea of creating Useless Radio. This list is composed of original tracks by some of my favorite bands today. I would like to keep these playlists under 23 songs so I had to pick and chose my favorites. Stay tuned next week when I will be bringing you my favorite classic Christmas jingles covered by some of my favorite bands.

Artist of the Week: Say Anything

Say Anything is a rock band from Los Angeles, California, fronted by singer-songwriter Max Bemis. The band formed in 2000 with Bemis and four of his friends. Within two years, they self-released two EPs, Junior Varsity and In Your Dreams, and the full-length Baseball: An Album by Sayanything. In 2003, the band signed with their first label, Doghouse Records. A year later, they released ...Is a Real Boy. They signed with J Records in 2005 and, rereleased ...Is a Real Boy which came with a bonus disc called ...Was a Real Boy. On October 23, 2007, the band released their third full-length album, In Defense of the Genre.

Currently, Say Anything consists of Max Bemis (vocals), Coby Linder (drums), Alex Kent (bass), Jake Turner (guitar, vocals), Jeff Turner (guitar, vocals), and Parker Case (keyboard, vocals).

I was not a huge fan of Say Anything when I first heard them a few years ago, but I decided to get In Defense of the Genre just to give them a second chance and after listen to it a couple times I finally got it and fell in love with Bemis’s voice. After listening to that CD probably 20 times Say Anything is one of my favorite bands and I cannot wait for their next album.

Now to the music, as always I want to leave you with a few of my favorite songs to sample. Most of the songs come from Say Anything’s third full-length studio album which was a two disc release and probably one of my favorite CDs of all time. And I also wanted to share their take on I Got Your Money originally by O.D.B. which comes from Punk Goes Crunk, and is pretty interesting.



I also decided to leave you with the video for “Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too” one of my favorite Say Anything songs, and an enjoyable music video.
Say Anything - Wow I Can Get Sexual Too

Interview: Thomas of Forgive Durden

Last week I posted some of my thoughts on Forgive Durden and Razia’s Shadow and I found this interview the other day so I thought it would be a good time to share it with you.

Albums in Stores Today – 12/16

Fall Out Boy - Folie a Deux
Track listing:
1. Disloyal Order Of Water Buffaloes
2. I Don't Care
3. She's My Winona
4. America's Suitehearts
5. Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown On A Bad Bet
6. The (Shipped) Gold Standard
7. (Coffee's For Closers)
8. What A Catch, Donnie
9. 27
10. Tiffany Blews
11. w.a.m.s.
12. 20 Dollar Nose Bleed
13. West Coast Smoker

All-American Rejects - When the World Comes Down
Track listing:
1. I Wanna
2. Fallin' Apart
3. Damn Girl
4. Gives You Hell
5. Mona Lisa
6. Breakin'
7. Another Heart Calls
8. Real World
9. Back to Me
10. Believe
11. The Wind Blows

The Summer Set - Meet Me On The Left Coast EP
Track listing:
1. Love By Our Side
2. Can You Find Me
3. L.I.T.C.

We The Kings - Secret Valentine EP
Track listing:
1. Secret Valentine (Radio Mix)
2. Feel Good Inc. (Gorillaz cover)
3. Make It Or Not
4. Bring Out Your Best
5. Secret Valentine (Acoustic)
6. There Is A Light

My Chemical Romance - Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge
Track listing:
1. Helena
2. Give 'Em Hell, Kid
3. To the End
4. You Know What They Do to Guys Like Us in Prison
5. I'm Not Okay (I Promise)
6. Ghost of You
7. Jetset Life Is Gonna Kill You
8. Interlude
9. Thank You for the Venom
10. Hang 'Em High
11. It's Not a Fashion Statement, It's a Deathwish
12. Cemetery Drive
13. I Never Told You What I Do for a Living

Music Video: We The Kings - Secret Valentine

We The Kings "Secret Valentine"

Weekly Recap: 12/7 – 12/13

News:

1. MTV is going to be laying off close to 300 workers today, most from the "music side of the business." Anyone else want the "M" back?
2. Mercy Mercedes have been confirmed for next year's Bamboozle Road Show.
3. Down for the Count's debut EP Battle Royale will be released in stores on January 13th.
4. Action Item have posted a new video update along with the announcement that they'll be writing a new song with Justin from Brighten and go into the studio this month to record a new record with Jeff Schneeweis.
5. We The Kings will be releasing a new EP titled Secret Valentine via iTunes on Tuesday, December 16th.
6. New Found Glory will be releasing their new single, "Listen to Your Friends," on December 23rd via iTunes.
7. Bedlight for Blue Eyes are breaking up.
8. Silverstein will release their new album on March 31st.
   About the Album: When we made Discovering the Waterfront there was something so special about the process. We've made the last 3 records essentially the same way. The process was get in a room, jam it out and let it come out how it comes out. This time we've decided to switch it up and write an entire album instead of just a collection of songs. We're considering the flow between songs and transitions a lot more, and lyrically this record will tell a story. It will be a concept album.
9. Anberlin's "Feel Good Drag" has moved up to #11 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Congratulations to the band.

Streaming Music:

1. An unmastered remix of Fall Out Boy's "America's Suitehearts" by Suave Suarez (Cobra Starship) is up on Pete Wentz's Friends Or Enemies journal.
2. Racing Kites have posted "Takeover" on their myspace.
3. The Maine is streaming their upcoming EP, ...And A Happy New Year, on purevolume.
4. Socratic have posted "A Christmas Coal Carol" on myspace.
5. The Sophomore Attempt posted a cover of The Early November's "Ever So Sweet" on myspace.
6. Chris and Bryan of The Ataris have posted their instrumental cover of "Carol Of The Bells" over at their other band, The Widow Jenkins' myspace.
7. Brightwood have posted their rendition of the Christmas classic "Oh Come O Come Emmanuel" on myspace.
8. First Class Fever have posted a new Christmas song on their myspace.
9. The Delivery Boys have posted a Christmas song titled "You're All I Want For Christmas" on myspace. The song was recorded and produced by Nick Scalise, formerly of October Fall.
10. Head over to the to The Bigger Lights' AP.net Profile to stream "Holly Holidaze" a very merry ABSOLUTExclusive.
11. Between the Trees have posted a new demo on myspace.
12. Fall Out Boy's b-side "Pavlove" can be streamed here.
13. Listen to a clip of New Found Glory's new single, "Listen to Your Friends," here.

Free Download:

1. You can download the MP3 for Fall Out Boy's "Tiffany Blews" (featuring Lil Wayne) for free at The FADER
2. Socratic recently posted "A Christmas Coal Carol" on their myspace, but they wanted to make it available for download, so you can now head to their AP.net profile and do just that! (bottom right corner)
3. Koopa's new single can be downloaded here.

Playlist: Current Favorite Bands

I think it is important for me to play some of my favorite songs for you right now so you can kind of see where I am coming from with my music selections. If you like any of these artists and want to hear more, or have any suggestions leave them in the comments. Next week I will be showing off some of my favorite bands playing Christmas music so stay tuned.

Artist of the Week: Forgive Durden

Forgive Durden is an indie rock band from Seattle, Washington, who got their name from the popular novel, Fight Club. They are signed to Fueled by Ramen. Fueled by Ramen released Forgive Durden's first full-length album, Wonderland, on May 9, 2006.

On January 27, 2008, lead singer Thomas Dutton announced on the band's blog that the other 3 members had decided to leave the band, citing personality conflicts as the primary reason. He also announced that his brother Paul had been helping him write and record a new album, Razia's Shadow: A Musical with the help of Gatsbys American Dream's Rudy Gajadhar playing drums. It was not mentioned whether the other two had become full-time members of the band.

Nevertheless since I brought up Razia's Shadow: A Musical I should point out that is really what I want to talk about here. I thought there first album was good, but I think this CD is amazing and I have listened to it several times since its release on October 28, 2008. This CD is impossible to review because I have never experienced anything like it, so I am just going to start out by saying I love it and you need to hear. I must point out that I am typically not a fan of musicals, but some how this works for me. It probably has something to do with the fact that I really like Thomas Dutton’s voice from Forgive Durden and the CD also features many other artist I enjoy including Max Bemis of Say Anything, Greta Salpeter of The Hush Sound, Brendon Urie of Panic at the Disco. Basically the album tells the story of a world divided in two by the selfish actions of a powerful and egotistical, yet insecure angel. After generations of darkness, the world is eventually brought back together by the love and sacrifice of a couple brave enough to fulfill their destinies. I don’t really know what else to say except you owe it to yourself to check it out. Typically I would just leave you a couple tracks off the album to sample, but you really must to listen to the whole thing to get the full story, so listen to it and let me know what you think.

List of characters:
O The Scientist - Casey Crescenzo (The Dear Hunter)
Bawaba Brothers - John Baldwin Gourley (Portugal. The Man), Kris Anaya (An Angle)
Narrator - Aaron Weiss (mewithoutYou)
Gargul The Oracle - Danny Stevens (The Audition)
Toba the Tura - Chris Conley (Saves the Day)
Sangara - Daniel Young (This Providence)
Barayas the Spider - Max Bemis (Say Anything)
Princess Anhura - Greta Salpeter (The Hush Sound)
Pallis - Brendon Urie (Panic at the Disco)
King Malka - Nic Newsham (Gatsbys American Dream)
Doctor Dumaya - Shawn Harris (The Matches)
Nidria - Lizzie Huffman (Man in the Blue Van)
Adakias - Thomas Dutton (Forgive Durden)
Ahrima - Thomas Dutton (Forgive Durden)

And I will leave you with a video for the song Ants from Forgive Durden's first album just to give you a taste of what that album sounds like, which is really nothing like Razia's Shadow, but I still enjoy.

Preview: Eminem's New Song

The reclusive hip-hop star returns with profane raps on this new Dr. Dre-produced cut.

While fans await the arrival Eminem's long-delayed fifth record, Relapse, the man born Marshall Mathers has been slowly leaking material that may appear on the forthcoming album. The latest: The Dr. Dre-produced "Number One," which has surfaced on DJ Big Mike and Neptune's 4th Quarter Pressure Part 2 mixtape.

"Number One" contains Eminem's trademark brand of clever wordplay and profane subject matter, but there's no confirmation from label Interscope that the song will appear on either Relapse or another long-awaited album, Dr. Dre's Detox.

Interscope head Jimmy Iovine recently told Billboard.com that progress on both records was being made: "Dre had to stop making his album to finish Eminem's album. Eminem hit a streak, and when a guy like Eminem gets on fire, you stop everything. Dre's going back in [the studio] in January to finish his album."

Albums in Stores Today – 12/09

Maroon 5 - Call and Response: The Remix Album
Maroon 5, art rockers? These remixes of the group's hits by indie acts like Of Montreal and Deerhoof make the idea seem oddly plausible. Maroon 5's bubblegummy pop — and Adam Levine's anodyne vocals — make the band ideal candidates for remix treatment, and they've corralled some impressive extreme makeovers: hip-pop (Swizz Beatz), Euro-dance (Bloodshy & Avant), crunk (David Banner), retro R&B (Mark Ronson).

Track Listing
1. If I Never See Your Face Again
2. Wake Up Call
3. Sunday Morning
4. Makes Me Wonder
5. This Love
6. She Will Be Loved
7. Shiver
8. Wake Up Call
9. Harder To Breathe
10. Little Of Your Time
11. Little Of Your Time
12. Goodnight Goodnight
13. Not Falling Apart
14. Better That We Break
15. Secret
16. Woman
17. This Love
18. If I Never See Your Face Again

Common - Universal Mind Control
Universal Mind Control is the 8th album from Chicago hip-hop artist Common. Originally scheduled to be released on June 24, 2008 under the name "Invincible Summer," the release date was pushed back to September 30, 2008 due to Common filming . However, on September 10, 2008, it was announced that the title would be changed to "Universal Mind Control" and the release date was set for November 11, 2008. Later, the release was pushed back to December 9, 2008.

Track Listing
1. Universal Mind Control (UMC)
2. Punch Drunk Love
3. Make My Day
4. Sex 4 Suga
5. Announcement
6. Gladiator
7. Changes
8. Inhale
9. What A World
10. Everywhere

The Maine - ...And a Happy New Year
...And A Happy New Year is a Christmas EP. It is the second EP by the band, The Maine, that is going to be released on December 9, 2008 by Fearless Records.

Track Listing
1. Ho Ho Hopefully (Featuring backing vocals by Eisley)
2. Santa Stole My Girlfriend
3. Mr. Winter
4. Last Christmas (originally by Wham!)

That Was Something - Down But Not Out
That Was Something will release their new EP, Down But Not Out, on December 9th.

Track Listing
01) She Is The West Coast
02) For The Fame
03) If It's Up To Us
04) Back Down Lady
05) Till The Wheels Fall Off

The Real You - Better Now Than Never
Seattle based piano driven pop/rock band The Real You is making their mark with their new EP, titled "Better Now Than Never." The record was produced by Jim Wirt (Jack's Mannequin, The Rocket Summer) and mixed by Brandon Metcalf (The Scene Aesthetic, Daphne Loves Derby). It spans from Beach Boys pop on "Wrong Side" to emotional ballads like "Unwound. " Find these and everything in between on the all new record from The Real You, "Better Now Than Never."

Track Listing
1. The Truth About Liars
2. Unwound
3. Worse For The Wear
4. Wrong Side Of My Head
5. What It Means To (Love)

Backseat Goodbye - A Christmas EP
Backseat Goodbye will be releasing an EP featuring select tracks from "A Christmas Album" as well as another original holiday track exclusive to the EP. This EP will ONLY be available digitally on Amazon.com, iTunes, and select other online retailers.

Thrice - Live at the House of Blues [DVD]
Vagrant will release Thrice Live at The House of Blues on December 9, 2008. The triple-disc package features an entire live concert on two CD’s plus a DVD from a May 28, 2008 show at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA. Also included is exclusive interview footage of the band fielding fan-submitted questions.

Music Video: Metro Station - Seventeen Forever

Metro Station - New Music - More Music Videos

Tentative Schedule of Events

After spending the weekend thinking about what I wanted to do here I came up with a tentative schedule for posting different things. To start off with I would like to post a new music video every Monday, that is to say, if there is a new music video available to post. Then Tuesday I will try to put up a list of albums that hit stores that day and maybe some of my thoughts if I have any, which I rarely do. Wednesday will be kind of a random day because one week I could post an interview or a review and another week could be a live performance or some behind the scenes footage. And Thursday I was thinking about doing some sort of spotlight thing or an Artist of the Week, but I may have to roll that into the Wednesday lineup so I can save Thursday to prepare for Friday. Speaking of Friday that will be the big post where I will create a special playlist to share with you all every week and that is what I am looking forward to doing the most. Finally on Saturday I will be posting a weekly news recap that quickly covers some of the happenings in the music business so stay tuned.

Review: Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak

Release Date: November 24, 2008
Record Label: Roc-A-Fella/G.O.O.D./Def Jam

I love Kanye’s first three CDs, but this one is hard to compare to those because it is something completely different. This isn’t a hip-hop album; it is a dark pop album, or “pop art” as West describes it. There are no skits, but the Graduation didn’t have them either so I can live with that, but there is no rap either, this is more singing and Kanye doesn’t even sample any old songs with the sped up squeaky voices, which is pretty much what he is know for. That being said this album still has some really great beats on it, but it is just something way different then I have come to expect from Mr. West and I don’t really know how I feel about it.

If you have heard any of the tracks off the album you will soon realize that it relies heavily on the Auto-Tune, which is what T-Pain is known for popularizing these days. I don’t really mind when T-Pain uses it because it is what he is known for, but I am getting sick of every other artist using it now including the likes of Snoop Dogg and Lil Wayne. I think he relies on it a little bit too much on this album because there is no need to have it on every song and his voice sounds fine without it, but I can’t knock him for trying something different. It takes balls for him to do this album after being so successful with his previous three.

I have listened to the CD 4 or 5 times since I got it a week ago and every time I do I like it a little more and enjoy a different track, so I think it is worth checking out if you are a fan of his. My favorite tracks are probably RoboCop, See You In My Nightmares (feat. Lil Wayne) and Coldest Winter, which you can listen to below. I also enjoy the last track, Pinocchio Story, which is supposedly a live freestyle and it reminds me a lot of Mos Def for some reason. If you want change like Barack Obama then you might like this album, but if you are looking for the traditional Kanye sound, and do not like the sample I have provided below then wait until 2009 when he is set to go be back to his hip-hop roots with Good Ass Job.

Track Listing:
1. Say You Will
2. Welcome To Heartbreak (feat. Kid Cudi)
3. Heartless
4. Amazing (feat. Young Jeezy)
5. Love Lockdown
6. Paranoid (feat. Mr. Hudson)
7. RoboCop
8. Street Lights
9. Bad News
10. See You In My Nightmares (feat. Lil Wayne)
11. Coldest Winter
12. Pinocchio Story (Live)

What is Useless Radio?

I have always wanted to do a podcast, but I do not have any of the equipment, the fundage to get the equipment, the knowledge to figure it out myself, or really anything useful to say, so I came up with this as a compromise. Today there are several podcasts out there on the information super highway, like Ham Radio, where people pretty much create their own radio stations by talking and introducing music and that is something I am interested in trying in the future. I believe I have a wide taste in music, I discover new music constantly and I would love to share some of it with the world. As far is this blog goes it will be in the same vein just written instead of spoken. Hopefully I will have time at least once a week to do something on here, like create a new playlist or talk about a new CD or band I have discovered. Stay tuned.