Playlist: Acoustic

I lied two weeks ago when I said ‘Little Known Bands: Part III’ was coming, well it is still coming, but not for a couple weeks because I need to put some more work into it still and I want to give you something different in the mean time. I love the sound of the acoustic guitar and I am going to use this week to share some of my favorite acoustic tracks with you. Bayside: Acoustic and Fall Out Boy: My Heart Will Always Be the B-Side to My Tongue are two of my favorite CDs ever and they are both acoustic so expect tracks from them plus several other tracks in this playlist. Stay tuned next week and you will get the non acoustic versions to compare these to and ‘Little Known Bands: Part III’ should be ready the week after.

Artist of the Week: Anberlin

Anberlin is an alternative rock band from Winter Haven, Florida, United States formed in 2002. The band has released four albums and an EP in their six-year run and have sold over 400,000 albums. Anberlin spent five years signed with semi-independent record label Tooth & Nail Records and after the success of their first three studio albums, they announced their signing with major label Universal Republic Records on August 16, 2007. The band's first album on a major label was released on September 30, 2008, entitled New Surrender.

The bandmates officially created Anberlin in 2002, after being approached by Tooth & Nail Records. Barely a year after their formation, their first album as a new band was entitled Blueprints for the Black Market (2003), and was produced by Aaron Sprinkle. It failed to chart, but spurred on by the single "Readyfuels", the album proved to be sufficiently successful, selling over 60,000 units. Through steady touring with other bands in their label and heavy internet promotion, Anberlin was amassing a dedicated fan base early on.

Anberlin released their follow up to Blueprints, Never Take Friendship Personal, in early 2005, again produced by Aaron Sprinkle. Charting at #144 on the Billboard 200, the album brought the band a step closer into the mainstream. Never Take was generally more well received by critics than Blueprints for the Black Market, and garnered favorable reviews.

Anberlin's third album produced by Aaron Sprinkle was released in early 2007 under the title Cities. It sold 34,000 copies in its first week of release, debuted at #19 on the Billboard 200 chart, and, like their previous album, received fairly positive reviews from critics. Before the release of Cities, the band released Godspeed EP exclusively on iTunes in late 2006 to give a preview to the new album. In support of the album, Anberlin held their first headlining tour, supported by Bayside, Meg & Dia and Jonezetta. A compilation album of unreleased material, called Lost Songs, was also released in 2007. It features B-sides, demos, covers, and acoustic versions of their previous songs as well as other tracks recorded at AOL Sessions.

New Surrender is the bands newest release coming out back in September 2008 and I fell in love with it immediately. Never Take is probably still my favorite Anberlin album, at this point, but they are all very good. Currently Stephen Christian is working on an acoustic side project called Anchor & Braille and they should be releasing a CD very soon which I am highly looking forward to.

Members
Stephen Christian – lead vocals (2002-present)
Joseph Milligan – lead guitar, backing vocals (2002-present)
Deon Rexroat – bass (2002-present)
Nathan Young – drums (2002-present)
Christian McAlhaney (formerly of Acceptance) – guitar, backing vocals (2007-present)

Discography
Blueprints for the Black Market [2003]
Never Take Friendship Personal [2005]
Godspeed EP [2006]
Cities [2007]
Lost Songs [2007]
New Surrender [2008]

Performance: We Shot The Moon - Water's Edge (acoustic)

Live Performance: Socratic - A Better Place Is Waiting

Music Video: Coldplay - Life in Technicolour II

Weekly Recap: 1/18 – 1/24

News:

1. Cartel have posted a recording update.
   Message from the Band: Well, it's inauguration Tuesday so I figured I might as well clue you all in on what's happening...We should be finishing up writing in the next weeks to month. I know we've been saying that since the summer so it can sound a little old at this point but we really have been going after our best material. I think we've written or entertained the idea of about 30 songs at this point which is a lot when you consider that we wrote exactly those 12 songs as the only candidates for Chroma and everything we did for the last record ended up on the album...making a grand total (including the EP) of 34 songs we've ever written...so we almost doubled our catalog over the last year. But, it's all been in the task of getting our absolute best for you. We don't really have any more update than that. Once we confirm a producer - we will let you know. Once we book studio time - we will let you know. As for now, we are very close. I honestly think we're only a couple songs away from everything we need to make this our best yet so I don't think this can go on much longer but it's well worth it.
   I'll leave any further excitement to be perpetuated by the eternal hype machine so with that I bid adieu and say good day to you!
2. Between The Trees recently announced they are going to be going to the studio to record a new album on March 1st.
3. Silverstein's fourth full-length, A Shipwreck in the Sand, will hit stores on March 31st.
4. The new album, You're Too Sweet For Rock 'N Roll, from It's Like Love is out today on Tragic Hero Records. Watch a video message from the band in the replies.
5. We The Kings has a new video podcast up on iTunes.

Streaming Music:

1. Clips from every song on Two Tongue's CD can be heard here.
2. VersaEmerge have posted a sampler from their upcoming EP. Due out February 3rd.
3. VersaEmerge have posted a new song, "Past Praying For," on myspace.
4. Settings has posted a new song, titled "The Surface," on their myspace page.
5. The Fastest Kid Alive has posted a new song titled "Rock N Roll and Live For the Weekend" on myspace. The song was produced by Seth Henderson of Asteria.
6. Paulson have posted a new song on myspace.
7. The Right Coast has posted their cover of Taylor Swift's "Love Story" on their myspace page. They also have their entire 4 song EP up for streaming.
8. Sail By The Stars has posted a new song on myspace titled "Once Upon A Time".
9. Jamies Elsewhere have posted a cover of Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" on myspace.
10. Inept have posted a new song called "Through The Darkest Days" on their myspace.
11. Carter Hulsey posted a new song on his myspace.
12. Stream Fall Out Boy's cover of The Simpsons theme song here.

Download:

1. Straylight Run is giving away a free mp3.
   Message from the Band: On our last couple of tours we performed a cover version of the Nirvana song "Drain You". When we got home we said to ourselves "Hey, we really liked playing that song! Why don't we record it for fun and give it to our fans for free?" So that's exactly what we did. Just click on the link below and you'll be on your way to getting your very own free mp3 of Straylight Run performing "Drain You". Booyah!
2. NeverShoutNever! has released his Me & My Uke EP for a free download. A portion of the donations go to the Tom's Shoes foundation.
3. Lil Wayne's new single, "Prom Queen," can be downloaded here.
4. Today is the one year anniversary of Jet Lag Gemini's Fire the Cannons. To celebrate they're giving away "Stepping Stone" for a free download. If you haven't checked out these guys yet - now's a good time to start

Behind the Scenes: Two Tongues

Ever wonder how two notorious frontmen like Max Bemis and Chris Conley leverage their respective creative personalities to join forces in a band like Two Tongues? Check out the ABSOLUTExclusive EPK video to hear the answers straight from their own two tongues.

Two Tongues - EPK from absolutepunk.net on Vimeo.

Music Video: Silverstein - Apologize (Cover)

Weekly Recap: 1/11 – 1/17

News:

1. Ace Enders will release When I Hit the Ground in March.
2. Say Anything will be hitting the studio soon. Expect studio updates.
3. The Friday Night Boys have started recording their debut full length with producer Emanuel Kiriakou.
4. Holiday Parade will be releasing an as-yet untitled EP featuring 6-8 new songs some time in March.
5. The Boy and His Machine's Show Them What You're Made Of will be released on March 17, 2009. The album was produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Paul Leavitt. You can hear a sampler on myspace or purevolume.
6. The Sequence EP, In Lights, featuring "Disturbia" is now available on Itunes.
7. MC Lars will release This Gigantic Robot Kills on February 24th.
8. The Decemberists will release their new album, The Hazards of Love, on March 24th.
9. This Century are recording their new EP with Matt Grabe.

Streaming Music:

1. Justin Timberlake and Timbaland reunite for the track, "Bigger Than The World." Take a listen.
2. Kelly Clarkson's new single, "My Life Would Suck Without You" is on myspace.
3. The Fold have posted an acoustic version of "Closer" on their myspace.
4. Faster Faster posted a new song, "170 as Usual", on myspace.
5. The Record Life have posted two tracks from their upcoming album, Into the Sea of Something Big, on myspace.
6. Van Atta High just released a new song titled "Birthday Girl" on their myspace. Their new EP, Doin' Somethin' Right, will be released March 10 via Thriving Records.
7. Gregory James (ex-Settings) has started a solo project, My Name Is Disaster. His first song, "The Distance," can be heard on myspace.
8. The Friendswemake have just released a new song called "Stomach," that features Ben Kweller on piano, on their myspace.
9. Absolute 100 band Me As Time have posted their first song with their new singer and haven't missed a beat. Check out "I Am Machinery" on their myspace.
10. Run Doris Run have posted "Amen" on their myspace from their new record, Vultures.

Download:

1. The Decemberists are offering a free download of "The Rakes Song" taken from their upcoming album The Hazards Of Love. The song can be downloaded on their website.
2. Tyga's free mixtape is available for download.
3. Oh No Not Stereo released their new record 003 yesterday, an energized blend of all things alternative rock. We've got the track "Hurricanes (Right Behind You)" up for free download on their AP.net Profile, an aggressive, accessible adrenaline-rush. Rock radio, pay attention.
4. Her Space Holiday is offering a free download of a new track called "Pass It On" from his upcoming album. Go here to download it.

Playlist: Little Known Bands: Part II

Like I said last week this is a list of bands that I have found over the past year or so and have come to appreciate and there are a lot of them so I have split it up into several posts so stay tuned next week for part 3.

Performance: Anberlin - 'Unwinding Cable Car' (acoustic)

Albums in Stores Today – 1/13

Coconut Records - Davy
Coconut Records' new album Davy comes out January 13th on Young Baby Records.

Track Listing
01) Microphone
02) Drummer
03) Any Fun
04) Saint Jerome
05) Courtyard
06) Wandering Around
07) The Summer
08) I Am Young
09) Wires
10) Is This Sound Okay?

Oh No Not Stereo - 003
Produced by ONNS with assistance from Jim Wirt (Incubus, Live, Something Corporate) and Max Coane (Jack's Mannequin, The Rocket Summer, The Bronx); mixed by Neal Avron (Fall Out Boy, Yellowcard, Anberlin). Features guest instrumentation from Airin Older of Sugarcult.

Track Listing
1. Lets Get It Started
2. Hurricanes
3. All You
4. Miss Hard Time
5. Shot Down By The Man
6. 12 Years Later
7. Something New
8. I Can't Say
9. Brothers
10. Say Anything
11. This Friday Night
12. Get Over It
13. A World Of Your Own
14. The Eyes On The Kids
15. Can't Trust Anyone

Varsity Fanclub - Varsity Fanclub
Released on Stonehall/Capitol Records.

Track Listing
1. Zero
2. Future Love
3. Maybe This Is Love
4. Lost Then Found
5. Looking for Love
6. What I Really Want to Say
7. Half of You
8. We Will
9. Complicated Girl
10. Interlude
11. Used to Be Lonely
12. Bad Habit
13. When You Were Mine
14. Ghost

Satyricon - The Age Of Nero
Released on Koch Records.

Track Listing
1. Commando
2. Wolfpack
3. Black Crow On A Tombstone
4. Die By My Hand
5. My Skin Is Cold
6. Sign Of The Trident
7. Last Man Standing
8. Den Siste
9. My Skin Is Cold
10. Live Through Me
11. Existential Fear Questions
12. Repined Bastard Nation
13. Mother North
14. Pentagram Burns
15. Last Man Standing
16. De Siste
17. King
18. Pentagram Burns

Year Ends In Arson - Vessels
Released on Indianola Records.

Track Listing
1. Intro
2. Vessels
3. For The Love Of
4. The Fire Of 93'
5. In The Blink Of A Heart
6. It'll Ruin Em'
7. Once More With Feeling
8. Whispers
9. Call To Arms
10. I Can't Wake Up

Down For The Count - Battle Royale

Track Listing
01. Make My Day
02. She's Walkin' Like She Knows I'm Lookin'
03. I Call The Shots, You Call The Cab
04. Southern Lovin'
05. Write This Down
06. Paperback Novelty

Music Video: Mayday Parade - Miserable at Best

Miserable at Best - Music Video

Weekly Recap: 1/4 – 1/10

News:

1. Mayday Parade is starting to write for their upcoming album, tentatively scheduled to be released this summer. Drummer Jake Bundrick says that the album will be about,"things we love or things we're saying 'fuck yeah' about. If we can't feel it how should we expect you too. But, that's what we'll be doing this week."
2. Ace Enders will be releasing When I Hit the Ground on Vagrant/Drive-Thru on March 17th.
3. Anthony Raneri (Bayside) and Yak are working on music for a new group.
4. New Found Glory have announced their tour dates with Bayside, Set Your Goals, and Verse.
5. Punk Goes Pop 2 has been pushed back to March 10th.
6. From First To Last is going to head to the studio soon to record a new album.
7. Lil' Wayne is recording a rock album.
8. Lupe Fiasco is rumored to be fronting post-punk band Japanese Cartoons.

Streaming Music:

1. New Found Glory have posted their new single, "Listen to Your Friends," on myspace.
2. A new song from The Fray called "Syndicate" can be heard on their website.
3. Silverstein's cover of "Apologize" by One Republic is the first song to be posted to the Punk Goes Pop 2 Myspace.
4. Two Tongues have posted a new track called "If I Could Make You Do Things" on their purevolume page.
5. Hidden in Plain View have posted a b-side on myspace.
6. It's Like Love posted a new song "Hey Lucy" on their myspace.
7. With The Punches has posted an album sampler of their new album on the band's myspace.
8. Young Love have posted new songs on myspace.
9. Divided By Friday has posted a new song on myspace.

Download:

1. Racing Kites have posted "All Night is Alright" for free download on purevolume. They've also launched their new blog here.
2. You've streamed Thursday's new single "Resuscitation of a Dead Man", but now we've been given the green light to offer it as a free download. Right click here and choose Save Link As... to download the first single from Thursday's forthcoming and much anticipated Common Existence. You can also stream and download the song on their AP.net Profile.
3. Bangarang's Frozen Over, First in Line is up for free download on their myspace.
4. Download the studio version of "What If" from Meg & Dia's upcoming album Here, Here & Here ... here.

Playlist: Little Known Bands

This is a list of bands that I have found in 2008 and have really come to enjoy. You may be familiar with some of them, but chances are you are not, because they are not popular yet and they only have like one CD out or just an EP or two. I must point out that the bands are in no particular order; it has nothing to do with how much I like them. And please let me know if you like any of these songs, or if I have turned you on to any new bands. There are a lot of new bands out there so I will have to split this up into several posts so stay tuned next week for part 2.

Artist of the Week: Bayside

Bayside is an American rock band signed to Victory Records from Bayside, Queens, New York, from which their named is derived. They have released four full length albums on Victory, as well as a live album and an acoustic album, which is my personal favorite.

Bayside formed in the winter of 2000. They came up with their name when driving around, they passed the Bayside train station and thought it was a good idea. They self released a 5 song demo and signed to Dying Wish Records to issue their first release, Long Stories Short EP, in 2001. The band also released a split with Name Taken in 2003 on the same label before signing to the much larger Victory Records later that year.

Sirens and Condolences was released in early 2004 on Victory Records, and it was followed by their self-titled release in 2005. Following the death of their drummer John "Beatz" Holohan in a car accident that involved the entire band, Bayside issued the appropriately titled Acoustic, which featured a tribute to Holohan and acoustic renditions of some of their songs. The song "Winter" is dedicated to him.

On September 30th, 2008, they released their 4th full-length studio album Shudder. Also, their live CD Live at the Bayside Social Club was released on the same day. It was recorded on August 17th, 2008 at S.I.R. Studios in New York, where a few lucky fans from the Bayside Social Club were given the chance to attend the private show. With the release of both albums, Bayside has completed their five album contract with Victory Records.

I was introduced to Bayside a few years ago, and I was that into them at first until I heard their acoustic CD, which may be my favorite CD of all time now. The music they released before signing to Victory is not that great, but I think everything from Sirens and Condolences on has been brilliant, and I recommend this band to everyone that likes the same style of music as I do. Check out the music sampler below to see how good they are, and eventually I want to do an acoustic playlist which will probably feature several tracks of the acoustic CD so stay tuned for that.

Members
Anthony Raneri - Lead vocals and rhythm guitar, (2000-present)
Jack O' Shea - lead guitar and backing vocals (2003-present)
Chris Guglielmo - drums (2006-present)
Nick Ghanbarian - bass guitar, Backing vocals (2004-present)

Discography
Long Stories Short [2001]
Bayside/Name Taken Split [2003]
Sirens and Condolences [2004]
Bayside [2005]
Acoustic CD/DVD [2006]
The Walking Wounded [2007]
Shudder [2008]
Live at the Bayside Social Club [2008]

Behind the Scenes: Hoobastank - Fornever - In Studio #1

Hoobastank's new album, Fornever, is coming in January! Check out this exclusive behind the scenes video footage from inside the studio. And if you want more check out the website below because they will be posting new footage each week. http://www.ilike.com/artist/Hoobastank/videos/254152289

Albums in Stores Today – 1/6

Select Start - <3
Released Independently.

Track List：
1. Kiss Your Genre Goodbye
2. Oh So Epic
3. Dress Impressive
4. Hearts Will Explode
5. A Playlist Killed The Mixtape
6. If You Fall (Fall In Love)

Throwing Color - The Static Seas
New Jerseys quintet debut EP "The Static Seas" produced by Rob Freeman is due out via itunes on January 6th 2009.

Track List:
1. Empty Frames
2. The Weather Patterns
3. Let It Out
4. All I Know
5. The Static Seas
6. How To Feed A Skeleto

Stay - Games With Girls
Released Independently.

Track List：
1. Run Wit' Me
2. Call Her Hollywood
3. They're Gonna Put Corningstone On!
4. Maddie kthx
5. Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis

Whole Wheat Bread - Hearts Of Hoodlums
Released on Fighting Records.

Track List：
1. Bombs Away
2. Throw Your Sets Up
3. Girlfriend Like This
4. Lower Class Man
5. I Can't Think [Explicit]
6. Ode 2 Father
7. Staying True
8. Blood Stains & Bite Marks
9. Every Man For Himself
10. New Age Southern Baptist Nigga From Da Hood
11. Catch 22
12. Stuck In Da Dark

Music Video: N.E.R.D. - Sooner or Later

Sooner Or Later

Weekly Recap: 12/28 – 1/3

News:

1. Sum 41 is in the studio recording an EP for early next year.
2. Angels and Airwaves will be releasing their third album in 2009.
   From the Article: Angels & Airwaves frontman Tom DeLonge spent the past year releasing movies, establishing websites, embarking on tours and running myriad companies. But in 2009, he'll allocate the time to assemble his band's third full-length, which will take most of the year to complete. DeLonge says he and his bandmates will surround themselves with 'futuristic landscapes' and 'thematic enterprises' for inspiration, and that he's cooked up a few song ideas with some new instrumentation, but no concrete details were offered. 'We've not only shown people what our ambitions are,' he notes, 'but we've shown that we follow through with them.'
3. According to producer David Bendeth, There for Tomorrow is currently in pre-production for their new album.
4. Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III is the top seller of 2008, selling 2.88 million copies. However, it's the first time the best selling album of the year has sold less than 3 million.
5. The Secret Handshake has titled his new album, My Life & the 90's.
6. The Sophomore Attempt's cover album won't come out for a while after the files were deleted.

Streaming Music:

1. First Class Fever have posted a new song on myspace.
2. NeverShoutNever has posted a new song on myspace.
3. Set Your Goals have posted a Christmas song on myspace.
4. One for the Team have posted "Dress Up Party" on their myspace off their record, Build It Up.
5. The Ataris have posted a cover of The Pogues' Christmas classic "Fairytale Of New York" on myspace. The band has also finished tracking drums for their new record.
6. It's Like Love have posted a new song named "It's Not Me, It's You" on their myspace.
7. The Sophomore Attempt have posted a new song on myspace.
8. A new song by Mae called "The House That Fire Built" can be heard here as part of their new 12 songs 12 months 1 goal project.
9. The Real You have posted "Wrong Side of My Head" on myspace. The song is from their new EP, Better Now Than Never, which was recorded with Jim Wirt (Incubus, Something Corporate, Jack's Mannequin).
10. The Fray have posted a new song on their myspace titled, "Say When."
11. Almost Gold have added a new song, "It's Already Over," to their purevolume page.
12. JP from That Was Something has started a side project called Love Is a Rocket and posted three new songs on myspace.

Download:

1. The Get Go are offering a free EP on myspace.
2. ABSOLUTExclusive is proud to present a free download by The Lives of Famous Men. Head here to download their EP Modern Love, the Wooden Vehicle,and their new single "Sunshine".

Playlist: Fueled By Ramen

Fueled By Ramen is probably my favorite record label right now because it houses several of my current favorite bands, all of which you will here from in this post. FBR also found such bands as Fall Out Boy and Yellowcard which you have most likely heard of. Like I said earlier you will be hearing from the entire lineup of current artist on FBR and you will see why it is my favorite label. Next week I will be giving you a playlist of some of the artists that I have found over the past year so stay tuned.