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.