Posted by adam on Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 6:00 PM (EST)
Hello everybody and welcome to Navel Gazing: your look back at the week in Punknews. I'm Adam White and I'll be your guide through some of the most popular, notable, and otherwise attention getting stories of the past seven days. Each and every Punknews story is built from tips contributed by you fine folks, and here's what got the community talking this week...
The People Must Have Something Good To Read On A Sunday
This week's most popular stories
This week the Alkaline Trio announced that they had formed a new label dubbed Heart & Skull that would
co-release their new album with Epitaph Records. The band discussed the sound of the new full length, stating
"This record is a rock record but our punk rock upbringing definitely shines through, more so than our last few records."
The band also discussed the
formation of the new label. Matt Skiba commented "Taking control of our own label situation was something we always wanted to do but never thought was possible, but now thanks to Brett Gurewitz and the fine folks at Epitaph, it is."NOFX posted a stream of their upcoming Cokie the Clown EP, along with a
video featuring cameo appearances from Matt Skiba, Tim McIlrath of Rise Against and Brendan Kelly of the Lawrence Arms.
Seattle-based hardcore outfit Furious Stylesstoked controversy with a new shirt honoring the alleged killer of a police officer as a hero. The band's former members
spoke out against the shirt, blaming vocalist Mike Torres for the its creation.
Former Ten Foot Pole and current Pulley singer Scott Radinsky was named the bullpen coach of the Cleveland Indians.
The King Khan and BBQ Show's tour resumed after a drug arrest. The band's tour manager entered a guilty plea to second degree possession of a controlled substance in Christian County, Kentucky. The band's rental vehicle was randomly stopped at a safety checkpoint and officers discovered contraband in the cab. Under KY law a driver of a vehicle is responsible for its contents.
Win a turntable, merch and more from A Wilhelm Scream
Posted by aubin on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 6:00 PM (EST)
We've got a brand new contest featuring A Wilhelm Scream today. The band has hooked us up with a portable turntable, a limited silkscreened poster and a copy of their new EP, A Wilhelm Scream. All you need to do to get that stuff for yourself, is fill out the form below.
It was not politically relevant or righteous. It was a brutal attack by an unorganized, deranged imbecile. We are sickened by the shirt's message and the fact that it now represents Furious Styles. The shirt was created solely by Mike Torres without any consent of ours.
"It’s not like [Monfort] was a political activist. He...wanted to be a cop. He’s not really standing up against cops. It’s not like we’re talking about Mumia or anything."
The three plan to put a stop to the shirt's distribution.
Streetlight Manifesto gives update on album status and band happenings.
Contributed by thegimper. Posted by aubin on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 2:30 PM (EST)
Streetlight Manifesto have posted an update on their current status and progress on their 99 Songs Of A Revolution project. The first volume is apparently completed, but a CD release is up in the air. The band explained:
We can't announce [the release date] because we don't know when it is. What we can say is this: some record labels (not naming names here, so it can't be "libel") are just plain horrendous. Seriously though, it's a sad fact that the bullshit bands have to put up with from some labels isn't worth the benefits (ha!) of being on said labels. That being said, it looks like Volume One will be released on vinyl via the Pentimento Music Company long before it comes out on CD or digitally.
We have no tours planned as of this very minute but we are planning our 2010 now. More importantly, though, we will be heading into the studio soon (as is a particular electricity deficient collective..) and we don't plan on touring until we have a few records to release.
Posted by aubin on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 1:30 PM (EST)
Alkaline Trio followed up the recent announcement of a partnership with Epitaph Records with some discussion about how their label, Heart & Skull, came to be and their thoughts on the deal. Co-vocalist Matt Skiba commented:
We made the decision to form Heart & Skull to put out our own records after having been through every kind of label deal in the industry, big indies, small indies, majors. We knew it was time to adapt to the shifting tides of the music industry and we could not be more thrilled about doing that in conjunction with the team at Epitaph.
Taking control of our own label situation was something we always wanted to do but never thought was possible, but now thanks to Brett Gurewitz and the fine folks at Epitaph, it is. All three of us in Alkaline Trio have always had the utmost respect for the music and the work ethic of the Epitaph, Anti- and Hellcat family and now we're honored to be working together under one big happy roof. Heart & Skull/Epitaph is truly a dream come true for us.
For our band at this time it really makes sense to release our own records, but we wanted to make sure we could partner up with good people who we would want to share in something very special to us. When Brett called and said he wanted to be involved, that was it. Epitaph is a label I've admired and supported for more than half of my life.
The first record under the deal is due out in 2010.
Voting was conducted by a panel of AP staff and contributing writers, music-industry professionals (including Punknews.org editors Aubin and Brian, as well as Pastepunk.com founder Jordan Baker), as well as band members from Fall Out Boy, New Found Glory and others.
You can see the entire list below; to see which 10 songs just didn't make the cut, click here and to see ballots of select voters, click here.
Green Day plans new version of "21 Guns" with musical cast
Posted by aubin on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 12:30 PM (EST)
According to a L.A. Times report, Green Day is planning to re-release their single, "21 Guns," but with an alternate recording featuring the cast of their recently unveiled "American Idiot" musical.
An official release date wasn't given for the newly recorded single, but it will be made available for purchase at all major digital outlets. The musical is now likely headed for Broadway.
Posted by Bryne on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 12:00 PM (EST)
NPR's Monitor Mix Blog has posted a roundtable discussion conducted by Carrie Brownstein, formerly of Sleater-Kinney, in which representatives from Merge Records, Matador Records, Kill Rock Stars, Saddle Creek Records and Jagjaguwar discuss the role of a record label in a perpetually changing marketplace. Topics touched on include the culture surrounding the digital age, the resurgence of vinyl, file-sharing and more.
Posted by aubin on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 11:00 AM (EST)
Aloha will release Home Acres, their new full length on March 9, 2010. It follows
the acoustic EP, Light Works from 2007 and was recorded by T.J. Lipple and Nick Anderson