Get eXposed! Music

Nothing Fake About This Not Quite Super Group: A Conversation with Travis Miguel of Fake Figures

2012-01-27T19:06:00.002-05:00

While they might appear to be a ‘supergroup’ to the nakedeye, Fake Figures, a new project that features an all-star lineup of ex-membersof bands the likes of Hotwire (frontman Rus Martin), Atreyu (Travis Miguel),and SS Nova and Scars of Tomorrow (Bob Bradley), it needs to be clear that thisNEW band isn’t just a cheap ploy or quick cash grab – they are the real deal.Honestly, just check out their tremendous and powerful debut EP Hail the Sycophants, a powerful releasethat perfectly summates what this band is capable of. Seriously, make it apoint to check this record out.

Looking for more information than I could shake a stickat, I sat down with guitarist Travis Miguel in order to find out more regardingthe genesis of Fake Figures, what the band members previous band experiencebrought to this new act, anything and everything regarding Hail the Sycophants¸ and whether or not he considers Fake Figuresanything close to a ‘supergroup.’

Get eXposed Music:Let’s start with something simple. Tell me about the origins of Fake Figures –how did this new project come to see the light of day?

Travis Miguel:We all basically know each other from our mutual circles of friends. I've knownJustin Pointer (drums) since we were both in high school and played in a fewbands together when we were younger. I've known Bob Bradley (bass) for a numberof years through his time in Scars of Tomorrow. He approached me aboutstarting a project, and being that we have pretty similar tastes in music, Ijumped at the chance. Justin was pretty much the go-to guy to play drums. They both played in a band called SS Nova (Editor’s note – definitelycheck this band out if you have the chance) a few years back. Looking for asinger is always a bitch of a task. We had people send in some "onlineauditions." Some were good, some not so good. Most were the generic"metalcore" stylings which we we're trying to veer away from. Wewanted someone who sounded like "Rus from Hotwire," but trying tofind someone who sounded like that would take forever, so we figured we'd justapproach the actual guy. At first, I think he was slightly reluctant, but heheard the rough versions of the songs we had and he jumped on board. Originallyit was just going to be a 4-piece, but the songs just kept getting more andmore layered it would sound lame and empty if I were to try to pull it off bymyself, so we called our old friend Heather Baker to join the fold.

GEM: Zoltan Bathory once told me heconsidered Five Finger Death Punch as a ‘supergroup.’ Since Fake Figures boastsex-members of the likes of Atreyu, Scars of Tomorrow and Hotwire, do youconsider yourselves a ‘supergroup?’ Have you guys even tossed that wordaround?

Miguel: Nah. I don't personally. We're just friends who are making music together. Itjust so happens we play and have played in bands before. Nothing very"super" about it really.

GEM: Looking at Fake Figures assomewhat of a new beginning, is this band the case of, if you could go back,there are things you would change? Meaning, since all band members have hadexperience in touring bands, were things done differently with this band? Dideveryone take a different approach to it?

Miguel: Wehaven't really been a band for very long so it's hard to say if we'd doanything differently. But being that we all have a bit of experience, we knowwhat not to do...kinda. There's no real "right" way to go about beingin a band, but there are definitely "wrong" ways.

GEM: Moving onto Hail the Sycophants, let’s talk aboutthe recording process of this record. Given all of the member’s individualexperiences recording albums, was this one particularly smooth? Walk me throughthe process.

Miguel: We'veall had rather extensive experience in the studio, and being in the studio canbe exhausting, but recording Hail theSycophants went pretty smoothly. It was recorded in Orange County, CAby Pete Charrell at his Dexter Dog Studio. Only a few things here and therechanged in the songs from the demos to the actual EP. It was mixed by ShaunLopez at his Airport Studios in LA and mastered by Paul Miner.

GEM: Focusing on the album title – Hail the Sycophants is a fairly loadedphrase that could mean a variety of things. Any chance you could let us in onthe story behind the title?

Miguel: You'dhave to ask Rus about that one. He's pretty vague with lyrics and titles. A "sycophant" is basically a self-seeking, ass kissingparasite, so make of it what you will.

GEM: What influenced the sound of Hail the Sycophants? There are instancesthroughout the EP in which you can hear inklings of band member’s prioraffiliations, but there’s more to it than that.

Miguel: Kindahard what to say influenced the sound. It's definitely a bit more strippeddown. It's heavy but not for the sake of being heavy...more of a vibe. It ain'trocket science. If you've been eating pancakes and syrup for breakfast forx-amount of years, if given the opportunity to have something different, youmight wanna try an omelet or even waffles. I've seen a couple of posts saying,"...but it doesn't sound like Atreyu..." Well, yeah…no shitgenius.

GEM: The EP is brimming withanthemic tracks full of hard-charging guitars and shouted vocals, but no matterhow heavy a particular song is – melody never seems to be sacrificed. Was it aconscious effort in the studio to keep a healthy dose of melody in these songs?

Miguel: Idon't think it was a conscious effort; it just kinda ended up that way. I don'tthink I've ever met anyone that refuses to listen to anything with melody. Ifthere actually is someone out there like that, they're missing out on a lot. Butwith that being said, the louder and more aggressive side of music will alwaysbe embedded in us and in this band in some way, shape, or form.

GEM: How about a question sure to beon the minds of many fans – will you be touring soon?

Miguel: Wehave a few shows in California in early 2012. We're gonna try to get out thereas much as we can.

GEM: And speaking of questions onthe tips of tongues, are plans for a full length in the works?

Miguel: We'vebeen focusing on spreading the Hailthe Sycophants EP word out there for now. But we have been bouncing a lotof ideas for songs around. Soon enough well be working on an LP.

GEM: Anything else you’d like toadd?

Miguel: Hail the Sycophants EP is out now!Go pick it up...if not for me, for all the starving children out there...

Reviewed! The Richard Thompson Band - The Richard Thompson Band: Live at Celtic Connections

2012-01-27T18:49:00.000-05:00

The RichardThompson Band

The Richard Thompson Band: Live at CelticConnections

Eagle Vision

The Richard Thompson Band: Live at CelticConnections represents RichardThompson’s third soiree into the live home video release arena, and marks hisbest entry yet. Filmed in January of 2011 at the Royal Concert Hall inGlasgow, Live at Celtic Connectionscaptures Thompson doing what he has done best for four decades plus – captivatecrowds via virtuosic guitar playing and lyricism. The Richard Thompson Band: Liveat Celtic Connections offersup 11 of the 13 total tracks from his latest effort Dream Attic, and the second half of the performance, well, asThompson himself told the Glasgow crowd this night, his “greatest hits, with asmall h.” At least the guy has a sense of humor. It’s particularly excellent tosee the setlist of The Richard ThompsonBand: Live at Celtic Connections span the breadth of Thompson’s canon,ranging back to his 1972 debut Henry andthe Human Fly (“The Angels Took My Race Horse Away”) all the way to hismore recently bodies of work like 2007’s SweetWarrior (“Take Care the Road You Choose,” “I’ll Never Give It Up”), and, ofcourse, Dream Attic, released in2010. Not much is presented in the way of bonus material, as two bonustracks are included as the sole extras on the disc, “Uninhabited Man” and“Johnny’s Far Away.” Judging by this performance, it would seem Thompson has alot left to offer and more than enough left in the tank for another go of it. Anew record this year, or early next, perhaps? Here’s to hoping.

Grade: B+

Review Rundown: Attack Attack!, Nightwish, Switchfoot, Blessthefall, the Life and Times

2012-01-27T18:46:00.001-05:00

This edition of the Review Rundown sees us takes looks atnew releases from Attack Attack!, Nightwish, Switchfoot, Blessthefall and theLife and Times.

File Under: Mallcore

Attack Attack! ThisMeans War (Rise): When Attack Attack! were holed up in the studio recordingtheir third long player This Means War,and made the decision to focus on tenacious guitar girth rather than endlesswaves of boggy synth, they immediately showed signs of some much neededprogress long before the record hit store shelves and iPod playlists. Gone isguitarist/clean vocalist Johnny Franck, as ThisMeans War is the band’s first record to feature frontman Caleb Shomo (whoproduced the album and also handles keys) handling all vocal facets, whichactually isn’t a detriment to the overall product. Another encouraging sign isto see the band moving away from ‘crabcore’ (whatever the hell that means),’towards something closer to ‘mallcore,’ with proof of said budding growthcoming in the form of shattering tunes like “the Motivation” and “the Family,” whichsees such AA stalwart traits like dance-y electronics and copious auto tunegoing the way of the buffalo (read: not entirely), sounds replaced with arefocused take on breakdowns and windmill guitar riffing. This Means War is by no means perfect, nor is it close, but it’sdefinitely AA’s best record, as well as their heaviest, and is a record thatshows a band many once wrote off as just another copycat are willing to adaptto the ever-changing sonic climate that surrounds them. They at least deserve alittle credit for trying. (www.attackattackoh.com)

Grade: C-

Go Download: “The Reality”

File Under: Symphonic Metal

Nightwish – Imaginaerum(Roadrunner): With Imaginaerum, Nightwishhave seemingly done the impossible by creating a symphonic metal record thatremains enjoyable until the last note. Coupled with the fact that the bandplans on releasing a full-length movie that follows the album's themes andstoryline (you’ll see the album plays magnificently as a filmscore/soundtrack), and Imaginaerumturns into one hell of a ride, one you’ll definitely want to take. This album,the band’s first in four years, is as ambitious as anything the band has everset to wax, and features a potpourri of sounds comprised of layered, denseorchestrations (“Ghost River”), jazz (“Slow, Love, Slow”), quirkyreinterpretations of childhood nightmares (“Scaretale”), doom metal (“RestCalm”) and Finnish lullabies (“Taikatalvi”). Imaginaerum is the second release with vocalist Anette Olzon, whohas clearly found her niche and place in the band, a level of comfort thatleads to some of the albums best cuts, such as the saccharine laced,uber-melodic “I Want My Tears Back” and the fragile and delicate “Turn Loosethe Mermaids.” Now, Imaginaerum isn’tperfect – keep that in mind. “Song of Myself” clocks in at an unnecessary13-minutes, a track that speaks to Imaginaerumon the whole as the record itself runs a Guns N’ Roses like 75 minutes long.Nightwish could have easily gotten the same message across in a shorter amountof time. Still, if that’s the worst of Imaginaerum,then things aren’t all that bad. If symphonic metal with over-the-top melodiesgets your goat, then Nightwish’s Imaginaerummight just be your album of the year in 2012. Suffice to say it’s a dynamiclisten you’ll want to check out sooner than later. (www.nightwish.com)

Grade: B+

Go Download: “I Want My Tears Back”

File Under: Christian Rock

Switchfoot - ViceVerses (lowercase people records/Atlantic): With each album, Switchfoot hasmanaged to grow up a little bit more, infusing their middle-of-the-road,contemporary alt-Christian rock sounds with bits and pieces of experimentalism,and their latest, Vice Verses, is nodifferent. As a matter of fact, the band doesn’t really waste much time inleading listeners to the water to drink of their new found sounds, as theopening duo of the memorable “Afterlife” and glitzy, melodic dance-rocker “theOriginal” showcase the fact that ViceVerses might just be the bands most ambitious tome yet. The sprawling track“Relentless” and the yearning acoustic title track are instances of Switchfootbeing Switchfoot, doing what they do best by delivering enjoyable, andmarketable, romantic ballad. And while “Souvenirs” is the albums most perfectouting, combining the best of the Switchfoot of yesteryear and today, it’s“Dark Horses” that delivers the album best verses by far. And with Vice Verses, as has been the case withany number of releases from this bands body of work, with the good comes thebad. There are moments throughout the album that should send listeners insearch of the skip button, tracks that don’t fit in the grand scheme of things,most notably the unnecessary electro-tinged “Thrive” and the confusing spokenword track “Selling the News.” Maybe Switchfoot wants to keep fans guessing, orkeep themselves relevant in the contemporary rock scene, regardless of theirmotive, Vice Verses continues to showthe band is willing to change if need be, and no matter what type of changethat may be, it’s at least an attempt to keep things engaging. (www.switchfoot.com)

Grade: C+

Go Download: “Souvenirs”

File Under: Metalcore

Blessthefall – Awakening(Fearless): Just as a reminder, Awakeningis Blessthefall’s third album. Yes, the band released an album entitled Witness in 2009. That reminder will beincreasingly necessary with each track listeners delve into off of Awakening because this album is goodenough to make you forget every BTF release not named His Last Walk. Sure, Witness hasits merits, but rest assured it’s not this. With Awakening, there is a lot to like, and even more that will remindfans of how good BTF can be. The riffing is sick, and it’s clear that the bandhas rediscovered their technical guitar prowess (welcome to the fold guitaristElliott Gruenberg), and the vocal delivery and execution of frontman Beau Bokanis thoroughly focused, and his ability to transition in and out of cleansinging and guttural screams is remarkable. Hell, Awakening might just be his coming out party, as it’s clearly thebest vocals he’s brought to the table since taking the mic from Craig Mabbit.“Bottomfeeder” and “I’m Bad News, In the Best Way” are two of the best cuts offthe record, though they aren’t the only noteworthy outings to be sure(“Promised Ones,” “Don’t Say Goodbye”). Awakeningis solid when the band remains true to a mixture of all things heavy andmelodic, and suffers when things stray off into a tangent and wander too far toone end, as is the case of the closing tracks “Flatline” and “Meet Me at theGates,” with the latter track clocking in at seven minutes for one reason oranother. Regardless of its shortcomings, Awakeningis easily a case of the pros outweighing the cons, and is a record that putthis band back on the map of scenesters everywhere. (www.facebook.com/blessthefall)

Grade: B

Go Download: “I’m Bad News, In the Best Way”

File Under: Space Age Shoegaze

The Life and Times - NoOne Loves You Like I Do (SlimStyle Records): No One Loves You Like I Do, the latest trip from space-rockers theLife and Times, finds the band picking up literally where they left off on2009’s Tragic Boogie, delivering aheaping dose of ethereal rock spaceiness, complete with more post-rock shoegazeintrospections laced with tingly keyboards than you can handle. Songs like theslow-burn “Day Twelve” and seemingly post-everything “Day Six” dot the I’s andcross the T’s on No One Loves You Like IDo, driving home the fact that they’re not many bands that possess the swaggerand the chops of the Life and Times. The album closer, “Day Eight,” is anothernoteworthy track, one that simply engulfs listeners with mountainous sounds andstirring progressions. Clearly, it’s not to be missed. No One Loves You Like I Do does have its pitfalls, as even thoughall of this noise is cool and all, it’s ugly when it’s unfocused. One suchinstance is the meandering “Day Five,” which plays as a funeral dirge thatdoesn’t really go anywhere. Still, even though No One Loves You Like I Do lacks during its slowest moments, thisis still a good record, one perhaps not many bands could pull off. (www.thelifeandtimes.com)

Grade: B

Go Download: “Day Eight”

Reviewed! God Bless Ozzy Osbourne

2012-01-27T18:24:00.004-05:00

God Bless OzzyOsbourne

Eagle Vision

In some ways, GodBless Ozzy Osbourne seems a bit unnecessary, a bit of grandeur andposturing as it were for a man who helped to shape the course of heavy musicthroughout the years. As far as content, God Bless Ozzy Osbourne coversthe necessary evils – Black Sabbath, drug addiction (sort of), and family life,though the proceedings are less than biting. God Bless Ozzy Osbourne plays like a skeleton outline of Ozzy’slife. While the mans alcoholism is addressed, it’s quickly dismissed as justbeing part of Osbourne’s lifestyle back in the day. Osbourne’s tenure withSabbath is discussed as well, though it’s the segments involving Osbourne’srelationship with the late Randy Rhodes that provide the most enlightening andtouching sections of the film. In terms of added content, God Bless Ozzy Osbourne offers a collection of deleted scenes (check out Ozzy's fight with thefilm's director) and a Q&A between the man and his sullen son Jack. God Bless Ozzy Osbourne is a filmseemingly better suited for those who haven’t been following along withOsbourne’s trials and tribulations throughout the years, though it is more thanworth a viewing, just keep in mind that it probably won’t offer much in the wayof groundbreaking information. ‘

Grade: B-

Free Music Friday! Prince Rama - "Golden Silence" (Mater Suspira Vision Remix)

2012-01-27T14:43:00.001-05:00

Drawing from a collective mine of times and spaces, Prince Rama (made up of sisters Taraka and Nimai Larson) takes the threads of ancient symbolism and ritual and weaves a surreal universe that is wholly their own. Their often-unpredictable live shows graze the space between psychedelic ceremony, performance art and initiation rite.

STREAM: "Golden Silence" (Mater Suspira Vision Remix) - http://bit.ly/w2FqRa
VIDEO - "Summer of Love" (Dir. by Prince Rama, Shot by Ian Perlman) - http://youtu.be/A_EnQuOq_A0

Trust Now, their 5th full-length album and 2nd album to be released on Paw Tracks was born out of this fantastic ritual space. Spawned from the vernal heat of the Florida swamps amidst swirling patterns of pine orchards and pre-Columbian artifacts, Prince Rama was whispered into the ears of Taraka Larson, Nimai Larson, and Michael Collins in the summer of 2007 by the clanging of prayer bells and goat-skin drums. They left the Hare Krishna farm where they were living to attend art school and form a creative nucleus in Boston. The visceral, devotional and raw "Threshold Dances" and "Zetland" were released as the culminations of those early collaborations. At this time Taraka also began working for the controversial visionary artist Paul Laffoley, and inspired by his architectural diagrams of utopic space, composed Architecture of Utopia.

Official Site - http://www.princerama.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/princeramaofayodhya
MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/princeramaofayodhya
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/princerama2012

Free Music Friday! House of Blondes - "Do It Yourself (Landscapes)"

2012-01-27T14:40:00.002-05:00

Ambient-Electronic-Pop band HOUSE OF BLONDES is delighted to announce details of their debut album Clean Cuts out February 28, 2012, on Glowmatic Records.

MP3: “Do It Yourself (Landscape)” - http://soundcloud.com/house-of-blondes/do-it-yourself-landscape
VIDEO: “Do It Yourself (Landscape)” - http://www.youtube.com/watchv=chez1KQIcWw&feature=player_embedded

First single “Do It Yourself (Landscape)” summons the spirit of Amon Tobin, Four Tet, Daedelus, Holy Fuck, and Hot Chip and takes inspiration from the thriving UK electronic scene. Looped and droning synths, a steady beat, and an airy, uplifting vocal (“you can do this yourself”) by John Blonde create a euphoric hands-in-the-air kind of bliss.

www.houseofblondes.com
www.facebook.com/house-of-blondes

Free Music Friday! Orbital - "Never"

2012-01-27T13:16:00.001-05:00

Undefeated champions of British electronic music, Orbital get back in the ring in 2012 with Wonky, their first new album in eight years. Recently reunited following a long sabbatical, Paul and Phil Hartnoll are back on fighting-fit form and ready to reclaim their title. Both timeless and contemporary, Wonky puts a vividly modern spin on their signature blend of richly melodic, deeply emotive electronica.

MP3: "Never" - http://soundcloud.com/orbital-4/never/s-URDYQ

Like all Orbital albums, Wonky defies narrow-minded caricatures of electronic music as cold and mechanical. Playful humour and warm humanity are woven into its fabric - from the heart-tugging harmonies and woozy vocal layers of Never and Distractions, to the guest appearance by the highly acclaimed LA-based electronic musician Zola Jesus on the brooding, atmospheric epic New France. These are machine-made symphonies to stir the soul and electrify the senses.

Free Music Friday! AU - "Solid Gold"

2012-01-27T13:13:00.002-05:00

Portland's AU is releasing its third full-length album, Both Lights, on Hometapes on April 3 and in the UK via The Leaf Label on April 2.

MP3: AU - "Solid Gold" - soundcloud.com/hometapes/au-solid-gold/

AU's third album, Both Lights, is a recurring dream. Eleven songs made by the Portland, Oregon-based duo Luke Wyland and Dana Valatka, it's a story of time. Three years to be exact: since their critically-acclaimed 2008 album Verbs and its 2009 EP evolution Versions, there's been a long exhale. A little defiance of the double-speed countdown of the indie hype clock. And a hell of a lot of living. Turn it on. More than a mere accompaniment, it's a gleaming mirror. It's an exaltation, an exhalation, a monument of extreme composition, the child of collaboration and isolation, a preamble to a wild live show, a statue intact in the violent wind of art and commerce, and, simply, a record about love. It's for itself, and, in being that, it's an album that can be understood like a person. "It's the topography of me," says Wyland. So you follow the coordinates.

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/auband
Bandcamp - http://aumusic.bandcamp.com/
Worldwide: Hometapes - http://home-tapes.com
Europe: The Leaf Label - http://www.theleaflabel.com/

Free Music Friday! Candy Hearts - "I Want You"

2012-01-27T12:42:00.001-05:00

New York/New Jersey-based pop-punk band CANDY HEARTS are offering a brand-new acoustic demo for FREE download through Bandcamp starting today. Titled "I Want You", the song will be available as a full band track on an upcoming 2012 EP.

MP3: "I Want You" - http://candyhearts.bandcamp.com/album/demo

Singer Mariel Loveland also did a Nervous Energies session with the song which can be viewed at http://youtu.be/zLwAuHkkCMk. She says of the new track, "It's about that feeling of sitting next to someone you are absolutely crazy about and the only thing you can think about is how much you want them -- nothing else; it's like your mind is blank -- and you can't tell them because you know they don't feel the same way. It just devours you."

Candy Hearts is Mariel Loveland (vocals, guitar), Kris Hayes (guitar), Christian Stefos Migliorese (bass), and Christina Picciano (drums).

Sweden’s SUIS LA LUNE Sign with Topshelf Records

2012-01-27T12:27:00.001-05:00

Sweden’s Suis La Lune has signed with Topshelf Records to release its next LP, Riala. The signing marks the first international act that the burgeoning indie label has worked with entirely from start to finish on a release. The band is self-producing their latest effort which will be released this spring.

With a name continuously causing confusion over the last seven years, Suis La Lune is a band hailing from Stockholm & Gothenburg, Sweden. Sharing an equal passion for mid 90's emo the four-piece got together early 2005, despite the inconvenience of being spread out all over Sweden at the time. They quickly found their own take on the genre; melodic and jangly guitars, the shifting between quiet and loud parts with desperate vocals that is ranging between talky rantings and intense screaming. These were the main characteristics on the debut album Quiet, Pull The Strings (2006) and has since long become their signature mark, following the band through their various later releases.

Six years after their debut album and countless of tours in both Europe and the US, it is finally time for the sophomore album entitled Riala to see the light of day. Still with the mix of calm and hectic passages present, the sound has evolved into what almost feels like complex pop songs; more melodic, catchier and with as much passion as ever before. Suis La Lune is happy to present their latest effort and proudest moment to date via Topshelf Records in the spring of 2012.

www.facebook.com/suislalunee
www.topshelf-records.com
www.facebook.com/topshelfrecords

Standby Records signs Alcatraz 1962

2012-01-27T12:17:00.003-05:00

Cleveland-based independent record label, Standby Records, is excited to announce a new addition to the Standby family, Northern Virginia’s metal/hardcore outfit, In Alcatraz 1962. Standby and In Alcatraz 1962 will team up to release the band’s debut record this spring.

“We are very excited to release our debut album with such a dedicated and committed label,” said In Alcatraz 1962 drummer, Josh Zupovitz. “We know they will treat us not only as another band, but as a family member. We look forward to collaborating with Standby Records and are ready to share our music with each and every one of you.”

Commented Standby owner, Neil Sheehan, “As we develop a rebooted version of Rock N' Roll at Standby Records, we continue to discover new acts that are rich in attitude and powered by modern day angst. Much like the rage that flowed through this band's namesake island throughout the 20th Century, In Alcatraz 1962's musical rage hits with more force than any group of murderers, rapists and criminals could ever deliver. We couldn't be happier to share their power.”

In Alcatraz 1962 will enter Cleveland’s Studio D Productions with producer, Don Debiase (Modern Day Escape, Beneath The Sky, For All Those Sleeping), in early February to begin recording the debut album.

In Alcatraz 1962 is…

Tyler Baldwin – Vocals
Chris Smith – Guitar
Jonathon Pentz – Bass
Josh Zupovitz – Drums

In Alcatraz 1962 online…

http://www.facebook.com/inalcatraz1962
http://twitter.com/#!/inalcatraz1962

Inverloch Sign To Relapse Records

2012-01-27T12:15:00.001-05:00

Relapse Records is extremely proud to announce the signing of Melbourne, Australia’s doom-dwellers INVERLOCH! Featuring 2/4 of the legendary diSEMBOWELMENT, INVERLOCH (Matthew Skarajew – Guitars, Paul Mazziotta – Drums, Ben James – Vocals, Mark Cullen – Guitars, Tony Bryant – Bass) pick right up where diSEMBOWELMENT left off close to two decades ago, composing crawling, lurching, plodding and downtuned dirges, that are sure to be some of the most powerful and beautiful pieces of crust/death/doom heard in years!

The band has completed recording their debut mini-LP, which is set for a Spring 2012 release on via Relapse. More details on this release will be announced shortly.

Drummer Paul Mazziotta commented on the new project:

"It has been a pleasure to bring the old diSEMBOWELMENT songs to life, and along the journey we have discovered some new music inside of us that we felt compelled to capture. Inverloch is our musical voice of the past, re-discovered...combining heaviness and ambience once more …"

Pigeon Toe Signs to Lifeforce Records

2012-01-27T12:04:00.000-05:00

Lifeforce Records are proud an honored to announce with the signing of German prog-rockers PIGEON TOE one of the most interesting new German bands!

The idea of founding a new project besides their bands FEAR MY THOUGHTS, BACKSLIDE and MONGOUSE, already existed in the minds of the two brothers Marsn and Hanson since 2008. After the split of MONGOUSE they put even more focus on it and chose "PIGEON TOE" as a working title.

With some rough song ideas FEAR MY THOUGHTS bandmate Norman Lonhard (now TRIPTYKON) was asked to beat the skins and joined the band. Shortly after their well known fellow Ben Krahl (FINAL KINGS) at bass was in too. After FEAR MY THOUGHTS split up, Patrick Hagmann joined PIGEON TOE on 3rd Guitar and Synths.

After several shows in 2010 and 2011, amongst others with KARNIVOOL, PIGEON TOE supported LONG DISTANCE CALLING on their "Into The Black Wide Open ? Tour" through Germany and Switzerland. During 2009 and 2010 PIGEON TOE had enough time to elaborate their songs which piled up and to form the shape and work out the concept for their debut album, which will be released via their new label home Lifeforce Records very soon. So stay tuned!

PIGEON TOE is:

Martin Fischer (Marsn) - Guitar/Vocals
Hans Fischer (Hanson) - Guitar/Vocals
Norman Lonhard - Drums
Patrick Hagmann - Guitar/Synths
Ben Krahl - Bass

www.pigeontoe.de
www.facebook.com/pigeontoeband
www.myspace.com/pigeontoeband

Reviewed! Lindsey Buckingham - Lindsey Buckingham: Songs from the Small Machine

2012-01-20T17:59:00.001-05:00

Lindsey Buckingham

Lindsey Buckingham:Songs from the Small Machine

Eagle Vision

While Lindsey Buckingham might get all of the credit inthe world, and the loads of accolades that come with it, for helping to driveFleetwood Mac to worldwide superstardom, he never really gets the credit hedeserves for his solo career, one that allowed him to flex his songwritingmuscles. Luckily for you, well, luckily for all of us, we now have visualdocumentation of such with Lindsey Buckingham: Songs from the Small Machine, a Buckingham solo concert filmed at theSaban Theatre in Beverly Hills, CA. Predictably, there are a couple ofFleetwood Mac works tossed into the set, including “Tusk” and “Go Your OwnWay,” the latter which should have you up and out of your chair and dancingalong – just like the crowd literally dancing in the aisles on this night. Butthe former is not to be missed as the USC Marching Band makes an appearance tolend a hand to the proceedings. “Shut Us Down” is ridiculous and should leaveyou scratching your head as to how Buckingham is this good with a guitar in hisgrasp – something also highlighted by the brilliant close up camera shots ofhis playing. A 30-minutes interview makes up the bonus material, and while itdoesn’t really offer anything new and anything you haven’t heard before –hearing Buckingham talk about his history with Fleetwood Mac is definitelysomething worth seeing for yourself. While you probably know Buckingham fromhis time in Fleetwood, after checking out LindseyBuckingham: Songs from the Small Machine it might be time to startrecognizing his ability to survive on his own.

Grade: B+

Reviewed! Ray Charles - Ray Charles: Live in France 1961

2012-01-20T17:51:00.001-05:00

Ray Charles

Ray Charles: Livein France 1961

Eagle Vision

The 1961 Antibes Jazz Festival, which let French (andEuropean) audiences hear Ray Charles for the first time, is the setting for Ray Charles: Live in France 1961, a newDVD offering that mashes up bits and pieces of those four historic performancesfrom July 18-22, 1961. At first glance, you’ll notice that a number of repeatedtracks, and while that might not look good on the surface, it’s alwaysimportant to not judge a book by its cover, because in the case of this Ray Charles: Live in France 1961 DVD,the songs are different each time out. The July 22 performance comes acrosswith more energy and exuberance than the July 18 set (only the 18 and 22 setsare presented in full as songs from the 19^th and 21^stperformances are bonus), highlighted by the DVD’s two best cuts, “Let the GoodTimes Roll” and “Ruby,” which showcases Charles’ ability to croon with the bestof them. Charles wraps each set with the endearing “What’d I Say,” and you’llbe hard pressed to not come away with a smile. Ray Charles: Live in France 1961 presents fans a rare opportunity glimpseinto what it was like to experience Charles in a live setting, and chances areyou’ll come away from this DVD more than impressed.

Grade: B

Free Music Friday! Field Music - "A New Town"

2012-01-20T15:04:00.001-05:00

Field Music (a.k.a. Sunderland, England, siblings Peter and David Brewis) release their fourth album, Plumb, through Memphis Industries in February 2012 (13 Feb UK/14 Feb US). The album, recorded over the course of 2011 at their new studio on the banks of the river Wear in Sunderland, comprises 15 songs in a succinct 35 minutes. It largely abandons the 'classic' songwriting conventions embraced on their 2010 double album Measure and instead remodels the modular, fragmented style of the first two Field Music albums; only now shot through with the surreal abstractions of 20th century film music from Bernstein to Willy Wonka and with the off-beam funk and pristine synth-rock developed on the brothers' School of Language and The Week That Was albums.

MP3: "A New Town" - http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/free-download-field-musics-tight-tuneful-a-new-town-20120112

Field Music release Plumb on Memphis Industries Feb. 14.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fieldmusic
Official Site: http://www.field-music.co.uk
Label: http://www.memphis-industries.com/

Free Music Friday! Standard Fare - "Suitcase"

2012-01-20T14:59:00.003-05:00

Limbo. It's a funny place to be, but it provided inspiration for the second album from Standard Fare, the Sheffield-based indie-pop power trio who debuted with 2010's The Noyelle Beat, their lovelorn, melodic songs and male/female vocals making them the new darlings of the indie-pop scene.

VIDEO: "Suitcase" - http://youtu.be/amml6E2XtNU
MP3: "Suitcase" - http://soundcloud.com/melodic-records/standard-fare-suitcase

Recorded with producer Alan Smyth at 2fly in Sheffield, the album represents a years worth of writing and 11 days of recording, which, compared to the whistle-stop weeklong session of their debut, is practically a marathon. In addition to the tight power trio of guitar-bass-drums, the band are augmented this time by a trumpet player (Brad San Martin from Boston's One Happy Island) and violinist (Emily Gunn from Sheffield's Nat Johnson & the Figureheads), adding an extra dimension to their raw sound.

Standard Fare will release Out of Sight, Out of Town. via Melodic Jan. 24.

Facebook - www.facebook.com/standardfare
Official Site - http://www.standardfare.co.uk/
Bandcamp - http://standardfare.bandcamp.com/
Label - melodic.co.uk

Free Music Friday! La Sera - "Please Be My Third Eye"

2012-01-20T14:56:00.000-05:00

La Sera's Sees The Light follows 2011's masterful self-titled debut with ten new tracks of peppy break-up pop brimming with defiance and bitter sweetness. On album opener "Love That's Gone," the vocals and drumbeat linger for seconds, swaying in the wind while the guitar cuts through, charming you, pulling you by your shirt and telling you that it is time to move on. This is a break-up album for the best kinds of break-ups. There's a lightness of touch, too, that surround the harmonies throughout and makes one yearn for the days of Donna Lynn, Julie Ruin and The Shirelles. But before you can settle into your seat, La Sera delivers a one-two punch - a rip of rolling snare and sending you speeding off in a fast car. Seize the light.

MP3: "Please Be My Third Eye" - http://hardlyart.com/mp3/LaSera_PleaseBeMyThirdEye.mp3

Where the first La Sera album was super-dreamy in its layered vocals, Sees The Light is more direct, more aggressive; almost a soundtrack to a lost drive-in movie classic. This is not an album for half-hearted partakers in the heartache scene: just an all-consuming love for punk as pop and pop as punk. Songs such as "Don't Stay" soar away into the stratosphere, solemn and possessed of singular beauty. "Real Boy" is playfully driven in comparison: like being whisked away to a tropical island, while "Drive On" is tear-laden and full of hidden menace like a David Lynch film.

Sees The Light was recorded by Rob Barbato (Darker My Love, the Fall) in beautiful and hazy California.

La Sera will release Sees The Light via Hardly Art on March 24.

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Sera/101114383282113
Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/iamkatygoodman

Free Music Friday! The Babies - "Trouble"

2012-01-20T14:52:00.001-05:00

The twenty minutes of music on Cry Along with the Babies invites you into the kitchen, art studio, and bedroom where it was recorded in 2010 and early 2011. Intended to be an immediate document of new ideas, the six songs sound fresh, loose and vulnerable all at once. Recorded by Kevin Morby and Cassie Ramone in between tours, studio recording sessions and cross country travel, each track has the magnetic charm of a new idea or an intimate conversation. While songs like "Trouble" and "My Tears" were subsequently re-recorded for a single (on Teenage Teardrops), and "Hey Mama" evolved into the track "Sick Kid" on their first s/t album, others like "Big Mercedes" and "That Boy" are seeing the light of day for the first time.

STREAM: "Trouble" - http://soundcloud.com/new-images/the-babies-trouble

With this release of demos and outtakes, the band will be hitting the road with Real Estate for a set of East Coast dates, then heading to Los Angeles to record a follow-up to their 2011 debut with Rob Barbato (Darker My Love, The Fall, Cass McCombs). In the meantime, Cry Along with the Babies offers a few private moments, whispered tones and songs still very much in bloom, shared on 12" vinyl through Matt Mondanile's (Real Estate, Ducktails) label New Images.

New Images on Soundcloud - http://soundcloud.com/new-images
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Babies/168795699876906
MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/thebabiesnyc

Free Music Friday! Allo Darlin' - "Capricornia"

2012-01-20T14:48:00.002-05:00

"Capricornia" is the first single from the eagerly anticipated second album from Allo Darlin' entitled Europe, and is due for US release on March 6, 2012 with the full-length due on April 17.

STREAM: "Capricornia" - http://soundcloud.com/slumberland-records/allo-darlin-capricornia

Having built up an intensely loyal and ever-increasing fanbase, Allo Darlin's reputation has developed at its own pace, from just one girl strumming a ukulele to headlining London's Scala and touring all over the world. The band have also been strongly supported by BBC 6music, recording several sessions including one at the prestigious Maida Vale Studios as Steve Lamacq's choice for BBC Introducing. Their self-titled debut was released to universal acclaim in 2010 with plaudits including being named No. 2 record of the year by online retailer eMusic and a glowing 1,200 word essay by legendary Go-Between Mr. Robert Forster in the Australian critical magazine, The Monthly.

A slice of pure Aussie pop sunshine to brighten up the winter, "Capricornia" is proof that Allo Darlin' will be one of THE bands to watch out for in 2012.

Website: http://allodarlin.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/allodarlinuk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Allo-Darlin/105756202789396
Label: http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/

Free Music Friday! Golden Calves - "Mod Bacteria"

2012-01-20T14:44:00.001-05:00

Collection gathers pre-Wooden Wand and the Vanishing Voice material from James Jackson Toth's Golden Calves project that was originally released in 1996.

STREAM: Golden Calves - "Mod Bacteria" - http://soundcloud.com/forcefieldpr/golden-calves-mod-bacteria

"It was really all about The Godz, Jandek, The Shadow Ring, Strapping Fieldhands, Swell Maps and Tower Recordings," James Jackson Toth said. "Beyond these, I had only heard the 'classic' and most available free jazz, krautrock and noise albums. I was a long way from, say, the second Comus album or Charles Gayle. But this music changed my life. It was a record store owner named Eric McCarthy and a man who needs no introduction to anyone reading these notes, Matt Valentine, who taught me that there was a world beyond Dischord, Vermiform and Ebullition. I went to college, met hip people, and got a job at both the local record store and the college radio station. I was taking drugs. I bought a four track and began emulating my heroes. I called the project Golden Calves. I was eighteen years old...."

Golden Calves will drop Collection: Money Band LP+Century Band 12" via Woodsist Jan. 31.

Woodsist - http://www.woodsist.com/

Free Music Friday! The Doozer - "Fold Up Chair"

2012-01-20T14:40:00.000-05:00

Keep It Together is the fourth full-length album from the Fenlands shadow puppet master The Doozer. Relocating to a village hall, little theatre style, The Doozer set the task with a cast of 11 players dipping in and out of the village, with old Mrs. Mallows holding the keys. Previous albums were primarily lonesome affairs, so this group activity holds sway on the sound of this all-enveloping record. Chords are the name of the game, and it's certainly got them! You'll hear guitars, bass, piano, drums and slipping in to lift those harmonies, a string quartet and horns.... Is that a tuba from the Salvation Army you say? Yeah it is, and salvation is at hand. Just let it come down from the "Aluminum Dome." I mean, perhaps you know what the weather's like here, but if you don't, take some advice from "Fen Drayton" or if you're in doubt about what flowers to get your girl, then check out "Fold Up Chair" or are you undecided on your God? That's "Oh Unbelievers!" But none of its good advice, it's just a crack at the seam.

STREAM: The Doozer - "Fold Up Chair" - http://soundcloud.com/forcefieldpr/the-doozer-fold-up-chair

The Doozer will release Keep It Together on Woodsist Jan. 31.

The Doozer on MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/thedoozerman
Woodsist - http://www.woodsist.com/

Free Music Friday! Frankie Rose - "Know Me"

2012-01-20T14:29:00.005-05:00

On Interstellar Frankie takes the lessons learned with her debut album - like reverb as the holy route to pop-grandeur, scaling a wall of teenage tears - fully digests, and transfers those skills into the brave new world mapped out by ten new songs. Aided by production ace Le Chev, remixer supreme for Lemonade, Narcisse, Passion Pit, and Frankie's own "Candy," Frankie has replaced that reverbed-out classicism with the confident swagger of a singer and auteur fully aware of how to build the simplest of pop moves into aching, full-blown melodramas, how to grab hold of an emotion and ride its darker waves.

STREAM: "Know Me" - http://bit.ly/w0M7DU

"Know Me" is the first single from Interstellar. It's a gorgeous piece of widescreen pop, dreamy and driving at the same time. The clean, big hooks bring to mind the best of mid-80s pop -- Smiths, New Order -- without sacrificing any of Frankie's unique melodic style. It's a single in the best sense; a three minute gem that perfectly captures the essence of the new album. Le Chev's remix on the flip side is pure 2012 - a slow-motion house burner with a tropical vibe and atmosphere to spare. Turn it up and drift away.

Frankie Rose will release Interstellar via Slumberland/Memphis Industries on Feb. 21.

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/missfrankierose
Twitter - http://twitter.com/MissfrankieRose
Official Site - http://www.missfrankierose.com/
Label - http://www.slumberlandrecords.com

Free Music Friday! Kathryn Calder - "Turn A Light On"

2012-01-20T14:26:00.000-05:00

Written and recorded in a relatively short amount of time, Bright and Vivid is a masterfully refined piece of work that illustrates a maturation that can only come from intense growth and change. Somefolks break when too much happens in a short period of time, yet Calder reached deep within and manifested it into a striking gift for listeners.

VIDEO: "Turn A Light On" (Dir. by Geoffrey Tomlin-Hood and Leif Parker) - http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/av/2011/12/video-premiere-kathryn-calder---turn-a-light-on.html
MP3: "Turn A Light On" - http://boingboing.net/2011/12/01/kathryn-calder-turn-a-light.html

Fans expecting a straight ahead pop album will instead discover songs that are remarkably complex. The endlessly singable hooks are supported by intelligent songwriting and complex arrangements. Calder sums it up best...."I didn't want to give those songs away too easily, I wanted people to wonder what was coming next, where the song was going." This album defies ANY comparisons to Kathryn's current association with The New Pornographers as well as her past history with Immaculate Machine. Kathryn has found her own beautifully unique voice... one that is best summed up by the title that she chose for her sophmore release, Bright and Vivid.

Website: http://www.kathryncalder.ca
Twitter: http://twitter.com/kathryncalder
Facebook: http://facebook.com/kathryncalder
Myspace: http://myspace.com/kathryncalder
Label: http://www.fileundermusic.com/

Free Music Friday! Youth Lagoon - "Goodbye Again" (John Denver cover)

2012-01-20T14:22:00.002-05:00

Twenty-two year old Trevor Powers, whose musical venture is called Youth Lagoon, has had a long year. Not because he's been endlessly touring or pursuing some wild dream, but because of life - the life of a kid going to college, being in love, dealing with heartache, and just living.

STREAM: "Goodbye Again" (John Denver cover) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-czfMHW9yA

Throughout the course of 2010, Powers began to write an album about things he had a hard time talking about. He claims that when he tries to talk about it to people, he doesn't make sense. So he wrote an album about it titled The Year of Hibernation.

Soundcloud - http://soundcloud.com/youth-lagoon
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/youthlagoon
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/youthlagoon
Bandcamp - http://youthlagoon.bandcamp.com/
Label - http://www.fatpossum.com

Free Music Friday! Cate Le Bon - Daytrotter Session

2012-01-20T14:18:00.001-05:00

A new force in song craft, Cate Le Bon currently resides in Cardiff's infamous French quarter and befitting a songwriter who only writes in the dark, her music is a heady and highly personal Gallic stew of equal parts Nico, Malkmus and the chronicler's own emotional observations on the impossibility of existence.

VIDEO: "Fold The Cloth" - http://vimeo.com/31334188
DAYTROTTER: http://www.daytrotter.com/#!/concert/cate-le-bon/20055214-37382618

At the dawn of 2011, Cate re-entered the studio to start work on a new record of her own. Drawing on her experiences of the last year, Cate has created collection of pop nuggets that sound like they've fallen off the back of a broken carousel, imbued with the playfulness of Faust and Syd Barrett and the tropical melodies of Os Mutantes. Existential word play abounds and fuzz fused guitar lines tear through like an angry bee in a CAN on CYRK.

Official Site - http://catelebon.com/
Label - http://www.controlgroupco.com/

FOZZY Signs Worldwide Deal with Century Media Records

2012-01-18T15:32:00.000-05:00

Century Media Records are proud to announce the signing of internationally-renowned metal band FOZZY. The brainchild of Chris Jericho and Rich Ward, Fozzy was formed a decade ago out of a passion for hard rock and heavy metal and has transformed into one of North America's most electrifying bands.

"We are so excited and honored to be part of the Century Media family," says Chris Jericho, an entertainment icon who has achieved legendary status as one of the WWE's most acclaimed superstars, penned two New York Times best-selling autobiographies, and was a finalist on ABC's hit television show Dancing with the Stars in 2011. "Fozzy finally has a record company with the firepower and worldwide influence we need and deserve to rise to the next level - Century Media is the perfect home for Fozzy, and we are stoked to release the masterpiece album of our career and conquer the world... and elsewhere!"

Chris Jericho will discuss Fozzy's signing to Century Media Records tomorrow morning at 9am PST (Thursday, January 19, 2011) on the legendary Los Angeles radio station 95.5 KLOS, where he'll appear live on the Mark and Brian morning show. To listen live on the internet from around the world, click here.

Fozzy - lead singer Chris Jericho, guitarist Rich Ward, drummer Frank Fontsere, bassist Paul DiLeo and guitarist Billy Grey - will release their Century Media debut worldwide in summer 2012. The album will be the follow-up to their acclaimed 2010 release Chasing The Grail, which saw them tour 15 countries around the world and perform in cities from Los Angeles to Lichtenvoorde, including an appearance alongside metal's Big 4 - Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax - on the Knebworth Sonisphere, and a string of dates on the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival headlined by Avenged Sevenfold.

"There are very few musicians I respect more than Rich Ward, and I couldn't be prouder of bringing him home to Century Media Records, the label that introduced me to Stuck Mojo in 1995," says Century Media Records product manager Paul Gargano. "Chris is one of the most captivating entertainers and electrifying frontmen I know, and Fozzy have emerged as one of the best-kept secrets in hard rock and metal over the years - now it's time to let the secret out..."

"Shortly after my 12th Birthday, while air-guitaring to Iron Maiden, I decided that when I grew up, I wanted to 'pay my bills' by playing guitar," says Ward. "In 1995, Century Media Records allowed this seemingly unreachable goal to become a reality with my band Stuck Mojo. When that relationship came to an end in 2001, I continued making and releasing music with several different bands, through several different record companies. There was only one common thread in all my experiences with these other organizations - I wished they were more like Century Media."

"The truth is, like any 'first' relationship, it's tough to get a real perspective of how good it really is until you've had other relationships to compare it to. After having lots of opportunities to gain some perspective, I am honored to return to Century Media Records as they become the home for Fozzy's music. I'm so grateful to be able to play music for a living, and it is a privilege to continue my career with the label that gave me my start."

FOZZY ONLINE:
www.fozzyrock.com
www.facebook.com/FozzyRock
www.twitter.com/FozzyRock

CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS ONLINE:
www.centurymedia.com
www.facebook.com/CenturyMedia
www.twitter.com/centurymedia
www.youtube.com/CenturyMedia

Paul McCartney Participating in Live Webstream Event Tomorrow

2012-01-18T14:25:00.000-05:00

Paul McCartney Live Webstream - Join Paul As He Starts Promotion For His New Album Kisses On The Bottom

Thursday 19th Jan – 11am EST

Tune in live to PaulMcCartney.com tomorrow (Thursday 19th January) at 11am (EST) to get an exclusive live behind the scenes broadcast of Paul answering questions from some of the world's media. Paul will be spending the afternoon in London talking with press from around the world to promote the release of his new album.

PaulMcCartney.com will stream 30 minutes of the afternoon at some point between 11am and 12pm est.

In addition you have the opportunity to ask a question to Paul by simply email your question to kissesonthebottom@paulmccartney.com and one question will be chosen and given to Paul to answer.

This is an amazing chance for fans to get a fly on the wall view of what happens before an album is released.

Kisses On The Bottom is released on February 6th in the UK and Feb 7th in the US.

Pre-Order Kisses On The Bottom: http://www.amazon.com/Kisses-Bottom-Paul-McCartney/dp/B006OAB3ME/?tag=concordreco0c-20

Pre-Order Kisses On The Bottom (Deluxe): http://www.amazon.com/Kisses-Bottom-Paul-McCartney/dp/B006RVDX00/?tag=concordreco0c-20

Official website: http://www.paulmccartney.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/PaulMcCartney
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PaulMcCartney

Reviewed! Peter Gabriel - New Blood: Live in London

2012-01-14T20:05:00.000-05:00

Peter Gabriel

New Blood: Live inLondon

Eagle Vision

Keep this in mind: Sure, when looking at the back coverof Peter Gabriel’s latest DVD offering, NewBlood: Live in London, Gabriel’s looks may have changed, but his voice, hisswagger, definitely have not. New Blood: Live in London finds Gabrieldoing what he does best, entertain audiences, and even at the ripe age of 62years old, Gabriel is gripping when onstage during this DVD offering. For thecasual Gabriel fans out there, you might want to look elsewhere for yourentertainment, as the songs here have mostly been rearranged to the point ofbeing almost unrecognizable from their original counterparts. For Gabrielenthusiasts, is probably a wet dream for you, as these songs; however milesthey might have on them by now, are presenting in a fresh, new and engagingmanner. Gabriel’s rendition of Paul Simon’s “the Boy in the Bubble” is one ofthe DVD’s highlights, as are songs like “the Book of Love” and retro radiostaple “Solsbury Hill,” though the notable omissions from Gabriel’slongstanding body of work are a little disheartening (“Shock the Monkey,” “Sledgehammer”). The lone bonus feature here is a shortbackstage feature titled "Blood Donors" that features interview clipswith Gabriel, some of his bandmates, and conductor Ben Foster (who you may knowas composer/arranger/conductor on Doctor Who). New Blood: Live in London is a worthwhile watch, and you have togive a veteran like Gabriel some amount of credit for at least trying somethingnew.

Grade: B-

Reviewed! Cream - Royal Albert Hall 2005 DVD

2012-01-14T19:50:00.002-05:00

Cream

Royal Albert Hall2005

Eagle Vision

Cream’s RoyalAlbert Hall 2005 DVD is a wonderful presentation, a release truly assatisfying as the band themselves. And speaking of the band themselves, theirability to produce music that doesn’t sound as if its coming from a three pieceband. Royal Albert Hall 2005 openswith “I’m So Glad,” which is a fine song in its own right though its comesacross as outdated present day. The opening track isnt the only track thatsuffers from such a time warp, as other tracks like “Pressed Rat andWarthog" and "Deserted Cities of the Heat" sound better fourdecades ago. Still, a vast majority of the setlist on Royal Albert Hall 2005 comes across in stellar fashion, as the bandsound spot on firing off one good track after another like “Spoonful,” “Rollin’and Tumblin,’” and “Sweet Wine.” The slight tweaks to “Badge” work well, whilethe penultimate “Toad” and eventual closer “Sunshine of Your Love” go a longway in effectively and efficiently closing out this set. Royal Albert Hall 2005 houses a collection of alternate versions ofsome of the songs (“Sleepy Time Time,” “We’re Going Wrong” and “Sunshine ofYour Love”), since the concert was recorded over four days. There are alsointerviews with the three members of the band in which they discuss the processof getting back together and performing again. To be honest, Royal Albert Hall 2005 isn’t all thatspecial in itself, what’s special is seeing Cream live in all their glory,showing that like a fine wine, they only get better with age.

Grade: B

Reviewed! Queensryche - Queensrÿche: Mindcrime at the Moore

2012-01-14T19:19:00.002-05:00

Queensryche

Queensrÿche:Mindcrime at the Moore

Eagle Vision

Queensrÿche:Mindcrime at the Moore is a double-album concert presented on stage,complete with actors, choreography, a multi-tiered set, and video footage, andfor as cheesy, irreverent, over-the-top and perhaps unnecessary this presentationis, it’s also kinda awesome. From the outset, which features the band takingthe stage in bombastic fashion alongside the Seattle Seahawks drumline,frontman Geoff Tate, both the lead singer and main actor of Queenryche’s littleshow, is at the top of his game, sounding literally as good as he ever has. Theband doesn’t waste time talking to the audience, instead opting to plow throughgobs of hits songs, actor interaction and costume changes. It’s epic to say theleast. As any fan of the band will, or should, know, Operation: Mindcrime is the superior work to Operation: Mindcrime II, so the first portion of Queensrÿche: Mindcrime at the Mooreoutplays the latter. Opening with the likes of “I Remember Now” and “Anarchy-X,”Queensrÿche: Mindcrime at the Mooreis off and running, and, as has been said, Queensryche rarely slows, orfaulters for that matter. Bonus footage includes an alright tour documentary,footage from Ronnie James Dio giving a cameo performance of "TheChase" at a staging of the concert in L.A., and clips from Queensrÿche's"Rock & Ride" fundraiser from VH1. At times Queensrÿche: Mindcrime at the Moore can be a tough pill to swallow,sure, but for as corny as this shtick can get, it’s a ride worth taking.

Grade: B+

Free Music Friday (Belated Edition)! Weekend - "The One You Want"

2012-01-14T11:18:00.001-05:00

Weekend have been touring hard behind their debut album Sports since it arrived on Slumberland Records in November 2010. Between seeing their track "End Times" promote the Showtime hit Dexter, touring with Wire, and suffering a van breakdown of panic-inducing proportions on the road with labelmates the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, the noise-pop trio found time to pause and reflect. The result: a five-song EP titled Red.

STREAM: "The One You Want" - http://soundcloud.com/slumberland-records/weekend-the-one-you-want/s-4I1JG

Red represents the group's musical and personal growth since Sports. Trials on the road, losing jobs, and a sudden exposure to the music industry all had a hand in the sound of the EP. The songs on Red show Weekend exploring their sound with confidence and energy, while maintaining a self-effacing vulnerability. Equal parts terror and wonder, the songs are immediate, articulate, and heavier than ever.

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/weekendtheband
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/weekendmusic

Free Music Friday (Belated Edition)! Terry Malts - "Tumble Down"

2012-01-14T11:15:00.000-05:00

After careful, weeklong consideration, Terry Malts (San Francisco, CA) have decided to go forth and record a debut LP as per the request of Slumberland Records. Displaying a slick, intelligent take on modern chainsaw pop, KILLING TIME certainly lives up to its name!

MP3: "Tumble Down" - http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/12881-tumble-down/

Terry Malts will drop Killing Time via Slumberland Records on February 21.

MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/terrymalts
Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/TERRYMALTSHUH
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/terrymalts
Label Site - http://www.slumberlandrecords.com/

Glass Cloud Signs Equal Vision

2012-01-14T11:09:00.001-05:00

Glass Cloud, featuring former Sky Eats Airplane and Of Mice & Men frontman Jerry Roush, has signed to Equal Vision Records and released a new video as part of Glass Cloud TV. The in-studio recording update also reveals their complete lineup of Roush, 8-string guitarist Joshua Travis [ex-The Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza], bassist Travis Sykes and drummer Chad Hasty.

The Hampton, VA-based band is currently in San Diego, CA recording their debut album at Lambesis Studios, with Joshua Travis producing the record. Glass Cloud will release the full-length album in late Spring/early Summer 2012.

Musically, Glass Cloud offers a sense of controlled chaos fueled by Roush's deep, ferocious growls and distinct, gritty cleans. Travis' phenomenal guitarwork and ability to constantly surprise listeners stands out as he displays the perfect balance between energetic, driving intricacies and calmer progressions that carry a dark, eerie tone. Sykes and Hasty, who met one another as students at Berkley College of Music in Boston, MA, rule the rhythm section contributing unique cadences and swinging, jazzy grooves interlaced with softer symphonic touches. Glass Cloud shines as the members deliver some of their heaviest and most technical compositions to date.

“The collective musicianship and talent level in this band is unbelievable,” explains Travis. “…and to top it off, the guys are all down-to-earth people too. Working on this record has been a lot of fun. We are trying to introduce something organic and ambient into heavy music. Not the typical breakdown heavy, but darker chords upon layers and layers.”

Roush also boasts unabashedly about the remarkable caliber of musical proficiency within the band, and specifically about the creative connection between himself and Travis stating, “From the moment he became involved in this band, he was sending me fully finished tracks left and right, songs that were blowing my mind. Musically, Josh is a beast…the dude is a musical machine. We meshed so well, right from the start, making tracks that had no limits to them. I couldn’t have asked for a better and more prolific guitarist to accompany me in this new musical endeavor. And with Josh being the producer of the debut Glass Cloud record, we know that we are making the exact album that we want to make.”

“We have been working intensely in the studio, but it will definitely pay off when we introduce something new and fresh to the scene,” Travis concludes. “I don’t think I could be more excited about a project.”

Century Media Signs Otherwise

2012-01-14T11:07:00.000-05:00

CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS is proud to announce the signing of Las Vegas rock group OTHERWISE. A hometown breakout, OTHERWISE earned recognition on the national level when Fox News dubbed them the "#1 Unsigned Act in America" - and America backed the claim. The band's song "Soldiers" became the first track by an unsigned artist to occupy the No. 1 spot on Sirius Radio's Octane channel (where it currently maintains the peak position) and has sold more than 10,000 singles on iTunes in the past month alone.

"We're so stoked to have signed with Century Media," says vocalist Adrian Patrick. "We have a very unique history with the label, so it feels like a natural fit for us. They were the first company to present us with a huge opportunity back in 2010, so it's extremely synchronistic for us to be given the chance to make a mark with our own music now, on this label. It's been a long, dark road to get to this point... it feels damn good to finally start seeing the light."

OTHERWISE - brothers Adrian (vocals) and Ryan (guitars/vocals) Patrick, Flavio Ivan (bass/vocals), Corky Gainsford (drums/vocals) and Vassilios Metropoulos (guitar/vocals) - are currently recording their debut album with Jay Baumgardner (Bush, Linkin Park, Papa Roach, Incubus) at NRG Studios in Los Angeles, CA.

"I'm psyched to be working with a stellar band like OTHERWISE ," says Baumgardner. "I'm very excited by what we can accomplish together and I think the album will speak for itself." The album is set for a spring 2012 release and will be introduced by lead single "Soldiers," which will be shipped to terrestrial radio for adds this week. The "Soldiers" lyric video can be viewed here and the single can be purchased here.

"I've had my eyes on OTHERWISE since Adrian sang "The Promise" on the last In This Moment record, and I've watched the band develop from a very good band into an amazing band," says Century Media President Don Robertson. "In that time they've not only become a part of the Century Media family, they've also become a huge part of our plans for the future. As proud as we are of the success they've already achieved, "Soldiers" is just the beginning for OTHERWISE, and Century Media couldn't be more excited to have them call our label home."

No stranger to the stage, OTHERWISE has honed their captivating live show playing with acts including Avenged Sevenfold, Korn, Five Finger Death Punch, Hollywood Undead, Puddle of Mudd, Papa Roach, Rob Zombie and the Deftones. In addition, vocalist Adrian Patrick performed alongside Maria Brink on In This Moment's hit duet "The Promise" and spent the summer of 2010 on Mayhem tour performing the song with the band live.

For more information on OTHERWISE, please visit:

www.facebook.com/otherwiseofficial
www.twitter.com/weareotherwise
www.centurymedia.com

Panic Records welcomes Boston’s Humaana

2012-01-14T11:04:00.001-05:00

Panic Records welcomes Boston’s Humaana to the family.

During Boston’s cold winter months, layering on sweaters and jackets can only keep you so warm. For musicians, the solace of a nice studio, and creating music that warms you on the inside can be just as much of a necessity to keep your sanity through those freezing times. That's just what the members of Humaana had in mind when forming as a studio project in the fall of 2009.

Bassist Aaron Bernard and drummer Tim Manning had been playing music together for years in their previous band Late Nite Wars and had recorded all of their releases at Format Audio with engineer Ryan Stack. After establishing a friendship with Ryan, Humaana was formed with a goal to write and record as much material as possible without any genre constraints. Bands like Karate, The Police, Phoenix and The Kinks have laid the maps in front of Humaana as guidance for their sound. Humaana serves as an outlet for its members to play music closer to those influences while taking a new path to explore themselves.

Comfort was written and recorded in the fall of 2010 between a series of long breaks due to careers and touring. The EP will appeal to any fan of indie music in need of the warmth only provided by a great song. Comfort will see the light of day on vinyl, CD and digital formats, beginning February 28th via Panic Records.

Humaana are streaming the first track, "Passing Parade," from the Comfort EP now on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/humaana.

Members:

- Ryan Stack - Gutiar / Vocals

- Aaron Bernard - Bass

- Tim Manning – Drums

www.panicrecords.net

Review Rundown: James Morrison, Seven Circle Sunrise, Fake Figures, Blessed by a Burden, Moksha

2012-01-12T17:25:00.001-05:00

Here we are – No. 50. Can you believe it? The 50^thedition of the Review Rundown. Well, 49 down and a hell of a lot more to go –it’s hard to believe that the RR has covered 245 records – but that’s in thepast because here’s five more. This landmark review rundown features reviews ofreleases from James Morrison, Seven Circle Sunrise, Fake Figures, Blessed by aBurden, and Moksha.

File Under: Soulful Singer/Songwriter

James Morrison – TheAwakening (Island): Though James Morrison came out guns ablaze, sellingover two million copies of his much-heralded debut Undiscovered, he’s talented enough that he left room to improve,and though he didn’t exactly show that type of improvement on his sophomorerecord Songs for You, Truths for Me,he did so on his latest, the Awakening. Onearea Morrison has improved is his songwriting, which leads to some of thealbums more heart-rending affairs (“In My Dreams,” “6 Weeks,” “Person I ShouldHave Been”), the latter based on a poem inspired by his last conversation withhis late father. The Awakening alsooffers up a killer single (“I Won’t Let You Go”) as well as some dance-ableupbeat tempos (“Beautiful Lie,” “Forever”), along with some lush, incrediblyvibrant production from Suede’s Bernard Butler. Though it’s a fairly enjoyablerelease, the Awakening still is acouple steps short of a great record. (www.jamesmorrisonmusic.com)

Grade: B-

Go Download: “Person I Should Have Been”

File Under: Modern Rock

Seven Circle Sunrise – Beauty In Being Alone: There’s some filler throughout the course ofSeven Circle Sunrise’s Beauty In BeingAlone, some less inspired rock outings that get lost in the shuffle liketoo much of today’s mainstream rock (ahem Daughtry *cough*) (“Another Day,”“After All,” “Praying for You”). “Nevershine” is beautiful, a piano-led trackdripping and oozing with potential and promise that shows frontman Veno Xavieris anything but a system singer. There is a breadth to this rock throat, one aspowerfully emotive as it is gritty (for those astute readers , there’s a bit ofLiquid Gang’s Jose Maldonado in Xavier’s voice – 50 gold stars to anyone whoseheard of that band – if not, check out the album Sunshine). And speaking of potential and promise, those are two aptwords to describe the albums better half, those moments of hard rock blissfueled by driving guitar leads and charging riffs and solos (“Broken Man,”“Dead Love Letters,” “Undone”). And it should go without saying, you want yourrock band to sound closer to Burn Halo or Rev Theory than Nickelback (unlessyou’re a soulless shill like the latter). Any way you slice it, Beauty in Being Alone is a good record.To arms rock fans, to arms, Seven circle Sunrise is a band to put on your rockradar for sure, as this is a name you’ll want to familiarize yourself withsooner rather than later, and what better a place to start that Beauty in Being Alone. (www.scsrock.com)

Grade: B+

Go Download: “Undone”

File Under: Supergroup Rock

Fake Figures - Hailthe Sycophants (Shillen Records): With former members of Hotwire, Atreyu,the Iron Maidens, Scars of Tomorrow and SSNOVA within their ranks, it’s clearthat Fake Figures has the chops to put together some tight material, and withtheir debut EP Hail the Sycophants, theband peddles their wares quite obviously. With ex-Hotwire vocalist Rus Martinat the helm, it’d be easy to think that Fake Figure’s sound would trend one wayrather than the other, and while there are some smatterings of Hotwireinfluence (seriously, if you haven’t heard their album the Routine, you’re depriving yourself), things don’t play outexactly as you assume. Hail theSycophants is easily summated in one track, the opening “Perfect No One,”which explodes out of your speakers with high-powered shouting vocals anddriving guitars, which, well paired with boom percussion, makes for a highlighttrack right off the bat. Yes, “Perfect No One” is a pretty spot onrepresentation of what the band can do when they kick it into gear, but Hail the Sycophants isn’t all bombasticpomp and circumstance. The band can temper the pace and slow the heartbeat asit were, as evidenced by the piano-led “As We Drift.” Keep in mind that notonly is Hail the Sycophants Fake Figures’ debut, it’s also just an EP, andfor as good as this is, it’s exciting to think about just how good this band’sdebut full length release will be. (www.facebook.com/fakefigures)

Grade: B

Go Download: “Perfect No One”

File Under: Stylish Metalcore

Blessed By a Burden – AddictionEP (Standby Records): Aside from the ear shuddering drops into euro-dancehistrionics (“The Red Moon”), which do more to baffle than enhance (seriously ISee Stars anyone?), Blessed By a Burdens’ AddictionEP is a rock, a dense slab of glammed up scene-core that plays like a the Oncoming Storm-era Unearth meets This is Love, This is Murderous-eraBleeding Through love story, just with more cowbells, uh, waves of synth (“Confession,”“Turn Your Back”). The front-running duo of the back to back “Testament” and “InherentSins” dominates the Addiction EP,showing early on that these boys mean business and are thoroughly taking careof said biz via consistent throat shreds and some dynamic guitar play from thebands noteworthy rhythm section. Another pleasant wrinkle to the Addiction EP is the closing “Passion andPower,” a track led by some cleverly tucked away spoken word, a moment duringwhich the bands explains they are here to help where they can but they aren'trole models. Addiction gives the bandsomething to build upon but more importantly its good enough to get peopleexcited about their forthcoming full length. (www.facebook.com/blessedbyaburden)

Grade: B-

Go Download: “Inherent Sin”

File Under: Soul Funk

Moksha – Here toGo: Here to Go comes out firing on all cylinders with two of its best cuts,“the Seed” and “Real Show,” sounding like a mix of inspired Kara’s Flower-eraMaroon 5 and the Chris Nathan Band, with an explosive cornucopia of sounds aslayered as they are luminous. Deep seated grooves and sexy vibes aboundthroughout Here to Go, though there’sa somewhat subtle underlying jam band spirit that becomes more and moreprevalent by the time the tremendous “Real Show” concludes, before the bandcompletely flips the script on the following “the Measure of All Things,” atrack that sees the band fire off a bad impression. The soul-funk dramaticsdon’t return until “Starswarm,” and when this tune hits you’ll see just howmuch they’re missed, and just how good Moksha is in this arena. At times, theband sounds like a jam band waiting to happen (“Into Thin Air,” “Bubbles”) anda Dave Matthews shirt and a few bong rips away from appearing at the closestfrat party, which strips some luster from Hereto Go, but doesn’t completely derail it. “Awaken My Love” is just about asbadass as Here to Go gets, and ifthis guitar riff doesn’t cause you to get your swagger on, nothing will. Here to Go is inconsistent, sure, butwhen its good, when the band is focused and lets the bass drop, these groovesare not to be missed. Don’t sleep on HereTo Go, hell, don’t even sleep on Moksha, because both exude talent. (www.mokshatime.com)

Grade: B

Go Download: “Awaken My Love”

InVogue Signs Belle Histoire

2012-01-12T10:45:00.001-05:00

InVogue Records has announced the signing of Cincinnati, Ohio's Belle Histoire. Their brand new EP, I Can Tell, will be available digitally February 14, 2012. The band will hit the studio to record their debut full- length starting March 1, 2012 with a projected summer release date.

"I'm really excited to bring in a VERY talented band that is very different from anything I've ever released before. I think people from all genres can appreciate the extreme talent behind Jane's voice and how the band showcases it," said InVogue owner Nick Moore.

The music video for “Be Alright”, the first single off of the EP, will premiere on AltPress.com on January 24.

www.facebook.com/bellehistoiremusic
www.invoguerecords.com

Rise Signs Palisades

2012-01-11T16:14:00.003-05:00

New Jersey’s Palisades have signed with Rise Records. The band’s debut EP, I’m Not Dying Today, will be released on January 24, 2012.

Rise has posted “Immortal,” a new song off the forthcoming EP at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKQ6iLGItnY

Armed with a combination of post-hardcore and pop-punk influences, Palisades adds an entire new element of emotion to their rich, big sound. Strong, catchy choruses, along with aggressive melodic screaming are combined with more contemporary breakdowns, adding a very unique and distinct character to their music. I’m Not Dying Today was recorded at Chango Gridlock Studios in Orlando Florida. Watch for Palisades on tour throughout 2012.

www.facebook.com/WeArePalisades
www.facebook.com/riserecords

Panic Records Signs Heartwell

2012-01-11T16:12:00.002-05:00

Seattle, WA indie Panic Records is excited to announce the signing of Philly’s Heartwell to their growing roster.

Philadelphia is home to some amazing things, brotherly love, cream cheese, cheesesteaks, the Rocky steps and an incredibly vibrant music scene. This is the city that, with pride, Heartwell calls home.

Although heavily influenced by indie rock, Heartwell are native punks that harness the energy of the iconic punk bands they grew up on. With lyrics that focus on the aggravation and the inevitability of life.Throughout Heartwell’s lyrics you’ll find messages that express a desire to define the anxiety of growing up and the freedom of self-reliance.

Musically, Heartwell fills in the gaps of their punk undertones with melodies of jangly indie rock. Adopting the same sincerity of the ‘90s emo scene, Heartwell creates a sound that conjures up the nostalgia of those times.

Beginning as a songwriting outlet for a few friends, Heartwell grew at the start of 2011 and culminated with the release of their first EP On Science, On Strings. The EP was met with a positive reaction and Heartwell has since continued on with their DIY ethic and powerful live show to bring them to the point of signing with Panic Records.

Heartwell will begin tracking their debut full length January 2012 for a spring 2012 release on Panic Records.

Listen to their EP On Science, On Strings now at www.facebook.com/HeartwellNJ to find out what you’re in store for.

http://panicrecords.net
www.facebook.com/PanicRecords

Hands Like Houses Join Rise Records

2012-01-11T16:10:00.002-05:00

Hands Like Houses have joined the Rise Records family. The band recorded their debut album Ground Dweller at Chango Studios w/ Cameron Mizell (Sleeping with Sirens, Woe Is Me).

Hailing all the way from Canberra, Australia, Hands Like Houses have generated some solid buzz through their demos “This Ain’t No Place for Animals” and “Lion Skin,” which features guest vocals from Jonny Craig and Tyler Carter. Plans are currently underway to bring the band to the US for a spring tour in support of the new release.

Check out Hands Like Houses’ signing video and the new studio version of “Lion Skin” here: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF2941046B7E263B1.

www.facebook.com/handslikehouses
http://twitter.com/handslikehouses
www.riserecords.com
www.facebook.com/riserecords

Avatar Signs to eOne

2012-01-11T16:08:00.001-05:00

Swedish metal band, AVATAR have signed a record deal with eOne Music for North America. Their latest full length Black Waltz will reach US shores on February 14th, 2012.

The band has been making waves in Europe with multiple appearances on festivals like Sweden Rock Festival, Arvikafestivalen and Storsjöyran. AVATAR has supported acts such as Dark Tranquillity, Evergrey and Helloween over the years as well.

AVATAR shot a video for the title track "Black Waltz" which can be seen HERE. Directed by Johan Carlén and shot in Sweden's largest amusement park along side the notorious American circus side-show act, Hellzapoppin the video no doubtably speaks for itself. Or, as FEARnet states , "It's the most fun you'll ever have with a condom and a power drill!"

AVATAR is:

- Johannes Eckerström (vocals)
- Jonas Jarlsby (guitar)
- Simon Andersson (guitar)
- Henrik Sandelin (bass)
- John Alfredsson (drums)

Matt Skiba and the Sekrets Sign With Superball Music

2012-01-11T16:02:00.001-05:00

SUPERBALL MUSIC is pleased to announce the signing of highly acclaimed musician Matt Skiba's new solo venture-- MATT SKIBA AND THE SEKRETS . Skiba, most well known for his role as founding member of the punk rock group Alkaline Trio, has teamed up with other name players for the project including MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE drummer Jarrod Alexander and AFI Bassist Hunter Burgan.

"Creating a record on my own and deciding who plays and how the songs were structured, it was fun to do. I love working with my band-mates in Alk3 but to make a rock record that was just mine was something that I wanted to do," explains Skiba.

With various musical influences contributing to the overall sound, the result is dancy, catchy rock in the vein of Alkaline Trio with elements of 80's post punk.

Superball Music, home to Dredg, ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead and a number of other artists is very excited to announce the pairing with MATT SKIBA AND THE SEKRETS. Label head Thomas Waber commented, "I am pleased and excited to welcome Matt Skiba to the Superball Music family. We have all been fans of the Alkaline Trio for a long time, so working with Matt is going to be a real honor!"

Matt Skiba also commented on the union: "I am so delighted to be working with Superball Music. It was extremely important for the MATT SKIBA and the SEKRETS project to find the proper home. I am honored and ecstatic to have found a label that is as enthusiastic about this project as I am. I am very thankful to have Superball in my corner and look forward to the growth of our relationship and to the growth of this project."

Babylon, the MATT SKIBA AND THE SEKRETS Superball Music debut, is set for release in early 2012.

For more information, please visit: www.superballmusic.com.

Year End Awards: The Best Concert of 2011

2011-12-28T02:53:00.001-05:00

To be honest, I didn’t catch all that many overwhelmingly good shows this year. I’m guessing perhaps I just didn’t hit the right tours, maybe it’s because most tours don’t venture through the Queen City. I did see Three Days Grace a couple of times, touring with Chevelle in February and again on the Rockstar Uproar tour over the summer, but they weren’t the best concert Get eXposed Music saw this year (though if you ask me they are THE best touring act going today). We also caught Five Finger Death Punch a couple times, both pre- and post-American Capitalist, as well as Linkin Park, and Godsmack. We caught a live set from powerpop princes Every Avenue for the first time and saw Yellowcard make their triumphant return to the stage, but still, those weren’t the best 2011 offered up in a live arena. Hell, we even were able to see the Damned Things live, which, if you get the chance to, do yourself a favor and buy a ticket. They are a fantastic live act, even though Every Time I Die and Anthrax are pretty badass in their own right.

No, the best concert of 2011 had to be Fozzy (www.fozzyrock.com). Now, if you’ve never heard of Fozzy, that’s fine – there’s still time. I suggest starting with their latest, Chasing the Grail, and moving backwards. This concert, which took place June 2 in Toronto at the Tattoo Rock Parlour, had all the makings of a classic – small venue, intimate crowd, and Fozzy. Oh, did I mention that Fozzy is fronted by wrestling superstar Chris Jericho? Yeah. Speaking of Chasing the Grail, this album was well represented live as the band ripped off many a tune off this disc live, including “Under Blackened Skies,” “Martyr No More,” “God Pounds His Nails” and “Paraskavedekatriaphobia (Friday the 13th).” The band also fired off amped up renditions of “Enemy” and “To Kill a Stranger,” as well as a cover of Krokus’ “Eat the Rich.” The energy level remained high the entire night and the crowd was literally eating out of Jericho’s hand. The show just had a classic feel to it – it was an old school metal show for sure.

Now, it should be noted that I have been a wrestling fan since I was 4 years old when my brother and I watched Wrestlemania I with my dad, but I couldn’t help thinking to myself that maybe Jericho is better off remaining onstage and out of the ring. Yes, he had incredible in-ring skills, wears suits better than most wrestlers today (yeah Miz…really? really? really?), and possesses mic skills that modern wrestling is severely lacking, but still, he might be better off as a rock star than a wrestler. Hell, there were even times throughout the concert, as I watched him onstage, that had me thinking he might be a better rock frontman than wrestler, which might be blasphemous to say, but that’s how much I was blown away.

Year End Awards: The Best Music Videos of 2011

2011-12-27T23:59:00.001-05:00

Yes, we get it, music videos have gone the way of the dinosaur. MTV killed them with re-runs of the 'Teen Mom' and 'the Jersey Shore,' sure, but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth watching, entirely. Isn’t that what Youtube is for? So for the first time at Get eXposed Music we are taking the time to name 2011’s best music video. Here is a list of five, as well as one deserving of honorable mention.

LMFAO

"Sexy & I Know It"

Sorry for Party Rocking

Redfoo and Sky Blu are back at it again in the video for "Sexy & I Know It," a hilarious clip that features the two members of LMFAO battling for sexy crew supremacy. It's hard not to like these guys, which is evident by this vid, which features a speedo dance-off on top of a bar and cameos from Ron Jeremy and Wilder Valderrama. LMFAO are doing their part in bringing music videos back to relevance for sure, and with "Sexy & I Know It," you'll be laughing in no time.

Taking Back Sunday

"Faith (When I Let You Down)"

Self Titled

The internet is awash in videos featuring cute kittens, a fad that has even spread into the music industry via Taking Back Sunday's latest video, "Faith (When I Let You Down)," well, sort of. The vid features the band jamming out to "Faith" with their friend, the OMGWTFTBS cat, before he splits for greener pastures. Once in Hollywood, he realizes he's a tear drop in an ocean and not the big fish in a small pond he'd assumed he was, sending him in an epic downward spiral that includes appearances in the adult film industry. It all makes for a happy ending. It's the bands best video since "You're So Last Summer," which featured Flava Flav.

A Plea for Purging

"Heart of a Child"

The Life & Death of A Plea for Purging

Taken off their recently released The Life & Death of A Plea for Purging, the video for "Heart of a Child" features the 'origins' of the band as told by frontman Andrew 'Andy' Atkins (though no other band member would corroborate his accounts), which features the band at an innocent slumber party that's turned quickly into a VFW-worthy hardcore show by an alien that just happened to land in the bands backyard. C'mon, childhood innocence corrupted and transformed into heavy metal? That works on so many levels.

A Day to Remember

“All I Want”

What Separates Me From You

Featuring cameos from a lengthy list of A Day to Remember’s friends like Bring Me the Horizon, Silverstein, The Devil Wears Prada, Andrew WK, Pete Wentz, As I Lay Dying, Comeback Kid, Maylene & The Sons of Disaster, MxPx, Matt Heafy of Trivium, Pierce the Veil, This Is Hell and Set Your Goals, the video for “All I Want” is truly innovative. It’s basically one big bro-down set to “All I Want,” and is just the latest brilliant video from ADTR.

Lonely Island

“Jack Sparrow”

Turtleneck and Chain

Easily one of the most hilarious videos 2011 had to offer, Lonely Island’s “Jack Sparrow” features Michael Bolton of all people spouting off about the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, and, go figure, the movies main character Jack Sparrow. Bolton ever dresses up as Sparrow at one point. Though the groups video for “the Creep” is hilarious, “Jack Sparrow” is their best yet.

Honorable Mention:

LMFAO

"Party Rock Anthem"

Sorry for Party Rocking

When it comes LMFAO, it’s pretty much a given the video is going to be hilarious - no matter the song. The new video for the duo's uber-popular smash hit single "Sorry for Party Rocking," the boys wake up in a 'medical facility' aka an empty room with wires attached to them - to find the entire world has been taken under their songs spell. It's sort of like "Thriller" (or not at all), but instead of zombies that look green, they are dressed ridiculously in neon colors and dancing.

Free Music Monday! Keep Shelley in Athens/Kisses Holiday Mixtape

2011-12-26T11:11:00.001-05:00

Kisses and Keep Shelly in Athens are giving out a holiday mixtape. The two bands became friends during a recent tour of the West Coast. Shortly after their tour together, Kisses' Jesse Kivel was in the LAX airport when he heard "My Favourite Things" by Panaphonic crackling though the speakers. Hearing the song inspired him to make a mix of smooth holiday grooves. After spending time with RΠЯ of Keep Shelly in Athens, Kivel knew he would be game to collaborate on the mix because, "he is the king of smooth," he says.

MP3: "Holiday Mixtape" - http://soundcloud.com/kisses/kisses-keep-shelly-in-athens

"Holiday Mixtape" Tracklist:

1. Zigo - "Sleigh Ride"
2. Badly Drawn Boy - "Silent Sigh"
3. Nacho Sotomayor - "Destino"
4. Billy Paul Williams Featuring Nicole Henry - "The Holly and The Ivy"
5. Enya - "Caribbean Blue"
6. Andy Votel - "God Bless"
7. Bent - "Kisses"
8. Gotan Project - "Epoca"
9. Love Colony Featuring Six - "White Christmas"
10. Amon Tobin - "Bridge"
11. Panaphonic - "My Favourite Things"

KISSES LINKS:

Official Site - http://blowkisses.info/
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/blowkisses
Twitter - http://twitter.com/blowkisses

KEEP SHELLY IN ATHENS LINKS:

Official Site - http://keepshellyinathens.blogspot.com/
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/keepshellyinathens
Twitter - http://twitter.com/keepshellyinath

Slingshot Dakota Joins the Topshelf Records Family

2011-12-26T10:55:00.000-05:00

East Coast indie rock duo Slingshot Dakota will release their next record on Topshelf Records. The album will be recorded this winter and released in spring 2012.

Slingshot Dakota is broken piano keys, splintered drumsticks, blood, sweat, beautiful vocals, and crazy faces. They write songs about celebrating love (lost and found) and dreams (chased and lived). Influenced by multiple styles of music they were exposed to growing up in the DIY music scene, the music that makes ear drums ring and faces melt with distorted keyboard melodies backed by crushing drum beats. Hailing from Bethlehem, PA, Carly Comando (keyboard and vocals) and Tom Patterson (drums) are brought together by their common love for burritos, bagels, back rubs, endless touring and cute dogs. Whether you're a seasoned hardcore veteran or a die-hard indie rocker, Slingshot Dakota is guaranteed to find a place in your record collection and your heart!

http://www.facebook.com/slingshotdakota
http://twitter.com/slingshotdakota
http://slingshotdakota.com/
http://slingshotdakota.blogspot.com
www.topshelf-records.com
www.facebook.com/topshelfrecords

Famous Last Words Sign to InVogue Records

2011-12-26T10:51:00.001-05:00

Michigan's own Famous Last Words have signed a deal with InVogue Records. Their debut EP Pick You Poison will be available January 17, 2012 and is available now for pre-order at http://new.merchnow.com/catalogs/invogue-records. The band will hit the studio in 2012 to record their debut full length.

You can also stream their new music video for "Starting Over" exclusively on AltPress.com. Check it out here: www.altpress.com/aptv/video/premiere_famous_last_words_starting_over.

www.invoguerecords.com
www.facebook.com/famouslastwordsmusic

Free Music Monday! Young Magic - "Sparkly"

2011-12-26T10:42:00.000-05:00

Although now firmly settled in New York City, Young Magic's three members came together through equal helpings of openness and fortuity. In 2010, singer and producer Isaac Emmanuel had left his home continent of Australia to travel across Europe, over to New York, and down through Mexico, all the while creating and recording music with whatever instruments he found along the way. While in Mexico, Emmanuel kept a tight correspondence with fellow Australian expat Michael Italia, who for months had been similarly traveling across Europe and South America with portable recording gear in tow. They decided to meet up in New York, where their good friend from a few years prior, Indonesian-born vocalist Melati Malay, had been living and making her own recordings. In early 2011 the three friends, who had initially bonded over their broad musical palettes, began recording together and contributing songs to the record, culling influences and finding their own footing among them.

VIDEO: "Sparkly" (Dir. by Dylan Wiehahn) - http://youtu.be/2ydYhTG4LbI
STREAM: "Sparkly" - http://soundcloud.com/carparkrecords/young-magic-sparkly

The immediately fruitful collaboration brought forth singles "Sparkly," "You With Air" and "Night In The Ocean," all of which were fitting indicators of the band's chameleonic sound, heavily informed by West African rhythms, Brainfeeder hip-hop, UK bass, and 60s psychedelic soul. Young Magic's full-length debut, Melt, comprises both of these tracks-as well as their B-sides-and expands on their varied aesthetic, at once electronically sequenced and completely organic. Containing recordings from 10 different countries, the album flaunts new facets at each turn, letting-as on "Watch For Our Lights"-rough samples from distant lands coalesce with drum machines and distorted synths. "Night In The Ocean" and "Jam Karet" put soaring synth pads around the higher frequencies while deep kicks keep the songs grounded, allowing Isaac and Melati's vocals to float in synchronicity between. And with its shifting rhythm, open structure, and layers of echoed vocals, closer and highlight, "Drawing Down The Moon," hints at crystalline take on UK garage: a last dance from a collection of short stories from around the world. With a sonic mélange of vibes on a debut that remains cohesive and distinctly their own, it will be exciting to see where the trio's tastes will guide them next.

Young Magic will release Melt via Carpark Feb. 14, 2012.

Bandcamp - http://youngmagic.bandcamp.com/
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/youngmagicsounds
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/itsyoungmagic
Official Site - http://cargocollective.com/youngmagic

Free Music Monday! Fol Chen - "Back on Kent"

2011-12-26T10:24:00.002-05:00

Ever-innovative, enigmatic LA collective Fol Chen is proud to announce their collaboration with Monome. The band worked hand in hand with Monome and The Machine Project to create the Tetrafol, a pyramidal sound manipulation device that will be available through Monome shortly.

Hear brand new tracks "Back on Kent" and "So Good" below as well:

MP3: "Back on Kent" - http://soundcloud.com/asthmatickitty/fol-chen-back-on-kent
MP3: "So Good" - http://soundcloud.com/asthmatickitty/fol-chen-so-good

According to the folks at Monome, the Tetrafol is, "a hand-held tangible electronic sound toy. Circuits enclosed by a wooden tetrahedron detect orientation and motion-gestures to modify the playback of a collection of Fol Chen's micro-compositions, allowing the user to explore sound through physical manipulation. The battery-powered device has its own internal speaker but can additionally be hooked up to a headphone or amplifier. The circuit and firmware are based on open-source hardware and is itself published as open-source, allowing anyone interested to learn about its deepest inner-workings." The devices are hand assembled and will be limited to an edition of 100, making them remarkably unique.

The device will come pre-loaded with the sounds Fol Chen created for new tracks "So Good" and "Back on Kent," allowing people to create their own take on the song, but users will be able to upload their own music to the device for manipulation as well. The simplicity and user-friendly nature of this collaboration provides a great entry point for those unfamiliar with Monome - for music lovers and tech junkies alike. Truly a one of a kind device, the Tetrafol is a unique piece that demonstrates why we love Fol Chen.

Learn more about the Tetrafol from Wired or watch the teaser for more info: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LiMw6mSZxo.

Free Music Monday! AU - "Solid Gold"

2011-12-26T10:17:00.000-05:00

AU is on the verge of the release of their third album, Both Lights, due out on Hometapes (and the Leaf Label in Europe) this coming Spring. A bona fide long-time-coming following 2008's acclaimed LP Verbs, AU is boldly throwing open the curtains of time with their first single: "Solid Gold." Fortifying Valatka's adrenalized percussion and Wyland's soaring vocals and multi-tentacled performance on keys and guitar, is man-machine Colin Stetson on alto and whopping bass saxophone (most recently seen on stage with Bon Iver). The B-side, a song woven by Wyland himself from a reinterpretation of the album's lead track, takes Stetson's wild wind a notch higher and into the brightly lit stratosphere.

MP3: AU - "Solid Gold" - soundcloud.com/hometapes/au-solid-gold/

AU reflects that light. "Solid Gold" is the first taste of a sweeping aural experience that captures not only the journey of Wyland and Valatka through the past three years of love, loss, and levity, but the voyage music can take us all on if we click play and just listen. "The back and forth, the tug of war for love," writes Wyland, getting at the root of "Solid Gold", in essence a love song, "exhausting, exhilarating, and so totally not sustainable." Like the best songs, in some way or another, we can all sing along to that.

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/auband
Bandcamp - http://aumusic.bandcamp.com/

Worldwide: Hometapes - http://home-tapes.com
Europe: The Leaf Label - http://www.theleaflabel.com/

Free Music Friday! I Break Horses - "Load Your Eyes" (Star Slinger Load Your 808 Remix)

2011-12-23T20:30:00.003-05:00

Allow us to introduce you to the beguiling world of I BREAK HORSES, the nom de plume of Maria Lindén and her musical partner Fredrik Balck. Residing in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, the duo have been meticulously crafting the nine incredible tracks that make up debut album Hearts throughout stolen moments gathered up over the past two years.

VIDEO: "Wired" - http://vimeo.com/31089866
STREAM: "Load Your Eyes" (Star Slinger Load Your 808 Remix) - http://soundcloud.com/bella-union/i-break-horses-load-your-eyes

The task of capturing the sonic density of Lindén's compositions was painstaking, while Balck's lyrics, constantly teasing the senses, are at times insular and cold to the touch. It's only when interpreted by Maria's gorgeous vocals that a warmth is added, like the first rays of sun on a winters morning.

Twitter - http://twitter.com/ibreakhorses
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/ibreakhorses
MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/ibreakhorsesandhearts
Official Site - http://www.ibreakhorses.se/

Free Music Friday! Keep Shelley in Athens - "DIY"

2011-12-23T20:27:00.000-05:00

Almost a year after their debut, the aptly-named In Love With Dusk, Keep Shelly In Athens will be returning with 12" EP Our Own Dream. The Grecian downbeat-pop duo meanders through almost-forgotten electronic salad days and R&B beats of yesteryear. Melding an Ibizan ethic with new age, atmospheric synthesizing, KSiA continues to push the convention of electronic music to the brink, a challenge to the Balearic norm. Like their previous releases, the duo continues the erotic down-tempo tones and visceral back-beats, however at times Our Own Dream heats up-containing well-formed torrid, trance beats to compliment the soft female vocals.

MP3: "DIY" - http://stereogum.com/860332/keep-shelly-in-athens-diy-stereogum-premiere/mp3s/
STREAM: "Lazy Noon" - http://soundcloud.com/keepshellyinathens/keep-shelly-in-athens-lazy

Website: http://keepshellyinathens.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/keepshellyinathens
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/keepshellyinath
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/keepshellyinathens
Label: http://forestfamilyrecs.com/

The Fresh & Onlys Signs to Mexican Summer

2011-12-23T20:22:00.004-05:00

The Fresh & Onlys have officially signed to Brooklyn's Mexican Summer and will release its fourth official full-length on the label in the first half of 2012. The band is currently working at Lucky Cat Studios in San Francisco with producer & engineer Phil Manley (Wooden Shjips, Moon Duo, Les Savy Fav, Grass Widow, etc.) wrapping up the recording sessions for the new record.

The band spoke with SPIN about their new album - read the exclusive interview here.

The band's most recent full-length, last year's Play It Strange (In The Red) was received with wide acclaim from an enormous amount of press outlets including Spin Magazine. It was also #29 on Pitchfork's top 50 albums of the year. In 2010, The Fresh & Onlys toured with Deerhunter and Clinic, and performed at the Matt Groening curated ATP in Minehead England. In 2011 the band released the Secret Walls EP on the Sacred Bones label.

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Fresh-Onlys/208978487600
MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/thefreshonlys
Band blog - http://thefreshandonlys.blogspot.com/
Label - http://www.mexicansummer.com/

Free Music Friday! Black Bananas - "Rad Times"

2011-12-23T20:17:00.002-05:00

Black Bananas is set for the next all-inclusive rock and roll crusade, the one that includes even and especially all the shit you don't like, woven into all the shit you can't live without. This has been the name of Jennifer's game from day one; she owns the blueprints and if you don't know by now, don't even bother to Google it, cuz understanding is an investment not an action. Jennifer Herrema is not schizophrenic nor does she don many hats. She is simply a singer and simultaneously, a pioneer of comprehensive non-exclusive opposition rock, and Black Bananas is the latest addition to the oeuvre.

MP3: "Rad Times" - http://www.dragcity.com/system/tracks/downloads/5180/original/1-07_Rad_Times.mp3
STREAM: Black Bananas & Kurt Vile - "Before They Make Me Run" - http://bit.ly/tyurAS

Black Bananas first album Rad Times Xpress IV runs the gamut from gnarly odes to reality TV in songs like "My House" to future electric metallic GoGo sounds all conceived with scraps of influence from Jennifer's childhood passions zig-zagged with other currents out there, creating a sound that will take you to a specific place that only Black Bananas know how to find.

Official site: http://www.blackbananasband.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/blackbananasband
Label: http://dragcity.com

Free Music Friday! Woods - "Christmas Time Is Here"

2011-12-23T20:13:00.002-05:00

As a Christmas gift to you, and to celebrate their upcoming Dec. tour dates, Woods has released a cover of the Vince Guaraldi classic "Christmas Time Is Here" as a free download. The tour launches next week on Dec. 7 in Burlington, VT.

MP3: "Christmas Time Is Here" - http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/44764-merry-christmas-from-woods-listen-to-their-vince-guaraldi-cover/

On June 14th of this year, WOODS released their 6th full-length album, Sun & Shade, on their own Woodsist record label. Recorded Winter to Winter, 2010-2011, Sun & Shade features a helping hand from west coast brother, Glenn Donaldson (Skygreen Leopards, Art Museums) and is the first full album recorded at the new Woodsist Headquarters in the small upstate town of Warwick, NY.

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/woodsfamilyband
MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/WOODSFAMILYBAND
Label - http://www.woodsist.com

Free Music Friday! Yuck - "Soothe Me"

2011-12-23T20:10:00.002-05:00

STREAM: Last.fm Discover Session: http://lastfmdiscover.radio.com/2011/11/28/yuck-talk-to-last-fm-discover/
STREAM: "Soothe Me" - http://soundcloud.com/yuck/soothe-me

Official site - http://yuckband.blogspot.com/
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/yuckband
Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/yuckband
Label - http://fatpossum.com/

Reviewed! Slash - Made in Stoke 24/7/11

2011-12-22T20:22:00.001-05:00

Slash

Madein Stoke 24/7/11

Armoury

They say timing is everything. Isn’t it ironic thatSlash, former Guns N’ Roses guitar virtuoso, would release his first ever sololive album, Made in Stoke24/7/11, during a time in which his former day job band is backtouring the States? That’s probably more calculated than it is a coincidence,but regardless, this double disc live release is a more than properrepresentation of what Slash is capable live, one that reflects a pretty goodtimeline of all the bands that at one time signed Slash’s paychecks.

Madein Stoke 24/7/11 is a mix of tunes from Guns N’Roses, Slash’s Snakepit and Velvet Revolver, with Slash on guitar (dude,obviously), and Alterbridge frontman/Slash oft-collaborator Myles Kennedy atthe helm, playing the role of Axl Rose and Scott Weiland, less thebooze/rehab/debauchery/baggage normally associated with those oft-malignedfrontmen. Madein Stoke 24/7/11 also features ToddKerns (Sin City Sinners) on bass, Brent Fitz on drums and Bobby Schneck on rhythmguitar. The set was captured at Victoria Hall in Stoke-on-Trent, England, thesame town where Slash was raised.

Yes, Kennedy is talented on vocals, but keep in mind heisn’t Axl Rose, and although the renditions of GNR tracks on Made in Stoke 24/7/11 aren’t anything close to trainwrecks, songs like “Mr. Brownstone,”“Paradise City,” “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Nightrain” and “Patience,” they justdon’t sound entirely complete. It is nice to hear “Civil War” performed livethough, and I’ll give Slash credit for tossing it into the night’s set list.Perhaps it’s not his doing that GNR never performed this track? Hmm. On theflipside, Kennedy may just have submitted the best entry into Velvet Revolver’ssearch for a new singer with his dynamic performance on the track“Slither.”

Regardless of song origin, Slashand his backing band nailed most every note throughout Made in Stoke 24/7/11. And if you are among the many that didn’t get the chance to check outthis tour when it was out hitting the pavement, don’t worry, because Made in Stoke 24/7/11 will go a long way to make you feel you were right there in the frontrow. Made inStoke 24/7/11 is definitely one of the betterlive releases of 2011, hands down.

Grade: B+

Go Download: “Slither”

Reviewed! Rammstein - Made in Germany 1995-2011

2011-12-22T20:21:00.000-05:00

Rammstein

Made in Germany1995-2011

Universal

Made in Germany1995-2011 represents Rammstein’s 17 years and six full length albums ofexistence and, to be honest, it’s about time the Germany metallers combined someof their best material into one album. From the second the boys appearedshirtless on the cover of their 1995 debut Herzeleid,things were off and running, and now, nearly two decades later, Rammstein is aband synonymous with militant German belligerence, pulsating metal grooves andall around general craziness. Made inGermany 1995-2011 is a proper depiction of where the band has been and whatthey have done – all wrapped up with a nice little bow.

Made in Germany1995-2011 features six different covers, depicting each of the various bandmembers' death masks, and features 15 previously released tracks, one newtracks and an entire record full of remixes. Well, the remixes aside, the firstdisc’s last track, “Mein Land,” is the lone new track offered here, but itisn’t the albums mains selling point, just merely one of them. Made in Germany 1995-2011 offers upRammstein in their infancy, featuring one track from the band’s debut (“DuReichst So Gut”), and two tracks from the follow-up Sehnsucht, predictably “Du Hast” and the albums opener, “Engel.”The bands latter records are well represented, including five tracks from thebreakthrough record Mutter (“Links2-3-4,” “Ich Will,” “Mein Herz Brennt,” “Mutter,” “Sonne”) and four from thefollowing Reise, Reise (“Keine Lust,”“Mein Teil,” “Amerika,” “Ohne Dich”). Even two songs from Liebe ist Fur Alle da (“Pussy,” “Haifisch”) make their way onto Made in Germany 1995-2011. Now that’s aconsiderable Rammstein set list if there ever was one.

If there ever was a band that was in need of a greatesthits album, Rammstein surely had to be near the top of the list. Judging by howtremendously strong 2009’s Liebe ist furAlle da was, it seems this band has a lot left in the tank, so it’sprobably a safe bet that Made in Germany1995-2011 is just the first of many greatest hits compilations to come fromthese German marauders.

Grade: B+

Go Download: “Mein Land”