Perpetually-dormant punk supergroup The Falcon release a new song

The Falcon are Brendan Kelly and Neil Hennessy of The Lawrence Arms, Dan Andriano of Alkaline Trio, and as of early last year Dave Hause of Paint It Black, The Loved Ones, and others. Sort of a supergroup--if you will--though, their output has been scant. Save for an EP in 2004 and a single full-length album a decade ago the band has remained an after thought.

Still, with their sole LP being label Red Scare Industry's best-selling record of all time, it's about time for a follow-up. Enter Gather Up the Chaps, the band's first release in 10 years, due out on March 18th. Teasing the new album and promoting their upcoming tour, the band released the amusingly-titled single Hasselhoff Cheeseburger.

As described on The Lawrence Arms' Facebook page; "'Tis a ripper, eh?" Indeed it is, guys. Indeed it is. Hit the jump to give it a listen and find out when they're coming to your town.

PUP build hype for sophomore album with new track

Update: PUP released a music video for the song just after my posting. It's chock full of nostalgic video game goodness. I've included it after the jump for your viewing pleasure.

Toronto-based pop punk band PUP are just brimming with potential. The band's debut, self-titled release was a pleasant surprise and ended up on many end of the year best-of lists. The entire record barrels toward the end, in danger of coming off the rails at any moment but always just barely staying on track.

Will they be able to obtain that level of intensity for their follow-up, though? The newly dropped song, DVP, seems to point to 'yes'. Hit the jump to give it a listen.

Record Store Day releases (possibly) leak

Record Store Day, created to help draw attention back to small, local record stores, has become quite an event in some groups. With vinyl sales climbing each year as all other forms of media sell less and less, bigger artists are putting out exclusives for the make-shift holiday.

It won't be here until April, but already a tentative list of releases is making rounds on the web. Many say this list is (if not entirely false) incomplete, or possibly subject to change. It comes from a group of self-professed nerds on the Vinyl Collective forums. Where they obtained it is anyone's guess.

Honestly, unless more gets added the only thing I'm really interested in is The Vandals - Sweatin' to the Oldies release. How about you? Are you gonna head out to your local record store and snatch up any of these releases? Hit the jump for the list and leave us a comment below to tell us what you have to have or that you think the whole day is whack and dead.

Producer John Congleton, formerly of The Paper Chase, announces solo release

John Congleton has probably produced an album you've enjoyed. In fact, he's probably produced several of them. The man has been extremely busy behind the scenes of some well-known acts such as St. Vincent, Xiu Xiu, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Swans, Angel Olson, Spoon, The Polyphonic Spree, Explosions in the Sky, The Roots, Amanda Palmer, and so many more it'd make your head spin. Unfortunately for fans of his band The Paper Chase all this work meant no more of his trademark orchestrated insanity, save for an EP under the name The Nighty Nite and a smattering of teases.

Until now, that is, as those teases have taken the form of a solo release under the new moniker John Congleton and the Nighty Nite. If you are unfamiliar (then you're probably new to this website because I've previously obsessed at great length), Congleton paints thick soundscapes of creepy dissonance, punctuated with shrill guitar wails, chugging bass, and the frantic yelps of a madman. It's not for the faint of mind, but if you're in the mood to be transported to a dark and scary place and hear a creepy, morbid tale, then preorder this record here. It's titled Until the Horror Goes and is set to be released on March 25th via Fat Possum.

Hit the jump to listen to a track from the album.

Animal Collective release video for newest single FloriDada, sexualize geography and dole out seizures

Sound collage-creators Animal Collective have released a music video for their latest single, FloriDada. The song is the first off of their upcoming album, Painting With, due out February 19th. Anyone that dropped to the ground in convulsions when they tried to learn more about Porygon as a child might want to also avoid this video. Trippy is a word synonymous with this band, but the rapidly flashing colors in this video might just take you on the worst trip of your life. Oh, and then there's the big, flopping, geographical view of Florida, that...uh, implies...well, you can just draw your own conclusions.

Hit the jump to give it a watch and confuse your sexuality all at the same time! Just don't say I didn't warn you if you wake up on the ground with a ruler between your teeth.

At the Drive-In to return in 2016 with new music, world tour

Seminal post-punk band At the Drive-In are making an as-yet-to-be-determined triumphant return to music this year, according to an official announcement on their website. The band called it quits way back in 2000, and members went on to form The Mars Volta and Sparta, both of which have since severed ties as well. Now, after a smattering of one-off musical projects, they're getting the old band back together it seems.

Successful follow-ups from other long-dead bands like Refused and Desaparecidos has me crossing my fingers that At the Drive-In can deliver once more. Though, I remain skeptical that it'll just sound like Antemasque, the side project of singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala, produced by guitarist Omar Rodriguez-Lopez. At the Drive-In came at a very different point in the band members' lives, and trying to recapture that might not work as well.

If we all collectively wish upon a star, though, it'll be good. I promise. Hit the jump for a list of the announced North American tour dates and a briefest of brief teaser of new music.

Unoriginal Soundtracks #112: Life is Strange, episode five

Every other Friday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

The finale of Life is Strange inspires this long playlist of music about being young and scared, about men possessing women, and about figurative and literal dreams.

Unoriginal Soundtracks special: Cardiff 10K

This episode is a little different. I'm competing (or participating, at least) in the Cardiff 10k. Being a music nerd as well as a runner, I thought I'd beatmatch some motivational rock into a continuous 170bpm mix and share it.

I'm running the race for the Wallich -- a Welsh charity that runs homeless shelters and provides support and training for homeless people and those at risk of homelessness. Please consider donating if you enjoy this episode.

Unoriginal Soundtracks #111: Life Is Strange, episode four

Every other Friday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

As Life is Strange nears its climax, episode four inspires a podcast of music about masculinity, parties, and young women getting too close to dangerous people.

Unoriginal Soundtracks #110: Alphabear

Every other Friday, I share a playlist of songs tangentially related to a single game or series. Songs about alien sex for Mass Effect, world leaders for Civilization, and so on. Make requests to @USPodcast on Twitter.

You may have noticed people sharing pictures of cartoon bears and mad libs recently. Childish as that feature may be, the mobile game responsible is a fun word puzzle that's well worth trying. Alphabear inspires this playlist of rap, ska, and IDM.