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Laura Jane Grace Isn't Going to Ruin Against Me, She's Going to Reinvigorate Them
Morning Glory's Recent Tour Felt Like a Symbolic Farewell to Ezra Kire's Past, Invitation to his Future
Handling Hecklers with MC Chris: An Exploration in Putting Up With or Putting a Stop to Bullshit

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February 13, 2016

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.

February 07, 2016

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.

February 04, 2016

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.

February 02, 2016

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.