It’s Sunday, November 11th, 2007. Welcome to Navel Gazing, your look back at this week in Punknews.

The people must have something good to read on a Sunday

Radiohead‘s donation-only digital download continues to make waves in the industry. An analyst decided that most have chosen to pay nothing for the record, but the band disputes the report’s data and findings. It looks like even if you pay nothing for most of your music, the law’s not going to come knocking, at least in Canada. Up here in Canuckistan the RCMP has stated that they’ll will tolerate piracy for personal use and concentrate on catching, you know, actual criminals. However while the Mounties are being tolerant, Prince is not. The musician is cracking down on online photos, lyric and artwork. So who else is in court, aside from Prince fans? How about Hawthorne Heights, no strangers to the US legal system themselves. They’ve been sued by their manager. My Chemical Romance might end up in court soon too, as the student government of the University of Maine may file suit over a cancelled performance.

This week saw Hot Water Music‘s announce the first three shows of their reunion. Iraqi heavy metal band Acrassicauda is in danger and Vice is sponsoring events to help raise money and get the band to safety. Red Scare Records has signed Ohio four piece the Sidekicks. The Blood Brothers have officially called it quits. We had news on some upcoming releases, including a live album from AFI, the upcoming Goddamnit reissue from the Alkaline Trio, and the Mars Volta‘s next record. A tour is in the works for 2008 featuring NOFX, No Use for a Name, the Flatliners and American Steel. Finally, the band Dance Gavin Dance kicked out their vocalist in spectacularly verbose fashion, entertaining even if you’ve never heard of the Sacramento band. Maybe their old singer has a future in Parkway Drive‘s mosh contest.

Our Video of the Week featured part one of our CMJ to the Fest 6 feature. It chronicles Punknews videographer Chris’ two week journey from his home base of Richmond, VA to New York City for the Mutiny PR/Punknews.org CMJ Showcase then down Gainesville for the Fest. This week’s video features Florida’s Fake Problems. The sixteenth edition of Vinyl File featured a final look at the vinyl history of NOFX.

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Exclaim! has posted the third installment of their Exclaim! TV series. This most recent episode features live clips of The Weakerthans as well as interview segments with frontman John K. Samson.

The Weakerthans most recently released Reunion Tour.

Source Continue reading Exclaim! TV epsiode 3 →

Rubber Factory’s tribute to Leatherface has announced a final track listing and artwork for their album. The disc features 39 Bands from eight countries and clocks in at two hours. The album is being issued as a double cd in a card gatefold jacket limited to 2000 numbered copies. The project comes with the blessing of Leatherface mastermind, Frankie Stubbs.

You can pre-order a copy here.

Source Continue reading Leatherface tribute reveals final details →

Lock & Key Collective (for all intents and purposes, a “label,” and not to be confused with the unsigned Boston, MA punk act of nearly the same name) has teamed up with Punxsutawney, PA’s American Armada. The Collective shies away from the word “signed” and insists instead that they will simply be releasing a new record from the band in 2008.

The band will be appearing on an upcoming sampler from A-F Records, which will also include material from Anti-Flag, Darkest Hour, Inquisition, Incommunicado, and Lock and Key’s Teddy Duchamp’s Army.

You can check out some music on their myspace page.
Source Continue reading Lock & Key Collective hooks up with American Armada →

Trash Talk have announced January 15, 2008 as the release date for their six-song Malfunction Records debut, Plagues. The 7″ follows their 2007 EP Walking Disease. They have also announced plans to release a full-length on Malfunction later in 2008.
Source Continue reading Trash Talk set release date for ‘Plagues’ EP →

On the heels of the forced shutdown of popular torrent trackers Demonoid and OiNK, and the U.S. government’s re-introduction of the PIRATE Act, which would force the Department of Justice to bring suits against individual file-sharers, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have announced that they no longer plan on prosecuting people who download copyrighted songs for their own personal use.

According to a statement from the federal police agency:

Piracy for personal use is no longer targeted. It is too easy to copy these days and we do not know how to stop it.

You can check out this article for the source where the quote originally appeared in French.

Of course, copyright infringement remains a civil offense, and so organizations like the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) is still able to bring suits against individuals.
Source Continue reading Canadian police will tolerate music piracy for personal use →

Blacklisted, who have just completed recording their next album, Heavier Than Heaven, Lonelier Than God, have posted a lengthly update on their blog. The blog discusses the meaning behind their contribution to 2005’s Revelation Records compiation Generations and includes three interviews (Rise and Fall, Shipwreck A.D., Bitter End) conducted by Blacklisted frontman George Kirsch for a yet to be published fanzine of his.

Heavier Than Heaven, Lonelier Than God is the follow up to 2005’s …The Beat Goes On and this year’s 7-inch Peace on Earth, War on Stage.
Source Continue reading Blacklisted post massive blog update →

Epic Records has signed Austin’s act Sounds Under Radio. The band was recently featured as an unsigned act on the “Spiderman 3” soundtrack and are in the midst of working on music for the movie “WarGames 2”.

Hear some tracks at their MySpace.
Source Continue reading Epic Records signs Sounds Under Radio →

In a followup to our recent story about the Moral Crux reissue, Jailhouse has shed a few more details on the re-release. The expanded two-LP release will feature tracks from the ’88 EP Load of Dead Tracks and is expected April 18th, 2008 on four colors of vinyl.

The label will also be putting out a limited 12″ picture disc of the Independents‘ Eternal Band album. Expect it available only online around January or February.

The label is also planning a release from psychos Electric Frankenstein.
Source Continue reading Jailhouse! vinyl and more: Moral Crux details, Independents and Electric Frankenstein →

Massachusetts’ Us Against The Archers have posted three new tracks. Check them out at their MySpace page.

Celeste has posted their debut LP Nihiliste(s) for free download. You can grab the followup to their Pessimiste(s) EP here and preorder the physical copy as well.

New Hampshire’s L’antietam will be going on hiatus for 6 months while their drummer goes to live in Arizona.

L.A. Kings, who hail from Chicago not Los Angeles, have posted some new tracks. You can check them out at their MySpace page. The band features former members of Arma Angelus and Racetraitor and are working on tour plans with 2*Sweet and Chris DeadXStop.
Source Continue reading Us Against The Archers, Celeste, L’antietam, L.A. Kings →