Anti-Flag have set a release date for their upcoming full length and second album for RCA Records. The record is titled The Bright Lights of America and is due out April 01, 2008.

The album was recorded with producer Tony Visconti (T Rex, David Bowie, Morrissey) Justin Sane commented on the record:

Musically and lyrically The Bright Lights Of America is the most personal record we’ve ever written. For many years we have written about the trappings and injustice of the corporate state. With this collection of songs we traveled a new path. One of hope and one filled with the possibilities of change that we as individuals can create.

In the coming months, the band has scheduled a Big Day Out appearance along with some separate dates alongside Rage Against the Machine in Australia. Following that, the band will embark on a 3 ½ week tour of Europe and the UK which will see them perform on the NME Brats lineup with critics’ faves Gallows. After that, the band will be hitting Russia for the first time, with shows planned in Moscow and St.Petersburg.

On their return to the United States, the band will be kicking off a national tour in late March. Those dates are expected soon.
Source Continue reading Anti-Flag set release date; European tour; Australia dates with RATM →

The Loved Ones continue their leadup to February’s release of Build & Burn. The band recently posted their fourth studio video and took a trip to G Rock’s Punkyard. The band played four songs including two new tracks and a Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros cover.

You can see the video update here and the live tracks here: “The Bridge”, “Brittle Heart”, ” Coma Girl (Joe Stummer cover)”, “Living Will Get You Dead”. You can also see them all here.
Source Continue reading The Loved Ones: Studio Update, Appearance on G Rock’s Punkyard →

The Black Keys have enlisted uber-producer Danger Mouse to record their upcoming fifth album. Danger Mouse aka Brian Joseph Burton is the producer behind albums like Gnarls Barkley, The Gorillaz’ Demon Days and The Good, the Bad and the Queen.

The record is titled Attack & Release and is due out April 01, 2008.
Source Continue reading The Black Keys enlist Danger Mouse for next album →

English folk hero Billy Bragg will be releasing his new album Mr. Love and Justice in March. The album will come out in England on March 3rd via Cooking Vinyl in the UK and April 8th via Anti- in the US. The release will be accompanied by a March 4th show at the London Roundhouse in Camden Town, London.

The 12 track album was produced by Grant Showbiz and features Bragg’s celebrated backing band, the Blokes. The Blokes are joined by Robert Whyatt on a track, a meeting that came about quite fortuitously.

The collaboration came about when Bragg, in search of fresh rhubarb for a crumble, was in nearby Louth where he met Wyatt who lives in the town.
“I hadn’t seen him since Red Wedge (the 1986 Labour Party youth vote initiative). He found me some rhubarb and then came along to the recording session and sang beautiful vocals to the chorus of ‘I Keep Faith’ – it was like angels singing!”

The cover art and tracklisting is available below.
Source Continue reading Details on upcoming Billy Bragg album →

Pama International, the project from Sean Flowerdew (keyboards), Finny (lead singer) and Lynval Golding (The Specials/Fun Boy 3) alongside members of Bentley Rhythm Ace, Pop Will Eat Itself, The Lee Perry Band, Galliano and more, have announced the release of their next album.

The record is titled Love Filled Dub Band and is due out February 25, 2008. It is the follow-up to Float Like a Butterfly which was released in 2005 via Asian Man Records.

The album features guest appearances from Rico Rodriguez, Sir Horace Panter (The Specials) and Michie One. You can check out some music on their myspace page.
Source Continue reading Pama International (The Specials) plans new album →

Title Fight released the first song from their upcoming 7″ Kingston. The song is called “Loud and Clear” and can be found at their MySpace page. The record is due out in February.

X-AM has released their debut album for free. Is In Love was recorded by Jake Brown (En Masse, ISYA, Moments in Grace, Decahedron, Twothirtyeight) and can be downloaded here, at their MySpace page.

Richmond’s Brainworms and Brooklyn’s Dynamite Arrows have teamed up for a split release. Brainworms are bringing two new tracks, recorded at Minimum Wage the same time as last year’s split with the Catalyst. Dynamite Arrows also bring two tracks to the table. You can hear samples from the release at their respective MySpace pages: Dynamite Arrows, Brainworms.
Source Continue reading Title Fight, X-AM, Brainworms and Dynamite Arrows →

Less Than Jake have announced the formation of their own label. The band spoke to CMJ about the project which will begin by releasing their back catalogue as well as a new album.

Among the reissues planned are Goodbye Blue & White, Pezcore, The People’s History of Less Than Jake and Losers, Kings & Things We Don’t Understand on March 18th.

Drummer/lyricist Vinnie Fiorello noted:

When you are in a pop punk band in your 16th year, sometimes you don’t fit in the modern music industry. You need to be a shiny new penny. We didn’t feel like the rest of our years as a band should fit in that narrow parameter.

According to Vinnie, Warner Bros. was “cool enough” to let the band go, according to Fiorello, even though they had one more album left in their contract. The band hopes to eventually have full ownership of their complete back catalog, but are still working on a number of records. The first new release on the label will be their ninth studio album to date, which the band will start recording in March.

Vinnie also touched on the new album, which sounds like it may be a gift for longtime fans:

All I do know is that we’re writing songs now and they seem to have the spirit of a tempo in mind, all very speedy but once we hit the record button they may be slower. [We’re] looking to combine third wave ska and pop punk in each song.

You can check out the story here.
Source Continue reading Less Than Jake form “Sleep It Off” record label →