CNN has put together an article talking about the increasing popularity of vinyl. Even as shipments of CDs dropped more than 17 percent from 2006 to 2007, vinyl sales increased by 36%. While CD sales still dwarf vinyl by about 450:1, the article notes:

The resurgence of vinyl centers on a long-standing debate over analog versus digital sound. Digital recordings capture samples of sound and place them very close together as a complete package that sounds nearly identical to continuous sound to many people.Analog recordings on most LPs are continuous, which produces a truer sound — though, paradoxically, some new LP releases are being recorded and mixed digitally but delivered analog.

Some purists also argue that the compression required to allow loudness in some digital formats weakens the quality as well. But it’s not just about the sound. Audiophiles say they also want the format’s overall experience — the sensory experience of putting the needle on the record, the feeling of side A and side B and the joy of lingering over the liner notes.

You can check out the article here.

If you’re a vinyl fan, don’t forget to check out our weekly vinyl feature.
Source Continue reading CNN reports on 36% growth in vinyl sales while CDs fall →

the Briggs have launched a stream of their new full length. The record is titled Come All You Madmen and is due out June 17, 2008.

You can check it out here.
Source Continue reading The Briggs: “Come All You Madmen” →

Living With Lions have launched a full album stream of their new full length, Make Your Mark. The Canadian band will be releasing the record on Black Box Recordings and supporting it with their upcoming Canadian tour with A Wilhelm Scream.

You can check out the stream on their myspace page.
Source Continue reading Living With Lions: “Make Your Mark” →

With his solo debut set to drop July 29, 2008, Matt Pryor, former frontman of Get Up Kids and current lead behind The New Amsterdams has booked a solo tour alongside Chris Conley of Saves The Day and Kevin Devine.

Source Continue reading Tours: Matt Pryor (Get Up Kids) / Chris Conley (Saves The Day) / Kevin Devine →

So Many Dynamos have posted a new song from their upcoming full length. The record was produced by Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla and follows their 2006 album Flashlights which earned comparisons to Volcano, I’m Still Excited!! and Dismemberment Plan and was “one of [2006]’s overlooked gems.”

You can check out “New Bones” on their myspace page.
Source Continue reading So Many Dynamos: “New Bones” →

Less Than Jake, who are about to release GNV/FLA on their own Sleep it Off Records want to offer one reader the opportunity to take home not only a copy of the record, but also a portable record player to play it on.

Wait, it gets better. Tthe portable record player is hand-painted by Richard Minino, the artist responsible for the new album’s artwork. Just to make the deal even sweeter, Less Than Jake will be throwing their signatures onto the record packaging.

Source Continue reading Contests: Win a record player from Less Than Jake →

Hertfordshire, UK’s Gallows have been tapped to open for Rage Against The Machine for their June 14th show at the Modena FC stadium in Modena, Italy. The band had this to say:

So Download weekend, everyone’s partying whilst we’re in the studio writing the next record. Well not anymore, June 14th we’re supporting Rage Against The Machine in Modena Italy. We’re all huge fans of Rage and extremely happy they gave us this opportunity. We’re just counting down the days now till the show.

Previous reports indicate that the band is working on a new album.
Source Continue reading Gallows to open for Rage Against The Machine (Italy) →

Today we’re, uhm, pleased as punch to bring you a brand new song from the Street Dogs‘s upcoming Hellcat Records debut. The record is titled State of Grace and is due out July 08, 2008.

You can check out “Mean Fist” on their Punknews.org Profile.
Source Continue reading Street Dogs: “Mean Fist” →

There For Tomorrow have announced that they will be releasing an upcoming self-titled EP on Hopeless Records this August. The pop-punk band recorded with multi-time Gold record producer James Paul Wisner (Paramore, Underoath, Dashboard Confessional) and the EP is due out physically on August 05, 2008 and digitally on July 1st.

You can find the title track from the EP on their myspace page.
Source Continue reading There For Tomorrow announce album details, post song →

The Action Design have joined Popsmear Records and will be releasing their debut full length on the label this fall.

The record is titled Never Say and is due out September 23, 2008
Source Continue reading The Action Design (ex-Tsunami Bomb) plan September release on Popsmear →

Hot Water Music has announced a long-awaited Northern California show with the band schedule to hit the Grand Ballroom at the Regency Center in San Francisco. Along with HWM, the bill will include Strike Anywhere and Dead To Me.

Tickets go on sale June 15th and you can buy them here.
Source Continue reading Hot Water Music plans San Francisco show with Dead To Me, Strike Anywhere →