Dashboard Confessional plans fall release

Dashboard Confessional have spoken to Billboard about their next album. Frontman Chris Carraba discussed the album, which features production by Adam Schlesinger of power-pop mavens Fountains Of Wayne:

It has a vibrance that is suited for summertime. Some producers do an amazing job of inventing new techniques. But Adam understands the palette of craftsmanship. It’s a nice marriage of where I’ve come from and where I’ve gotten to.

[I wanted Adam because] to be frank, it’s a bit poppy. But not in a ‘pop’ popular music way — in the grand tradition of a power-pop writing style, which Adam is spectacular at. This is as close as I get to it. I’m a bit of an angular writer and I felt myself being pulled in this new direction. He’s a master of that end of the scope.

Dashboard plans to hit the road in support of the album later this year, but Carrabba has at least one other project on his mind, about which he declined to reveal details.
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Ninja Gun: “Restless Rubes” (stream and free download)

Ninja Gun After the response to our recent LaGrecia stream and giveaway, the generous folks at Suburban Home Records decided to try it with another one of their bands, Valdosta’s country-punks, Ninja Gun:

Below is a link that will allow you to download entire album as DRM-free MP3s. You can put them on your IPod, burn a CD, and yes, you can share them with others. The one thing that I ask is that when sharing the mp3s with your friends, please let them know that if they enjoy the album that they should consider buying the album legally either directly from us, from a digital retailer, or from a mom and pop record store.

I realize that with the mass amounts of music out there, many people want to be able to sample the songs before purchasing them. We get that, but selling music is the livelihood of Suburban Home/Vinyl Collective and our artists so if they like what they hear, have them please consider purchasing a copy.

You can grab one of 200 copies of the album here via yousendit.com or give it a listen on their Punknews.org Profile.
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Dischord’s Shudder to Think to reunite for tour

80s-era hardcore/post-punk act Shudder to Think have announced plans to reunite. The band split up ten years ago in 1998 after releasing albums on Dischord and Epic. The band was notable one of only two Dischord acts to ever sign to a major label (the other being Jawbox with whom they shared a member.)

Some of the band’s music can be heard on their myspace page. Their label, Pony Express Record has received considerable critical acclaim.

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Cartel leaves Epic, joins Wind Up

Cartel have ended their one-album relationship with major label Epic Records and signed to Wind Up. The record made the announcement via “voice mail.” and will begin recording for the new album soon.

The band recorded their previous album Cartel under controversial circumstances, by “living” in a sponsor-laden bubble with cameras aplenty documenting the band’s every movement. The band publically argued with industry guru Bob Lefsetz who had harsh words for the band.

Last June, the bubble literally burst leading to ample snark.
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Anchors For Arms leaves Lobster Records

Randolph, New Jersey’s Anchors For Arms have announced their departure from Lobster Records :

We have left Lobster Records and we’ll be recording and releasing our new record Remember Why You Came This Far on our own. For the sake of everyone involved, we don’t want to get into the details of why but all we will say is we gave Steve more than enough opportunities to make this situation happen a smooth and fair one. A big thanks to Steve and past Lobster employees Kevin, Casey, John, Chunk and any one else who had a hand in helping us. In other news, things have obviously been running very slowly for us these past few months. Once we decided to do this record ourselves, we knew we needed to get the money to do so which is what we’ve been spending this time doing. The record is written and ready to go and we’re super excited to get it out to you guys. Recording starts in a few weeks so get pumped!

The band released Listen. React last year.
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Video and music from soundtrack to “Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten”

Joe Strummer AOL has some exclusive video footage and a stream of the soundtrack for the Joe Strummer documentary titled The Future is Unwritten. The DVD and soundtrack were released today, July 08, 2008.

The film promises an intimate biographical portrait of Clash frontman, vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and primal lyricist Joe Strummer who passed away in 2002. Director Julian Temple had a 30-year association with John Graham Mellor aka Joe Strummer and along with covering his entire life, the film includes narration by Strummer himself from his BBC radio show which featured some 65 of Joe’s favorite songs.

You can check out the soundtrack here and the video content here.
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The Thermals working on new album

The Thermals, who dominated year-end lists in 2006 with their album, The Body, The Blood, The Machine, have announced plans to record the follow up:

Currently there are no Thermals shows booked. This means only that we are making a new record. We will be recording it in August, mixing it in September, leaking it in October, whining about said leakage in November, officially releasing it (cassette only) in January, breaking up in February, and finally re-uniting in late March for a reunion tour that will last until gas hits $10.00 a gallon or the Mayan calendar ends, whichever comes first.

The band parted ways with the latest of its drummers in March.
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Rx Bandits planning next album

Rx Bandits have begun writing for their next album. According to a report from guitarist/keyboardist Steve Choi:

Just got home from practice. We just recorded our first run through of the body of music we are currently working on.. and yes, it will be played straight through on recording, multiple songs played straight through live and uncut. That’s all for now.

The band took a similar recording technique for their previous record, …And the Battle Begun.
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