New York, NY’s Sonic Youth have announced that they have signed to long-standing indie label Matador Records. The band’s contract with Geffen and Universal Music Group recently ended. No word on whether or not the Thurston Moore imprint Ecstatic Peace will retain it’s relationship with the Universal Music Group. The label had this to say:

For Matador, the opportunity to work in partnership with a group who’ve made such an profound impact on our roster/hometown/collective consciousness was one to jump at. Kim Gordon, Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo and Steve Shelley will commence recording the new Sonic Youth LP/CD this autumn and we look forward to sharing further details in the very near future.

The band last released Rather Ripped in 2006, completing their contract that had the band signed to Geffen for two decades. Sonic Youth is due to release their new record through their new label in 2009.
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In a very academic sounding blog entry for Headbanger’s Ball, Thursday/United Nations vocalist Geoff Rickley lays out his criticism for the modern “hipster” and underground cultures and their acknowledged apathy towards politics and rebellion:

Various groups, including The Nation of Ulysses and Refused made a study of the aesthetic of revolution, and so did many underground artists such as Sheperd Fairey and Banksy. These artists explored the links between advertising, propagandizing, evangelism and philosophy. As a subtle and complex exploration of art, commerce and humanity these artists were very successful. Unfortunately, this may have been an important turning point in our culture – the point at which the image replaced the message.

Over the course of the article, Geoff talks about everyone from Fugazi to Megadeth to Marshall McLuhan and how this all fits into the ” self-obsessed aesthetic vacuum” of the modern underground. You can check out the thoughtful article here.
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Jesu, the prolific project from former Godflesh mastermind Justin Broadrick, has posted a stream of their new EP. The record is titled Why Are We Not Perfect? and is due out September 09, 2008. The five track EP includes the two tracks that were originally released on a split with Eluvium as well as three new tracks. The album promises less “pounding guitars” and more “texture and melody” than past releases.

You can check it out here.
Source Continue reading Jesu: “Why Are We Not Perfect?” →

Chinese Telephones are expecting to call it quits but have not finalized the decision pending a new drummer. The band explained:

We have known this for a few weeks now, but I guess I never posted about it. We have 2 shows left (Sept 20 in Madison with Dillinger Four and Scared of Chaka and The Fest 7 in Gainesville, FL), then Gorky will be quitting the band.

Hopefully we will find a new drummer and continue, but it will be difficult to fill Gorky’s spot, since he’s such a great drummer who added a lot to our band. We’ll see what happens. There are a couple guys that we’re thinking about trying out, but I don’t want to keep the band going if it won’t be as good.

The band released Chinese Telephones last year.
Source Continue reading Chinese Telephones done? →

Popular New Zealand-based power-pop/punk rock act The Mint Chicks have released their multiple award-winning full length, Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! in the United States today. The band took “Album of the Year,” “Best Group,” “Best Rock Album,” “Best Music Video” and “Best Album Cover” in the New Zealand Music Awards last year.

You can check out some songs from the album on their myspace page.
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Vancouver, BC’s Grave Maker have announced their upcoming tour schedule which includes a run of dates with A Better Hope Foundation before joining the upcoming tour with Comeback Kid, Misery Signals, Bane, Outbreak and Shai Hulud.

Source Continue reading Tours: Grave Maker / A Better Hope Foundation →

Congratulations! You’re the lucky reader of the 46th edition of the Punknews.org Vinyl File. This column aims to keep you informed of upcoming releases as well as spotlighting interesting releases, your favorite bands’ own collections and labels with a history of vinyl releases worth talking about. As always, Vinyl File is brought to you by Ben Conoley.

This week we’d like to give one reader a few copies of Heavy Hearted’s self-titled 7″ record courtesy of Farewell Party Records. Keep reading to find out how to win.

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Cobra Skulls have announced a short tour this month alongside Fake Problems. Various dates will also feature Look Mexico and Frank Turner.

Source Continue reading Tours: Cobra Skulls / Fake Problems →

In a recent interview at Riot Fest’s website, Paint It Black‘s Dan Yemin and Andy Nelson discussed some of their ideas for the future:

In the wake of New Lexicon’s release, Paint it Black have decided to move away from the LP format, at least temporarily. Tiring of the draining process of coming up with completed albums, the band has decided to throw their weight into releasing several 7″ EPs. Yemin explains that he’s “…always been so obsessed with albums, but at this point I’m thinking ‘let’s have a go at the format that is the best format for hardcore.’ A six song 7”? Awesome.

Nelson adds:

I like the idea of being able to write a song, record it a month later and another month later have it out on vinyl.

Yemin also has some interesting ideas for future projects, like:

Everybody in this band is into a really wide array of music. I want to do a re-mix 12″ actually, like have different people do re-mixes of stuff. It’s one of my fantasy projects.” Andy enthusiastically confirms that they’ve “…been talking to Alap (Co-producer of New Lexicon/member of hip hop duo Dälek) about maybe just going up to his studio for a weekend and being completely insane and making some wild instrumental thing.

The band released New Lexicon in 2008.
Source Continue reading Paint it Black plan format experimentation, remixes →

According to a report from The San Diego Reader, Angels and Airwaves will be hitting the studio next January to begin work on their third album and follow up to I-Empire.

The aticle also mentions the possibility of a reunion from AvA frontman Tom Delonge’s former band, Blink-182. An unnamed source in the article commented:

Poppy music is coming back again. When everybody [originally in blink-182] is out of work long enough, we may see them get back together

To that end, the article cites lower sales numbers for both the last Angels & Airwaves album, and the first Plus 44 record.
Source Continue reading Angels & Airwaves to record next album in January →

Equal Vision has signed Davenport Cabinent. The band is described as the “new wave meets southern-rock” project of Travis Stever (Coheed and Cambria.) The band is set to release Nostalgia In Stereo on October 14th. The 11-track collection was written and recorded in between Stever’s limited time off from Coheed and Cambria at his home in upstate New York, and mixed by Mike Major (Sparta, At The Drive-In).

You can find some music on the band’s myspace page.
Source Continue reading Equal Vision signs Davenport Cabinet (Coheed & Cambria) →

Internal Affairs have called it a day:

6 years, 17 countries, and countless shows… The road for Internal Affairs is coming to an end. This band has been so amazing for the 5 of us, and we are so thankful for everyone who has been apart of it. We have met some of the most incredible friends from around the world thanks to I.A. We have decided to call it quits. No need for a long ridiculous explanation other than we feel it is time to move on.

The hardcore band released Deadly Visions last year on Malfunction Records.
Source Continue reading Internal Affairs (2002-2008) →

Today we’ve got a stream from Richmond, VA The Riot Before. Their new full length, Fists Buried in Pockets will be released September 9th, 2008 by Say-10 Records on both CD and digital formats. The album was recorded by Pedro Aida (ex-River City High) at Detached Sound Recording in Richmond, VA.

It follows two 7″s released last year, the “So Long, The Lighthouse” EP on Quote Unquote Records and a split with Oregon’s Broadway Calls on Say-10 Records. They released their first album, Horseshoes and Handgrenades in 2005 on Fall of the West Records.

You can check it out on their Punknews.org Profile.
Source Continue reading The Riot Before: “Fists Buried in Pockets” →