Alkaline Trio followed up the recent announcement of a partnership with Epitaph Records with some discussion about how their label, Heart & Skull, came to be and their thoughts on the deal. Co-vocalist Matt Skiba commented:

We made the decision to form Heart & Skull to put out our own records after having been through every kind of label deal in the industry, big indies, small indies, majors. We knew it was time to adapt to the shifting tides of the music industry and we could not be more thrilled about doing that in conjunction with the team at Epitaph.

Taking control of our own label situation was something we always wanted to do but never thought was possible, but now thanks to Brett Gurewitz and the fine folks at Epitaph, it is. All three of us in Alkaline Trio have always had the utmost respect for the music and the work ethic of the Epitaph, Anti- and Hellcat family and now we’re honored to be working together under one big happy roof. Heart & Skull/Epitaph is truly a dream come true for us.

Bassist/co-vocalist Dan Andriano added:

For our band at this time it really makes sense to release our own records, but we wanted to make sure we could partner up with good people who we would want to share in something very special to us. When Brett called and said he wanted to be involved, that was it. Epitaph is a label I’ve admired and supported for more than half of my life.

The first record under the deal is due out in 2010.
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Featured in the newest issue of Alternative Press is the magazine’s “Haircut 100” special, counting down a decade of the comtemporary punk/emo scene’s best singles. Topping the list is “One Armed Scissor,” the 2000 single by defunct post-hardcore icons At The Drive-In. Other notable entries are the Gaslight Anthem‘s “The ’59 Sound” at No. 13, Piebald‘s “American Hearts” at No. 23, Against Me!‘s “Thrash Unreal” at No. 46, the Bouncing Souls‘ “True Believers” at No. 50 and Dropkick Murphys‘ “I’m Shipping Up To Boston” at No. 72. A number of bands placed with multiple singles on the list, including Rise Against, Jimmy Eat World, Alkaline Trio, Brand New, Death Cab For Cutie, Glassjaw and Bad Religion.

Voting was conducted by a panel of AP staff and contributing writers, music-industry professionals (including Punknews.org editors Aubin and Brian, as well as Pastepunk.com founder Jordan Baker), as well as band members from Fall Out Boy, New Found Glory and others.

You can see the entire list below; to see which 10 songs just didn’t make the cut, click here and to see ballots of select voters, click here.
Source Continue reading At The Drive-In’s “One Armed Scissor” tops AP’s “Haircut 100” singles countdown →

According to a L.A. Times report, Green Day is planning to re-release their single, “21 Guns,” but with an alternate recording featuring the cast of their recently unveiled “American Idiot” musical.

An official release date wasn’t given for the newly recorded single, but it will be made available for purchase at all major digital outlets. The musical is now likely headed for Broadway.
Source Continue reading Green Day plans new version of “21 Guns” with musical cast →

My Chemical Romance vocalist Gerard Way spoke to Rolling Stone about their forthcoming fourth album and what people can expect from it.

We wanted to harness everything that’s great about this band into shorter songs, almost protopunk, like The Stooges or the MC5.

Check out the report here.

The band released The Black Parade in 2006.
Source Continue reading My Chemical Romance plan protopunk-influenced album →

NPR’s Monitor Mix Blog has posted a roundtable discussion conducted by Carrie Brownstein, formerly of Sleater-Kinney, in which representatives from Merge Records, Matador Records, Kill Rock Stars, Saddle Creek Records and Jagjaguwar discuss the role of a record label in a perpetually changing marketplace. Topics touched on include the culture surrounding the digital age, the resurgence of vinyl, file-sharing and more.

Check it out here.
Source Continue reading NPR looks at the role of the record label →

Aloha will release Home Acres, their new full length on March 9, 2010. It follows the acoustic EP, Light Works from 2007 and was recorded by T.J. Lipple and Nick Anderson

Source Continue reading Aloha plans “Home Acres” for March →

Eels have released another new video from their 2009 Vagrant Records release, Hombre Lobo.

Source Continue reading Eels: “Little Bird” →

Meat Puppets are on the road right now in support of their 12th studio album. The record is their second since singer/guitarist Curt Kirkwood reunited with his younger brother, bassist Cris, following Cris’ struggle with drug addiction and subsequent incarceration.

Source Continue reading Meat Puppets (US) →

Mike Novak (ex-Every Time I Die) and Ian Wiedrick (Speakerfire) have formed a new hardcore/rock band named Deadly Animals. The band has posted their first four songs.

Check out some music here.
Source Continue reading Mike Novak (ex-Every Time I Die) and Ian Wiedrick (Speakerfire) form Deadly Animals →

Trash Talk have completed recording on their next album. The album is tenatively titled Eyes & Nines and the album was tracked by Joby Ford (The Bronx, The Drips) and is currently being mixed for a 2010 release.

They last released Trash Talk in 2008.
Source Continue reading Trash Talk completes recording →

Original members of The Velvet Underground – frontman Lou Reed, bassist Doug Yule and drummer Maureen Tucker – will be reuniting, but for a discussion at the New York Public Library on December 8th to talk with journalist David Fricke about the band’s legacy and impact on rock music’s evolution.

While no performances are planned, the conference follows the publication of the band’s book, The Velvet Underground: New York Art which features Reed’s handwritten music and lyrics, rare photographs, poster and cover designs by manager Andy Warhol, as well as reviews, handbills and various press clippings.

You can find some more details here.
Source Continue reading The Velvet Underground reunite (for discussion) →

Bouncing Souls performance on The Daily Habit is now streaming online. The band performed “Never Say Die,” “When You’re Young” and “Sing Along Forever.”

Source Continue reading Footage from Bouncing Souls performance on “The Daily Habit” →

NOFX has posted a stream of their EP Cokie the Clown, due out November 24, 2009.

Check it out on their MySpace page.
Source Continue reading NOFX: “Cokie the Clown EP” →