In a surprising open letter today, Apple CEO Steve Jobs posted a detailed essay explaining why Apple sells copy-protected music and more importantly, the benefits of removing the digital locks from purchased music. The revelation is particularly surprising since Apple’s iTunes store currently dominates the digital download market and sells more than a billion DRM-protected songs a year.

Jobs explains that the only reason for DRM is to appease the big four music companies and Apple would embrace a DRM-free future “in a heartbeat.” Apple even urges European countries to pressure the “two and a half” major labels headquartered in Europe (Universal/Vivendi, EMI and half of Sony BMG) to license their music to Apple and others without the digital locks that all major label’s seem to require.

While many have publically questioned the value proposition of restricted music, no company as high profile as Apple have ever made statements like this against DRM.

You can check out the article here.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22101. Continue reading Steve Jobs comes out against copy-protection →

Another new track from their upcoming Leftover Crack/Citizen Fish split has surfaced online. The disc is titled Deadline and Citizen Fish recorded 5 original songs along with their cover of LoC’s “Clear Channel Fuck Off” and Choking Victim’s “Money”.

Leftover Crack contributed 6 new songs and 2 covers, one being a Subhumans song and the other being a CItizen Fish song. Special guests on the record include Jello Biafra and M.D.C.’s Dave Dictor.

You can check out the song here: “Meltdown.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22100. Continue reading Citizen Fish post new song →

Chicago’s Chin Up Chin Up have announced a tour with Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin set to kick off this month. The band is touring in support of their new album, This Harness Can’t Ride Anything.

The band just wrapped up work on the video for the title track from the album with Eric David Johnson (who directed M Ward’s “Chinese Translation” video), with help from the animation team at Hooliganship.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22099. Continue reading Tours: Chin Up Chin Up →

This Is Hell have announced more dates in the coming months. The band recently promised a new 2007 full length. This past weekend, the band wrapped up work on eleven demos, the finished versions of which will make up most of the followup to the band’s last full-length, Sundowning, which was released just over seven months ago. That album also recently garnered a spot on our year-end list. Sundowning‘s followup is promised to be properly recorded “some time after the summer,” which it seems may already cancel out the band’s 2007 release promise.

If the album’s release is indeed squeezed into the 2007 calendar year however, this would mean the band will have released new, individual material four years straight: 2004’s self-titled demo (self-released), 2005’s self-titled EP (State of Mind), and last year’s aforementioned Sundowning (Trustkill). A split with Cancer Bats is also in the works for this year.

Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22098. Continue reading Tours: This is Hell →

Fall Out Boy has launched a full album stream of their highly anticipated follow up to 2005’s breakthrough, From Under The Cork Tree.

The successful band has been the subject of high profile remixes, leaks, controversial statements and famous guest stars in the weeks leading up to the release. They also have way more friends than you do (unless you’re Tila Tequila).

You can check out the album via Friends or Enemies.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22034. Continue reading Stream Fall Out Boy’s “Infinity on High” →

Oslo’s Death Is Not Glamorous have posted some music from a long delayed split with Sweden’s Another Year. The bands each contribute two tracks, and the full split will not be made available in the next few weeks. The split is the band’s first release since 2006’s Undercurrents and you can check out the song on their myspace page.

Harvest Earth Records act I Sleepwalker have been tapped to provide support for Victory’s Beneath The Sky on their upcoming tour. The band has three songs available online and you can check them out here.

The Flesh have announced their upcoming album, Firetower will be released May 1st on Gern Blandsten. The band has posted the first track from that album, “Cradle Brothel Bible” and you can check that out on their myspace page.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22033. Continue reading New Music Roundup: Death is not Glamorous, I Sleepwalker, The Flesh →

Tom Morello recently discussed the highly publicized reunion from Rage Against The Machine with MTV. The band played the main stage at the first Coachella in 1999 and will perform this year alongside Red Hot Chili Peppers, Björk, Interpol, the Decemberists, Sonic Youth and many more.

First, Morello explained why Coachella and why now?

Is it coincidence that in the seven years that Rage Against the Machine has been away that the country has slid into right-wing purgatory? I think not, It occurred to all of us that the times were right to see if we can knock the Bush administration out in one fell swoop, and we hope to do that job well. This administration has done enough damage that it may take generations to undo. This is an administration that believes it’s beyond the laws of the land, which is fine for emperors, but not so great for presidents. One thing this president isn’t above is the laws of physics, and there is no action without reaction.

Besides that, Tom did not rule out the possibility of future performances the band. Considering the wild effect festivals have had on everyone from 108 to Lifetime to the Pixies, one can only speculate.

Morello cofounded the band with former Inside Out vocalist Zach de la Rocha. They split up in 2000 and their final release was the posthumous live recording, Live At The Grand Olympic Auditorium.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22032. Continue reading Morello describe Rage reunion as “knockout blow” to Bush, open to further shows →

Red Scare Records have announced the newest member of their roster, Reno, Nevada’s Cobra Skulls. The label’s CEO, Mr. Tobias Jeg, describes the band as:

Cobra Skulls are three young punks that sound like Subhumans meets Against Me! meets TSOL…with a dash of rockabilly vocals.

You can check out some music at the band’s MySpace page.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22031. Continue reading Red Scare signs Cobra Skulls →

Evergreen Terrace has announced their signing to Metal Blade. The band has also announced the release plans and provided an… interesting… explanation for the title:

That’s right, no lie. We have officially become part of the Metal Blade Records gang. We chose to get sexed in as opposed to getting beat in – more our style i suppose. We will be recording our first release for Metal Blade in March. The record is called Wolfbiker. I know youre thinking “what the hell does that mean?”

In a sea of bands and an oversaturated market of things dying in December, and bands beneath blood red skies, and bullshit sentence fragment band names and record titles, we decided to keep it simple. Wolfbiker. If you’re lucky, you can join the ranks of Wolfbikers everywhere. Sort of a frat/sorority alternative. Or a lifestyle.

The band released Sincerity Is An Easy Disguise In This Business in 2005.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22029. Continue reading Evergreen Terrace join Metal Blade →

My Chemical Romance have announced the second leg of their upcoming headlining tour in support of their new album, The Black Parade. The first half will feature support from Rise Against and the second will include critically acclaimed act, Muse.

You can buy your tickets via this page.

Rise Against will be supporting their second major label full length, The Sufferer & the Witness and Muse is supporting Black Holes and Revelations.

Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22028. Continue reading Tours: My Chemical Romance / Muse →

Facedown Records have announced the signing of Redlands, CA’s Sleeping Giant. The band’s debut album Dread Champions of the Last Days will hit stores in April and according to the label will showcase “an impressive range of song-styling that is rarely seen on a hardcore album.”

A brand new song from the band is available on their MySpace. The track features guest vocals from Brook Reeves of Impending Doom.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22027. Continue reading Facedown signs Sleeping Giant →

Anberlin recently posted a new song. The track, “Dismantle.Repair.” will be featured on the band’s forthcoming release Cities. Cities will be released February 20th through Tooth & Nail.

You can stream the track here.
Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22026. Continue reading Anberlin post new song →

The Killers have announced the first block of dates for a length Europe and US tour in support of their new full length, Sam’s Town.

Source: http://www.punknews.org/article/22025. Continue reading Tours: The Killers →