Eric Richter (ex-Christie Front Drive, Antarctica, and The 101) has made his new band’s debut EP available free for download at Myspace. Golden City is a Brooklyn quartet that lines its anthematic choruses with slightly darker strains of early emo (yeah, I know). Recorded in 48 hours by Ian Love (Rival Schools), 1 is as […]

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Rogue Wave’s new record, Asleep at Heaven’s Gate is out September 18 on Brushfire Records. “Lake Michigan” sounds remarkably like The Shins with its simultaneously chirpy yet maudlin acoustic melodicism, replete with over-arching harmonies and hand-claps. Better than expected but not blowing me away. Rogue Wave – “Lake Michigan” – mp3

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The Maccabees certainly didn’t invent their sound. The nervous rush of jerky, angular guitar bursts, syncopated rhythms, down-stroked melancholia, and harmonized vocal melodies can be found in any number of other bands’ playbooks, namely The Futureheads’ (by way of XTC and Gang of Four). It’s not The Maccabees’ originality, or lack thereof, for which they […]

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When I first heard that Duran Duran had scrapped a completed album that had been billed as a return to their new wave roots in favor of trendy Timbaland and Justin Timberlake collaborations, I was ready to stick a fork in the band, as I’ve been tempted to do on more than one occasion over the years. Ok, […]

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The Associated Press reports Fox Searchlight is expected to announce an open, online casting call for the role of slain rapper Notorious B.I.G. for the upcoming biopic, Notorious. The film has reportedly been in the works for some seven years and is being produced by Biggie’s former managers, Wayne Barrow and Mark Pitts, and his […]

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Tony Wilson, the legendary Mancunian label head of Factory Records, has died. Creation records’ Alan McGee has already paid tribute: “He was a complete inspiration. He was one of the great spotter of music talent, and it’s a complete shame for him to go so very young.” And Rollings Stone’s obituary: “The U.K.’s most outrageous […]

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The mighty Assfactor 4 captured on video at the height of its powers on tour in 1994. The band is completely surrounded by the crowd and camera flashes go off every few seconds. These guys cemented South Carolina’s reputation for hardcore punk rock, releasing a string of tense, frenzied 7″s on various labels and one […]

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