Most of our office has been pretty psyched about the next installment of the James Bond movie franchise. We only need to wait a few weeks until we get all Quantum Of Solace’d up in here(?) Rather than ask what that title actually means we figured we’d wait until we heard the new theme song (which usually has the song title in it) for clarification…we got none. However, it seems that Jack White and Alicia Keys themselves didn’t want to even tackle the idea so they just called it “Another Way To Die.”

C’mon Jack! I think if these people can figure out how to use the movie’s title in a song, you could have as well. (more…)

Here’s what is new in stores this week. Go check ‘em out.

:: ANBERLIN New Surrender (Universal)

:: BAYSIDE Shudder (Victory)

:: BEN FOLDS Way To Normal (Epic)

:: BLEEDING THROUGH Declaration (Trustkill)

:: DEAR AND THE HEADLIGHTS Drunk Like Bible Times (Equal Vision)

:: ENERGY Invasions Of The Mind (Bridge Nine)

:: ENIGMA Seven Lives Many Faces (EMI)

:: INNERPARTYSYSTEM Innerpartysystem (Island)

:: JACK’S MANNEQUIN The Glass Passenger (Sire)

(more…)

Bruce Springsteen’s Myspace page currently has The Gaslight Anthem, The Hold Steady, and Against Me! as his top 3 friends.

Can we all just stop and contemplate for a second about how amazing a tour with these 4 bands could be for the world? We called this awesomeness nearly a year ago. Could it actually happen? Would it end world hunger, or solve the problems on Wall St? These are questions we need answers to.

NJ post-hardcore band THURSDAY have inked a record deal with Epitaph Records.

Thursday frontman, Geoff Rickly had the following to say.

“One of our biggest concerns was that we find a situation where we could be free to just be Thursday. Epitaph have continually voiced their desire to help us become the band that WE have always wanted to be. It’s a great feeling to have a label encourage you to be more socially conscious and politically active. It’s a great feeling to have a label owner push you to explore the most experimental and challenging aspects of your band’s music instead of dissuading you. It’s a truly great feeling to be working with a label that all of our friends have had so many great experiences with.”

Thursday will still release their forthcoming split EP with Japanese band Envy on Temporary Residence this fall but the band is already planning on putting out their 5th studio album in the spring of 2009.

Read the full press release after the jump. (more…)

:: Ryan Adams posted a new track “Fix It” on his Myspace page.

:: Tom Gabel is releasing one video a week leading up to the release of his solo album.

:: Always a good time for a Journey story. Their new lead singer, um, stops believin’.

:: Caribu have won the 2008 Polaris Prize.

:: The future of the Dresden Dolls seems uncertain.

MINUS THE BEAR went ahead and secretly recorded an acoustic album. About a month ago the group entered the Redroom studios in Seatte to rework some of their songs in an acoustic manner. They incorporated tambourines, organ pipes, swizzle stix and other assorted random instruments to create an Acoustic EP of “rousing, acoustic campfire gems”. The release will come out on Tigre Blanco Records.

The band didn’t just want to re-sell their fans songs they’ve already purchases so MTB put a new track “Guns & Ammo” on the EP as well. The band is planning on debuting the new material on a fall US tour where they’ve also promised old songs they haven’t played live in a while as well as a second new song that is “definitely not acoustic.” The EP will be available on the tour dates as well as through digital outlets.

Check out the Acoustics EP tracklisting and fall tour dates after the jump. (more…)

:: After much speculation, it’s finally confirmed that Bruce Springsteen will be the halftime performer at this year’s Superbowl.

:: The new Guns N Roses album will be a Best Buy exclusive in November.

:: My Bloody Valentine announed they plan to record their first new studio album in 17 years.

:: More Deftones studio update videos.

:: Boing Boing has announced Wal-Mart plans on closing down their DRM server. Creating problems for people who have purchased digital music through Wal-Mart.

:: Internet radio can breathe a little easier, for now.

It’s a sad day in the shake-whatcha-momma-gave-ya world of music. According to a post on their Myspace page the Danish duo JUNIOR SENIOR have announced they will no longer be making glorious, neon colored, dancey music together.

Though they didn’t really give us any gossip-worthy reason as to why the break up actually happend, they did say there were plans for them to continue on with solo careers. With Jesper (Jr.) continuing on with his two new projects - I Scream Ice Cream and The Little Sisters and one for Senior, Jeppe.

You can read the full statement from the band after the jump. (more…)

COLD WAR KIDS
Loyalty To Loyalty
Downtown
Purchase on Amazon

With the release of Loyalty To Loyalty, it seems Cold War Kids have finally found their “sound” - a tight rhythm section with echoed, jangly guitars, soulful vocals all anchored by some terrific drumming. After cutting their teeth on a series of EPs, live shows, and now two LPs, Cold War Kids finally found a space they can occupy and make their own. It’s glorious to see and even better to hear.

That’s now saying the band doesn’t still have their misses. They still have yet to write the perfect record. The slower songs on Loyalty To Loyalty tend to drag things out more than needed, making the band come across as if they were shuffling around in a practice studio attempting to figure out the rhythm for something to write. Tracks like “Avalanche in B,” “The Night My Love Broke Through,” and “Cryptomnesia” make for clunky interludes rather than fleshed out songs and ultimately end up slowing down the pace of the record making better moments much more prominent. (more…)

:: Poison The Well are headed into the studio to record a new album with J. Robbins (Against Me!, Clutch, Murder By Death).

:: Muxtape is re-launching as a service exclusively for bands to create their own mixtapes. You can read the thoughts of owner over at their website.

:: The Hard Rock Park has filed for bankruptcy.

:: Now the Wall Street Journal is weighing in on the loudness war raging in recorded music.

:: Look, a Warped Tour DVD, just in time for the holidays.