Animals Part One: Criminals and Submarine Dwellings - by The Listening

mmmmm...

The Listening is based out of Folsom, CA.  The beginnings are traced back to 1999, when The Rock ‘N’ Roll Worship Circus started.  However, after a couple of changes in the lineup, the remaining members began to take a shift in their lyrical & musical focus.  They released “The Listening EP” [L-Town Music Group; 2005], & after some more shows & touring, they decided to make an official name change to The Listening.  They disappeared for a while in 2006, after having been distracted from what their vision originally was for the band, but in 2008, they released a new EP, titled “Transmission #1 EP” [L-Town Music Group] – this album was produced by Tedd T. – the man who also did Mutemath’s 1^st two albums.  This song is a single they released with a couple of videos, exclusively available on their website.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YatkYD-BlLE

& here's a video about the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuZuQQZ-6Uw

(& their website)http://www.thelistening.com/

Madmen - by Wavorly

Awesome song.
“Wavorly drew its first creative breath as a pop punk assemblage of college students from Tupelo, Mississippi called Freshman 15”* (<-- I like the way they worded that so… I like using quotes ;) ). They formed in 2001 & released two albums before changing their name to Wavorly – bassist Matt Lott described it this way in an interview:
“We decided to change the name to ‘Wavorly’ because we figured – three new members, & our sound kind of went from a pop/punk thing to now just more of a rock. We like ‘Wavorly’ better because it’s just more of a mature sounding name. We didn’t want to be thirty years old & be like, ‘I’m in “Freshman 15”. I have three kids’”.**
The name itself came from a mansion in West Point, MS called Waverly – Wavorly wanted a name that was connected to where they came from. They eventually got signed to Flicker Records (Fireflight, Nevertheless***, Pillar***, Flatfoot 56***), & on June 12th, 2007, they released their debut “Conquering the Fear of Flight”. They currently have another album set to be released sometime this year****; Rob Graves produced “Conquering…” & this up & coming album (he’s the one who also produced Red, Pillar, Kerrie Roberts, Brian ‘Head’ Welch). This song is from “Conquering the Fear of Flight”.
The introduction to the album is included in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNApnKk-uYE

* - http://www.purevolume.com/wavorly
** - http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/interviews/Wavorly2007.asp
*** - these bands were on Flicker at one time or another…
**** - if you go onto Wavorly’s Facebook page & go to the ‘Bandpage’ tab, you can here a few samples from the new album – but only until midnight tonight! (though, I’m not sure which time zone they’re going by…)

& also: they've released a piano version of a song from the upcoming album:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkXPFqC4e1I
^ "One More Try"

& also: because this song's absolutely amazing & I haven't posted it here yet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quhecA76e_k
^ "Praise & Adore"

Hesitate - by Stars Go Dim

Awesome new song.
Stars Go Dim is based out of Tulsa, OK. They formed in 2007, & after much regional touring & opening for such acts as Switchfoot, Daughtry, & Sara Bareilles, they aquired a strong fan base that supported & won them “a string of fan-voted awards”*. After 2 years, the band released their first full length (an self-titled EP preceded in Oct. 2008 on Yeah Siam Records) “Love Gone Mad” on Aug. 4th, 2009, also on Yeah Siam. Said guitarist/songwriter Joey Avalos of the album, “After the first three song demo came together, I basically wrote the rest of the album in two weeks… and this is what came out of it”. They’ve since had placements in shows on the TV networks Lifetime, A&E, & Fox Sports. SGD has a new EP, “Between Here & Now” that’s set to be released on Oct. 4th, 2011. This song is from “Between Here & Now”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s3FUpwXR6I

Also: you can download “Love Gone Mad” for FREE & in its entirety:
http://www.starsgodim.com/ (enter their website, & on the left side, it says “Download. Burn. Share.” & other stuff as time passes – click there, & it’s pull up the page to download the album)

Odd Soul - by Mutemath

Definitely a different flare than what they were doing before.  But needless to say, I don't mind.
Mutemath is from New Orleans, LA. The band Earthsuit was the first sign of vocalist/keyboardist Paul Meany, drummer Darren King, and bassist Roy Mitchell-Cardenas appearing on a large-scale music level – Earthsuit started as Meany and fellow singer Adam LaClave; another couple members joined by 1997, the year they released their self-titled EP (which has been dubbed “Headless Clown” due to its cover). They released their next EP, “Noise for the Eyes” [ind.;1998]* shortly after before their label release: an LP by the name of “Kaleidoscope Superior” on Sparrow Records, in 2000. A final album (“The Rise of Modern Simulation” [ind.; 2003]) came before the breakup, & Meany began to work with Darren King – who helped Earthsuit occasionally with percussion before becoming a full-fledged member just before their last album – in a production team they started, called The Digitals. They subsequently somehow (I’m not sure with what part, but nonetheless) had a hand in tobyMac’s album “Welcome to Diverse City” [ForeFront; 2004]. King had been sending demo tapes to Meany & they decided to collaborate in a small side project. The song “Typical” came as a result, & with the break-up of Earthsuit, “little by little, it just began to evolve”**. Mutemath has since released 2 LP’s, & the new one titled “Odd Soul” is to be released on Oct. 4th. This song is from “Odd Soul”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvrfoU3SS4U

* - I've started to list the label & year of the release of the albums listed if I don't specify... "album title"[label; year]  ; "ind." = independent    ~~~ just thought I'd clarify...
** - http://www.readthehook.com/80056/interview-unmuted-did-mother-earthsuit-beget-mute-math
*** - & I didn't get far enough into the history to bring up the fact that Greg Hill has left the band as of Oct. 2010 - "The split was certainly amicable & there are no hard feelings" - so there you have it.

Circadian - by Falling Up

I was crying by the end of their new album, that's how powerful it is... or maybe that's just how powerful the onions I was cutting were...  Nevertheless, "Your Sparkling Death Cometh" is absolutely amazing/fantastic, & might I even say epic.
(I'm not going to do a 'full' post as it is my mom's birthday, so I'm going to go... visit, for lack of a better term...).
Falling Up is from Albany, OR.  They've released 6 albums now (including the remix album "Exit Lights"); the latest, "Your Sparkling Death Cometh" was released, independently, on June 28th, 2011.  This song is from that release.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFxSl2kZ6TA

P.S. Happy birthday Mom!

Peace on Earth - by Meat Loaf

I finally heard the new album a few days ago.  Why can't some of this stuff be on pop radio where I live?
Marvin Lee Aday, aka Meat Loaf, was born Sept. 27th, 1947 in Dallas, TX. His move to Los Angeles in 1967 brought the start of Meat Loaf Soul/Popcorn Blizzard, a band which helped springboard Aday into what he would come to be known as. He eventually got a role in the stage musical “Hair”. As a result, he was invited by Motown to do some recordings; the LP “Stoney & Meat Loaf” [1971] came out of it – a duet with Shaun ‘Stoney’ Murphy. Meat Loaf returned to Broadway, where he met Jim Steinman – the man that would collaborate on “one of the greatest rock albums in history”*: “Bat Out of Hell”. They worked together, & it was released on Oct. 21st, 1977 through Sony Music – it remains one of the top selling albums worldwide. However, during the tour following the release, Meat Loaf fell off stage & broke his leg; his downfall ensued, having fallen into the trap of cocaine & had a nervous breakdown. Fortunately, he eventually broke the habit, & more albums & not enough notice came along. He has since released 9 more albums, including his latest "Hang Cool Teddy Bear".  This song is from “Hang Cool Teddy Bear”, released April 19th, 2010 (UK) on Mercury Records (UK); & on Roadrunner Records (a subsidiary of Warner).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAJaiudd_QM

* - http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/2156/Meat-Loaf-Bat-Out-of-Hell/

Also: you can download "Prize Fighter Lover" (also off the new album) for free:
http://www.hangcoolteddybear.com/

Freedom Fighters - by All We Have

Gonna be honest: not the video I expected, but that's alright. :)
All We Have (formerly What If This Dream Is All We Have) is based out of Oakville, Ont. They released their self-titled debut EP in 2006, followed by an LP (which “was a step up in terms of production… also in terms of melodic maturity & lyrical authority”) “Look Outside Your Window” in 2008. They’ve received international attention, & have featured Manafest in their song “Never the Same” (from “Look Outside…”). They released their newest EP - recorded in Owen Sound, Ont. -  “Freedom Fighters” on (Jan. or Feb.). 17th, 2011. This song is from the EP of the same title.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGXNveL4n-c
(& the video was directed by Bryan Kowalsky – the same who directed some of Manic Drive’s videos)

Still Young - by SHIROCK

Enjoy.

SHIROCK is based out of Nashville, TN.  Founding member Chuck Shirock (vocals, guitar, piano) "grew up in the Philippines & Scotland before his family returned to the States".  He got his first electric guitar at age 14, & by the end of high school, he met his to-be wife, Pap (vocals, keys), who had started classical piano at age 5.  They began recording demos while in college, and by the end of college, they began touring & recording.  They released "Believe" in 2004, & followed that with their 5-song EP [appropriately titled] "5" on Mar. 18th, 2008.  A line-up change-up happened in 2009; but, "following consistent placements on MTV, ABC, and NBC television networks, SHIROCK became the first independent band to release a CD in Hollister Co. stores worldwide".  "Everything Burns" was released on Feb. 3rd, 2009; & "after playing concerts at several high schools & talking with students about social issues", they started the non-profit organization Everything Burns that brings awareness to such social issues.  On Feb. 22nd, 2011, they released "Everything Burns (Deluxe)", which [of course] features more content than the former release.  This song is from "5".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usc5bipa5GA&ob=av2e

& here's the website for the non-profit organization:

http://everythingburns.org/

Throttleneck - by Brad Paisley

Just got back this morning (as in, 3am) from 4-wheeling & camping.  Coincidentally (or maybe not), I'm listening to "Mud on the Tires".

Brad Paisley was born Oct. 28^th, 1972, born & raised in Glen Dale, WV.  He received his first guitar when he was 8 years old, & “delivered his first public performance at church two years later”.  A short time later, he formed his first bands, the C-Notes, & began writing his own material.  He continued to work on his music, and by 1999, he released his own debut album “Who Needs Pictures” on Arista Records.  His single “He Didn’t Have to Be” (“an ode to loving stepfathers”) gathered attention & won him the Song (& also Video) of the year on TNN & CMT’s Country Weekly Music Awards in 2000.  His sophomore, simple titled “Part II” [Arista, 2001], spent 104 weeks on Billboard’s Country Albums charts & made it to #3 in 2001.  He has now released a total of 8 studio albums, accompanied by a couple of compilation albums, a Christmas album, and “Play” – a primarily instrumental album ( - 5 tracks have vocals including duets with Keith Urban – “Start a Band”; and B.B. King – “Let the Good Times Roll”).  This song is from  his third album “Mud On the Tires” [Arista, 2003].

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kwufHazaTU

Our Love Saves Us - by Blindside

I woke up this morning (good thing, too, eh?), & this song crept into my head.  So now I let it into yours.

Blindside is from Stockholm, Sweden.  They started out as Underfree for their first two years as a band, but changed their name with their second demo released in 1996.  Their debut album came out in 1997 on Day-Glo Records, a label, I believe, based out of Germany.  Needless to say, they became bigger & bigger, & by the time they released their third album, "Silence" [2002, Elektra], they struck gold - the album charted at #83 on Billboard's 200, & their next album, "About a Burning Fire" [2004, Elektra] reached #39.  Their next album, "The Great Depression" [Wasa/DRT], came the following year, & much of the inspiration comes from when singer & lyricist Christian Lindskog "returned from a deeply affecting trip to South Africa… Songs literally started spilling out of Lindskog when he returned from the beleaguered nation"*.  Then, there was "The Black Rose EP" [2007, DRT], & that was the last anybody really heard of Blindside except for a couple of misleading hints at an upcoming album - they have since explained what happened**, & now, "With Shivering Hearts We Wait" is out, released June 7th, 2011 on INO Records.  This song is from "With Shivering Hearts We Wait".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q_B-VxcfRc

& here's two acoustic version for your entertainment, too:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tss2WcgnGrc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9OthNsax6g

* - You can read more about it on their PureVolume page:

http://www.purevolume.com/blindside

** - … in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoizU6nERYY

Word of Advice - by Nine Lashes

& as a random side note, this is one of the bands that I can say "I knew about them before they became big!"  ;)

Nine Lashes is based out of Birmingham, AL.  Their first release, "Escape", came in Sept. of 2008 & was produced by Travis Wyrick (Éowyn, Spoken, Breaking the Silence/The Letter Black).  They got signed by Tooth & Nail Records just this year, after Trevor McNevan (vocalist; studio guitarist for Thousand Foot Krutch) brought them to the attention of the label.  Turns out, as Nine Lashes guitarist Jonathan Jefferson explains, "Trevor was given our independent album by a friend… Unexpectedly, this was the show that he had to be rushed to the hospital to get his appendix removed. Because he had some downtime to recover, he had time to listen to our music". (See - appendixes do have a purpose!).  Their upcoming album is supposed to be released "early 2012 Jan. or Feb.".  This song is from "Escape".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI4MW-jhwY8

& for kicks, here's "Anthem for the Lonely", a new single they just released recently..:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEm7CXV3piA

One Piece at a Time - by Johnny Cash

I listened to the CD I have of Cash for the first time in too, too long today.  Needless to say, I was missing out.

Johnny R. Cash was born Feb. 26th, 1932 in Kingsland, AR.  He was under the influence of music from a very young age, as music was "an integral part of everyday life in the Cash household".  He graduated high school in 1950 & moved to Pontiac, MI, where he worked in an automotive plant; but shortly after, he was enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.  He found himself in Landsberg, Germany, & while in the service, he "organized his first band, the Landsberg Barbarians".  Cash was discharged in 1954, & he married his first wife, Vivian Liberto.  They settled in Memphis, TN; also in that year, he "auditioned as [a] solo artist for Sam Phillips' Sun Records… By the following spring… Cash was in the Sun Studios to record with his band The Tennessee Three".  Their first release was a single called  "Hey Porter", & though it didn't chart, the follow up "Cry, Cry, Cry" peaked at #14 on Billboard's Top 20.  More singles & charts followed, & even more of a deeper story; (but for now, I'm going to leave it at this - sadly, he passed away Sept. 12th, 2003).  This song is from the album of the same title, released in May of 1976.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIuo0KIqD_E

& here's a live version from the TV show Top of the Pops in 1976:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HfbRdclvkM

Fear No Evil - by Grave Robber

I'm not sure what to say about this other than "I like it".
Grave Robber is based out of Fort Wayne, IN. They were “unleashed upon an unsuspecting, pre-apocalyptic Earth, A.D. 2005”; it began as a side project of members from three different bands – currently, the members are listed as:
Wretched – vokills, shovel (<-- as they do enjoy props)
Carcass – bass, vokills (he replaced Dr. Cadaver in 2009)
Lamentor – guitar, vokills
& Plague – drums (elsewhere listed as ‘doom tubs’), vokills.
Grave Robber was signed at some point, & they released “Be Afraid” on Retroactive Records on Apr. 18th, 2008. Their 2nd release, “Inner Sanctum”, came in 2009. ‘Wretched’ (‘vokills’ for Grave Robber) currently runs his own label, & that is where their third LP was released – “Exhumed” was out on Dec. 4th, 2010. This song is from their album “Inner Sanctum”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkS75pexJ3I

& here's a decent quality live video from 2010 as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMuCq_8kMcQ
& you can download this song for free - it's part of a compilation; "Disc #2 - Rock pt. 2" is the download link (at the top of the page) is what you're looking for (if you're only looking for that song.  There's all sorts of other cool [free][legal] downloads there, too).
http://www.indievisionmusic.com/2009/07/31/summer-slam-vol-3/

Sure Shot - by Run Kid Run

I just thought I'd say, that this is a band, that no matter what's going on, I can listen to & know life isn't quite so bad.

Run Kid Run is from Illinois.  Members [David] Josiah Curtis (vocals, guitar), Neil Endicott (guitar, bg vocals), & Matt Jackson (drums) all came from Side Walk Slam, but in 2006, they formed RKR (along with bassist Lyle Chastain, who was later replaced by Paul Stewart in 2007).  They were signed to Tooth & Nail Records, & released their debut LP “This is Who We Are” on May 16^th, 2006.  Their sophomore, “Love at the Core”, came on April 29^th, 2008; both albums were produced by James Paul Wisner (New Found Glory, Dashboard Confessional, Underoath).  The latter also made it to #28 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart.  RKR has a new album called "Patterns" that is due out Oct. 11^th, 2011.  This song is from “Love at the Core”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPbcHxcDw_Q

Lost Forever - by Van Canto

A cappella metal = [epic] ‘win’.
Van Canto is from [somewhere in] Germany. They started in 2006 after Stefan Schmidt’s former band broke up – “he wanted to do something vocal oriented”, & after ‘playing’ around, he recorded a few songs with a few friends. This ‘vocal oriented’ project resulted in 5 vocalists* and a drummer doing a cappella metal – the reason, they explain, for having a drummer is stated on their website: “Well, we tried some guys imitating a double-bass drum only with their voices, but they all collapsed after 2 minutes of ‘Lifetime’”. They self-produced & released their debut “A Storm to Come” on their own label in Dec. 2006. A record deal with Sony followed, plus festivals & gigs alongside the likes of Nightwish, Rage, & more. Sept. of 2008 was when their sophomore “Hero” was dropped; more touring; then their third, “Tribe of Force” was released in Feb. 2010.  Their is another album set to be released at the end of September of this year.  This song is from "Tribe of Force".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ0n-1FmFiw

*I found this kind of amusing - on their Facebook page, they listed the band members as such:
- Philip Dennis Schunke (Sly) – Lead Vocals
- Inga Scharf – Lead Vocals
- Ross Thompson – Higher Rakkatakka Vocals
- Stefan Schmidt – Lower Rakkatakka Vocals, Wahwah Solo Guitar Vocals
- Ingo Sterzinger (Ike) – Doom A Bass Vocals
- Bastian Emig – Drums

What You Make of Me - by Holding Onto Hope

I posted this song a few weeks ago (alongside "We Are the Beacon", but I wanted to share it again...
Holding Onto Hope is from San Luis Obispo, CA. They formed in Aug. of ’08, & did 3 nation-wide tours within a year-or-so’s time. They self-produced & released their album “Of the Sea” on Come&Live Records not long after. In 2010, they also started & finished a KickStarter for their to-be-project – they have since finished recording & it’s supposed to be out later this year; as well as a European Tour. This song is from “Of the Sea”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtlaozFcgkU

& as an ‘update’ from the last time I posted about them…
They posted this (concerning their upcoming album) on their Tumblr page 3 months ago:
“… this record was recorded with Jeff Schneeweis (Secret & Whisper, Hawthorne Heights, Brighten) of Number One Gun”

Also, you can download "Of the Sea" for free from Come&Live Records (along with all the other artists' music they have on there)..:
http://comeandlive.com/downloads/  (<-- Holding Onto Hope's album is at the bottom of the page...)

Ginkgo Tree - by The Blue Sun

I'm kinda excited that I'm able to say "I know this fellow".
The Blue Sun is based out of Whitby, On.  Devin Vibert is the sole member - writing, singing, & performing/programming all the instruments, all in his home studio.  This project took form in 2006 - his first release, an EP titled “The Colours Collide” came in March 2007; followed by the full-length, “Free” in 2008.  “Morden Sunrise” (an LP)[2009] succeeded, then “Order in Chaos” (LP) & “Circumstance” (EP) were both released in 2010. He is now working on a third EP: “‘A Bomb Went Off’, [is] due to be released at some mysterious, exciting, & unexpected moment in 2011”.  In between all this, he became a university graduate, & is currently studying in a music program at Fanshawe College.  This song was released just yesterday, & it’s from the upcoming project ‘whose working title is’ “A Bomb Went Off”.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1WYJ8TQWKc


Also, you can download "Lighter Eyes" for free from The Blue Sun's PureVolume page:
http://www.purevolume.com/thebluesun

We Are One - by 12 Stones

To my/our neighbours to the South - Happy Independence day.

12 Stones started in 2000, in Mandeville, LA.  They were signed to Wind-Up Records (Evanescence, Finger Eleven, Five For Fighting) only 15 months later, & they released their self-titled debut album on April 23^rd, 2002 - & speaking of Evanescence, their 2003 song “Bring Me to Life” featured Paul McCoy (vocalist for 12 Stones)(unfortunately, as I found out just the other week, radio edits excluded him from the song…).  12 Stones' sophomore album “Potter’s Field” [Aug. 24^th, 2004] followed after their debut sold over 100,000 copies; & after that release, the band decided to take a two year hiatus from touring to spend time at home with their families.  Once they came back, they released "Anthem for the Underdog”, on Aug. 14^th, 2007.  Even more touring & spots followed, including a couple (or few?) songs featured in multiple wrestling shows.  “The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday” – their first EP - was released July 20^th, 2010, & was their final release on Wind-Up Records before signing to EMG for their upcoming release “Only Human”, which is set to hit the streets on Sept. 6^th, of this year.  This song is from “The Only Easy Day…”.

"We Are One" was written, as guitarist Justin Rimer says, “for our troops, but… we knew we had the opportunity to connect with people on so many levels… ‘We Are One’ is a statement for all types of people and all types of situations”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqnA-CFE1YQ

Good Behavior - by Plumb

Mhmm.
Plumb is Tiffany Arbuckle Lee – she was born in 1975 in Indianapolis, IN, but ‘grew up in Atlanta, singing in church & school’. “At 19, she began working as a backup singer, in part to earn money to help pay for nursing school. She began doing studio work & then touring. College went by the board & she eventually moved to Nashville, where, a month before her 21st birthday, she signed with a small label”. She met guitarist Matt Bronlewee, formerly of Jars of Clay, & together they wrote the debut record for what became ‘Plumb’*. It was a self-titled album released in 1997 on Essential Records & it sold over 100,000 copies. “candycoatedwaterdrops” was the next in line, released in 1999, & it won Modern Rock Album of the Year at the 2000 GMA Dove Awards. In 2003, she released “Beautiful Lumps of Coal” on Curb Records, but as a ‘solo’ artist still under the name of Plumb. 2 more albums have followed, since, & there is now an upcoming album, titled “Faster Than a Bullet”. This song is from “Chaotic Resolve”, released Feb. 28th, 2006.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hZXw59NBwY

* - Tiffany Arbuckle Lee said this about the name in an interview: "...the name, "Plum", came from a song called "My Favorite Plum" by an artist named Suzanne Vega. I loved the song, and think that Suzanne is a great writer, so I added a "b" for character, and found that in Amos and Zachariah in the Bible, the "plumbline" represents the ultimate focus, Jesus Christ. So it has come to mean that to us, but it originated from a song title "

Oh Canada - by Five Iron Frenzy (Happy Canada Day!)

(unfortunately, I've stuff I need to do, so I'm not going to post like normal...  I just wanted to say -)
Happy Canada Day!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIrmPEyt0Nc
(& yes, I know they're American, but it's still a fun song...  :)