Category Archives: Music

Pirates Press Celebrates 5 Years!!!

21 April, 2009 Brian Mc Leave a comment

I received an email this morning from my pals over at SolidPR I thought I would share with everyone. With Record Store Day being celebrated just this past weekend I felt this was a more than appropriate good read:

Pirates Press Announces Five-Year Anniversary!!!

The best stories are those that write themselves, when all the writer has to do is expressly write what they see (or in this case, see AND hear)… and all the reader has to do is envision their role. The story of vinyl records and especially its burgeoning resurgence is this type of story, and the proud leading role PIRATES PRESS has been playing in it is one as well. Their family of salespeople, production coordinators, project managers, and graphic designers have experience from all over the manufacturing, sales, and distribution industries and care deeply about the experience people have working with them.

Putting their customers ideas to life is the essence of Pirates Press’ true goal… helping artists, record label owners, and other entrepreneurs do what the market and industry are demanding of them to survive; bring collect-ability back. Helping create tangible products that reflect an artist’s visions in such a way that creates a real demand to purchase it (rather than download it) is important in an increasingly downloadable world that too-often looses the tangible dimension that once [financially] drove the industry.

Vinyl collecting has for generations been the baseball card of the non-jock (and even the occasional jock), and remained present in certain scenes and genres (underground for the most part) regardless of the pressures from the industry to exclusively digitalize. It was always that tangible element of vinyl in combination with the nostalgic sound and feeling you get from playing records which resonated with collectors through vinyl’s darkest moments. Now, when the digital world that everyone assumed would replace it entirely has brought such strain to the industry, vinyl and other creatively packaged albums sales have made a tremendous resurgence, once again giving people something their passionate about going out (or [ironically] going online) and buying. Pirates press believes that the sky is the limit at this point for vinyl and other types of creatively packaged music and ideas, and we’ll continue doing everything in our power to bring our customers there in as powerful and prominent of a way as possible!

Pirates Press Statistics in the last three years:
– 680,000 records produced in 2006
– 1,100,000 records produced in 2007
– 1,750,000 records produced in 2008

High Profile Projects: Spiderman3, MyChemicalRomance, Beck’s “Odelay” Deluxe 4LP Package, AgainstMe!, The Dark Knight, Madonna’s “Hard Candy” & a slew of singles, Talib Kweli, Brian Posehn&Lewis Black&PattonOswalt, Pulling Teeth (Holographic Record Jacket), Murder By Death 16pp Foldout, Bob Marley Boxset, Isis Boxset, The Watchmen, All the WBR Singles, & Much More…

High Profile Customers: Warner Brothers Records, Reprise, Sire, Atlantic, Original Recordings Group, Relapse, Robotic Empire, HydraHead, Deathwish Inc., Troubleman Unlimited, Anticon Records, Temporary Residence, Suburban Home & Vinyl Collective, Southern Lord Records, Tank Crimes, Chunksaah Records, Fat Wreck Chords, Vagrant Records, Slumberland Records, & Many More…

Pirates Press Unique products include: Gatefold Jackets, Tip-On (casewrapped) Jackets, Boxsets, 5th and 6th Color Printing, Foil Stamping, Embossing, Spot Gloss and other special finishes, Insertion of CDs/Digital Download Cards into the vinyl, BIG Posters, Slipmats, Stickers and other Merch, Unique Types of Colored Vinyl, Limited VERSIONS to create immediate collect-ability! Looking to the future, we’re also working to redevelop the technology to make flexidiscs, as well as new technology, a multiformat CD/DVD/Vinyl Disc, Shaped Records and Picture Discs as well as diecut shapes of vinyl pressed directly into the records. Lots in store in 2009 and beyond!

Props to Pirate Press for staying in the game for five years now! As a vinyl collector myself I think it is great this company is doing better and better every year. I can only blame them some for helping empty my wallet as more releases come out in the future, but I am ok with that.

Bad Times, Bragging Rights, Good Times, Music, Random

Record Store (To)Day

18 April, 2009 Brian Mc Leave a comment

Today was like Jesus Day (Christmas) for many music lovers out there. I am sure many people had a hard time falling asleep last night as there were countless album titles floating through their heads, distracting them from falling asleep. Cookies were left out at the front doors of music stores worldwide in hopes that it could be an edible bribe to let shoppers in the door early… (That last part may not be entirely true)

Why?

Today is RECORD STORE DAY!!!

I know my friend Matt was one of those people who may have been a bit excited this morning when it was time to pack up and hit the independent record stores all over Cleveland. Just check out what he posted today. It’s a post of a post and more importantly a great read about how music rotated around his life growing up.

Before I even continue with my post I need to give Matt a thank you.

Thank you Matt.

He is my hero for today as he took the time to fight people for a couple of Record Store Day release vinyls that I really wanted. If that is not a friend, then I do not know what is.

I look forward to the limited edition vinyls (all singles) he scored for me:

Cursive + Ladyfinger
Flaming Lips/Black Keys
Jenny Lewis
MC5
Radiohead – Karma Police

I really hope next year that I remember to take the day off so I can actually enjoy such a wonderful idea of a day. It sure beats sitting at a desk looking outside at a beautiful day just wishing I could be at one of those fine indie record stores maybe seeing a live performance…

Did you partake in Record Store Day? I want to hear about it!

Download This!, Folk, Indie, Music, Music Video, New Release, Rock

Download This! – Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers / Paleface

14 April, 2009 Brian Mc 1 Comment

I was sent an email from Thirty Tigers / Ramseur Records over the weekend about a couple of artists who both have albums dropping on 4/28.

If you have never heard of either of the record labels, know this… Ramseur Records once were the former home of The Avett Brothers and Thirty Tigers were the ones who introduced Those Darlins to me. You might have heard me talking about Those Darlins before (perhaps HERE, or HERE), it is quite possible…

First up is Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers:

She’s 22 and has a voice that reminds me of Bjork at times, minus the weird of course and full of southern soul. She has a singing style I could listen to all day. Having never heard anything by her before I am intrigued now to hear more.

Here is a short bio:

With their debut full-length, Songs in the Night, Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers deliver a shudderingly beautiful unique batch of songs in a style that’s been described as “meshing freak folk with a deep-seated, dust-bowl soul.” The 22-year-old Shawnee, OK native’s haunting voice, well-chosen words and emotional depth ring true in a way that sets her apart from most artists of her generation. Picking up where her critically acclaimed 2008 Ramseur Records EP, The Confiscation, leaves off, we find Crain presenting each song with an unfeigned fervor as her voice rises and falls over the panorama painted by the Midnight Shivers and their roots-infused, fertile arrangements.

-DOWNLOAD THIS! – Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers – “Songs In The Night”

-Check out Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers’ MySpace page for more tunes.

-Here’s a video of her that might just very well move you:

Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers: “The Dam Song” @ Ramseur Records HQ from Ramseur Records on Vimeo.

The next artist is Paleface:

It’s been over ten years since this anti-folk artist has released any material mostly thanks to a personal battle that Paleface finally overcame. His previous material is folk fun goodness and after hearing just a handful of songs I am intrigued to hear his new album.

Here’s another short bio:

More than a decade since his last major label release and collapse from alcohol abuse, Paleface, a founding member of NYC’s Anti-folk movement, is back with The Show Is On The Road (Ramseur Records). The album is an intimate, 11-song diary that transcends genres with its ingenuous lyrics and deceptively unassuming style – just Paleface on acoustic guitar and harmonica and his girlfriend Monica “Mo” Samalot on drums and backing vocals, along with the occasional piano overdub. Paleface is the sort of artist who brings you into his world. His voice is sweetly ravaged and effortlessly expressive, as intimate as a friend whispering in your ear. The album is a farewell love letter to his longtime home, New York City, and an embrace of his new life in the South.

-DOWNLOAD THIS! – Paleface – “The Show Is On The Road”

-Check out Paleface’s MySpace page for more tunes.

-Here’s a fun little video of an older song I found:

PALEFACE – Little By Little

So what do you think?

Bad Times, Cleveland, Eye Opener, Good Times, Live Shows, Metal, Music, Music Video, New Release, Punk, Rock, The Dumb

CKY Sneak Peek / True Story

13 April, 2009 Brian Mc Leave a comment

This to me is exciting news…

Roadrunner Records and CKY (Camp Kill Yourself) are bringing their fans an early sneak peek of their new album, Carver City, with a FREE mp3 download of “Hellions On Parade” starting on 4/15. The digital single goes up for sale on 4/21 but you can hear it first at ckyalliance.com and roadrunnrerrecords.com! Just visit the page and supply your email address and you will get the download in return…

I’ve have been a longtime fan of CKY and I have Bam Margera‘s CKY skate videos to thank for that. Back in 2000 a kid I worked with at Borders found out I liked skateboarding and made me a VHS tape that had Landspeed : CKY & CKY2K on it. I remember taking that tape home and watching it twice. Once for the shock factor and hilarity and the second time to find out more about some of the music that was chosen for the soundtrack.

One band in particular on the videos was CKY. For those of you who may not know, CKY is a band that Bam Margera’s older brother Jess drums for. The band caught my ear in a good way and before I knew it I was doing everything I could to find their CD.

It’s been 4 years since the band last released new material so needless to say I am really looking forward to their new material.

While I am on the subject I might as well tell you all a little story about stupid ol’ me…

I think it was October 2002, in fact I am pretty sure it was then. CKY came to Cleveland and I was overexcited to finally see them live. They played Peabody‘s in Cleveland with Atreyu and other bands on a week night and I made sure I bought 2 tickets seeing how I missed them the previous time they played at Blossom Music Center opening for some band that does not come to mind. For all I know they played Cleveland even before then but I missed it… The point being, I finally got to see this band that I quickly became a huge fan of.

It turned out that CKY brought along their friends Ryan Dunn and Rake Yohn from Jackass fame and being the generous guy I was I bought them drinks. A lot of drinks. I also drank a lot and I mean A LOT. Drinking with people on shows I adore is fun. Forgetting how much I actually drank before I left was not fun; more on that in a second.

I befriended former CKY touring bassist Vernon Zaborowski that night who kindly introduced me to the band before their show (more on him at the very end of this blog). We chatted and drank and drank some more. I felt like I was a rock star that night…woo.

Let me stop here. I am pretty sure the following clip is an exact portrayal of how I was…

I’ve learned that when you drink a lot you do not act how you think you do… For all I know I could have been annoying the hell out of the band. I know drunk people annoy me these days and I don’t even drink anymore! Point being, I am pretty sure I was making an ass of myself that night.

Throughout the night I hung around the bar with Ryan Dunn, Rake Yohn, and the lead singer of Atreyu even, who by the way was really nice as well. I don’t even think I left the bar stool while CKY played. I was too busy talking and sharing drinks with Ryan Dunn and Rake Yohn. I watched the band from afar and kept to my debauchery.

I do remember CKY owning the night. They sounded amazing live and had more energy on stage than I had seen in any band for years. The fans, or CKY Alliance, were full forced as well surrounding the stage and singing along with fists in the air. It was indeed a rock show that night.

After the impressive show my friend and I were invited upstairs to hang with CKY some more. One of the members, I think it was Chad Ginsburg, later asked me if I was ok to drive home when we were saying goodbye. I thought I was, my friend who went with me thought I was too…

I should have listened to Chad Ginsburg because apparently I was not.

That night I got my first, only, and last DUI. I honestly thought I was ok to drive or else I never would have gotten behind the wheel. I was not too far from home when I was pulled over. When I got out of the car I suddenly felt real drunk. Being the honest guy I am, I admitted drinking and when I felt myself stumbling I just gave up and was arrested.

I regret my poor decision in life and paid my fines, did my time, and moved on with life being a little smarter with how I do things.

A couple years later CKY returned to Peabody’s and the band remembered me. Chad Ginsburg asked me if I ever made it home that night. When I told him no he, rightfully so, laughed and took me back to tell the rest of the band. We had a good laugh at my expense.

True story. I am an idiot, got hammered with CKY, and got a DUI as a result. Let this be a lesson to you kids. If you want to get hammered with a band, go ahead, but make sure you have a sober friend who will drive your drunk ass home. It is a lot cheaper.

Speaking of cheap. How about free videos?

I was wondering what ever happened to Vern and found out he is currently in a band called Eastern Conference Champions. Check them out on their MySpace page.

Download This!, Music, Music Video, New Release, Punk, Review

Strung Out – Prototypes and Painkillers – CD Review

12 April, 2009 Brian Mc Leave a comment

Californian punkers Strung Out have recently released a b-side and rarities CD full of material that spans their 18-year career as a hardworking, independent punk rock band. The CD, titled Prototypes and Painkillers, is full of songs that are unreleased, not found on studio albums, or were previously out of print, making for a nice find for any Strung Out fan. This is actually the band’s second compilation; the first was titled The Skinny Years… Before We Got Fat.

Released by Fat Wreck Chords, the new CD, according to drummer Jordan Burns, is “for the fans.” The cardboard foldout includes short descriptions of each song, and the band shares when they recorded each song and what album, if any, it was left off of. The band also mentions that “over the last 18 years or so” they “recorded over 120 songs, many of which never saw a proper release.” I guess it is safe to say this is now the proper release that these amazing songs belong on; now true fans of Strung Out need not search endlessly on the internet for these gems.

The songs are in no chronological order. “Don’t Look Back” starts off the CD. The song was a limited edition 2001 recording that was included in the first 10,000 copies of An American Paradox, the band’s fourth release. The song is sick, in a good way, with trademark Strung Out technical guitar work.

The original recording of “Novacain” sounds to me better than the version found on the Fat Wreck Chords comp Live Fat, Die Young. Catchy as hell, it is a good track many fans may not have heard before. The song was actually supposed to be on the band’s 2000 EP The Element of Sonic Defiance but was instead contributed to Fat Wreck Chords, as they had asked for an exclusive track for their compilation.

The cover of the Descendants’ “I’m Not A Loser” is a great rendition. I had had no doubts that Strung Out could not hammer this classic punk song out. Previously only available on iTunes, “Novella” was a track that I feel should not have been left off the band’s recent release Blackhawks Over Los Angeles. The song is a little heavier and a whole lot catchier than some other tracks on the CD. The band mentions in the notes that it was a tough call keeping the track off the CD.

“This is definitely the most popular song we’ve never had on an album” they say in the notes for “Lost Motel.” The studio version may never had made it onto An American Paradox but it was released on the members only Fat Club 7”. Having only the live version on the Live In a Dive CD, I can see why so many fans request it at the band’s shows. Without a doubt this track is one of my favorites on the entire CD.

Speaking of favorites, the cover of “Bark At The Moon”, an Ozzy Osbourne classic, blew me away. Strung Out adds their own style and nails the song that appeared on the Punk Goes Metal compilation. I always tell people how I have heard a lot of bad covers, but this in no way will ever fall into that category. If there is one track on this CD you need to listen to first, here it is.

You can tell how long ago “Sinner Or Coward” was recorded from the moment you start listening to it. A bit of trivia about this song is that Rob Ramos played all the original instruments, including drums. Jim Cherry, one-time bassist for Strung Out, also contributed a guitar solo.

Another track that was recorded for a Fat Wreck Chords compilation, “Your Worst Mistake,” appeared on Uncontrollable Fatulance. Full of great guitar licks and solos, this is a killer track, with Jason Cruz singing his heart out. The bonus track “More Than Words,” originally on Blackhawks Over Los Angeles, sounds a lot more punk-poppy than the other tracks. It caught my ear in a good way and has endless singalong possibilities.

Strung Out says in their notes on “Wrong Side Of The Tracks” that Josh Freese (The Vandals, NIN, A Perfect Circle) charged the band a 12-pack of beer to fill in for an injured Jordan Burns on drums. The song was recorded for a Fearless Records 7” and the band had no time to waste, hence they had asked Freese for help. The drumming on this track is a lot more technical throughout, and the notes mention that Freese was actually stumped while trying to learning the opening drum beat. Just by listening to it I can understand why.

The acoustic version of “Velvet Alley” that was re-recorded for Punk Goes Acoustic is another track I really got into. I have heard this version as well as the original found on An American Paradox, and while both versions are amazing, the acoustic take stands out more.

Closing the disc is a demo from 1992, a few of which are included. The first song entirely written by guitarist Jake Kiley, “Forever Is Today” is a track full of young punk rock ambition and sounds. This track was, according to the band, never re-recorded or released until now. As a Strung Out fan, I found it very satisfying to hear this track and see how far this band has come along.

The band, having wanted to create this rarities CD for quite some time, is actually in the process of recording its eighth studio album, following their 2007 release Blackhawks Over Los Angeles. Full of material I had forgotten about or simply not had the opportunity to hear until now, I have no complaints about this CD and think it is the perfect collection. Prototypes and Painkillers should tide over any fan, old or new, until the next studio album. It is filled with exceptional covers, alternative takes on prior hit tracks, and of course the material that never made it to a CD until now.

brokenheadphones.com