In many ways, STEREOTYPERIDER remind me a lot of a less violent sounding PLANES MISTAKEN FOR STARS. Both bands offer up technical songwriting with an emphasis on whriling guitars and pushy drumming. Each is fronted by a mostly gruff lead vocalist (though STEREOTYPERIDER toys with much more melody), and in terms of lyrics, neither band [...]

Check out: pandora.com. It’s a pretty neat twist combining a recommendation engine with high-quality streaming radio. The music player’s interface is beautiful and the depth of the music catalog is impressive. You’re bound to hear something you haven’t heard before that’s in line with your tastes (I guess that’s the whole point, isn’t it?). I’ve started with BAD RELIGION as my focal point numerous times and each playlist has been substantially different, yet on the whole, musically consistent.

The wackos at SayRah.net have been posting MP3s all week of various metal bands. Head over to the blog here and download songs from DRAGONFORCE, AKIMBO, INDIAN, SWEET COBRA, SONATA ARCTICA, HORSE THE BAND, and the highly obscure BLACK SABBATH.

Shockingly, Mr. Almqvist’s list includes ten releases that are not related to THE HIVES in any fashion. The best thing on here is the inclusion of the MISFITS Box Set. Says Almqvist, “People need to hear everything by the Misfits. You can barely listen to the sound. It sounds like sh*t and was recorded by a bunch of dudes in 1978. The lyrics are difficult to understand but it has the best hidden pop melodies ever. Melodies up there with Motown and Abba.” Read the entire list here.

From the inbox:

The Cardinal Sin will be entering Atlas Studios in Chicago, IL with producer Matt Allison (Alkaline Trio, The Lawrence Arms) and Neil Hennessy (The Lawrence Arms, Colossal) from January 9 – January 25 to record their debut full length. The release will be on Grey Flight Records who previously released the Oil and Water EP last March. 15 songs are slated to be recorded and it will be released April 25, 2006.

Grey Flight has also signed South of No North from Newbury Park, CA. Their short bio states “”While throwbacks to 90s punk bands such as Jawbreaker, Samiam and Face to Face are somewhat evident, the band has earned comparisons to contemporary acts such as Against Me!, Hot Water Music, etc..”" The band’s debut EP is due out early 2006.

Lockin’ Out Records has posted an update with some new mp3s from IRON AGE and RAZZLE DAZZLE. Take a listen to the songs here.

IRON AGE just finished recording their debut LP for Youngblood records along with an EP for Lockin’ Out, expect a release date around the end of January.

RAZZLE DAZZLE went to the studio to record “”The Demo Revisited”" a couple weekends ago, expect that 7″” to drop around the end of January as well.

- RAZZLE DAZZLE… great name.

From the Lovitt Newsletter:

BATS & MICE has come full circle with their line-up and Jonathan Fuller has re-joined the band. Luke moved out to Oakland, CA, in 2004 and joined Totimoshi and with Engine Down coming to an end, it worked out that Jonathan could once again work with Ben and David. They have been working on new material and hope to record a full-length at some point next year. No word on when the first show with this line-up will be (this version of the Bats & Mice never played live) but hopefully they will be ready by late spring.

A few weeks ago a joint compilation with Saddle Creek entitled Saddle Up and Love It was released. It is available at Hot Topic stores and can also be purchased from them on the internet by going to the hot topic store. It includes material from a variety of bands on both labels, including Bright Eyes, Cursive, Engine Down, Decahedron, Division of Laura Lee, Criteria, Rah Bras, and more.

Orange County, California’s BULLETS AND OCTANE drop a sizzling platter of mostly swift, well-played, classic punk rock on their debut full-length, The Revelry. Drawing heavily from southern California’s rich history of legendary punk bands, BULLETS AND OCTANE dabble with the heady rock instincts of SOCIAL DISTORTION, the melodic fortitudes of AGENT ORANGE, and courtesy of [...]