I don’t often use Pastepunk as a soapbox for talking about “”how things have changed ‘in the scene’”" because that’s generally not my natural disposition, but this MySpace bulletin from HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS borders on surreal. Maybe it’s not to those of our readers who have grown up with independent music and the internet being intertwined, but for anyone who remembers having to order indie music by mail because there were virtually no other options in obtaining it, the following message is just too weird to comprehend:

“”Tomorrow, our second album, If Only You Were Lonely will be in stores. We are reaching out to you because Hawthorne Heights can use your help. We need you, your friends and anyone else you know that likes ROCK music to buy our album tomorrow. The only reason we are able to be a band is because of your support. Without you we would not be able to do what we do.

You buying our album tomorrow has much greater meaning than simply supporting Hawthorne Heights. ROCK music needs your support. Our society and culture has put rock music on the backburner. If our album can debut at #1 [on Billboard] all of us will have taken ROCK music back to the top of the charts (emphasis added) where it belongs. You might ask, how has ROCK been put on the backburner? A current example is an artist that we are up against called Ne-Yo. Many people are saying that Ne-Yo is going to outsell us because Ne-Yo has had a tremendous amount of over the top, mainstream media coverage. His album will be in stores tomorrow. Radio has played his single 160,000 times. Our single has been played 3,800 times. We know that does not seem possible but it is the truth. Ne-Yo is on a major label. Hawthorne Heights is on an independent label. ROCK music needs to win tomorrow. Independent needs to beat Major tomorrow. If all of you take action we can create history. The mainstream media may not choose to fully embrace this ROCK band from Dayton, Ohio but all of you have.”"

Regardless of how you feel about HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS, the fact that there’s even a discussion going on about a band like them taking the #1 spot on Billboard is quite a coup. Of course, in the grand scheme of thing, it’s a mostly meaningless ordinal ranking where they are fortunate enough to not have to compete against a much more popular, far more established act (I wonder how many months of schedule release planning went into that!), but it’s still a testament to the ever-increasing role independently owned labels are taking in the highly timultuous music industry.

LIFETIME – Somewhere In The Swamps of Jersey

- I’m not even going to bother explain further how awesome it is to have this 2xCD set in my hands, but I can guarantee that without experiencing the packaging for this release (the booklet is freakin’ bound!), you’ll just be short-changing yourself on some classic, scene-altering music. You can pre-order the set at Jadetree.com.

From the Roklok Records/Distro Camp:

“”The deluxe reissues for both ON THE MIGHT OF PRINCES’ The Making of a Conversation and Where You Are and Where You Want to Be are coming together slowly but nicely. Expect these bad boys to hit the street in late April as a co-release effort between Rok Lok and Eugenics Record Label. The reiusses are going to be packed with unreleased tracks, live tracks, demos, compilation tracks, a mutlimedia section with live footage and a bunch more!”"

In other Rok Lok news:

“”STARS ARE INSANE’s So I Dreamed of Noise 4xCD-R set: Finally! After two years of waiting [this] four disc set is here! This collection reissues all four out of print STARS ARE INSANE albums as well as sixteen unreleased and live tracks. Up next for [the band] is an LP and CD for the next proper full length A Plan…A Perfect Disaster due out out late 2006.”"

link: roklokrecords.com

- Where You Are And Where You Want To Be is a must own… I’m not sure I can phrase my thoughts on it in any other way.

From the inbox:

“”This year at SXSW Anti- Records is presenting its first Hootenanny, a one-of-a-kind collaborative performance by a diverse group of artists, trading off songs and verses in the true spirit of musical community. The Hootenanny will take place on Saturday, March 18 at 12 midnight at Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX.

Billy Bragg’s proactive brand of populist post punk, pop and folk has been engaging us since the 80s and today he is more inspiring than ever. His appearance at the Hootenanny as well as his other SXSW shows are part of a rare US tour and a break from his recent involvement in UK politics, but anyone who has seen him knows he is not to be missed.

Ramblin Jack Elliott, who is preparing to release his Anti- debut I Stand Alone is certainly no stranger to this kind of show, having shared stages with everyone from Woody Guthrie to Ralph Stanley to Bob Dylan in the course of his remarkable career.

Jolie Holland who’s haunting yet jubilant blend of folk, jazz and pop has won many-a-heart in these last couple of years will also be performing. She will be in town in preparation for her upcoming album Springtime Can Kill You, due out on Anti- this spring. Jolie, who has always been at home in this type of environment, has been part of some really interesting collaborations lately, notably, sitting in w/ rapper Sage Francis on a recent LA gig and harmonizing with Bad Religion singer, Greg Graffin on his upcoming solo album.

Joe Henry is the consummate musical Renaissance man. From his acclaimed solo albums, to his vivid songwriting to his recent emergence as producer of soul legends like Solomon Burke and Bettye Lavette, Henry always surprises and never disappoints. He embraces, Rock, R&B, Country and Jazz seamlessly which makes him perfect for this kind of ensemble.

Tim Fite is a true original. Raised on hip hop, but in his early 20s his discovery of Hank Williams and Woody Guthrie changed his life. He is a one-man mash up of folk, rap, spoken word and really catchy songs that delights everyone who sees him. His debut album, Gone Ain’t Gone just came out this fall and it has been receiving raves around the world.

The idea is that each of the artists will be featured on a couple of their own tunes backed at times by the other artists on the stage. There will also be more collaborative performances of songs that everyone knows. In addition to these great artists, we are also expecting some special guests to drop by. We are talking to folks from across the musical spectrum, so we are hoping for some really crazy surprises.”"

From the inbox:

“”Since roaring onto the scene with their 2002 debut, Tell All Your Friends, Taking Back Sunday‚Äî which now includes lead vocalist Adam Lazarra, guitarist-vocalist Fred Mascherino, guitarist Eddie Reyes, bassist Matt Rubano, and drummer Mark O‚ÄôConnell‚Äîhave captivated fans with their powerful and inventive pop-tinged anthems, dueling vocals and twin guitar assault. In July 2004, the band followed up the half-million selling release with Where You Want to Be, which debuted at Number Three on the Billboard Top 200 and sold more than 163,000 copies its first week. Both albums have since been certified gold, selling over 700,000 copies.

Taking Back Sunday will release their Warner Bros. Record debut and third studio album, Louder Now, on April 25, 2006 and will embark on a U.S. headlining tour starting March 1, in Boulder, CO. Louder Now is produced by Eric Valentine (Queens of the Stone Age, Third Eye Blind) and features the debut single ‚ÄòMakeDamnSure‚Äô now available for download at iTunes.”"

listen: MakeDamnSure (windows) (quicktime)

- Yep… sounds like TAKING BACK SUNDAY alright.

From the inbox:

THE WALKMEN will release their third studio album, A Hundred Miles Off, on Record Collection May 23rd.

The follow up to 2004′s critically acclaimed Bows & Arrows was recorded over the course of two years at the band’s Marcata Studios in New York and Inner Ear Studios near Washington, D.C.

“”A Hundred Miles Off is without a doubt our most solid effort yet,”" says singer/guitarist Hamilton Leithauser, “”After touring for so long, we couldn’t write songs for the longest time. We went back to Inner Ear Studios in DC where I used to work and worked with our old friend Don Zientara (Bad Brains, Nation of Ulysses, Fugazi). We really got things going last summer, and we spent all fall and the holidays writing, recording and traveling between DC and NY. We finished it up at Marcata–our place in Harlem–this January. We’re all sure it’s the best record we’ve done so far.”"

Upon completing the album, the band — along with several friends — spent January and the better part of February recording a song for song cover of Harry Nilsson’s album Pussy Cats (1974) which will be released on Record Collection late 2006 and will be called Pussycats Starring the Walkmen.

THE WALKMEN will perform at Coachella in April, followed by a UK tour in May and a full US tour in June.

THE WALKMEN

A Hundred Miles Off

1. Louisiana

2. Danny’s At The Wedding

3. Good For You’s Good For Me

4. Emma, Get Me A Lemon

5. All Hands And The Cook

6. Lost In Boston

7. Don’t Get Me Down (Come On Over Here)

8. Tenley Town

9. This Job Is Killing Me

10. Brandy Alexander

11. Always After You (‘Til You Started After Me)

12. Another One Goes By

link: marcata.net/walkmen

Everytime I look at the title of this album, I keep thinking of the BAD RELIGION song of the almost reversed name, “Them and Us,” and particularly, the part where Greg Graffin sings, “we can take them all.” DEL CIELO sounds nothing like BAD RELIGION – not even close, but the words, “we can take [...]

The recently launched Wreck The Place Fantastic zine (formerly Punk International) has a great compact interview with A WILHELM SCREAM frontman, Trevor Reilly. The zine chatted with Trevor shortly after the departure of their bassist and their subsequent instant enrollment of fill in Nick Danger. Check out the piece here.