THE LOVED ONES have the song “Pretty Good Year” streaming at their MySpace page. The song comes from their forthcoming full-length titled Build And Burn which is scheduled to be released on February 5, 2008 through Fat Wreck Chords.

link: “Pretty Good Year”

Deathwish, Inc. has made available an audio player featuring three new songs from the upcoming LIFE LONG TRAGEDY full-length. The player can be accessed here. Runaways will see release on February 5, 2008 with an album release show to follow on the 16th.

WEAVER AT THE LOOM hail from the St. Paul area of Minnesota, and they play an airy blend of piano pop and post-rock. Finding a nice niche in-between the likes of THE REIGN OF KINDO, THE WORKING TITLE, and maybe DREDG, this young quintet is very promising and inspiring. Their five song I Was Searching And I Found… EP is available in full here.

GIANTS are from the Chicago area, and like the WEAVER fellas, they play atmospheric rock music. Where the two bands differ is in GIANTS use of more expansive instrumentation and their nonuse of vocals. It’s a sound you’ve heard before but one worth noting. Several songs, including some from their 2006 full-length They, The Undeserving, can be heard here.

The bands are currently on tour together through the first few weeks of January. All of the dates can be found at either of the abovelinked MySpace pages.

Among the six members of Salt Lake City’s CHERUM, I have to imagine that at least one of the guys has an EARTH CRISIS, BLOODLET or ALL OUT WAR release in their music collection. Calling Victory Records, circa 1996 – your past is calling on line one! We Are The Revolution is a time-warp straight [...]

The hardcore up-and-comers are taking it to the streets…

01/02 Brooklyn, NY @ Don Pedro’s

01/03 New Brunswick, NJ @ Some kid’s house

01/04 Mauldin, SC @ Ximeno’s Skatepark

01/05 Charleston, SC @ The Oasis

01/06 Clearwater, FL @ 688 Skatepark

01/07 Orlando, FL @ Uncle Lou’s

01/08 Chamblee, GA @ The Shop w/Bitter End, Reign Supreme, Living Hell

01/09 Richmond, VA @ Venue TBA w/Permanent, Swamp Thing

01/10 Baltimore, MD @ Lo-Fi Social Club

01/11 Lemoyne, PA @ The Championship w/Police and Thieves

01/12 Raymondville, NY @ Raymondville Community Center w/After the Fall

01/13 Haverhill, MA @ Welfare Records w/Bane, With Honor, Outbreak (Hostage Calm Only)

01/15 Wallingford, CT @ Wallingford American Legion w/Attitude, Forfeit

- myspace.com/hostagecalmct

- myspace.com/firedup

1. Unless you’ve got gifts to return or exchange, the mad rush for those celebrating Christmas is finally dying down. I was the lucky receiver of an external hard drive this year, so that’ll come in handy as I revamp my computer and methods of backing up music and important files. And I finally ordered myself The Red Album by BARONESS after its appearance in the top spot on Alex’s Favorites of 2007 list. I’m stoked to hear it in full.

2. An awesome band playing genuine rock music in the vein of JIMMY EAT WORLD, FOO FIGHTERS, and SPITALFIELD: DESOTO JONES.

3. Three new songs from ABLE BAKER FOX are streaming here. They come from their upcoming debut, Voices, due on January 29, 2008 through Second Nature Recordings.

4. Punknews is reporting that CRIME IN STEREO will be stopping in my hometown with POISON THE WELL, DANCE GAVIN DANCE, and THE LOCUST. It’s an odd grouping of bands, but I’m extra excited if not only because I’ll be able to see …Is Dead’s songs live for the first time.

5. Two ingrown toenails + infection = pain + antibiotics.

6. I posted my Favorites of 2007 list late last night, directly available here. James‚Äô list, sure to feature more than a few punk rock staples, should be appearing shortly. Remember all of the staffers’ lists are archived here.

7. Eyeball Records is looking to have a huge first quarter in 2008. While I haven’t yet listened to all of them, I’ve already received copies of three of their upcoming releases by JETTIE, SLEEP STATION, and BAUMER. The label has built up a pretty solid roster over the past year or so, and if the youngsters in POMPEII decide to release a new one, the label could easily have a very strong year.

8. Well, the Patriots’ attempt at an undefeated regular season will be on national television after it originally had been scheduled to air only on the NFL Network, largely unavailable in most of the country. The NFL Network’s coverage will now air on both CBS and NBC, likely making this event one of the most watched football games in history. And I might be busy! Either way, the Patriots have been exciting to watch all season, and I’m glad these giant media corporations could work out something favoring the people who support them.

The fellas in the RUSSIAN CIRCLES camp will be embarking on a brief run of tour dates at the end of February. DALEK will join the guys on the trek.

2/19 – Subteranean – Chicago, IL

2/20 – Magic Stick – Detroit, MI

2/21 – The Ravari Room – Columbus, OH

2/22 – The School – Pittsburgh, PA

2/25 РMercury Lounge – New York, NY

2/26 – The Barbary – Philadelphia, PA

2/27 ‚Äì Rock N’ Roll Hotel ‚Äì Washington DC

2/28 – The Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH

2;/29 – Cactus Club – Milwaukee, WI

3/1 – Triple Rock Social Club – Minneapolis, MN

The current duo is busy recording a new record, set to be released by Suicide Squeeze in the new year.

JIM WARD has been in the limelight for quite a while now, first as guitarist of AT THE DRIVE-IN and then as the ring-leader of SPARTA. Earlier this year he started a label called Civil Defense League and has released several solid records from a batch of up-and-coming bands. His last release of the year is his own, a solo acoustic EP called Quiet. True to its title, it’s probably the most quiet thing Ward has ever recorded. Five songs come and go in a mere sixteen minutes, and while they don’t leave an immediately lasting mark, the breathless, easy-going vibe is strong enough to leave the listener wanting more from this seasoned musician. Three of the five songs can be heard here. I highly recommend cheacking out “On My Way Back Home Again” first.