Can it be true?

I have heard the theory that Tooth and Nail only promotes it's Gold artists. Obviously this is a bit exaggerated, but I understand the point of it - 3 or 4 of the biggest names get 90 percent of the attention. At first I was skeptical of this theory. However, things are changing for me...

Surrogate released their debut full-length on August 28th. This is a very good record. It has great style, a great vibe, and originality. With such a great record, you'd think heavy promotion would be in store for this T&N newb. WRONG.

None of the splash pages on toothandnail.com inform visitors about the Surrogate release. No news post on the site mentions the band since days before the release.

Oh, and what about Children 18:3. And The Famine. Both bands are officially on the label, but no serious announcements have been made.

There are many aspects to take into consideration... obviously, the bigger names sell more, thus leaving a reason to heavily promote. But why sign a band if you're going to act like they don't exist? I'm not telling T&N how to run the business, I'm just wondering if they really care about whether I buy their releases or not, and why it seems like they sign bands and then keeping them hidden in obscurity.

I don't know if it's just me, but it feels like Tooth and Nail used to be a leader in quality - both in music and the music industry. Nowadays, bands go months without websites, fans are disconnected with news and happenings, and new acts seem to be meer imitations of mainstream acts.

They were Terminal

I've noticed a bunch of comments popping up on the Terminal myspace in the last month along these lines...

"If you guys were in fact getting back together, I could probably die happy. "

"Ok. I know this is kinda repetative but, ... Are you guys really getting back together??
I got into your music, which is awesome by the way, right after you guys broke up.
So if you guys are getting back together, message me PLEASE!!!!"

"WOOAH! when did you guys get back together?!?!? =DDD "

"GET BACK TOGETHER"

"t-togather again maybe there is a god oh...never!"

... and my favorite

"dfgkj" from drummer Ryan Conley just two weeks ago.

News bunch

Number One Gun's record has been pushed back to January 2008. Same with Goodbye Tomorrow.

A new Far Less song is online.

Anberlin claims to be working on a b-sides album.

Floodgate Records is unofficially dead.

Dashboard rules the world with one instrument

There are two new Dashboard Confessional songs online. My question is... how long is the world going to be interested in acoustic artists? With music and genres and information moving so fast, how much more breath does this style have?

Or is this more of a timeless art?

thoughts

So I'm on myspace and there are a few bands I've noticed that are bombarding the bulletin board with posts about their new records coming out. I'm talking like, maybe a dozen or so per day.

To be honest, stuff like that makes me look at the band differently. I understand they're just trying to get the word out, but here's a truth that exists in my life- If you post that you have a new song / new record coming out, chances are I'll check it out. Even if I don't usually go nuts over your band. Everybody loves new music.

The bottom line is, if you have made a song worth getting excited over, you won't need to post 50 bulletins about it. The song will carry it's own weight. I don't mean to be misunderstood - promotion is usually a vital part of the process. But I GET IT. Pre-orders are up. A new song is up. Whatever else... But I'd rather you make a song that has the excitement value of those 50 bulletins, than have to scroll through your ALL CAPS OMG PREORDER bulletins. Trust me, it'll speak for itself.

Maybe this is harsh, maybe it's uncalled-for. As you can see by the post info, it's around 3am so maybe it's just my mind being dysfunctional, but i have to say it -
People are looking for songs worth getting excited over. If you're not seeing the success you'd like to see, maybe it's not your label. Maybe it's not the local kids being hard. Maybe it's not a dead tour schedule. Maybe you just have to write better songs.

Fans interview Brighten. Bands hate Florida.

I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone here.
First, Brighten has posted answers to many fan questions in their latest blog. It's a decent q and a. Their latest CD was awesome and I hope everyone gets a chance to hear it.

Here's a good one I found

What is you opinion on Florida??Since most bands hate it here.
We really do like Florida, we are always kidding!

... It's true. Bands hate Florida! I live here and I must say when it's in the high 90's at 10 in the morning with 100% humidity and excessive traffic, I hate it too. The crowds here are tough to please... Bands, I understand.

But come visit us nonetheless.

The Classic Crime EP

On November 6th The Classic Crime will release the Seattle Sessions EP. Done, I believe, all acoustically. I also am unsure as to whether that's the official title or not. Gee, I'm so vague...
01. Seattle
02. Blindfolded
03. The Test
04. Wake Up (Shipwreck)
05. Drink In My Hand
06. When The Time Comes
07. Far From Home

Things are moving at Facedown

In our ongoing effort to keep you updated with what's going down at Facedown Records, we'd like to let you know a few things...

Immortal Souls has a new CD out called Wintereich. This will be of interest to those looking for dark, European metal with a slight "core" appeal.

A Plea For Purging has a new song online. Them, and Remove The Veil have new records coming out soon.

BYAH!

Norma writing again

Norma Jean is writing again? From a bulletin:

AFTER [touring] we will start writing full time for our next record which we hope to be out in the summer of 2008. We are already so anxious to get started on this.

Thrice breaks the rules

Is this the "extra artwork"?

The cover for the Special Edition of I'm Only A Man. Listen to a new song by Emery called "Rock and Rule" here.

In case you were wondering

If any of you were interested in booking the Paramore / Starting Line tour, make sure you've got $30-35,000 on hand. Or maybe you want Emery for half that much? Browse here.

Anberlin signs to Universal

Anberlin is one step closer to taking over America. For a good laugh and a retrospective on this band, check out Sagoh 24-7, which is where it all began.

Three major releases today.

Ok, really only one MAJOR release, and two other releases I am interested in.

As you know, As Cites Burn's new cd is out today. It's PHENOMENAL. Go get it.

Also, Cry of the Afflicted's new disc is out. It's surprisingly good. I'll review it in the upcoming days if I go out and get it.

Also, MAE's new disc, Singularity, is out. I don't really like them too much, but whatever.

There are also other releases, but I have really only caught wind of these three as of late.

-Dan.

I wish there were more CDs like this

Drop Dead Gorgeous has launched worsethanafairytale.com to support their album release. The website reveals the eerie concept behind their record, and the whole release, which has been relatively quiet so far, seems to getting very interactive and intriguing.
"There's way more to the story than you guys know, and within the next few weeks a lot of things are going to develop that are a big part of our record.

Keep an eye out."

As I Lay Dying "Nothing Left"

As I Lay Dying likes naked people.

Bunch of new music

Oh Sleeper has posted two new songs on the myspace.

Mae's record is streaming online.

Surrogate has a few new ones up too.

Combinations

As if you neded to be bombarded with yet another album stream...

Yet I can't hold back this noteworthy piece of info - Eisly's Combinations is streaming on their myspace page. I'm not sure I'm feeling this as much as the old stuff. This is a bit darker. Oh well, I'm only a few songs in.

Just a random though but...

You know what the new ACB record reminds me of?

Brand New, minus the scream-y vocals.

Seriously, go stream it (TODAY'S THE LAST DAY) and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Thrice album preview video thing

Poor Ivory

Check out Ivory on myspace.

"On July 12th, 2007 we played a show set up by Start to Finish Productions in Appleton, Wisconsin with Jeff Bricco as the promoter. We completed the show and all stipulations as agreed to between our booking agent and the promoter Jeff Bricco. Upon doing this we were supposed to receive a discussed and agreed upon guarantee of money which was given to us in the form of a check. Unfortunately, when we tried to cash the check given to us by Jeff Bricco the bank told us that it was not valid and in fact looked to be fraudulent and that it would need to be kept in order to investigate further. Following many calls from our manager, booking agent, and ourselves to Jeff Bricco we have still not received any of the large sum of money that we were guaranteed. We were told on two separate occasions by Jeff that the check was being sent to us and nothing has been received thus far. There have been large income shows which Jeff Bricco has promoted since July 12th in which he could have used the profits to pay his debt owed to us. Instead, he has consistently lied to our manager, booking agent, and us personally instead of fulfilling his monetary obligations to us."

Local bands

Any local bands out there anyone wants to shout out?

This song is called grrrsqueeerrrwww

I was watching the news a few minutes ago and I saw that 12 people in Connecticut just entered comatose randomly while listening to music this beautiful afternoon. Turns out Impending Doom posted a new song...

As He Lays DIES-Ing

We normally try to avoid "This band posted song here." news, but this is major, MAJOR news.

Most of you probably listening to Showbread. If you don't, go do it...I'll be waiting.

Ok, you done? Good.

Most are familiar with Showbread's frontman, Josh Dies. You may even know that he has a side project, entitled DIES.

You also probably know we hadn't heard anything from this side project.

Until now.

Go check out the DIES myspace page.

Now.

Go.

Ok bye. Have fun.

David Crowder on The Glorious Unseen tracklisting

It's true, and it's weird. The David Crowder song "Oh Praise Him" will appear on The Glorious Unseen's Tonight The Stars Speak.

Scene secrets...

I continued browsing the ASCAP website where I found some interesting facts. Some of which are the supposed real names of Spencer Chamberlain (William Spencer Chamberlain) and Stephen Christian (Stephen Arnold - do you think thats just his middle name and they forgot to enter his last name?). Also, Trevor McNevan is listed as a writer to a Demon Hunter song and several other bands' songs.

Gallery extravaganza

If you have some time to kill check out over 250 pictures from Cornerstone Florida 2007, including pics of Tae's (Showbread) last show and other exciting moments.

As Cities Burn "Come Now Sleep" review

This is not a hardcore cd. This is not a screamo cd. In fact, it evades so many genres... but that's besides the point with this release. This is without question, one of the most well-thought-out, creative, and passionate releases in recent memory.
Those who are looking for a vicious breakdown or sick screaming should set those aspirations aside for a moment and consider the notion that this CD can be worth listening to without either of those. Tracks like "Contact" and "Our World Is Grey" show off a mellow experimentation that, admittedly, you'll not expect, but are nonetheless glorious. Though the entire CD has a confident energy to it, "Empire" may be as rough as it gets. The rest of the disc is a rugged stream of intimacy and urgency along the lines of SILYAYD's "Of Want And Misery" or "The Widow".
No it's not the same without TJ. But to the nay-sayers, I hope you have a better reason to not like this CD other than "TJ's not in the band" cause if not, you're missing a terribly enlightening release.
AS CITIES BURN

New music batch

As I Lay Dying (the band with the skulls on the CDs) put up another song called "An Ocean Between Us". Which is also the record name.

Listen to the whole Tokyo Rose album here.

The Honor Roll has a new song and three demos online.

Number One Gun does an acoustic version of "Bad Habits". (omg)

Oops someone fire me

I was supposed to post this on Tuesday -
Three albums came out on 7/31 that I wanted to spotlight.
The Send - Cosmos
Brilliant song writing, but low staying power. Just downright pretty, ambient, and slightly edgy rock songs.
Tokyo Rose - The Promise In Compromise
Not as Good as New American Saint, but still rolls pretty deep. (thats my inner gangster coming out). Lots of pop-punk, less experimenting.
The Starting Line - Direction
Smooth summer pop-rock. Catchy, and so sweet it may rot your teeth.

The Matrix

File this in today's "OMG-the-dudes-gonna-get-himself-some-back-problems" section.
Haste The Day at Warped Tour 2007.

Neon Horse revelation

I ran across this piece of info on a post on thejosher.net:

"If you search Neon Horse on ASCAP's website, all songs were written by Mark Salomon and Jason Martin.
Sidenote - if you search Mute Math you'll find some new song titles."

Not that this post is gonna solve the mystery, but I thought it was interesting and seems legit.

*EDIT*
I was able to confirm this myself. So in my book, it's for sure - Salomon and Martin.

OB-SCENE! blog myspace

Hey guys please add OB-SCENE on myspace.