Cobra Starship: Hot Mess and UK headlining tour

Cobra Starship announce UK tour for February 2010 to promote Hot Mess.

Cobra Starship

Hot Mess

Fueled By Ramen/Decaydance, £TBA

Cobra Starship have announced the UK release of their followup to 2007s ¡Viva La Cobra! The album Hot Mess will be available to buy in the UK on February 22^nd 2010 following a brief UK tour. Hot Mess, the single, will precede this on February 15^th.

Cobra Starship’s mainstream success stems from their 2006 single Bring It (Snakes on a Plane) inspired by the film of the same name. The single was featured in the credits of the film and was used in advertisements.

Cobra Starship are signed to Decaydance, Pete Wentz’ (Fall Out Boy) vanity label within Fueled By Ramen and have consequently toured extensively with Fall Out Boy, allowing them direct access to their more established fan-base. This included 2007s sold out Decaydance Fest where they played alongside Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, Plain White Tee’s, The Academy Is…, and Gym Class Heros.

The tour will take place over four dates in February, culminating in a show at London’s Shepherds Bush Empire on the 10^th. Tickets for this tour go on sale today.

HIM: Screamworks and Headlining UK tour

HIM have announced a full UK tour scheduled for March 2010.

HIM

Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice

Sire, £TBA

HIM, one of the worlds biggest cult bands, have announced that they are to be releasing a new album on 8^th February 2010. Screamworks: Love in Theory and Practice will be available through Sire records as a physical purchase and a digital download. Lead single ‘Heartkiller’ will be released on February 1^st to precede the album release.

The Finnish band have achieved great success in the past with albums such as Dark Light which reached the top 20 in both the UK and the USA. Wings Of A Butterfly reached number 10 in the UK chart – the highest position of a single from Dark Light.

The band are well known for their intense live acts, playing Give It A Name in 2007, co-headlining the event with Utah based band The Used as well as appearing at Download Festival, alongside Black Sabbath and Velvet Revolver.

The gothic cult rockers have scheduled a tour to follow the release of the album in March 2010, starting in Norwich on the 13^th March and ending in Nottingham on the 20^th. Tickets go on sale at 9am on November 27^th at £20.

AFI: Crash Love and Tour Dates

AFI announce headlining UK tour for April 2010 following release of new album.

AFI

Crash Love

DCG/Interscope Records, £7.99

AFI have announced their first UK tour since their brief stint on the indoor festival Give It A Name in early 2007. The tour follows the release of their most recent offering Crash Love, their eighth studio recording. The album had been in the making for 2 years before it was released this September.

AFI’s most notable past release is Decemberunderground from 2006, which has since gone platinum along with predecessor Sing The Sorrow, 2003. Combined these albums have sold more than 2.7 million copies.

Crash Love is already beginning to gain popularity, with leading single Medicate finding it’s way onto popular iPhone application Tap Tap Revenge 3, which has been a remarkable marketing tool for other similar artists. “I had no idea AFI had even released a new record until I saw Medicate on Tap Tap,” said one iPhone user.

The tour will take place in early April 2010, playing 6 dates across the UK including Brixton Academy on April 6^th, and culminating on April 12^th at the O2 Academy Birmingham.

Canterbury: Thank You and Headlining Tour

Thank You is the anticipated debut album from Hampshire quintet Canterbury.

Canterbury

Thank You

Friends Vs Records, £0+

As far as debuts go, Canterbury have hit the nail on the head: Thank You is a terrific blend of melodic rock anthems, electro riffs and acoustic gems. Put together in 3 weeks, the album showcases 11 individual sounding tracks, influenced by the punk sound of Billy Talent and the electro qualities of Enter Shikari.

Despite people in the industry claiming new artists shouldn’t give away their material, Canterbury are doing just that. The album is up for free download on Music Glue, where you can also name your own price – the proceeds go towards petrol, guitar strings and rehearsals.

They have been successful so far, attracting over 3000 downloads in 3 days and also donations from people as young as 14. One listener said “I donated because I know my money is going towards the band, and I was encouraged to pay what I think it’s worth”

Canterbury have announced their first headlining tour across the UK to accompany the release of the album. The band will be touring during November, including a stop at Camden Barfly on November 24^th.

Owl City: Ocean Eyes and Debut UK Tour

Owl City has announced a UK tour to promote the release of Ocean Eyes.

Owl City

Ocean Eyes

Universal, £TBA

Another product of the MySpace generation, Adam Young’s pseudonym Owl City has taken the USA by storm and has just announced plans to bring his music to the UK in early 2010.

Owl City has sold 25,000 albums and over 200,000 digital downloads since setting up a MySpace page in 2007. His success equals that of fellow MySpace starlet NeverShoutNever!. Ocean Eyes will include the popular track ‘Hello Seattle’ which appeared on his first EP Of June.

His sound is very electro-pop with emotionally charged lyrics that put across Adam’s desire to escape in ocean, sky and dreams. “When you listen to Owl City, you’re given an opportunity to enter Adam’s world – his lyrics are so vivid and beautifully phrased,” listeners have said.

Having sold out his first gig in Minneapolis, Owl City has expressed his wish to win over fans in the UK and has scheduled his first tour this side of the Atlantic for February 2010, including a stop at London’s Islington Academy. This tour will be promoting the UK release of his album Ocean Eyes which is set for 1^st March 2010.

Review: Billy Talent @ Brixton Academy 1/11/2009

Benjamin Kowalewicz of Billy Talent @ Brixton Academy 1/11/2009

So last night was Billy Talent.

My review is here.

They are insanely good.

’nuff said.

xoxo

Lost In Pacific Time: The AP-EP

So literally around five minutes ago I was listening to some old skool Academy Is… tracks; ‘The Author’ from ‘The Academy EP‘ to be more precise.

Usually I ignore the suggestions that iTunes put conveniently down the side of the player in a sneaky attempt to get you to click onto the iTunes store, see shiny brackets like “(iTunes bonus track)”, click on the “buy” button and consequently have  money taken from you for a mere computer file.

However, today I did not ignore the suggestions when I noticed the date of release – 22nd September 2009. I thought I was up to date on The Academy Is… back catalogue – clearly I was mistaken.

The release in question is a 5-track EP named ‘Lost In Pacific Time: The AP-EP‘. Track-listing is as follows;

1. I’m Yours Tonight
2. Days Like Masquerades
3. Sputter
4. New York
5. In The Rearview

From first listening it is typical of The Academy Is… – perfect vocals from William Beckett embellished by catchy lyrics and melodies.

Overall, a quick update on my listening and the questionable usefulness of the iTunes store. I’ll probably post more on the EP later on today.

Other albums I’m currently listening to:

• Graham Coxon – ‘Happiness In Magazines‘
• Dananananaykroyd – ‘Hey Everyone‘

xoxo

Funeral For A Friend Live Review – 14th October 2009 – KOKO

I hope to eventually go to shows as press to publish exclusively to Deaf Is Not An Option.

However, GigJunkie have given me an amazing opportunity which has enabled me to do what I want to do – review and photograph live shows and I’m going to keep blogging for them on top of D.I.N.A.O.

So, here’s the link to my review of FFAF which is on GigJunkie!

I will post album reviews and other music related news, live reviews exclusively for D.I.N.A.O when I can.

Subscribe to the GigJunkie blog AND Deaf Is Not An Option to keep up to date on what I’m doing.

xoxo

Fall Out Boy – Greatest Hits – Believers Never Die

Yesterday I was a bit angry about the way in which Fall Out Boy have chosen to market the release of their greatest hits album – ‘Believers Never Die‘. Today I’ve taken a step back to look at the actual content of the album which is out November 16th/17th depending on where you are in the world.

The tracklisting goes as follows;

1. Dead On Arrival
2. Grand Theft Autumn
3. Saturday
4. Sugar, We’re Going Down
5. Dance, Dance
6. A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More “Touch Me”
7. This Ain’t A Scene It’s An Arms Race
8. Thnks Fr Th Mmrs
9. The Take Over, The Breaks Over
10. I’m Like A Lawyer With The Way I’m Always Trying To Get You Off (Me And You)
11. Beat It
12. I Don’t Care
13. America’s Suitehearts
14. What A Catch, Donnie
15. Alpha Dog

BONUS TRACKS

1. From Now On We Are Enemies
2. Yule Shoot Your Eye Out
3. Growing Up

It is what it says it is; their greatest hits…and some extra songs, including a personal favourite of mine which you can find on ‘A Santa Cause: It’s A Punk Rock Christmas‘.

If you wonder over to www.falloutboyrock.com you’ll be greeted with some Back To The Future references… and also something beautiful to the eyes; Fall Out Boy’s website has gone old skool with the web layout they had from 2002-2003 – the ‘Take This To Your Grave‘ period.

You’ll also find a full stream at the bottom of the page of their new track ‘Alpha Dog’.

xoxo

The Candle Thieves Interview and Review is Finally Up!

Scott McEwan of The Candle Thieves

I was lucky enough to be able to review and interview the lovely Scott McEwan and Glockenshiels for my contribution to the GigJunkie Blog.

I had a few formatting issues, and still do with the blog editor on that site, but I figured it was better online than not at all, so here it is!

Click Me!

Peace out. x