New Songs from Set Your Goals...

Absolute Punk had an exclusive release last week to two new songs by Set Your Goals.  The songs, "Only Right Now" and "I'll Walk It Off" will be featured on the pop punk band's follow up album to Burning at Both Ends.  New Found Glory's Chad Gilbert produced both songs.  Fans ate the songs up and took to social networking to proclaim their praise.  After the success of the new material, fans also learned that Set Your Goals will be recording with Gilbert again soon.

This Girls thoughts?  I have been playing the songs non stop!  The "stuck in your head" factor of the lyrics are back and any fan of pop punk will appreciate Gilbert's production style.  The songs make me optimistic that the new LP will be reminiscent of Mutiny! and that Set Your Goals have fixed some mistakes they made on Burning at Both Ends.  I am totally looking forward to hearing more from the band and the partnership between SYG and Chad!

The Ghost Inisde Outlive...

The Ghost Inside were busy boys last week.  The California metalcore band announced the release for their upcoming full length, Get What You Give.  The album will hit US stores on June 19th via Epitaph records. Here is a trailer for the album:

Get What You Give will be the follow up to 2010's Returners.  A Day to Remember's Vocalist Jeremy McKinnon produced the album.  

To spark fan's interests even more, The Ghost Inside released the first single off the album.  Check out "Outlive" below and let me know what you think!

MOD SUN n Jonny Craig Collabo...

Hippie rapper MOD SUN had the fans in a frenzy last week with an early morning tweet.  MOD tweeted to fans that there is a strong possibility that a new collaboration between him and singer Jonny Craig could be out in late May.  Collabos between the two are not something new.  Craig supplied some vocals on MOD's track "Become My Life" and the two performed together on the "White Boys of Soul" tour.

Like other projects concerning Craig though, the release date is questionable.  Jonny's unstable personal life may hold the project back.  It was reported in March that Craig was entering rehab, and that his progress was well.  Jonny's management also stated that there is nothing set in stone with this collaboration.  Hopefully for the fans that received this news with excitement, Jonny will get it together for a release.

Mixtape #20

Bonaventure: "I Dare You"

Rest of this week's Mixtape:

• William Beckett: "Oh, Love!"
• Settle: "December Girls"
• Second To Last: "Cheap Sleep"
• Feeder: "Children of the Sun"
• Neon Trees: "Mad Love"
• The Menzingers: "Great Apes and Shiny Stones"
• Young Statues: "Meet Me at the Hudson"
• Aesop Rock: "Zero Dark Thirty"
• Frank Ocean: "PDA"
• MewithoutYou feat. Hayley Williams: "Fox's Dreams of the Log Flume"
• City Lights: "What It Takes"
• Kid Liberty: "Chirpin Gears"
• Mixtapes: "Even on the Worst Nights"
• Portugal. The Man: "All Your Light(Times like These)"

Mixtape #19

Family Force 5: "Super Hero"

So I know when III came out, I was not too kind to my southern rockers.  However, this slowed down, acoustic version of this song is quite wonderful.  If Family Force 5 could do more songs like this mixed with their crazy krunk core, I would be a very happy girl.

The rest of this week's Mixtape:

• Neon Trees: "Close to You"
• Lemuria: "Varoom Allure"
• Motion City Soundtrack: "True Romance"
• Of Fortune and Fame: "Wembridge Drive"
• This Providence: "Trouble"
• Daytrader: "If You Need It"
• When Tigers Fight: "Kill or Cure"
• Toys that Kill: "Stye"
• Arkells: "On Paper"
• The Scutches: "Don't Go"
• Red Collar: "American Me"
• Maroon 5 feat. Wiz Khalifa: "Pay Phone"
• Sweatshirt Weather: "Open Up the Sky"
• City of Ghosts: "Livin Pieces"

Get Ready for Summer with some Hot Water...

Music that comes out in May sets the tone of summer for most.  Those albums and songs will play on your iPod, through your car and head phone speakers for the next three months.  One album that will be playing through mine is Exister, by Hot Water Music.  Due out on May 15th, the Gainsville Florida band drops their highly anticipated follow up to 2004's The New What Next.  Earlier this month, Hot Water Music dropped the single, "Drag My Body".  If this is a preview to the 11 other tracks on Exister, I am truly excited.  Here is a lyric video for the song, as well as the rest of the track listing.

Track Listing:

1. Mainline
2. Boy, You're Gonna Hurt Someone
3. State of Grace
4. Drown In It
5. Drag My Body
6. Safety
7. Exister
8. Wrong Way
9. Take No Prisoners
10. Pledge Wore Thin
11. No End Left In Sight
12. The Traps
13. Paid In Full

Depp/Manson Friendship Continues to Grow...

Last week I reported about Johnny Depp collaborating with rocker Marilyn Manson.  This week, I can again.  Depp Joined Manson on stage at Revolver's Golden God Awards in Los Angeles.  The actor played guitar on stage for Manson's remake of "Sweet Dreams" and his own "The Beautiful People".  Depp seemed to just appear on stage, but Marilyn let the crowd know that his red carpet friend was helping him out.  Depp seems cool and confident playing with the band, however Manson's vocals have not aged well in my opinion.  Let me know what you all think!

"The Beautiful People"

"Sweet Dreams"

Revelation Reunites...

Revelation Records will be celebrating their 25th anniversary this year.  To celebrate properly, the company will be hosting two anniversary shows on June 8th-10th at the Glasshouse in Pomona, CA.  Bands participating in the shows are the Gorilla Biscuits, Sick of it All, Underdog, and Bold to name a few.  On the June 8th and 10th shows, starters of "metalcore" Shai Hulud will be performing.  What will make these appearances even more special is that Chad Gilbert will be reuniting with the band.

 When the band signed with Revelation Records, lead singer Damien Moyal quit.  Shai Hulud then found 14 year old Chad Gilbert to take Moyal's place.  Together they went on to put out a 3 track EP entitled A Profound Hatred of Man.  Gilbert left in 97 to start New Found Glory, but that EP started the legend that would become Shai Hulud.

It was also announced this week that Gilbert will be producing the next Shai Hulud record.  The guys will be heading into the studio this month, and the record should be out later in the year. 

Shai Hulud is a band that deserves much respect in this industry.  Originally from Florida, the band moved to New York.  Despite industry issues and departing members, Shai Hulud has stood the test of time.  Without their influences, fans may never have gotten to hear such bands as As I Lay Dying, Poison the Well, Silverstein, and See You Next Tuesday.  Many fans cite Shai Hulud as the only "true" metalcore band out there.

I had the pleasure of seeing Shai Hulud at the Chance, in Poughkeepsie New York recently.  The guys are some of the most down to earth people you will ever meet.  Their set was energetic, charismatic, and playing seems effortless for them.  My favorite part of the set was the fact that many people in the pit were artists of many other participating bands from that day.  These shows with Gilbert will just make an amazing performance from Shai Hulud more special.

Mixtape #18

Regina Spektor is a aquatic dreaming princess in this video.  "All the Rowboats" was directed by Adria Petty, who is the daughter of rocker Tom Petty. Spektor's new album, What We Saw from the Cheap Seats, is due out May 29th.  

Rest of this week's Mixtape:

• Visions feat. Taylor Jardine: "Reality Check"
• Moving Mountains: "Alleviate"
• Modern Day Escape: "The Syndicate"
• MxPx: "Stay on You're Feet"
• NGHBRS: "Paper Limbs"
• Maps and Atlases: "Fever"
• Meshuggah: "Break those Bones whose Sinews Gave it Motion"
• Stars in Stereo: "The Broken"
• Vanaprasta: "Self Indulgent Feeling"
• Childish Gambino: "Eat Your Vegetables"
• You Blew It!: "Medal of Honor"
• Kanye West feat. DJ Khaled: "Way to Cold"*
• Civil Twilight: "Fire Escape"
• Rival Summers: "Believe in Me"

*- Kanye West's track, "Way to Cold", was originally titled, "Thera Flu".  However, due to some now pending law suits, the title has been changed. 

An Interesting Friendship Gets Vain...

Movie stars and rock stars have been pairing up for years. Some of the creations have been excellent, others, well not so much.  Now there is one more to add to the list. Goth rocker Marilyn Manson and kooky actor Johnny Depp are taking their friendship to the studio.  The two have paired up on a duet remake of Carly Simon's "You're So Vain".  Yes, the song choice makes this duo an even interesting situation.

It turns out that these two have been friends for some time now.  In 2001, a remake of Manson's song "The Nobodies" was featured on the soundtrack of "From Hell", which Depp starred in.  Johnny also took the rocker as his date to the premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest".  The duo has also Cris-crossed career paths.  Depp has played guitar since early childhood.  He is also in a band, P, with Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers and Gibby Haynes of the Butthole Surfers.  The band was invited to play with Eddie Vedder.  Manson has dabbled in acting with a few movie roles, his most prevalent being in David Lynch's film "The Last Highway" in 1997.

All intrigued ears will have to wait a bit to hear this remake.  The single will appear on Manson's upcoming album, Born Villain, as a bonus track.  The LP will be out May 1st, on Hell Inc, records.  As for a video? In a recent interview with MTV UK, Marilyn said that the video will be simple, with the two looking at each other like a mirror. Interesting...

Mixtape #17

I the Mighty: "Dancing On a Tightrope"

These California punksters have definitely gotten a tad bit heavier since their last release in 2010.  Karma, I the Mighty's latest EP is out now, and I highly suggest you go and pick it up.  The band will be heading on tour for the summer and then hopefully will hit the studio to record a full length!

Rest of this week's Mixtape:

• The Summer Set: " Last First Kiss"
• Sleeping at Last: "Emphasis"
• Go Radio: "What if You Don't"
• Bears and Bridges: "I Guess I'm Getting Wet"
• True Things: "Been Thinking of You"
• Wolves and Machines: "All Alarms"
• Nas: "The Don"
• Eve 6: "Curtain"
• Silversun Pickups: "Bloody Mary"
• Lostprophets: "Another Shot"
• Carly Rae Jepson: "Call Me Maybe"
• Swizz Beatz ft. A$AP Rocky: "Street Knock"
• Love Drug: "Wild Blood"
• Dirty South and Thomas Gold ft. Kate Ellsworth: "Eyes Wide Open"

It's Good to Get Vulnerable...

So I think it's safe to say most Used fans hated 2009's Artwork.  Even vocalist Bert McCracken stated it was his least favorite album.  Since then, the quartet from Utah seemed to fizzle off the radar.  In the last couple of months though, The Used started hitting the scene to build anticipation back up for themselves.  After Artwork, the boys parted ways with their record label, Warner Bros.. The Used have since then put some of the blame on the label for the album's poor response.  Teaming up with Indie label Hopeless Records, Vulnerable  was released last week on their own label, Anger Music Group.  A "make or break" move for both parties, Vulnerable breathes new life into fans' ears.  The album is the sludge pop kings' most well rounded work since 2004.

Vulnerable is a mixture of "duds and studs" songs.  The twelve tracks do convey one thing though - the Used's classic, demonic sound with some new twists.  "I Come Alive" was the first single off the record.  Although the guitars seem a bit rushed, the final breakdown is phenomenal and sets the tone.  McCracken really lets his anger speak on "Now that You're Dead".  The song also takes the band back to its punk origins, with guitarist Quinn Allman playing with urgency.  The Used play around with electronic musical elements on Vulnerable.  "Shine" is heavily influence by EDM.  The single is also the most airtime friendly of the dozen.  "Hands and Faces", the second single, opens with a dubstep sample that then flows through out the song. However, the thumping bass does not mask how well bassist Jeph Howard and drummer Dan Whitesides compliment each other.  The best song on the album is "Put Me Out".  The opening is full of life, and it shows off the band's formula on how they make music beautifully.  The bass is again more present, and adds a nice clarity to the song.

Vulnerable shows the work of a band that is re-energized.  Despite being a bit short on lyrical content, McCracken's voice is cleaner and back to being full; making you want to listen.  Long time fans may be a bit disappointed that the album still isn't as raw as earlier years.  However, the dark passion of the Used is evident.  Vulnerable is an excellent record to show off that the Used still has "it", and are back to prove it.