Rise Against announce release of ‘The Ghost Note Symphonies Vol.1’

With their massive summer tour about to kick off in a few short months, Rise Against have recently announced some big news. Last week, the Chicago-founded band revealed on social media plans to release a compilation album in late July. Titled The Ghost Note Symphonies Vol.1, the album will contain re-imagined versions of previously released Rise Against songs.

According to their post on Twitter, the songs will be”stripped down, with alternate instrumentation, unique orchestration, and a surprise or two.” The album was recorded at the Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado with producers Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore.

In addition to the compilation’s announcement, the band also unveiled the music video for the first song from the record, “House on Fire.” Watch the video for stripped down version of the Wolves track above.

The Ghost Note Symphonies Vol.1 is due out July 27. The compilation album comes a year after the band released their eighth studio album, Wolves. The album landed at the number nine spot on the Billboard 200 chart.

This summer, the quartet will hit the road for a massive summertime tour. The “Mourning in Amerika” tour will kick off on July 28 at the RBC Echo Beach in Toronto, Ontario and conclude two months later on Sept. 30 at the FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine, California. Anti-Flag and AFI will join Rise Against for the full tour. The “Mourning in Amerika” tour itinerary can be found here.

Bands join forces for Orlando compilation

Following the horrific Pulse Nightclub shooting, musicians have gathered to help support the victims/families of the shooting and the city of Orlando however they can. Panic! at the Disco held a blood drive and released a limited edition t-shirt with all proceeds being donate. PVRIS and Beartooth did the same by releasing limited edition t-shirts while You Blew It!, who call Orlando home, released an EP benefiting Center Orlando, an LGBT center providing counseling in the wake of the shooting.

On Friday (June 17), it was announced that a slew of artists have joined forces to release a compilation titled Forever Beautiful: A Collection Of Love For Orlando. The record will feature a total of 49 bands with all proceeds from the release going directly to the OneOrlando fund; the fund created to assist those who were victims of the shooting. Bands like  Taking Back Sunday, Real Friends, New Found Glory, Modern Baseball, Allison Weiss, Knuckle Puck, Foxing, Bad Religion, Somos, Anthony Green, You Blew It!, Into It. Over It., Pity Sex, Pinegrove, the Menzingers, Citizen, Thin Lips, Sorority Noise, Tiny Moving Parts, Turnover, Anti Flag, Tigers Jaw, Basement, and more are featured on the massive album. 

“This compilation is a love letter to the community of Orlando, FL. Following the tragic events at Pulse Nightclub on June 12th, we wanted to show our support and love for our LGBTQ community the best way we knew how; through music,” begins a collective statement from all the contributing artists.

“The tracks on this album were all individually contributed by the bands and artists themselves; artists from Orlando, New York, California, England, and all over the globe. All proceeds from this compilation will be donated to support the victims of the Pulse shooting as part of the OneOrlando Fund as a symbol of solidarity as our city rebuilds. The price of this album is whatever amount you would like to donate to this cause.”

The compilation can be found here. If you want to help out and donate directly to OneOrlando, that link can be found here.

Listen to Circa Survive Cover Nirvana

Nirvana made an impact on the music world and no one would deny that, especially the people behind Robotic Empire.

The label previously put out a vinyl of Nirvana covers titled In Utero: In Tribute which according to them sold out when it was released on Record Store Day last year. This Record Store Day, the label will once again be doing the same thing.

This year’s Nirvana compilation will be titled Whatever, Nevermind and will feature bands such as La Dispute, Torche, Touche Amore, and the band whose contribution can be qualified as the first single off the album, Circa Survive.

Circa got the task of covering Nirvana’s “Drain You,” which can be heard below.

In an interview with Alternative Press, Circa guitarist Brendan Ekstrom said the following about getting the chance to cover the iconic band.

“There are different ways to approach covering a band. For us, doing a Nirvana song takes us back to a very raw place that we were in when we were young and just falling in love with music. We didn’t want to say ‘here’s what this song would’ve sounded like if Circa wrote it.’ It was way more fun for us to live in their energy and pay homage to their influence by just rocking the shit out of it and keeping it raw.”

Whatever, Nevermind will be available on April 18 (Record Store Day) while pre-orders of the record are currently available on the label’s website.

Check out the full tracklist below.

WHATEVER NEVERMIND COMPILATION TRACKLIST:

01. Young Widows – Smells Like Teen Spirit
02. Torche – In Bloom
03. Kylesa – Come As You Are
04. Cave In – Breed
05. Boris – Lithium
06. La Dispute – Polly
07. White Reaper – Territorial Pissings
08. Circa Survive – Drain You
09. Touche Amore – Lounge Act
10. Wrong – Stay Away
11. Pygmy Lush – On A Plain
12. Nothing – Something In The Way
13. Thou – Endless, Nameless / Even In His Youth (Bonus Tracks)

Listen to the Long-Lost Queen/Michael Jackson Song

The recently announced Queen album featuring some never before heard songs from late frontman Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson has officially gotten a release date.

The posthumous record titled Queen Forever which was announced back in May, will officially be released on Nov. 10. With the reveal of the release date, also comes the track list which include many Queen fan favorites and some re-tweaking of old songs, and that Mercury/Jackson collaboration.

The story went that Mercury had been working on a song titled, “There Must Be More to Life Than This” with Jackson, but it was never completed.

Instead, Mercury decided to record his own version which ended up on his solo debut record, 1985’s Mr. Bad Guy. Now, fans will get to hear what the actual song sounded like with both singers were involved.

“When I first played it in my studio, I opened a trove of delights provided by the greatest of musicians,” producer William Orbit wrote in a statement.

“Hearing Michael Jackson’s vocals was stirring. So vivid, so cool and poignant, it was like he was in the studio singing live. With Freddie’s vocal solo on the mixing desk, my appreciation for his gift was taken to an even higher level.”

Listen to the song here.

Also included on the compilation will be a remade version of “Love Kills,” a song that was featured in Giorgio Moroder remake of Fritz Lang’s 1927 iconic film, Metropolis.

“They took out all the disco production and turned it into more of a traditional Queen arrangement,” Adam Lambert said about the track. The former American Idol contestant had been performing the song live with the remaining members of Queen this past Summer while they were out on tour.

“It’s an amazing song, very dramatic and powerful with a beautiful melody” he added.

The full track list for the upcoming compilation can be seen below. Keep in mind, the track list will depend on whether you’re purchasing the single CD or the two CD set.

QUEEN FOREVER COMPILATION TRACK LIST:

Single CD:

1. “Let Me In Your Heart Again”
2. “Love Kills – The Ballad”
3. “There Must Be More To Life Than This” (William Orbit Mix)
4. “It’s A Hard Life”
5. “You’re My Best Friend”
6. “Love Of My Life”
7. “Drowse”
8. “Long Away”
9. “Lily Of The Valley”
10. “Don’t Try So Hard”
11. “Bijou”
12. “These Are The Days Of Our Lives”
13. “Las Palabras De Amor”
14. “Who Wants To Live Forever”
15. “A Winter’s Tale”
16. “Play The Game”
17. “Save Me”
18. “Somebody To Love”
19. “Too Much Love Will Kill You”
20. “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”

2-CD SET

CD1

1. “Let Me In Your Heart Again”
2. “Love Kills – The Ballad”
3. “There Must Be More To Life Than This” (William Orbit Mix)
4. “Play The Game”
5. “Dear Friends”
6. “You’re My Best Friend”
7. “Love Of My Life”
8. “Drowse”
9. “You Take My Breath Away”
10. “Spread Your Wings”
11. “Long Away”
12. “Lily Of The Valley”
13. “Don’t Try So Hard”
14. “Bijou”
15. “These Are The Days Of Our Lives”
16. “Nevermore”
17. “Las Palabras De Amor”
18. “Who Wants To Live Forever”

CD2

1. “I Was Born To Love You”
2. “Somebody To Love”
3. “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”
4. “Friends Will Be Friends”
5. “Jealousy”
6. “One Year of Love”
7. “A Winters Tale”
8. “‘39”
9. “Mother Love”
10. “It’s A Hard Life”
11. “Save Me”
12. “Made in Heaven”
13. “Too Much Love Will Kill You”
14. “Sail Away Sweet Sister”
15. “The Miracle”
16. “Is This The World We Created”
17. “In The Lap Of The Gods…Revisited”
18. “Forever”

Morrissey Officially Announces European Tour Dates

In another attempt to go on a tour, Morrissey has released his first batch of European tour dates in support of his recently release album, World Peace is None of Your Business.

Considering Morrissey’s history with tours, speculation has already begun with how long the singer will actually be on this tour before announcing cancellation plans.

As of now, the European tour is set to kick off on October 6 in Lisbon and wrap up on November 29 in London at the O2 Arena.

These newly released tour dates come several months after the former Smiths frontman had to cancel his North American tour due to several issues that even we aren’t sure of anymore. The original blame was placed on former opening act, Kristeen Young who was kicked off the tour because she supposedly got Moz and his crew sick which she denied. Since Morrissey has such a colorful history of cancelling tour dates, speculation remains.

In the meantime, Morrissey has kept himself busy by fighting with his former (or maybe not former) record label, Harvest/Capitol and announced yesterday on his blog, True to You,that he will be curating a Ramones compilation titled Best of the Ramones on behalf of Sire-Rhino Records. So far, no tracklist or release date has been given for that.

MORRISSEY EUROPEAN TOUR DATES:

10/06 – Lisbon, PT @ Coliseum

10/13 – Rome, IT @ Atlantico

10/16 – Milan, IT @ Teatro Linear

10/17 – Bologna, IT @ Paladozza

10/19 – Pescara, IT @ Pala Gpii

10/21 – Florence, IT @ Obihall

10/22 – Padova, IT @ Geox Theater

10/24 – Vienna, AT @ Konzerthaus

11/05 – Hannover, DE @ Capitol

11/08 – Lund, SE @ Sparbank Arena

11/09 – Copenhagen, DK @ Falconer

11/11 – Goteborg, SE @ Lisebergshallen

11/13 – Stockholm, SE @ Hovet

11/19 – Warsaw, PL @ Stodola

11/21 – Krakow, PL @ Laznia Nowa

11/23 – Berlin, DE @ Columbiahalle

11/24 – Essen, DE @ Colosseum

11/29 – London, UK @ 02 Arena

Fearless Records Releases ‘Punk Goes…’ Trailer

The new addition to the Punk Goes… series, Punk Goes 90s Volume 2 is scheduled to be released this Spring and today, Fearless Records has released the official trailer for the album.

The record company already released the full list of artists from their record label who will be featured on the compilation as well as the tracks they will be covering for the new installment.

The trailer is a nostalgic journey for those born and raised in the 90s. Clips from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, MTV when the M used to stand for music, crappy clip art and the lingo. The trailer can be seen below and we dare you not to feel a slight bit nostalgic especially when they talk about the Walkman.

Punk Goes 90s: Volume 2 will be released on April 1st. Pre-sales are currently available and according to the label themselves, one of the bundles even includes a cassette version of the album. Pre-sales also include and immediate download of Asking Alexandria’s cover of Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer” and Mayday Parade’s cover of Bush’s “Comedown.

My Chemical Romance’s “Fake Your Death” to Debut Next Week

Considering that My Chemical Romance haven’t done anything in a year since it was announced they would be disbanding, today has become quite a MCR news filled day. First it was the talks of a musical being based on The Black Parade and now someone at Warner Bros. Records has taken over the band’s official Twitter to reveal that the only unreleased song from their greatest hits album, “Fake Your Death” will debut next week on iTunes.

But for those that are little apprehensive about the news, like us here, someone also got a hold of the official Facebook page to also announce that the song will be released digitally on iTunes on Monday, February 17 in the evening. Those who pre-ordered the compilation last month should also keep an eye out because the posts say that those will be getting the track as well that evening.

MCR's last song“Fake Your Death” will be out at @itunes this Monday the 17th. Get it at their site on that day. – Warner Bros Records.

— My Chemical Romance (@MCRofficial) February 10, 2014

As for the MCRmy, Killjoys or whatever they are calling themselves these days (we maintain MCRmy here) deep down we want these posts to be the real deal because it’s the last piece of the band that we have aside from memories and all the albums, DVDs and live performances.

May Death Never Stop You is set to be released on March 25th

Vampire Weekend Contribute to Starbucks’ Valentine Compilation

It feels like we haven’t heard much from Vampire Weekend since they put out their recently released album,  Modern Vampires of the City.

The last time we covered something by them was back in June when they released the official music video for their single, “Diane Young” which featured some of their closet musical friends taking the iconic “Last Supper” painting and making it their own.

So imagine our surprise when we found out that the band will be featured on Sweatheart 2014, Starbucks’ Valentines Day 2014 compilation. Their contribution to the album is a cover of neo-classical tune “Con Te Partirò” by the one and only, Andrea Bocelli.

And yes, frontman Ezra Koenig does sing the song in Italian with of course the band’s own electro-twist.

The full track list for the compilation can be seen below while the song can be heard here.

SWEETHEART 2014 TRACKLIST:

1. Jim James – “Turn Your Lights Down Low” (Bob Marley cover)
2. Vampire Weekend – “Con Te Partirò” (Inspired by the Andrea Bocelli recording)
3. Beck – “Love” (John Lennon cover)
4. Phosphorescent – “Tomorrow Is A Long Time” (Bob Dylan cover)
5. The Head and the Heart – “Don’t Forget Me” (Harry Nilsson cover)
6. Valerie June – “Happy or Lonesome” (the Carter Family cover)
7. Bahamas – “Always on My Mind” (Willie Nelson cover)
8. Thao – “If You Were Mine” (Ray Charles cover)
9. Ben Harper – “Fade Into You” (Mazzy Star cover)
10. Fiona Apple – “I’m In The Middle of a Riddle” (Anton Karas cover)
11. Brandi Carlile – “The Chain” (Fleetwood Mac cover)
12. Blake Mills – “I Hope” (Bobby Charles cover)
13. Sharon Jones – “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” (Stevie Wonder cover)

My Chemical Romance Announce Details About Greatest Hits

When it was confirmed that My Chemical Romance would be coming out with a new album, let’s just say some of us were over the moon. When we were told that it was nothing more than a greatest hits album, the excitement somewhat diminished, but still there was hope that maybe some of the tracks from the ill-fated fifth album would make its way onto the upcoming compilation.

Well, it looks like some of the hoping has come in our favor because during the weekend, the band released a joint statement about the greatest hits album confirming that some never-before-released tracks would be featured on the album.

Also confirmed in the statement was the release date for May Death Never Stop You. Giving fans somewhat of a closure, the release dated has been confirmed for March 25; a year after the band decided to call it a day.

Read the full statement below and yes, Mikey Way did sign the end “Mike.” It’s definitely the end of an era.

“Hello all,

On March 25, we will be releasing a greatest hits album entitled “May Death Never Stop You.” The title is fitting, because as sad as it was to say goodbye to the band, we look at this collection as a celebration of our best songs, and hope the memory of them continues to bring joy to you all as they have for us.

The album also includes some previously unreleased material, including the infamous “Attic Demos,” and one of the last songs we worked on in the studio together.

On January 21, we will be opening pre-orders for the album right here on our site. We hope you take the journey with us into MCR’s past, and enjoy the small taste of what might have been.

Thanks,

Ray, Gerard, Frank, Mike”

The Music World to Unite for “Songs for the Philippines”

Every time there seems to be a natural disaster, it takes musicians no time at all to come together to help those that are in need. When Superstorm Sandy destroyed the Northeatern coast, the 12-12-12 concert came in and raised money to help those that had been affected by all the storm.

A few weeks back, the Philippines had been hit by Typhoon Haiyan which damaged most of the Asian nation and resulted in the death of more than 5,200 (currently).

Now, musicians are coming together to make a fundraising compilation featuring some of the biggest names in the music industry. Songs from musicians such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, U2, Bruno Mars, Katy Perry and many more. All proceeds from the album will go directly to the Philippine Red Cross to help those in need. 

surprisingly, three major music companies have band together to help put this 39-track album which has been titled, Songs for the Philippines together and could be purchased on iTunes here.

Check out the full track list for the compilation  and if you can, don’t forget to donate if you can.

‘Songs For The Philippines’ track listing: 

1.      The Beatles – “Across The Universe”
2.      Bob Dylan – “Shelter From The Storm”
3.      Michael Bublé – “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You”
4.      U2 – “In A Little While”
5.      Bruno Mars – “Count On Me”
6.      Beyoncé – “I Was Here”
7.      Eminem – “Stan” (Live from BBC Radio 1)
8.      Cher – “Sirens”
9.      Adele – “Make You Feel My Love”
10.   Katy Perry – “Unconditionally” (Johnson Somerset Remix)
11.   One Direction – “Best Song Ever”
12.   Fun. – “Carry On”
13.   Lady Gaga – “Born This Way” (The Country Road version)
14.   Justin Timberlake – “Mirrors”
15.   Justin Bieber – “I Would”
16.   Alicia Keys – “New Day”
17.   Imagine Dragons – “30 Lives”
18.   Madonna – “Like A Prayer”
19.   P!nk – “Sober”
20.   Kylie Minogue – “I Believe In You”
21.   Enrique Iglesias – “Hero”
22.   Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Factory Of Faith”
23.   Linkin Park – “Roads Untraveled”
24.   Kings Of Leon – “Use Somebody”
25.   Muse – “Explorers”
26.   Lorde – “The Love Club”
27.   Josh Groban – “Brave”
28.   Kelly Clarkson – “Stronger”
29.   Paolo Nutini – “Simple Things”
30.   Ellie Goulding – “I Know You Care”
31.   James Blunt – “Carry You Home”
32.   Pitbull feat. Christina Aguilera – “Feel This Moment”
33.   Earth, Wind & Fire – “Sign On”
34.   Apl.De.App – “Going Out” feat Damian Leroy
35.   Sara Bareilles – “Brave”
36.   Jessica Sanchez – “Lead Me Home”
37.   Lily Allen – “Smile”
38.   The Fray – “Love Don’t Die”
39.   The Beatles – “Let It Be”