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American Hi-Fi’s Debut Coming to Vinyl

American Hi-Fi’s debut album is getting pressed to vinyl for the first time. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Be The Change (@bethechange.green) --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/news/american-hi-fis-debut-coming-to-vinyl/

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Record Store Day Roundup: 2024 Edition

Another Record Store Day has come and gone. Did you snag that coveted pressing of that album you had your eye on? Hopefully your experience was as good as mine was, and you were able to grab at least something on your list either in-person or online afterwards. In this article, I’ll be recapping things I noticed about the most popular titles going first, providing feedback on the pressing numbers for this year’s collection, and ways to keep vinyl fans engaged with their local record stores throughout the year. Most Popular Titles Across the board, it seemed that the fastest title to leave the record store shelves were the ultra-coveted 7 inch split between Olivia Rodrigo/Noah Kahan for “Stick Season/Lucy.” The single was pressed on a colored vinyl, and was limited to 15,000 copies. If you weren’t able to snag this title, the good news is that it’s labeled as “RSD First” title, meaning that it plans to get a future pressing. Another title that was unique and in very limited quantities was a cool looking mini record player plus 3″ singles from a little band known as The Beatles. This Bluetooth-enabled mini turntable featured a Beatles-branded dust cover and was packaged with four mini singles of “She Loves You,” “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “Til There Was You,” and “I Saw Her Standing There.” The cute set was limited to 2,300 units, and was partially responsible for the long lines during Record Store Day. Another surprisingly coveted release was the ITEIAD Sessions by The Japanese House, which was limited to just 800 copies. This set featured alternate session versions of In The End It Always Does, including an alternative version of lead single, “Boyhood,” and a cover of ABBA’s “Super Trouper.” This “RSD First” title will get another pressing, but this 6-track EP pressed on white vinyl was a hot item on the secondary market. The last “hot item” that I was lucky enough to get my hands on was the long out of print sophomore album by At The Drive-In called In/Casino/Out. This Craft Recordings “RSD First” exclusive was limited to 3,500 copies, and was a fast mover at record stores across the country. It was pressed on a cool, Purple/Green Smoke LP, and it sounds pretty damn dynamic to my ears on my turntable. The Introduction of Discogs’ Record Store Day Afters Another cool component of this year’s Record Store Day was the unveiling of an International Discogs database of RSD-exclusives from 13 countries. This is called the “Record Store Day Afters” website, and launches today at 3 PM (Eastern Time Zone) here. Additionally, other stores across the U.S. released their Record Store Day stock on Discogs and their own websites, at retail cost, as early as the day after Record Store Day 2024. This greatly helped me, and thousands of other vinyl collectors, in obtaining those RSD exclusives without being scalped on Ebay and other secondary auction sites. Recommendations for Improvements for Future Record Store Day Observances While my experience was overwhelmingly positive, I have heard from others in the vinyl community that there is still room for improvement in the Record Store Day process. The lines are a tough situation to navigate, but I feel like our indie record stores are getting better at keeping the lines moving by having helpful staff determine which titles are gone throughout the day and assisting customers with finding their wanted titles in a timely fashion. Other suggestions would be to limit the “flip through” process of the RSD bins by having customers with their lists handy to ask if certain titles are in stock so they don’t hold up the lines searching for a title that isn’t there. Many great indie stores across the U.S. were up front and communicative about their RSD stock, and this transparency will help out customers in feeling a sense of community with their local shops. The pressing numbers were fairly on point this year, with a few exceptions that I’ve already outlined. As long as Record… https://chorus.fm/features/record-store-day-roundup-2024-edition/

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Suck Brick Kid

Recently I was able to catch up with a talented pop-punk band called Suck Brick Kid to discuss everything that went into the writing of their new album, The End Is What I Want. Out on May 17 via Smartpunk Records, the new record will have you laughing, crying, and reflecting on all of those nostalgia-tinged memories we experience. With a slick pop-punk sound, Suck Brick Kid would be perfect for fans of Set Your Goals, Sum 41, Four Year Strong, and Blink-182. Let’s first discuss your new single and video for “What I Do When I Blackout Is None of My Business.” Where did the title come from, and what was it like shooting this music video? Every song on this record is inspired by dive-bar bathroom graffiti that we found during a few of our boozy misadventures. We would then write the lyrics from the perspective of the person who left that mark. Shooting the music video was a breeze – our buddy Joey Durango is an incredibly talented videographer/director/editor, and all around cool dude! Also shout-out to the laundromat that let us use their spot to sing about “pissing our pants” for 9hrs. I believe you have toured with established bands like Unwritten Law, Palisades, Set Your Goals, among others. What lessons did you learn from watching them play their live shows that you’ve put back into your own sets? Correct! I think the perspective you gain when playing alongside acts of different sizes and styles is priceless. We have all been around the block and toured in various acts before so nothing massive comes to mind but I think the biggest thing is watching how these artists engage with the crowd. Obviously they rip their set and songs as we all expect but I think there are some golden nuggets that we have been fortunate to experience that we will adopt into our performance in one way or another.  I understand your new album will be coming out this May! Can you explain what fans of your band can expect to hear on the new LP? That is right! On May 17th The End Is What I Want will be released into the wild via Smartpunk Records. Our fans can expect not only another addition to our conceptual saga we have been cultivating the past few releases but also a brand new flavor of creativity and absurdity that we explored heavily on this record. Definitely go through and read the lyrics while listening…we did not hold back.  Your new record, The End Is What I Want, is a blast of punk rock energy paired with great storytelling. What are some reasons why new listeners should take a chance on the new album? What do you have to lose? Do you want to hear another song “about the girl”? Take a trip with us through the minds of those who find solace in scatological graffiti. I guarantee that no other band you are listening to is doing or saying what we are (probably for good reason lol) but regardless – if you want nostalgic skatepunk with a modern twist + clever and colorful lyrics delivered with the utmost anger and aggression then you’ve come to the right place! --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/features/interviews/suck-brick-kid/

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The Eyebrows

Recently I was able to catch up with Charlotte, North Carolina-based power pop band, The Eyebrows, to discuss their latest album called Double Take. The Eyebrows are singer-songwriter, producer, guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist Jay Garrigan, bassist and vocalist Darrin Gray, and drummer and multi-instrumentalist Shawn Lynch. In this interview, I asked the band about what went into the writing/recording process for Double Take, how they approach building out their setlists for tours, and much more. Double Take released on April 19th, and there are still a few physical options of the record at the band’s store here. Where did the album title of Double Take come from? What’s the significance of the title as it relates to these songs? On one hand, I feel that my life is the definition of a double take, which is a surprised, second look at a person or situation whose significance had not been completely grasped at first. I’ve often asked myself why this is. The title Double Take also describes the dual nature of our latest album, a direct result of an innovative approach to recording that Mitch Easter inspired. This album features each song in two distinct versions: one polished and produced by Mitch in the studio, capturing the rocktastic essence of our sound only in the way someone as talented and artistic as Mitch can, and another raw, vibrant version that I recorded & mixed myself in our practice space, echoing the mid-fi and lo-fi aesthetics of bands like early REM, GBV, and Suicide that I deeply admire. This approach not only showcases our versatility as an imaginative studio and visceral, live band, but also challenges listeners to reconsider our music through different sonic perspectives & palettes, highlighting how varied production styles can alter the perception of the same song. How did the process of recording this LP with Mitch Easter go? Any vivid memories from the studio sessions? As far as memories go, we were absolutely buzzing as The Baseball Project just finished tracking and mixing their latest album with Mitch right before we started to track our album. To be literally standing right where our heroes Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Scott McCaughey, Steve Wynn and Linda Pitmon were was awe-inspiring, and we hoped to catch a ride on a glimmer of their musical mojo. REM was very formative upon younger versions of myself and drummist Shawn Lynch. In the early 90s, Mike Mills once said he wanted to put his two cents into anything I do, and I stupidly lost his phone number. Maybe he will do a double take at some future time, haha. Also in this session, we got to use some really interesting gear, such as running a mix buss through a 60s EMI console – much like a console The Beatles would have used during the 60s. I believe Kurt Vile bought this console from Mitch recently. I know for a fact we were the last band to record on Mitch’s legendary main console before he let it go—a console that was used to mix the soundtrack of The NeverEnding Story. Reflecting on Double Take, where each song undergoes its own transformation across two sides, it feels apt to echo a line from the movie: ‘Nothing is lost…Everything is transformed.’ (shivers!) Recording with Mitch Easter at his studio is always a great time, and having detailed musical conversations comes naturally within the walls of the Fidelitorium. We can talk about things like… what kind of mic, amp, and reverb is needed to give this Hohner Pianet a period-specific, 60s sound? I love the energy of your band’s performance on the music video for “Say Yeah!”. Where was this video shot at, and how pleased are you with the final product? “Say Yeah!” was shot in the raw veins of our beloved Charlotte, NC in my backyard, a place as battered and beautiful as the tune itself. We filmed it right next to a very toxic, chemical-laden creek right across from – what I can only call – the apartment-ization and gentrification of my neighborhood and city. When we first moved here, we were surrounded by woods in… https://chorus.fm/features/interviews/the-eyebrows/

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Hot Chip’s Tiny Desk

Hot Chip performed for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series. --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/news/hot-chips-tiny-desk/

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Loveless – “I Love it When it Rains” Video

Loveless --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/news/loveless-i-love-it-when-it-rains-video/

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Taylor Swift ‘Tortured Poets’ Track-by Track

Taylor Swift has done a mini track-by-track breakdown of her new album for Amazon Music. --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/news/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-track-by-track/

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SeeYouSpaceCowboy – “Lubricant Like Kerosene” Video

SeeYouSpaceCowboy have released a video for their song “Lubricant Like Kerosene.” --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/news/seeyouspacecowboy-lubricant-like-kerosene-video/

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ManDancing – “Malachi”

ManDancing have released the new single “Malachi.” --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/news/mandancing-malachi/

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‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer

The trailer for Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine has debuted. --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/news/deadpool-wolverine-trailer/

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Anthony Green Announces New Album

Anthony Green will release Doom. Spun. On June 26th. Today he’s shared “Megadeth.” --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/news/anthony-green-announces-new-album/

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New Found Glory in the Studio?

Chad from New Found Glory posted on Instagram some photos of the band in the studio. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chad Gilbert (@xchadballx) --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/news/new-found-glory-in-the-studio/

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MEST – “When We Were Young” Video

Mest have shared a video for “When We Were Young.” --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/news/mest-when-we-were-young-video/

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Boozecruise Festival Controversy

There appears to be a controversy around one of the bigger punk festivals in Europe. --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/news/boozecruise-festival-controversy/

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St. Lucia – “Love You Better” Video

St. Lucia have shared a video for “Love You Better.” --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/news/st-lucia-love-you-better-video/

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Militarie Gun Release Documentary

Militarie Gun released a short documentary on recording of their recent EP Life Under the Sun. --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/news/militarie-gun-release-documentary/

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ERRA – “Slow Sour Bleed” Video

ERRA have released a video for “Slow Sour Bleed.” --- Please consider becoming a member so we can keep bringing you stories like this one. ◎ https://chorus.fm/news/erra-slow-sour-bleed-video/