Amazon Music now offers podcasts. The company issued an update today that brings more than 70,000 shows to the platform, including some major titles, like Serial and Pod Save America, as well as new exclusive deals like a show with DJ Khaled called The First One, where he’ll interview artists about their breakthrough hits and the stories behind them. Disgraceland, a popular show from iHeartMedia, will also become exclusive to the platform starting in February 2021.
Action Bronson has shared the new song “Mongolia.”
Read More “Action Bronson – “Mongolia””
Tom DeLonge talked with The Guardian about UFOs and other stuff:
DeLonge comes across as 99% enthusiast/expert and 1% eccentric. He can’t answer some of my questions (“What’s the most convincing piece of evidence you’ve seen as to the existence of aliens?”) due to “national security issues”. But he clearly knows something, or thinks he knows something. But what level of government cover-up are we talking about? Are aliens (2-1 to him by now) really living among us like in Men in Black?
“No, not at all,” says DeLonge. “It’s not conspiratorial. Anybody can go on to the CIA website and read thousands of reports. There’s just a vacuum of conversation. Our government has had decades of the very difficult burden of dealing with something that is extremely advanced but poorly understood. They need time to dig into this, to understand it, to gather data and analyse it.”
And:
So if national security wasn’t an issue, could DeLonge tell me stuff that would make my hair stand on end? “Yes. I thought I knew most of the unnerving parts, then I was briefed on something and I didn’t sleep for three nights. I think what’s going to come is a greater understanding of who we are and where we need to go. And that excites me, because I do believe something beautiful can come from something so unnerving.”
So aliens are real? (He wins 3-1.) “Things were written in text thousands of years ago, like hearing voices in your head, a burning bush that was talking. The ancient texts may have called it God, but I’m just saying it’s not that simple. The star of Bethlehem – was that a star or a craft? Because a star is really big. It wouldn’t be hovering over a manger.”
👽 Exist.
Saves the Day’s Chris Conley, Say Anything’s Max Bemis, and Sparta’s Jim Ward are doing a livestream together on September 30th. Tickets are now available.
PUP will release a new EP, This Place Sucks Ass, on October 23rd. The EP will contain the new song “Rot” and the full track listing can be found below. Pre-orders are now up. The band has also announced a new livestream and tickets are on sale now.
Read More “PUP Announce New EP”
The Beatles have announced a new book, The Beatles: Get Back, that will be released along with Peter Jackson’s upcoming documentary of the same name. Pre-orders are now up.
Read More “The Beatles Announce New Book”
The Menzingers will be doing a livestream on October 10 at 6pm PT. Tickets and merch bundles are now available.
Last week’s article in this series felt like a turning point. 2001 was the year I left home, went off to college, experienced 9/11, and turned AbsolutePunk into a website about more than just two bands. And now, looking at 2002, the years start to blend into a period that’s less defined by where I was in school. Previously, each year correlated well with each grade of school, but now in college, things are more mixed. 2002 is roughly sophomore year of college, but there are parts of it anchored to the surrounding grades as well. This leads to my memory being slightly blurred when trying to pull what exactly happened when together; however, one thing is crystal clear. 2002 is a year when pop-punk and our scene absolutely exploded1 in popularity.
It’s 2002. I’m 19. I’m now in my second year in sunny southern California, and I am playing a part in all its stereotypes. Bleached blonde tips, puka shells, hoop earrings, Atticus, Rip Curl, and Macbeth clothing pouring off me like surfer wannabe syrup. I’ve been indoctrinated into the slang. I now know it’s “soda” and not “pop.” The previous summer back home was one of the most interesting in my life. Everyone coming back from their first year of college and meeting up, almost itching to show off the changes. The shy kids who are now the life of the party. The previously unpopular groups are bursting with confidence after a year away from the chains of high school labels. The roles and friendships rekindled. And everyone wants to share their drinking/smoking weed stories. Everyone has become a mini-mixologist in their first year away and is dying to tell you about it. It’s glorious; it’s hilarious; it’s summer.
And now, as I start the new school year, I feel like I’m settling into college life. My college roommate and I install an air conditioning unit in our dorm room that is so old it looks like it’s part of the building. While everyone else gets in trouble for their new, modern units, we go unnoticed and spend the year with the only air-conditioned room in the entire hall. I also discover that the cable TV that runs through the dorm (that we’re supposed to pay for) is simply a box in the ceiling that you can just plug right in if you have the right cables and adapters. So we do. And we now have free cable. It’s a year of immaturity, hijinks, and tales that we re-tell time and time again while laughing at the absurdity of our youth. I honestly can’t believe some of the stuff we got away with. And around us, there’s a pop-punk utopia blossoming. Not that far away, Drive-Thru Records is pumping out the height of their catalog (teamed with MCA Records). [deep breath] The Starting Line release their debut album, Midtown release Living Well is the Best Revenge, New Found Glory release Sticks & Stones, Home Grown release Kings of Pop, Allister releases Last Stop, Suburbia, Something Corporate drops Leaving Through the Window, Finch releases What it is to Burn, and The Early November release their EPs. [exhale]
Holy. Shit.
And that’s just the stuff related to that label.
Read More “My Nostalgia – 2002”dot net↩
Sick of It All have released a new quarantine session video for “Alone.”
Read More “Sick of It All – “Alone” Video”
Hundredth have shared the new song “Somewhere Nowhere.”
Read More “Hundredth – “Somewhere Nowhere””
Good Terms have shared a video for “Wither Away.”
Read More “Good Terms – “Wither Away” Video”
A GoFundMe has been launched for Naked Raygun bassist Pierre Kezdy:
For the past five years, Pierre has battled numerous medical issues, including multiple forms of cancer, which left Pierre unable to work. His family (wife Heather and 4 kids ages 12, 16, 18, and 20) has struggled to keep up with the escalating medical costs. Anyone who knows Pierre personally knows he is a gentle, compassionate, courageous, and generous person. He has always shared the best of himself with friends, family, and fans, now it is our time to reciprocate.
Rise Against have shared the new song “Broken Dreams, Inc.” The song is from the soundtrack for DC’s new Batman comic-book series Dark Nights: Death Metal.
Read More “Rise Against – “Broken Dreams, Inc.””
Jeff Rosenstock has released four new songs on Bandcamp.
Read More “Jeff Rosenstock Releases Four New Songs”Yoooooo I have been recording stuff at home and I’m going to continue to post it here. Hope ya like it.
Please do not feel obliged to spend money on this music. I do not intend for it to be monetized. Any money that comes in through Bandcamp for these songs will be donated to charitable causes, but less money will get taken out if you just do that directly on your own – which I encourage you to do if you can afford it. And if not, it’s cool.
Will Butler has returned with a video for “Bethlehem.”
Read More “Will Butler – “Bethlehem” Video”