The Alternative Tone

Red Bull Music Academy have uploaded the first episode of their new web series Hashtags . The first episode features interviews with How To Dress Well,   Miguel and others, and is discussing 'Alt RnB'. Watch it  here .

Next week  Waiting For Something To Happen,  Veronica Falls'  sophomore album, will be released in to the world. The album is now streaming ahead of release via Pitchfork Advance  here .  

Midwest emo awesomeness! Download Here RIYL: Midwest Pen Pals

Heavy post-hardcore from California. Download Here RIYL: Things Fall Apart

Emo-ey post-hardcore from New Jersey. Download Here RIYL: Midwest Pen Pals, screaming sadness

Name: Party Wound Records Location: Edinburgh, UK Founded: 2011 Current Roster: Manbearpig, Chapels, NO FUN, Old Gray, My Castle Your Castle, Shonen Bat, Albert Shakespeare, Summo, Wheelchair Wheelchair Wheelchair Wheelchair, I See A Giant, Lake Michigan, Bittermint, Betterment, My Life Swimming With Sharks, XharoldshitsmanX, Beware Wolf, Horrors That You've Seen, Gunfinger Contact Them: Facebook , Bandcamp . Tumblr How did Party Wound Records come about and what's the story so far? Party Wounds started just after I dropped out of uni at UWS when I was 18/19. My main goal was just to help a small Norwich band I really liked; Manbearpig after hearing of them from a forum post by Alfie from Maths who had recorded them, Since then I've put out small releases for bands such as, Manbearpig, Nai Harvest, Cavalcades, My Castle Your Castle and loads of others. As well as releasing bands I also run a digital distro where I promote free downloads for the bands to get some m

Just in case you missed them the first time, throughout the next week you get the chance the read the Glass Nail Records : Label Of 2013 interviews. First up: Arrows In Her .  Hello Arrows In Her! Hello Kelly! For the record, and the unluckily unacquainted, who is Arrows In Her and how did you get together? Arrows In Her is me (Damian),  I play guitar and sing, two of my childhood best friends, Edwin who plays bass and Roger who plays guitar and our good friend Harold, on drums and vocals. Us getting together is a bit of a long story, but me and Edwin played in a "serious" band when we were teenagers called Astrophel and Stella and Arrows In Her was a side thing that incorporated a shitty beat program trying to make experimental the sound of animals fighting-esque stuff, it really didn't work out that way. It wasn't a serious project and basically was left on Myspace, haha, and then after 2 bands that we didn't take all too seriously we were ki

Escapist Records and Pure Noise Records are pleased to announce that we will be co-releasing a new two-song 7”/Digital EP from Boston rock outfit Daybreaker . The EP serves as the follow-up to the band’s debut album,  The Northbound Trains EP , and split 7” with The American Scene, which saw releases through Pure Noise Records in 2011. The   EP, featuring original artwork by illustrator Dave Kloc, was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Jay Mass (Title Fight, Make Do And Mend, Transit) at Getaway Recording Group.  The 7” will be available on multiple color ways through Escapist Records (a digital download of both tracks is included) while Pure Noise Records will handle the digital distribution.  More details about the EP will be announced shortly; a late spring release is tentatively planned. You can stream the song “N.Y.E.” from the release online here:  http://escapistrecords.bandcamp.com

Unifier  (formerly Greensboro , NC ’s Future Ghosts)  have posted a new live video of “Parasite Lost” which was filmed at the Blind Tiger in Greensboro , NC . To check out the clip visit:  http://futureghostsmusic.com/check-out-parasite-lost-live-plus-an-announcement . The venue will also be the site for the band’s upcoming record release show on February 9. Anyone who pays to get into the show will get a free copy of the new LP  Colorado   (out Feb. 12 via Autumn + Colour and Round Kid Records.) Offering support will be Sugar Glyder, The Lake Isle, The Fair and The Foul. Upcoming shows: February 9- Greensboro, NC- Blind Tiger   (record release show) w/ Sugar Glyder, The Lake Isle , The Fair and the Foul February 15- Raleigh , NC- Pour House Music Hall w/ Nuclear Honey, Dash, Apples and Airplanes February 22- Charlotte , NC-   Tremont Music Hall w/ Tyler Brown

Modern Baseball have been signed to Run For Cover Records. Wahey!

Label Profile   Name: Enjoyment Records Location: UK Founded: 2011 Current Roster: Bonjour, Comity, Grazes, Hexis, History Of The Hawk, Invalids, Jackals, Minus Tree, Mrs Magician, Nai Harvest, NGOD, Reno Dakota, Saint Coltrane, The Hardest Season, The Prestige, This Gift Is A Curse, Trencher, Weird Wives Contact Them: Official Site , Facebook , Tumblr , Twitter , Bandcamp , YouTube How did Enjoyment Records come about and what's the story so far? The label only exists because the band Trencher let me put out their latest record. It felt like a silly thing to ask them as they’ve worked with major labels in the past but I was surprised when they e-mailed me back wanting to know what I had in mind. I’ve always been a fan of their music (collecting-every-release-on-as-many-formats-as-possible-fan) to be able to work with them as a first release for the label was an incredible thing. From there I decided I would make sure to release as many differen

Glass Nail Records'  Things Fall Apart are trying to raise money to buy a van. In order to do so, they've uploaded an EP as 'name your price'. It's awesome and heavy as hell. Don't miss out. Download Here RIYL: Really heavy emo, Hoover

Label Profile Name: Siste Sukk Records And Tapes Location:  Oslo, Norway  Founded: 2012 Current Roster: Montpelier, Caust, Choirs, Lord Snow, REDD, Youth Pictures Of Florence Henderson, Oswald, iampsyencefiction Contact Them:  Facebook ,  Official Site ,  Tumblr How did Siste Sukk Records And Tapes come about and what's the story so far? Siste Sukk (Norwegian for "last sigh") came about in February of 2012, and it was a really spur of the moment thing. I used to be involved in a label that my friend started, but releasing vinyl is just such an financial suicide that means that when you are a small operation you can only release stuff fairly seldom. I love the cassette format, first of all because it looks damn sexy, but also because it's not rather inexpensive and quick to produce. In a little under a year I've done 8 releases, which has been loads of fun. What are your plans for the label in 2013? 2.

Emo/post-hardcore compilation from Turn Of The Century Records feat. Droughts, whenskiesaregray and many more. Download Here RIYL:  Droughts, William Bonney and whatnot.

Midwest emo split. Download Here RIYL: Merchant Ships, midwest emo, Madeliene

Spasmodic indie rock from Washington State. Download Here RIYL: Built To Spill

The Winter Passing have released their debut single "Gold Blend Part 1" from their upcoming Scrapbook EP. Watch the video below! You can also download the track for free here .

Rock from Dublin Download Here RIYL:  The Gaslight Anthem, Counting Crows

The Flaming Lips have announced details of their thirteenth studio album. The album, titled The Terror  is out April 1 through Bella Union. Check out the artwork below.

Good old fashioned indie pop revivalists Beach Fossils are releasing Clash The Truth in the coming weeks and "Generation Synthetic" is a jangly, catchy, riff driven early slice from the record. Sounds a little like Real Estate, if Real Estate were a little less in love with life.

You can stream, and download for free, "Dropla", the first single from Youth Lagoon 's upcoming album Wondrous Bughouse below.

Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona has announced its 2013 line up. And by jove, it's a line up.

Alessi's Ark has announced her third album The Still Life, out April 15 through Bella Union. Track Listing 01 - Tin Smithing 02 - Veins Are Blue 03 - The Rain 04 - The Good Song 05 - Big Dipper 06 - Afraid Of Everyone 07 - Those Waves 08 - Whatever Makes You Happy 09 - Sans Balance 10 - Mountain 11 - Hands In The Sink 12 - Money 13 - Pinewoods Hear the first single "The Rain" below.

You can stream Veronica Falls' new single "Buried Alive"  here . The track is from their upcoming release Waiting For Something To Happen , out February 4.  In other news, the band have just announced another headline London show, after their upcoming sold out gig at Shoreditch Church in February.    Dates:  February Wednesday 6th February - Rough Trade East Instore, LONDON Friday 8th February - Shoreditch Church, LONDON (sold out) Thursday 14th February - Norwich Arts Centre, NORWICH Friday 15th February - Brudenell Social Club, LEEDS Monday 25th February - Harley, SHEFFIELD Tuesday 26th February - CAA, GLASGOW Wednesday 27th February - Cluny, NEWCASTLE April Wednesday 17th April – Kazimer, LIVERPOOL Thursday 18th April – Whealans, DUBLIN Friday 19th April – Voodoo, DUBLIN  Saturday 20th April – Deaf Institute, MANCHESTER Tuesday 23th April - Islington Assembly Hall, LONDON ( tickets )

Caravels  have revealed the album title and release date for their forthcoming LP.  Lacuna  will be issued on March 26 via Boston ’s Topshelf Records.

Scuzzy surf pop from the UK. Download Here RIYL: a buzzy Real Estate,

Paramore are streaming "Now".. um.. now. You can buy it digitally from midnight tonight.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Give Up , the wonderful sole The Postal Service album the band are re-releasing it on April 9th with a second disc of awesomeness.  Tracklisting: Disc 1 (Original Album): The District Sleeps Alone Tonight Such Great Heights Sleeping In Nothing Better Recycled Air Clark Gable We Will Become Silhouettes This Place Is a Prison Brand New Colony Natural Anthem Disc 2 (New Tracks, Rarities, B-Sides, Remixes, Cover Versions, etc.): Turn Around A Tattered Line of String Be Still My Heart There's Never Enough Time Suddenly Everything Has Changed Against All Odds (Take a Look At Me Now) Grow Old With Me Such Great Heights (John Tejada Remix) The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (DJ Downfall Persistent Beat Mix) Be Still My Heart (Nobody Remix) We Will Become Silhouettes (Matthew Dear Remix) Nothing Better (Styrofoam Remix) Recycled Air (Live on KEXP) We Will Become Silhouettes (Performed by The Shins) Such Great Heights (Performed by Iron and Wine)

With his London album launch show at Heaven having long since sold-out, JOHN GRANT has just announced news of a second London headline date at Shepherd's Bush Empire in May. Upcoming live info below… Wednesday 13 March – LONDON – Heaven **(SOLD-OUT!)** Wednesday 15 May – LONDON – Shepherd's Bush Empire (£20)  Tickets for Shepherd's Bush Empire go on-sale on Friday morning. A full UK tour is currently being scheduled and will be announced soon.

Esben The Witch have released their second album Wash The Sins Not Only The Face. See European tour dates below. Tue 22 Jan  London  Rough Trade East (7pm) Thu 07 Feb  Birmingham  Hare & Hounds Fri 08 Feb  Glasgow School Of Art Sat 09 Feb  Manchester Bunker Fri 15 Feb Brussels  Botanique Sat 16 Feb  Munster  Gleiss 22 Sun 17 Feb  Hamburg  Knust Mon 18 Feb  Berlin Bi Nuu Wed 20 Feb  Munich 59to1 Thu 21 Feb  ZurichRote Fabrik Fri 22 Feb Cologne  Gebaude 9 Sat 23 Feb Utrecht  Tivoli Oudegracht Spiegelbar Sun 24 Feb  Paris Point Ephemere Tue 26 Feb  London Scala

 Melodic emo from Lincoln Download Here RIYL: Midwest Pen Pals

Emo goes acoustic Download Here RIYL: Canadian Wedding

Pop rock from Scotland Download Here RIYL: Young Guns

If you take a look around the site for a long enough, you'll encounter some type of emo/scramz/twinkle daddy band. So, The Alternative Tone has decided to devote some time on focusing on this particular scene, by interviewing and promoting both the bands and labels that bring this wonderful music to you. First label up; I.Corrupt.Records   Label Profile Name : I.Corrupt.Records Location : Wiesbaden, Germany Founded : 2009 Current Roster :  Actress, Animal Faces, Brighter Arrows, Cassilis, East Of The Wall, Kokomo, Locktender, Men As Trees, Radare, Revival Hymns, Sarg, Single State Of Man Contact Them :  Official Site ,  Bandcamp ,  Facebook How did I.Corrupt.Records come about and what's the story so far? In 2007 I have promoted local show in my hometown (Wiesbaden, Germany), then after some time I became anxious for more, for being more active in the scene. In 2008 I got to know the band Men As Trees and I asked them to tour Europe and if I could book