Driven Far Off

The latest on the indie, alternative, and rock music scene including news, music, contest, interviews, and more. Best described as your favorite place to find new bands.

Archives for 2007

Saves The Day Studio Update

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Saves the Day have entered the studio to begin work on their next record Under the Boards, out this fall on Vagrant Records. With 13 songs being prepared and co-produced by the band Under the Boards follows the a story of self-discovery that began with 2006’s Sound the Alarm and will continue and conclude next year with Daybreak.

Frontman Chris Conley states “Sound the Alarm is an expression of discontent. Under the Boards is reflection and remorse. Daybreak is acceptance.

The band will be posting video clips from the studio in the upcoming weeks, so keep checking back. Saves the Day expect to finish recording by the end of July and expect the album to be released early this fall.

Staff Recommendations June 17th 2007

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Tyler Hayes
Switchfoot: “Oh Gravity” will be one of my favorites of 2007 even though it technically came out in 2006 (by a few days)

Bryce Jacobson
Take a listen to Motion City Soundtrack‘s back catalogue as they prepare to release their new single next week.

Also if you have some extra cash on hand this week pick up The International Drive‘s new album, Finish What You Started, out this Tuesday.

Adam Weidman
Give Weatherbox and their new record American Art a spin.

Strung Out – Blackhawks Over Los Angeles

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Strung Out

Artist: Stung Out
Album: Blackhawks Over Los Angeles
Label: Fat Wreck Chords
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: June 12, 2007

Overall: 8.0
Music: 7.0
Lyrics: 8.0
Production: 9.0

The wait for new Strung Out material is over! Strung Out is back with their seventh full-length album Blackhawks Over Los Angeles. They return with a more focused and driven approach to their songwriting, melding punk with melodic hardcore. It’s not a significant change from their earlier material, so fans won’t be disappointed. However, I’m a Strung Out fan and while I was listening to Blackhawks Over Los Angeles and it got to the fifth, sixth, seventh track etc. I was soon wishing they had changed things up. They are prolific almost to a fault. Although the band has grown over the years, they really haven’t progressed much musically or lyrically. I’m fine with that though. Maybe its nostalgia and the familiar predictability I know I can expect from Strung Out, but they will always have a place in my music collection.

The opening track “Calling” starts with a western melody that then turns into melodic punk-hardcore sound that has a similar flow as “Downtown”. The lyrics behind the songs are strong and flow well with Jason’s vocals. From those two songs and as well as the other songs on the CD are written on the subject of war, not necessarily what’s going on but the people that are caught in the middle of it all. Songs like “Letter Home” tells the story of a soldier writing to his family not knowing what might be the outcome for him and coming to a realization of what were his reasons for going to war. Although some songs touch on the subject of war, Blackhawks Over Los Angeles has a catchy pop-based song like “All The Nations” and their titled-track “Blackhawks Over Los Angeles” along with “Mission Statement” has that familiar sound that is Strung Out.

Their seventh full-length record is one that their fans will like and new ones will enjoy. From their opener “Calling” to the heartfelt personal song “Letter Home” about a soldier Strung Out has managed to keep their influence of punk, hardcore, and metal alive on Blackhawks Over Los Angeles.

Track Listing
1. Calling
2.Blackhawks Over Los Angeles
3. Party In The Hills
4.All the Nations
5. A War Called Home
6. Letter Home
7. Orchid
8. Dirty Little Secret
9. Downtown
10. The King Has Left The Building
11. Mission Statement
12. Diver

Lovedrug Gear Stolen

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Lovedrug had their van and trailer stolen while staying at a Motel 6 in Southgate, MI this past Friday. If you have any information on the situation, thee band is asking that anyone contact Molly at Bradstreet Entertainment.

Molly @ Bradstreet Entertainment: 607-331-9374 or molly at bradstreetentertainment dot com

Motel 6
18777 Northline
Southgate, MI 48195

Lovedrug Van:

Green Ford E-350 Club Wagon 15 passenger
Vin # 1FBSS31S65HB27675

Lovedrug Trailer:

Black United Expressline Trailer
Ohio License #TNE4861

Hearts Bleed Passion Vol. 2

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Indie Vision Music will release “Hearts Bleed Passion Vol. 2” on 07.07.07. This is an all unsigned/independent band compilation with contributions from artists all over the country and beyond.

Hearts Bleed Passion Vol. 2
Tracklisting:

1. Olivia “Feelings
2. Sophia “Mocking Birds After The Picture Show”
3. Take It Back “Lights In This Town”
4. Avery Pkwy “Sleep Now”
5. Someday “The Sink Is Here Cause I Got Problems”
6. Thyne Scabbard “Call of God”
7. Kings to You “Strike Back”
8. All But Screaming “Wide Eyed”
9. Quick and the Dead “Nothing Changes”
10. Spacepilot “Without Stitch”
11. Abandon Kansas “Minutes”
12. Stand The Gaff “Frankly My Dear”
13. One Star Story “Near To Far”
14. Death Is Not Welcome Here “Facing Today”
15. Newvale “Summer’s Gone”
16. Fixed Til Tuesday “Heaven Knocking, Hell Rising”
17. The Distance Between “Building Bridges”
18. The Relay “Back Seat Driver Sara”
19. Ashcroft “Behind the Bruised”
20. The Trade “White Noise”

Check out: www.myspace.com/heartsbleedpassion to hear clips of 5 songs.

Matchbook Romance on Guitar Hero III

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Matchbook Romance‘s “Monsters”, will be included in the upcoming game Guitar Hero III. The game is due out this fall, check out more of the lineup below.

“Cherub Rock” by Smashing Pumpkins *
“Cult of Personality” by Living Colour
“Even Flow” by Pearl Jam
“Knights of Cydonia” by Muse
“The Metal” by Tenacious D
“My Name Is Jonas” by Weezer *
“Paint It, Black” by The Rolling Stones
“Rock and Roll All Nite” by Kiss
“Sabotage” by Beastie Boys *
“School’s Out” by Alice Cooper
“Slow Ride” by Foghat

In Addition, bands confirmed to be contributing to the game include:

Queens of the Stone Age and Velvet Revolver.