Code Orange Kids To Release 4-Way Split w/ Tigers Jaw, End Of A Year, The World Is A Beautiful Place

Code Orange Kids have revealed in our upcoming interview they will appear on a four-way split alongside Tigers Jaw, End Of A Year and The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die which will be released next year through Run For Cover and Topshelf Records.

You can read an excerpt from the interview by clicking read more.

ATP! Exclusive Stream: Slingshot Dakota - "Disaster"

Today we couldn't be more proud to be premiering a brand new song from our favorite Pennsylvania indie/punk duo, Slingshot Dakota!

The track "Disaster" is taken from the band's upcoming new album "Dark Hearts", which is set to be released on November 6th through Topshelf Records.

Pre-orders for "Dark Hearts" can be found here and make sure to check out the band's upcoming tour dates by clicking read more.

ATP! Album Review: Prawn - Ships

At the moment, Prawn are an in-between band. In-between a UK/European tour that ended late last month and the band’s upcoming East Coast/Midwest tour, the band are releasing “Ships,” which is something between an EP and an LP depending on how you define a six-track record. And most importantly, the new album has found a comfortable medium in-between obvious outside influences and Prawn’s own innovations in sound.

After a dreamy intro with distorted voice samples on “Costa Rica,” Prawn fold out “Grass and Bones,” where innocent lyrics reflecting on a breakup (“Will you remember those late night walks? Will you recognize me in 20 years?”) tactfully avoid the distractions of rhyme and strict form, letting the guitar pairing take on the responsibility. The most immediate intro on the album is with “Donald Domesky” (for which the band just released a video), whose mesmerizing simplicity of repetition and counterpoint between two guitars is broken by this amazing little moment of light-shaken cymbals and handclaps.

“Spring River” adds another “in-between” moment for Prawn as the most dual-sided track on the record; vocals are at points androgynous – certain lines could either be singer/guitarist Tony Clark’s high notes just as easily as they could be the female guest vocalist on the track – and the song splits when its triple meter turns to duple. “Praxis” has similar gender-mixing vocals that eventually ditch the lyrics and take over with gentle chanting alongside some poignant percussion.

Rounding off the record is “Two Ships,” which has some of the most blatant Explosions in the Sky influence. Those characteristically frantic riffs and a time change are rounded out, however, by the band’s subtleties on this track, like a brief bass solo or the echo of a finger sliding down the fret.

Clark has on more than one occasion credited Explosions as a major influence on his work, a connection especially heard on Prawn’s last release “You Can Just Leave It All.” While “Ships” stays within the community of bands like Snowing and label-mates CSTVT, a sometimes overbearing need to compare to Explosions on previous albums has this time been replaced by a calmer use of Prawn’s musical guides. We still get that guitar-lead layering of sound typical of the style, but now Prawn are beautifully in-between being defined by the genre, and becoming one of its definers.

4/5

“Ships” is out now through Topshelf Records.

Carolyn Vallejo

No Sleep + Topshelf Records To Release 20-Track Compilation Album

No Sleep and Topshelf Records will release a 20-song compilation featuring rare songs from the labels' roster. The album will be available in select Hot Topic stores on May 22nd.

Inside every compilation is a code for a bonus 50 song digital download for free and a chance to score a golden ticket, which could win you such extravagant prizes as a No Sleep or Topshelf 2012 Vinyl Subscription, label merch, etc.

Moving Mountains "Foreword" EP To Be Repressed On Vinyl For Record Store Day

Moving Mountains' "Foreword" EP will be repressed on vinyl by Topshelf Records.

The repress will be released on Record Store Day (Saturday, April 21, 2012).

Pianos Become The Teeth Announce New Album

Pianos Become The Teeth have announced they will release their new album, 'The Lack Long After' on November 1st through Topshelf Records.

You Blew It! Join Topshelf Records

Topshelf Records have signed Orlando, FL's You Blew It!

Details on their label debut are yet to be announced.

Topshelf Records Signs A Great Pile Of Leaves

A Great Big Pile of Leaves have signed to Topshelf Records.

The band will release a live EP as well as a new studio EP (featuring new and re-recorded songs) later this year.

Studio Blog: Pianos Become The Teeth (Part One)

"Drums tones are finished, sound killer. Everything is being recorded to tape. We are stoked and we start tracking 12 PM today after we buy David a hair band."

Free Topshelf Records Sampler

Topshelf Records have released a free sampler featuring tracks from A Great Big Pile Of Leaves, Bars Of Gold, Defeater, Moving Mountains, and Touche Amore along with tracks from Big Scary Monsters Records, Count Your Lucky Stars Records, No Sleep Records, Run For Cover Records, and Tiny Engines Records artists.

The 68 track sampler can be downloaded here.

We Were Skeletons Announce US Tour w/ The Caution Children

We Were Skeletons have announced a US tour with support from The Caution Children.

Full dates can be viewed by clicking read more.

Midweek News Round Up (26/6/11)

Today we're launching two news features, 'Midweek News Round Up' and 'Weekend News Round Up', which showcase the latest updates from some of the best new up and coming bands.

Today's round up includes news from The Grace and Death of Us, Goodluck Jonathan, Lost Boys, Arcane Roots and more.

Into It. Over It. Announces 'Twelve Towns' Pre-Order Details

Into It. Over It. has announced details of the forthcoming 'Twelve Towns' CD/LP release.

The release includes a previously unreleased song, 'Twelve Towns CD/LP' with the LP and digital release including five bonus tracks from a Nervous Energies session, that was recorded earlier this year.

The first pressing of vinyl will be limited to 1,000 split between 100 Black, 200 Cream, 350 Clear, and 350 Gold. All pre-orders will come with an immediate download of the acoustic version of 'Augusta, GA' while the rest of the album will be released on August 9th.

1.) Nashville, TN
2.) Orlando, FL
3.) Brenham, TX
4.) Cambridge, MA
5.) Summerville, SC
6.) Westmont, NJ
7.) Augusta, GA
8.) Buffalo, NY
9.) Billings, MT
10.) Portland, OR
11.) Washington, DC
12.) Pontiac, MI
13.) Brenham, TX *Digital/Vinyl Bonus
14.) Pontiac, MI *Digital/Vinyl Bonus
15.) Billings, MT *Digital/Vinyl Bonus
16.) Augusta, GAI *Digital/Vinyl Bonus
17.) Portland, OR *Digital/Vinyl Bonus

Pre-Orders can be made through Topshelf Records.

Prawn Sign To Topshelf Records

Topshelf Records have signed Prawn and will release their album, 'You Can Just Leave It All' on vinyl later this year.

The album is currently available on Bandcamp.

A list of forthcoming tour dates, can be viewed by clicking read more.

Album Review: Lion Cub - American Buffalo

What started off as a small-time project between friends in Massachusetts, Lion Cub currently stand strong with a debut EP and one full-length release. Now, songwriter Chad Jewett returns with fellow band members Chelsey Hahn, Trevor Johnson and Tom Diaz to release Lion Cub’s sophomore LP, ‘American Buffalo’.

The title track ‘American Buffalo’ opens this 13 track album. A soft intro of strings and Xylophone lead you into a pacey indie track that really shows the band in a positive light. If you were sceptical to begin with, any doubts are cast aside almost immediately!

Into It. Over It. Announces 'Twelve Towns' Release

Into It. Over It. (Evan Weiss) have announced they will release, 'Twelve Towns', on August 9th through Topshelf Records.

The release compiles tracks from Weiss' various splits with Such Gold, Everyone Everywhere, CSVT, Pswingset, Empire! Empire! (I Was A Lonely Estate), Bob Nanna and Lauren Lo. Also included is a download of five live tracks from a recent Nervous Energies session.

Into It. Over It. will begin recording their album with producer Ed Rose on June 25th. A late 2011 release through No Sleep Records is expected.

ATP! Label Profile: Topshelf Records

Formed in Massachusetts by Seth Decoteau and Kevin Duquette in 2006, Topshelf Records have gone to firmly established itself in the underground alternative scene, with its back cataog including releases from Grown Ups, You Me and Everyone We Know, Talons, Into It. Over It., Pianos Become The Teeth, The Saddest Landscape and more.

Interview with Seth Decoteau.

Year founded: 2006

First Release: Sixfinger - 'Songs For The Escape Artist'

Latest Releases: Pianos Become The Teeth/The Saddest Landscape -Split EP;
Big Kids - 'Don't Be A Baby'
You, Me, and Everyone We Know - 'Things Are Really Weird Right Now'

5 Essential Releases: Pianos Become The Teeth - 'Old Pride'
Grown Ups - 'More Songs'
Stand Up Get Down - 'We Have Something To Celebrate'
Rooftops - 'A Forest Of Polarity
Big Kids - 'Hoop Dreams'

The Clippers Announce 7" EP Release Through Topshelf Records

The Clippers will release their 'An Evening With...' EP on 7" vinyl through Topshelf Records.

The 7 inch will have a first pressing of 500 and will be split between 100 Orange/Yellow (Halves), 125 White, and 275 Green/Black records.

Pre-order 'An Evening With...' here.

The EP can be streamed here.

Topshelf Records Announce Mitch Dubey Benefit Compilation

Topshelf Records have announced they will be releasing a benefit compilation to label friend, member of Swear Jar, and long time music enthusiast Mitch Dubey, who was tragically murdered in his New Haven, CT home in March of this year.

The compilation is called 'Fuck Off All Nerds: A Benefit Comp for Mitch Dubey‏' and will feature live tracks recorded during My Heart To Joy’s final gig on May 14, 2011 from The Book Slave, Slingshot Dakota, Into It. Over It., Algernon Cadwallader, Snowing, Hostage Calm, Jettison and My Heart To Joy’s final set.

Topshelf Records has planned a one time pressing of 500 12 inch records with all proceeds going to the Dubey family. 125 each on black, yellow, purple and light pink.

Pre-orders can be made here.

You can still make a donation to the Dubey family via paypal to Lauren.Dubey@gmail.com

run,WALK! and Sirs Split Release Announced

run,WALK! and Sirs will be releasing a split together in late summer/early fall.

The release will be through Topshelf Records and Holy Roar Records.