On Our Stereo: Jawbreaker - Dear You

After long overdue wait, our 'On Our Stereo' feature makes a welcomed return. For those who are unfamilliar with the concept, 'On Our Stereo' highlights a record; past or present, that we feel is recommended listening. This week, as ATP! Co-Editor Sean Reid takes a retrospective look at Jawbreaker's 'Dear You'.

Released in September 1995 in a time where alternative music was going through a transformation. "Grunge" had died along with Nirvana's Kurt Cobain and the likes of Green Day and The Offspring were taking their brand of punk to the mainstream. In the years prior to 1995, Jawbreaker; a three piece made up of Adam Pfahler, Blake Schwarzenbach and Chris Bauermeister, based out of San Francisco, has been established themselves as hard working DIY punk band.

'Best Of 2009' List

A bit late to put up, but better late then never!

Here are our picks for the ATP! 'Best Of 2009' list:

Jon Ableson - ATP! Owner/Editor

Best Album:
Tegan and Sara - 'Sainthood'

Best Single:
Manchester Orchestra - 'I've Got Friends'

Best Music Video:
mewithoutYou - 'the Fox, The Crow and the Cookie'

Alter The Press! Interview with FuckYoScene

Alter The Press's very own Jon Ableson and Sean Reid were recently interviewed by fellow webzine, FuckYoScene.

Read the interview here.

Interview: Four Year Strong

With weeks before the bands UK return, Sean asked Four Year Strong's Josh Lyford a few questions about the making of the bands 90's cover record, 'Explains It All', bands upcoming appearance on the Eastpak Tour with Alexisonfire, Anti-Flag and The Ghost of A Thousand and more.

ATP: Who are you and what is your role in Four Year Strong?
Josh: My names Josh Lyford and I play keys and toy with vocals in Four Year Strong.

ATP: You recently released 'Explains It All'. What was the motive behind doing a 90's cover album?
J: We had toyed with the idea for as far back as I can remember, but somewhere along the way we decided to do it for real, we had a few weeks off between tours and said, lets stop talking about this and just do it.

ATP: Would you agree that it’s a harmless record that doesn’t need to be taken too seriously?
J: I think most records are probably pretty harmless, our next full length may come packaged with a pipe bomb to ensure maximum violence. But in all honesty, I think people who got really worked up over us doing a cover record didn't understand that the point was just to make a fun record, something people could pick up and get into right away because you knew the songs, it wasn't a totally nefarious scheme, it was all about making something fun. Live and learn though oh well haha.

ATP: How did you go about picking songs to cover? Were there any songs you definitely wanted to cover?
J: We had a list about one hundred miles long going into this, originally
we would just all spout off any songs we were into, then eventually we all made individual lists of songs to cover, and we went from there. I would say there were at least 200 songs that were mentioned that we didn’t cover.

ATP: Did you attempt to cover any songs but just didn't work?
J: Metallica, we tried something off 'Load', maybe 'King Nothing'? but we
couldn't get it to sound like anything other than a ridiculously nu-metal song so we scrapped that.

ATP: How would you explain the process of taking someone else’s work and making it your own?
J: Well, like a thief in the night, we stole the master recordings from the original band, and then through the use of high tech printing equipment acquired from a destabilized South African government, we made a 100 percent forgery.

ATP: Do you think the album is a good way for younger fans to be introduced to bands like Everclear, Del Amitri and Nine Days?
J: I hope so, a lot of these bands, people may not know it, but they were the building blocks to what’s going on now in a lot of ways. These are the roots of modern day music, just like we wanted to include 'Reach The Sky' on the CD, without RTS, their wouldn't be a lot of this new movement of hardcore combined with pop punk. If you look at bands like that, and Kid Dynamite and Lifetime, the list goes on, but theirs a lot of history out there that I think more people need to be familiar with.

ATP: You're heading back to the UK later this year with Alexisonfire, Anti-Flag and The Ghost of A Thousand. What can we expect from these shows?
J: Hopefully these shows are a blast, a few of our friends bands have toured with all the bands on this tour and say that everyone’s really cool and this should be a lot of fun. I'm definitely looking forward to it.

ATP: Any chance we will be hearing new material on the tour?
J: There’s a very good chance actually, I don't want to say 100 percent, but I'd say there’s a pretty good chance.

ATP: Do you have any stories to tell from past experiences in the UK?
J: The UK fucking rules, every time we're there the shows are totally insane, and I can’t wait to have even crazier ones! Everybody come out and hang, it will be rad to see everyone!

ATP: Have you got anything else to say?
J: Grip it and rip it.

Four Year Strong's new album, 'Explains It All' is available now through Hassle Records (UK)/I Surrender/Decaydance (US).

UK Eastpack Antidote Tour Dates (with Alexisonfire, Anti-Flag and The Ghost of A Thousand)

October
07 Cambridge Junction
08 Norwich UEA
09 Oxford Academy
10 Nottingham Rock City
11 Bristol Anson Rooms
13 Brighton Concorde 2
14 London HMV Forum
16 Glasgow ABC
17 Leeds University
18 Manchester Academy
20 Birmingham Academy
21 Portsmouth Pyramids

Sean Reid

Promotion: Anagram Promotions

Hey Sean here. Just a quick word to promote a small gig promotion company I've started with my friend Aaron.

Anagram Promotions is based in Newark, Nottinghamshire and are currently looking for bands to play in Newark at the end of April. We would prefer pop-punk bands but we're open to have anyone play.

For more details contact anagram.promotions@googlemail.com or visit www.myspace.com/anagrampromotions.

ATP'S ROTY: #1 Valencia - We All Need A Reason To Believe

So this is it, my Number 1 Record of the Year. The Record in question is Valencia's 2nd and their Columbia debut, "We All Need A Reason To Believe".

At the start of the year I knew very little about the Pennsylvania 5-piece, except that the band were working on the follow-up to "This Could Be A Possibility", an album that was released three years ago and one I had never really listen to. I even didn't take much notice of the bands performance at this year's Slam Dunk Festival.

Therefore "We All Need A Reason To Believe" is an album that made me stand up and pay attention to the band. Some may think "they're just another Pop-Punk band". However this record shows the band are more than that, with songs such as "Carry On" and "The Good Life" showing mature song-writing, whilst album highlights "Holiday" and "Where Did You Go?", sees the band keeping their Pop-Punk sensibilities but with strong song-writing.

"We All Need A Reason To Believe" is an album that dosn't break any boundaries but it's impressive, well-written, simple and addictive.

Read our review of "We All Need A Reason To Believe" here.

ATP'S ROTY: #2 Algernon Cadwallader - Some Kind of Cadwallader

At Number 2 in my countdown of my Records of the Year is West Philadelphia band Algernon Cadwallader, with their debut full-length "Some Kind of Cadwallader".

A energetic record with a mixture of sweet melodies and raw emotion. The 3-piece have created 10 songs with complex guitar parts; which at times can be calming and at times hectic. The instrumentation on this album is superb and allow the lyrics to take a back seat, as the bands loose and casual playing, leads to giving each song it's own identity with highlights including "Katie's Conscience", "Some Kind of Cadwallader" and "Serial Killer Status".

Whilst it has been heavily noted that the band sound too much like Midwest 90's emo band. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as in day and age the world needs a band like Algernon Cadwallader.

Bassist and Vocalist Peter recently spoke to Alter The Press! about "Some Kind of Cadwallader", being an unsigned band, playing live and the future.

ATP: Who are you and what is your role in the band?
Peter: I am Peter. I play bass and sing the songs.

ATP: For those who are not familiar with your band, tell them about Algernon Cadwallader?
P: Hey, I’m in this band called Algernon Cadwallader. We’re a DIY band from Pennsylvania. We sound like Cap'n Jazz.

ATP: How do you feel about being compared to bands such as Cap'n Jazz and Look Mexico?
Peter: It’s okay but a bit redundant. We definitely welcome some deeper criticism. It’s more likely to start up a stimulating conversation. All I got for "you guys sound like Cap'n Jazz" is "cool! thanks. they're good".

ATP: So this year you released “Some Kind Of Cadwallader”, tell us a bit about whole the album came together?
P: We wrote and recorded our demo sometime within the first year of being a band. Then we were just having fun playing shows as much as we could. We were writing the whole time but we really weren't thinking about what we were going to do with the songs. Eventually we had a good number of songs together so we decided to record them all and put out a full length. Joe, who plays guitar, recorded it. It took a while because he wanted it to be perfect but I like the end result so I guess it's worth the wait.

ATP: Have you been surprised by the attention the record has been given?
P: Yes. I’m glad people like it so much. We go on tour and people are up front singing along. It's pretty great. Thanks mostly to Craig getting our CD everywhere and people being able to download it.

ATP: How would you describe a normal Algernon Cadwallader show?
P: A normal Algernon Cadwallader show. We play lots of basement shows. So I guess a basement setting. We're probably drunk, trying to keep ourselves in check so we can play well. turn up loud. Start playing and all our friends are drunk too, going nuts and singing along. Fair amount of crowd surfing.

ATP: As an unsigned band, you seem to have good distribution throughout the world. How did that come about?
P: We just work with our really good friends and they work really hard for it. We were talking to people before we pressed the LP and our buddy Remi offered to throw in and do a euro version of that. Our friend Craig put out our CD and he is just the most organized and sociable DIY person on the planet. He's to credit for having our CD in distribution in 15 countries or however many it is in. It was something he told me he wanted to do from the start. You don't have to wait for a big label with a recognizable name to do this stuff. There are awesome punk kids with distribution and stores all over the world. they want to hear what kind of music is going on across the globe too. You just have keeping talking to people and get in touch with them and chances are they will be as stoked as you are. I think what Craig did is a testament to that and I’m glad to be a part of it.

ATP: Are there any plans for a label?
P: As long as Craig wants to keep putting out our stuff I can't imagine a better situation.

ATP: Are you going to stay as a three piece?
P: We're not looking to replace anyone so if there's anyone else in the band it will be an old member or someone playing a new instrument.

ATP: With the current worldwide economic problems, is it hard for a band of your status to go out on tour?
P: Not really. Tank (Drummer) broke his ankle in Tampa but I don't think the economic crisis is to blame for that. gas prices really high for a while but we still managed to get by even then. I think it's mostly in your attitude. If you're set out on driving from town to town, playing shows, and having a good time, you will do just that and your tour will be a success.

ATP: What will you remember the year 2008 for?
P: Barack Obama being elected. The Phillies winning the world series.

ATP: What music have you enjoyed this year?
P: Antlers, especially live. the good luck CD. new Stephen Malkmus. new Sinaloa. mountain asleep. Daniel Johnston live. Nana Grizol. Wilco "Sky Blue Sky". man without plan live. meat puppets live. Avril Lavigne.

ATP: What have you got planned for 2009?
P: We have a 3 song 7" that should be out early next year. We're going to do some touring when tank recovers. Re-plan the us tour and we'd like to go to Europe later on. We're also planning on writing and recording a lot. Putting out some splits and another full length. Learn to surf.

ATP'S ROTY: #3 Portman - From Here To Your Eyes and Ears

Today I am a step closer to completing my Top 10 Records of the Year and at Number 3 is Peterborough band Portman with "From Here To Your Eyes and Ears".

An album with 90's emo influences but with a British backbone. Songs such as "The Great Machine" and "Who Watches The Watchman?" being highlights and showcasing a band with mature song-writing and well-thought out structure.

The album is refreshing and inspiring and for a small British band like Portman, it is a great achievement.

I recently spoke to Bassist Toby Potter about "From Here To Your Eyes and Ears", the band's 2 recent free EPs and the year in general.

ATP: Who are you and what is your role in the band?
Toby Potter: Toby, I play bass.

ATP: So this year you released your debut album “From Here to Your Eyes and Ears”, tell us a bit about whole the album came together?
TP: I guess what kicked this whole thing into motion was the punktastic unseen, 99, 30 second songs. We recorded what became the intro to the album and "who watches the watchman" in the Easter of '07. We decided at this point we wanted to work towards an album. We had done a few three track EP's before, but we wanted to 'experiment' a bit with the atmosphere you could create with an album. It was an exciting time with the idea of releasing the record with walnut tree and pep-rock records; we thought that we wouldn't get the opportunity to release anything like this again, so we put on some of the older tracks. We learnt so much from that album, and I think it will show with our next release.

ATP: How does it feel to be compared to the likes of Sunny Day Real Estate and The Get Up Kids?
TP; Its very flattering, I think its cooler to be compared to the bands that kind of created the early 'emo' sound. emo is such a dirty word these days, but when a band like The Get Up Kids, Last Days Of April, Sunny Day or Braid is mentioned when describing us, a lot of people are like 'oh that kind of emo!' and give it a try. we have found that a lot, when people actually give the album a try, they not only like it, but love it.

ATP: Who or what influenced the album? I see there’s a running theme related to humanity.
TP: I guess this question would be better answered by Matt, he writes all the lyrics, so could probably better explain his thoughts. I think as a general theme, we were trying to capture a place we were all at. come to terms with our coming of age, our total freedom after leaving education and home. how fucked up the world is with war, corporation and religion. but at the same time how amazing it is when your surrounded by great friends and family and a music scene kept alive by morality and ethics.

ATP: In the summer you played a few dates with Atwood and A Broken Robot. How was that?
TP: that was the best time we have had being in the band. us and A Broken Robot guys shared a six seater van to save on money, so we had lots of fun doing prison tattoo, drinking pear cider and watching die hard. all of which you can read about on there blog at www.myspace.com/abrokenrobot. Atwood were the most lovely bunch of guys and had the catchiest tunes, there EP is awesome. both Matt and Jon from ABR would get up and sing 'Cameras' with Atwood, it was a real feel good moment. we would do it for a year straight if we could!

ATP: How would you describe your normal Portman gig?
TP: Its like sex, empty, inconsistent and awkward. but from our point of view energetic, fun and sweaty. we think that if we aren't afraid to dance to our music, the crowd wont be, it usually works!

ATP: What do you when you’re not out on the road?
TP: We are all best mates, that's how we started back in college, so we all hang out together. we practise together once a week but me and James are usually writing in his bedroom a couple of nights a week. We all work full time.

ATP: Would you say it’s difficult for a small independent UK band, like yourselves, to get noticed? If so why do you think it is?
TP: Yeah, it hard to get noticed at our level. We are just a drop in a huge ocean so we never expect much from our labels, promoters etc. Its people like yourselves and Punktastic etc, doing there thing for us that get us out to an audience that enjoy what we play, its really appreciated. we know the only way to really get noticed in the scene is to get your head down for a year and tour constantly. but we cant afford to do it now we are all out of education and have bills to pay.

ATP: Now you are ending the year with 2 free EP’s. Tell us a bit about them?
TP: This has only really come about in the last month or so. We have been talking with Walnut Tree about doing a online Christmas calender, where people can come visit everyday, and get free downloads, win albums, EP's, shoes, clothes, poster etc. We thought it would be great to kick it all off on the 1st December with a free download e.p. of some older tracks people may not have heard, along with a couple off the album. We also did a podcast back in the summer, so we thought we could do two EP's with the acoustic tracks of that.

ATP: Why are they free?
TP: A few reasons really, the podcast was kindly recorded for free by James at Uber recordings so we always said we would never try make any money on that. We sold out of the "This is me breathing" EP, so that has run it's course. Also festive spirit and obviously to give people a try before you hopefully buy!

ATP: On the “Remembering Fondly” EP you have included 2 songs from “From Here To Your Eyes and Ears”. Is there any particular reason for this?
TP: Again, to give people a taster of what we have released, and as an e.p those two tracks work with the other three great, they are all big anthemic rock tunes.

ATP: What will you remember the year 2008 for?
TP: Wow, I only just thought what we have achieved this year, I haven't thought about it until now. We have released an album, toured three times, done a podcast, written 9 new songs for the next EP and recorded the new EP. Not a bad year really!

ATP: What music have you enjoyed this year?
TP: Well personally I have gotten into absolutely loads such as why?, Allgernon Cadwallader, The Helio Sequence, Bridge & Tunels, Good Luck, Born Ruffians, Anathello. the U.K scene is incredible at the moment, I'm loving of course A Broken Robot, who are going to do big things I hope, as well as The Xcerts, Secondsmile, Tubelord, Stapleton, Tellison, The Maple State, Scholars, the list is endless.

ATP: What have you got planned for 2009?
TP: We hope to release the next e.p called "These songs were written in bedrooms & village halls" early next year. we are booking for a February tour at the moment. We plan to do a couple more, with a dream to do some gigs in Europe.

ATP'S ROTY: #4 Forgive Durden - Razia's Shadow:A Musical

At Number 4 on my countdown of my Records of the Year is "Razia's Shadow: A Musical" by Forgive Durden.

At the start of the year, it was announced 3 of the four members of Forgive Durden had left the band. The sole remaining member was frontman Thomas Dutton, who went on to create one of the most surprising and somewhat unusual releases of the past 12 months.

"Razia's Shadow: A Musical" is a very ambitious record from an ambitious person. However Dutton; along with his brother Paul, have managed to create a record that stands out from its other Fueled By Ramen releases.

There are many characteristics that make the album great. First of all it has a story that captivates the listener, as well as a wide array of guest appearances including Max Bemis, Chris Conley, Brendon Urie, Danny Stevens and narration is done by Mewithoutyou's Aaron Weiss. Like every musical, "Razia's Shadow" has it uplifting and dark songs which takes the listener on a well-written journey, based around a love story between Nidria and Ahrima.

I recently spoke to Thomas Dutton about the making of "Razia's Shadow", musicals, taking the musical out on the road and more.

ATP:I understand at the moment Forgive Durden is just you. Is there any plans to become a full band again?
Thomas Dutton: Forgive Durden has always been my vision. I started writing songs in high school and assembled friends together to play and record them. Eventually it became a permanent lineup and we released Wonderland. After years of tours, the other guys decided to leave and pursue different things. I’m totally happy with the band and its status right now. I don’t want to put together a permanent band just to have one. I’d love to have full-time players again, but I’m in no rush.

ATP: Tell us a bit about the making of "Razia's Shadow - A Musical"?
TD: It was a long process. My brother Paul would come down on the weekends and write with me and I would spend weekdays writing lyrics. We slowly but surely built up the songs from nothing into these magical epic things. It was a great but tiring experience.

ATP: In other interviews you have said musicals clearly influenced the album. What musicals in particular have influenced you and what else influenced the record?
TD: I grew up loving Willy Wonka and Disney movies. I knew every word to Aladdin and would perform the songs in my family’s living room. More recently, Moulin Rouge really re-piqued my interest in musicals.

ATP: Was the plan to do a musical made before or after the old members left?
TD: Before, but it was always to be my vision.

ATP: "Razia's Shadow" is very much a different album to a lot of records within "the scene" at the moment. Were you worried about the kind of reaction the record would get?
TD: Not really. I was excited about it, actually. If I had been on the other side, I would be freaking out over the whole concept behind this record, so I was making it for those kids.

ATP: What is your favorite song off the record?
TD: Life Is Looking Up and It’s True Love.

ATP: Did you have an idea of what guests you wanted before making the album?
TD: Some of the casting choices were very obvious to me. Brendon Urie was the first person I cast as my evil brother. He has such a beautiful low register that I knew he would be perfect for it.

ATP: How has it been adapting the new songs to your live show?
TD: It’s been interesting, that’s for sure. We obviously don’t have the means (yet) to tour with an orchestra, but I still wanted the live show to sound as close as possible to the record so I got two other singers to fill in the other characters’ parts, piano and keys to recreate some of the orchestration and a sampler to play the remainder.

ATP: Are there any plans to have a show with the full cast and orchestra?
TD: That’s the biggest thing we’re working on now for next year.

ATP: You recently released the video for "Life Is Looking Up". What was the concept behind the video?
TD: The video is supposed to look like a movie trailer for what Razia’s Shadow: The Movie would look like. I love movie trailers, and I really wanted to go in that direction. We had to play with the storyline a bit because of our resources but I’m very happy with how it turned out. It’s meant to draw people into the story and bigger-than-life concept.

ATP: What does the future hold for Forgive Durden? Any plans to write a follow-up musical?
TD: I’d love to write another musical if the demand was there but we’ll see what happens. It’ll probably be a while before I sit down and really start to map anything out

ATP: Any plans to come over to the UK?
TD: I loved the UK when we went before and I would be so happy to go back, it just depends on finding a tour that makes sense for it happen.

ATP :What will you remember 2008 for?
TD: The year my musical finally came out

ATP: What music have you personally enjoyed?
TD: Good Old War, Sigur Ros and Kanye West.

ATP: What have you got planned for 2009?
TD: World Domination. Or something close.

ATP'S ROTY: #5 Girl Talk - Feed The Animals

I'm at the half way point and at Number 5 is Mashup artist Girl Talk with "Feed The Animals".

ATP'S ROTY: #6 Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs

Today I am going to write about my 6th favourite Record of the Year and it comes from Washington Indie Rock four-piece Death Cab For Cutie.

"Narrow Stairs" is more or less the same Death Cab we have came to know and love after 6 albums with this being their 2nd major label release. The record contains all the usual elements; haunting lyrics, sweeping guitars and songs with multiple layers.

Nevertheless the record has both sombre and upifting songs, with highlights being the 8 and half minute long "I Will Posses Your Heart", as well as "No Sunlight" and "Grapevine Fires".

On the whole "Narrow Stairs" shows Death Cab For Cutie are a band who have emerged from the underground with a strong following and have remained to keep their feet on their ground and have not forgot their roots, as this record showcases a Indie Rock band with both Indie and Pop ideas.

ATP'S ROTY: #7 Hey Monday - Hold On Tight

Hi Sean here and today I am continueing my Records of The Year. At Number 7 is a band that at first I wanted to hate, Hey Monday. However their fun, catchy brand of Pop-Rock managed to win me over.

"Hold On Tight" is nothing ground-breaking but it's addictive. With highlights such as the poppy "How You Love Me Now" and the sweet ballad "Candles". It's an album that is filled with radio-friendly songs and catchy hooks.

As I said in my review, Hey Monday are a band you can expect to hear big things from in 2009, especially with their upcoming tour support slot with Fall Out Boy

ATP'S ROTY: #8 Jack’s Mannequin – The Glass Passenger

Today I give you number 8 in my Records of The Year. Jack's Mannequin is supposed to be a band but it is better known as Andrew McMahon's solo project. "The Glass Passenger" is the former Something Corporate singer's second album. In the time since the first Jack's Mannequin album, it's been well documentated that McMahon suffered from Leukemia.

Now McMahon has recovered and has written a record that sounds beyond his 26 years. "The Glass Passenger" is a mature piano pop rock record, with a mixture of radio-friendly songs like "The Resolution" and "American Love" and sweet ballads like "Hammers and Strings (A Lullaby)", "Annie Use Your Telescope" and "Swim", songs where you feel the pain in McMahon's straining voice.

ATP'S ROTY: #9 City & Colour - Bring Me Your Love

Today I continue my countdown of my Top 10 Records of the Year. At Number 9 is Alexisonfire's Dallas Green aka City & Colour with his 2nd album "Bring Me Your Love".

An album which established Green as a solo artist with beautifully written songs such as "Sleeping Sickness" and "Body In A Box" going along with Green's tragic tone and dark emotional voice. However at times, the record was uplifiting and folk-like ("The Girl") and on the whole it was 12 songs written by a man who layed it all on the line.

ATP'S ROTY: #10 The Morning Of - The World As We Know It

So we're nearly at the end of another year and like a lot of people, I have been deciding my favorite records over the last 12 months. After much deliberation, I have managed to figure out my Top 10 albums of the year.

At number 10 is Newburgh, New York Pop-Rock band, The Morning Of who this year, released their debut album, "The World As We Know It". An album with a mixture of soft melodys, catchy songs and rocking guitars. In addition the front duo 0f Jessica Leplon and Justin Wiley sharing vocals throughout the album, makes "The World As We Know" an album that's charming and from a band with plenty of potential.

I recently spoke to bassist Abir Hossain about The Morning Of, touring and the year 2008 in general.

ATP: Who are you and what is your role in the band?

AH: My name is Abir Hossain, and I play bass in The Morning Of.

ATP: For those who aren’t familiar with your band, tell them about The Morning Of?

AH: The Morning Of is my best friends and I doing what we love- playing music, hanging out with new friends on tour, and spreading love.

ATP: So this year you released your debut album “The World As We Know It”, tell us a bit about whole the album came together?

AH: Haha, the album took FOREVER to come together. Chris Rob and I had recorded it once, then scrapped it, made lineup changes, and then we found Justin and Jessica, and from there we were able to make The World As We Know It, the way we intended it to be. We're super happy with it, it's been out for 10 months now, and I still love it to death.

ATP: Who or what influenced “The World As We Know It”?

AH: I named the album "The World As We Know It" because the album was influenced by EVERYTHING around us. Whether it be relationships, the current state of the world, friends dealing with problems like drug addictions. The album touches on so many different facets of life.

ATP: Throughout this year you’ve toured extensively throughout America with bands such as The Secret Handshake, Breathe Carolina, Just Surrender, Every Avenue and The Higher. Which tours have you enjoyed the most?

AH: I couldn't tell you which tour is better, because while we were on every one of those tours, we were having the time of our lives. All those bands have become our best friends. We actually hung out with Breathe Carolina yesterday, and Just Surrender the other day. Its awesome seeing friends even when you're not on tour!

ATP: You are about to tour with My American Heart and Artist V Poet. Are you looking forward to it?

AH: The tour is My American Heart, Danger Radio, and Artist V Poet. It starts Dec 2nd. I'm super excited for the tour, we have a lot of friends who know the MAH guys really well and they've been saying we're gonna have an awesome time with them. It's gonna be our first West Coast tour where we hit major cities, so I'm really excited.

ATP: How would you describe your live show?

AH: We have a lot of fun while we're playing. Come see it, and tell me if you're having fun too haha!

ATP: What do you when your not out on the road?

AH: Right now we just got our biggest break from touring in about a year. Its 3 weeks! So we're all trying to find little jobs. But we hang out, write, go see our friends bands when they come kinda close (cough driving 2 hours to see Breathe Carolina haha), and just see our friends and family.

ATP: Any plans to come over to the United Kingdom in the future?

AH: We want to really bad. We had a British merch guy for like 3 months, it was so much fun. I know we all really want to go overseas, its really just a matter of us getting the right tour to do it. So hopefully soon.

ATP: What will you remember this year for?

AH: I will remember this year for making so many new friends who I hope we'll have forever, and getting to finally put our first album out in stores and tour behind it!

ATP: What music have you enjoyed this year?

AH: Too much! I know that some of our standout records for this year are the Jack's Mannequin album, Conor Oberst, Death Cab For Cutie, and a couple other awesome records I can't remember! But we listen to everything. Between all of us you'll find some really crazy music.

ATP: What have you got planned for 2009?

AH: We hope to tour A LOT, and to record a new album and put it out sometime later on in the year!

Thanks to Abir for doing the interview.

More Information about The Morning Of can be found here.

Updates, updates, updates!

Hey guys, I would like to thank you for all the great feedback so far! We do appreciate it, a lot. 

Sean Reid

Position: Co-Moderator, News, Reviews, Interviews, Downloads, Social Networking and more.

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Favorite Bands: Brand New, The Get Up Kids, Jimmy Eat World, New Found Glory, Taking Back Sunday.

Album Reviews:

A Day To Remember - Homesick
The Academy Is - Fast Times At Barrington High
Ace Enders and A Million Different People - When I Hit The Ground
Advantage - Future Echoes EP
AFI - Crash Love
Alexisonfire - Old Crows/Young Cardinals
All Forgotten - Transitions
All Time Low - Nothing Personal
Anarbor - Free Your Mind
Arrows - Modern Art and Politics
Asteria - S/T EP
Attack Attack! - Someday Came Suddenly
Attack! Attack! - Honesty (Single Review)
Atom Gang - We Are The Formula EP
August Burns Red - Constellations
The Auteur - Hey Watch This... (Single Review)
The Autuer - The Nightcap EP
Bayonets - Wishes & Wishes
Blakfish - Champions
Brand New - Daisy
Brilliant Sweaters - Free Music
Bring Me The Horizon - Suicide Season
Broadway Calls - Good News, Bad Views
Caleb Lionheart - Think Hardcore. Play Pop Punk
The Cess Allan Band - Stay Inside
Chickenhawk - A. Or Not? EP
Cinematic Sunrise - A Coloring Book and Long Playing Record
Crime In Stereo - Selective Wreckage
Crisis In Hollywood - Safe and Sound
Cut The Blue Wire - Revert, Restart, Reset EP
Death By Stereo - Death Is My Only Friend
Don't Wake Aislin - Everyone Has A Story... EP
EastStrikeWest - Wolvves
Eat Sleep Attack - Fallin' EP
Echo Screen - Goodbey Old Life
Fall Out Boy - Folie a Deux
Farewell - Isn't This Suppose To Be Fun?
Flood of Red - Leaving Everything Behind
Four Year Strong - Explains It All
The Friday Night Boys - Off The Deep End
Funeral For A Friend - Memory and Humanity
goFaster>> - A Modern Education
Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
Green Day - Know Your Enemy (Single Review)
Half Hearted Hero - Defining. Refining.
He Is Legend - It Hates You
Hearts Under Fire - Demo 2009
Hello Hollywood - Late Nights and Lovers
Hey Monday - Hold On Tight
Hey Vampires - Problems, Solve Yourself
HORSE The Band - Desperate Living
Hotel Ahead - Spend The Weekend
The Jakes - Shake My Hand EP
Kevin Devine - Brother's Blood
Kill Casino - Paper Walls and The Voice Downstairs
The Killers - Day & Age
Kiss Corona - Look To The Stars EP
Kong - Snake Magnet
Latin For Truth - We Are Sick Of Not Having The Courage To Be Absolute Nobodies EP
Lavotchkin/Crocus - Split EP
Letterday - The Company We Keep EP
Lights - S/T EP
IWrestledABearOnce - It's All Happening
The Malheruex - Nightmares EP
Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything to Nothing
Mandy K - Mandy K
Mayday Parade - Anywhere But Here
MC Lars - The Green Christmas EP
MiMi Soya - The Four Penny Knee Trembler
Moneen - The World I Want To Leave Behind
The Motel Life - We All Left Something Behind
My First Tooth - My First Tooth & The Rubies EP
My Lady Four - Everyone Pays The Gatekeeper
The New 1920 - The New 1920 EP
New Found Glory - Not Without A Fight
The Night Life Crisis - The Night Life Crisis EP
Not Advised - Fight For This EP
O'Brother - The Death of Day
Otenki - Making Sense of Static EP
Outcry Collective - Articles
Pharaohs - We've Tried Nothing And We're All Out Of Ideas EP
Piano - The Valediction of Versa EP
Pipedream - Let The Rumours Flow
Portman - From Here To Your Eyes And Ears
Portman - These Songs Were Written In Bedrooms and Village Halls
Portman - Remembering Fondly EP
Portugal The Man - The Santanic Santanist
Postcode - Zebraland
Relient K - Forget and Not Slow Down
Rifle Fire Rifle - The Doppler Effect
Rob Johnson - Upon A Painted Ocean
Rushmore - D-List Celebrities
Saturday Night Shakedown - Better Than Hollywood EP
Set It Off - Calm Before The Storm
Set Your Goals - This Will Be The Death of Us
Shotdeadinvegas - Shotdeadinvegas EP
Sing It Loud - Come Around
Skillet - Awake
The Sleeping - What it Takes
Sparks The Rescue - Eyes To The Sun
Stagecoach - We Got Tazers
The Swellers - Ups and Downsizing
Thee Armada - Sweet Tease EP
There For Tomorrow - A Little Faster
They Sink Ships - When Your Still Here/Good As Gold (Single Review)
They Were Stars - Own Your Atoms
Two Tongues - Two Tongues
Twin Atlantic - Vivarium
The Whisky Works - Deficit Attention Program
The Wildhearts - Chutzpah
Wolf Am I - Lead The Way
Valencia - We All Need A Reason To Believe
The Vanity Affair - Love You More EP
Various Artist - LAB Records Preview Sampler 2009
Various Artist - Punk Goes Pop 2
You Me At Six - Take Off Your Colours
Young Guns - Mirrors EP

Live Reviews:

Brand New, Kevin Devine & Moneen - Manchester Academy - 23/06/09
The Wildhearts - Nottingham Rock City, 19/09/2009

Single Reviews:

-Lost On Landing, Steel Panther, Castrolvalva, Screaming Lights, The Remnants, Bromheads and I Like Trains
-Pharaohs, Scream! Shout! Say Nothing, Ready 2 Fall and David Gibb
-Twin Atlantic, Adelaide, The Hot Melts, Bleech and Screaming Lights
-Green Day, Attack! Attack! and They Sink Ships

Interviews:

Algernon Cadwallader
The Arrival
Bayonets
Before You Fled
Boys Will Be Boys
Callahan
Crisis In Hollywood
The Dangerous Summer
Don't Wake Aislin
EastStrikeWest
Eyes Set To Kill
Forgive Durden
Four Year Strong
Futures
Hello Control
Hey Monday
Kyoto Drive
LAB Records
Less Than Jake
The Morning Of
My Lady Four
No Sleep Records
Not Advised
Rob Johnson
Piano
Portman (December 2008)
Portman (July 2009)
Sing It Loud
The Summer Set
Swound!
Talons
Thieves and Villains
Twin Atlantic
Un-Scene 5
VersaEmerge

Features:

An Essential Guide To: The Get Up Kids
2009: The Year So Far and What's To Come
Unsigned Spotlight: Machine God
On Our Stereo: Kyte - Two Sparks, Two Stars
On Our Stereo: Passion Pit - Manners
On Our Stereo: Weezer - Weezer (Blue Album)
On Our Stereo: The Wonder Years/All Or Nothing - Distances