It's been a few weeks, but the Altsounds Concentrate is back. We've missed you "like a fat kid misses cake"*. In this weeks 8 pints, we feature the lowest ever review rating for a band, some exclusive live reviews, interviews and competitions. You will want to check out the Pearl Jam giveaway, that one is a cream cracker. You will also notice the new navigational bar, and Altrandomizer.
Screamadelica Studios has been mixing it up with design layouts and come-up with an absolute spanker. We are now the best looking music site on the planet (yes we are and you know it).
Our
Altsounds studio arm is always looking for new bands, artist's DJ's etc to enhance their clientele. Check out
Screamadelica Studios for our full portfolio. Alternatively contact
Jack or
Chris for details.
Our top rated Album, Single & EP of the week
Relient K - Forget and Not Slow Down [Album] 96%
"‘Forget and Not Slow Down,’ the album’s opening track and lead single, starts the theme of the album off in the right way. Lines like, “I’d rather forget and not slow down than gather regret for the things that I can’t change now” and “I could spend my life trying to sift through what I could have done better but what good do what-ifs do?” offer the optimism most of us often need to overcome our regrets. ‘Therapy’ puts the listener in the passenger seat of Thiessen’s emotional ride as he sorts through the personal angst of a break-up with a loved one. ‘Candlelight’ is a pure unabashed love song in which Thiessen employs his classic “pun driven” lyric writing in a chorus that proclaims, “She outshines anyone whoever might date to bask in the same candlelight.” ‘Part Of It’ shows us the peace of mind that eventually comes with a break-up, “It’s not the end of the world, just you and me…perspective is a lovely hand to hold.”"
Marina And The Diamonds - Mowgli's Road [Single] 97% "‘Mowgli’s Road’ deserves to set Marina on the road to stardom, she’s just the sort of talented, vivacious character the pop arena is crying out for at the moment. Full of life, bursting with ideas and striving to make music of value on her own terms. She manages to appear esoteric, yet honest and open, fiesty, yet vulnerable. And it is these kind of contradictions that make her such a compelling individual…. I make no apologies for the unrelenting enthusiastic tone of this review (you should have seen the first draft
) but I haven’t been this excited about a new artist for quite some time."
Kaiowas - Kaiowas [EP] 90%
"Atmospheric and dark, Kaiowas has crafted an excellent chunk of metal with their "Kaiowas" debut EP. These five tracks run through heavy, melodic grooves with an emphasis on naturalistic song structuring. Casting an insightful eye on metal tropes, Kaiowas still manages to remain user-friendly to even the most amateur of metal heads, while keeping the interest of long time veterans."
An advisory “listen at your own risk” comes attached to these releases. Altsounds is not afraid to speak it’s mind. 
Pink Punk - Rockstars [Single]
7%
"The next surprise is the second song 'Calling Time.' At first I thought it was a different band - all Damien Rice balladry with strings and piano. Is this a mis-press I’m listening to? Or is it the same band and their first song is ‘satirical’? A deliberately poor ‘comic’ take on rap as a one-off? No. For the third song 'End Times' (final surprise - but by now these ‘surprises’ are wearing thin) it is back to the lame rapping. "
We listen to pretty much everything under the sun @ Altsounds. Read the latest 10 reviews below. 
Foreign Beggars - United Colours Of Beggatron [Album] The Swimmers - People Are Soft [Album] The Hickey Underworld - Blonde Fire [Single] Three Trapped Tigers - EP2 [EP] Sufjan Stevens / Osso - Run Rabbit Run [Album] Takoma Star - Till The Fall [Album] Castrovalva - Thug Poetry [Single] Bugz In The Attic - Got The Bug 2 [Compilation Album] Goodbye, Gadget - Because, I'm Not Myself You See [Album] Portico Quartet - Isla [Album] 
Get the latest low-down, or down-low, whatever it is called in music land. Here is the latest 10. Donations On The Up As Oxjam Prepares For Takeover Weekend The Bay State To Play CMJ Showcase In NYC This Saturday! OMEGA CROM CONQUER ALBERTA FOR METAL SUPREMACY GIVE THE Ultimate Death Row Fan Something TO CELEBRATE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON Final Hellfire Line Up! DEVIL SOLD HIS SOUL - sign to Century Media Records, One off London headline show Sleep Bellum Sonno Release New LP Star Fucking Hipsters (SFH) Announce Record Release Show Details! Oxbow Announce New Album and European Tour * Debut Novel From Eugene S. Robinson! Native Premiere New Music from Debut Album, "Wrestling Moves," out January 26th! 
Speaking with some of the finest artists of today about their work, goings on and private matters you all want to know about. 
Ben Wells from Black Stone Cherry
"It’s one of the hardest questions as we don’t really want to put a signature on our sound, although it is a signature sound, we wouldn’t really classify it as anything in particular. We’re definitely rock, we’re definitely southern, we’re blues and metal, a little country..... I think we were influenced by so many different sounds growing up, Motown, bluegrass, classic rock. I loved Elvis, fifties music, forties music, we put all of that together and made up our own sound I guess, but if I had to describe it any way it would be just real, you know what I mean? It comes from the heart and it is what it is."
Beau Burchell from Saosin
"We are all really proud of the record. It's a great sign of growth as people and musicians. Chris and I produced a handful of songs on the record and I mixed the entire record."
Covering the latest bands and artists playing at a venue near you. 
Bat For Lashes, Manchester 14th Oct 2009 [Live]
"The material is always going to be eclectic, never mainstream, a point poignantly made by the cover of Kings of Leon's 'Use Somebody' included on the special edition of the "Two Suns" album. Their most mainstream pop song to date is 'Daniel,' and it really is strong enough to be included on the album 3 times. It only got played once tonight unlike a few months ago when it was getting two airings a night in the live set. "
Red Fang @ The Palace - Missoula, MT [Live]
"It is striking how such a huge sound can come from such a small set-up. For three axe men, there was maybe two, three guitar pedals. No one boasting a full stack. Red Fang believes in a viciousness that comes from the right equipment, not more equipment. A minimalist approach with strong effect. Red Fang brings a strong, groove based Stoner Metal sound. Somewhere between Entombed and Sleep. It’s a style of metal coming to be thought of as “The Northwest Heavy.” Bands like Helms Alee, Big Business, Black Elk, Kylesa, and Red Fang have become the forerunners of the genre."
What!?! Free stuff! Yes please. Get your mitts on the coolest stuff. Remember to sign up for an Altsounds account to get full access to all our competitions! 
Pearl Jam Vinyl Giveaway Courtesy of our friends at Universal we have one copy on vinyl of the new Pearl Jam album 'Backspacer' to give away!
Converse & Journeys Present 2nd Annual "Get Out of the Garage" Music Contest
Win a trip to Austin, TX in March to perform with the Flying Machines
at one of the largest music festivals in the United States!
Converse and Journeys have teamed up to bring you the second annual "Get Out of the Garage" music contest - a contest for up-and-coming bands that does just what it says.
* Reference to 50 Cent Lyrics.
JOIN OUR GROWING COMMUNITY NOW! 
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8 Pints | Issue 40 - Let Them Eat Cake
Re: 8 Pints | Issue 40 - Let Them Eat Cake
