The Higher have announced they have decided to call it a day. The band released the following statement: "What measures success in music? Today it’s extremely hard to tell, and I don’t see it getting any easier in the future. To me, (Robert Ragan aka Reggie) The Higher was successful because I had an amazing time doing it. Everyday on the road brought a new adventure, a new challenge, and new way of viewing the world. We were able to tour the US and Canada more than a dozen times, Japan 5 times, UK 1 time. We had ...

The Higher have announced that they are breaking up . The band is planning on playing a final show to commemorate their time together. Red their goodbye statement below by clicking “Read More.” What measures success in music? Today it’s extremely hard to tell, and I don’t see it getting any easier in the future. To me, (Robert Ragan aka Reggie) The Higher was successful because I had an amazing time doing it. Everyday on the road brought a new adventure, a new challenge, and new way of viewing the world. We were able to tour the US and ...

REVIEW OF CORNERSHOP/1990s at THE PLATFORM, GLASGOW : FRIDAY 20 JANUARY 2012 Celtic Connections is a long-standing annual festival of music held in Glasgow every January. It began as a celebration of folk and traditional music but has increasingly diversified into more contemporary stuff and many acts who now appear under it banner are about un-Celtic as a church of Scotland minister who has a season ticket for the football team that play at Ibrox Park. But this diversity is hugely welcome, for without it your humble scribe and his sidekick Aldo would not have got on a #41 bus ...

Aside from maybe Errol Morris' "Tabloid," there is no story you'll see in a docmentary this year as astonishingly odd and visceral as that in Ian Palmer's "Knuckle." But unlike Morris' film, which centers on a single incident in the already quirky life of one woman, Palmer's film tracks the simmering real life feuds between multiple families that has deloved in an endless series of bare knuckle fights between warring members. In "Knuckle," Palmer weaves an incredible tale, captured from more than a decade's worth of footage he shot as an invited witness to the matches ...

These guys are the nicest of the nice, and rather than focusing on bitches and guns they instead rhyme about Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Halo. This journey might lack the drama of, say, a Motley Crue tour as it replaces sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll with videogames, tea and wookie rhymes, it nevertheless gives the viewer time to get under the skin of these unlikely superstars. [sic] -Chris Tilly (IGN UK) Have you heard of the genre Nerdcore? It is a subgenre of hip-hop that isn't afraid to be smart. In fact, you might need ...

Perhaps the “Simple Days” were when Jonathan Devoto played guitar and vocals for the Matches – perhaps not. Either way, Bird by Bird is Devoto’s main project these days, along with drummer/singer Ross Traver. The Berkeley duo are set to release their debut record, While You Sleep, which comes out on August 16th. “Simple Days” [...]

Get In! LTD, in association with Temps D’Avance, EMI Publishing, Atlantic Records, Traffic Sports and Beyond Entertainment Agency is proud to announce that Martin Solveig’s ‘Ready 2 Go’ has been designated the Official Club Anthem of the Copa America Football Championship 2011. Ready 2 Go featuring Kele is the sensational follow up to the musician’s multi-platinum selling Hello, which achieved worldwide acclaim and catapulted Solveig to the worldwide stage. This latest news, a coup for any artist will ensure the quintessential Frenchman’s journey to the top continues. The football tournament, which commences on July 1st 2011 ...

While looking for a book at Barnes & Noble (yeah, gangsters like to read), I came across a chess tournament in full effect. The matches were full of various types, ranging from Russian nationals to thirteen-year old Asian Bobby Fischers. I instantly reached into my backpack and pulled out my iPod and turned it straight to Enter the Wu-Tang . Little did I know then that the almighty Wu Tang Clan would be releasing a new album in the form of Wu Tang Legendary Weapons , the follow up to 2009’s Wu Tang Chamber Music . Produced by Noah Rubin , who crafts a beat that’s minimal in all the right places, lead single Only The Rugged Survive is exactly what you’d expect from the Wu; a head-nodding track with nonstop rapping duties handled by RZA in its entirety (no, I don’t know what he’s talking about sometimes either, but he sounds dope).  So the next time you’re wandering around your local book store, look out for the kids in the back playing chess, you never know, you might find some Staten Islanders there, and look out for Legendary Weapons , dropping June 28.

For those of us who cried ourselves to sleep when The Matches parted ways, Maniac is here to help. Comprised of Matches' mastermind Shawn Harris and Something With Numbers' Jake Grigg, Maniac have just enough hipster cred and overflowing creativity to actually stand a chance in today's music scene. Does this mean their debut album, Mania , is on you should own? Click through to find out!

Maniac, the cross-continental indie/pop duo co-fronted by Shawn Harris, formerly of Oakland, California based-band The Matches, and Jake Grigg of Australian band Something with Numbers, will release their long-anticipated debut, Mania, on March 15th. An immediate digital download of the album comes

Head to the replies to watch Jonathan Devoto of *Bird By Bird* (http://www.myspace.com/birdbybird) (ex-*The Matches* (http://www.absolutepunk.net/thematches)) perform a new song off upcoming full length. Submitted by bayareanative

*Maniac* (http://www.facebook.com/ManiacMania) (ex-*The Matches* (http://www.absolutepunk.net/thematches), ex-*Something For Numbers* (http://www.myspace.com/somethingwithnumbers)) will release their debut album, Mania, on March 14th. They are also selling a limited (32 made) demo album on their...

*Maniac* (http://www.myspace.com/maniacpro) (Shawn from *The Matches* and Jake from *Something With Numbers*) recently played a new song on DJ Rossstar's Punk Rock show. You can see a video here (http://youtu.be/DVkV2uWCeQU). The song is off their forthcoming full-length, which they announced...

So, now that Thanksgiving is out of the way, Christmas is up next. Here's a playlist to get you into a holiday spirit.   1. "30 Days"- NeverShoutNever! I hate to admit it, but I can honestly say that this is my favourite holiday song of all time. 2. "Yule Shoot Your Eye Out"- Fall Out Boy. I totally forgot about this one, but it's totally perfect and Patrick's voice is so pure 3. "December Is For Cynics"- The Matches. "Ho ho ho we're so much better" is the line that should just draw you in. 4 ...