Bayside - Killing Time Review

When it comes to longevity in the music industry, it's hard to find a band today that have stuck together through the years, and more importantly, haven't altered their sound from record to record. And with the release of Bayside's Killing Time, it's clear that the Long Island outfit stand as one of the few bands that can actually accomplish this.

The 10-track album, released on Wind-Up Records, stands as both a throwback to Bayside's earliest work, and a step toward maturing their sound. Killing Time opens up with "Already Gone", a track that will immediately satisfy fans of the band's 2008 release, Shudder. The opener picks up where Shudder left off, but with enough flair and hard-rock genius to set a tone of anger and emotion that remains present through the other nine tracks.

For fans of Bayside's earlier work, including Sirens and Condolences and their self-titled effort, they need to look no further than songs like "The Wrong Way" and the album's title track. Both tracks prove to be memorably intense and in-your-face thanks to the driving bass lines of Nick Ghanbarian and the screaming lead guitar riffs of Jack O'Shea.

Lead singer Anthony Raneri's lyrics have a way of sticking around once you hear them. Again, as with almost every other Bayside record, Raneri can write about tragedy and heartache without sobbing or feeling sorry for himself. The emotion he copes with on Killing Time are met with a passion and anger that will undoubtedly have crowds exploding toward the stage during live shows.

But the record does have it's slower side, too. The one thing about Bayside is they always leave a little space for something acoustic on each record. This record's unplugged tune comes in the form of "On Love, On Life" - a somewhat depressing account of love lost. "I can't let it bother me / if fact and fate just can't agree / on love, on life. / Can we just stop taking ourselves so seriously?"

All in all, Killing Time moves in a way no other Bayside record has. While it finds a nice mix of fast and slow, anger and aggression, it's the fluidity and consistency each song has that makes the album stand out. No one song is left behind. Each part works in perfect harmony with the last. Nothing is left out, and nothing seems overdone.

Perhaps the real sell for this album is that fine balance between old and new. You can hear Shudder in this record, but it's never too much. You can also hear traces of songs like, "Masterpiece" and "Montauk" riddled through the track listing. But again, it's never too much.

It seems that Bayside have found their stride. While Shudder represented a leap toward maturity, which was ultimately too much, Killing Time has found that balance they were looking for two years ago. All the elements of this band that fans know and love are represented equally. With nothing left out and no one left behind, Bayside have covered their ground nicely.

Armed with Killing Time, look for these guys to take what's left of the scene by storm.

Jonny Craig Allegedly Scamming Fans

There's an old adage that says, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." And unfortunately for many fans of Jonny Craig (Emarosa, Dance Gavin Dance), they're learning this the hard way.

Back in January, Craig started posting on his Twitter account that he was selling a MacBook for up to $800 or best offer. His means of doing business were simple - just hit him up on Twitter and the ball would get rolling.

Now, for an artist who has over 38,000 followers, he was bound to get more than a few "@ replies." And as most fans should have suspected, Mr. Craig is not a computer retailer. But regardless, it now seems that a staggering number of fans replied and eventually sent the singer money. You can guess what happened next.

Indiestar.tv recently posted a story from a fan about the alleged rip off. After sending an email offering $550 for the computer, Craig replied to the fan asking for an extra hundred, and gave the fan his phone number so they could work out the deal.

Sure enough, the two started talking and the fan was soon wiring the money over to Craig at a local Walmart. A week went by and the fan hadn't received the computer. Craig claimed not to have sent the MacBook out yet, but assured the fan it would get there - and if not, Craig would offer a full refund.

More time went by. Was a computer ever received? Nope. Was a refund ever given? Nope. Was this an isolated instance? Nope.

Comments on the original story added up quickly. "I had nearly the exact thing happen to me," wrote one reader. That fan sent Craig $600, and now claims Craig will not answer any texts or emails.

"Same thing happened to me," wrote another reader. "I offered him $500 and he said he'd take it, but needed it asap to pay rent." And, as the other stories went, Craig received the money, fans never received any computers and Craig eventually lost touch with the potential buyers.

Claims of similar stories happening to fans number in the teens now. Craig has taken to his Twitter account again claiming no one is getting scammed, and to email him if you haven't received a computer.

But angered fans are hitting back. A Facebook page was recently created called, Jonny Craig Twitter Scam. A joke Twitter account entitled, Jonny Craig's List, has also become a hot trend to those familiar with the story.

We'll have to wait to see Craig's next move. It's all pretty sketch right now. So before you trust anyone, in the scene or not, remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

GIVEAWAY WINNER - Punk-Rock Prize Pack

Thank you to the 60+ people that entered our Punk-Rock Prize Pack giveaway. We'd like to announce that Ben R. from Merrick, NY has been selected as our winner!

We hope you enjoy the swag, Ben.

Be sure to check back in the coming months for more giveaways. And, as always, thank you all for reading.

Our Prize Pack

Handguns - Don't Bite Your Tongue Review

It's usually a band's sophomore release that makes or breaks them. And while Handguns may only be releasing their second EP of seven songs, it's these tracks that will prove sink or swim for the Pennsylvania quartet.

What fans of Handguns will be looking for is consistency. The band's first release, Anywhere But Home, was a quick, but memorable slice of pop-punk that meant something. This was a record that reflected the do-it-yourself spirit of pop-punk. It was the self-released, living out of a van, type of music that was missing from the scene.

So, can Handguns' new EP, Don't Bite Your Tongue, live up to everything off their first release - without being a mirror image of the record? You bet it can.

One listen through the EP and it's clearly Handguns. Forget the frills and producer tricks. This is straight pop-punk courtesy of a guitar, bass and drum kit. It's a snare happy, palm muted ride reminiscent of early 2000s pop-punk. Fast, fun and catchy - what more could you want?

Pop-punk has always had a certain nostalgic effect to it. Songs about lost love and better times, old friends and wasted youth - these are the concepts that defined the movement at its roots. Handguns know this, and show it with ease on Don't Bite Your Tongue.

The song "I Hope He Kills You" starts with lead singer Taylor Eby exclaiming, "I'll pretend my heart's not breaking / It's taken everything I have not to call you back / And I hope he breaks you down / The next time you call, I won't be around."

Couple these heart crunching lyrics with Eby's matured vocal approach and an instrumental take that relies as much on bass as it does on guitar and drums, and what you have is one of the most well rounded songs on the EP.

The message of the record is clear. Where playing shows and the open road defined Anywhere But Home, raw energy and emotion define Don't Bite Your Tongue. This essentially makes for the most relatable and solid grouping of tracks Handguns have ever put out.

So sink or swim? Despite track three's title ("Sink Like Lead"), this release should please the masses. It's consistent with what fans are already accustomed to, but catchy and relatable enough to reach a whole new pop-punk fan base. This EP definitely does more than tread water. Swim, swim, swim.

What To See At SXSW 2011

With South By Southwest just a month away, musicians, filmmakers, press and fans from across the world are gearing up for the yearly pilgrimage to Austin, Texas. The week-long festival, which started in the late 80s, has grown to incorporate the best of the global art scene.

From writing seminars to live music, trade shows to a film conference, this year's SXSW has got it all. There are set to be "can't miss" performances by Neon Trees, Dance Gavin Dance, Automatic Loveletter, Panic! At The Disco and more.

A music lover's dream, no doubt. And while fans can have their choice of what events they want to attend, not all the musical buzz will be held at the some 80 stages this year.

For those of you music purists with an affinity for vinyl and the long-lost record store, you're going to want to check out the film portion of SXSW this year. That's because you'll get to see the world premiere of the Official Film of Record Store Day, entitled, Sound It Out.

Sound It Out is a 75-minute documentary that chronicles life in the last surviving record store in Teesside, North East England.

TRAILER: SOUND IT OUT - A documentary by Jeanie Finlay from Jeanie Finlay on Vimeo.

In an all but too-rare phenomenon of the past decade, record stores have become virtually extinct. The availability of music on the internet has led to a serious decline in the sales and marketability of both vinyl and CDs. But, it seems that no matter where you live, there's still just one shop that has stayed open, despite all these setbacks.

And that's exactly what this documentary is looking at (and exactly why you should check it out). Sound It Out may take place over in the UK, but its fundamental meaning is something that rings true from country to country, wherever music is sold.

What does it mean to own a record? Why is it important to have a record shop around? Who even shops for these things anymore? This is what it's all about.

The filmmakers are also asking for a little bit of help from all you audiophiles out there. They've raised enough money to finish the film, but still need quite a bit to make it down to SXSW in Austin from the Northern UK. You can help 'em out by donating, and in return you'll score some sweet stuff. Depending on your donation, you'll receive stickers, a signed poster, a DVD of the film or even a few tickets to a screening in London this spring. To donate, click HERE.

So if you're headed to Texas next month, be sure to catch a screening of Sound It Out. And if you're not, but remain righteous to the cause, hit up the donation page and help the filmmakers out. Only you can keep rock 'n' roll alive.