While we’ve been working hard to get you the latest news from the bands and artists you love so much, we also want you guys to be as involved with this site as we are! So, we’re introducing our Weekend Free For All!

Here’s the deal:
In the comments section of this post, post anything you want related to any music news you’ve heard recently. It’s a chance to let others know about an upcoming tour or CD release that we might have missed, or a band we have yet to feature. Did you take an awesome photo at a show this week? Did you hear about a band makeup or breakup? Go ahead and share it with everyone! And if you see something you like in the comments, go ahead and comment about that! We basically want this to be the opportunity for you guys to get connected with one another and with us on the site (we’re all about making friends here).

The rules (just so people won’t get a bit too free and wild):
1. No profanity or obscene photos, please. We will be monitoring all comments, so if we see
any of the sort, it’s getting pulled immediately.
2. If you post band information, please cite the source for others to go look at (give a legit link, or these posts may be pulled as well)

Have fun guys!! :]

While Almost A-List has been featuring a ton of rock news lately, don’t get it twisted–we love hip hop too! We recently had the chance to send out a few questions to New York based hip hop trio, True 2 Life, a group that is sure to bring the meaning back to the hip hop scene.
These guys have shared the stage with Lupe Fiasco and T-Pain, and we’re sure that’s just the beginning. Not to mention, seeing as Almost A-List is brought to you by a pair of Cornell undergrads, it was extra special to pseudo-interview our own. True 2 Life is comprised of Cornell alumni K.Words, Concise, and Slangston Hughes (and before you even ask, I’m pretty sure that is not their real names).

ALMOST A-LIST: Many Cornell students (and I’m sure college students everywhere) have been wondering–you came to the Ivy League as undergrads for a reason…what was it, and how did you decide to leave as rappers?

K.WORDS: Well, I came in thinking I was gonna be a big time sports or entertainment lawyer. The Black Jerry McGuire. Show Me the Money. But… when I got to school and met Concise, things changed. He taught me how to make beats, and soon I was making beats and writing rhymes… along wit Slang, the team was making music… and we got good at it… and then we got REALLY good at it. Sooner or later we realized it would be a crime to not pursue the music. I was getting D’s in class and failing midterms, but i never really cared as long as the beat I made that day was hot… that’s where my mind was, honestly. Just didn’t wanna fail out so i could stay up there [in school] with the group…
Continue Reading »

Girl Talk, a true artist in the music industry, announced yesterday that the “new album” that has leaked on the internet is a fake. Girl Talk was not involved with the making of this album in any way, and apparently the sample source, quality, and production is not representative of his prior work.
I personally have not heard this album, but let me just say that Girl Talk is purely genius. In case you don’t know about his work, he takes samples from a number of different songs (at least eight or nine) and blends them together into pure art. It’s rare to find someone that has the talent to blend that many songs together and actually create something that sounds brilliant. The “controversy” behind this artist, however, is the whole copyright law, and the fact that you aren’t supposed to sample songs from other artists without getting permission (although I’m sure many people do this regardless–just look at the media on Youtube).

For those of you who have gotten a chance to peep this fake album, let us know what you think! I’m curious if the mystery person behind this fake album has any decent skills of their own. And hey, if you’re totally down with what Girl Talk is doing, let us know that too!

Their new song “Locked and Loaded”, which we featured last week, is the sweetest pop your ears have been yearning for since you turned in all your Backstreet Boys and *NSync paraphernalia for something more “mature”. The Arrival’s sound is a hybrid of pop, rock, r&b, and just down right happiness. In preparation of their upcoming EP, Believe the Hype, the guys have decided to debut a new song from the EP on their Myspace every Sunday until its release on April 8^th. We had the chance to chat with The Arrival’s drummer, Hondu Knight.

ALMOST A-LIST: For those people out there that aren’t familiar with your band, why don’t you give them a bit of background in terms of what you’ve been up to, who you’ve been able to work with on your new EP, etc.

HONDU KNIGHT: The band started back in 2005. I wasn’t the original drummer. They did some tours and put out an EP they recorded with Matt Goldman (whose done Copeland, Underoath). They toured on it for about a year and then the old drummer decided to leave. So they all kind of went their own ways and Jeff ended up writing “Locked and Loaded” in the Fall of 2006. In February of 2007, they asked me to be in the band. We demoed some new songs and labels hit us up. Then we took off to NYC and showcased in November, came home, and recorded and produced the Believe the Hype EP ourselves in December. We got hit up to do the Racing Kites Tour and we just decided to bust ass.
Continue Reading »

In an honest and heart-felt blog released by lead singer Brendan, it was announced today that The Receiving End of Sirens will be saying goodbye to the many fans they have affected over the past few years. In the blog posted on the band’s Myspace, Brendan notes how the decision to end TREOS was not due to any conflict of interest that he had with the rest of the band members, or a lack of love and appreciation for the music they had written. Instead, Brendan has decided to take up his new commitment full time–being a father to his newborn son!
While I’m definitely sad that one of the best rock/experimental bands out there is saying goodbye, I’m thankful that TREOS has put out some brilliant records, did some amazing shows, and had an awesome time doing something they love. I wish the guys the best of luck with whatever they plan on doing in the future, and congratulations to Brendan on his new baby! I’m sure it was a difficult decision to make, but I think he put his priorities in the right place. We’ll undoubtedly remember TREOS through the music they have made, which I’m sure the guys are thankful for.