Some P.O.D. news off the top(I know, they're radio rock, but I don't care; forever a fan, baby!!): the lads are the number-one item at purevolume.com, with their latest album Testify dropping today. Radio's got it, retail's got it, and heaven knows the internet's all over this puppy. Interesting note: 'If It Wasn't For You', a killer song the band performed live in Toronto in December, is not on the full-length, and I was scratching my head in befuddlement before realizing that it had to be off the Warriors EP that came out a while back. Anyway. I think Testify will prove to be Payable's comeback record, following their lacklustre self-titled effort of 2003. Lead single 'Goodbye For Now' is over on their purevolume page, but a better cut might be 'Roots In Stereo' featuring toaster Matisyahu(whose star is rapidly rising), so go find that action somewheres.
A great little label out in Costa Mesa, California called Floodgate has signed yet another band from Florida. Bernard are headquartered in St. Augustine, FL and have played a lot with fellow Sunshine Staters Forever Changed, Denison Marrs and The Myriad(all of whom are on Floodgate). Apparently these guys are quite the live spectacle: "Rarely are words spoken, as each song flows into the next, narrated by a visual presentation." Innnneresting. [cmcentral]
Even though they lost me following 1999's Grammatical Revolution In The Spirit, GRITS are still pumping out quality urban tunes on Gotee Records; this year marks their tenth anniversary, and 7, the duo's seventh album, has thirteen of their 'greatest hits'(such a subjective term),as well as three new tracks and some remixes. 2004's Dichotomy A and Dichotomy B double-album(one released six months after the other) and 2002's The Art of Translation weren't my thing, but they sure got some coverage - and check who they've rocked stages with: Outkast, Goodie Mob(waaaaaaaay back in the day), A Tribe Called Quest and the mighty, mighty DJ Shadow(phenomenal). Wow. 7 is out March 7th.
Something else of interest today over at purevolume.com: Ottawa quartet The Love Machine have hit the front page with their indie-soul muse. Fun.
Two contemporary-Christian acts I actually enjoy, Newsboys and Paul Colman, have joined forces; Colman, late of the Paul Colman Trio(the band parted ways several years ago), has officially joined the mega-popular Australian band as a guitarist/background vocalist/songwriter. Only good can come of this!!
No Use For A Name are coming back to Canada - but not here to Ottawa, where The Fully Down(what up fellas, hope the road's sweet!) opened up for them last year. No, here are the dates:
March 3rd Montreal @ Le Spectrum
March 4th Toronto @ The Opera House
March 13th Winnipeg @ The Ramada Marlborough
March 15th Edmonton @ The Starlight Room & Victory Lounge
March 16th Calgary @ MacEwan Hall Ballroom
March 18th Vancouver @ Richards on Richards
[truthexplosion]