We’re on the verge of Roctober, and our buddies Minus the Bear are embracing it in full swing. The quintet are dropping a fresh EP, entitled Acoustics on October 7th. The disk will feature 7 tracks, 6 of which are rehashed from previous albums.

MTB Release Exclusive New EP, “Acoustics,” Embark on US Tour!

Hello everyone! News!

Precisely one month ago MTB secretly entered the new Redroom studio in Seattle to bang on some acoustic guitars, tambourines, swizzle stix, snare drums, organ pipes, and vocal chords. What emerged is a new EP, ACOUSTICS, where we’ve re-worked some old faves into some rousing acoustic campfire gems. Also included is a new track, “Guns & Ammo,” that we’ll be premiering on our upcoming US tour (along with another new jam that is definitely not acoustic, if you know what i mean.)

The official press release and tour dates are below.

Hope to see you on the road, we’ll be breaking out some oldies that none of you ninjas have heard live before. BOOSH!

–MTB

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:

Minus The Bear is excited to announce the release of ACOUSTICS, an exclusive seven track EP available this fall. The self-released EP via Tigre Blanco Records will be available in two formats and feature newly recorded acoustic versions of fan favorites from the Seattle quintet’s prolific career and one new track entitled “Guns & Ammo.” Beginning October 7th, ACOUSTICS will be sold digitally via online outlets such as iTunes, Amazon and Emusic. Physical copies of the EP will be sold exclusively on the bands headlining tour beginning in Spokane, WA on October 8th.

A band known for their unique brand of rock n roll full of finger-taping guitar riffs mixed with memorable melodies and progressive arrangements, ACOUSTICS is an excellent inside look into the band’s history of winning and entertaining a rabid and rapidly growing fan base.

TRACK LISTING:

1. Guns & Ammo (new track)
2. We Are Not a Football Team (from the album, Highly Refined Pirates)
3. Burying Luck (from the album, Planet of Ice)
4. Knights (from the album, Planet of Ice)
5. Pachuca Sunrise (from the album, Menos El Oso)
6. Throwin’ Shapes (from the album, Planet of Ice)
7. Ice Monster (from the album, Planet of Ice)

I’m stoked to hear what ‘Knights’ sounds like acoustic. In the meantime, check out the video below, and peep their tour dates after the jump.

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Something that sounds an awful lot like the as-yet-unreleased new Emery EP, While Broken Hearts Prevail, is currently streaming on Myspace under the name “Carl Winslow”. Whoever it is, it sounds fucking badass.

It smells like burritos today, and I’m starving… dammit.

In more relevant news, recently reunited rockers Finch are debuting their first album back on iTunes today. Although it’s only 4 tracks, it is being completely funded by the band, with a physical copy to be released in stores shortly. 2 of the songs, Daylight and From Hell, are streaming on their Myspace page right now. Hop on over to their iTunes store and pick it up, it’s only $4.

Cool Kids, who you can check out above live at The Red Bull House in Ausin during SXSW, are set to release their debut EP on Chocolate Industries later this month:

Chicago-based hip-hop duo The Cool Kids are set to release their debut EP on Chocolate Industries on May 20th exclusively on iTunes, and June 10th on CD and other digital outlets. Heralded by Rolling Stone and many others as an artist to watch in 2008, The Cool Kids have recently toured Europe and Australia as well as selling out shows nationwide. This spring and summer finds them doing spot dates in America, hitting Europe again June 14-July 14, rocking Lollapalooza and appearing on many of the dates on the Rock the Bells tour.

The band will also be on tour this summer in the US and Europe, dates after the jump, as per custom

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Usually my entries into the hallowed halls of the Synthesis Band You’ve Never Heard Of…OF THE DAY!!111 archive have some sort of clever plot device or other thematic tie together. But today’s selection, the Simi Valley based Fire On the Plains is just an honest to God badass band that I you more than likely have never heard of. The band recently completed a West Coast tour, stopping through Chico this past weekend. And though I had heard the songs streaming on their Myspace, which featured the typically pissed vocals and skronking guitars found in most modern thrashy metal bands, the recordings do no justice to the band live. The vocals were heavier, the drums were unflinchingly on point, and the band’s seasoned stage presence belied their youthful exuberance. The band currently has a self-released EP available, and will be playing around Southern California over the next couple of months, including a show with metal upstarts Carnifex. LEARN ABOUT IT!

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Aesop Rocks 5th album None Shall Pass has been granted the release date of August 28th. Following his an EP, this album is his two years in the process and will find Aesop returning to his bread and butter with the majority of the tracks produced by longtime collaborator Blockhead. Haven’t heard any tracks so I don’t have much more to add other than the track list below.

1. Keep Off The Lawn
2. None Shall Pass
3. Catacomb Kids
4. Bring Back Pluto
5. Fumes
6. Getaway Car (feat. Cage and Breeze Brewin)
7. 39 Thieves
8. The Harbor is Yours
9. Citronella
10. Gun For The Whole Family (feat. El-P)
11. Five Fingers
12. No City
13. Dark Heart News (feat. Rob Sonic)
14. Coffee (feat. John Darnielle)