So for those of you who read this site often, you know that when a month is about to close we take a little time and reflect. On music videos that is. There were quite a few this month, so obviously these may not be YOUR favorite, but then again you can always leave a comment and tell us what you think.

5. John Reuben-Town Folk

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John is one of those guys in the Christian hip-hop scene that seems to want to surprise people at every turn. His quirky video for his latest single is no different.

4. August Burns Red- Meddler

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August Burns Red are one of the most solid bands in the heavy scene today. With their third Solid State Records release, Constellations, people are starting to take notice in a real way. The videos keep getting better and better, and the band keeps evolving.

3. Derek Webb- What Matters More

you can’t buy this one because it hasnt been released yet.
Yes, I know, Im posting this song AGAIN. The ubber-controversial song from the Caedmon’s Call member has already been the center of hot debate on this site and many others since this video hit the web. The song is pretty good, and the video is cool as well, which is why it is on the list. However, I would like to once again open the floor to any comments or perspectives on this track.
WARNING: This song does contain a bit of profanity.

2. Bobby Bishop- Please

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I am really liking this trend of having the lyrics pop up in hip-hop videos. Bobby Bishop‘s plead against gang violence makes for a truly stunning and beautiful video that is watchable over and over and over….

1.Owl City-Fireflies

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This is just a cool song, from a new up and comer calling himself Owl City. The video is way cool, which makes for a generally enjoyable experience. If you like the song, AmazonMP3 there has it for free (as of 7/31/09), so go and grab it.

We had a pretty good group this month, but I would like to say something before we go. Over the last few months, I am noticing more  and more labels and bands making music videos that cannot be embedded.  The latest being my REAL number one video for Maylene and The Sons Of Disaster‘s latest single “Step (Im On It)”.  While I understand that you dont want your music to be stolen, a video is at its core an advertisment for the band and the album from which the song comes from. Why would you not want that to be spread all over the place, so the everybody can enjoy your product and in turn maybe buy music in response? Just asking….

This is actually kind of old. Michael Manasseh is a graphic designer, photographer, producer, and pretty awesome hip-hop artist. Mikestands features an array of interesting samples, honest lyrics, and a variation of styles that makes the entire album fresh from track one to the end.  This awesome offering is what believers should be doing with the genre of underground hip-hop. Heartfelt, intelligent, and interesting.

For fans of: Aesop Rock, Busdriver, Kaboose

Click on the link below, save the .ZIP file to your computer, EXTRACT ALL FILES, then share with friends.

Download Michael Manasseh-Mikestands

for all those reading this on Facebook, follow this link to see all the videos

Here is a first look at the cover art for freak-folk pioneer Josh Garrels’ new album, entitled Lost Animals, which (according to his Myspace) will see a “August 2009″ release date. Isnt that next week?:

Below is the video for August Burns Red‘s latest single, “Meddler”

Contemporary Christian/Worship mainstay Tree63 has decided to split after almost ten years together, all saying that they will pursue separate music careers.

Since October has a pretty sweet new video for their song “Guilty”. Cant show it to you though, because like most of the T&N, Solid State, and BEC Recordings videos, we cant embed the videos. I guess free viral advertising is not…..good….anymore….

According to their/his Myspace, Number One Gun is now recording new material. More as it comes to us….

Pop rock band Abandon Kansas is now the latest edition to the Gotee Records family. Congrats to them and Gotee…

Below is the artwork and tracklisting for Future Of Forestry‘s upcoming release, Travel EP II, which will be available Sept. 8th, 2009:

1. Holiday
2. Set Your Sails
3. So Close, So Far
4. Slow Your Breathe Down
5. Hills Of Indigo Blue
6. Someday

Extreme metal band Sinbreed has signed with Ulteriaum Records, and will release their next album through the label sometime in early 2010.

Thousand Foot Krutch have canceled several of their upcoming performances due to frontman Trevor McNaven having an emergency appendectomy on Wednesday. Keep him in your prayers as he recovers from the surgery.

Speaking of Trevor, here is a new video from his other band, FM Static, for the song “Her Father’s Song”:

Last week, we debuted the cover art and tracklisting for Thrice‘s upcoming release, Beggars, which was originally supposed to see a October 8th release date. Not even a day later, the album was illegally leaked to the general public in digital form.  In response, Vagrant Records has pushed up the digital release date to August 11th, with plans to have a several special surprises for the physical CD release date, which Vagrant will give more details on in the very near future.

In celebration of the 10 year existence of Cool Hand Luke, their very first, self-released, full-length CD, I Fought Against Myself, will now be available for download on iTunes.  Don’t steal it, go buy it…and if you have already stolen it because you thought you couldn’t get it anywhere else, well now you can, so put up or shut up.

OneRepublic posted a huge update with details on their new album. Read OneRepublic update.

The Fray recently performed some “unplugged” versions of “You Found Me”, “Say When”, and a cover of Joan Osborne‘s “St.Teresa”. Videos of these performance were posted this week on the magazine’s website. If you read carefully into the article, you will also see that the band is helping American Idol winner Kris Allen with his debut album. Interesting…..Watch The Fray perform for Rolling Stone.

Below is the artwork for Sleeping At Last‘s upcoming release, Storyboards, which will see a physical release date in August (however, if you pre-order the new album from the band, you can already download Storyboards in its entirety):

Houston, Texas metalcore band Before There Was Rosalyn announced this last week that they have signed with Victory Records (Corpus Christi, Comeback Kid, With Blood Comes Cleansing) and will head to the studio very soon. Congrats guys….

An interview with Paramore‘s Hayley Williams was posted over at ShockHound.com. Read Paramore interview.

tobyMac,Wavorly, A Hope For Home, BarlowGirl and Seabird are all in the studio working hard on new CDs for YOU!

Below is the video for “Move”, by hip-hop band Jupiter 7. Enjoy:

Paste Magazine named mewithoutYou their “band of the week”. Read mewithoutYou profile in Paste Magazine.

Ska-core band Send Out Scuds are down a drummer after current stick master Brennen announced he was leaving the band this week.  Look for audition info in the coming weeks.

Below is the music video for Derek Webb‘s new song, “What Matters More”, which will be part of the original version of his upcoming release, Stockholm Syndrome. This album, because of the song below, has caused a lot of controversy for the artist due to some foul language, and as seeming support for the homosexual movement (even though I don’t believe that to be the case). On this website, we are committed to bringing you music that pushes the boundaries of what is traditionally thought of as Christian music. The song in this video is made to do that. However, it does contain language most would deem unsavory. We are posting this not to support Webb‘s decision, but to give you the opportunity to leave your feelings on the song, in a safe and unbiased place. Please though, do not comment if you have not listened first.

Ghosts Of The Past
Starflyer 59
Tooth & Nail Records
Alternative
Buy NOW:
Amazon

Life Gets Loud…
Mark Lowry
Spring House Records
Contemporary
But NOW:
Amazon

Haunted Horse Songs Of Love and Defiance
Neon Horse
Tooth & Nail Records
Alternative
Buy NOW:
Amazon

People Get Ready
Melinda Watts
Razor & Tie Records
R&B/Soul
Buy NOW:
Amazon

Black And Read All Over
Sareem “Sharlock” Poems
2.O.G. Entertainment
Hip-Hop
Buy NOW:
Amazon

So if you were here last week, we introduced you to Austin’s own Jets Under Fire. They play progressive atmospheric rock, and they embody the description 100%.  Lots of soaring melody, guitar effects, electronic under tones, and cryptic lyrics create an all-in-one type of experience for fans of trippy, dream inducing rock music. This time around, they keep things a little on the up-tempo, exploring even more of their already expansive sound. In fact the last track even has a little Nine Inch Nails to it, if I can say that. Download it to see what I am talking about.

For fans of: Kings Of Leon, Foo Fighters, Hundred Year Storm

Click on the link below, save the .ZIP file to your computer, EXTRACT ALL FILES, and enjoy.

Download Jets Under Fire-EP2

Two bands, Texas In July and An Early Ending, who were on tour together, were involved in a massive car crash while traveling between cities.  Several members in both bands are in serious condition, and while none of the band members were killed, the woman who caused the wreck died from a heart attack moments before the accident. Please be in prayer for both bands. Read Texas In July statement. Read An Early Ending statement.

Wrench In The Works is in the studio right now working on their sophomore Facedown Records release.

As Cities Burn has decided to call it a day.  Sad to see them go, but it has been coming for awhile now…

Below is the new music video from John Reuben for his new song called “Town Folk”:

About.com is doing a six-part interview with hip-hop artist Bobby Bishop, which will play out over the course of the next few weeks. Read Bobby Bishop interview.

Yuri from MXPX was interviewed by PETA2 recently, and the exchange made it to the web this week. Read MXPX inteview.

Atmospheric rock band Dreamer Dreamer have decided to break up, due to difficulties with various members going off to college . Their last show will be this week.

Below is the album cover and tracklisting for posi-hardcore band Take It Back!‘s upcoming EP entitled Rumors Of Revolt, which will hit the streets Aug.18th, 2009.

1. New Empires
2. What We Are Fighting For
3. American Fantasy
4. Rise Above
5. To Burn Again

Below is the video for “Fireflies” by electro-pop project Owl City.

Thedailyrock.com did an interview with Maylene and The Sons Of Disaster that surfaced on their website this week. Read Maylene and The Sons Of Disaster interview.

Below is the album artwork and tracklisting for solo artist Josh Wilson‘s upcoming release, entitled Life Is Not A Snapshot EP. It will be out on Sept.8th, 2009.

1. Sing
2. Before The Morning
3. Listen
4. Do You Want To Know
5. How To Fall
6. Right In Front Of Me
7. Amazing Grace

Here is a new music video by Molly Jenson for her song “Wait For You Here”:

Classic rock band Thieves & Liars are also in the studio right now putting the finishing touches on their sophomore Dreamt Music release.

Below is the artwork and tracklisting for Thrice‘s upcoming release, entitled Beggars, which will be released on Oct.8th, 2009.

1.All The World Is Mad
2.The Weight
3.Circles
4.Doublespeak
5.In Exile
6.At The Last
7.Wood & Wire
8.Talking Through Glass
9.The Great Exchange
10.Beggars

Below is the new music video from hip-hop artist Canton Jones with his song “Kingdom Business”:

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association did a documentory style interview with hip-hop artist Lecrae to best capture his “story” on film. Watch it below, it is really freakin good.

Creator
Hands
Facedown Records
Prog Metal
Buy NOW:
Amazon

Battlefield
Jordin Sparks
Jive Records
R&B/Pop
Buy NOW:
Amazon

Murder By Pride
Stryper
Big3 Records
Hair Metal
Buy NOW:
Amazon

Lex Metalis
Ultimatum
Retroactive Records
Metal

So here is the thing, and Im not trying to be rude, but if you have no idea who Norma Jean is,  you have been living under a rock the last 6 six years. This is one of the bands that has had some much crossover appeal, that people now classify OTHER bands by saying stuff like “oh, they sound like Norma Jean“. The band started when most of the core members were in high school, and a after a few members changes over the years, Norma Jean is still taking over the world. We caught up with frontman Cory at Red Letter Rock fest this year…and man, he was……very honest.

Norma Jean interview part 1:

Norma Jean interview part two:

Check out the band doing their thing with their video for the song ” Robots 3 Humans 0″

So after a few week of hip-hop and electronica, I thought we could feature a little rock for a change.  I believe this particular free download is way great. Jets Under Fire are a progressive rock band from right here in ol Austin Texas. Their music runs the gamut of mellow Radiohead-esque dream pop, to straight atmospheric trance rock. All in all these guys are all about creating a heavy mood with their intelligent blend of guitar rock and electronic back beats.  EP1 features three songs, and if you are REALLY nice to me I will post EP2 next week.

For fans of: Muse, Kings Of Leon, The Rocketboys

Click on the link below, save the .ZIP file to your computer, EXTRACT ALL FILES, and enjoy.

Download Jets On Fire-EP1

Below is the artwork and tracklisting for Needtobreathe‘s upcoming CD The Outsiders:

1. Garden
2. Girl Named Tennessee
3. Hurricane
4. Lay ‘Em Down
5. Let Us Love
6. Prisoner
7. Something Beautiful
8. Stones
9. The Outsiders
10. These Hard Times
11. Through Smoke
12. Valley Of Tomorrow
13. What You’ve Done To Me
14. Won’t Turn Back

Kutless now has a new video for their song “To Know That You’re Alive”, watch it below:

So Phil, the vocalist for the sadly now defunct youth crew/hardcore band The Red Baron has revived his hip-hop project called Wonder?. Check out Wonder?’s music on his Myspace.

A new song from the album Beggars, Thrice‘s upcoming release, will be featured in the latest song pack for theGuitar Hero video game. I wish I played video games…

An interview with Andrew Schwab of Project 86 made its way onto Indie Vision Music this week. Read Project 86 interview.

Hip-hop newcomer Explicit has a new video for his song “Jesus Rocks”. He is representing Christ…and Texas, so watch the video:

Our boy (morse) has finally broken his silence with a little update. Basically, he is really busy. Read (morse) update.

According to a letter issued by hip-hop label Syntax Records (Braille, Kaboose, ect.), hip-hop artist RedCloud has been suspended by the label for “substance abuse”. Read the full statement concerning RedCloud.

Recording news:

• As I Lay Dying will be taking the next few months off from touring to begin work on their next album. Finally…

• According to news reports/twitter posts, Eisley is well into recording their third full length. Expect an early 2010 late 2009 release date.

• BEC Recordings hip-hop artist Manafest is apparently working on two new albums, a straight hip-hop CD and a more rock inspired one. They will both most likely see a 2010 release date.

• Relient K are eyeing a Oct. 6th release date for their new CD, entitled Forget And Not Slow Down.

• Solid State Records metal band The Famine are tracking new material as we speak, stay tuned for more.