Great californian alternative rock band Black Lab have just announced that their new album "Black Lab Unplugged" is now available for pre-order.

This is the band's first acoustic album, featuring unplugged versions of 13 Black Lab favorites as well as 3 new songs.

"Breaking the songs down into pieces and then building them back using piano, acoustic guitar, cello, hand percussion and trap kit, we taught ourselves a new way of working and are strangely pleased about their mesmerizing new forms" says mainman Paul Durham, "focused on the songs and what minimal embellishment would best serve them, we drilled down to the core of each one and gave it new life, bringing the acoustic versions we play live directly to you".

If you remember, I told you about the new, very good album by The Anix, "Sleepwalker", a couple of months ago.

Now the band is releasing a free song for their fans, the electro-acoustic version of "Burn", a cover of The Cure song originally featured on the soundtrack of "The Crow", one of the movies that inspired the sound of "Sleepwalker".

Download this alternative version of "Burn" by clicking on the image.

The "normal" version of this cover song appears on "Sleepwalker" and features the great futurepop norwegian band Apoptygma Berzerk.

AWOLNATION have just premiered on MTV their new, amusing video for the song "Not Your Fault", off their first full-length album "Megalithic Symphony", released last March via Red Bull Records.

For those who don't know who AWOLNATION are, I can tell you that they're the solo project of Aaron Bruno, formerly of Under the Influence of Giants and Hometown Hero. Their music blends various influences together -synth pop, indie rock, hip-hop, punk rock and a lot more. Enjoy the new video by clicking on the image and let us know what you think.

The Dead Famous is a four piece act from London, UK, consisting of ex-members of Elliot Minor, Go:Audio and Saving Aimee. This still unsigned poprock band debuted a few weeks ago with their first single named "Superstar", available for free at their  website, where you can also listen to other four tracks. Among these, there's "Tell The World", which you can watch a live video by clicking on the image on the left.

For up-to-date infos, pictures etc., follow The Dead Famous visiting their facebook page.

p.s. Thanks to my dear friend Ewelina for introducing me to this promising band.

This is a special week for mainstream rock lovers, with the releases of the new Nickelback, Daughtry and James Durbin albums.   I'm sure most of you knows the first two acts, while for many James Durbin could be a new name: James is a singer and guitar player from Santa Cruz, California, who had a successful run on Season 10 of "American Idol", reaching the final four. He earned a contract with Wind-up Records and has his debut studio album "Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster" released today. The album, produced by knobs-guru Howard Benson, features, among the guests, Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars, Marti Frederiksen, swedish rockers Hardcore Superstar and Sixx:A.M. singer James Michael.

The album, produced by Paul Epworth (Adele, Friendly Fires, Bloc Party, Primal Scream) was released last October 31st on Island Records and debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, and was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) in its first week of sales. Selling 105,000 units in its opening week in the United States, the album entered the Billboard 200 at number six, while debuting at the top of the Rock Albums, Digital Albums and Alternative Albums charts. Not bad at all!

Watch the beautiful music video for "No Light, No Light" clicking on the frame here on the left.

Alternative rock band from Nashville, TN Lovers And Liars decided to make a present to all of their fans as a thank you for their support: a 3-tracks EP called "Permanent Relapse" (with a nice cover: click on it to enlarge the image).

"Your support through this rollercoaster has meant the world. Your comments and connections are the reason I share these experiences through music" says frontman Stacy Hogan. "A couple of tunes have been leaked on the net for a while, but they’ve all been remixed, and most of them will be brand spankin’ new to even the most avid bootlegger. There are many more tunes that we’ve already finished, and they’ll be here before you know it…". Let's hope so, because they're are a true interesting band.

If you like your rock hard, glamorous, punkish 'n' sleazy, then you should try Chicago based band The Last Vegas. Their last album "Whatever Gets You Off" (2009) was produced by Nikki Sixx, Sixx:A.M. guitarist DJ Ashba, as well as Marti Frederiksen. The american outfit is going to release their new full-length "Other Side" in early 2012, this time with Johnny K (Staind, 3 Doors Down, Finger Eleven, Plain White T's, Machine Head) at the production helm.

Meanwhile, you can download for free the 3-tracks "Other Side EP" (click on the image to be redirected to the download page) and watch the  video for the title-track of the album/ep, starring cult actress Sybil Danning (Howling II, Halloween - The Beginning, Werewolf Women of the SS) here.