You know sometimes I like to cover more established acts aside the emerging ones. This always happens when Texan indie/alternative heroes Blue October deliver a new album.

Home is their eight studio album, co-produced and mixed by the band's long time collaborator and music legend Tim Palmer (David Bowie, Robert Plant, Pearl Jam, U2, Ozzy Osbourne, Tears For Fears, Goo Goo Dolls just to name a few of the acts he worked with).

Home was released a few hours ago and immediately hit the #1 spot on the iTunes Alternative Albums chart. Needless to say it's much deserved, as this is yet another exceptional record by Justin Furstenfeld & Co.

This is what Justin wrote to his friends on Facebook on the eve of the album's release: "I'm more than moved by all of the support you've given us. I believe that we've all gone on a tremendous journey together. A journey where hopefully we've learned that winning means that we've found that joy is reachable, that peace is a breath away, and we don't have to join every fight we are asked to attend. If someone were to tell me four years ago that I would be writing an album with my boys @harvard_of_the_south @tufstrings @orbstudiosatx and @timpalmermixer how to live our life to the fullest I would've laughed in your face. The fact that we were able to put all of our focus on such positivity and strength and dismiss everything else still puts me in awe."

If you still haven't, watch the video for the title-track and leading single of the album Home and, of course, go buy this magic album. By the way, the cover image is a painting created by artist Rhys Bright depicting Jeremy and Justin Furstenfeld's parents' first kiss.

Tufstrings is the solo project of Ryan Delahoussaye, multi-instrumentalist and founding member of alternative rock giants Blue October.

Tufstrings was released last month on Blue Beast Records. It's not an album for the die-hard rock freaks, but one for the more open minded of you: we're talking of a stunning EP with 6 wonderful, instrumental, violin-led songs that every single Music (with the capitol "M") lover must try.
As it's on Spotify, please do yourself a favour and stream this emotional, breath-taking mini-album now!

A few days ago I presented on these columns Harvard Of The South, an Alternative band from Austin/San Marcos, TX and Brooklyn, featuring Steve Schlitz (of Hurricane Bells and Longwave), Jeremy and Justin Furstenfeld and Matt Noveskey (of Blue October).

Today Harvard Of The South premiered the video for "All Our Ashes," the first single from their upcoming debut EP "Miracle", to be released next week on April 7. Check it now clicking on the image on the left.

Harvard Of The South is a band from Austin/San Marcos, TX and Brooklyn. It includes Steve Schlitz (of Hurricane Bells and Longwave), Jeremy and Justin Furstenfeld and Matt Noveskey (of Blue October).

"Miracle" is the title of the first EP of the band, to be released next April 7. HOTS have just revealed the first track from the EP, "All Our Ashes," on Yahoo! Hear It First. Click on the image and enjoy some really alternative and original stuff.

And here it is: the video for Blue October's new single "Fear (Phil Tan Radio Mix)" is premiering now on VH1. Click on the image to watch it.

The original version of this wonderful, magic track is featured on "Sway", the latest studio album of the Texan band, released in the August of last year through Up/Down - Brando Records.

An important update from the Blue October's front. Directly from the band's mouth:

"We are excited to launch this very special PledgeMusic campaign that with your support will enable us to complete and release a documentary film that we have been shooting over the last few years.   This will also empower us to shoot our first live concert DVD in over ten years, performing our favorite songs from our last four albums.

Along with the live concert CD and live concert DVD and your very own copy of the documentary film, you'll find some amazing, unique exclusives, from limited edition posters and t-shirts to creative writing sessions with Justin and red carpet pre-screening events of the documentary film.
We can't thank you enough for your support on the "Sway" PledgeMusic campaign and are excited for you to be a part of these new projects. We will send out exclusive updates throughout the process, giving you an inside look into the creation of both the live dvd, live cd, and the documentary film."

In related news, Blue October have just released a new single from their last studio album "Sway". It's the Phil Tan radio mix of "Fear": buy it on iTunes for just 69¢.

Great news for all the Blue October fans out there: frontman Justin Furstenfeld will release his first solo album "Songs From An Open Book" on September 2.

The album will feature songs as they were originally written, with only a Guild acoustic guitar and a single vocal track. Justin is promoting the album with a nationwide U.S. tour, as well as dates in Germany and England. The shows will consist of spoken word, a question-and-answer session, and an acoustic set of intimate versions of fan-favorite Blue October songs.
The evening will focus on breaking down the walls between artist and audience, and will provide fans with the most access to Justin ever available.

Many of the songs included in "Songs From An Open Book" have appeared on previous releases by Blue October and The Last Wish (the first band of Justin), however seven of the tracks are new or previously unreleased songs. The previously unreleased songs are "Can And Cannot Say", "A Funny Thing", "The Birthday Present", "The Apology", "The Sarah Story" and "Up There". "Consent To Treatment" is the name of Blue October's second album but the song itself is a new track.

In related news, Blue October will film their two shows at the House Of Blues in Dallas at the end of November for the band's first live DVD in over 10 years. Be there if you can.

Here they are again with a brand new video: my favorite rock band - yes, Blue October - are premiering today on Vevo the clip for "Sway", the wonderful title-track of their latest album, released last Summer through Up/Down - Brando Records.

The video was directed by Bongani Mlambo, who already directed the previuos one, "Angels In Everything". Watch "Sway" now clicking on the image on the left.