Rancid records at Skywalker Ranch?

George Lucas’ famed Skywalker ranch is home to many projects in the entertainment world- as LA Times writer Geoff Boucher discovered. However, one of things he did notice (that perhaps wasn’t previously known), is that Skywalker Ranch is also home to a recording studio where bands like The Rolling Stones, Third Eye Blind, and Faith Hill have spent time in … but most recently, it was Epitaph punk rockers Rancid, who according to this report, were there for a recording session.

As we know, Rancid are currently working on their new record with Brett Gurewitz. No word of whether they’re actually recording there or whether its post-album touch ups and/or mixing.

Trailer watch: Step Brothers

Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly in another comedy? Yep- the cash cow keeps rollin’ on. This time the duo will feature in comedy Step Brothers; the story of two new step brothers who compete with one another when their single parents get hitched. Yes, I am sure it is much funnier than it sounds.

You can check out the trailer over at Slashfilm.

Against Me! to tour Australia with Crime In Stereo

Anarcho folk punkers Against Me! will be returning to Australian shores this April/May for a nationwide tour. Along for the ride are recent Bridge 9 acquisitions Crime In Stereo, who will be joining AM! for the duration of the trek. The shows kick off April 25th in Brisbane and will continue on until early May for a pair of dates

The Black Keys reveal “Stranger Times” video

Akron, Ohio’s blues rock duo, The Black Keys, have debuted the video for the track “Stranger Times.” The buzzin’ cut is from their upcoming Danger Mouse produced album (the 2nd he’s done for the band), Attack & Release, set to hit stores April 1st.

The record is the follow-up to their 2006 effort Magic Potion, and will the second for

No Use For a Name debut new song

Long running punk rockers No Use For a Name have debuted a brand new song on from their upcoming record, The Feel Good Record of the Year. The new record is set to drop via Fat on April 1st, and the new track, “Biggest Lie,” is now available for streaming on the band’s MySpace page.

The new song is easily the best we’ve heard from them in a long time- seemingly reigniting the fire the band once had. Stellar tune- the new record is really showing some promise now.

No Use for a Name’s last full length studio album was 2005’s Keep Them Confused. It was pretty average.

Video: Angels & Airwaves – “Secret Crowds”

The new video for the Angels & Airwaves track “Secret Crowds,” can now be seen over at MTV. The track is the second single from the band’s latest, I-Empire.

Oscar winners announced; Daniel Day-Lewis, No Country For Old Men win big

Glitz and glam made a return to Hollywood as the 80th edition of the Academy Awards returned with full flair. The post-strike event was a “back to business” affair with all the red carpet pageantry and celebrity returning to show after worries the strike would drastically alter the program.

Worries were cast aside as big names rolled in and picked up a few shiny gold statuettes- with the likes of Daniel Day-Lewis, The Coen Brothers, Marion Cotillard, and Tilda Swinton winning in their respective categories. Day-Lewis, already a Best Actor winner for his role in 1989’s My Left Foot, scooped up the Best Actor Oscar for this role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s much talked-about film, There Will Be Blood.

The Coen Brothers also won big on the night, pulling in the Best Director(s) statue for

Video showdown: Brand New vs. Faber Drive

Good ideas are hard to come by … just ask pop rockers Faber Drive, whose newly debuted video for the track “When I’m With You” reeks of familiarity … especially for Brand New fans, who have already pointed out the striking resemblance to their video for

Audio: Seven Mary Three

Known most frequently in popular music circles for their 1995 hit “Cumbersome,” alternative rockers Seven Mary Three prove that not being in the spotlight doesn’t mean the production isn’t consistent. While fading away from mainstream success, the band have continued to write and record since, and have just recently released their 7th full length album.

Titled Day&nightdriving, the record hit stores last week, but for those wanting samples, you can grab two tracks from the album below (including the album’s first single, “Last Kiss”). 7M3 are out on tour across select cities in North America.

The new songs sound far less grungy than their earliest material- and while it may not spark

The Sneaker Than Changed It All

ESPN does an interesting story on the rise and popularity of those famous basketball sneakers; the Air Jordan. More fascinating perhaps, was the negative effect on lower-income communities the