Saturday, September 20, 2025

Around the Tubes: September 20, 2025

  

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on FuturamaSolar Opposites, Raye, Lenny Kravitz, Lyn Lapid, ZZ Ward, myah, googly eyes, Joy Oladokun, and Allison Ponthier, Kid Cudi, Belles, Fall Out Boy, and Wicked: For Good


All episodes of Futurama now streaming on Hulu.  New episodes premiere on FXX, Mondays at 8PM, with two episodes airing weekly.  Bender is rampaging out of control! A volcano is about to explode! Fry confronts a rival for Leela's love! And Dr. Zoidberg is rising up to heaven?! The excitement might be too much! You've been warned... it's an all new season of FUTURAMA!


The sixth and final season of Solar Opposites will premiere on Monday, October 13th on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.  Once their alien diamond making machine gets destroyed, the Solar Opposites must face their greatest challenge yet: living their expensive lives on a budget! When their consumerist habits and expensive hobbies are gone, only their true selves will remain... but will they like who they find? ALSO: The epic story of the people of The Wall has all built to this thrilling and shocking conclusion…


Currently featured on the October cover of British Vogue (read here), three-time GRAMMY-nominated global music superstar RAYE returns today with the new single and video “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” out now on all digital streaming platforms via Human Re Sources/The Orchard. Co-written and produced with longtime collaborator Mike Sabath, the track marks the first release off her highly-anticipated sophomore album, due to arrive in 2026 – LISTEN HERE // WATCH HERE // PRE-ORDER ALBUM HERE.   “WHERE IS MY HUSBAND!” is a sassy yet sincere ode to RAYE’s search for her life partner. Fusing funky brass, syncopated R&B beats, and glossy soul-pop production, the track showcases RAYE's signature soaring vocals and layered harmonies. Fans first heard the song as the opening number of her acclaimed Glastonbury set this summer, with subsequent performances at All Points East and the Montreux Jazz Festival.


Multi-GRAMMY® Award-winning artist and consummate creative Lenny Kravitz celebrates the 30TH anniversary of his seminal fourth full-length album, Circus, with the release of a new Digital Deluxe Edition, out now. This definitive version notably boasts 13 bonus tracks previously unavailable for streaming anywhere. Listen to Circus (Digital Deluxe Edition) HERE via Virgin Records/UMe.  The unreleased material spans a rare acoustic version of the title track “Circus” in addition to live recordings of such classics as “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” “Let Love Rule, “Always on the Run, and more. Additionally, it houses a trio of bonus sought-after studio tracks, namely “Another Life, “Confused, and “Is It Me, Is It You?, which previously were available only a limited edition 10” EP (and were included on a 2018 vinyl pressing of the album) but never surfaced on streaming platforms—until now. As such, Kravitz presents the most comprehensive iteration of Circus and this fertile creative era.


Following the success of her debut album released earlier this spring, Gold-Certified singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Lyn Lapid returns with the deluxe version titled BUZZKILL (forever), out now via Mercury Records—listen HEREBUZZKILL (forever) features four new tracks, including Lapid’s latest single “settle,” which has quickly become a fan favorite after Lyn first began teasing it online.  BUZZKILL (forever) expands on the original album’s narrative, following Lyn’s journey through the mixed emotions and experiences surrounding her move from her small suburban hometown in Maryland to the bustling city of Los Angeles. The songs touch on feelings of loneliness and not belonging, and then evolve into radical self-acceptance and newfound confidence. See the full tracklist below. Following the album release, Lyn embarked on her BUZZKILL North American Headline Tour, and recently supported Alex Warren for various shows on his current headline run. 


Blues-rock powerhouse ZZ Ward today releases Liberation: Deluxe Edition (Sun Records), a dynamic expansion of her acclaimed March 2025 LP. The deluxe set adds unreleased gems—including the new single “Halfway There”—and a slate of live recordings captured at East West Studios in Los Angeles and the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis.  “This expanded version means a lot to me because it shares songs we purposely held back from the original album, not because they didn’t belong, but because they were so special we wanted to give them their own moment,” says Ward. “Altogether, the deluxe album shows more sides of my artistry and feels like both a celebration of the music and a personal milestone.”


Los Angeles-based alt/indie pop singer-songwriter and filmmaker myah shares the horror comedy themed official music video for the emo-tinged track "dissolveout now. Self-directed and edited, myah puts her own cinematic, comedic spin on taking ownership for her own mistakes and heartbreak.  Myah sees music videos as an opportunity to embellish her own life experiences and turn them into full-blown cinema. Myah shares,“The opening lyric of dissolve is, ‘uh oh, I’ve done it again’, which is me calling myself out for making the same mistakes and then crashing out over them. If my songs tell the story of my life, then the music videos are the heightened versions of those stories. I think that's why I like directing and editing these so much."  Watch "dissolve" (Official Music Video)


All Things Go reveals the music video for the poignant collaboration between googly eyes, Joy Oladokun, and Allison Ponthier; “Jesus and John Wayne.” In the last few weeks, Maren Morris (prod Jack Antonoff) “Welcome to the End” and Kesha with Orville Peck (ft Hudson Mohawke, Tayla)’s “Tennessee” were released as well.  These songs will be found on the forthcoming benefit compilation All Things Go: 10 Years, with 100% of the proceeds going to their longtime collaborators at The Ally Coalition (TAC), a leading nonprofit dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth. The compilation, featuring a diverse lineup of special original songs and collaborations from artists in the All Things Go community, will be available this fall. See the full tracklist, featuring an exciting collection of both marquee and emerging names from the festival’s history.


GRAMMY® Award-winning multi-platinum sonic visionary, artist, producer, actor, director and New York Times Best-Selling author, Kid Cudi releases the official music video for “Mr. Miracle,” written, directed, and score soundtrack done by Scott Mescudi with features from Cudi himself and Lakeith Stanfield - watch HERE.   “Mr. Miracle” arrived on Cudi’s 13th studio album ‘Free’ last month. Alongside the release, he sat down for an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple’s New Music Daily Radio. Cudi kicked off this new chapter with “Neverland,” the first single off ‘Free’ and premiered his short film of the same title, directed by Ti West and produced by Monkeypaw Productions, at Tribeca Film Festival. 


Country artist Belles drops the official music video for “Ring on the Table,” the focal track from her self-titled debut EP, now streaming everywhere hereWatch the official music video for “Ring on the Table” here.  Directed by Sydney Tooley, the official music video for “Ring on the Table” delivers a raw, cinematic portrayal of a love story unraveling, filmed at Scuba Nashville Quarry and in a charming house in East Nashville. The video features a relationship’s descent from picture-perfect beginnings to heartbreak and survival. With striking cinematography by Corbin Schmidt, the video captures the emotional core of the track.


GRAMMY® Award-nominated iconic multiplatinum rock band Fall Out Boy celebrates two decades of their influential 5x-Platinum breakthrough album, From Under The Cork Tree, with a very special new 20TH Anniversary Edition out October 17, 2025, via UMe. The original LP’s 13 songs are newly remastered, while the collection notably boasts previously unreleased alternate and acoustic versions as well as remixes, live recordings, B-sides, and more. It also captures key performances from this era with special “Live On BBC Radio” tracks. From Under The Cork Tree (20TH Anniversary Edition) will be available in multiple configurations, including a massive 3LP Deluxe Box, 2CD Deluxe Box, and Super Deluxe Digital. Pre-order From Under The Cork Tree (20TH Anniversary Edition) now HERE. Shop the anniversary collection now HERE.  The group heralds its arrival by sharing the highly sought-after B-side “Start Today” on all streaming services. Fall Out Boy originally recorded this Gorilla Biscuits cover for inclusion on Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland Soundtrack in 2005. Prior to, the song was only available on the compilation and in the accompanying video game. However, this high-energy fan favorite finally lands on streaming platforms today! Listen HERE.


Republic Records and Verve Records announce that the soundtrack for the emotional, electrifying conclusion to Universal Pictures’ global cinematic Wicked sensation, Wicked: For Good - The Soundtrack will be released November 21, the same day the film arrives in theaters everywhere.  Pre-order Wicked: For Good - The Soundtrack HERE.  Stephen Schwartz comments on the soundtrack announcement, “I’m especially happy that the soundtrack album for Wicked: For Good has so much new music on it.  In addition to two brand new songs, there is a lot that’s new in several other existing songs.  So not only listeners coming to the score for the first time, but long-time fans of the original Broadway cast album, will have a great deal to discover.” 



Sunday, September 14, 2025

57 Channels and Only This Is On: September 14, 2025

 

Task:  Some wild characters in this one.  The girl from CODA is a hillbilly with a mullet.  The girl from Conversations with Friends has no filter and a bad hair dye, Ward Meecham grew his hair out.  Who would have guess that Sir Criton Cole would end up being the most well-adjusted character?  But you really need some interesting character if you are going to stretch for seven episodes when it bis pretty obvious how it is going to end.

 

The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon:  Always disappointing when the title of an episode spoils what is going to happen.  Considering Costa da Morte is in Spain, it was pretty obvious that were not going no make it back to America.  And they killed of Stephan Merchant way too early.  These Walking Dead shows could really use some comedic relief.

 

Only Murders in the Building:  So, the police ruled Lester’s death an accident.  What if they are right?  This could a fake out like the season two finale murder that turned out not to be a murder.  We did get another death that could satisfy the title of the podcast.  In the limited flashbacks, we saw Lester running from something and then hit his head on the fountain.  Granted it is had to explain why exactly Lester went into the fountain.

 

As for the other death, the autopsy scene was hilarious.  I wonder if the crooked cops tie back to season one where Tim Kono’s toxicology report was conveniently not done.  Speaking of Tim Kono, it was nice seeing him again and other dearly departed residents (it was also nice seeing the therapist after taking two seasons off).  I wonder if we will get more flashbacks and if Tye-Dye Guy and/or Zoe will return for them.  Of yeah, and we finally got a Three Amigos reunion in the flashbacks, just not the one I was expecting.

 

Then we leave on the cliffhanger where it looks like Logan Lerhman’s character might be missing a finger.  We know Nicky “the Neck” has all his fingers, and Charles thinks he felt 11 fingers on Lester (I cannot imagine what fingers 10 and 11 were if Lester was missing a finger; I do not even want to think about the 11th finger is if he was not missing any).  Just how does a billionaire’s finger end up in wedding shrimp?  We all know what the mob does when you do not pay your debts, but is a millionaire going to have a hard time paying debts? 

 

Oh, and I hope we get more of the brothers this season.

 

Alien: Earth:  Sigh, more extremely dumb character actions done basically just to move the plot forward.  I get these are ten-year-olds and inherently stupid, but c’mon, why is that dude going all the way into the zoo?  Crack the door open and slide in the tray and close it as fast as possible.  But no excuse for the actual adult trying to rescue the robot by himself.  He is leaking milk; the damage is done.  Call a cleanup crew, do not try and do it yourself.  But if the eyeball monster is so smart and keeps getting these humans and robots killed by his fellow aliens, how did it, or any of these other aliens get caught by these incompetent morons?

 

The Challenge: Vets and New Threats:  Meh, if you are going to do go-karts, at include Mario Kart type obstacles instead of puzzles.  But now that the rookies have devoured one of their own, I do wonder if there will be further cracks.  That seems to happen a lot on shows like this.

 

Peacemaker:  This just felt like filler since we know ARGUS is going to get into the dimensional pocket thing.  We also know Peacemaker is going to survive the ambush next week.