Around the Tubes: July 12, 2025

 

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on King of the Hill, Ben Folds, Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton, Sting, Maren Morris, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Sydney Rose, Dropkick Murphys, The Weeknd, Yusuf / Cat Stevens, Morgan Myles, Marcus King Band, Conan Gray, Kid Cudi, and Lorde.

- Season 14 of King of the Hill picks up several years after we last saw the Hill family - Hank and Peggy Hill are now retired and return to a changed Arlen after years of working in Saudi Arabia; and Bobby is 21 and living his best life while navigating adulthood as a chef in Dallas.  New season premieres with 10 episodes on Monday, August 4 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+

- Ben Folds is celebrated Independence Day with the release of Ben Folds Live with the National Symphony Orchestra, a brand-new album recorded in concert at the sold-out Concert Hall of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC on October 25 and 26, 2024 – mere months before Folds resigned his position as the first ever Artistic Advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) following President Trump’s decision to seize control of the esteemed Kennedy Center. The album is available now at all DSPs and streaming services; multiple physical products are available, including CDs, signed CDs, standard black vinyl, signed standard black vinyl, opaque white vinyl, signed opaque white vinyl, signed metallic gold vinyl, and limited-edition Coke Bottle green vinyl.  Fans can purchase the album as an exclusive signed CD from TalkShopLive. Watch HERE.

- Country music giants Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton deliver their first true duet collaboration with “A Song To Sing,” reflecting the truth of giving one’s soul to the music and heart to the one at home. Written together with Jesse Frasure and Jenee Fleenor, the song available everywhere now is set to impact Country radio on Monday, July 14. Listen HERE.  The sound is indelible, rising from an era that’s shaped the last five decades of Country music. When Lambert and Stapleton emerge from the low-key shuffle, smoky Wurlitzer clouds and silken guitars, it’s obvious that “A Song To Sing” is destined to join the list of most-beloved classic Country duets. Trading lines before soaring together on the chorus, the longtime friends deliver a poignant message about finding peace and purpose in love – and in the music made along the way

- 17-time GRAMMY® Award-winning artist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® Inductee Sting commemorates the 40^th anniversary of his 1985 solo debut, The Dream Of The Blue Turtles, with the release of a Digital-Only special Expanded Edition available now on all streaming platforms.  Listen to The Dream Of The Blue Turtles (Expanded Edition) HERE.  The Dream Of The Blue Turtles (Expanded Edition) is notably outfitted with a plethora of unearthed material, including 13 tracks previously unavailable on DSPs. These range from the B-Side “Another Day” to multiple rare remixes of “If You Love Somebody Set Them Free” and “Love Is The Seventh Wave,” as well as an alternate mix of “Moon Over Bourbon Street (Cornelius Mix)” and “Fortress Around Your Heart (Hugh Padgham Remix).” This robust version of the album showcases seminal songs in a different light, offering a new perspective to the LP on its 40^th anniversary.

- The Soho Sessions returns to the Hamptons with a rare intimate performance by Grammy Award-winning artist Maren Morris at the iconic Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett on August 25, 2025. While The Soho Sessions is typically an invitation-only music series held at an elegantly intimate loft in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood, this special Hamptons edition opens its doors to the public for one night only—offering a rare chance to see one of music’s most compelling voices in an unforgettable setting.  Morris has earned critical and commercial acclaim for her boundary-pushing sound, blending country, soul, and pop with undeniable lyrical power. Known for chart-topping hits like “The Middle,” “My Church,” and “Circles Around This Town,” Morris continues to cement her reputation as one of the most exciting artists of her generation. Her latest album, D R E A M S I C L E (2025), marks an introspective and cohesive chapter—blending synth-pop, acoustic balladry, and country-pop into an emotionally resonant journey.

- The Marley family, UMe, and Island Records continue to celebrate Bob Marley's 80th birthday and his significance in the global music movement with a brand-new remix of Bob Marley & The Wailers’ “Could You Be Loved” (with LP Giobbi).  An exclusive merchandise capsule was released last month in celebration of the 45th anniversary of Uprising, featuring unique Bob Marley merchandise and a special, limited-edition “liquid sunshine”-filled vinyl reissue of the album, housed in a unique die-cut sleeve. Order the “liquid sunshine" LP and check out the exclusive merch options, HERE.

-  Accelerating a rise as an artist to watch in 2025, Georgia-born and Nashville-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Sydney Rose unveils a brand new single entitled “Before & After You” out now via Mercury Records. Listen HERE.  Strains of soft piano set the tone for “Before & After You.” Guitar echoes faintly in the distance as gentle synths hum. Against this sparse backdrop, Sydney taps into unfiltered feeling. Drawing inspiration from the father-daughter dynamic of Joel and Ellie on the HBO series The Last of Us (now in its second season), she paints a nuanced familial portrait steeped in raw and relatable emotion. At one point, she exhales, “But I’m just a liar, and that never happened. It’s all my fault, and it’s too late now.” The song culminates on a disarmingly catchy refrain, “There’s a before and there’s an after you.”

- Dropkick Murphys have just released the digital edition of their timely and passionate new album For The People via the band’s Dummy Luck Music / Play It Again Sam label. The vinyl and CD release will follow October 10 and will include 5 bonus tracks.  As the band’s 13th studio album, For The People shows courage and confidence, speaking up against the injustices happening in the United States, and doing so with the strength and power that harkens back to Dropkick Murphys’ earliest punk rock roots. For The People is more than a title. It’s a heartfelt stance, a declaration of who this band is – and who they’ve always been. Whether writing about politics, family, friends or simply “life” on For The People, the stories run deep, the memories push hard, and the joy remains infectious.  Watch the video for "Who'll Stand With Us?" HERE.  Stream For The People via all platforms HERE

- Global superstar The Weeknd has made history once again, breaking the record for most shows by a male artist at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium with seven completely sold-out performances on his After Hours Til Dawn 2025 Tour.  The unprecedented seven-night run reaffirms The Weeknd’s status as one of the most powerful live performers of his generation, continuing a streak of sold-out stadiums and record-breaking milestones around the world.

- Cat-O-Log Records, in partnership with A&M/UMe, is proud to announce On The Road To Findout: Greatest Hits, the definitive and first-ever career-spanning collection of Yusuf / Cat Stevens’ profoundly emotive and moving songs from his near 60-year recording career, for release on September 5, 2025. Pre-order here.  On The Road To Findout: Greatest Hits welcomes you into the imaginative universe of one of the world’s stellar musical talents: Yusuf / Cat Stevens. This phenomenal collection of songs highlights the depth and inventive style of his unique musical storytelling.

- Acclaimed vocalist and songwriter Morgan Myles releases her powerful new single “Que Sera Serenade,” now available across all streaming platforms here. Written alongside Gary Nichols (former lead vocalist of The SteelDrivers, following Chris Stapleton), and produced by multi-GRAMMY-winning producer Ross Hogarth, the track is a soul-stirring anthem about resilience and self-worth.  “Que Sera Serenade” was the final song Myles wrote out of 80 tracks for her forthcoming Americana-leaning album. The song draws inspiration from the anthemic spirit of Bruce Springsteen, while rooted in raw, acoustic Americana tones.

- Marcus King Band confirms their new album, Darling Blue, is set for release on September 26 via American Records/Republic Records. Pre-order/pre-save HERE. Darling Blue finds Grammy-nominated Marcus King reuniting with his longtime live band for their first recorded album together since 2018’s Carolina Confessions. Inspired heavily by his home state of South Carolina, the new album incorporates elements of country, folk, psychedelic rock and Motown-era R&B and continues the conversation on King’s experience with addiction and depression.

- Multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter, Conan Gray releases “Vodka Cranberry” the second single from his forthcoming album Wishbone arriving August 15 via Republic Records.   Listen to “Vodka Cranberry” HERE.  Watch the official music video HERE.  Pre-order / Pre-save Wishbone HERE.

- GRAMMY® Award-winning multi-platinum sonic visionary, artist, producer, actor and director Kid Cudi releases “Grave,” the second single off his forthcoming album, Free arriving August 22nd and available for pre-order HERE.  Arriving alongside the new single is an official music video shot by award-winning director Samuel Bayer who has worked with and shot iconic videos for the likes of Nirvana, Blind Melon, The Rolling Stones, The Cranberries, and more - watch the video for “Grave” HERE.

- Lorde’s critically acclaimed fourth studio album, Virgin, has made a dominant U.S. chart debut, entering at #2 on the Billboard 200 and securing multiple #1 spots across key Billboard charts this week including No.1 Top Album Sales, No.1 Top Rock & Alternative Albums, No. 1 Top Alternative Albums, No.1 Vinyl Albums, and No.1 Indie Store Album Sales.  The release marks Lorde’s strongest U.S. chart debut since Melodrama and underscores the global demand for Virgin, which has already surpassed 250 million streams worldwide. It also represents a career milestone with 31,000 vinyl albums sold in the U.S. — Lorde’s best-ever week for vinyl sales.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: July 6, 2025

  

Ironheart:  They finally did it. We got Mephisto.  But you could really tell that this was the last gasp of the old philosophy of throwing everything at the wall.  Here we have some character that no one has ever heard of who was crammed into a Black Panther movie so she could be launch into her own show that basically was a vehicle to set up other properties that we probably will never see.  Then we get the big cameo in the last episode and because of the change in philosophy, who know when we will ever see again.  Though it will be hilarious if Mephisto, Jon Snow, Harry Styles, Charlize Theron, The Power Broker, or anyone from those pre-Disney+ shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Cloak and Dagger, or Runaways show up on Secret Wars.

 

Nine Perfect Strangers:  Really, they are setting up another season?  I still think the show should have followed Samara Weaving running the old resort than following Nicole Kidman to some cold resort.  I never really cared about who her dead kid’s father was.

 

Resident Alien: So, who kidnapped Harry?  The Grey’s seem the most obvious.  Maybe he is going back to the moon.  And now we have the mayor and his wife and the cops will now know what each other knows.  How long until they figure out who Harry is?

57 Channels and Only This Is On: June 29, 2025

  

The Walking Dead: Dead City:  So Maggie stabbed Negan but was not fatal; and from the montage, it reminded us that this was not even the first time.  And, unless I missed it, they never did explain why the old lady was not burnt to a crisp.  Sigh.  At least we got one of the most creative kills ever in the franchise with the methane kill.

 

Ironheart:  So, are they just not going to explain why a bunch of street thugs are blindly following some dude in a cape?  At least mention that their leader is wearing a cape.  A cape that appears to have some sort of magical powers.  But kind of bad form to have your hero let someone die, even if they could blow her cover.  No one deserves to die like that.  And the guy is just a street level thug; it is not like he snapped half of the population out of existence.

 

Nine Perfect Strangers:  I mock all the drugs being taken on this show, but this episode could have used some guests tripping.  So, this is just a business show disguised as a drug trip?

 

Resident Alien: So who is getting the kids in this breakup?  Harry’s other kid tried to eat one, so maybe it is best they do not stay with him.  But it is interesting that the cops are still looking for the praying mantis alien even though he is dead.  At what point do they just give up?  Will they find the dead body?  Just how good is that one at at burying bodies?

Around the Tubes: June 28, 2025

  

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on Such Brave Girls, Suspicious Minds, Lorde, Sublime, The Aces, Lord Huron, Jaws, Simple Minds, Billy Idol, Dropkick Murphys, Kool and the Gang, Scorpions, Smashing Pumpkins, and the Premier Lacrosse League.

- Hulu has debuted the official trailer for season two of the BATFA-winning Hulu Original series "Such Brave Girls." All six episodes will debut on July 7, 2025.  Season one premiered in 2023 to rave reviews and maintains a 100% "Certified Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

- Hulu has debuted the official trailer and key art for the Original series “Suspicious Minds.”  The six-episode first season will premiere on Thursday, July 10 on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.  The 6-part series introduces Amber (Silvia Alonso), one of the most brilliant thieves in the world who, after a failed robbery in Las Vegas, prepares her next heist. This time it will take place in Isla Esperanza, an idyllic place lost in the middle of the Pacific. Her target is the tiara of saint Agatha, a jewel valued at 240 million dollars, that the daughter of Mexican oil tycoon Emilio Villegas (Asier Etxeandia) will wear during her wedding. To prepare the robbery, Amber has been infiltrated in the Villegas family for three years as a school governess. But her meticulous plan goes awry when Rui (Álex González), a cheeky and mysterious thief with whom she had a troubled relationship in Las Vegas during a spectacular heist, shows up on the island.

- Lorde has released her highly anticipated fourth studio album Virgin. You can listen HERE.  Following a string of successful singles — “What Was That,” “Man of the Year,” and “Hammer” — which have been steadily climbing the charts and are nearing 200 million streams even before the album’s release, the next step in Lorde’s artistic evolution has arrived. Co-produced by Lorde and Jim-E Stack, Lorde celebrated the release at Baby’s All Right in New York on Sunday – giving fans a sneak preview of the record.

- The Lumineers are heralding the hugely anticipated North American leg of their AUTOMATIC World Tour with a very special digital Deluxe Edition of their acclaimed new album, AUTOMATIC, out today via Dualtone. The collection sees the addition of five bonus tracks, including reimagined acoustic versions of four songs from the album along with an exclusive cover rendition of Leon Russell’s GRAMMY® Hall of Fame classic, “A Song For You” (memorably performed by The Lumineers at 2023’s star-studded Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90 birthday concert event at Los Angeles, CA’s legendary Hollywood Bowl). Highlights of the AUTOMATIC (Deluxe Edition) include stripped-down takes on such fan favorites as “Plasticine (Acoustic)” and “Asshole (Acoustic),” the latter of which premieres today at all DSPs and streaming services. In addition, a limited edition AUTOMATIC B-Sides LP featuring all five bonus tracks on 10” yellow splatter vinyl is available now for pre-order exclusively via The Lumineers’ official store.  STREAM/PURCHASE AUTOMATIC.  PRE-ORDER AUTOMATIC B-SIDES LP

- Sublime will release an all new, original song titled “Ensenada” on July 18. The single is the first true offering from the band with Jakob Nowell as front man, a completely original track from start to finish. “Ensenada” was inspired by the classic Sublime sound and features lyrics that reflect on personal experiences with love and relationships, exploring the human emotions that come along with it. Jakob Nowell describes the lyrics and use of absurdism as a defense mechanism to escape the intense, challenging feelings of when a relationship goes south. At its root, “Ensenada” encapsulates the classic Sublime vibe with a bit of melancholy underneath, created with a sound and lyrics meant to match the craziness and wit of the band’s earlier material, but also with some heart. The single, produced by Jon Joseph (BØRNS) and recorded at Harbor Martyr Studios in San Pedro, CA, will be the first release from the band’s highly anticipated upcoming new album. Fans can pre-save “Ensenada” here: https://sublime.ffm.to/ensenada

-  Pop band The Aces announce their new record Gold Star Baby will be released on August 15 via SoundOn. In concept, Gold Star Baby is a metaphorical club in every city where if you know…you know. Disco-pop that fills the Pussycat Dolls and Spice Girls shaped holes in our hearts, The Aces narrate the perfect night out, even if it’s just a glittery mirage of escapism. A celebration of queerness and pure pop fun, the largely self-produced album isn’t just an evolution for the 4-piece, but where they’ve been headed all along — Pre-save.  We also see the release of “You Got Me” today, the swooning, star-crossed third single from the album. The Aces look for the exact words to let someone know they’re head over heels for them. And by the end, they can’t help but repeat “I love you, babe” no matter the consequences — Stream. 

-  Lord Huron — the project of Los Angeles-based songwriter, musician and visual artist Ben Schneider — releases the new single/video, “Bag of Bones” from their new album, The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, out July 18th via Mercury Records. It follows previous singles “Looking Back,” “Who Laughs Last,” and “Nothing I Need,” the latter of which has spent five weeks at #1 on Adult Alternative radio.  Celebrated Norwegian writer Karl Ove Knausgaard writes in the band’s new bio, “Lord Huron's new album, The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, is as full of evocative songs, as beautifully American as its predecessors. The difference, musically speaking, is that they don't look as much to the past, thus adding force to the lyrics, which face two directions at once: backward, toward the ghosts of the past, and up, toward the emptiness of the universe. And if you stare up into the night sky, the feeling of utter insignificance is difficult to avoid.”

- To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Universal Pictures and Steven Spielberg’s classic 1975 summer blockbuster, Jaws, UMe is releasing a limited-edition “Blood in the Water” splatter vinyl of Jaws (Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) by five-time Academy® Award-winning composer John Williams. This edition of the iconic soundtrack features a light-blue translucent color with a red splatter and will be available on June 20th. Pre-order the Jaws (Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) “Blood In The Water” Translucent Blue Red Splatter color vinyl, HERE.  UMe will also release the “Shark-Infested” Water-Filled vinyl of the legendary film soundtrack on October 20th. The perfect collector’s item for film and vinyl buffs alike, this limited-edition run has real water sealed and pressed between two translucent vinyl discs, as well as new stereo mixes approved by John Williams. This limited-edition release is specifically numbered with only 1975 copies to memorialize the film’s original release year, so be sure to grab this rarity before it sells out. Pre-order the Jaws (Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) “Shark Infested” Water-Filled LP, HERE.

- UMe announces details of a forthcoming 40^th anniversary cut-down format of the 2016 original Super Deluxe celebration of Simple Minds’ multi-platinum album Once Upon A Time, out on October 17^th.  Originally released in October 1985, Once Upon A Time became Simple Minds’ most successful album to date, shifting two million copies in two months, hitting the top spot in the UK, and making the top ten in America. It spawned four top-twenty singles and launched a fifteen-month-long world tour. And with Jimmy Iovine and Bob Clearmountain providing a production dream team, and Anton Corbijn contributing to its instantly recognizable artwork, then Once Upon A Time has all the attributes of a classic 1980s album.  PRE-ORDER HERE

- Rock legend Billy Idol announces new vinyl re-pressings of three classic releases: Charmed Life, Whiplash Smile, and the Don’t Stop EP, out August 15, 2025, via Capitol/UMe. In addition to limited-edition vinyl, all three are available in Atmos.  Pre-order now here:

Charmed Life

Whiplash Smile

Don’t Stop EP

- Dropkick Murphys are returning to their roots to celebrate the release of their 13th studio album, For The People which is released digitally next Friday, July 4 via Dummy Luck / Play It Again Sam. The LP and CD release featuring 5 bonus tracks will follow on October 10.  The band invites fans from around New England and elsewhere to join them at the free For The People Album Release Show on Saturday, July 12 in Quincy, Massachusetts, where the band formed in 1996. This free hometown event is in connection with the Quincy400, celebrating the 400th year of the city’s settlement.

- #Kool75 summer is in full swing as the celebration for Kool & The Gang Co-Founder, Robert “Kool” Bell’s upcoming 75^th birthday on October 8, 2025 dials it up a notch with a brand new summer anthem. Turning up the heat on an already vibrant season, Baltimore-born and Philly-bred producer and songwriter, DJ Crazy, keeps the energy high and the bounce culture strong with a remix of Kool & The Gang’s feel-good anthem “Celebration” out now!  Listen HERE

- In celebration of their sixth decade as a band, on September 26, 2025, pioneering German hard rock group Scorpions will release From The First Sting (BMG), a thrilling collection the raw energy, unforgettable anthems, and iconic moments from their illustrious career. From The First Sting is the band’s only career-spanning collection and will be available on a deluxe 2LP & 2CD bookpack and 2CD format for European and Rest of the World fans, as well as 2LP vinyl and 1CD format for fans in the Americas. During their career, Scorpions viewed their music as a bridge between cultures. They performed in the former Soviet Union, China, and Southeast Asia, thereby fostering international understanding. https://scorpions.lnk.to/FromTheFirstSting

- The Smashing Pumpkins have formally detailed the long-awaited reissue and reformation of their 2000 masterpiece, Machina/The Machines of God, and its companion album, Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music. This reimagined project, featuring extensive remixing and remastering, will be out in multiple formats on August 22 via UMe and through Madame Zuzu’s Tea Shop.  Billy Corgan's Madame Zuzu’s tea shop in Highland Park, IL is exclusively offering an expansive 80-song vinyl box set featuring a 48-track MACHINA plus an additional 32 bonus tracks of demos, outtakes, and live performances, marking the first time these two records will officially be united. This vinyl box set is the only format available to listen to all 80 songs in its entirety. Preorder the box set HERE.

- SPN and the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) powered by Ticketmaster have renewed a five-year media rights agreement that will span ESPN platforms. The deal begins with the 2026 season and encompasses all Premier Lacrosse League regular season, All-Star, Playoff and Championship games, Maybelline Women’s Lacrosse League games, as well as future PLL and WLL Drafts.  Alongside the multi-year agreement, ESPN has also made a minority equity investment in the PLL, recognizing significant growth potential in the PLL’s forward-thinking approach and commitment to innovation.