|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Friday, July 25, 2025
View From the Peak - Everything Coming to Paramount+ in August 2025
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Around the Tubes: July 19, 2025
I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on Em Beihold, Lord Huron, Sublime, STYX, Noël Wells, Red Eye, The Ride Ahead, The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball, and Love Overboard.
- Platinum-selling singer-songwriter Em Beihold returns with her most introspective release yet: “Brutus,” out now on all streaming platforms via Republic Records. The song marks the beginning of Em’s next era of music after a year of self discovery and soul searching. On the track, Em shares: “Writing “Brutus” really helped me see the light from a deep, dark hole I didn’t know how to get out of. After ‘Numb Little Bug,’ I was lost, burnt out, experiencing heavy writer’s block, and dealing with a case of self-comparison so constant that it almost felt chronic. In the depths of my depression, I couldn’t help but crave the lives of some other female artists who had everything going for them with constant creative output and growing fanbases. ‘Brutus’ was the first song that released me from this place of stuckness where I finally felt a piece of myself come back. Ultimately, comparison is just a mirror for the things we feel deficiencies in, and I’ve started to look at jealousy more as a way to gain data about the things I really want rather than a feeling of bitterness that tears me down.” LISTEN HERE. WATCH THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO HERE
- Lord Huron - the project of Los Angeles-based musician Ben Schneider - releases their new album, The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, via Mercury Records. Schneider has an unquestionable "ability to create elaborate backstories for songs” (Uproxx). In the last several weeks, Lord Huron have offered a taste of this new record’s atmospheric and expressive songwriting through a string of striking singles - “Bag of Bones,” “Looking Back,” “Who Laughs Last,” and “Nothing I Need,” which spent six weeks at #1 on Adult Alternative radio. There will also be a forthcoming video for the focus track, “Watch Me Go.” Fans can now listen to the album, praised by Paste as “their most compelling effort so far,” in its entirety. The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1, Lord Huron’s fifth album, was written and co-produced by Schneider. Alongside Schneider are his band members Tom Renaud, Mark Barry and Miguel Briseño, and a host of collaborators, including actress Kristen Stewart (on “Who Laughs Last”) and Blonde Redhead’s Kazu Makino (on “Fire Eternal”). In the words of Norwegian writer Karl Ove Knausgaard, 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.” Stream/Purchase The Cosmic Selector Vol. 1
- Sublime announces the release of their new single “Ensenada,” the first original song from the band with Jakob Nowell as front man. This marks a significant milestone for the band, as “Ensenada” is the first truly original song from start to finish written by the trio since Jakob—son of founding front man Bradley Nowell—stepped into the role of lead vocalist and guitarist. At its root, “Ensenada” encapsulates the signature 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. “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. “Ensenada” was produced by Jon Joseph (BØRNS) and is the first release from the band’s highly anticipated upcoming new album. Fans can stream “Ensenada” here https://sublime.ffm.to/
- The highly anticipated 18th studio album by legendary multi-Platinum rockers STYX, CIRCLING FROM ABOVE, is finally available today (July 18) via the band’s label, Alpha Dog 2T/UMe on all streaming and digital outlets HERE. CD and vinyl copies have already been available on the band’s official website, and CDs have been available at every stop of this summer’s “Brotherhood of Rock” tour with The Kevin Cronin Band and special guest Don Felder (a former lead guitarist of the Eagles) since its launch May 28 in Greenville, SC. Spanning 13 tracks, CIRCLING FROM ABOVE navigates the complexities of the human experience through the intersecting lenses of technology and nature. It delivers a 41-minute, end-to-end listening experience that is both thought-provoking and exhilarating, and features contributions from all seven members of the band, including founding guitarist/vocalist James “JY” Young (affectionately known as “The Godfather of Styx”), guitarist/vocalist Tommy Shaw, original bassist Chuck Panozzo, longtime drummer Todd Sucherman, keyboardist/vocalist Lawrence Gowan, guitarist/vocalist Will Evankovich and bassist Terry Gowan.
- American actress, writer, director, musician and comedian Noël Wells is excited to present “Show Me (What You Got)”, her first original song release in six years. Known for her multifaceted creative work, Wells returns with a track from a genre she’s coined “Bonk Pop” that encourages the search for positivity in these dark times that we’re currently experiencing. “‘Show Me (What You Got)’ came to me while I was feeling lonely visiting a garden in Los Angeles — it felt too happy so I didn't do anything with it,” Wells said. “Then a year later I was all alone on a literal island looking at the stars and it came back in a flash. It's a song about choosing joy and freedom even in the face of things at large sucking. I hope it makes people happy and gets them dancing.” Stream “Show Me (What You Got)” on YouTube HERE and Spotify/Apple Music/iTunes HERE.
- Hulu has debuted the official trailer and key art for British series from Sony Pictures Television "Red Eye." Starring Jing Lusi ("Crazy Rich Asians") and Richard Armitage ("Fool Me Once"), the high-stakes action thriller "Red Eye" premieres Tuesday, July 22, streaming exclusively in the U.S. on Hulu.
- THE RIDE AHEAD makes its broadcast premiere on PBS stations nationwide as part of PBS' doc series POV on July 21st / streaming premiere via PBS Passport App, also starting on July 21st. Samuel Habib’s goals are pretty typical for a 21-year-old. Moving out of his family’s New Hampshire home. College. Establishing his career. Dating. Sex. Yet every rite of passage is fraught with challenges. Unexpected seizures and uncontrollable movements caused by his rare genetic disorder. Friends’ homes that are inaccessible to his wheelchair. His labored speech and use of a communication device are barriers to a social life. He craves more independence and a family of his own one day. “But no one tells you how to be an adult,” he says, “let alone an adult with a disability.”
- Hulu has debuted the official trailer for the highly anticipated "The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball", a continuation of the BAFTA Children’s and Annie Award-winning series "The Amazing World of Gumball." Additionally, it's been announced that the series will make its franchise-first debut at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, July 26! Fans will be able to join creative team members Ben Bocquelet, Matt Layzell and Erik Fountain and voice cast members Alkaio Thiele, Hero Hunter and Kinza Syed Khan in Room 6BCF from 10:30-11:30am PT for a sneak peek at the wild stories, big twists, and surreal humor involving Gumball, Darwin, and the other quirky residents of Elmore in "The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball."
- Hulu announces Gabby Windey (TV personality, podcast host and content creator) as host of new reality dating series “Love Overboard.” “Love Overboard” is set to debut in 2026 on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.
Saturday, July 12, 2025
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 40th 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 40th 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.
Sunday, July 06, 2025
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?
Sunday, June 29, 2025
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?