Around the Tubes: August 1, 2020

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Helstrom, Rick and Morty, Snow Patrol, The Go-Go's, Evie Irie, somegirlnamedanna, Benee, Soundwalk Collective, Guns N’ Roses, Bastille, Little Steven, Taylor Swift, People Puzzler, Our Cartoon President, and, Vice.

- Talk about some family drama! Join Helstrom showrunner Paul Zbyszewski and cast--Tom Austen, Sydney Lemmon, Elizabeth Marvel, Robert Wisdom, Ariana Guerra, June Carryl and Alain Uy--for one hell of a sneak-peek look and conversation around bringing this terror-filled comic to life during our Comic-Con@Home panel which is now live..  Helstrom will premiere Friday, October 16^th only on Hulu!



- America’s favorite crazy scientist and his grandson return for more misadventures when the latest season of Adult Swim’s hit series Rick and Morty: Season 4 arrives on Blu-ray and DVD on September 22, 2020. From creators Justin Roiland (“Adventure Time”) and Dan Harmon (“Community”), go on an intergalactic journey across the multi-verse with the award-winning comedy, featuring all 10 episodes from Season 4, and outrageous bonus content including A Day at Rick and Morty: Inside Season 4, Inside the Episode for every episode, Creating Snake Jazz, and more. Rick and Morty: Season 4 is priced to own at $24.98 SRP for the DVD ($29.98 in Canada) and $29.98 SRP for the Blu-ray ($39.99 in Canada), which includes a Digital Copy (U.S. only). Rick and Morty: Season 4 is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.

- Snow Patrol have announced details of a brand-new EP. Written and recorded during lockdown, The Fireside Sessions will be released on 21^st August and is made up of five songs written with the band’s fans during a series of streams on Instagram Live dubbed ‘Saturday Songwrite’. In a nod to this collaboration, The Fireside Sessions will be released under the banner of Snow Patrol And The Saturday Songwriters. The EP was produced by Iain Archer. It will be released digitally and on CD and will be preceded by the single Reaching Out To You on 30^th July.

- The Go-Go's, the iconic all female L.A. punk band, will release their first new recording in nearly 20 years, "CLUB ZERO," on July 31st on UMe. The band can be seen working on an early version of the song in their new documentary THE GO-GO'S, directed by Alison Ellwood (Laurel Canyon, History of the Eagles) which premieres July 31st at 9 pm ET/PT on SHOWTIME. View the official trailer HERE and music HERE,  Propelled by the spirited, melodic punch we've come to expect from the Southern California band, as well as a catchy, call-to-action chorus, "CLUB ZERO" will certainly join the ranks among an esteemed catalog of Go-Go's classics.

- Evie Irie has been hailed as “one to watch” by her peers and music blogs alike blogs. Like some sort of pop alchemist, the Australian singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist turns self-described “weirdness” into universal wonder within her music. By 15-years-old, her talent and drive convinced mom and dad to allow her to move to Nashville where she cut her teeth at countless open mics before winding up in Los Angeles for a short time—a journey chronicled on her 2019 debut EP, 5 Weeks In LA.  Tallying over 6 million streams in a few months’ time, she garnered widespread acclaim from the likes of Refinery29, Idolator, and Atwood Magazine who christened her “one of the most promising teens of pop music today” on its “2020 Artists to Watch.” Simultaneously, she shared the stage with everyone from Sigrid to Bastille.

- Receiving widespread critical acclaim and affirming herself as a rising artist to watch this year, somegirlnamedanna presents her much buzzed about debut EP, twenty one, twenty two, today. Listen HERE via LAVA/Republic Records.  Of the EP, she commented, “twenty one, twenty two represents the journey that the last year has taken me on: the ups and downs, and the love and the heartbreak. To me, this ep has been about self-discovery and the path to self-acceptance. I think it’s easy to forget that people are not living the perfect lives portrayed on social media, and these songs were inspired by the real challenges and downswings that many of us face behind the screen. I want people to remember they are not alone in these times and I hope we continue to display our vulnerabilities and traits that make us human in popular culture.”

- New Zealand’s sensation BENEE drops the official video for her latest single, “Night Garden” feat. Kenny Beats & Bakar—watch HERE!  The animated video, created by animator and illustrator Alisa, follows BENEE as she goes on a haunting adventure in the Night Garden. “Night Garden” has been praised by Billboard, The FADER, E! Online, Teen Vogue, HYPEBEAST, UPROXX, Stereogum and many more, as E! Online hails it as a “somehow pleasantly paranoid piece,” while HYPEBEAST calls it “seriously smooth” and The Sunday Times praises it as “a spare, strung-out, pop-noir gem.” BENEE recently performed the song for MTV PUSH—watch her stripped-back performance shot in New Zealand’s Auckland Art Gallery here.

- With their new album Peradam due for release on September 4th, 2020 via Bella Union, today Soundwalk Collective with Patti Smith have shared new track “Knowledge Of The Self” and an accompanying video that features editing and a visual collage by Anastasia Ivanova. Watch and listen HERE.  Of the track, which features Anoushka Shankar on sitar, Patti Smith says: “We have to, in order to be free of all of the things that we are attached to, even ideas of ourselves, or masks that we put on or Band-Aid’s upon our transgressions, in order to achieve this freedom, we have to peel away everything, every defence we have, every defence that we put up for ourselves. I think that Daumal is directing us to do this but in a benevolent way, although there is no way to protect anyone from the pain of enlightenment, you have to grope about, and you have to strip down.”

-  On September 25, 2020, Guns N’ Roses’ 2004, multi-platinum best of compilation Greatest Hits (Geffen/UMe) will be released on vinyl for the first time. Previously only available digitally and on CD, Greatest Hits will be pressed as a 2LP set on 180gram audiophile black vinyl, a 2LP set on silver colored vinyl with red and white splatter, plus a 2LP picture disc available exclusively through the band’s official store. The vinyl edition of Greatest Hits will also feature the band’s single “Shadow of Your Love,” which hit No. 5 on the Mainstream Rock chart. Originally recorded in December 1986, “Shadow of Your Love” made its debut on the 2018 box set Appetite For Destruction.  All three versions can each be pre-ordered here. 

- Bastille’s electrifying new song might feel like a bit of a surprise release, not least to the band themselves, but as frontman Dan Smith says, “We finished the song, and it felt urgent. We didn’t want to sit on it.”  A thunderous, furious, short sharp shock, “WHAT YOU GONNA DO???” feat. Graham Coxon comes after the dust settled on the band’s acclaimed third album Doom Days—the final instalment in a trilogy that’s spanned eight years and brought Bastille multi-platinum sales, global success and a position as one of the world’s most-streamed bands. Fans may have grown accustomed to albums arriving with fully formed, meticulously executed, creative ecosystems, but this time it’s all change.  LISTEN TO “WHAT YOU GONNA DO???” feat. Graham Coxon HERE AND WATCH THE OFFICIAL VIDEO HERE!

- Little Steven’s acclaimed career-spanning box set, RockNRoll Rebel – The Early Work is out now via Wicked Cool/UMe. The 13-disc CD/DVD set collects all of the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s solo records between 1982 and 1999, including newly remastered editions of six classic albums: Men Without Women (1982), Voice Of America (1983), Freedom – No Compromise (1987), Revolution (1989) and Born Again Savage (1999), as well as the landmark protest record, Sun City (1985), by Artists United Against Apartheid, the supergroup of musicians brought together by Van Zandt, record producer Arthur Baker and journalist Danny Schechter, to fight racial injustice in South Africa. Men Without Women, Voice Of America, and Freedom – No Compromise each include an exclusive DVD featuring a classic full-length live concert video from the same era as the album.

- Seven days ago, Taylor Swift surprised fans with the unexpected release of her critically-acclaimed 5 star album, folklore. Since its release, folklore has cemented itself as the top selling album of 2020.  folklore stands out as the #1 album in the world with global sales over 2 million worldwide and over half a billion total streams on audio and video in just one week. It has reached #1 on iTunes in more than 85 countries. The album marks the biggest UK debut for a female artist in 2020 and becomes her most streamed album in it’s first week in the UK.  The stunning lead single from the album, “cardigan,” debuted #1 on the Global Spotify chart, claiming the most daily Spotify streams in 2020. It also reaches #1 on iTunes song chart and was the most added song at Top 40 and Hot AC radio airplay charts nationwide. The song was also added straight to the A list on BBC Radio 1 in the UK.

- Game Show Network, the leader in game shows and competitive entertainment, has announced Emmy® Award winner Leah Remini as host of new pop culture crossword game show, PEOPLE PUZZLER. The half-hour original series is anticipated to premiere in early 2021.  In PEOPLE PUZZLER, three lucky contestants will put their pop culture knowledge to the test to complete iconic, PEOPLE PUZZLER crosswords.  The player who has won the most points after three rounds will move on to the Fast Puzzle Bonus Round where they will have the opportunity to win a cash prize.

- The SHOWTIME animated series OUR CARTOON PRESIDENT will continue its third season on Sunday, September 13 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT. Executive produced by multiple Emmy^® winner Stephen Colbert, showrunner R.J. Fried and Late Show executive producer Chris Licht, OUR CARTOON PRESIDENT sets its sights on the most consequential election in history to determine who will be the next Cartoon President. Can Cartoon Joe Biden overcome his frequent gaffes and basement isolation to unseat Cartoon President Trump, who’s struggling to win re-election? Season three ended in March of this year with nine episodes and will conclude with the final nine half-hour episodes tied to the 2020 Presidential election.   For a sneak peek at the new season, go to https://youtu.be/QNS45O0635w.

-  SHOWTIME has picked up a second season of VICE, the award-winning documentary series that recently wrapped its first season on the network and received a 2020 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special. Delivering immersive reporting from the frontlines of global conflicts, civil uprisings and beyond, the VICE team of journalists rapidly adapted this past season to cover stories of the Covid-19 pandemic and its rippling effect on local communities around the world, reporting from high-risk epicenters in New York, Italy, Brazil, Iran, Cambodia and more. The announcement was made today by Vinnie Malhotra, Executive Vice President, Nonfiction Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.

Previewing The Go-Go's

The start of Alison Ellwood’s (History of The Eagles) latest documentary The Go-Go’s, it says the band was the first all-girl band to pay all their instruments and write all their singers and were successful. Not too surprising of a factoid. Then the film ends with that same fact but adds that they are the first all-female band who wrote their own songs and played their own instruments to reach Number One in the Billboard chart and that no other band has matched that achievement. Now that was surprising. But when you think about it, Hole had a dude in it. Bands like L7 and Bikini Kill did not put much of a dent on the charts. Granted upon further reflection, I guess the band formally known as The Dixie chicks do not count because they are country? And to save you a google search, The Bangles topped out at number two on the albums chart, but had two number one singles and five top ten hits. So that fact does have a few asterisks to it.

I was hesitant to watch The Go-Go’s after watching Showtime’s Duran Duran documentary that pretty much seemed like an extended version of their Behind the Music episode. The Go-Go’s also had a very memorable Behind the Episode where their squeaky bubblegum pop image was dirtied up with tails of drugs and sex. But this documentary seems much more comprehensive than the salacious VH1 episode that aired over two decades ago.

We get a much more in depth look at the early life of the bandmates; include the two early members who did not make it to the first album. The band does not even release their first album until half way through the film, roughly the same time as a full episode of Behind the Music. So we get a lot more detail of that early time in the bands history with the 1979 punk rock scene where being terrible was cool.

Then we get the story of their three successful eighties album where, yes, the drugs and inter-band squabbles brought down the band as detailed in the Behind the Music episode but pretty much ends with the band. There is very little discussion of Belinda Carlisle’s successful solo career and the only time any of their various reunions in the nineties and 00’s were mentioned was a vague reference that when the band in present day is filmed writing their first new song since 2001. I may have not spent much time thinking about the band in the last thirty years, but after watching The Go-Go’s, the doc does make a decent case for their inclusion into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Go-Go’s premieres tonight at 9:00 on Showtime.

57 Channels and Only This is On: July 26, 2020

The Alienist: Angel of Darkness : Thankfully we are finally done with the boy prostitutes serial killer storyline and can move on. Oh, the new season is about a baby serial killer? That is actually worse somehow.
You can download The Alienist: Angel of Darkness on iTunes.

The Chi: Okay, we finally learn what happened to Keisha: kidnapping by a creepy dude. Thankfully they did not drag that out all season (though we may still have to wait until the end of the season until she gets free). Oh, and Ronny hears her. Although, does he know where it is coming from. It is in the middle of a blackout. But I got to say, blackout episodes are always entertaining, more shows should do it.

Black Monday: Wait, so everything last week was part of Mo’s plan? That was very convoluted. And a bit confusing. Why did Horatio Sanz confess to Black Monday? If he confessed, why is Dawn in prison too? And if the other Lehman brother was the patsy, why did no one arrest him? Granted, if he can survive being crushed in a car, I am sure he can survive a wolf mauling.

Stargirl: So am I really supposed to believe Brainwave Jr. is dead? The guy does have the power to create a force field around himself to keep him from being crushed. I am sure he will show up in the finally just as it looks like the Injustice Society is about to prevail and save the day. But is Starman really alive and sending e-mails? Seems like it would be hard to survive an icicle through the heart.
You can download Stargirl on iTunes.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Well that was an interesting take on Groundhog Day which each reboot getting shorter and shorter. I also liked that we apparently started on the hundred take and we later learned that Coulsen was also part of the loop. But poor Enoch, dude gets left behind multiple times in the past and then has to sacrifice himself to save everything. Although, is he dead-dead? Can they not just put that power source back in him at some point? And what was with Simmons crying after getting the memory suppressor out? The only thing I could think of is could it be possible that Fitz is already dead?
You can download Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.

Doom Patrol: Please let the Constantine knock off kill Dorothy because she is really bringing down this season. Okay, the Scants turning everyone dumb were pretty funny. And we finally got an Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Mam update though it seems like the sex ghost are replacing him as the recurring gag this season..

Blindspot: Earlier this season Weller’s dad came back during his hallucination and I thought that was a weird person, of everyone who has appeared, to bring back. Weller Sr. and Jane’s first boyfriend who I had to look up. I guess they were saving everyone else for the finale. Though I feel bad for everyone who was relegated to just turning their heads in Times Square. But in the end Jane died… I think. That could have been the hallucination for the optimist I guess. Or maybe she actually died when that bomb went off last episode. Really, she breathed all that in and only need a simple antidote to survive?
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: July 25, 2020

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Taylor Swift, Alison Brie, Summer Sonic, Morgan Harper-Jones, Evie Irie, South of Eden, Katy J Pearson, and Nelly.

- Most of the things Taylor Swift had planned for the summer of 2020 didn’t end up happening but…there was something magical that did happen, the surprise release of her 8^th studio album, folklore.  “Before this year I probably would’ve overthought when to release this music at the “perfect” time, but the times we’re living in keep reminding me that nothing is guaranteed,” said Taylor. “My gut telling me that if you make something you love, you should just put it out into the world. That’s the side of uncertainty I can get on board with.”  This spectacular 16-song album was produced by Aaron Dessner, Jack Antonoff and Taylor Swift and features a musical collaboration with Bon Iver. CD, Vinyl and Cassette editions of the album will feature one bonus track.  “cardigan” - the first official single release from folklore - is also released today. It is written by Taylor Swift and Aaron Dessner and produced by Aaron Dessner. The accompanying music video was directed by Taylor Swift.

- Alison Brie and Dave Franco Wrote a Rom-Com in Two Weeks:


- One of the world's biggest annual music festivals, Summer Sonic, will stream legendary archive live performances on July 22 and 23 for Free via the Summer Sonic YouTube channel: Here.  Day 2 (Thursday, July 23) of the streaming event will present epic sets from Green Day (2012), Nine Inch Nails (2009), Rihanna (2012), The Prodigy (2008), and X JAPAN (2011).

- Hailing from Rochdale in Greater Manchester, 23 year-old newcomer Morgan Harper-Jones has today shared her debut EP Breathe, including a new reimagined version of Whitney Houston's iconic "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)". Watch and listen to it HERE.  A talk all night, tales for days, brutally honest songwriter and storyteller, Morgan Harper-Jones has been perfecting her craft and performing across the north west of England for a few years; in early 2020 she stepped into focus and introduced herself to the wider world with a simply stunning debut release. "Breathe" went on to draw praise from a slew of radio stations including BBC 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne & Tom Robinson, BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens, BBC Introducing in Manchester, The Selector/BBC 1Xtra’s Jamz Supernova, and more.

- Buzzing as a bona fide artist to watch, seventeen-year-old Sydney-born singer/songwriter Evie Irie unveils a new single entitled “Little More Love” today. Get it HERE via Republic Records. Check out the official lyric video HERE.  The song heralds the arrival of her much-anticipated new project, The Optimist EP, releasing on August 14, 2020.  On the “Little More Love”, Evie comments, “I wrote this song in a time when I felt the world needed a little more love. A year later I have realised that love isn’t just something we need in moments of struggle, love should always be a constant.”  

- After their announcement that they have officially signed to Lava/Republic Records, Columbus, OH four-piece South of Eden release the official music video to their new single “Dancing With Fire.”    Watch the official music video for “Dancing With Fire” Here!  On the music video the band said “ “We wanted this to be a personality piece, and with all of us in quarantine we knew the best way to do that was to show what we have accomplished leading up to this release. John Payne, our media man, has been following us around for the last two years! The best thing to show with raw music is raw footage.”

- Katy J Pearson is pleased to announce news of her debut album, Return, which will be released on November 13th, 2020 via Heavenly Recordings. Alongside this news she has shared new track "Fix Me Up" and its accompanying video. Watch and listen HERE.  Speaking about about the track Katy said: "Quite an old song now, but it’s still very special to me! It’s very personal and is really about wanting independence in life after messy situations. In times of darkness feeling that pang of loneliness; wanting someone else to be there to help you put all the pieces back together - which I’m sure is something we can all relate too."

- Nelly, the St. Louis-bred hip-hop juggernaut revered for No. 1 hits like "Grillz," "Hot in Herre," "Dilemma," and "Shake Ya Tailfeather," will re-release his stone-classic debut album Country Grammar on July 24 via Republic/UMe. Hailed upon release by Rolling Stone as "the best thing to come out of St. Louis since Redd Foxx," by NME as the "album of the year so far" and by People, who proclaimed that Nelly "marked his hometown of St. Louis as a major contender," Country Grammar debuted at No. 3 on the Top 200 and soon vaulted to No. 1. In 2016, the RIAA certified the album Diamond, selling more than 10 million copies to date, a feat which placed Nelly among rock superstars like Led Zeppelin, the Doors and Bruce Springsteen.

57 Channels and Only This Is On: July 19, 2020

Snowpiercer: I had a theory that there was a second train out there with Mr. Wilford that is actually the train we saw in the movie, I just never thought we would see it, at least not this soon. Especially considering Jennifer Connelly just admitted to killing him. Not her first lie I guess. So are there other tracks? I guess that would be smart in case something happens and you can just switch over. But this show has taken some major liberties with just how physics work, but the train boarding the other train may be the most absurd of them all.
You can download Snowpiercer on iTunes.

The Chi: Make Chicago great again… oh my. I guess it could be worse, Kanye could be running to the mayor of his hometown. I may have to vote none of the above if I were I were in Chicago.

Black Monday: Is Mo really going to give himself up to save everyone else? I think he has another plan working that will probably take out the other Lehman brother. Hopefully it is a better plan than Blair’s claiming he cured of homosexuality.

Stargirl: That was the weakest episode since they stopped spending so much time on on Stargirl herself. But I do have a new theory that the janitor is one of the Seven Soldiers of Victory that happens to have eight members. Unfortunately an upcoming episode title seemingly confirms this.

The Challenge: Total Madness: What an apropos way to end a disappointing season that was bogged down by the Dee mess by having Johnny win for the first time since he screwed over Sarah. On the bright spot, it will likely be a very long time until we see another season. Granted, the Challenges house have probably passed around worse diseases than the Coronavirus.
You can download The Challenge: Total Madness on iTunes.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: How did they make anew Coulsen so fast? Did they have a spare? And what happened to the Max Headroom version? And what does it mean to the future that the one guy who should have been sacrificed to HIVE keeps royally forking up history? Does Daisy even get born if her mother is not at that commune?
You can download Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.

Doom Patrol: Wait, if the original primary is black, why does the body look like Jane instead? And why does she still look like Jane now that the original primary has taken back control? And why did the Chief leave Robotman in space?

Around the Tubes: July 18, 2020

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Into the Dark, The Go-Go's, James Bay, Sara Bareilles, Paul McCartney, Shannon LaBrie, Benee, somegirlnamedanna, Shaylen, The Soundflowers, Command Sisters, and Unfit.

- Navigate the mysterious world of Into the Dark: The Current Occupant by visiting Hulu's Twitter page and choosing your own adventure! Try to escape the psych ward and return to power through a series of mind-bending scenarios, or be doomed to wander the ward forever!  INTO THE DARK: THE CURRENT OCCUPANT is Now Streaming on Hulu!

- Showtime announced the premiere date for Director Alison Ellwood’s documentary feature THE GO-GO’S has shifted. THE GO-GO’S will now premiere on Friday, July 31 at 9pm ET/PT, with an encore replay on Saturday, August 1 at 7:20pm ET/PT.  Director Alison Ellwood’s documentary feature, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year, chronicles the first all-female band to play its own instruments, write its own songs and soar to No. 1 on the album charts. The Go-Go’s made history. Featuring candid testimonies, Ellwood’s film charts the meteoric rise to fame of a band born of the L.A. punk scene that not only captured but created a zeitgeist.

- Three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated and BRIT Award-winning multiplatinum singer, songwriter, producer, and guitarist James Bay interviews and gives his debut performance of “Chew On My Heart” on The Today Show. During the appearance James Bay spoke about the meaning behind “Chew On My Heart,” and what he’s been doing during quarantine with Al Roker and Dylan Dreyer. Watch the interview and performance HERE.

- Grammy® Award-winner and Tony® and Emmy® Award-nominated singer, songwriter, actress, and author Sara Bareilles unveils the Little Voice: Season One, Episodes 1-3 (Apple TV+ Original Series Soundtrack).  Released via Loud Robot - an independent music label out of J.J. Abrams’ production company, Bad Robot – and Epic Records, the five-track set features music from the first three episodes of the new Apple original series, Little Voice, debuting globally on Apple TV+ today.  Not only did Sara notably write and record new songs for the series, but she also serves as an executive producer alongside J.J. Abrams and Jessie Nelson.  Get it HERE.

- Paul McCartney today releases the ‘Beautiful Night’ EP as part of the forthcoming re-release of his acclaimed 1997 album, ‘Flaming Pie’. Due for release on July 31st, ‘Flaming Pie’ marks the thirteenth installment in Paul’s GRAMMY Award-winning Archive Collection. Listen HERE.  The EP recreates the original 1997 ‘Beautiful Night’ maxi-single, featuring the remastered Flaming Pie single, ‘Beautiful Night’, a 1995 demo of the song, an alternate ‘Run Through’ recording, and ‘Oobu Joobu Part 5’ - a medley of Beautiful Night-themed chat, alternate mixes and interview recordings of Paul and Ringo Starr speaking about the song.  A newly remastered music video for Beautiful Night, originally filmed in 1997, is also released today. Watch HERE.

- Soulful songstress Shannon LaBrie, is set to release a new LP, titled Building, on Aug. 14. Listeners got a first taste of the album with her current single “Firewalker,” a heroic anthem that continues to gain traction. NPR described the anthem as, “a spirited statement to keep soldiering on” while American Songwriter calls it, “a ray of light that can guide you through each day.” Produced by multi-Grammy Award-winners, Brent Maher and Charles Yingling, Building will be available on all digital retailers.  The forthcoming LP is now available for digital pre-save HERE and physical pre-order HERE.

- New Zealand’s sensation BENEE shares her new single, “Night Garden” feat. Kenny Beats & Bakar, out today—listen HERE and watch the lyric video HERE!  For the track, the songstress recruited tastemaker-approved and Elton John-and Virgil Abloh-endorsed London artist Bakar and influential hip-hop producer and beatsmith Kenny Beats [Vince Staples, Freddie Gibbs, Denzel Curry, Rico Nasty]. Together, these three disruptors cook up an entrancing and engaging anthem. Unmistakable and unpredictable production from Beats twists through airy guitar as BENEE hums the haunting hook, “In the night garden, things are out there creeping.” Meanwhile, Bakar turns up with a clever and catchy cameo of his own. The track unites three diverse and dynamic talents from three cultures on one broodingly bold bop unlike anything else any of them have done.   

- Emerging as one of the year’s most buzzed-about breaking artists, somegirlnamedanna shares a new single and music video entitled “california” today. Listen HERE via LAVA/Republic Records. Watch official music video HERE.  Most importantly, it heralds the arrival of her debut twenty one, twenty two EP to be released July 31.  On “california,” somegirlnamedanna opens up to say, "Distance and love combined is such a difficult thing.  "california” is about being separated by thousands of miles, and wanting to be with someone, but it just isn't even close to reality.  I wrote this from a place of hope, almost a dream state wanting something that doesn't feel realistic.” 

-  Shaylen drops a brand new single entitled “Forgive Myself” via The Heavy Group/Republic Records.  Listen to “Forgive Myself” HERE.  “Forgive Myself” is about learning one of the hardest lessons in life…self-forgiveness. Written and produced during self-isolation, the song shows the brutally honest pen-game that has become the hallmark of Shaylen’s reputation. “Forgive Myself” was executive produced and co-written by Jackson Foote from the much beloved electro pop group Loote and produced by Boston from Rice N’ Peas (Bazzi, Kiana Ledé, Anne Marie).

- The Soundflowers, featuring Paris Jackson and Gabriel Glenn, debuts the official video for “Your Look (Glorious)”—watch HERE! The full-length video was executive produced and shot by Prince Jackson via his production house King’s Son Productions.

- The powerhouse duo Command Sisters, comprised of Charlotte [vocals, keys] and Sarah Command [guitar, vocals], release the music video for their single “I Like It” via 21 Entertainment/Republic Records/Universal Music Canada.  WATCH THE “I LIKE IT” VIDEO HERE!   Filmed before social distancing measures were in effect, the video plays off the sisters’ unique aesthetic, focusing in on the color red with a mind-bending visual capture of their distinct sound, style and talent. “I Like It” was recorded in Los Angeles by award winning producer Tim Pagnotta (Walk The Moon, Weezer, Blink 182, Neon Trees).

- Is Donald Trump fit to hold the office of President of the United States? Unfit is an eye-opening analysis of Trump by leading U.S. mental health professionals and nonpartisan political strategists – on the record for the record, out of a Duty to Warn.  Featuring the shocking, first, on-camera interview with George Conway that will roil the West Wing of the White House.  WATCH THE TRAILER NOW

Into the Dark: The Currant Occupant

Well, I guess this month’s installment is better late than never coming two weeks after Independence Day. Although given the nature of the subject of someone who may or may not be president waking up in the psychiatric ward with a bout of amnesia, it is still pretty relevant as we still have four months left in a campaign with two dudes in their seventies with cognitive decline. Oh real life, the scariest story of them all.

The Current Occupant stars Barry Watson, coming off playing Rupurt Murdock’s son in The Loudest Voice, is the guy who comes to believe he may be the titular character of the White house. It sort of has a similar feel as last year’s July installment where you are left guessing what is real and what is not, and who is telling the truth and who is not. Can the doctors and nurses be trusted or are the patients more trustworthy. But unlike Culture Shock, there is no alternative reality, this is all darkness with someone sinking into insanity.

The Current Occupant has some political bona fides as it is written by Alston Ramsay who previously worked as a speechwriter in D.C. for the likes of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, General David Petraeus, and Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson. This episode does not really add anything new to the is this guy really crazy or not sub-genre of horror, but it still is well executed. Then considering the source, you will be left wondering just how much could be true.

Into the Dark: The Current Occupant premieres tomorrow on Hulu.

Into the Dark Season Two Power Ranking:

1. Uncanny Annie (October)
2. A Nasty Piece of Work (December)
3. Pooka Lives! (April)
4. The Current Occupant (July)
5. Good Boy (June)
6. Delivered (May)
7. Crawlers (March)
8. Pilgrim (November)
9. My Valentine (February)

57 Channels and Only This Is On: July 12, 2020

Snowpiercer: Well we finally learned what happened to Mr. Wilford and, oh my, did not see that coming. I do kind of want to see a flashback for confirmation that Jennifer Connelly kicked him off the train to die. But the people that want to kill her for that are pretty short sited if she was the one that built it and has the best chance to keep it going. Somehow I feel Layton will actually be the one to save her.
You can download Snowpiercer on iTunes.

The Chi: Wait, what does that white guy have to do with anything? We saw Keisha at the bus stop, made eye contact with Ronnie, when the bus went away, she was gone. Could that have been the bus driver? Is the bus driver kidnapping women alone on his bus? But don’t most buses have cameras? Seems like it would be hard to pull off.

Black Monday: Oh snap, the gay dude just killed himself for being outed as a homosexual. Granted this was the eighties back before we just kind of assume the most ardent Conservatives are secret homosexuals. Well that will put a wrinkle in Blair’s legislation he wants passed.

Stargirl: Yeah, that was a dumb mission to go on, especially going down into the lair. At least Dr. Midnite was smart enough to turn around when the goggles stopped working.

The Challenge: Total Madness: Oh wow, they let Dee say more than five words this week. Of course she then promptly gets the boot. Her getting edited out really hurt the last couple episode narratively. #ReleaseTheDeeCut
You can download The Challenge: Total Madness on iTunes.

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Okay, Deke misremembering the lyrics of his “originals” was pretty funny. I did not expect Coulson to show up as Max Headroom thought, thought they would just make a backup LMD. Though this trek to the eighties were fun, what exactly happened to the rest of the crew and how did they hook back p with Deke and Mac.
You can download Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. on iTunes.

Doom Patrol: This show really drags when they is not a weird back guy to fight or at least team up with. But we did get the shocking ending of Dorothy ordering a hit on Baby Doll. Killing a personally just is not on the par of killing an imaginary friend.

In the Dark: Oh wow, Dean actually killed himself, I thought they would continue to find a way to keep him around kind of like this season when he really should have gone to prison after admitting to killing a kid. Then the blind chick’s other other boyfriend found out she was trafficking drugs. So what exactly is next season? Is she just going to go on the run? Seems kind of hard for a blind chick.
You can download In The Dark on iTunes.

The Bold Type: Called it at the end of last season, Kat totally Lady boned they conservative chick. I feel like I deserve a cookie.

Blindspot: Oh wow, they caught Madeline with two episodes to spare. But there were still the Zip things which Jane got caught in a room with. Although, if Weller was able to get to the door, hoe was Jane not able to slip out? Are they really going to reset her memory yet again? And why were the evil people setting it off while they were in the vicinity? Would they not worry about losing their memory?
You can download Blindspot on iTunes.

Around the Tubes: July 11, 2020

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post will include blurbs on Hulu’s British Binge-cation, Pen15, Woke, HAHA Awards (Hilarious Animated Hulu Awards, Kid Cudi and Eminem, James Blake, James Bay, Bow Anderson, Freeman Young, Kiana Ledé, April / 月音, Nelly, We Are The Radical Monarchs, Martin Scorsese, and Ramy.

- Need to get away? Pack up the remote and your finest pair of sweats. It’s time to take a trip on Hulu’s British Binge-cation; a week-long event on the telly, where we’ll premiere five new, and uniquely British shows. Now that’s bloody brilliant.  Jamie: Keep Cooking and Carry On: Complete First Season (Fremantle, 20 Eps.)  Jamie Oliver shares easy-to-follow recipes, ingredient swaps and tips to inspire people staying at home.  Maxxx: Complete First Season (All3Media, 6 Eps.)  Written, co-directed, executive produced and starring O-T Fagbenle (Black Widow, The Handmaid’s Tale), Maxxx centers around a formerly famous boyband star who tries to make his music comeback and prove to the world that he isn’t a washed-up, old has-been. To get his career back on track Maxxx tries to convince his former manager Don Wild, played by Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: SVU, The Handmaid’s Tale) to take him back but he has other ideas and recruits the help of wannabe manager Tamzin, played by Pippa Bennett-Warner (Harlots).  Ladhood: Complete First Season (BBC, 6 Eps.)  A coming-of-age comedy from BAFTA-nominated comedian Liam Williams (Back to Life), exploring the roots of modern-day masculinity by delving into the memories of his own misspent adolescence.  In My Skin: Complete First Season (BBC, 5 Eps.)  Coming-of-age story about 16-year-old Bethan, who deals with the comical but painfully real anxieties and insecurities of teenage life, along with the stark reality of a home life that is far removed from what she projects to her friends. Directed by Lucy Forbes (The End of the F***ing World) and written by Kayleigh Llewellyn. The pilot episode of In My Skin won two BAFTA Cymru awards for Best Drama and Best Actress.  Brassic: Complete First Season (ITV, 6 Eps.)  Following the exploits of Vinnie (Joseph Gilgun, Preacher), a Lancashire lad with bipolar disorder, and Dylan, his razor-smart best mate. Inseparable and utterly co-dependant, these boys have hardly spent a day apart since birth. Also starring Michelle Keegan (Coronation Street), Damien Molony (GameFace) and Dominic West (The Wire, The Affair).  Brassic was co-created by Gilgun and Daniel Brocklehurst (Shameless, The Stranger, Safe).

- School is back in session! Join your favorite BFFs as Pen15 returns with seven new episodes on Friday, September 18^th.  Please note, Season Two consists of 14 episodes. The first seven will premiere on Sept. 18 and the remaining will stream in 2021.

- All 8 episodes of new comedy series Woke set to premiere on September 9^th, only on Hulu.  Inspired by the life and work of artist Keith Knight, comedy series Woke takes an absurdly irreverent look at identity and culture as it follows Keef (played by Lamorne Morris), an African-American cartoonist finally on the verge of mainstream success when an unexpected incident changes everything. With a fresh outlook on the world around him, Keef must now navigate the new voices and ideas that confront and challenge him, all without setting aflame everything he’s already built. The series stars Morris, T. Murph and Blake Anderson.

- It should come as no surprise to any streaming TV viewer that adult animation reigns supreme. In fact, nearly 40% of Hulu viewers faithfully devour adult cartoons every month. Die-hard fans of the popular genre have waited long enough to weigh in on their favorites!  Beginning today, Hulu is celebrating the animation lover in all of us by hosting the HAHA Awards (Hilarious Animated Hulu Awards) - the first ever all-animated awards honoring the year’s best in adult animated TV shows and iconic characters now streaming on Hulu. The ten categories recognize sophisticated pets, epic battles, the best hangover performance and more. Because sometimes a happy hour escape to Springfield’s Moe’s Tavern or The Drunken Clam is exactly what you need.  Hulu subscribers and non-subscribers can cast votes for their favorites in all categories on the official awards website or via social poll on Hulu’s Twitter channel through Sunday, July 19. The complete list of the 2020 HAHA Award nominees is listed below. All winners will be announced on Thursday, July 23.

- Ready to reach uncharted territory yet again, Kid Cudi and Eminem have released a blockbuster new single entitled “The Adventures of Moon Man & Slim Shady”. This marks the very first collaboration between these two icons. Produced by Dot Da Genius, J Gramm, and Eminem, the song serves up a masterclass in gravity-defying bars.  Get “The Adventures of Moon Man & Slim Shady” HERE.

- GRAMMY® Award-winning UK singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer James Blake releases a new track entitled “Are You Even Real?”  Get it HERE via Republic Records.  The track was co-written by Starrah, Ali Tamposi and Blake. Notably, the song is a part of Apple’s global “Behind The Mac” campaign. Check it out HERE.

- Returning with his first original music of 2020, three-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated and BRIT Award-winning multiplatinum singer, songwriter, producer, and guitarist James Bay is back with a brand new single entitled “Chew On My Heart.”  Listen to “Chew On My Heart” Here!

- Vevo announces the release of Bow Anderson’s DSCVR at Home performances of “Sweater” and “Heavy.” Vevo DSCVR focuses on the development of emerging artists, through performance content and careful curation. Vevo has a long history of helping emerging artists break through to new and wider audiences. Past alumni of Vevo’s DSCVR series include Billie Eilish, dodie and Kiana Ledé. Vevo is committed to working with artists at an early stage of their career to create unique content that brings their music to life visually and provides exposure to new audiences through the platform.  Bold, frank and refreshing, few brand new artists announce their arrival to the pop arena quite like Bow Anderson. In the fabric of “Sweater,” you’ll unpick the threads that have inspired the 23-year-old’s life: the passion and bombast of 60’s soul, strong female role models and the beats and attitude of modern hip-hop. The release of “Sweater” is followed by Bow’s new single, “Heavy.”  “Sweater” and “Heavy” are now streaming on all platforms. Keep up with exclusive content from artists all over the world on YouTube.com/Vevo.

- Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Freeman Young reveals his new single, “No Nevermind,” out today—listen HERE!  Over smooth guitar, Freeman sings intimate verses with palpable emotion on “No Nevermind.” The song builds towards the hypnotic chorus, “I can’t get out of my head.” Ultimately, “No Nevermind” fuses alternative ambition, indie vulnerability and soul spirit as it encourages a deep look inward without judgement.

- Platinum-selling Phoenix-born and Los Angeles-based artist Kiana Ledé releases her new video for “Crazy” today.  Watch “Crazy”: HERE  In the intimate video, Kiana is under a shower spout emoting every lyric with palpable passion, poise and power. As her voice transfixes, the visual does the same when it reaches its fiery finale.

- Emmy The Great has announced news of her new solo album April / 月音 that will be released on October 9th via Bella Union. She has also shared first single “Dandelions/Liminal”, a song about being OK with uncertainty and learning to co-exist with your own sorrow and the sorrows of the world. Listen to it HERE.

- Nelly, the St. Louis-bred hip-hop juggernaut revered for No. 1 hits like “Grillz,” “Hot in Herre,” “Dilemma,” and “Shake Ya Tailfeather,” will re-release his stone-classic debut album Country Grammar on July 24 via Republic/UMe. Hailed upon release by Rolling Stone as “the best thing to come out of St. Louis since Redd Foxx,” by NME as the “album of the year so far,” and by People, who proclaimed that Nelly “marked his hometown of St. Louis as a major contender,” Country Grammar debuted at No. 3 on the Top 200 and soon vaulted to No. 1. In 2016, the RIAA certified the album Diamond, selling more than 10 million copies to date, a feat which placed Nelly among rock superstars like Led Zeppelin, the Doors and Bruce Springsteen.

- Set in Oakland, a city with a deep history of social justice movements, We Are The Radical Monarchs follows the two trailblazing, queer women of color who created The Radical Monarchs, a more diverse and inclusive alternative to the scout movement.  Directed by Linda Goldstein Knowlton, We Are The Radical Monarchs has its national broadcast debut on the PBS documentary series POV and pov.org on Monday, July 20 at 9 p.m. (check local listings). POV is American television’s longest-running independent documentary series now in its 33rd season.

- SHOWTIME Documentary Films today announced a new feature documentary from Academy Award^® Winning director Martin Scorsese that profiles David Johansen, the celebrated frontman of the New York Dolls. Emmy^® nominee David Tedeschi will co-direct with Scorsese, and Scorsese and Sikelia Productions will executive produce with Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Imagine Documentaries. The announcement was made by Vinnie Malhotra, Executive Vice President, Nonfiction Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. “I’ve known David Johansen for decades, and his music has been a touchstone ever since I listened to the Dolls when I was making Mean Streets,” said Scorsese. “Then and now, David’s music captures the energy and excitement of New York City. I often see him perform, and over the years I’ve gotten to know the depth of his musical inspirations. After seeing his show last year at the Café Carlyle, I knew I had to film it because it was so extraordinary to see the evolution of his life and his musical talent in such an intimate setting. For me, the show captured the true emotional potential of a live musical experience.”

- Hulu has renewed A24's Ramy, from Golden Globe-winner Ramy Youssef, for a 10-episode, third season. The second season debuted on Hulu on Friday, May 29.  The series follows first-generation, Egyptian-American Ramy Hassan (Youssef) who is on a spiritual journey in his politically-divided New Jersey neighborhood. Ramy brings a new perspective to the screen as it explores the challenges of what it’s like to be caught between a religious community who believes life is a moral test, and a millennial generation that doubts an afterlife even exists. In the second season, Ramy delves further into his spiritual journey, finding a new Muslim community and embracing a deeper commitment to his faith.