Updates + Additions
New Releases
“The Last Balloon,” Tank and the Bangas – May 15
“For Love of Grace & the Hereafter,” Iceage – May 29
“Neverending,” Monolord – May 29
“Philadelphia’s been good to me,” Kurt Vile – May 29
“Eyes Full,” Zoh Amba – June 5
“A Beautiful Life,” Dailey & Vincent – June 12
“Terrestrials,” Pond – June 19
“Unified Field,” Emperor X – June 26
“Sungazer,” The Temper Trap – July 10
“Ever the Optimist,” Trashcan Sinatras – Download: July 10; CD + Vinyl: July 31
“Act III,” Kasabian – July 17
Vinyl
“Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number,” Aaliyah – May 15
“The Cat Walk,” Donald Byrd – May 15
“Fly Like an Eagle (50th Anniversary Picture Disc),” Steve Miller Band – May 15
“Foiled,” Blue October – May 29
“Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite (30th Anniversary),” Maxwell – June 5
“Tony Rice,” Tony Rice – June 5
“Wildest Dreams (30th Anniversary Edition),” Tina Turner – June 26
Music Books
“Holding Lightning: The Life, Loves, and Art of Whitney Houston,” Emily Lordi – Sept. 29
Just Released
(Surprise releases + more)
“(POST)-Negative Colour,” The Giving Moon (Chicago rock band’s third album; Hear here; Sunny Records)
“Perfect Woman Sound Machine, Vol. 1,” Katie Alice Greer (Hear here; GAK Records)
“April,” The Riflebirds of Portland (1989 cassette-only debut album; newly restored with producer Marvin Etzioni; Hear here; Regional Records)
“THE SOLDIERS OF SOUND,” shane steven sand (producer: Adam Gallant; Hear here; shane steven sand)
And it's one, two, three / What are we fighting for?
New Songs Playlist
(Click on title to stream)
Bad Angel, Anyma x LISA
2 or 3, The Lemon Twigs
Hands in the Dirt, SUSTO
Watch You Cry, Hyd
Noir ke, Kuru
CRASH OUT SEASON, The High Curbs
Falling Out of Love, Taylor Dallas Vidic
Too Bright, TOBEHONEST x WELKER
DNR, Aly Navarro
All or Nothing, FIGHTMASTER
Double Play, Rad Owl
Ave Maria, The Essence of the Universe
Elizabeth, Ryan O’Reilly
Paper Towel Ballad, Kyle Morgan
Already Dead, Thomas Duxbury and New Mother Nature
The Wrong End of Your Rifle, The Joy Thieves
No Man’s Gland, Jesus Cringe
YOUR LOVE, Scott Parker Allen
Songwriter, John Galea
Who We Used To Be, Russell Jamie Johnson
Man on the Moon, MoBlack, Mx Cartier & Neyl
Dance into the Dark, Julian Hunt
Lucian & Francis, Plain Mister Smith & Tyson Motsenbocker
You’re Alright, Victory Kid
DHS Inc., 1 Umbrella
Poison, J Mau & The Kiss Off
Dangerous Game, Scott Fisher
Overrated, June Rest
Mr Get up In Dere, Maserati Bud
Highway Man, Silverada
Giddy Up, Jacquie Roar
Side2Side, Dopesickfly
Any Other Way, Who On Earth
Something Tells Me Everything Will Be Alright, Amy Melissen & Lee Stivers
In Real Life, Sparkle Blood
Waltz of Time, Grasstime
Today’s Birthdays
R.I.P.
Scott Aiges (former music critic at The Times-Picayune and producer of festivals for New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation)
Albert Mazibuko (Ladysmith Black Mambazo)
Donn Landee (longtime Van Halen engineer and co-producer)
This Week In … 1974
(Source: Billboard)
No. 1 – “Hooked On a Feeling,” Blue Swede
Biggest Mover Within the Top 40 – “The Loco-Motion,” Grand Funk Railroad (from No. 38 to No. 22)
Highest Debut (No. 73) – “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing,” Stevie Wonder
Biggest Mover Within the Hot 100 – “You Make Me Feel Brand New,” The Stylistics (from No. 70 to No. 48)
Shoulda Been a Bigger Hit – “Beyond the Blue Horizon,” Lou Christie
No. 1 Album – “John Denver’s Greatest Hits,” John Denver
In U.K.
(Source: Official Charts)
No. 1 Song – “Seasons in the Sun,” Terry Jacks
No. 1 Album – “The Singles 1969-1973,” Carpenters
In Canada
(Source: RPM)
No. 1 Song – “Sunshine on My Shoulders,” John Denver
No. 1 Album – “Tubular Bells,” Mike Oldfield
Music News
> U.K. Issues Ye Travel Ban Over Antisemitism, Leading to Festival Cancellation | NPR
> Michael Jackson Estate Spent Up to $15 Million Removing Child Abuse Allegation Scenes From Film | Pitchfork
> Queen Latifah to Host 2026 American Music Awards in Las Vegas | Rolling Stone
> ‘SNL’ Sets Olivia Rodrigo, Matt Damon and Will Ferrell as May Hosts, Plus Paul McCartney as Musical Guest | Variety
> ‘Melissa Etheridge Recalls Funny Moment When Her Late Son Beckett Came Out to Her as Straight When He Was 11 | People
Tour + Festival News
> Harry Styles Announces Jazz, Pop, Indie and Electronic Artists for His Meltdown Festival | The Guardian
> Billy Idol Announces Summer 2026 U.S. Tour | Consequence
> Twisted Sister Announces First Shows With Sebastian Bach | Metal Injection
Dedicated to Ginny and Winnie. We miss you, girls.