Category: Pop Music

The Collection: Ep. 91 – February 2026 Wrap-Up

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We are now 2 months into 2026 and already, I’ve had some great finds. It is time for our February 2026 Wrap Up so lets see what 2 Loud 2 Old Music added to the collection this month. Despite the cold weather, we also picked up a bunch of a heat in CDs and even a few vinyl. Plus, one HOLY GRAIL item! This month I hit up Noble Records and 2nd & Charles, as well as ordered a couple things from Discogs, Facebook and Amazon. So much to go through including a handful of new Rock Candy CDs in the collection, a Box Sets plus a selection of items from the Needtobreathe Insiders Fan Club. Lots of great new and old stuff to go through and show for this month so I hope you enjoy the show!!

So go check it out as it is live right now on YouTube. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.

And here is everything for those that don’t want to watch the video…

Friday New Releases – February 27, 2026

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February comes to end, but not before it drops almost 50 new releases for you this week. The new Bruno Mars might be the get for some, but for me I can’t wait to hear the new Rob Zombie and Joel Hoekstra’s 13. Both should be fantastic. What do you want to hear this week or what did we miss? Let me know and as always, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

  • Rob Zombie – The Great Satan – (Nuclear Blast)
  • Joel Hoekstra’s 13 – From the Fade – (Frontiers Records)
  • It’salie – Wild Games – (Frontiers Records)
  • Bruno Mars – The Romantic – (Atlantic Records)
  • Paul Gilbert – Wroc – (Artone Label Group / Music Theories Recordings)
  • Pat Metheny – Side-Eye III+ – (Uniquity Music, LLC / Green Hill Productions)
  • Iron & Wine – Hen’s Teeth – (Sub Pop Records)
  • The Neal Morse Band – L.I.F.T. – (InsideOutMusic / Big Hatter Music)
  • Powerwolf – Wildlive Live at Olympiahalle – (Napalm Records)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – February 27, 2026” →

My Sunday Song – “Hip To Be Square” by Huey Lewis & The News

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For My Sunday Song #472, we are going to talk the pop culture powerhouse song, “Hip To Be Square”, by the band Huey Lewis & The News. The song is from their 1986 album ‘Fore!’. This was the second single from the album it was released on October 6, 1986 and it went all the way to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs. It also went to #1 on the Album Rock Tracks chart and helped drive the album to multi-platinum status. Huey and the boys were on a roll. Little did they know at the time, that years down the road, it would become a big part of pop culture.

Yes, in the book, ‘American Psycho’ by Bret Easton Ellis, the song is brought up by the main character Patrick Bateman. Patrick goes on in detail discussing the success of Huey Lewis & The News. That whole piece made it into the movie starring Christian Bale. The character in the movie gives a shorter version of that discussion to his co-worker who was played by Jared Leto. Then I think there was a murder. It is a very memorable and quite funny scene. The song was licensed for the movie, but someone forgot to license it for the soundtrack. When the soundtrack was released, the song was on there, but Huey immediately had them pull the album as it should not have been since the licensing wasn’t done. So, if you have a copy with that on their, good for you!!

The song was written by Bill Gibson, Sean Hopper and Huey Lewis. It talks about how the hippies from the 60’s turned into these square individuals who ended up cutting their hair and working for the man. The turned into Yuppies. The term for them was bourgeois bohemians. It became cool to fit in to a little box and be boring and playing things real straight. Huey was poking fun at that whole lifestyle. The lyrics say they started out as “renegade”, now they are “playing it real straight”. They like their bands in “business suits” which I love that line. All the new wave bands of the 80’s wore suits so that fits and even Huey & the News did it too. It is a comical, yet a thoroughly enjoyable pop song.

Musically, it falls in line with their big hit “Power of Love”. It has that same beat and sound. There is a nice groove, or bounce to it that I find myself rocking back and forth to it. Huey’s vocals, as always, are stellar. He his delivery is always spot on. The saxophone adds some great texture to it and who doesn’t love a sax solo, I mean…really…who doesn’t because you are wrong if you don’t. Huey Lewis & The News could do no wrong at this point in their career.

Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “Hip To Be Square” by Huey Lewis & The News” →

Friday New Releases – February 13, 2026

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It’s Friday the 13th!! And that is lucky day because we have a batch of releases for you this week. Around 40 which means that there is probably something for everyone…but me. Nothing I have to have this week, but let me know what you want to hear or what we may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope the rest of your day be just as great!!

  • Black Swan – Paralyzed – (Frontiers Records)
  • Temple Balls – Temple Balls – (Frontiers Records)
  • Austen Starr – I Am The Enemy – (Frontiers Records)
  • Charli XCX – Wuthering Heights – (Atlantic Recording Co.)
  • Colony House – 77 (Pt. 2) – (LastDaze Records)
  • Jill Scott – To Whom This May Concern – (Blues Babe Records)
  • Story of the Year – A.R.S.O.N. – (Sharptone)
  • Eric Church – Evangeline vs. The Machine: Comes Alive – (Mercury Nashville / BigEC Records / UMG)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – February 13, 2026” →

Friday New Releases – February 6, 2026

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Welcome to Friday New Releases. February comes in with a little of a whimper. Not a lot here this time around, but there is one that will be big for sure and that is Nick Jonas. I won’t be getting it, but I am sure a lot of people will. For me, there is really nothing I need, maybe I’ll stream the new Puscifer album, but outside of that, probably nothing else. Let me know what you want to hear or what we may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a great weekend!

  • Nick Jonas – Sunday Best – (Republic Records / UMG)
  • Joe Bonamassa – B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 – (KTBA Records)
  • Yes – Tales From Topographic Oceans (Super Deluxe Edition) – (Atlantic Recording Corp / Warner Music Group)
  • Marc Broussard – S.O.S. V: Songs of the ’50s – (G-Man Touring Inc)
  • Puscifer – Normal Isn’t – (Alchemy Recordings)
  • Silversun Pickups – Tenterhooks – (New Machine Recordings)
  • KMFDM – Enemy – (Metropolis Records)
  • Visions of Atlantis – Armada: An Orchestral Voyage – (Napalm Records)
  • Mayhem – Liturgy of Death – (Century Media Records)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – February 6, 2026” →

Friday New Releases – January 30, 2026

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January might be about over, but the new releases still keep coming. How are we already done with the first month of the year…crazy. This week I’m getting the McAuley Schenker Group box set for my favorite years of theirs from 1987 to 1992. Can’t wait. That is it for me this week. What do you want to hear or what did we miss? Let us know! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a great weekend!!

  • McAuley Schenker Group – Bad Boys: The Mcauley Schenker Group Story 1987-1992 – (Hne)
  • Robin Trower – One Moment In Time: Live in the USA – (Artone Label Group / Provogue)
  • Linda Ronstadt – The Early Years – (Iconic LR Masters / Rhino Entertainment)
  • The Monkees – The A’s, The B’s & The Monkees – (Rhino Records)
  • Joseph – Closer to Happy – (Joseph Sounds LLC / Nettwerk Music Group)
  • Urne – Setting Fire To The Sky – (Spinefarm Music Group)
  • Course of Fate – Behind the Eclipse – (Roar)
  • Our Mirage – Fractured Mind – (Arising Empire)
  • MOL – Dreamcrush – (Nuclear Blast)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – January 30, 2026” →

Friday New Releases – January 23, 2026

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The days are getting colder but the releases are heating up as we have 40 for you this week. I’m eagerly awaiting what is said to be the last Megadeth album. I will stream The Power Station 40th Anniversary set and even the Helix, but that is it for me this week. What do you see that you like. Let us know what you want to hear or what we may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a great weekend.

  • Megadeth – Megadeth – (BlkIIBlk / Frontier Records)
  • The Power Station – The Power Station Deluxe (40th Anniversary Edition) – (Rhino / Parlophone)
  • Helix – Scrap Metal – (Perris Records)
  • Yes – Symphonic Live – (Mercury Studios) – Limited Edition Blu-Ray / 2 CD
  • Lucinda Williams – World’s Gone Wrong – (Highway 20 Records / Thirty Tigers)
  • The Damned – Not Like Everybody Else – (earMusic / Edel Music & Entertainment)
  • Louis Tomlinson – How Did I Get Here? – (78 Productions / BMG Rights Mgmt)
  • Reba McEntire – Starting Over (30th Anniversary Edition) – (MCA Nashville / UMG)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – January 23, 2026” →

Friday New Releases – January 16, 2026

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Happy Friday! We have a great list of new releases for you…okay…a decent list of new releases for you. It is still early in the year and not a whole lot, but some good ones. I’m looking forward to the new Richard Marx where he goes old school. Some people might be looking forward to Madison Beer and those on the heavy side maybe Kreator. Hopefully there is something for everyone. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

  • Richard Marx – After Hours – (Richard Marx)
  • Madison Beer – Locket – (Epic Records)
  • Kreator – Krushers Of The World – (Nuclear Blast)
  • Edenbridge – Set the Dark on Fire – (Steamhammer)
  • Ov Sulfur – Endless – (Century Media Records)
  • Soen – Reliance – (Silver Lining Music)
  • Carrion Vael – Slay Utterly – (Unique Leader Records)
  • Gluecifer – Same Drug New High – (Steamhammer)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – January 16, 2026” →

Friday New Releases – January 9, 2026

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Welcome back to Friday New Releases. 2026 is now upon on us and this is the first post of the new year as January 2nd didn’t have enough to do a post. Now, we don’t have a lot of releases, but at least it is something. I’m interested in the Alter Bridge new self-titled album, but haven’t ordered it yet. Need to hear it first. Already have the Van Halen one as I got the Record Store Day copy (and yes, I knew it was going to get released separately). Other than that, that is it for me. What do you want to hear this week? Let me know what you want or if we missed anything. Thanks for stopping by and I hope 2026 sees a ton of great releases over the year.

  • Alter Bridge – Alter Bridge – (Napalm Records)
  • Van Halen – Live at Wembley – (Rhino / Warner Music) – Non-RSD versions
  • Beyond the Black – Break the Silence – (Nuclear Blast)
  • Mon Rovia – Bloodline – (Mon Rovia LLC / Nettwerk Music Group)
  • Uuhai – Human Herds – (Napalm Records)
  • Lionheart – Valley of Death II – (Arising Empire)
  • Bullet – Kickstarter – (Steamhammer)
  • Bite Down – Violent Playground – (Prime Collective)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – January 9, 2026” →

What to Expect in New Music in 2026!!!

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2026 is upon us and it is always fun anticipating what new albums will come out in the year. Since today would normally be a Friday New Release post, let’s look at the new releases coming our way in 2026. There are quite a few we already know about, but some haven’t been officially announced or even a date set yet.

Last year, there were a few artist I was hoping would release an album that might have or might not have released one.  It is always fun to hope for new music from these bands, but sometimes there are disappointments.  Here are the ones I was hoping to get new albums from last year and what actually happened…

  • Def Leppard – It is time for The Collection Vol. 4!! Come on boys, give it to us!! Or a new album…whichever you want. Well – we didn’t get a new album, but we got a new live album with ‘Diamond Star Heroes’, but honestly their live albums bore me.
  • Kiss – I will keep this on the list until I die!!  Time to start up more Soundboard LPs or another box set…give us something! We got a brand new Soundboard LP as well as 2 Box sets with Dressed to Kill and Alive!!  Yes!! That is more like it boys!!
  • Guns ‘N Roses – Rumors, Rumors, Rumors!!  Will we ever get a new album! – Still nothing, but we did get new songs…sort of…they aren’t really new as they are leftover tracks from Chinese Democracy with the current line-up…come on boys…do better!!
  • Aldo Nova – He keeps talking about a 2CD set for over 3 years and still nothing much, but will he get around to releasing the full Life & Times of Eddie Gage? I hope so. – Nothing at all from him in 2025 but he did mention a new album in 2026!! We will see.
  • Billy Idol – There are rumors of a new album and even Steve Stevens showed a test pressing..could it be??!!  We got one!! Yeah!!  ‘Dream Into It’ came out in 2026…I didn’t care for it too much so that is disappointing.

Okay, are there albums I want to see this year from some of my favorite bands that haven’t been announced or in some cases even rumored?  Of course there are.  These are the bands I want new albums from this year…but it might not happen.

  • Def Leppard – It is time for The Collection Vol. 4!! Come on boys, give it to us!! Or a new album…whichever you want. The new album has been hinted at so fingers crossed
  • Kiss – I will keep this on the list until I die!!  Will we get another soundboard or any more box sets??? I hope so!
  • Aldo Nova – He keeps talking about a 2CD set for over 4 years and still nothing much, but will he get around to releasing the full Life & Times of Eddie Gage? I hope so. He has now mentioned something coming in 2026…I will believe it when I see it.
  • Creed – Will there be new music in 2026? Oh, please say it will be so! There have been rumblings and rumors…I think they will at least work on a new album in 2026.
  • Poison – We need a new album, but I don’t expect one. What I do hope we get is a 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of their debut, “Look What the Cat Dragged In”. That would be cool.
  • Guns N Roses – Will we get a full album. You know what, I don’t think I really care. The older I get, the more overrated this band really is!! Only one great album in their minuscule catalog.
  • Jeff Scott Soto – Now, Soto puts out a ton of albums every year. I would love a new solo album as it has been years. At the very least, a SOTO band album. But please, NO MORE ART OF ANARCHY! That was awful.

From what I have gathered around the internet, here are the bands that should have new albums out in 2025 or are rumored, but no dates announced yet. The ones I would give a try will be highlighted in Blue. The ones with Dates Announced are at the bottom of this post. The list is building up nicely!!

Continue reading “What to Expect in New Music in 2026!!!” →