Category: Pop Music

Friday New Releases – May 21, 2021

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Happy Friday everyone! We have another great list of new album releases for you. The floodgates are open and albums are coming hot and heavy each week and this week there should be something for you. I have a few I want to hear, but aren’t going crazy to hear them. I have marked those in Blue as usual. What albums do you want to hear this week. Also, let me know what my list does not include because I am just one man and can’t find everything coming out. Thanks so much for stopping by this week and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

  • 71IkSyGDGhL._SS500_  Olivia Rodrigo – Sour – (Geffen Records): This is not one I want to hear which is why it isn’t in Blue. However, this is one my kids are going nuts over. With the smash hit “Drivers License” this young lady is blowing up the radio. I am sure I will hear this one, but it will be under duress.
  • A1CZEo7ECuS._SX522_  P!nk – All I Know So Far (Live) – (RCA): P!nk has a live album and that is cool. She’s a major talent and I have to say I enjoy her pop sensibilities. Fun and lots of attitude. Since we still aren’t going to shows, this is the next best thing. The song below is the one studio track from the album.
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My Sunday Song – “Suicide Blonde” by INXS

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For My Sunday Song #248, we are tackling the song “Suicide Blonde” off the band’s 1990 album ‘X’. The follow-up album to the very successful ‘Kick’ saw the band willing to stretch themselves even more and push the limits. The first single off the album went to #9 in the U.S. and #11 in the U.K., but it did go to #1 in Canada…way to go Canucks!!. The song was written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence as usual as they were the primary writers for the band.

The song title was inspired by Kylie Minogue who was dating Michael at the time. She told him she was going to dye her hair “suicide blonde” for a movie and all that means was that was she was going to color her hair herself. Michael loved the saying and turned it in to this wonderful pop tune. The song is not about suicide so you can get that out of your mind quickly. The only I can figure is the song is about their relationship and let me tell you that was an odd pair has Michael was a little wild and Kylie’s image was pretty squeaky clean.

Musically, the song sees the band push a little more to the electronic sounds. There is a great blues harmonica that was played by Charlie Musselwhite, but he didn’t play it live for the song. He played it and then they sampled it through Andrew’s synthesizer. Jon Farriss’ drums took on a more electronic dance beat almost acid house style. I love the fearlessness they had in willing to try new things. Michael is amazing as usual and makes the song as exciting as the beat tells you it should be. I always want to get up and start dancing when I hear this one. And let me tell you, I can’t dance.

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Friday New Releases – May 14, 2021

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The releases keep on coming and another solid week of new albums for you. Not as many as the prior weeks but still over 20 to choose from. My choices are highlighted in Blue as usual. What are you interested in listening to this week? Let me know in the comments and please add anything that I may have missed so everyone can know what else is out there. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a fabulous weekend listening to music!!

  • 81M7TYdfCML._SS500_  Myles Kennedy – The Ides of March – (Napalm Records): Myles is probably the busiest man in the music business and somehow he still found time for a solo album. This is his second solo album and his first ‘Year of the Tiger” was absolutely brilliant. Of course, that makes this one have super high expectations. I have this ordered on a really cool green/white vinyl that was exclusive to his site so I can’t wait to see how it turned out. Plus it is autographed so that will make two albums of his I have autographed!!
  • 91ZiqomKJ5L._SX522_  Sunbomb – Evil and Divine – (Frontiers Records): I was just talking about Myles being the busiest man in the music industry…well, Michael Sweet might be tied in that category as he is constantly putting out new material. This time around Michael Sweet and Tracii Guns team up for their first album. The band is Sunbomb and is another in a long line of a pairings that Frontiers brings together. I am not a huge fan of this unless it turns in to a real band. We will see if this does, but I am sure this will be a one time thing, which is usually disappointing. I will hold judgement until I listen to it though.
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My Sunday Song – “Devil Inside” by INXS

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For My Sunday Song #247, we are going to dive in to “Devil Inside” by INXS. Another track off the fantastic album ‘Kick” from 1987. The song was a massive success for INXS going all the way to #2 on the US Charts. INXS was exploding in the States and I was gladly jumping on board at the time as this is one of my favorite albums from the 80’s. The song was written by Andrew Farriss and the late Michael Hutchence.

The song is about excess, but it is also about the battle of good and evil in us all. We have a good side and we definitely have a dark side. The side that wants to come out and be really bad. When we start to wonder how the other half lives and jealousy starts rearing her ugly head, when we want the taste of flesh or lust…either of these things are lying it wait at the tip of our minds ready to explode out and let the dark side take over.

For me, the best part of the song is not the lyrics, but the opening guitar riff by Tim Farriss. It is simple and short, but so recognizable and for a band that always has some cool riffs in their songs, this is one of their best. Also, the other thing I love is the sexiness of Hutchence and they way he delivers those lyrics. The sultriness of the way they roll of his tongue it turns this pop/rock song into a sexy beast…roar!! Okay that was over-the-top, sorry. This album saw a band gel together and become so tight and this song is a perfect example, every guitar note, every keyboard strike and every bass thump and every pounding drum beat came together in a perfect combination to bring us this masterful pop song.

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Friday New Releases – May 7, 2021

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I can’t believe we are already in to May. Time is flying by. This week this is a lot and there isn’t. There is a lot as in I do have over 35 releases for you today, but there isn’t a lot as their are only a handful I am interested in hearing. I will mark those in Blue. Let me know what you want to hear or what I may have missed as I am sure there is something that came out that I don’t have on the list and people need to know. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

  • 81nvDrWhjkL._SS500_.jpg  Weezer – Van Weezer – (Crush/Atlantic): I am not a Weezer fan by any stretch of the imagination, but when you name you album “Van Weezer” and this supposed to be your so called metal album I guess, that makes me interested. I am giving this a try strictly out of curiosity.
  • 71VY-vuhmIL._SX522_  Nancy Wilson – You and Me – (Carry On Music): I am excited to hear Nancy Wilson’s new solo album. Although this ain’t Heart, it is cool she finally is releasing her first solo album. Their are 8 original tracks and four covers and some great guests including Sammy Hagar, Duff McKagan and Taylor Hawkins. We also get a song that is a tribute to Eddie Van Halen called “4 Edward”. I’m expected a good time to be had by all.
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My Sunday Song – “Need You Tonight” by INXS

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For My Sunday Song #246, we are going to review the song “Need You Tonight” by INXS. The song is off their massive hit album, ‘Kick’, which was released in 1987. The song was the first single off the album and took the band in to the stratosphere. The song went to #1 in the US and ended at #2 in the year end chart. It became a mainstay on MTV and the band were the new darlings of the time. The song was written by Andrew Farriss and Michael Hutchence and would boost their confidence and turn them in to the main song writers for the band.

The music was written by Andrew who had come up with the rhythm section of the song while waiting on the cab. When the cab driver arrived he asked the driver to wait as he had to get something from his room. An hour later Andrew came back down. I don’t think the driver was very pleased, but the rest of us are because in that hour, he demoed the song much to the dismay of the taxi driver. When Andrew played the song to Michael, Michael wrote those lyrics in about an hour. Now, the lyrics aren’t real deep as it is basically Michael trying to get a booty call which I am sure was pretty easy for him to get one as they were quickly becoming one of the biggest bands in the world.

The song is mostly an electronic track with a drum machine and a click track with a little cymbal hit every so often. But is that guitar riff that takes the song up a notch. It is very recognizable riff which the band was actually quite adept at coming up with those riffs in their songs. When you take the sexiness of that riff and through in the sultry vocals of Michael, it is no wonder that the women swooned over this band. The song had a bounce to it, a slick groove and was over-the-top sexy and made for a perfect combination to make this a #1 song.

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Friday New Releases – April 30, 2021

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Friday April 30th…the end of another month. And this week, we actually have 30 new releases for you to look over. Hopefully something in this bunch will float your boat. My boat is rocking with a couple killer releases and then my boat feels a little country too with another. My choices are in Blue. Let me know which ones you are dying to hear and which ones I might have missed as I am sure there are some despite the large number here. Thanks for stopping by each week and for all the support. I hope you all have a great and rocking weekend!!

  • 61NQMk7UwhL._SX522_  Royal Bloods – Typhoons – (Warner Bros): This album was supposed to come out last year and I have been waiting a long while for it to finally arrive. Their last album, the 2017 “How Did We Get So Dark?”, was smashing. If you like rock with a little blues, a little garage rock sound and just plain hard, then this is for you!!
  • 81LwZfkaQoL._SS500_  Gojira – Fortitudes – (Roadrunner Records): If Royal Blood isn’t heavy enough for you then Gojira might more up your alley. This French metal band has the goods and delivers all the time. The last album was back in 2016 and was called “Magma” and it was a lava filled volcano of rock. This should be just as good or better…yes, expectations are high!!
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My Sunday Song – “What You Need” by INXS

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For My Sunday Song #245, we are going to discuss the song “What You Need” by INXS. The song was written by Andres Farriss and Michael Hutchence and the first single off their 1985 album ‘Listen Like Thieves’ (2nd single in the US). The song was the band’s first Top Ten hit in the States as it went all the way to #5. I think it was probably the first time I started to take notice of this band and the lead singer Michael Hutchence. I could tell there was something special about them and they proved me right as they would blow up on the next album.

“What You Need” was the last song recorded for the album. The were pretty much done with the album when the producer, Chris Thomas, didn’t feel there was a “HIT” on the album. The band had one more day left and they needed to come up with a hit. Talk about pressure, dang!! Well, as you already know, they succeeded above all expectations. Now don’t think they pulled rabbit out of the hat with the song. Andrew Farris had a demo laying around called “Funk Song No. 13” and Chris really liked the groove and they worked it in to this beauty of a song.

Lyrically, I’ve never really seen what they’ve said it meant. There aren’t a lot of lyrics, but they seem pretty straight forward. They are about Michael Hutchence saying all you need is him or it is about needing God in your life and only He can give you what you really need. Or, it can be about whatever you want it to be about. Completely up to you.

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Friday New Releases – April 23, 2021

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Happy Friday everyone! Spring is upon and us and things are heating up both in temperature and releases. We have some great stuff for you today, at least I hope you find some of it great. Lots of rock, lots of Indie and lots of country. I know I’m excited as I have 3 new albums I am eagerly waiting on and those are marked in Blue. Let me know what you are interested in hearing and what I may have missed on my list so everyone can know what is out there. Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

  • 81RzK+8xYmL._SX522_  Reach – The Promise of a Life – (Icons Creating Evil Art): This three-piece band from Sweden is back with their third album. Their last album, ‘The Great Divine’, was my favorite album a few years ago so can’t wait for this one. The used to be a little melodic rock, but now they are far from it. They are way more alternative rock now in the vein of maybe The Muse or even Panic at times. We will see if I like the new direction, but I have a feeling I still will.
  • 71w+LOfrv6L._SS500_  Kaleo – Surface Sounds – (Elektra Records): Are you ready for Icelandic Blues Rock…you heard me right. This band from Iceland are the real deal. This is their third album that was supposed to come out last year right around the time the pandemic hit and now we are finally getting it. They are a solid blues band and you will be in for a treat.
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My Sunday Song – “Elegantly Wasted” by INXS

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For My Sunday Song #244, we are going to discuss the song “Elegantly Wasted” by the band INXS. The song is the title track to the 1997 album of the same same. The album and song were produced by the great Bruce Fairbairn and was written by Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farriss. The song was the first single off the album but the song did not chart on the Billboard Top 40.

It is believe the song was inspired by a night out that Michael had with Bono from the band U2. And from the lyrics it sounds like they had a good time. It sounds like Bono lives the good life and they saw a lot of things that weren’t actually morally decent. Michael realizes that it really isn’t the good life. I don’t know if it is really about Bono or just Michael blasting the media for the trashy coverage he received from the tabloids. Either way, it is a fun song to play when on the dance floor.

An interesting story I have read about the song, apparently Michael went back in to the studio after the song was finished and added another line to the chorus after an altercation he had with the Gallagher brothers from Oasis at the 1996 Brit Awards. When accepting an award presented to him by Michael, Noel made the following statement…”Has-beens should not be presenting awards to gonna-be’s.” This pissed off Michael and he went and added the line “I’m Better than Oasis” to the song. Now, I don’t know if I believe it or not as it is really hard to tell.

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