Category: Pop Music

Friday New Releases – April 16, 2021

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Happy Friday Everyone! It is time for another week of new releases and for me there is one I am super excited about and one I’m curious as to how they will follow-up on the success of their last album. Plus a bunch more that might be really interesting to hear. I will mark all my choices in Blue as usual. Now, your turn…what do you want to hear from the list? What may I have missed including on the list? Please let me know so we can make sure everyone else knows about it as well. Thanks so much for stopping by on this wonderful day and I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!!

  • 810xc2K2doL._SS500_  Needtobreathe – Live From the Woods, Vol. 2 – (Elektra Records): Back in March, Needtobreathe did a few live shows which I think were socially distanced of course and now they are releasing the best of those shows as an album. The follow-up to Live From the Woods, Vol. 1 obviously. My vinyl is on order and will probably be here in about 3 months, but the digital piece is here today!! Enjoy!! You will have to go to about 2 minutes in to get the song…the rest is the band talking to James Corden.
  • download  Greta Van Fleet – The Battle of Garden’s Gate – (Republic Records): Greta Van Fleet is back with the follow-up to their very successful debut Gold album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army. This is the one that will determine whether the band has any staying power. The songs I’ve heard so far haven’t been bad, but I am interested to hear them in an album setting as that makes a big difference for me. We will see if they can do it.
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My Sunday Song – “God’s Top Ten” by INXS

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For My Sunday Song #243, we are going to discuss the song “God’s Top Ten” by the band INXS. The song is off their 2005 album ‘Switch’ which features their new singer J. D. Fortune who the band hired off the TV contest show they did called “Rockstar: INXS” where they set out to hire a new lead singer. The song was released as a single, but didn’t chart in the US. It did go to #88 in Canada and 18 in Poland…cool.

The song was written by keyboardist, Andrew Farriss, who wrote the song to honor Michael Hutchence who died about 8 years earlier. It is a tribute to Michael, his partner Paula Yates (who died 3 years after Michael) and their daughter Tiger Lily. They have said the song is really a gift to Tiger Lily. The verses seem to speak to her saying that when you hear his songs on the radio, know that he is one of God’s Top 10 meaning he is one of the best singers out there and now God has him in his Top 10 list. I think the lyrics are sweet, touching and so personal. It is a beautiful gift to her as a reminder of how great he was and how much he loved her.

Musically, the song is a ballad played effortlessly and tenderly on keyboard with a nice bass groove and drum beat. The guitars are only an enhancement to the song. Nothing overpowers anything else, everyone plays in sweet harmony and bliss. The drumbeat at the beginning is the sound of a heartbeat. The song is a duet between Suzie McNeil, also from ‘Rockstar: INXS’ and J. D. Fortune. Her vocals are angelic and J. D.’s is as tender as the music. So much heart, so much love and so much passion comes through in their delivery. It might be the best song on the album and one of the best they’ve ever done.

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Friday New Releases – April 9, 2021

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Happy Friday, thankfully we made it through another week. How do I know that you made it? Well, if you didn’t, you wouldn’t be reading this right now would you. As your reward, we have a list of new albums coming out today and one I am really excited about and one I am interested in hearing for comparison purposes (I explain more later). My choices are highlighted in Blue. There are a ton of releases so hopefully there is something for you. Let me know what you’d like to hear and let me know what I might’ve missed so everyone can know. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

  • 71TI7x3BK4L._SX522_  Cheap Trick – In Another World – (BMG Rights Mgmt): Cheap Trick is still going strong and they are bringing us their 20th Studio Album. 20th!!! Wow!! That is incredible. After the amazing album ‘We’re All Alright!’, I am super excited to hear this follow-up. I am sure it will be great as they have really seemed to find a new groove and are putting out some solid stuff. This is why they might be one of the greatest American Bands of all time!! And because of that they will be the next band that gets a Series on this site. Now it won’t be for maybe 6 months, but it is coming!!! Get Ready!!!
  • 91r1uwFe1KL._SX522_  Taylor Swift – Fearless (Taylor’s Version) – (Republic Records): As you probably know, Taylor has had major legal issues with her former label and she doesn’t own the rights to here early studio albums. So to solve that problem, she is faithfully recreating each and every album. The first up is her second album, ‘Fearless’, and she is calling them ‘Taylor’s Version’. I have to say, I am interested to hear this and compare it to the original to see how she does. She’s not as young as she was, but she still has the voice, so let’s see.
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My Sunday Song – “The Stairs” by INXS

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For My Sunday Song #242, we are going to tackle one of my favorite tracks by the band called “The Stairs” off the band’s 1990 album ‘X’. It was the final single off the album and didn’t chart, but there was something about it that I fell in love with. They did end up releasing a live version of the song as a single for their 1991 Live album ‘Live Baby Live’ album.

The song is one that Michael thought was the most ambitious song he had ever written. And he might be right. I find the song to be a sad commentary on life in the big city. The cities are filled with so many people and all these buildings, but no one is communicating. No one is building a relationship. They casually pass each other in “the stairs” of their buildings and don’t say a word. Cities need to have more town squares like the small towns have so people can meet up and talk, build that relationship and make life better. And what I find most troubling about this song is that it is even more true today. With Facebook, Twitter and all these other so called social sites, we still are not truly social or communicating. You’re posting for the world to see how you want to be seen not who you really are. You are not actually saying anything that builds people up or to even build a relationship you are hiding behind a mask so no one truly sees you. This song makes me sad, but in a beautiful way.

Musically, it is a ballad and actually has a slow instrumental piece in the first minute that builds and builds until Hutchence comes in with the vocals. You can hear it in his voice how much this song means to him as he sings with such a tenderness and with such heart. It is songs like this that made me appreciate his greatness. When I think of great frontmen for a band, Michael is always on my list. There is a sadness to the music that comes through and matches with the lyrics. As I said earlier, it is sad but beautiful.

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Friday New Releases – April 2, 2021

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Yesterday was April Fool’s Day, but that is what today feels like since there isn’t much coming out this week. You do have the return of Demi Lovato and a new Shakey Grave album, but outside of that there isn’t much else. And for me, there really isn’t anything I want to hear so a good chance for me to catch up on all the stuff that came out in March. I would say my choices are highlighted in Blue, but there is only one so it is highlight in Blue. Let me know what you want to hear and what we may have missed because I am sure there are. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend.

  • 81kmeYVm5oL._SX522_  The Fratellis – Half Drunk Under a Full Moon – (Cooking Vinyl Ltd): The Fratellis are a personal favorite of mine so anytime I can get a new album, I’m thrilled. They are on their 6th Studio so between their studio albums and Jon Fratellis solo albums, they keep me happy. I love their garage rock style mixed with a post-punk feel. They sound vintage and I like it. Bring it on…
  • 81U5yxwj4CL._SS500_  Demi Lovato – Dancing With The Devil…The Art of Starting Over – (Island Records / UMG)
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My Sunday Song – “Don’t Change” by INXS

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For My Sunday Song #241 we are going to cover the song “Don’t Change” by the Australian band INXS. Actually for the next 10 episodes, we will focus on the band INXS as I feel they are worthy of having a spotlight on them for a little while. The song “Don’t Change” is off the band’s third album,’Shabooh Shoobah’ from 1982. It was the second single from that album and the first that saw the band start to take off around the world.

The song is credited to all the band members and is the only song on the album to do so. The song talks about how there is always a point where do to nostalgia, we don’t want anything to ever change and keep that feeling we are currently feeling. The singer is trying to keep hold and never let go. But regardless, things are and will change. There is no stopping it. The singer is thinking back to a lost love and how that relationship made him feel. He doesn’t want that person to change, not for her or for him. Stay the way they are…which people never do.

Musically, it is a fun, upbeat, fast tempo track. A simple song with very few chords, but interesting enough to grab hold and get you moving. The guitars sound great, the keyboards are pleasant and Michael Hutchence’s vocals are stellar. The man could sing. The music feels familiar which ties to the song meaning of the feeling of familiarity. INXS was part of the new wave sound, with a little rock and these earlier songs were a little punk sounding as well.

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Friday New Releases – March 26, 2021

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Can you believe March is almost over. For new releases it is as this the last one of the month and do we have a lot for you with well over 25 releases for you to check out. We cover the entire range of music I am guessing with this batch of releases. I have one that I am really excited about and another that is 20th Anniversary Edition that I am excited to explore again. Those two are first up and marked in Blue. Let me know which ones you want to hear first and what I might have missed so everyone can know about it. Thanks for stopping by and checking out the list. I hope you all have a wonderful, music-filled weekend!!!

  • A1X9sePsg1L._SS500_  Smith/Kotzen – Smith/Kotzen – (BMG Rights Mgmt): First up is Richie Kotzen (The Winery Dogs) and Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden). What a cool combination of guitar players. These guys will battle it out on guitar and on vocals. That is enough for me. I have not heard anything yet, but I know I want to so that is why it will be first up today on my list to play.
  • 61NSwgGysiL._SX522_  3 Doors Down – The Better Life (20th Anniversary Edition) – (Republic Records): I can’t believe it has been 20 years since this release, it is insane. By far, I think their best release and it is time to celebrate with a couple of unreleased tracks and some demos. That is all I want in an anniversary release…well maybe a live show from the tour would be good.
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Friday New Releases – March 19, 2021

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Another week has gone by and now we are to our favorite day of the week. At least its mine and if you are here looking at what new music came out today, it is probably yours as well. It is always great to see what is new and what you can’t wait to drop a needle on to hear…please don’t drop a needle in your arm…that would suck!! My albums I can’t wait to list are on Blue and when I see albums, I really mean album, singular. I shouldn’t have added that “s” because there is only one I want to hear. Hopefully though, you have a bunch. Let me know what is tickling your fancy and let everyone know if there is something I missed that is out. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend.

  • 91qon5cb2xL._SX522_  Paul Stanley’s Soul Station – Now And Then – (Universal Music): I am a Massive Kiss fan, so to see Paul Stanley branch out on his own is always a welcome site. This time around he is going old school R&B/Motown style with his band Soul Station. I can’t wait to see what he has in store. This might not be my normal cup of tea, but I will give it a shot as he has earned that much respect from me.

And here are the rest…some really big names starting with Mr. Bieber…

  • A1cXvozizOL._SX522_  Justin Bieber – Justice – (Def Jam Records)
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Friday New Releases – March 12, 2021

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Happy Friday!! And you made it another week, good for you. We have a ton of new releases for you this week. In fact, Frontiers Records thought you need some new albums so they are releasing a whopping total of at least 9 albums that I have listed. I have complained about them in the past as I don’t understand how they can release so many albums on the same day. No ones wallet can handle that. It doesn’t seem fair to me or the artists because people will have to choose which one they want to buy as there artists are some what the same type of genre. Now, I guess I am kidding myself because most people stream and not buy, but still the point has been made. No more rambling on and on. I only have one I’m interested in hearing this week and it is marked in Blue. There a couple my kids might be interested in so they are up after my choice and then there are at least 23 more to choose from so hopefully you will find something. Let me know what you want to hear and what I may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!!

  • 91TFUgrEX9L._SS500_  Rob Zombie – The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy – (Nuclear Blast): Rob Zombie is back and John 5 is still in tow on guitar. I will admit, I like Rob, but I am a huge fan of John 5 so that is the main reason I want to hear this is so I can see what new insane stuff Mr. 5 pulls out of his hat. Crank It MutherF###er!!

The ones my kids might be streaming…

  • B1Ga7oYpJ-S._SX522_  Nick Jonas – Spaceman – (Island Records / UMG): One third of the famous boy/brother band the Jonas Brothers, Nick is back with a new solo album. After a successful turn with his brothers, he is ready to go back out on his own. I am sure this will be played in my house a little so not much I am going to be able to do about it (maybe I could shut off their internet access…that’s an idea!!)
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Friday New Releases – March 5th, 2021

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We are already in March, crazy. If I blink, we will be in August or it will be Christmas…either way, time does fly some time. This week there is an abundance of releases worth checking out. Some new, some old in a deluxe format. But all fantastic. And if you make it to the bottom, there is a very special release that is only on here because I took my kids to see them when they were wee little tots which feels like yesterday but was easily 10+ years ago. There is really nothing for me I’m excited about but some I will give a listen and they are highlighted in Blue. Let me know what you want to hear and/or what I may have missed from the list so that way everyone that comes to the site can see what else is out there. Thanks as always and I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!!

These are the ones I will DEFINITELY give a listen…

  • 91S64aN-Q3L._SX522_  Black Sabbath – Mob Rules (Deluxe Edition) – (Rhino / Warner Bros): Sabbath & Dio…yes, please…Deluxe Editions…even more of a Yes!!!

  • 712Q7mruCZL._SX522_  Black Sabbath – Heaven and Hell (Deluxe Edition) – (Rhino / Warner Bros):  Ditto with above!!!  I mean, come on really!  Do you need your arm twisted to listen to this one.

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