Friday New Releases – January 31, 2025

Man, we are already to the end of January and the month flew by. Luckily for you, we have another large batch of releases for you to peruse. I thought about the W.A.S.P. box set but at $126 for the CD and $250 for the Vinyl, not sure I’m that big a fan. Other than that, I don’t really have anything I want to grab…maybe stream only. Let me know what you want to hear this week or what we may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend.

  • W.A.S.P. – 7 Savage: 1984-1992 (Box Set) – (Madfish Records)
  • Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson & Steve Vai – G3: 25th Anniversary Tour – (EarMusic)
  • Dio – The Very Beast of Dio Vol. 2 – (Niji Entertainment Group / BMG Rights Mgmt)
  • Saliva – Revelation: Retold – (Judge & Jury Records)
  • All That Remains – Antifragile – (All That Remains)
  • The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow – (XO / Republic Records)
  • Kim Wilde – Closer – (Wildflower Records / Cherry Red Records)
  • The Night Flight Orchestra – Give Us The Moon – (Napalm Records)
  • Rory – Restoration – (Sadcore)
  • Pentagram – Lightning In a Bottle – (Heavy Psych Sounds)
  • Great American Ghost – Tragedy of the Commons – (Sharptone)
  • The Hellacopters – Overdriver – (Nuclear Blast)
  • moe. – Circle of Giants – (Fatboy Records / ATO Records)
  • Kilmara – Journey To The Sun – (Roar)
  • Robert Ascroft – Echo Still Remains – (Hand Drawn Dracula)
  • Lilly Hiatt – Forever – (New West Records)
  • Penny & Sparrow – Lefty – (I Love You / Thirty Tigers)
  • Rumer — In Session – (Rumer/Ciancia Management)
  • Everyone Says Hi – Everyone Says Hi – (Prediction Records / Chrysalis)
  • Ambrose Akinmusire – Honey From A Winter Stone – (Nonesuch)
  • L.S. Dunes – Violet – (Fantasy Records)
  • Jonathan Hulten – Eyes of the Living Night – (KScope / Snapper Music)
  • Tayne – Love – (Inside Job / MNRK Records)
  • Maribou State — Hallucinating Love – (Ninja Tune)
  • Canty — Dim Binge – (Full Time Hobby)
  • Bonnie “Prince” Billy — The Purple Bird – (No Quarter)
  • Brooke Combe — Dancing at the Edge of the World – (Modern Sky UK)
  • Charlie Houston – Big After I Die – (Arts & Crafts Productions)
  • Eddie Chacon – Lay Low – (Stones Throw Records)
  • Frànçois & the Atlas Mountains — Âge Fleuve – (InFiné)
  • Jaye Jayle — After Alter – (Pelagic Records)
  • Johnny Lloyd — Punchline – (Xtra Mile Recordings)
  • Eterna — Debunker – (section1)
  • Pink Chameleons — Harmony – (Soliti)
  • Prison — Downstate – (Drag City)
  • N NAO — Nouveau Langage – (Mothland)
  • Pentire — Love on TV EP – (Pentire)
  • Damon Locks — List of Demands – (International Anthem)
  • Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado – House of Sticks – (Mascot Label Group / Provogue)
  • Jan Arden – Mixtape – (Universal Music)

Friday New Releases – January 24, 2025

Happy Friday and we have a ton of releases for you today including some really big names like Teddy Swim, Kane Brown, Eric Clapton and The Weeknd to name a few. There is nothing really for me this week…I might tryout Larkin Poe’s new one but that is probably it. Let me know what you want to hear this week or what we may have missed. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a great weekend.

  • Kane Brown – The High Road – (Sony Music Nashville)
  • Eric Clapton – Meanwhile – (Surfdog / Eric Clapton)
  • Larkin Poe – Bloom – (Tricki Woo)
  • Teddy Swims – I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy: Part 2 – (Warner Records)
  • The Weeknd — Hurry Up Tomorrow – (XO Records/Republic)
  • Thin Lizzy — Acoustic Sessions – (Universal Music)
  • Joey McIntyre – Freedom – (Bowen Arrow Productions)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – January 24, 2025”

My Sunday Song – “Die For You” by The Weeknd

For My Sunday Song #368, we are on Morgan’s 8th Choice and this time around it is The Weeknd’s song “Die For You” off his 2016 album ‘Starboy’. The song was a single and did fairly well, but in 2022 there was a resurgence on the popularity of this song thanks again to the wonderful social media tool, TikTok (that “wonderful” is very sarcastic btw). The song went all the way to #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 six years after its original release. And the Weeknd is not stupid and took advantage of that popularity by releasing an new mix of the song with Ariana Grande. The version we will discuss is not that one. The song was written by an army of writers. Yes, because a good song needs 7 writers and they are the Weeknd,  Doc McKinney,  Cirkut, Prince 85, Cashmere Cat, Dylan Wiggins, and Billy Walsh.

The song was actually the last song written for the album and was apparently hard to finish and that might explain why there are so many writers…and yes, that does bother me. The song is apparently about a former girlfriend (rumored to be Bella Hadid) and their breakup. Although their relationship has ended, he still lovers her and would do anything for her, even die for her. It was hard for him to get over her and there was a lot of frustration and pain over the break up. I think it is a great little love letter for her to let her know he still cares and although they aren’t meant to be together, they are connected as he will always care for her.

The song is a ballad and there is a lot of pain and heartbreak in it and The Weeknd really comes across vocally with that emotion. The music is all electronic, the bass, the drums and the keys, but there is a really nice groove to hit and it gets my head bobbing back and forth. The chorus has a big payoff and is really catchy. The music is amped up, a little heavier and it s really a great beat. He sings at such a high register, it almost feels a lot like Michael Jackson and that is saying something. The song sticks with me long after I have listened to it.

Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “Die For You” by The Weeknd”

Friday New Releases – June 30, 2023

This been a great month of releases and two of which might end up on My Top 10 list at the end of the year. We have a lot more for you today, but for me this is a good break week to get caught up on all the stuff I’ve purchased over the last month. Let me know what you want to hear this week or what we may have missed on our list so everyone will know. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you all have a great weekend!!

  • 71sdHhDEJmL._SX522_  The Weeknd – The Idol Vol. 1: Music from the HBO Original Series – (XO Records)
  • 71yt3mi74pL._AC_UY436_FMwebp_QL65_  The Hu – Rumble of Thunder (Deluxe Edition) – (Better Noise Music)
Continue reading “Friday New Releases – June 30, 2023”

Friday New Releases – March 20th

Happy Friday and hope everyone is hanging in there with all the craziness in the world.  Despite the world’s events, there are some pretty decent releases.  I think there is something here you will find. I have a few I am interested in, but for those that love pop you’ve got The Weeknd, Conan Gray (my kids are thrilled) and Kelsea Ballerini.  But those aren’t for me even though I am sure that I will hear Conan without having a choice.  My choices are highlighted in Blue. Let me know what you see that you like or what I might have missed.  As always, thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!!

  • 91aBQXDZjQL._AC_UL115_  Def Leppard – The Early Years – (Virgin EMI / Mercury Records):  If you follow the site, you know I have no choice in buying this.  Why?  Because they are my favorite.  It is already bought and will be delivered this fine day.  It is a remaster of their first two albums, B-Sides & rarities, but the gem of this are the live shows from the early 80’s.  Pete Willis anyone!!!  Steve Clark!!!  Enough said!!  These are going to be AWESOME!!!  I guess that wasn’t enough said.

  • 91VspBjh2nL._SX522_  Adam Lambert – Velvet – (More is More LLC / Empire):  Adam’s vocals keep getting stronger.  With Queen, he is amazing.  His solo stuff a little hit and miss, but with that voice, I am willing to give it a listen.  It is very different from Queen so don’t expect anything like that except maybe the theatrics and drama.

Continue reading “Friday New Releases – March 20th”

The Top Albums of 2016

The year is almost over so it is time to look back at what was awesome in music during the year.  I have already looked back at the Top Rock Albums of 2016 (click to read).   This list will cover all other genres that I listened to over the year including Pop, R&B, Christian and whatever other genre you want classify these albums.  Rock is my favorite genre that is why it gets it’s own list, but that doesn’t take away from any of these choices as I think they are great on their own.

Note:  These albums were my favorites and not necessarily the most played on the radio (which I hate the radio) or even the biggest sellers.  These are just what I came across during the year and connected with me in some way.  So, we might as well get started…

The #1 Album of 2016

cover170x170-33Lady Gaga – Joanne (Interscope Records): This was an easy pick for me.  The album was such a pleasant surprise and a departure from her last album.  It had a little bit of everything from Pop to Country to Rock to Folk.  It was such a great mixture of songs that gave us one cohesive album.  The title track, “John Wayne”, “A Million Reasons” and “Perfect Illusion” were all great songs.  Even the Deluxe Edition was great with “Grigio Girls”.  All around classic album for Lady Gaga.  Check out my review here.

Continue reading “The Top Albums of 2016”

Friday New Releases – November 25th

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  It is Black Friday and everyone will rush out shopping so you might as well pick up some new music.  There is not a whole lot out which makes sense as it is the day after a major Holiday.  The good thing is it will give me a chance to catch up on some prior releases.  The only two I will give a listen to this week are highlighted in Blue.

  • cover170x170-10  The Weeknd – Starboy – (The Weeknd XO):  His last release actually grew on me and I found it quite interesting.  Hopefully he can take it to the next level with this one and become a bonafide star.  I like his voice and think he has major potential.

Continue reading “Friday New Releases – November 25th”