Wednesday, 18 December 2024 07:53
Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Laufey, Mariah Carey Light Up the Top 10 ASCAP New Classic Holiday Songs Chart
Written by SULÉY ERA
Listeners Still Love Traditional Tunes with “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” at #1 on Top 25 ASCAP Holiday Songs Chart
As the festive holiday spirit soars in the air and lights up hearts and homes, The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), a professional membership organization of songwriters, composers, and music publishers, brings the ultimate soundtrack of the season to life. Honoring the creators behind trending tinsel tunes and cherished classics, ASCAP proudly presented its Top 10 New Classic Holiday Songs and the Top 25 Holiday Songs of 2024,
Topping the ASCAP’s New Classic Holiday Songs chart for the second consecutive year is Kelly Clarkson with "Underneath the Tree," co-written with Greg Kurstin. Other notable entries include Justin Bieber's "Mistletoe," Katy Perry's "Cozy Little Christmas," and Grammy-winning and genre-defying singer-songwriter Laufey’s “Christmas Magic" the latest addition to the list. These contemporary tracks have become holiday favorites, showcasing the evolving landscape of festive music and celebrating the magic of this joyous time.
Published in Music News & Issues
Published in
Music News & Issues
Saturday, 14 December 2024 12:43
Beyoncé Makes A History With ‘act ii Cowboy Carter’
Written by Gene Aaron
The global music scene was shattered with Beyoncé’s eighth studio album act ii COWBOY CARTER, a shockingly disruptive and, in the eyes and ears of many, controversial yet perfectly performed and produced masterpiece, which smashed streaming platforms, airwaves, and news outlets on March 29, 2024, following the monumental release of two lead singles, "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" and "16 CARRIAGES" on February 11, Superbowl Sunday.
In this groundbreaking work, Beyoncé embarks on a bold musical journey that transcends genre boundaries, rooted in the rich tradition of country music while pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. With her trademark creativity and fearless approach, Beyoncé delivers an album that pays homage to musical pioneers across genres like Country, Rock, Classical, and Opera, and it celebrates the past while charting a bold new course in Americana culture while valiantly redefining the soundscape of Americana culture.
Published in
Pop, Soul, R&B, Indie
Tagged under
Tuesday, 08 October 2024 09:00
Plush Drops New Music Video "Run" While Taking Over Japan By Storm
Written by Gene Aaron
All-female rock sensation Plush recently wrapped up their first headlining Find The Beautiful Tour, following an epic, 23-show arena series with Disturbed and Falling In Reverse earlier this year. Plush closed the touring year by heading over the ocean to shake up Japan, where they played a special show in Okinawa on October 5, 2024, at the Futenma Flight Line Fair.
Right before leaving for The Land Of The Rising Sun, Plush has dropped a new music video for their smashing hit "Run," directed by Chase Warren. The song held a spot on the Billboard Top 40 Mainstream Rock Chart for several weeks and is featured on their latest EP, Find the Beautiful, which was released in January under Pavement Entertainment.
Published in Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Published in
Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Thursday, 03 October 2024 06:31
UPSAHL Heats The Globe On “Melt Me Down” Tour. Released Hit Singles ‘Summer So Hot’ And ‘Tears On The Dancefloor’
Written by SULÉY ERA
Pop provocateur and reckless rulebreaker UPSAHL is making headlines over this last Summer with her latest upbeat and edgy hit singles ‘Summer So Hot,’ released on June 21st, 2024, and ‘Tears On The Dancefloor,’ released on August 23, 2024, both via Arista Records and is taking the world by the storm with her mega 40-plus headlining international tour “Melt me down” that kicked off on August 24 with her showcase at the Smukfest 2024 festival in Skanderborg, Denmark.
On August 24, 2024, at the Feelings 2024 fest in Bergen, Norway, UPSAHL completed the first part of the European leg of the tour before she returned to the US with a show at the Soma Sidestage in San Diego on September 10. After a two-month North America spree, UPSAHL is going back to Europe in November.The “Melt me down” tour is scheduled to conclude on November 26 in Paris at the Badaboum.
Published in Pop, Soul, R&B, Indie
Published in
Pop, Soul, R&B, Indie
Monday, 30 September 2024 08:57
Tarah Who? New Album 'The Last Chase'. A Self-Titled Documentary In The Plans
Written by SULÉY ERA
Punk rock band Tarah Who? is back with their latest album, The Last Chase, released through Pavement Entertainment on September 20th, 2024. Produced by renowned musician Alain Johannes and frontwoman Tarah Carpenter, this album delivers the raw energy and unapologetic intensity the band is known for while pushing the boundaries of their sound. Known for Tarah’s gritty vocals and the band’s fierce guitar riffs, The Last Chase explores themes of perseverance, rebellion, and self-discovery, encapsulating the spirit of punk rock with a modern edge.
Working alongside Johannes, a founding member of the alternative rock group Eleven and whose production credits include Queens of the Stone Age, Chris Cornell, No Doubt, and Them Crooked Vultures, The Last Chase channels both the urgency of classic punk and the experimental flair of alternative rock. Carpenter’s powerful performance, backed by relentless rhythms and hard-hitting melodies, makes this release a defining moment for the band, cementing their place in the punk rock scene while drawing in a broader audience.
Published in Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Published in
Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Tagged under
Friday, 27 September 2024 11:52
Double Exclusive: Nick Z Marino And John Ivan GuitarSlinger Share Fate In Life And Music
Written by Gene Aaron
In the dynamic world of rock and metal, there are a few names that demonstrate an unparalleled synergy of technical mastery and raw passion as Nick Z Marino, a powerhouse vocalist and keyboardist known for his work with Yngwie Malmsteen and his solo project NZM, and John Ivan Belousov, an internationally acclaimed progressive and thrash metal guitarist and songwriter, a member of the Michael Vescera Project, and co-founder of The Voices of Metal Project.
In this exclusive interview, we explore their musical journeys, their life experiences and stories, and what drives them to continue evolving. Nick and John talk about the roots of their friendship, the commonality of their backgrounds and fate, and share the history of their collaboration, offering a rare glimpse into the minds of two artists who live and breathe music of the highest level of creativity, drive, and multi-layered complexity.
Published in Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Published in
Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Thursday, 26 September 2024 08:30
David Gilmour ‘Luck And Strange’ Released On Sony Music. Touring EU - US.
Written by SULÉY ERA
Source: SONY Music
Pink Floyd is known for carefully crafting each of their epic work, and that applies to the solo works of each member of the legendary progressive rock ensemble and the latest release of David Gilmour's highly anticipated new album ‘Luck and Strange’ is not an exception. The album was released on Sony Music on September 6th, 2024, marking his first collection of new material in nine years.
The critically acclaimed nine-track album includes an enchanting reworking of The Montgolfier Brothers' 1999 song "Between Two Points," featuring Gilmour’s 22-year-old daughter, Romany, on vocals and harp. Other highlights include the title track, featuring the late Richard Wright of Pink Floyd, recorded during a 2007 jam session at Gilmour’s home. The album’s artwork is by an acclaimed artist Anton Corbijn.
Published in Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Published in
Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Monday, 23 September 2024 04:32
SOiL. Scream: The Essentials. Album Review
Written by Rick Patterfield
© 2017 Pavement Entertainment PVMT 6070 | 21 track = 68'35"
The first official, a non-promo compilation of Chicago modern metallers SOiL features the piece “The Hate Song,” among others. Originally it was released on the studio album Whole (2013), the band's reunion with vocalist Ryan McCombs. And it is very surprising that the harsh musicians did not dare to call the collection Hate Songs: such a title (or, Songs of Hate) would suit this quite monumental collection much more than the somewhat vague and neutral name of Scream.
You probably already think that this introduction will be followed by about 2,000 characters of reasoning about why the author of this review does not like SOiL as well as all modern metal, as in terms of the 90s?
Published in Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Published in
Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Tagged under
Thursday, 19 September 2024 10:54
Michael Kiwanuka New Album Small Changes Out Nov 15. Co-Headline Tour With Brittany Howard
Written by Gene Aaron
It has been five years since a conceptual album, “Kiwanuka,” received Grammy and Brit nominations and won the Mercury Prize for English singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka, and now the 37-year-old artist returns with his fourth album that reflects on changes in his personal life. The 11-track record “Small Changes” has been announced to be released on November 15th, 2024, via Geffen Records, following Kiwanuka’s US tour co-headlining with Brittany Howard.
For the making of “Small Changes,” Michael Kiwanuka reunited with co-producers Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton (Gorillaz, Black Keys, Gnarls Barkley) and Inflo (Sault, Adele, Cleo Sol), continuing the creative streak that began with his critically acclaimed 2016 UK number-one album, “Love & Hate.”
Published in Pop, Soul, R&B, Indie
Published in
Pop, Soul, R&B, Indie
Tagged under
Sunday, 25 August 2024 02:50
JOHN IVAN 2024 GuitarSlinger: A Real Guitar Record For The 2020's
Written by Rick Patterfield
JOHN IVAN, GuitarSlinger
© 2024 John Ivan Belousov / Bestia Records (number n/a), 9 tracks = 59'05"
Hope you remember the days of triumph of the mighty US label Shrapnel Records — not only the first American metal label but, far more importantly, a kind of springboard for quite a number of guitar talents all over the US and the world. With a string of albums of such great players as Tony MacAlpine and Paul Gilbert (as a member of Racer X), that label and its boss Mike Varney, a good guitar player himself, wrote the modern rock formula of what an instrumental album of the 80s and 90s should be.
Sadly, such kinds of albums of little-known or even unknown guitar virtuosos are nowadays extremely rare, but a debut solo CD by Ukrainian musician and producer John Ivan Belousov has all the generic traits of those Shrapnel Records of old. Raised on a heavy diet of Yngwie Malmsteen and, eh, aforementioned US shredders, John was once a candidate for one of the last “true” line-ups of the legendary Russian thrash metal institution Master, although his own band Bestia, based in the city of Nikolaev in Ukraine, played a pure US power/speed metal and drew many comparisons with Racer X (again!) even back in the 90s.
Published in Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Published in
Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Tagged under
More...
Friday, 09 August 2024 08:51
Larry Mitchell: Creative Spiritual Journey Through Life And Music
Written by Gene Aaron
In the modern guitar world, few names resonate as profoundly as Grammy-winning producer, engineer, virtuoso guitarist, and multi-instrumentalist Larry Mitchell. Renowned for his spellbinding techniques, soulful compositions, and eponymous signature sound, Mitchell has carved out a niche that defies genre boundaries, seamlessly blending rock, jazz, blues, and world music influences.
During his star-studded journey, Larry recorded and toured with icons such as Tracy Chapman, Ric Ocasek, Billy Squier, Miguel Bosé, and Nile Rodgers. He collaborates with Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, George Lynch, and Doug Doppler, among many others, produced award-winning records for a variety of artists, and released several solo albums since emerging on the scene in the late 1980s.
Published in Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Published in
Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Monday, 29 July 2024 06:33
The Best of NZM Feat. Hit Single No Innocence. Album Review
Written by Gene Aaron
The release of “the best of…” compilation albums by any accomplished artist is always a major and highly anticipated event, praised by fans and the press. More importantly, such work is expected to be a signified mark set upon a certain, often pivotal point of the artist’s career, embarking on the upcoming new chapters. "The Best of NZM" by the prominent South Florida power metal band NZM, released on July 19, 2024, via FireRock Music Group, is just that.
NZM, led by brilliant vocalist, virtuoso keyboard player, and producer Nick Z Marino, introduced their exceptional work throughout the years, which features the band's greatest hits, fan favorites, and rare tracks, capturing the essence of NZM's high-energy and emotionally charged performances and powerful sound, including their latest hit single “No Innocence," offering fans both a nostalgic journey and a fresh perspective on the band’s musical evolution.
Published in Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Published in
Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Tagged under
Monday, 15 July 2024 04:26
SOiL Tours US, EU, UK With “All Scars” Set. Plays Wacken Open Air And Other Fests
Written by Gene Aaron
For Chicago heavyweights SOiL, 2024 became an exciting and busy year of touring. They started in March by headlining in The Back To The 2000’s Tour along with their counterparts from Texas, nu-metal pioneers The Union Underground, playing exclusive material from their most popular albums that were released in the early 2000’s.
In August, SOiL takes off to Europe for a two-week European tour, The tour kicks off at the legendary Wacken Open Air Festival on August 2 and concludes on August 16 in Sulingen, Germany at the ReLoad Festival. In November 2024, the band returns to the UK for another headlining round for the first time since 2019.
Published in Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Published in
Rock, Prog-Rock, Metal
Tagged under
Sunday, 14 July 2024 03:48
Fana Hues Releases Masterful Third Album Moth Goes on Tour w/ Lucky Daye
Written by SULÉY ERA
Fana Hues, the visionary artist known for her soul-stirring melodies and evocative lyrics, has released her highly anticipated third album, MOTH, available via Bright Antenna Records. Building on the success of her previous works, Hues masterfully blends genres, crafting a sound that is both deeply personal and universally resonant. MOTH promises to take listeners on a transformative journey through themes of growth, resilience, and self-discovery, all while showcasing Hues' unparalleled vocal prowess and innovative production.
Fana was chosen as a special guest on Lucky Daye’s The Algorithm Tour this Summer, which kicked off on July 11th in San Francisco, and stopping at legendary venues like House of Blues in Boston, Orlando, and Anaheim, New York City’s Radio City Music Hall, and Seattle’s Showbox SODO among dozens of other prime stages across United States adding an extra visit to Canada at the History in Toronto.
Published in Pop, Soul, R&B, Indie
Published in
Pop, Soul, R&B, Indie
Tagged under