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Month: July 2023

Taylor Swift Breaks Record

Taylor Swift
Jason Tate

Taylor Swift has broken the record for most number one albums by a female artist:

Taylor Swift’s third re-recorded album, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), blasts in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated July 22), launching with the year’s biggest week for any album, and gives Swift her 12th No. 1, surpassing Barbra Streisand for the most No. 1 albums among women.

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) bows with 716,000 equivalent album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending July 13, according to Luminate, of which 507,000 are in traditional album sales. Both figures represent the largest week for any album in 2023 and the best since Swift’s last studio album, Midnights, debuted with 1.58 million units, of which 1.14 million were in album sales, last year (week ending Oct. 27, 2022; as reflected on the Nov. 5-dated Billboard 200).

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Review: Brian May + Friends – Star Fleet Project

Adam Grundy

When Queen first took a break in the early part of 1983, Brian May decided to use this extra time in his hands to get some of his closest rock band friends for what would become the Star Fleet Project. This mini-album features Edward Van Halen (guitar), Alan Gratzer (drums), Phil Chen (bass) and Fred Mandel (keyboards), with May taking the reins of lead vocals and guitar for a crowd-pleasing set of three songs that have been reissued on a remastered vinyl collection released today. In addition to the vinyl single, the box set includes a thrilling 23-track CD filled with previously unreleased material. Brian May shared, “It’s all here. ALL of it. Every note we played on those two days is right here, on show for the first time. I will take you behind the scenes into that studio with us for two unforgettably exhilarating days.” This dedication to the project that took place on April 21-22, 1983 is remastered in pain-staking detail and care, and pulls back the curtain on one of the most beloved classic rock recordings of all time.

The record launches off with “Star Fleet,” that has a sound somewhere between the classic rock sheen of Boston, paired with the memorable guitar riffing from May. Brian May’s vocals sound as brilliant as they’ve ever been on this remastered mix and it really makes the music shine out of the gate. The other song on the A-side, called “Let Me Out,” is a bluesy rock song that is sure to make even the most skeptical music fan a believer in the chemistry May had with these legendary musicians. Not to be outdone by their early work, the back half features a gargantuan, 13-minute blues rock song on the aptly titled “Blues Breaker,” that further highlights the impressive back and forth wailing between Van Halen and May. Even without any vocals on the instrumental closing song, it remains a captivating listening experience that was meant to be played on a turntable in all its glory. The Star Fleet Sessions is getting another worthy moment in the sun, and I think we’re all better off because of this.

FORAGER – “Hello To The Kiddies” (Song Premiere)

FORAGER
Adam Grundy

Today I’m excited to introduce everyone to indie pop band, FORAGER, who are back with their second single off of their recently announced LP, Pipedream Firewood, called ”Hello To The Kiddies.” “Hello to the Kiddies” is an earworm that’s warped by the band’s characteristic off-kilter production choices, propulsive bass lines, and dreamy vocal styling. The chorus only hits once, but that’s all you’ll need to remember the hook. Pipedream Firewood hits music streaming services on August 18th, and I was also able to catch up with the band for a brief interview below.

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Review: The American Hotel System – “Tripping”

Adam Grundy

Right off the coattails of a success single, called “Seattle,” the rock band known as The American Hotel System have returned with a more vulnerable side of themselves on “Tripping.” The Grand Rapids, Michigan band has opened for marquee acts like Bon Jovi, earned the Grand Champions of Music Prize in 2022, and it’s easy to see why they’re making such a big name for themselves early on in their career. Lead singer Jacob Betts shared, “I believe we all experience pushes and pulls in life—events from our past that propel us forward and aspirations for the future that draw us toward tomorrow. As I progress in therapy, the pain from my past has become a source of joy, pushing me forward even during the darkest moments when I feel like I’m falling…that is at the heart of ‘Tripping.'” With a sound that fits well within the realm of Switchfoot, The Fray, and Goo Goo Dolls, The American Hotel System may just be the next great rock band to take the music scene by storm.

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Fall Out Boy’s Update of Billy Joel’s ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’ Hits the Hot 100

Fall Out Boy
Jason Tate

Billboard:

Fall Out Boy reaches the Billboard Hot 100 as a lead act for the first time since 2016, as its update of Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” debuts at No. 94 on the July 15-dated tally.

The reimagination bows with 4.7 million official U.S. streams, 767,000 radio audience impressions and 9,000 downloads in the June 30-July 6 tracking period, according to Luminate.

The Cosmic Neighborhood – “Sunlight” (Video Premiere)

The Cosmic Neighborhood
Adam Grundy

Today I’m thrilled to share with everyone the latest animated music video from The Cosmic Neighborhood called “Sunlight.” Fronted by the brother-sister duo of Mateus Teo (pronounced Tay-oh) and Happy Silva, with backing band members Josh Grandbouche, Adam Perkowski, and Sam Kunesh, the band are currently playing shows and writing their second album. The band mashes up indie rock, emo, bossa nova/samba, lo-fi hip hop beats, and pop into a brazilian-inspired indie-pop fusion, but they really have an unique style of their own. Lead singer Mateus shared:

My sister and I come from Brazil and with this band unbridled creativity is the goal. Having lived in both Brazil and the US, we’ve always been exposed to a vast array of sights and sounds. We’re always trying to combine those ideas from across cultural backgrounds into new sounds. With Sunlight, the band tried pushing our influences to the extreme, resulting in one of our most melancholy yet explosive tracks. It’s about getting stuck – emotionally, mentally, physically, & creatively – and trying to live with it. Our words only express so much; we’re focused on the vibe and the best way we know how to communicate is through our music.

If you’re enjoying this early listen to The Cosmic Neighborhood’s latest single, please consider purchasing something from their Bandcamp page here.

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BabyJake – “Brown” (Song Premiere)

Babyjake
Adam Grundy

Today is a great day to announce the latest single from Alternative-indie singer/songwriter, BabyJake, called “Brown,” as well as the official announcement of his brand new LP, Aren’t We Ever Gonna Be More Than Friends?, that will be everywhere music is sold on July 28th. BabyJake shared:

Really, what happened with this song is that I wrote the bass line 2 years ago. I always loved it and felt this James Brown-esque funk to it (a bit slower, but still). We recorded the whole band at Jon’s house and we had the instrumental done for 2 months or so and I kept putting off the lyrics, putting off the lyrics, putting off the lyrics over and over…I’d make an excuse or this or that or whatever. But finally, we got to it and it was like, ‘well, Jake this is the last song on the project and you still haven’t written the lyrics,’ so I said ‘well, shit mate, ya got me in a chokehold here don’t ya?’ That day, in 30 minutes, I wrote the song in the studio. I always had the first line ‘Strung Along’ and from that, you could go any direction, it could really mean so many things.

I was also able to catch up with this artist for a brief interview below.

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