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The Flaming Lips Go Back Into Their Bubbles in ‘Dinosaurs on the Mountain’ Video
A few weeks ago, the Flaming Lips performed in their trademark bubbles during a taped performance for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The group head back into the bubbles for their new video for “Dinosaurs on the Mountain,” the third single to come from American Head. In the video, which was directed by singer Wayne Coyne and longtime collaborator George Salisbury, the Lips ponder what life was like for dinosaurs if they had survived that whole extinction thing. Previously, the Flaming Lips released “Flowers of Neptune 6,” which featured Kacey Musgraves and “My Religion Is You.” They also covered George Jones in May for a Netflix movie starring Liam Hemsworth. The Flaming Lips’ American Head is out on Sept. 11 on Warner Records. Watch the video below. [embedded cont...
Z Berg’s ‘It’s My Apocalypse and I’ll Cry If I Want To’ Playlist
With everyone sequestered and self-quarantining due to the coronavirus, we’ve asked our favorite artists to come up with playlists that keep you entertained. Here is veteran Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter Z Berg. With my new record, Get Z To A Nunnery, coming out, I thought perhaps I’d give you a little glimpse into my world and the many characters in it. In this world there is no summer, it is always raining, and the only way to walk home from school is through the graveyard. The buildings are ancient and cavernous. There’s a unique reverb to every room. In some rooms, you’d swear the reverb trail never truly ends… Strange things happen… People disappear. But they turn into echoes that haunt the hallways of the reverb-drenched buildings. Don’t get stuck here… you may never get out. “...
Katy Perry Shares Album Title and Releases New Song
Katy Perry has revealed the title of her upcoming fifth album and released its title track. “Smile” is an upbeat song that has a peppy synth track where Perry tells the world that she got her smile back. So far, Perry has released “Daisies,” “365,” “Harleys in Hawaii,” “Small Talk,” and “Never Really Over” from the album. “I wrote this song when I was coming through one of the darkest periods of my life,” Perry said of the song in a statement. “When I listen to it now, it’s a great reminder that I made it through. It’s three minutes of energizing hopefulness.” Smile will be released on Aug. 14 on Capitol Records. Her previous album, Witness, was released in 2017. Listen to “Smile” below. [embedded content] You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online....
Sufjan Stevens Releases B-Side ‘My Rajneesh’
Sufjan Stevens has shared “My Rajneesh,” which serves as the B-side to “America,” the 12-minute song he released last week. The Ascension, Stevens’ first solo album in five years, was announced last week as well. The Rajneesh movement was a cult that was around in the 1970s and ’80s that, after being forced out of India, settled in Oregon, and has a colorful history, to put it mildly. The song seemingly refers to a bioterror incident involving the cult in 1984. As for “My Rajneesh,” it was originally from 2015’s Carrie & Lowell sessions and is a sprawling song in its own right, clocking in at 10-and-a-half minutes that tackles a number of subjects surrounding the cult. “America” and “My Rajneesh” will be released as a 12-inch single on July 31. The Ascension will be rele...
Elvis Costello Shares ‘Hetty O’Hara Confidential’
As he tipped off a month ago, Elvis Costello has indeed shared another new song. Titled “Hetty O’Hara Confidential,” a description of the song reads as “the tale of a tattler who outlives her time.” Fair enough A few weeks ago, Costello shared “No Flag,” which was his first new song in over a year. He trekked to Finland in February and worked for three days at Suomenlinnan Studio, a recording facility a 20-minute ferry ride from downtown Helsinki. This song is from those sessions, which Costello produced. “Hetty O’Hara Confidential” was recorded and engineered by Eetü Seppälä and mixed in Los Angeles by Sebastian Krys. Earlier in the quarantine, Costello performed an acoustic set from his home in Vancouver in order to raise funds for UK healthcare support...
Dave Grohl, Jack Black, and More Honor the Late Ronnie James Dio in Video
The late, great Ronnie James Dio would have turned 78 today (July 9). Though he wasn’t around to celebrate, his longtime pals did instead. In a video that was released by the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund, a number of Dio’s peers and friends honored the late-singer in footage that was compiled from over the years. Dave Grohl remembered the singer as “one of the greatest singers of all time,” and cited seeing him perform on TV when he was “13 or 14 years old” as one of the reasons why he wanted to become a musician. “He would give all of his time, energy and love and attention to do good things,” he said. Jack Black agreed, saying that Dio was one of the greatest heavy metal singers of all time and that he “such a sweet, genuine dude.” Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler an...
Kanye Says He is Running for President Under “The Birthday Party”, Already Has a VP
On Fourth of July, Kanye West announced his candidacy for president. Though the election is less than fourth months away and he has yet to formally file any paperwork, in a new interview with Forbes, Kanye swore his intentions are true and not a publicity stunt. Speaking with Randall Lane of Forbes, Kanye confirmed his plans to run as a third party candidate under the banner of “The Birthday Party” (“Because when we win, it’s everybody’s birthday,” he explained.) He has already settled on a running mate: Michelle Tidbal, a preacher from Wyoming. He also confirmed that his wife Kim Kardashian and Space X founder Elon Musk are his advisors (if he wins, Kanye plans to make Musk “head of our space program.”) Kanye said he no longer supports Donald Trump, commenting,“I am taking the red hat off...
Pinegrove Release Expanded Edition of Marigold: Stream
Pinegrove have released a (slightly) expanded edition of their latest album, Marigold. Stream the now-13-track effort below via Spotify and Apple Music. It’s also available via TIDAL, which is currently offering a 60-day free trial. Released in January, Marigold served as a follow-up to 2018’s Skylight, which was recorded prior to allegations of misconduct raised against Pinegrove’s leader, Evan Stephens Hall. That made the newer release the first effort the band had recorded following an extended hiatus, during which Hall and his accuser reached a resolution via a private mediator. Here, the LP has seen the addition of two new songs: an acoustic version of “Phase” and a take on “No Drugs” recorded during the Skylight sessions. Alongside the new tracks comes a video for the single “Endless...
Future Islands Share “For Sure”, First New Song in Three Years: Stream
Synthpop heroes Future Islands are back with their first new song in three years. The track is called “For Sure” and it sees the Baltimore band teaming up with Jenn Wasner of Wye Oak, a pairing that sounds seamless in practice. A press release states this is Future Island’s first new music since releasing their 2017 album The Far Field. Technically, though, the band released a standalone single called “Calliope” back in 2018 for Adult Swim’s Singles Series. Regardless, “For Sure” marks a welcome return for the band, especially because there could potentially be more new music on the way. “For Sure” is a soaring number that feels like you’re being filled with hope — something we could certainly use a little more of this year. Armed with their usual blend of synthpop, nonstop drums, and big ...
Glassio Shares the Origins of New Single “One of These Days”: Stream
In our new music feature Origins, we give artists an opportunity to bring listeners closer to the influences behind their latest single. Today, Glassio shares the story behind “One of These Days”. With all that’s going on out there in the world, it seems a lot of nastiness is coming to the forefront. In reality, it’s always been there, it’s just something about the current socio-political atmosphere has pushed it even further out of the shadows. As an Irish-Iranian who immigrated to the US in the thick of post-9/11 unrest, Glassio’s Sam R. knows too well what this rash of hate feels like. But instead of wallowing in the unpleasantness of other people, he’s issuing encouragement to dance through it all on his latest single, “One of These Days”. “I wanted to write a song that could help...
Nielsen to Shed 3,500 Jobs in Restructuring
Nielsen will cut up to 3,500 jobs as part of a restructuring of its businesses to save money and focus on its core holdings. The data company and TV ratings provider says the moves are part of a “broad-based optimization plan” to cut costs and make the remaining assets more efficient, as well as making Nielsen more profitable. Under the plan, Nielsen will “exit several smaller, underperforming markets and non-core businesses” in the next few months. The optimization plan includes cuts of 3,500 staff worldwide — about 8 percent of the company’s employees. “Across Nielsen Global Media and Nielsen Global Connect, we are making progress on increasing our operational and financial discipline, including zero-basing our cost structure as we move toward the plan...
6lack’s ‘6pc’ Wings Into Top 5 on R&B Albums Chart
6lack nabs his second top five effort on Billboard’s Top R&B Albums chart as his new EP, 6pc Hot, debuts in the runner-up spot on the list dated July 11. The six-song project, released on LVRN/Interscope, starts with 26,000 equivalent album units earned in the week ending July 2, according to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. The singer-rapper, whose stage name is pronounced “Black,” previously reached the top five with his prior effort, 2018’s East Atlanta Love Letter, which reigned for two weeks that September – October. His 2016 debut, Free 6lack, climbed to a No. 6 best in May 2017. In addition to its R&B debut, 6pc opens at No. 11 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at No. 15 on the all-genre Billboard 200. As 6pc arrives, four of its cut debut on the Hot R&B Songs chart: “Float” (No....
