Alternative Music
Rap Song of the Week: Conway the Machine Brings Out the Best in Lil Wayne and Rick Ross on “Tear Gas”
Our new music feature Rap Song of the Week breaks down the essential hip-hop tracks you need to hear. Check out the full playlist here. This week, Conway the Machine links up with Lil Wayne and Rick Ross on “Tear Gas” from his long-awaited Shady debut, God Don’t Make Mistakes. Conway the Machine’s tenure on Shady Records has been the latest case study for exactly what a major label can provide for a rapper who was already well-respected and making good money from merch and touring. Back in 2017, our former Artist of the Month signed on to make Eminem his ostensible boss as part of a package deal for Griselda, the label and collective founded by his brother Westside Gunn. In the five years since then, both rappers (along with Benny the Butcher) have continued to operate outside of the lines...
Bonnie Raitt Announces New Album Just Like That…, Shares “Made Up Mind”: Stream
Bonnie Raitt has readied her 21st(!) album, Just Like That… Ahead of the project’s April 22nd release day, the singer-songwriter has shared first single “Made Up Mind,” and announced a massive, eight-month tour. Raitt recorded Just Like That… last summer with collaborators old and new. Longtime bassist James “Hutch” Hutchinson and drummer Ricky Fataar return to their posts, while new additions Glenn Patscha and Kenny Greenberg lend keyboards, backing vocals, and guitar. George Marinelli, Raitt’s longtime guitarist and songwriting partner, also returns for the track “Livin’ for the Ones.” Raitt produced the album herself in collaboration with engineer Ryan Freeland. “On this record, I wanted to stretch,” Raitt said of Just Like That… “I always want to find songs that excite me, an...
ROB HALFORD Says Leftover Material From His ‘Confess’ Autobiography Is Being Used In Soon-To-Be-Announced Project
In a new interview with the Phoenix, Arizona radio station KSLX-FM 100.7, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford discussed his autobiography, “Confess”, which arrived in September 2020 via Hachette Books. Co-written with Ian Gittins, the book offered readers a compelling, heartfelt and honest look at the struggles Rob has faced with addiction and his sexuality as well as exploring his music and his many brushes with controversy. Rob said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I was approached in my 30s. ‘Rob, do you want to do a book?’ I’m, like, ‘No, dude. I’ve got more of a life to live.’ And then there’s a little bell [that] goes, ‘Ping! It’s time to do it.’ So we put that together while the pandemic was going on. &#...
STEVIE NICKS On Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine: ‘This Is HITLER Coming Back To Haunt Us’
Stevie Nicks has compared Russian president Vladimir Putin to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Earlier today, the FLEETWOOD MAC singer took to her social media to share a photo of a stunning hand-painted box she had apparently received from an artist in Ukraine, and she included the following message: “At 4am this morning me and a friend sent a message to a lady in Ukraine who sent us a beautiful hand painted box~ to thank her again and check up on her after watching the news all night ~ she immediately wrote back that she was home and still fine… At 4:45am she wrote us back that she was now~ ‘just trying to escape’; that changed everything. Now I know someone, an innocent person, who is having her freedom taken from her. I have been crying ever since. “My mom said t...
TOOL Details ‘Fear Inoculum’ Ultra Deluxe Vinyl
The eagerly awaited vinyl version of TOOL‘s critically-acclaimed fifth album, “Fear Inoculum”, will arrive on April 8 via RCA Records, with the Grammy Award-winning release spread over 5 LPs and paired with new, extensive artwork. TOOL guitarist Adam Jones reconceptualized the already impressive album packaging with each of the 180-gram vinyl discs emblazoned with a unique etching and accompanied by an elaborate pictorial booklet including never-before-seen artwork. The limited-edition set, which also features a new cover, is housed in a hard shell box. TOOL has consistently elevated the concept of album art, from the groundbreaking “Fear Inoculum” CD release fronted by a 4″ HD rechargeable screen with exclusive video footage (“Recusant Ad Infinitu...
DAVID DRAIMAN: ‘I Don’t Think That There Would Be A DISTURBED Without PANTERA’
DISTURBED‘s David Draiman was one of the musicians who joined Lou Brutus of HardDrive Radio to celebrate the 30th anniversary of PANTERA‘s classic sophomore major label album “Vulgar Display Of Power”. Speaking about the impact the LP had on his musical upbringing, Draiman said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “[PANTERA] really, I think, at that point, had honed the whole groove metal thing that they had pioneered; they had gotten it to be so, so perfect. And look, that record was songs we covered, songs we adored, songs that were the soundtrack to many a late-night bit of Sodom and Gomorrah on the bus [laughs] — all kinds of craziness. There was all kinds of moments that those songs are literally part of the soundtrack to our upbringing. “A lot of ...
Spirit Adrift Share Cover of Pantera’s “Hollow”: Stream
Spirit Adrift have covered Pantera‘s “Hollow” to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the latter’s iconic Vulgar Display of Power album. The cover sees the Austin-based Spirit Adrift faithfully paying homage to their Texas metal forebearers. As one of Pantera’s more mid-tempo, melodic songs, “Hollow” works well within Spirit Adrift’s traditional heavy metal framework. It’s no surprise that the song and Vulgar Display of Power were a major influence on singer-guitarist Nate Garrett. “Vulgar Display of Power was a massive influence on my understanding of powerful songwriting, memorable arrangements, riffing, drumming, singing, and heavy metal in general”, Garrett said in a press release. “I studied the entire album from an early age, and the standout track to me has always been ‘Hollow.’ I...
Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie on His New Memoir, ’70s Punk Feminism, and Being Anti-Facist
Listen via Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Pocket Casts | Radio Public | RSS Primal Scream’s main man Bobby Gillespie sits down with Kyle Meredith to talk about his autobiography, Tenement Kid. The Scottish musician discusses growing up in post-war England with the fear of death around him, being anti-facist and an artist that stands up for causes, and being a feminist from a young age. Related Video Gillespie goes on to talk about the power of discovering Thin Lizzy and Ramones at 15, being a current fan of Kurt Vile and Kelly Lee Owens, and how the sequel to this book will spotlight his career through the ’90s. Advertisement Listen to Bobby Gillespie reflect on Primal Scream, Tenement Kid, and ...
Billie Eilish and FINNEAS Share Fake Boy Band Song from Turning Red: Stream
Disney has released “Nobody Like U” from its upcoming movie Turning Red, written by none other than Billie Eilish and FINNEAS. In the film, the peppy track is performed by fictional boy band 4*Town, which is voiced by FINNEAS (Jesse), Jordan Fisher (Robaire), Topher Ngo (Aaron T.), Grayson Villanueva (Tae Young), and Josh Levi (Aaron Z). “You’re never not on my mind/ Oh my, oh my,” the quintet croon over ’90s style pop production. “I’m never not by your side/ Your side, your side/ I’m never gon’ let you cry/ Oh cry, don’t cry.” Advertisement Related Video Turning Red tells the story of Mei Lee, a 13-year-old obsessed with 4*Town who just so happens to inherit the secret family lineage of turning into a giant red panda whenever she gets too excited or emotional about something. Starring the...
David Lynch’s Weather Report Forecasts “Death and Destruction” for Vladimir Putin
David Lynch included an unusual forecast in his daily weather report on February 25th, predicting that “death and destruction” will come for Russian President Vladimir Putin in the wake of his invasion of Ukraine. Lynch revived the weather reports in 2020 after sporadically posting them to his website in the aughts. He’s known for enthusiastically shaking the camera on Fridays and faithfully reporting the Los Angeles temperatures before signing off with a wave. The February 25th report began like many others, with Lynch revving up like a boxing ring announcer to exclaim, “If you can believe it, it’s a Friday once again!” But his YouTube video soon took an unexpected turn. Advertisement Related Video “Today I was thinking about the Ukrainians and the song ‘Roads’ by Portishead from the...
HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD Releases New Single ‘Chaos’
Los Angeles quintet HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD has released a new single, “Chaos”, produced by WZRD BLD a.k.a. Drew Fulk (Lil Wayne, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, Lil Peep). The track is among the heaviest to ever be released by the group, yet still combines dynamic elements of rap, hard rock and alternative in a way that is authentically UNDEAD. The track offers the first glimpse of the band’s yet-to-be-announced new album. “‘Chaos’ is about getting to the end of the road, thinking you can finally rest, and realizing it’s not only more chaos, but that’s all there is ever gonna be. No rest for the wicked,” says HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD‘s Johnny 3 Tears. A visualizer for “Chaos” can be viewed below. The song’s official haunting and arti...
KIX Guitarist RONNIE YOUNKINS On His Battle With Alcoholism: ‘This Is My Fifth Rehab I’ve Been To In 10 Years’
KIX guitarist Ronnie Younkins, who is unable to tour with the band because he has been placed under house arrest after repeatedly getting in trouble with the police, discussed his battle with alcoholism in a new interview with The Metal Summit. Asked about his current health status, he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I’m doing well. I’m an AA guy. I’m a 12-Step Program guy. I spent six months in a rehabilitation center, locked down. I went to court a few times; I had trouble with the law. And if that’s what it took to get me where I’m at right now, that’s what it took. It’s been a long time coming. “I was sober and clean for 21 years,” he explained. “I was sober and clean when I was 32 and I stayed sober and clea...
