music blog

Britney Spears and Elton John have released a new video for their summer single “Hold Me Closer,” which re-works Elton John’s classic “Tiny Dancer.” It’s directed by Tanu Muino, who also handled the visuals for Harry Styles’ “As It Was,” Cardi B’s “Up,” and Lil Nas X’s “Montero (Call Me by Your Name).” Take a look at “Hold Me Closer” below. “Hold Me Closer,” which arrived at the end of August, is the first new material from Spears since her conservatorship ended last November. She had last released a handful of singles that were recorded around the same time as 2016’s Glory in 2020. Elton John has collaborated on other new material from Yard Act, Eddie Vedder, and Dua Lipa in recent months. His final show in the United States will be livestreamed from Los Angeles on Disney+ in November. Co...

Denzel Curry has announced an expanded edition of his 2022 LP Melt My Eyez See Your Future with a new video for “X-Wing,” in which he pilots matte black copy of the titular Star Wars Rebel fighter spacecraft. Melt My Eyez See Your Future: The Extended Edition is due out September 30 via Loma Vista and comprises a single take of the original LP performed by Curry backed by the Cold Blooded Soul Band. Check out the full tracklist, album art, and video for “X-Wing” below. Curry will premiere the record on a livestream September 29. He has previously performed with the Cold Blooded Soul Band on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and NPR’s “Tiny Desk”. He’s previously released videos for the Melt My Eyez See Your Future tracks “Walkin” and “Zatoichi.”  Check out Pitchfork’s Moodboard f...

Parlophone Records has announced a new David Bowie box set, Divine Symmetry, which is out November 25 in physical and digital formats. The collections captures the year leading up to the release of Hunky Dory in December 1971. It features unreleased songs and demos, as well as alternate mixes of Hunky Dory songs helmed by the album’s co-producer, Ken Scott. Below, hear a previously unreleased version of “Kooks,” which was recorded by Bowie and guitarist Mick Ronson for BBC Radio in September 1971. Divine Symmetry will be available as a 4xCD box set, featuring an additional Blu-ray audio disc, a 100-page hardcover book, and a 60-page reproduction of a Bowie notebook from the era, which the musician used to document song lyrics, costume ideas, production notes, setlists, and more. The set al...

Coolio, the rapper best known for his hit “Gangsta’s Paradise,” has died, report TMZ and Rolling Stone. Citing his longtime manager, TMZ alleged that the rapper passed away unexpectedly while at a friend’s house on Wednesday night (September 28). He was 59 years old. Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr. on August 1, 1963, Coolio moved from his hometown of Monessen, Pennsylvania to Compton, California where he then attended the local community college. Coolio was a crack addict and juvenile offender, but decided to become a volunteer firefighter and picked up a job as security at the Los Angeles airport to kick the habit and pursue a better future. It was then that he turned to music as a way to escape his problems.  When he was 24 years old, Coolio recorded his first-ever single, “Whatcha Gonna D...