Oasis news

Oasis announced details of deluxe formats of (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? to celebrate the album’s 30-year anniversary. Due Oct. 3, it will feature new unplugged versions of “Cast No Shadow,” “Morning Glory,” “Wonderwall,” “Acquiesce” and “Champagne Supernova.” Pre-order here on limited edition 2CD and 3LP formats as well as digital formats to pre-save. 

This special anniversary format follows last summer’s release of the 30th Anniversary Edition of Definitely Maybe, which reached number 1 in the Official UK Album Chart for the second time in that album’s history.

The new unplugged versions were produced and mixed by Noel Gallagher and Callum Marinho from the original master recordings at Noel’s studio, Lone Star Sound, in London. For the new interpretation of “Acquiesce, listen here and watch the visualizer here.

The deluxe album features new artwork shot by original sleeve designer Brian Cannon and new sleeve notes. Exclusive colored vinyl formats will be available, including Amazon Exclusive “Wonderwall” inspired sepia marble 3LP and official store exclusive “Acquiesce” inspired neon orange 3LP. All formats will include the 2014 remastered version of the album alongside the new bonus versions.

This announcement comes as Oasis started its sold out Live ‘25 world reunion tour yesterday at Cardiff, Wales' Principality Stadium. Full dates below.

To celebrate the tour, Big Brother Recordings have launched the Oasis Live ‘25 Map Experience – an official digital companion for fans across the world. Built with Google Maps Platform and developed in partnership with Modern English, the Live ‘25 Map Experience is an immersive and interactive location-based platform that brings the band’s legacy to life across all cities of the tour.

Fans can explore each tour stop through curated hotspots including landmarks tied to the band's history, from legendary local music venues they’ve played at to iconic bars, plus official merch outlets. The platform also unlocks exclusive digital content leveraging real-time geo-locations, accessible when fans are physically present in the host cities. Interactive features include AR experiences with exclusive content offered throughout the tour.

Fans are also invited to capture their journey and share their excitement using YouTube Shorts, with the chance to have their videos featured directly on the Live ‘25 Map Experience and the official Oasis YouTube Channel - turning their memories into part of the tour's living digital archive.

The web app is available at live25.oasisinet.com and will accompany Oasis fans throughout the landmark Live ‘25 tour.

Track list:

1. Hello
2. Roll With It
3. Wonderwall
4. Don’t Look Back In Anger
5. Hey Now!
6. [Untitled]
7. Some Might Say
8. Cast No Shadow
9. She’s Electric
10. Morning Glory
11. [Untitled]
12. Champagne Supernova

Additional Tracks:

1. Cast No Shadow (Unplugged)
2. Morning Glory (Unplugged)
3. Wonderwall (Unplugged)
4. Acquiesce (Unplugged)
5. Champagne Supernova (Unplugged)

Tour Dates:

JULY 2025

5th - Cardiff, UK - Principality Stadium

11th - Manchester, UK - Heaton Park
12th - Manchester, UK - Heaton Park
16th - Manchester, UK - Heaton Park
19th - Manchester, UK - Heaton Park
20th - Manchester, UK - Heaton Park
25th - London, UK - Wembley Stadium
26th - London, UK - Wembley Stadium
30th - London, UK - Wembley Stadium

AUGUST 2025

2nd - London, UK - Wembley Stadium
3rd - London, UK - Wembley Stadium
8th - Edinburgh, UK - Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
9th - Edinburgh, UK - Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
12th - Edinburgh, UK - Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
16th - Dublin, IE - Croke Park
17th - Dublin, IE - Croke Park
24th – Toronto, ON – Rogers Stadium
25th – Toronto, ON – Rogers Stadium
28th – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field
31st – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium

SEPTEMBER 2025

1st – East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium
6th – Los Angeles, CA – Rose Bowl Stadium
7th – Los Angeles, CA – Rose Bowl Stadium
12th – Mexico City, MX – Estadio GNP Seguros
13th – Mexico City, MX – Estadio GNP Seguros
27th - London, UK - Wembley Stadium
28th - London, UK - Wembley Stadium

OCTOBER 2025

21st – Seoul, South Korea – Goyang Stadium
25th – Tokyo, Japan – Tokyo Dome
26th – Tokyo, Japan – Tokyo Dome
31st – Melbourne, Australia – Marvel Stadium

NOVEMBER 2025

1st – Melbourne, Australia – Marvel Stadium
4th – Melbourne, Australia – Marvel Stadium
7th – Sydney, Australia – Accor Stadium
8th – Sydney, Australia – Accor Stadium
15th – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Estadio River Plate
16th – Buenos Aires, Argentina – Estadio River Plate
19th – Santiago, Chile – Estadio Nacional
22nd – Sao Paulo, Brazil – Estádio MorumBIS
23rd – Sao Paulo, Brazil – Estádio MorumBIS

Phil Collins’ hit album 'No Jacket Required' to get expanded 40th Anniversary LP and Blu-ray Audio reissue in September

To mark the 40th Anniversary of Phil Collins’ Diamond-certified third solo album, No Jacket Required, it will be reissued in two new formats available September 12 -- a 4-LP vinyl box set with additional live and rare material; and a 1-BD Blu-ray Audio disc featuring a new Dolby ATMOS mix of the original album by Steven Wilson.

The 4-LP deluxe collection, No Jacket Required (Fully Tailored), is pressed on 180-gram black vinyl and features a 20-page booklet with new liner notes and photos. LP 1 features the original album remastered and cut at half-speed at Abbey Road Studios. LPs 2-4 include a collection of B-sides, live, and rare performances for the first time on vinyl, including a stripped-back performance of “One More Night” Live at the BBC, and “Long, Long Way To Go” from Live Aid on July 13, 1985. Pre-order HERE.

The No Jacket Required Blu-ray Audio disc contains a brand-new Dolby ATMOS, 5.1 surround sound mix and stereo mix by Steven Wilson, alongside the original 1985 stereo mix. The 1-BD Blu-ray Audio will be available the same day as the LP box set. Pre-order HERE.

No Jacket Required, released in 1985, was Phil Collins' third solo album, featured the hit singles "Sussudio," "One More Night," "Don't Lose My Number," and "Take Me Home." It reached #1 in 11 countries, including the UK, US, Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, and Sweden. The album received three GRAMMY® Awards: Best Album, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, and Producer of the Year for Collins. It has sold over 25 million copies to date, is RIAA-certified Diamond in the US, has reached 6x platinum in the UK, and won two Brit Awards — Album of the Year and Best Male Solo Artist. It was the second best-selling album of 1985 in the UK and spent five consecutive weeks at #1 there. “Sussudio” and “One More Night” were both US #1 singles. The No Jacket Required World Tour played 85 shows in 12 countries and concluded with two special performances at Live Aid on July 13, at Wembley Stadium in London and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia on the same day.

Track listing:

LP-1

Side A

Sussudio
Only You Know And I Know
Long Long Way To Go
I Don't Wanna Know
One More Night

Side B

Don't Lose My Number
Who Said I Would
Doesn't Anybody Stay Together Anymore
Inside Out
Take Me Home

LP-2

Side A

Sussudio (Live, 1990)
Don't Lose My Number (Live, 1997)
Who Said I Would (Live, 1985)
Long Long Way To Go (Live, 1994)

Side B

Only You Know And I Know (Live, 1994)
Easy Lover (Live, 1997)
Inside Out (Live, 1990)

LP-3

Side A

Doesn't Anybody Stay Together Anymore (Live, 1990)
One More Night (Live, 1990)
Take Me Home (Live, 1990)

Side B

One More Night (BBC Live Session)
Long, Long Way To Go (Live Aid, 7/13/1985)
Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now) (Live, 1985)
Sussudio (A Hot Night In Paris)

LP-4

Side A

Only You Know And I Know (Demo)
One More Night (Demo)
Take Me Home (Demo)
Sussudio (Demo)

Side B

The Man With The Horn
I Like The Way
We Said Hello Goodbye
Medley Mega Mix (Sussudio / Don't Lose My Number / You Can't Hurry Love)
Separate Lives

Blu-ray

Includes: 

Dolby ATMOS, 5.1 Surround Sound, New Stereo and Original Stereo mixes

Sussudio
Only You Know And I Know
Long Long Way To Go
I Don't Wanna Know
One More Night
Don't Lose My Number
Who Said I Would
Doesn't Anybody Stay Together Anymore
Inside Out
Take Me Home

Marshall Crenshaw unveils 'From the Hellhole' odds 'n' sods collection next month

Veteran folk/pop tunesmith Marshall Crenshaw will put out From the Hellhole, a collection of handpicked, remixed, and remastered songs featuring tracks from a series of EPs along with several rare deep cuts. Primarily recorded in his home studio, affectionately dubbed “The Hellhole,” the collection mostly spans the last two decades (there’s one song from 1990) and will be released August 29 on Yep Roc Records and is now available for pre-order.

Produced by Crenshaw, From The Hellhole resurrects eleven of the eighteen tracks originally issued on a series of limited-edition Record Store Day vinyl EPs released between 2012 and 2016, all of which have been out of print since 2017. 

With rights now reverted back to Crenshaw, these recordings have been compiled here in the interest of what he describes as “legacy curation”—a personal mission to properly archive and reissue work that continues to resonate. Of the eleven EP tracks, eight have been remixed. “They’re their best selves now,” says Marshall.

The album’s three additional tracks include a demo of 1991’s “Walkin’ Around,” a previously unreleased version of “I Just Want to Celebrate” (by Motown’s Rare Earth), and “Couldn’t I Just Tell You,” originally recorded for a 2022 Todd Rundgren tribute project. Crenshaw also includes several highly personal renditions of songs that shaped him, including “(They Long to Be) Close to You,” a dreamy, dub-infused homage to Karen Carpenter and the legendary Wrecking Crew.

In support of the album, Crenshaw will hit the road this fall with stops throughout the Midwest and East Coast. A current list of shows is below and tickets are available here, with additional shows to be announced.

Track listing:

1.I Don’t See You Laughing Now - (M. Crenshaw)
2. (They Long To) Be Close To You - (Bacharach-David)
3. Driving and Dreaming - (M. Crenshaw-D. Bern)
4. I Just Want To Celebrate - (N. Zesses-D. Fekaris)
5. Move Now - (M. Crenshaw-D. Bern)
6. Made My Bed, Gonna Lie In It - (George Young)
7. Walkin’ Around - (M. Crenshaw)
8. No Time - (J. Lynne)
9. Grab The Next Train - (M. Crenshaw-D. Bern)
10. Didn’t Want To Have To Do It - (John Sebastian)
11. Stranger and Stranger - (M. Crenshaw)
12. Couldn’t I Just Tell You - (Todd Rundgren)
13. Red Wine - (M. Crenshaw-D. Bern-J. Ruben)
14. Never To Be Forgotten - (B. Fuller-R. Fuller)

Tour Dates:

September 10 – Natalie’s Grandview – Columbus, OH
September 11 – Kentucky Exposition Center – Louisville, KY
September 13 – City Winery – St. Louis, MO
September 14 – City Winery – Chicago, IL
September 17 – 3rd & Lindsley – Nashville, TN
September 18 – Hotel Indigo Athens Downtown – Athens, GA
September 19 – Eddie’s Attic – Decatur, GA
September 21 – Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC
November 13 - Elkton Music Hall – Elkton, MD
November 14 – Ram’s Head – Annapolis, MD
November 16 – Birchmere – Alexandria, VA
November 20 - Center for Arts in Natick – Annapolis, MD

Out this Friday: Dustin Lynch's 'Club Set Remixes' EP

photo: Jack Owens/BBR Music Group

Last year, I interviewed Dustin (see elsewhere on this blog)....

On Independence Day, country singer Dustin Lynch will release his Club Set Remixes EP, five tracks mixing country and dance sounds. Pre-save or pre-add HERE.

“Putting together the Club Set Remixes EP was a fun ride. This year, I’ve been spinning these tracks in my club sets, and the energy they bring is next level. It’s a new way to experience some of my biggest songs—plus ‘Easy To Love’—in a way that hits different after dark. These remixes are built for the party, and I can’t wait for y’all to turn them up,” says Lynch, in a press release.

Lately Lynch has done frequent nightlife headlining appearances. At his WYNN NIGHTLIFE LAS VEGAS RESIDENCY as well as surprise club and Pool Situation sets in cities across the country, he performs live vocals over real-time DJ mixes alongside longtime collaborator Grant Fisher. 

The singer recently dropped his single “Easy To Love,” the most added song at country radio the week of release and kicks off his TWO FOR THE ROAD TOUR with Scotty McCreery this fall. He’s also currently in the middle of his Vegas residency, marking Wynn Nightlife’s first-ever country headliner.

Track list:

1. Thinking 'Bout You (feat. MacKenzie Porter) [MCAD Remix]
2. Easy To Love (MOONLGHT Remix)
3. Small Town Boy (Dirty Audio and Grant Fisher Remix)
4. Seein’ Red (WARINER Remix)
5. Stars Like Confetti (WARINER Remix)

Long-awaited new Sarah McLachlan album slated for September

Grammy-winning singer Sarah McLachlan has announced Better Broken, her first album of new material in over a decade, due out September 19 via Concord Records. Her tenth studio album and debut release for the label, Better Broken takes its title from its opening track, out now. 

Pre-order the album and stream “Better Broken” HERE. Watch the “Better Broken” music video HERE.

“A lot of the lyrics on this record came from thinking about the world right now and asking, ‘How do we move through this landscape? How do we keep our heads above water when it feels like so much is falling apart?’” says McLachlan. “I don’t know if I have any answers, but channeling all that angst and uncertainty into the music has been so cathartic. I hope that this record provides people with some relief and release—but in the end I just want them to take whatever they need from it, and make the songs part of their own story.”

Mainly recorded at the legendary Sound City Studios in Los Angeles, Better Broken contains contributions from guitarist Wendy Melvoin (Prince and the Revolution), drummer Matt Chamberlain (Bob Dylan, David Bowie), pedal-steel guitarist Greg Leisz (Kacey Musgraves, Florence + the Machine) and others. McLachlan worked with producers Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers, boygenius) and Will Maclellan (Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers). “Reminds Me” is a duet with MUNA’s Katie Gavin. 

Track listing:

Better Broken
Gravity
The Last to Go
Only Way Out Is Through
Reminds Me (feat. Katie Gavin)
One In a Long Line
Only Human
Long Road Home
Rise
Wilderness
If This Is the End...

Out this Friday: The new album by Jonathan Richman

Pop/rock legend JONATHAN RICHMAN will be digitally releasing his 18th studio album ONLY FROZEN SKY ANYWAY on July 4 via Blue Arrow Records (vinyl and CD will be released at a later date TBA).

Longtime drummer/percussionist Tommy Larkins and former Modern Lovers bandmate Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads) play keyboards on it. 

Richman says in a press release that many of the songs either existed in a vague, skeletal form or not at all before recording on January 5th of '25 (and finished by January 10th). One theme took shape during that recording session: "How our friends are leaving, in their dying, on an errand, only to return in another role… with another mission. How do I dare say such a thing? Oh...I don't know.”

In addition to this album of all new material, Blue Arrow will be releasing his last three albums Ishkode! Ishkode! (2016), SA! (2018) and Want To Visit My Inner House? (2021) as well as the EPs Cold Pizza & Other Hot Stuff (2022) and Yatasamaroun (2023) to streaming services for the first time ever.

Previously only available via Bandcamp or for purchase at shows, the rollout of these releases finally makes them accessible to a much larger audience. Of these albums, Richman says, “Jerry Harrison, Nicole Montalbano and I produced [Want To Visit My Inner House?] as well as SA! (2018). To us, the two albums are related in the sense that Want to Visit My Inner House? suggests where SA was starting to head.”

In support of Only Frozen Sky Anyway, Richman has announced a Fall tour. Dates are below:

TOUR DATES:

01 Jul Aladdin Theater Portland, OR
02 Jul Aladdin Theater Portland, OR
31 Jul UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley Berkeley, CA
03 Oct Shrine Social Club (Shrine Ballroom) Boise, ID
04 Oct Zootown Arts Community Center Missoula, MT
07 Oct Royal Canadian Legion No.1 Calgary, AB
08 Oct Myer Horowitz Theatre Edmonton, AB
09 Oct Roxy Theatre Saskatoon, SK
11 Oct West End Cultural Centre Winnipeg, MB
15 Oct West Theatre Duluth, MN
16 Oct First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
17 Oct Englert Theatre Iowa City, IA
18 Oct Delmar Hall St. Louis, MO
19 Oct The Whirling Tiger Louisville, KY
21 Oct Manny's State College, PA
23 Oct Lark Hall Albany, NY
24 Oct Somerville Theatre Somerville, MA
25 Oct Somerville Theatre Somerville, MA
26 Oct Somerville Theatre Somerville, MA
28 Oct SPACE Gallery Portland , ME
29 Oct SPACE Gallery Portland , ME
01 Nov Alderney Landing Theatre Dartmouth, NS

Track listing:

I Was Just A Piece Of Frozen Sky
But We Might Try Weird Stuff
Night Fever
You Need Me Too
The Dog Star
Se Va Pa'volver
That Older Girl
Little Black Bat
O Guitar
David & Goliath
The Wavelet
I Am The Sky

New Zealand alt-rock band The Beths return with new album in August; U.S. tour starts in October

This band was one of my favorites at Coachella '24. Looking forward to the new album...

The Beths — the New Zealand-based quartet of vocalist Elizabeth Stokes, guitarist Jonathan Pearce, bassist Benjamin Sinclair, and drummer Tristan Deck — announce their new album, Straight Line Was A Lie—their first for their new label ANTI—out August 29. They have unveiled new single/video, “No Joy.” 

The path from The Beths’ critically celebrated and year-end-list-topping 2022 album Expert In A Dying Field to Straight Line Was A Lie was anything but straightforward. For the first time, Stokes was struggling to write new songs beyond fragments she’d recorded on her phone. She’d recently started taking an SSRI, which on one hand made her feel like she could “fix” everything broken in her life, from her mental and physical health to fraught family dynamics. At the same time, writing wasn’t coming as easily as it had before.

“I was kind of dealing with a new brain, and I feel like I write very instinctually,” she says. “It was kind of like my instincts were just a little different, they weren't as panicky.”

While Stokes felt a huge relief from taking an SSRI, she articulates the emotional trade-offs on “No Joy.” 

"It's about anhedonia, which, paradoxically, was there both in the worst parts of depression, and then also when I was feeling pretty numb on my SSRI,” Stokes says. “It wasn't that I was sad, I was feeling pretty good. It was just that I didn't like the things that I liked. I wasn't getting joy from them. It's very literal.”

Watch the Video for “No Joy”

Pre-Order Straight Line Was A Lie

Watch the Video for “Metal”

Track listing:

Straight Line Was A Lie

Mosquitoes
No Joy
Metal
Mother, Pray For Me
Til My Heart Stops
Take
Roundabout
Ark Of The Covenant
Best Laid Plans

North American Tour Dates:

Thu. Oct. 30 - Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel*

Fri. Oct. 31 - Atlanta, GA @ Variety Playhouse *
Sat. Nov 1 - Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl *
Mon. Nov. 3 - Dallas, TX @ The Studio At The Bomb Factory *
Tue. Nov. 4 - Austin, TX @ Emo's *
Thu. Nov. 6 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren *
Fri. Nov. 7 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern * ^
Sat. Nov. 8 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore * [SOLD OUT]
Sun. Nov. 9 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore *
Wed. Nov. 12 - Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades *
Fri. Nov. 14 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom *
Sat. Nov. 15 - Seattle, WA @ The Moore Theatre *
Sun. Nov. 16 - Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom *
Tue. Nov. 18 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall *
Wed. Nov. 19 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre *
Fri. Nov. 21 - Kansas City, MO @ The Truman *
Sat. Nov. 22 - St. Paul, MN @ Palace Theatre *
Sun. Nov. 23 - Chicago, IL @ The Salt Shed (Indoor) * +
Tue. Nov 25 - Cleveland, OH @ Globe Iron *
Wed. Nov. 26 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Roxian Theatre *
Fri. Nov. 27 - Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall *
Fri. Nov. 28 - Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall * [SOLD OUT]
Sat. Nov. 29 - Montreal, QC @ Beanfield Theatre *
Mon. Dec. 1 - Boston, MA @ Royale *
Tue. Dec. 2 - Boston, MA @ Royale * [SOLD OUT]
Wed. Dec. 3 - Providence, RI @ Fete Music Hall *
Fri. Dec. 5 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount * #
Sat. Dec. 6 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer * [SOLD OUT]
Sun. Dec. 7 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer *
Tue. Dec. 9 - Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club * [SOLD OUT]
Wed. Dec. 10 - Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club * [SOLD OUT]

! w/ Dateline
* w/ Phoebe Rings
^ w/ Bret McKenzie
+ w/ Squirrel Flower
# w/ illuminati hotties

The Cranberries' expanded 30th anniversary editions of 'No Need to Argue' coming in August

Since I interviewed guitarist Noel Hogan for the initial album release, I'm very anxious to hear the unreleased songs...

“Sometimes, it feels like it's only been a few years ago and other times it feels like an eternity. There are lots of memories still fresh in our minds. It's hard to believe it's been 30 years since its release,” says The Cranberries drummer Fergal Lawler about the 30th anniversary of their landmark second album No Need to Argue. 

The band is celebrating the anniversary with a 2LP Deluxe Edition, 2CD Deluxe Edition, 1LP, 1CD and Digital Deluxe released on August 15 via Island/UMe (go to thecranberries.com for full detailed track listings).

Originally released on October 3, 1994 via Island Records, No Need To Argue serves as the commercial breakthrough for the band, led by global success of its signature single “Zombie.” Featuring the late Dolores O’Riordan on vocals, The Cranberries had no trouble writing music for their follow-up to their worldwide multi-platinum breakthrough debut Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? 

“There was no ‘difficult second album syndrome’,” says Lawler. “Dolores didn’t have any problems writing on the road and in fact was bursting with ideas. Often when a song was completed it’d go straight into the live set, so audiences got to hear a lot of the No Need To Argue songs way before they were recorded. I remember playing ‘Zombie’, for instance, early in 1993 on our first European tour with Hothouse Flowers. By the time the chorus came around for the second time, you could feel the reaction in the room. People just loved it from the get-go.”

Written about the political unrest in Ireland called “The Troubles” that lasted from the late 1960s to 1998, “Zombie” reflected on the innocent children who were killed due to the violence that erupted. "People say we shouldn't have done 'Zombie' but, excuse me, I'm Irish. I'm a human being,” explained O’Riordan about the song. “I'm allowed to have feelings about the North, the same way I'm allowed to have feelings about what's going on in Bosnia. I express those feelings in my songs. It's up to people whether they want to listen to them or not.”

The special limited-edition 3LP vinyl package includes a previous unreleased demo of “Zombie”, live recordings from Woodstock ’94, and MTV Unplugged which originally aired April 18, 1995. “It was an honour to do MTV Unplugged and I’m really proud that our songs didn’t need all the bells and whistles you get in the studio to sound good,” explains Lawler. “They worked just as well, stripped down and played acoustically, albeit with the help of the brilliant Electra Strings.”

Also included are two remixes by Scottish producer and CHVRCHES band member Iain Cook – the dancefloor ready “Zombie” and a much dreamier “Ode To My Family.” Recalls Lawler of the remixes, “Iain was very nervous about doing ‘Zombie’ because of its legacy. I told him not to worry about what other people think and just go for it. Originally, he went down the traditional Irish music route but then decided to do something dance-ier, which has worked out brilliantly.”

Cook’s reinvention of “Ode To My Family” took on a dreamier route. “There’s a groove on the original when the chorus comes in, which he leant into,” adds Lawler. “You’ll be nodding your head and tapping your feet for sure! Iain also added strings so, again, it turned out great.”

Often cited as the album that helped cement Irish music in the worldwide musical conversation, No Need to Argue saw the critical darlings (whose debut Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? introduced the band to the masses) embraced by a global audience due to the album’s universal appeal. No Need to Argue boasted a number of singles including “Ode To My Family”, “I Can’t Be With You”, “Ridiculous Thoughts”, “Dreaming My Dreams” and, of course, “Zombie” which reached No. 1 in Australia, Denmark, France, Belgium, Germany, and topped Billboard’s Alternative Airplay chart and whose video counts an astounding 1.6B plays on YouTube. It was also crowned “Song of the Year” at 1995’s MTV Europe Music Awards.

The album’s enduring popularity keeps the band at the forefront of the mainstream’s consciousness, especially with the impact of “Zombie.” Whether being covered by Miley Cyrus at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood or belted out by a stadium full of Ireland rugby fans who’ve adopted it as their match day anthem, those tanks and bombs and guns stir the emotions as much now as they did then.

But “Zombie” wasn’t the only track that is singled out by pop culture. “Ode To My Family” even found its way into a 2019 episode of Family Guy with Peter – who was particularly fond of the “Doo doo doo”–ing – telling Lois: “You know once I hear that I can’t get it out of my head!” In fact, songs from No Need To Argue have been showing up in The Office (US), Pitch Perfect 3, Clueless, Yellowjackets, Army Of The Dead, Roswell, New Mexico and more.

Described by producer Stephen Street as “a beautiful collection of people working together with the right intentions,” The Cranberries’ vigor and familial chemistry exudes throughout the album. “Call it youthful arrogance but we knew the songs we’d written were good and couldn’t wait to get them down,” adds guitarist Noel Hogan. “Stephen had bought a camcorder that we spent a lot of time messing around with in The Manor and you can see in the videos how happy and chilled everyone was. The mood in the camp was really, really good and it never felt like work.”

The one indelible mark The Cranberries upholds is their love and belief in their own music. The endurance of that message is the pinnacle of their legacy. “I really think that what makes people tune into The Cranberries is the honesty of the music,” O’Riordan is quoted as saying. “Some fans say, ‘Aren’t you embarrassed singing about such things?’ and I say, ‘That’s what makes me what I am.’ I’m not going to change for anyone.’”

SUPER DIGITAL DELUXE TRACKLISTING: 

1. Ode To My Family (2025 Remastered)
2. I Can't Be With You (2025 Remastered)
3. Twenty One (2025 Remastered)
4. Zombie (2025 Remastered)
5. Empty (2025 Remastered)
6. Everything I Said (2025 Remastered)
7. The Icicle Melts (2025 Remastered)
8. Disappointment (2025 Remastered)
9. Ridiculous Thoughts (2025 Remastered)
10. Dreaming My Dreams (2025 Remastered)
11. Yeat's Grave (2025 Remastered)
12. Daffodil Lament (2025 Remastered)
13. No Need To Argue (2025 Remastered)
14. Ode To My Family (Iain Cook Remix)
15. Zombie (Iain Cook Remix)
16. Zombie (Demo Version)
17. I Can't Be With You {Live From Woodstock 94'}
18. Ridiculous Thoughts {Live From Woodstock 94'}
19. Daffodil Lament {Live From Woodstock 94'}
20. Away
21. I Don't Need
22. So Cold In Ireland
23. (They Long To Be) Close To You
24. Zombie - Camel's Hump Mix
25. Song To My Family (Magic Shop Demo)
26. So Cold In Ireland (Magic Shop Demo)
27. Empty (Magic Shop Demo)
28. Ridiculous Thoughts (Magic Shop Demo)
29. Everything I Said (Magic Shop Demo)
30. Yeat's Grave (Magic Shop Demo)
31. Serious (Demo)
32. Away (Demo)
33. I Don't Need (Demo)
34. Dreaming My Dreams (Live At Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool, UK/1994)
35. Daffodil Lament (Live At Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool, UK/1994)
36. The Icicle Melts (Live At Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool, UK/1994)
37. No Need To Argue (Live At Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool, UK/1994)
38. Empty (Live At Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool, UK/1994)
39. I Can't Be With You (Live From Milton Keynes)
40. Ridiculous Thoughts (Live From Milton Keynes)
41. Zombie (Live From Milton Keynes)

Coachella web series 'Arrival' features The Marias, DJO, The Dare, more

Arrival, a new limited documentary series from Coachella Valley Music and Artist Festival promoter Goldenvoice and produced by MGX Creative, has been rolling out weekly episodes this month on the Coachella YouTube channel.

The five-part series premiered on June 5, spotlighting music artists on the rise who played the Indio festival recently. Watch episodes from Shaboozey, The Marías – and newest episode with The Dare — now on the Coachella YouTube channel.

Episodes:

Series Trailer

Shaboozey (Episode 1)
The Marías (Episode 2)
The Dare (Episode 3)
Ivan Cornejo (Episode 4) – dropping Thursday, June 26
DJO (Episode 5) — dropping Thursday, July 3

Subscribe to the Coachella YouTube channel to watch every episode as it drops and download the Coachella Livestream app for more highlights and artist moments.

The Marias photo by Jason Whittington.

Stephen Bishop's final studio album, slated for August, includes star-studded crop of musicians

Oscar and two-time Grammy-nominated pop singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop made his solo recording debut in 1976 with the hit album Careless.

Now, he’s closing the chapter on 50 years in the music industry with his 20th and final album, THIMK, due out August 15. 

It brings together newly recorded songs, rare unreleased tracks, and collaborations with Eric Clapton, Sting, Graham Nash, Jimmy Webb, Art Garfunkel, Dave Grusin, Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, David Pack, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell of the band America, David Benoit, Marilyn Martin and more. 

For collectors and fans of physical media, THIMK will be available on CD and custom-colored vinyl. Each vinyl includes an exclusive booklet, and signed editions will also be offered. Every CD and vinyl purchase includes two bonus songs — not available on streaming platforms — plus behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the album and never-before-seen videos from Stephen’s career. 

Pre-Save THIMK on Spotify, Apple Music, etc.: https://ffm.to/thimk

Pre order the album on June 27 here: THIMK – Stephen Bishop Merchandise

THIMK also features performances by bassists Nathan East (Eric Clapton, Phil Collins), keyboardist Greg Phillinganes (Toto, Stevie Wonder, Bee Gees), Leland Sklar (James Taylor, Phil Collins, Toto), and Sean Hurley (John Mayer, Alanis Morissette), multi-instrumentalist Greg Leisz (Jackson Browne, k.d. lang, Eric Clapton); drummer Nic Collins (Genesis, Phil Collins) — son of Phil Collins, continuing his father’s musical legacy; songwriter Jack Tempchin (Eagles, Glenn Frey) on harmonica, keyboardist Steve Porcaro (Toto, Michael Jackson); and drummer Steve Gadd (Paul Simon, Eric Clapton).

With the release of this album, Bishop looks back on his musical journey with warmth and gratitude.

“After five decades of recording music and performing, I figured it was time to close this chapter of my music career," he said in a statement. "THIMK—my 20th and final album—is a celebration of friendship, legacy, and all the people who’ve been part of this long, wonderful ride. I’ve developed a bit of arthritis in my hands over the past few years, so I wanted to give this last album everything I had while I still could. 

"I’m proud of it—and grateful for the chance to spend my life doing what I love.” 

THIMK was produced by singer-songwriter, producer, and guitarist Marcus Eaton, and executive produced by music executive Liz Kamlet. 

Stephen Bishop on the meaning behind the name THIMK:

"THIMK, pronounced just like “think,” but with an “M.” Flashback to the 1980s. While out shopping, I stumbled upon a pin with the peculiar word THIMK on it. Given my penchant for collecting eccentric pins, I adorned many in those days, but this one left a lasting impression.

Over the years, I considered using THIMK as a title for an album many times but ultimately decided it was too unusual. Years later, my wife found the THIMK pin. She thought it was funny and quirky, just like me, and believed it would prompt people to think about THIMK. Now, after all these years, it finally found its perfect moment. Interestingly, we recently discovered that the word THIMK also appeared in the film “Taxi Driver.”

Track Listing:

Now That I’ve Hit The Big Time
Only The Heart Within You
She’ll Always Be My Girl
In The Limelight (Alternate Version)
The Money Girl
Liz (So In Love With You)
Really Wanting You
One More Night
You Don’t Need My Love
It Might Be You (feat. Dave Grusin)
Under The Rainbow
A Message From Stephen

Bonus Tracks – CD & Vinyl Only:

Dance Off The Moon
You Can Laugh at Me

The band Ivy schedule first album in 15 years, including music by Adam Schlesinger, for September

Ivy have announced their first new album in 15 years. Built from the ground up using demos and song fragments dating from between 1995 to 2012, Traces of You is due out September 5 via Bar/None Records.

“The world thought IVY was gone after 2012, and for a time we did too. And after Adam's death in 2020 it seemed certain,” shares the band’s Andy Chase “So Dominique and I are thrilled to give everyone a brand new IVY album, with our beloved Adam playing on every song!”

Formed in 1994, Ivy includes Andy Chase, Dominique Durand, and the late Adam Schlesinger. Sadly, Durand and Chase assumed that Ivy was in the rearview after Schlesinger tragically passed away from COVID-19 in 2020. While prepping recent reissues of their back catalog, the band unearthed a trove of reel-to-reel tapes and old hard drives stored in their Rhode Island studio. The duo knew they would only consider working on Ivy demos featuring Schlesinger, but they were overwhelmed by deciding which songs to finish. In response, they reached out to Ivy's backing keyboardist and guitarist, Bruce Driscoll, to help go through the archives and revive these lost recordings.

Every song on Traces of You features contributions from Schlesinger, with the blessing of his family. Lead single “Say You Will,” featuring drums from Joey Waronker (Beck, R.E.M.), was built from a 2009 demo where Schlesinger played bass and keyboard.

WATCH OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR “SAY YOU WILL”

Previously, Ivy released six studio albums. Over the years, a new generation of artists discovered Ivy, citing them as a major inspiration and influence. These include Snail Mail, Beach Fossils, Momma, Slow Pulp, Wishy, DJ Python.

The band broke their years long silence in late 2021 to honor the passing of Adam Schlesinger, compiling home videos from studio sessions and those early tours in memory of their friend and bandmate into a moving tribute video. Over the last few years, they’ve reissued Realistic, Apartment Life, and Long Distance, including rare demos and unreleased music with each release.

Understandably, recording without Schlesinger was often an emotional experience, with Durand citing “Fragile People” especially as a tune that brought her and Chase to tears in the studio. “Unintentionally, the song stirred up something really melancholy for us— in a very specific way—about Adam,” she says. She notes that Ivy didn’t want to lean on cliches about losing Adam when writing lyrics. “It's influenced by the loss of someone like him, but we did it in a way that's very subtle,” she says. “There's a ghostly feeling in the meaning of the lyrics.”

Poignantly, Traces Of You ends with “Hate That It’s True.” A pop song about the pain of unresolved grief and the power of eternal love, it has Schlesinger on acoustic guitar. 

“You can imagine how terrible it's been to lose Adam,” Chase says. “The only silver lining is that we could breathe life into these songs that he contributed to and it was a great experience making this record happen. It was some of the most fun I've ever had, working on music with Dominique and Bruce.”

“It was also bittersweet,” he adds. “But what was nice about the bittersweetness was that I wasn't alone in feeling that way. We all did. We were like a school of fish— three little fish, missing that fourth fish, all swimming in perfect union with each other, going through both the highs and lows.”

Track list:

01 The Midnight Hour

02 Fragile People
03 Mystery Girl
04 Traces of You
05 The Great Unknown
06 Say You Will
07 Heartbreak
08 Lose It All
09 Wasting Time
10 Hate That It’s True

Chicago to release expanded hits collection in August, tour includes three nights at Hollywood Bowl

To mark the 50th anniversary of 'Chicago IX,' the band’s first greatest hits collection which topped the album chart in 1975 and sold more than five million copies to become one of their best-selling albums, Rhino Records will release CHICAGO IX: GREATEST HITS EXPANDED on Aug. 8 as a 2LP Black vinyl set and single CD. Pre-order HERE.

The new edition expands the original 11-track lineup into a 21-track collection that now includes songs from every studio album the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers released between 1969 and 1980.

New additions like “Street Player,” “Thunder and Lightning,” and “Baby, What A Big Surprise” extend the timeline through the ’70s and up to the dawn of the ’80s, while early cuts like “Questions 67 and 68” and “Free” help round out the band’s formative years. Signature tracks from the original release—such as “25 or 6 to 4,” “Saturday in the Park,” and “If You Leave Me Now”—remain central to the collection. Several songs from Chicago (1970) appear in their Steven Wilson remix/edit versions, first issued in 2017.

The updated selection reflects a broader retrospective of Chicago’s first decade, with the cover artwork subtly revised from its original white background to a new gold backdrop in honor of the album’s golden anniversary.

Chicago launched the year with an appearance and live performance of two songs on NBC’s The Kelly Clarkson Show, and will tour through 2025. Full dates are below. For ticket information visit www.chicagotheband.com.

2LP Track Listing:

LP One

Side One

“Questions 67 And 68”
“Beginnings”
“Make Me Smile” (2017 Steven Wilson Remix/Edit)
“25 Or 6 To 4” (2017 Steven Wilson Remix/Edit)
“Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?”
“Free”

Side Two

“Colour My World” (2017 Steven Wilson Remix)
“Saturday In The Park”
“Dialogue (Part I & II)”
“Feelin’ Stronger Every Day”
“Just You ’n’ Me”

LP Two

Side One

"(I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long”

“Call On Me”
“Wishing You Were Here”
“Old Days”
“If You Leave Me Now”

Side Two

“Baby, What A Big Surprise”
“Alive Again”
“No Tell Lover”
“Street Player”
“Thunder And Lightning”

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:

Friday, June 20 Appleton, WI Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
Saturday, June 21 Ft Wayne, IN Embassy Theatre
Tuesday, June 24 Kalamazoo, MI Miller Auditorium
Wednesday, June 25 Mt Pleasant, MI Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
Friday, June 27 St. Louis, MO Stifel Theatre
Saturday, June 28 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theatre

Tuesday, July 1 Peoria, IL Prairie Home Alliance Theater
Wednesday, July 2 Louisville, KY The Louisville Palace Theatre
Friday, July 4 Milwaukee, WI BMO Pavilion
Saturday, July 5 Highland Park, IL Ravinia Festival
Sunday, July 6 Huber Heights, OH Rose Music Center at The Heights
Tuesday, July 22 Virginia Beach, VA The Dome
Wednesday, July 23 Vienna, VA Wolf Trap
Friday, July 25 Newark, NJ New Jersey Performing Arts Center
Saturday, July 26 Atlantic City, NJ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Sunday, July 27 Atlantic City, NJ Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Tuesday, July 29 Bridgeport, CT Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
Thursday, July 31 Bangor, ME Maine Savings Amphitheater

Friday, August 1 Gilford, NH BankNH Pavilion
Saturday, August 2 Boston, MA Leader Bank Pavilion
Tuesday, August 5 Bethlehem, PA Wind Creek Steel Stage at PNC Plaza
Wednesday, August 6 New York, NY Beacon Theatre
Friday, August 8 Lewiston, NY Artpark
Saturday, August 9 Verona, NY The Event Center at Turning Stone Resort Casino
Sunday, August 10 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Thursday, August 21 Sandy, UT Sandy Amphitheater
Saturday, August 23 Colorado Springs, CO Ford Amphitheater
Sunday, August 24 Denver, CO Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
Wednesday, August 27 Boise, ID Outlaw Field at the Idaho Botanical Garden
Friday, August 29 Woodinville, WA Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
Saturday, August 30 Woodinville, WA Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
Sunday, August 31 Bend, OR Hayden Homes Amphitheater

Tuesday, September 2 Jacksonville, OR Britt Pavilion
Wednesday, September 3 Santa Rosa, CA Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
Friday, September 5 Lincoln, CA The Venue at Thunder Valley Casino Resort
Saturday, September 6 Saratoga, CA The Mountain Winery
Sunday, September 7 Saratoga, CA The Mountain Winery
Tuesday, September 9 Paso Robles, CA Vina Robles Amphitheatre
Wednesday, September 10 San Diego, CA The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
Friday, September 12 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
Saturday, September 13 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl
Sunday, September 14 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Bowl

Wednesday, November 5 Coraopolis, PA UPMC Events Center*
Thursday, November 6 Johnstown, PA 1st SUMMIT ARENA at Cambria County War Memorial*
Saturday, November 8 Columbus, OH Mershon Auditorium*
Sunday, November 9 Northfield, OH MGM Northfield Park*
Wednesday, November 12 East Lansing, MI Cobb Great Hall at Wharton Center for Performing Arts
Thursday, November 13 Rockford, IL Coronado Theatre
Sunday, November 16 Brookings, SD Dacotah Bank Center*

*- Newly announced dates

The B-52s and Devo team up for the Cosmic De-Evolution Tour including Hollywood Bowl

The B-52s and Devo, will unite for the 2025 “Cosmic De-Evolution Tour”: a co-headlining 11-date run serving as both bands’ continuing concert farewells. Lene Lovich will open the celebratory trek, which runs late September to early November. 

Tickets will be available starting with CITI and AMEX presales (details below) happening now. Additional presales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale beginning Friday June 20 at 10 AM local time at LiveNation.com.

CITI PRESALE: Citi is the official card of the Cosmic De-Evolution Tour*. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Monday, June 16 at 12 PM local time until Thursday, June 19 at 10 PM local time through the Citi Entertainment Program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com. *LA date is not available within this presale.

AMEX PRESALE: American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets for the Los Angeles show before the general public beginning Monday, June 16 at 10 AM local time through Thursday, June 19 at 10 PM local time.

“In 2022, I swore I’d never get on a tour bus again” said Fred Schneider “but we were careful to say to our fans that we would still perform in special situations that don’t require all of the awful tour travel. Our Vegas residency is going great, and when we were offered the chance to do a small run of shows with Devo, we all said this is an extraordinary opportunity we couldn't say no to.”

Added Kate Pierson, “When we first came from Athens to New York City to perform, punk was in full force…and New Wave was right on its tail! We loved all the New Wave groups, including Patti Smith, Talking Heads, Blondie and the Ramones. We also really dug the far-out weirdness of Devo, which seemed very in tuned to our sensibilities. We remember one of our first shows-- amazed that David Bowie, Brian Eno, Frank Zappa, Allen Ginsberg, Talking Heads and Blondie all came to see us! When we opened the Mudd Club, we partied with Devo and really hit it off on the dance floor. Later, Brian Eno went onto to produce Devo’s incredible first album…and now we will align again ! So put on your wig hats and Devo bonnets and get ready to party! This is going to be wild.”

Said Cindy Wilson, “When both of our bands performed at the recent SNL 50 concert at Radio City, we started talking and agreed we had to do these shows” says Cindy Wilson. “Believe or not, we’ve never done more than a festival or two together in all this time. This will be amazing and I can’t wait for The B-52s to share these stages with Devo!”

Said Mark Mothersbaugh, "The B-52s had one of the best sounds of any of the bands out there in the late 70’s early 80’s - Rock Lobster is one of my favorite songs - DEVO used to sing it to Booji Boy after DEVO shows. It was either fate or luck or the SNL anniversary that brought us all together to create this amazing chance to go out on tour. All I can say is Cosmic Devolution is REAL!"

Added Gerry Casale, "Devo and The B-52s on tour together! That it took almost 50 years to happen is rather mind-blowing. But better late than never. We each did something right in different ways that withstood the test of time. Now we're here to prove we can still "bring it" as they say!"

The B-52s— led by original co-founders Fred Schneider (vocals), Kate Pierson (vocals, keyboards), and Cindy Wilson (vocals)—kicked off their extended goodbye run back in 2022. Since that time, they have electrified select venues and large music festivals across the U.S. and even established a Las Vegas residency at The Venetian Theatre, powered by their colorful, danceable iconic classics that have made a seismic impact on New Wave and music history. As they prepare for a 2025 farewell tour, a high-profile documentary and their first official book, The B-52s undoubtedly stand poised to inspire and influence future generations.

This curtain-call timing overlaps with Devo, who are also fronted by three of their original members: Mark Mothersbaugh (vocals, keyboards, guitar), Gerald Casale (vocals, bass, keyboards), and Bob Mothersbaugh (guitar, vocals). In 2023, the fellow New Wave icons (“Whip It,” “Uncontrollable Urge”) kicked off their own farewell tour, 50 Years of De-Evolution, paired with a compilation album of the same name. That jaunt has since been extended and continues through the summer and fall of 2025.

TOUR DATES:

9/24 - Toronto, ONT @ Budweiser Stage
9/25 - Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre
10/2 - Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
10/4 - Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center
10/5 - Wantagh, NY @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater
10/16 - Mountain View, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre
10/18 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl
10/24 - Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
10/25 - Alpharetta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
11/1 - Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater
11/2 - Houston, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Sponsored by Huntsman

Tour update: Stevie Nicks

Stevie Nicks has announced a new round of live performances. Ticket presales begin on Wednesday, June 18 at 10am local time. General on sale is Friday, June 20 at 10am local on livenation.com.

The singer, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee as a member of Fleetwood Mac and solo artist, released her first new music in nearly five years with the original song “The Lighthouse.” A women’s rights anthem, “The Lighthouse” received strong critical praise for its timely theme and was released alongside a powerful music video. 

Nicks did a live TV performance of “The Lighthouse” last October on NBC’s Saturday Night Live during their 50th anniversary season. Nicks began 2025 deeply affected by the damaging wildfires that swept through her Los Angeles neighborhood and gave a performance at the fundraising concert Fire Aid in February 2025. 

In a recent interview, Nicks said she is working on material for a new studio album. 

TOUR DATES:

August 8 – Brooklyn, NY - Barclays Center^

August 12 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
August 15 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
August 19 – Saint Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
August 23 – Cincinnati, OH – Heritage Bank Center
August 27 – Columbia, SC – Colonial Life Arena
August 30 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
September 3 – Hollywood, FL – Hard Rock Live^
September 7 – Detroit MI — Little Caesars Arena^
October 1 – Portland OR – MODA Center^
October 4 – Sacramento, CA – Golden 1 Center^
October 7 – Phoenix, AZ – PHX Arena
October 11 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
October 15 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center
October 18 – Atlantic City, NJ – Boardwalk Hall^
October 21 – Charlotte, NC – Spectrum Center^
October 25 – Hartford, CT – PeoplesBank Arena^

 

^NEW SHOWS: Tickets on Sale Friday, June 20

Veteran Canadian alt-rock band Sloan return with new album in September

Since I interviewed the band for 2018 album 12, I'm really looking forward to this...

Juno Award-winning Toronto-based rock quartet Sloan return with their fourteenth studio album, Based on the Best Seller, set for September 26 release on Yep Roc Records. 

The group has unveiled, “Live Forever,” the album’s first single available on all streaming platforms. Written by Sloan’s Jay Ferguson, Chris Murphy, Patrick Pentland and Andrew Scott, and co-produced by the band along with Ryan Haslett, “Live Forever” blends existential humor with a dose of sharp pop commentary, exploring the unexpected downsides of immortality and the enduring pull of nostalgia.

“If given the chance to live forever, would we even want to? Careful what you wish for. Would you want to feel 80 for hundreds of years? I guess that’s the kind of hard-hitting question this song tackles. It also predicts that we will all have ‘90s nostalgia – once we’re 100 years old,” said Chris Murphy of Sloan.

“It's not a challenge to make a 14th album,” Sloan’s Jay Ferguson says, “But sometimes it's a challenge to think of a new overarching theme for a 14th album (and The Kinks’ 14th album was Soap Opera, essentially a TV play and complete story arc set to music, so clearly Ray Davies didn't have that problem). Our band has the capability to perform different styles within the rock/pop (or pop/rock) sphere, but it's often hard to harness the group to adhere to one particular style or theme. That's okay though. With four songwriters, we tend to make music that perhaps doesn't always naturally hang together under one (opened) umbrella but that's our style, and that style is continued on Based on the Best Seller. Nevertheless, whether it's Chris harmonizing on my songs, Patrick harmonizing on Chris' songs or Chris and our keyboardist Gregory vocally backing-up Andrew, I think those elements help tie together this (and previous) Sloan albums.”

The First Edition LP of Based on the Best Seller is pressed on clear gold color vinyl! Limited to 2,000 copies worldwide. Pre-orders will ship in September. Go to yeproc.com for details.

Now more than 30 years into their career, Sloan has grown from a promising Halifax band into a revered indie rock institution. Celebrated for their unwavering lineup and democratic approach, all four members contribute as singers, songwriters, and multi-instrumentalists. 

This summer, they hit the road to tour across Canada, with performances in Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia and British Columbia, and more dates to be announced soon. 

Track listing:

Capitol Cooler
Dream Destroyer
Open Your Umbrellas
Baxter
Congratulations
Live Forever
So Far Down
Fortune Teller
No Damn Fears
Collect Yourself
Here We Go Again
I Already Know

Elton John news

Elton John - Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper will be released on July 25 via UMe. 

Initially released on a limited vinyl run for this year's Record Store Day, it now gets a wider release, available both digitally and on CD for the first time, alongside a vinyl repress. The CD and digital editions include a brand-new bonus track, "Goodbye," plus the original twelve-song tracklist, personally curated by Elton, and additional liner notes.

In May 1977, Elton John took the stage at London’s Rainbow Theatre with percussionist Ray Cooper for a six-show residency. These performances were the first of 233 Elton-and-Ray only shows that would follow and featured the live debut of “Roy Rogers”, “Cage The Songbird”, “Idol”, and “I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford)”.

May 1977 was the first time in five years that a full month had passed without an Elton LP or single appearing on the UK charts. It had also been eight months since his last performance, after averaging one show every four days throughout the previous seven years. Ticket holders expecting to see a typical Elton concert were in for a big surprise. The first half of the set would be Elton alone at the piano, the second half would see him accompanied by Ray Cooper, the two performers working together telepathically, harking back to the earliest days of Elton’s rise to superstardom. The stripped-back performances have since been regarded as some of the finest of his career.

Speaking on the album, Elton John says: “I’m delighted that Live from the Rainbow Theatre with Ray Cooper will be available for my fans to enjoy. It’s an album I’m incredibly proud of, and listening back to it, I’m astounded by how great it sounds. The freedom I felt playing with just the two of us is something I will always remember.”

The release comes in the wake of Elton’s chart-topping album with Brandi Carlile, Who Believes In Angels? 

Track List:

The Greatest Discovery

Border Song
Cage The Songbird
Where To Now St. Peter?
Ticking
Better Off Dead w/Ray Cooper
Sweet Painted Lady
Tonight w/Ray Cooper
Idol w/Ray Cooper
I Feel Like A Bullet (In The Gun Of Robert Ford) w/Ray Cooper
Roy Rogers
Dan Dare (Pilot Of The Future)
Goodbye*

*Bonus track available on digital and CD release only