Big Head Todd and The Monsters release new album 'Her Way Out'

One of my favorite blues-rock artists is issuing a new album today. Get all the details and listen to Big Head Todd & The Monster's "Her Way Out"...Robert Kinsler

BIG HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS RELEASE NEW ALBUM 'HER WAY OUT' LISTEN HERE SUMMER TOUR KICKS OFF JUNE 4TH IN DURANGO ON THE ROAD WITH BLUES TRAVELER JULY 30 - AUGUST 4 TOUR DATES HERE

BOULDER, CO -  Big Head Todd and The Monsters are excited to announce the release of their 12th album, Her Way Out, via Big Records. For close to four decades, the members of Big Head Todd and The Monsters—Todd Park Mohr [vocals, guitar, keys, sax, harmonica], Brian Nevin [drums], Rob Squires [bass, vocals], and Jeremy Lawton [keyboards, lap pedal-steel guitar, vocals]—have continued to both throw down in the studio and light up stages worldwide. Rallying around a core vision, the platinum-selling Colorado quartet kick out the jams both in-studio and on-stage. Todd, Brian and Rob unlocked their musical partnership during high school when they started jamming in the early eighties. In 1986 they adopted the name Big Head Todd and The Monsters. BHTM released two successful independent records on their label, BIG Records, Another Mayberry (1989) and Midnight Radio (1990.) Sister Sweetly (1993) pushed them to the next level yielding four top 10 rock radio hits. Strategem [1994] came next followed by Beautiful World [1997], which included "Boom Boom" featuring John Lee Hooker.  The band procured a spot in The Guinness Book of World Records with their performance of "Blue Sky" live from NASA Mission Control to the Space Station.They've toured and recorded with B.B. King, Neil Young, The Allman Brothers, Hubert Sumlin, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Dave Matthews Band, The Eagles and Robert Plant. They attained hometown hero status by headlining Red Rocks Amphitheatre 35 times and earning induction into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2023.  Their latest release, Her Way Out, came to life organically. For two years, the band hosted "Monster's Music Monthly," serving up new songs or new versions of their extensive catalogue.of a classic Working out of Jeremy's home studio, they parlayed this momentum into their latest LP. "It had been almost seven years since our last album release, but we wanted to put the same energy of 'Monster's Music Monthly' into a full-length," Todd notes. "We have a very distinct personality as a band. I write to each member's sensibilities because they will have to dig playing it. We're a benevolent democracy. If one guy isn't connecting with a certain song, that song is out. As an uncomplicated rock band, we like to do' proper' things—loud guitars, drums, big bass, well-placed organ, keys, and lap steel. We road-tested every song on the record before recording a lick. That helped us dial in the arrangements, ditch tunes that didn't work and grow a strong sense of what our parts should be." In this respect, the single and title track "Her Way Out" packs a concentrated and catchy punch. Anchored by a steady beat, the rough-and-tumble riff kicks up dust as soulful vocals ignite an irresistible refrain: "She found her way out, her way out—and it was me." Guitar surges through "Thunderbird" as strains of organ coat a raucous refrain with a lyrical tip-of-the-hat to the Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas classic American Graffiti. Todd declares, "'Thunderbird' is a collection of one-liners from the film knit together with a beat poet vibe. It has an AC/DC-like guitar riff and a cinematic-style vocal. It's all about drag racing and love never caught." Elsewhere, Big Head Todd and The Monsters nod to Annie Oakley with "Don't Kill Me Tonight." Then, there's "King Kong." A hulking groove lumbers beneath the frontman's bluesy intonation as a piano solo bleeds into a skyscraper-scaling guitar lead. "It's inspired by a large movie poster in my basement of King Kong on top of the Empire State Building," Todd reveals. "I'm drawn to these iconic contemporary heroes who are also monsters. They are complicated because they destroy so much, yet are sympathetic to children and fall in love with human women. These 'Titans,' as they are called, are often monsters of our own making. It's exciting to perform live." Rave reviews have been rolling in. Westword declared, "Her Way Out is the kind of album that's meant to be played while speeding down a mountain road, chasing that Wild West type of freedom that this Colorado band has always evoked". Blues Rock Review said, "Her Way Out is an enjoyable collection that only becomes more so with repeated listens".  At the same time, Americana Highways effused, "Rootsy American rock that ought to turn anyone on".  Ultimately, the future looks as bright as ever for these longtime friends. "We work very hard at being a great band" Todd leaves off. "We're also a group that cares for each other. We've been together for almost 40 years. Our audience has made it all possible, and we're grateful and determined to keep playing."   STREAM 'HER WAY OUT' SHOP MERCH HERE   CONNECT  Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube | Spotify

Snow Patrol announce long-awaited return with brand new album 'The Forest Is The Path’

I am excited to share the news that Snow Patrol has just announced the release of a new album ("The Forest Is The Path"). Get all the exciting details below and listen to the emotive advance track "The Beginning"...Robert Kinsler

SNOW PATROL
ANNOUNCE EAGERLY AWAITED RETURN WITH BRAND NEW ALBUM
‘THE FOREST IS THE PATH’
SET FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 13, 2024



SHARE NEW SINGLE ‘THE BEGINNING’
LISTEN

ANNOUNCE ARENA TOUR IN FEBRUARY 2025
Pre-order album

 
SNOW PATROL have announced their eagerly awaited return with a brand new album. Titled ‘The Forest Is The Path’, the album is the Northern Irish band’s first in six years, following 2018’s ‘Wildness’, and is set for release on September 13^th via Polydor Records. It is produced by Fraser T Smith (Adele/Dave/Stormzy) and the band. Now comprising the trio of Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly and Johnny McDaid, Snow Patrol offer the first taste of their extraordinary new album with first single ‘The Beginning’, as well as announcing details of a UK and Ireland Arena tour in 2025.
 
‘The Forest Is The Path’ was written by Gary Lightbody, Nathan Connolly and Johnny McDaid and features twelve tracks. Fraser T Smith, Will Reynolds, Roy Kerr and Troy Van Leeuwen (QOTSA) also contributed to the writing on some of the songs on the album. The album and single artwork features paintings by Gary Lightbody.
 
‘The Beginning’ is the cornerstone of the band’s eighth studio album, written on a trip to Somerset. Gary picks up the story, “The first day we wrote The Beginning, start to finish.” “And he did the vocal in one take,” says Johnny. “Straight after writing the lyrics. So it has this mind-collapsing quality to it where you feel like you’re seeing into someone’s soul.”
 
‘The Forest is the Path’ is an album rooted in reflection, introspection and interrogation. One of its key building blocks, says Gary, was the idea of love from the distance of time. “I haven’t been in a relationship for a very long time, 10 years or more, so love from a distance to me meant the way a relationship sits in your memory from a distance of, say, 10 years. That’s not something I’d previously thought about as away to write about love. So it’s like, when you’re in love, you’re standing in the lobby of the Empire State Building. When you’ve broken up with that person, you’re out in the street. You can still see the building, but you’re not in there anymore. And when it’s 10 years later, now you’re standing in Brooklyn looking at the Manhattan skyline.”
 
It’s a theme addressed unblinkingly and unflinchingly on the ‘The Beginning’. “That’s kind of a summing up of this album,” Gary continues. “It’s a way of looking at various mistakes, any pain I may have caused, from a place where nothing is hurting anymore, except the memory when you pull it back into your mind. The memory itself is full of hurt but everything around it isn’t. You’re holding in your hand this ball of fire, but now you’ve got gloves on.”
 
‘The Forest Is The Path’ tracklisting:
1. All
2. The Beginning
3. Everything’s Here And Nothing’s Lost
4. Your Heart Home
5. This Is The Sound Of Your Voice
6. Hold Me In The Fire
7. Years That Fall
8. Never Really Tire
9. These Lies
10. What If Nothing Breaks?
11. Talking About Hope
12. The Forest Is The Path
 
Snow Patrol have today announced details of an 8 date UK & Ireland Arena tour alongside dates across Europe in January & February 2025, including The O2 in London on February 15^th. Fans who pre-order The Forest Is The Path from Snow Patrol’s store will get access to tour pre-sale. Tickets go on pre-sale on Wednesday 5^th June at 10am and general sale on Friday 7^th June at 10am.
 
Dates are:
Jan 30^th Paris Olympia
Feb 1^st Zurich The Hall
Feb 2^nd Frankfurt Myticket Jahrhunderthalle
Feb 4^th Munich Zenith
Feb 5^th Berlin Tempodrom
Feb 7^th Dusseldorf Mitshubishi Electric Halle
Feb 8^th Amsterdam Ziggo Dome
Feb 9^th Brussels Forest National
Feb 15^th London O2
Feb 16^th Birmingham Resorts World Arena
Feb 18^th Cardiff Utilita Arena
Feb 19^th Hull Connexin Live
Feb 21^st Glasgow OVO Hydro
Feb 22^nd Manchester Co-op Live Arena
Feb 25^th Dublin 3Arena
Feb 27^th Belfast SSE Arena
 

Photo Credit Tom Beard

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About Republic Records

A division of Universal Music Group, the world's leading music company, Republic Records has been recognized by Billboard as the industry’s #1 label over the last 10 years. It is home to an all-star roster of multi-platinum, award-winning legends and superstar artists such as Anitta, Ariana Grande, Billy Porter, Conan Gray, Daddy Yankee, Drake, Eddie Vedder, Florence + the Machine, Glass Animals, Greta Van Fleet, Jack Johnson, James Bay, Jimmy Fallon, John Legend, John Mellencamp, Jonas Brothers, Kid Cudi, Kim Petras, Lil Wayne, Lorde, Metro Boomin, Miranda Lambert, NAV, Nicki Minaj, Noah Kahan, Pearl Jam, Post Malone, Seth MacFarlane, Shania Twain, Stephen Sanchez, Stevie Wonder, Swedish House Mafia, Tainy, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Twice, TXT, ZAYN and more. Founded by brothers and chief executives Monte and Avery Lipman, it is also comprised of innovative business ventures, including American Recordings, Boominati Worldwide, Brushfire, Casablanca Records, Cash Money, Federal Films, HYBE, Imperial, JYP, Lava Records, Republic Records: Kids & Family, Republic Nashville, Universal Arabic Music, Victor Victor, Wicked Money Family, XO, Young Money, among others. Additionally, Republic Records recently relaunched famed record label Mercury Records.

New music: William Shatner, Collective Soul, The Embryos, Nation Beat

A Who's Who of greats as well as a genre-defying outfit fusing world music and New Orleans jazz are featured on essential new audio releases available now. 

Artist: William Shatner

Title: Where Will The Animals Sleep — Songs for Kids and Other Living Things (Cleopatra Records)

You might like if you enjoy: William Shatner, They Might Be Giants

Tell me more: Even at 93, William Shatner continues to surprise. Seven decades into his extraordinary and singularly remarkable career, the acclaimed actor, director, writer and recording artist has just released his first ever children's album Where Will The Animals Sleep — Songs for Kids and Other Living Things. Working with Dan Miller (guitarist of They Might Be Giants) and novelist Rob Sharenow, Shatner brings the world alive via a collection of colorful and whimsical songs where he uses his signature baritone spoken word style to educate and entertain youngsters about some unique corners of the animal kingdom. The first track, "Elephants and Termites," is delivered against a Eastern European musical soundscape where children learn about the critical role that termites play in the lives of elephants. The rockabilly romp "Oh My Honeyguide" is a fascinating tale of how select species of birds guide people in areas of Africa and Asia to honey. Other songs take a comedic and smart look at the relationship between "Aphids and Ants," rhinos and oxpeckers ("The Rhino's Guard"), people and insects ("Why Do We Bug You") and other corners of the natural world. My favorite selection is the title track ("Where Would The Animals Sleep"), a luxurious Americana-wrapped song that is simultaneously a poignant plea for children to understand that all animals need a home in the world. Across the album Miller's expert touch as a multi-instrumentalist and backing singer provides the perfect soundscape to enhance Shatner's strong voice as storyteller and advocate for the creatures celebrated on the disc. The colorful physical packaging is perfect for listeners of all ages, and includes a fully illustrated 28-page booklet complete with all the lyrics for the 13 selections. Information: cleorecs.com.

Artist: Collective Soul

Title: Here To Eternity (Fuzze-Flex Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Collective Soul, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Live

Tell me more: One of the truly great American rock bands to emerge in the 1990s, Collective Soul has scored a slew of memorable hits including "Shine," "December," "Where The River Flows," "The World I Know" and "Run." Now the band fronted by brothers Ed Roland (lead vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Dean Roland (rhythm guitar) is back with the outstanding 20-track Here To Eternity. The lead-off track "Mother's Love" is an infectious and melodic hard rocker showcasing Collective Soul's brilliant knack at crafting great verses and choruses that fit together perfectly. Other tracks capture that same undeniable approach, each showcasing the rock quintet's magic. The anthemic "Bluer Than So Blue" (enhanced by Jesse Triplett's amazing lead guitar work), power pop-tinged "Let It Flow," bewitching Americana romance-themed "Not the Same," rockabilly foray "Matter of Fact" and gorgeous piano-anchored "Be the One" are among the early gems on the disc. The introspective modern rocker "Keep It On Track," euphoric "Who Loves," sweeping Baroque rocker "Bring On The Day," dreamy "Words Away," enchanting "I Know You. You Know Me" and heart breaking closer "Over and Out" are just as impressive on the album's final run. A particularly profound original on the album is "Bob Dylan (Where Are You Today)," an acoustic track recorded live whose emotional pull is likely magnified by the strife stretching around the globe: "Bob Dylan, where are you today / They preach that war is all around / No strength in leaders can be found/ Well I can't say / I'm a man that just prays."  Information: collectivesoul.com.

Artist: The Embryos

Title: Selling What You Want To Buy (Kool Kat Musik)

You might like if you enjoy: The Cars, Big Star, Teenage Fanclub, Blur

Tell me more: The Embryos are back with Selling What You Want To Buy, an album that celebrates stellar song craft, musical diversity and the unbridled power of great rock and roll. The bewitching opener "The Embryos Live" is both sumptuous and rocking, and would have been right at home on The Cars' 1978 debut. The Embryos turn on a dime to perform the breezy Americana-tinged "Fortunes," before immersing the listener with shimmering power pop courtesy of the wonderful "Frozen City." Other standouts on the album include the Britpop-mining "Little Demon," shimmering alt country nugget "Desiree," Southern rock-styled "Sweater in the Heather," melodically rich "Somehow She Knew" and dreamy Neo-psychedelic "Onandonandon." The Chicago-based band spent two years working on the completion of Selling What You Want To Buy including songwriting, recording and mixing, and the work of the Embryos shines across the top-tier disc. Information: 

KoolKatMusik.com.

Artist: Nation Beat

Title: Archaic Humans (Ropeadope)

You might like if you enjoy: Dr. John, Ozomatli, world music

Tell me more: Set for release on Friday, May 31, Nation Beat's album Archaic Humans is both a daring and inviting collection of songs fusing New Orleans brass, Brazilian Forró and Latin funk together into a delightful sonic stew. Nation Beat was formed by Scott Kettner (drums, percussion) to incorporate his background in jazz and hybrid drumming and fusing those musical styles into his travel explorations throughout Brazil. The diversity of styles on Archaic Humans is reflected in the uptempo hip-hop single "Give A Little" (featuring Christylez Bacon on beatbox & rhymes), the breezy gem "Always Spring With You" (featuring Melanie Scholtz on lead vocals), the rapid fire instrumental "Forró le Fonque," lovely "Mo Forró," aptly-pegged "Race Car" and evocative jazz foray "Inútil Paisagem." Information: nationbeat.com.

Robert Kinsler

Big Star's 'Radio City' (& more) tour celebrates 50 years of the influential band's beloved sophomore album

 

BIG STAR’S RADIO CITY (& MORE) INTERNATIONAL TOUR CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF THE INFLUENTIAL BAND’S BELOVED SOPHOMORE ALBUM   Featuring Big Star’s Jody Stephens, Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Chris Stamey (the dB's), Jon Auer (Big Star/The Posies), and Pat Sansone (Wilco)   U.S. dates include Washington, D.C., Memphis, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Full list below. International dates in London, Oslo, Vigo, Barcelona, and Madrid

Click here for tickets   “A half-century later, the Memphis band's sophomore album remains a bright, beautiful portrait of young, big emotions and the way they intersected with the joy of music… After Radio City, those feelings have been rarely articulated so perfectly since.” – Paste Magazine (2024)   Los Angeles, CA (May 28, 2024)—50 years ago, Memphis power pop pioneers Big Star released Radio City, their genre-defining sophomore album, which went on to become a cult classic inspiring generations of fans through songs such as “September Gurls,” “Back of a Car,” and “I’m in Love With a Girl.” To celebrate the album’s enduring legacy, an all-star collective of musicians (led by the band’s sole surviving original member, Jody Stephens) will perform Radio City in its entirety on both sides of the Atlantic.   Joining Stephens will be some of the band’s biggest fans who have long been associated with Big Star-related projects, including Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Jon Auer (The Posies), Pat Sansone (Wilco), and Chris Stamey (The dB's). The festivities kick off in July at Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on August 21, followed by shows across the East Coast in August and the West Coast in October. After a special hometown show at Memphis’ Crosstown Theater on October 1, the group will head to Europe, with stops in Spain, Norway, and the UK. For a full list of cities visited on the tour along with dates, please see below or click here.   ***   Heavily influenced by the British Invasion, yet undeniably original, Big Star (vocalists/guitarists Alex Chilton and Chris Bell, bassist Andy Hummel, and drummer Jody Stephens) offered a fresh new sound when they emerged in the early ’70s. While power pop wouldn’t truly take off until later in the decade, the Memphis band set the tone with their infectious blend of jangly pop, driving guitars, sweet harmonies, and wistful melancholia. In 1971, Big Star made their debut with #1 Record, which featured such memorable numbers as “In the Street” (later made famous by Cheap Trick), “Thirteen” ("one of rock's most beautiful celebrations of adolescence" — Rolling Stone, 2011), and “The Ballad of El Goodo.” (“The bridge [or middle eight, call it what you will] alone shows more talent and creativity than some bands' entire back catalogues.” — The Guardian, 2011) While the album garnered high marks from critics, however, it failed to make a commercial splash.   Bell departed the band soon after, leaving Chilton, Hummel, and Stephens to continue as a trio. In late 1973, Big Star returned to Ardent Studios to record their follow-up, with producer John Fry. Despite losing his longtime collaborator, Chilton stepped in as the band’s de facto leader—a role that allowed his songwriting talents to shine. Released in 1974, Radio City (available via Stax Records/Craft Recordings) featured some of Big Star’s most beloved tracks, including the bluesy opener “O, My Soul,” offbeat rocker “Back of a Car,” the sweet acoustic ballad “I’m in Love with a Girl,” plus their iconic pop classic, “September Gurls.” Once again, Radio City was met with critical acclaim but fell victim to distribution issues, selling less than 20,000 copies at the time.   But the story of Radio City certainly wasn’t over. Shared between friends and musicians as the years went on, the album became a cult favorite—far exceeding its original commercial performance. Today, it is considered a definitive title in the power pop canon and has long been counted among rock’s greatest albums. Hailed as “Pure power pop perfection” by Rolling Stone, Radio City has been included in the outlet’s 2003, 2012, and 2020 “500 Greatest Albums of All Time” rankings. “September Gurls,” meanwhile, appeared on its “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list, while Consequence of Sound declared the track “One of American music’s prototypical power pop jams.”   Although Big Star disbanded in late 1974 (not long after recording their third album, Third/Sister Lovers), the band went on to achieve near-mythic status in the underground scene, influencing some the biggest alt-rock artists of the ’80s, ’90s and beyond, including R.E.M., Teenage Fanclub, Wilco, and The Replacements (who famously penned the song “Alex Chilton” as an ode to the group’s frontman). Over the years, Big Star’s songs have been reinterpreted by the likes of Elliott Smith, The Bangles, Placebo, Beck, Gin Blossoms, Garbage, Counting Crows, and Jeff Buckley, to name a few.   In the last two decades, Big Star has finally been given their due, honored with a host of glowing retrospectives, as well as a tribute record (Big Star Small World, 2006), a documentary (2012’s Nothing Can Hurt Me), and the 2016 concert film and live album, Thank You, Friends: Big Star’s Third Live…And More. The acclaimed release, which is available to view on Amazon Prime, captures the popular touring live show, “Big Star’s Third,” in which an all-star roster of guest vocalists and musicians join a core group (including Stephens, Mills, Auer, Sansone, and Stamey) to perform Third/Sister Lovers, plus selections from #1 Record and Radio City. Filmed at a concert in Glendale, CA, Thank You, Friends features a cross-generational lineup of talent, including Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo), Robyn Hitchcock, Dan Wilson, original arranger Carl Marsh, and San Francisco’s Kronos Quartet.   Click here to buy or stream Radio City.   50th Anniversary Full Performance of Big Star's Radio City (& More):    August 21 - Cat's Cradle, Chapel Hill, NC August 22 - White Eagle Hall, Jersey City, NJ August 23 - Keswick Theatre, Glenside, PA August 24 - Union Stage, Washington, DC Oct. 1 - Crosstown Theater, Memphis, TN Oct. 4 - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA Oct. 7 - The Lodge Room, Los Angeles, CA Oct. 24 - Auditorio Mar de Vigo, Vigo, Spain Oct. 26 - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, Spain Oct. 27 - La Riviera, Madrid, Spain Oct. 29 - Folketeateret, Oslo, Norway Oct. 31 - Hackney Church, London, UK   The Big Star Quintet (with special guest John Stirratt [Wilco] subbing for Mike Mills) will also be hitting the road this July:   July 13 — FitzGerald's, Chicago, IL July 14 — Square Roots Festival, Chicago, IL July 15 — Codfish Hollow Barnstormers, Maquoketa, IA  Photo Credit: Luis Troner   Official social media: Big Star: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / YouTube    About Stax Records: Stax Records, now owned by Concord, was founded by Jim Stewart in 1957 in Memphis, Tennessee. It rose from a small, family-operated company to become one of the most influential record labels in the world, helping create “The Memphis Sound” and launching the careers of icons such as Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Booker T. & The M.G.’s the Staple Singers, Sam & Dave, Rufus and Carla Thomas, The Bar-Kays, and dozens of other artists who helped change popular culture forever. In all, Stax placed 167 hit songs in the Top 100 in Pop and 243 hits in the Top 100 in R&B.   For more info visit, staxrecords.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter.    About Craft Recordings:  Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most essential collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its storied repertoire includes landmark releases from icons such as Joan Baez, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Celia Cruz, Miles Davis, Isaac Hayes, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, R.E.M., Joan Sebastian, and Traveling Wilburys. Plus, the catalog recordings of celebrated contemporary acts including A Day to Remember, Evanescence, Alison Krauss, Nine Inch Nails, Taking Back Sunday and Violent Femmes, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, Musart, Nitro, Panart, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Vanguard, Varèse Sarabande, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation—ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft is also home to the Billie Holiday and Tammy Wynette estates which preserve and protect their respective names, likeness and music through day-to-day legacy management of these cultural trailblazers.    Craft Recordings is the catalog label team for Concord. For more info, visit CraftRecordings.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.