Rush's rapturous return; band delivers 22+ song set at first two shows in Los Angeles

Rush is back!. The legendary outfit kicked off its highly-anticipated tour at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles earlier this week. You can also revisit the band's previous tour via my review of the band's memorable concert in Irvine, CA on July 30, 2015...Robert Kinsler

Rush performing at the Kia Forum / Photo credit: Richard Sibbald

Rush's Rapturous Return; Rock and Roll Hall of Famers deliver 22+ song set both nights hitting every era

'Fifty Something' Tour kicked off in Los Angeles' Kia Forum

Tickets on sale now! Learn more HERE

On Sunday, June 7, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame® inductees and RUSH co-founders Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson kicked off the highly anticipated ‘Fifty Something’ Tour with the first of 4 sold-out shows at Los Angeles' Kia Forum, marking the band's first tour performance in 11 years. 

From left, Alex Lifeson, Anika Nilles and Geddy Lee
Photo credit: Steve Rose

The show launched a landmark run celebrating more than five decades of RUSH music and legacy, bringing the band full circle as Kia Forum was also the site of RUSH's final R40 Tour performance on August 1, 2015 with longtime band member Neil Peart who passed away in 2020.

Joined by acclaimed drummer Anika Nilles and keyboardist Loren Gold, RUSH opened the show with a signature opening film that pays tribute to and celebrates the band’s more than fifty year career and then broke into 11 minute “Xanadu” with both Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson revealed behind the fog with their signature double neck guitars.

RUSH performed 2 career-spanning sets, with Night 1 featuring fan favorites including “Limelight,” “The Spirit of Radio,” “Tom Sawyer” and "YYZ," alongside beloved deep cuts from across the band's legendary catalog such as “By-Tor and the Snowdog.”



On Night 2, RUSH changed it up with over 9 different songs including “Free Will,” “The Trees” and “Closer to the Heart” while kicking off the second set with the entire first side of legendary album 2112 to a spellbound crowd.

Aimee Mann, left, and Geddy Lee / Photo credit: Steve Rose

Both evenings featured a special guest appearance from Aimee Mann, who joined the band for an emotional performance of "Time Stand Still," the second of two tributes to Neil Peart in the show.

RUSH closed both nights with "Working Man" from their self-titled debut album, bringing the opening nights of the Fifty Something Tour to a memorable end and heightened anticipation of what’s in store for nights 3 and 4 of their sold out run.

The Fifty Something Tour continues this week with additional sold-out performances at Kia Forum on June 11 and June 13 before heading to Mexico City, Fort Worth, Chicago, New York, Toronto, and more. The special "evening with" performances feature two sets each night, with RUSH building every setlist from a catalogue of 40 songs for this tour spanning the band's celebrated five-decade career across. 

Rush returns to the stage tonight (June 11) with another performance at Kia Forum. The band also has two scheduled performances here in my neck of the woods when they perform at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ on Dec. 1 and Dec. 3, 2026. 

For additional tour dates and more information, visit www.rush.com/tour/fifty-something.

Catching up with 2022 releases: First Aid Kit, Freedy Johnston, Mamas Gun, Early James, Larkin Poe

It's not too late to catch up on some of 2022's most exciting new albums.

Artist: First Aid Kit
Title: Palomino (Columbia Records)

You might like if you enjoy: First Aid Kit, The Cowsills

Tell me more: First Aid Kit returned with their fifth studio album Palomino in November. Sisters Klara and Johanna Söderberg wrote and recorded the 11-track album in their home country of Sweden. The duo's shining harmonies and bewitching songcraft shine across Palomino with the sweeping "Ready to Run," soaring title track, Laurel Canyon-flavored "Turning Onto You" and romantic "The Last One" among the gems that showcase their artistry. The gorgeous "29 Palms Highway" and yearning "Angel" (the latter featuring a truly unforgettable chorus) are other standouts on the album. Palomino is available digitally as well as in various physical configurations including standard black LP, translucent green D2C exclusive LP, white indie retail exclusive LP and audio CD. Information: FirstAidKit.com.

Artist: Freedy Johnston
Title: Back on the Road to You (Forty Below Records)

You might like if you enjoy: James Taylor, Susanna Hoffs, Aimee Mann, Bird Streets, Julian Lennon

Tell me more: Singer-songwriter Freedy Johnston returned in spring 2022 with Back on the Road to You, a winning album of 10 stellar originals bolstered by well crafted arrangements, terrific musicianship from his studio band and smart contributions from guests Aimee Mann, Susanna Hoffs and Susan Cowsill. An artist able to conjure up the magic of classic melody-adorned songcraft, Johnston's latest album also benefits from a contemporary authenticity that serves as the perfect bridge between the past and present. The buoyant Americana-flavored title track, opulent "Somewhere Love," chamber pop gem "That's Life" (featuring Hoffs' lovely vocal harmonies), melodic rocker "The Power of Love," and instantly-infectious "There Goes a Brooklyn Girl" are among the wonderful songs on the set. But it's important to note that each and every track adds to the artistic depth of the collection. Information: FreedyJohnston.com.

Artist: Mamas Guns
Title: Cure the Jones (Candelion)

You might like if you enjoy: Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Bill Withers

Tell me more: British pop soul outfit Mamas Gun's fifth full-length album Cure the Jones is a full-on celebration of 1970s soul. The 11-track album was written and produced by Mamas Gun front man Andy Platts during the global pandemic, and also features the talents of Terry Lewis (guitar), Dave Oliver (keyboards), Chris Boot (drums) and Cameron Dawson (bass). The sound of the album thrives on slick grooves, emotional performances and a sonic spirit that draws favorable comparisons with the likes of Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield and Bill Withers. The tender "When You Stole The Sun From The Sky," infectious "Good Love" and up-tempo "Winner's Eyes" are among the wonderful originals to be heard on the disc. Information: mamasgun.co.uk.

Artist: Early James
Title: Strange Time To Be Alive (Easy Eye Sound)

You might like if you enjoy: Tom Waits, John Prine, Townes Van Zandt, Dan Auerbach

Tell me more: Early James — the moniker for Troy, Alabama native Fredrick James Mullis Jr. — fuses old-time Americana, roots and blues on his aptly-titled second studio album What A Strange Time To Be Alive. From the experimental-styled opener "Racing to a Red Light" and 1940s-flavored "Straitjacket For Two" to the beautiful piano-anchored "Pigsty" and freewheeling blues nugget "Dance In The Fire," the decidedly atmospheric collection of blues, rockabilly and roots is a sumptuous listen. Information: EarlyJames.com.

Artist: Larkin Poe
Title: Blood Harmony (Tricki-Woo Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Samantha Fish, The Record Company

Tell me more: Larkin Poe — sisters Rebecca Lovell and Megan Lovell — are one of today's leading Southern blues rock troupes as evidenced across the duo's fantastic 11-track album Blood Harmony. There are a slew of fiery tracks on the LP, all enhanced by the sisters' dynamic Southern swagger and solid songwriting. Rebecca Lovell is a powerful singer, and the tandem sound of her guitar along with the firepower of Megan's lap steel guitar work constantly dazzles. Standouts abound on the title, including the rousing "Strike Gold," bewitching title track and shimmering "Southern Comfort." Information: LarkinPoe.com.

Robert Kinsler

New Music: Popular Creeps, Bird Streets, New Riders of the Purple Sage

Three terrific releases are featured in my column this week.

Artist: Popular Creeps
Title: All Of This Will End In Tears (Big Stir Records)

You might like if you enjoy: The Strypes, The Replacements, The Plimsouls, Cheap Trick

Tell me more: Detroit-based rock outfit Popular Creeps has released the terrific album All Of This Will End In Tears, one of the last notable new releases of 2022. Popular Creeps' hybrid of melodic songcraft and garage rock bite proves to be a winning formula across the fast-moving 11-track disc. There is an immediacy heard on the straightforward "Black & Blue," "Gone By 45," and "Wait & See" that bewitches with a single listen. Elsewhere the jangly "Window" and "Split Decision," wistful "Keep It To Myself" (the latter enhanced by stunning guitar work including an extended solo to cap the song's rousing finale), countrified folk rocker "Wait Forever," punk rocker "Tear Me Apart" and emotional closer "Favorite Picture" add to the far-flung magic. The members of Popular Creeps (guitarist-vocalist Lenny Grassa, guitarist-vocalist Andrew Colvin, bassist Joe Heaphy and drummer Dave Nantais) have an obvious musical chemistry that is both impressive and palpable. Information: BigStirRecords.com.

Artist: Bird Streets
Title: Lagoon (Sparkle Plenty Records/Deko Entertainment)

You might like if you enjoy: Big Star, Jason Falkner, Crowded House, Pugwash, Bird Streets' 2018 self-titled debut

Tell me more: Bird Streets — the moniker for singer-songwriter John Brodeur — is back with the ambitious Lagoon. An album of luxurious and literate songs aimed at "separation, rumination, regret and recurrence," the artistic scope of the dozen track collection is elevated by an incredible list of notable collaborators who guest on the project. Indeed, Brodeur's considerable talents as lead singer and guitarist are bolstered by the likes of Aimee Mann, Jody Stephens (Big Star), Ed Harcourt, John Davis, and Buddy Judge (The Grays) along with the production skills of Patrick Sansone (Wilco), Michael Lockwood (Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple), and Zach Jones (Sting) and Oscar Albis Rodriguez (A Great Big World). While the initial recording of Lagoon spanned from the earliest sessions in Nashville in 2019 through time at Ardent Studios in Memphis in February 2020, the sudden arrival of the COVID-19 global pandemic ultimately found Brodeur turning to Los Angeles-based producer Lockwood to work on the project via remote technology for the home stretch. Each and every song on Lagoon hits its mark; the confessional opener "Sleeper Agent," emotive "The Document" (the latter one of the most striking breakup songs in memory), soaring "Let You Down," haunting "Leave No Trace" (featuring Davis' artful sitar playing), confessional "Disappearing Act" and Baroque pop sortie "Unkind" are among the wonderful songs on the masterful collection. Information: birdstreetsmusic.com.

Artist: New Riders of the Purple Sage
Title: Lyceum '72 (Omnivore Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: The Grateful Dead, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Gram Parsons

Tell me more: A magical trip back 50 years awaits music fans who check out New Riders of the Purple Sage's Lyceum '72, a previously unissued opening set from the last night of the Grateful Dead's 1972 European Tour. New Riders of the Purple Sage — whose original lineup included several members of the Grateful Dead —shine across the 17-track concert recording that was recorded on a 16-track machine by Dead engineers Betty Cantor, Janet Furman, Bob Matthews, Rosie McGee and Wizard. The quintet's take on country music is infectious and many of the selections here are familiar beyond the Americana genre. The rowdy "Hello Mary Lou," uptempo "Truck Drivin' Man," infectious "Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music)" and countrified take on The Rolling Stones' "Honky Tonk Women" are among the wonderful tracks on the disc. Lyceum '72 is available on audio CD and digital with packaging containing photographs and a reminiscence from Sam Cutler, tour manager of The Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead and New Riders of the Purple Sage.  Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com.

Robert Kinsler

New music: Eric Clapton, Susanna Hoffs, NRBQ, The Odd Birds

Rock and roll greats Eric Clapton, Susanna Hoffs and NRBQ along with newcomers The Odd Birds are in top form on their latest releases.

Artist: Eric Clapton

Title: The Lady in the Balcony: Lockdown Sessions (Mercury Studios)

You might like if you enjoy: Eric Clapton, Nathan East, classic rock, British blues

Tell me more: When Eric Clapton was forced to cancel several Royal Albert Hall concerts because of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2021, the legendary singer-songwriter/guitarist brought his band to the English countryside. Since no audience was able to attend, Clapton along with bassist-vocalist Nathan East, drummer Steve Gadd and keyboardist Chris Stainton performed in front of the cameras at Cowdray House in West Sussex, England. Highlights from those intimate recordings are featured on The Lady in the Balcony: Lockdown Sessions. Not only does the title feature incredible audio and visual quality, but the performances are sure to please fans of one of rock's greatest and most influential artists. There is a rich mix of Clapton originals and other selections including blues and country nuggets across the 17-track collection. In the first few selections, Clapton plays a 12-string guitar, including on the beautiful "Golden Ring" and "Black Magic Woman" (Clapton introduces the latter by saying "This one's for Peter," referencing songwriter Peter Green who sadly died in October 2020). Even in the acoustic-styled setting Clapton and company are able to deliver some pretty dynamic performances; both Clapton and Stainton solo during uptempo runs through "After Midnight" and "Rock Me Baby." The emotion is palpable in riveting performances of "River of Tears," the instrumental "Kerry" and "Tears in Heaven." And the talented troupe has a blast when Clapton switches to an electric instrument to run through the blues classics "Long Distance Call," "Bad Boy," and "Got My Mojo Working." The Lady in the Balcony: Lockdown Sessions is available on DVD+CD, Blu-ray+CD, 4K UHD+Blu-ray, 2 LPs pressed on yellow vinyl, and a Deluxe Edition containing the DVD, Blu-ray and audio CD packaged in a 40-page 12-inch by 12-inch hardback photo book, digital video and digital audio. In addition, a CD-only version is available exclusively at Target stores. Information: EricClapton.com.

Artist: Susanna Hoffs

Title: Bright Lights (Baroque Folk Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Susanna Hoffs, Aimee Mann, The Bangles

Tell me more: Susanna Hoffs is well recognized for her exceptional talent of interpreting songs penned by other artists and making them her own. Indeed, her trio of essential "Under The Covers" releases with Matthew Sweet as well as masterful reworkings recorded as a member of The Bangles' (including Prince's "Manic Monday" and Simon & Garfunkel's "A Hazy Shade of Winter") are part of a must-hear audio story that now includes her latest album Bright Lights. Hoffs' detailed and mature readings of a range of masterworks shines, her lovely vocals a part of artful arrangements that mine the deeper elements of each selection. She magically blends chamber pop and Americana on a reading of the Monkees' "You Just May Be the One," her soprano perfectly dancing with a soundscape adorned with lush harmonies and pedal steel guitar. The haunting take on the Velvet Underground's "Femme Fatale" is striking, starting sparsely and slowly building in beauty and power. A completely-reworked rendition of Prince's "Take Me With U" dazzles, Hoffs' voice positioned amidst a backdrop of acoustic guitar and strings. She joins forces with Aimee Mann on a marvelous version of Badfinger's "Name of the Game," the two singers tackling verses alone before blending their voices to create magical harmonies together. Other winning highlights on the album include her melodic reading of The Merry-Go-Round's "Time Will Show the Wiser," a rollicking and tuneful take on Paul Revere & The Raiders' "Him or Me – What's It Gonna Be?" and lovely acoustic interpretation of Chris Bell's "You and Your Sister." Information: SusannaHoffs.com. 

Artist: NRBQ

Title: Dragnet (Omnivore Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: NRBQ

Tell me more: NRBQ is back with their first new album since 2014. Dragnet features a characteristically rich mix of diverse styles ranging from rock and pop to jazz and spoken word sure to please and challenge music lovers. The catchy opener "Where's My Pebble?" magically blends surf rock with Texas blues — it's as if the Chantays had teamed up with Billy F Gibbons to record a track. The melodic "I Like Her So Much" features sweet lead and harmony vocals along with a delightfully delicate approach from keyboardist Terry Adams, guitarist Scott Ligon, bassist Casey McDonough and drummer John Perrin. NRBQ's well known bent to include high spirits, intellect, irony and a sense of humor in the wide-ranging proceedings is intact as evidenced by the upbeat "Miss Goody Two Shoes," polished pop song "You Can't Change People," sumptuous "The Moon and Other Things" and "L-o-n-e Lone-ly." Dragnet is available on audio CD and Digital. The album will be released on vinyl in early 2022. Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com. 

Artist: The Odd Birds

Title: Tremolo Heart (The Odd Birds)

You might like if you enjoy: The Odd Birds, The Jayhawks, The Fallen Stars

Tell me more: The Odd Birds are back with a pleasing disc (Tremolo Heart) featuring 10 wonderful tracks showcasing the duo's affecting songcraft, strong vocals and nuanced arrangements. From the breezy opening folk rock track "Alright Now" and lovely "Another One Like You" to the countrified "Drowning Rain" and the folk ballad "Today I Started Loving You Again," Ron Grigsby and Jennifer Moraca immerse the listener in a soundscape that is sure to please fans of top-tier folk and acoustic Americana. Drummer Matt Froehlich, lead guitarist Bobbo Byrnes (who also produced the album), bassist Tracy Byrnes and fiddler Georgiana Hennessy add their talents to the wonderful LP as well. Information: https://www.facebook.com/theoddbirds. 

Robert Kinsler

New Music: Aimee Mann, ABBA, Tommy Womack, the Brothers Steve, Steve Goodman, Bobbo Byrnes

Excellent new albums featuring songstress Aimee Mann, Swedish legends ABBA, Nashville hero Tommy Womack, L.A. quintet The Brothers Steve and Americana singer-songwriter Bobbo Byrnes make for an especially strong crop of new releases. 

Artist: Aimee Mann

Title: Queens of the Summer Hotel (SuperEgo Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Aimee Mann

Tell me more: Aimee Mann began to craft new music for what would be her latest album Queens of the Summer Hotel back in 2018 after she agreed to write songs for a stage adaptation of "Girl, Interrupted," author Susanna Kaysen's memoir about her psychiatric hospitalization in the late 1960s. The subject matter was perfectly suited to Mann, whose previous album was even titled Mental Illness. While the coronavirus pandemic put the "Girl, Interrupted" project on hold, Mann decided to collect the songs into Queens of the Summer Hotel, her 10th studio album. Mann's otherworldly ability to craft songs that are literate, melodic and layered shines across Queens of the Summer Hotel, the album's soundscape bolstered by acoustic piano, strings, woodwinds and horns. The Baroque pop gem "Home By Now," probing "Little Chameleon," sumptuous "Suicide Is Murder," soaring "Burn It Out" and potent "You're Lost" are among the many stellar selections on the album. Information: AimeeMann.com. 

Artist: ABBA

Title: Voyage (Capitol)

You might like if you enjoy: ABBA

Tell me more: ABBA's first new full-length release since 1981's The Visitors, Voyage is a worthy return celebration of the Swedish quartet's groundbreaking pop style. Indeed, the signature voices of Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad sound as youthful and wonderful as ever, while Björn Kristian Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson prove their skills as songwriters and producers continue to be inspired and in tune with the group's signature sound that scored 48 hits in the 1970s and early '80s. The Celtic-tinged "When You Danced With Me," melancholy-filled "I Still Have Faith In You," beautiful "Little Things" (enhanced by a children's choir) and soaring "Don't Shut Me Down" are early standouts on the album. The confessional "I Can Be That Woman," New Wave-flavored "Keep An Eye On Dan," captivating "Bumblebee" and Neo-classical closer "Ode To Freedom" keep the momentum going on the album. Information: ABBAsite.com. 

Artist: Tommy Womack

Title: I Thought I Was Fine (Schoolkids Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Camper Van Beethoven, Tom Petty, Matthew Sweet

Tell me more: Nashville-based hero Tommy Womack is back with an album that signals a bona fide return to his rock and roll roots. The 13-track I Thought I Was Fine is filled with smart songwriting, lots of great rhythm and lead guitar, in-the-pocket rhythms and super clever lyrics. The melodious "Pay It Forward," edgy "A Little Bit of Sex Part 2," confessional rocker "I Got No Place To Go," melodic sortie "I Do" and contagious "That Lucky Old Sun" showcase an unbridled approach that makes the album such a wonderful listen. Womack also utilizes other styles on the album when it makes sense for specific songs; the heartland rock-flavored title track, spoken "Call Me Gary," and countrified "You Don't Get Over Love" and "Job-Hunting While Depressed" are good examples how Womack's approach eludes simple categorization. Information: TommyWomack.com. 

Artist: The Brothers Steve

Title: Dose (Big Stir Records)

You might like if you enjoy: The Empty Hearts, Fountains of Wayne, Cheap Trick's 1977 album "In Color"

Tell me more: Fans of top-tier melodic rock will love the Brothers Steve's new album Dose. The Los Angeles troupe's 10-track disc is loaded with smart, fun, infectious and melody-rich originals courtesy of singer-guitarists-frontmen Os Tyler and Jeff Whalen, drummer Coulter, bassist Jeff Solomon and guitarist Dylan Champion. The exhilarating opener "Get On Up" is bolstered by a joyful spirit enhanced by harmonies, handclaps and artful musicianship. The band taps into a perfect blend of early rock 'n' roll abandon and '70s power pop on the swirling "Wizard of Love." They adorn the chamber pop "She Will Wait" with creative harmonies aplenty. They turn on a dime for the propulsive rocker "Electro-Love." Other excellent melodic rockers include the tuneful "Sugarfoot," Beach Boys-meets-Fountains of Wayne zing of "Griffith Observatory," and dazzling album closer "Better Get Ready to Go." Dose is a flat out great record. Information: BigStirRecords.com.

Artist: Steve Goodman

Title: The Best of Steve Goodman (Omnivore Recordings)

You might like if you enjoy: John Denver, Dion, Harry Chapin, John Prine, Jimmy Buffett

Tell me more: A triple threat as singer, songwriter and guitar master, the late Steve Goodman's growing legacy is celebrated across an outstanding new 19-track retrospective. The Best of Steve Goodman features studio recordings, radio sessions, live performances and even a solo demo of his enduring masterwork "City of New Orleans." During Goodman's short lifetime — he died of leukemia in 1984 at the age of 36 — a relatively small but dedicated following in his native Chicago and beyond purchased his albums and attended his live performances. Over the past several years, Omnivore Recordings has been reintroducing the music of Goodman to a wider audience. The Best of Steve Goodman is an excellent way for uninitiated listeners to fall in love with an artist the equal of many of his well-known contemporaries. The chilling "Yellow Coat," comedic "You Never Even Call Me by My Name" (co-written with his good friend John Prine) and "This Hotel Room," a beautiful rendition of Mike Smith's "The Dutchman," introspective "Video Tape" and bittersweet "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request" are among the stellar tracks on this essential collection. Information: OmnivoreRecordings.com. 

Artist: Bobbo Byrnes

Title: So Many Bars, So Many Saturday Nights (Bobbo Byrnes)

You might like if you enjoy: The Fallen Stars, Bobbo Byrnes

Tell me more: Americana singer-songwriter Bobbo Byrnes is back with another batch of enticing originals via his seven-song CD So Many Bars, So Many Saturday Nights. The mandolin- and fiddle-anchored "Charlie" and driving roots rocker "Different Beds" are early standouts on the fast-moving disc, while the countrified "Outlaws & Angels" and folk rocker "Walk Away" (the latter bolstered by Byrnes' stylish mandolin solo) are highlights later on the CD. Byrnes closes out the musical proceedings with an alternative country-flavored take on the AC/DC classic "Long Way To The Top." Information: BobboByrnes.com.

Robert Kinsler

Susanna Hoffs and Aimee Mann join forces to cover Badfinger’s power pop classic ‘Name of the Game’

Photo credit: Jonathon Kingsbury

I am a long time fan of both Susanna Hoffs and Aimee Mann, and the two artists sound glorious on a newly-released cover of Badfinger's majestic 1971 classic "Name of the Game." Listen to the track HERE.

The compelling track will be featured on Hoffs' forthcoming covers album Bright Lights due Friday, Nov. 12, 2021 via Baroque Folk Records.

While the acclaimed singers trade verses in the opening part of the song, their shimmering harmonies gloriously immerse the listener as the song grows in beauty and power. 

Hoffs' 2012 solo album Someday was one of my favorite releases of the decade and I'm really looking forward to the release of Bright Lights next month.

Robert Kinsler

Bright Lights Tracklist

1. “Time Will Show the Wiser” – The Merry-Go-Round
2. “One of These Things First” – Nick Drake
3. “You and Your Sister” – Chris Bell
4. “Name of the Game” (feat. Aimee Mann) – Badfinger
5. “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight” – Richard & Linda Thompson
6. “You Just May Be the One” – The Monkees
7. “Him or Me – What’s It Gonna Be?” – Paul Revere & The Raiders
8. “Femme Fatale” – The Velvet Underground
9. “Take Me With U” – Prince
10. “No Good Trying” – Syd Barrett

Upcoming Albums Preview: Eric Clapton, Cat Stevens, Aimee Mann, Judas Priest, Nirvana, The Rolling Stones, more!

Watch TJR and Robert Kinsler discuss a slew of highly-anticipated special releases coming out this fall, including new titles from Eric Clapton, Judas Priest, Aimee Mann, The Rolling Stones and more!  

Watch the video HERE.

Aimee Mann debuts new track "Burn It Out" + New album 'Queens of The Summer Hotel' out November 5

MEDIA RELEASE

AIMEE MANN DEBUTS NEW TRACK “BURN IT OUT”

 NEW ALBUM QUEENS OF THE SUMMER HOTEL

OUT NOVEMBER 5 VIA SUPEREGO RECORDS

WRITTEN FOR STAGE ADAPTATION OF

SUSANNAH KAYSEN’S GIRL, INTERRUPTED

photo credit: Sheryl Nields

“One of the finest
 songwriters of her generation.”

September 24, 2021—Aimee Mann is debuting her new track “Burn It Out,” the second song to be revealed from her highly anticipated new album, Queens of The Summer Hotel, set for release on November 5 via her own SuperEgo Records. Listen to/share the track HERE.

“In this song, a character who has set herself on fire ruminates on whether she had tried to banish the ghosts of trauma though one drastic, self-destructive act,” says Mann.

In August, Mann premiered the album’s lead single, “Suicide Is Murder,” to critical praise. Variety proclaims “the song’s chorus cleverly but poignantly looks at the literalness of the title metaphor,” while The New York Times furthers “her lyrics are clinical and legalistic, considering the physical practicalities and weighing ‘motive, means and opportunity;’ instead of proffering sympathy, she coolly reminds a listener that a suicide is a ‘heartless killing spree.’” Listen to/share the track HERE and watch/share the accompanying video HERE, starring James Urbaniak and directed/produced by Puloma Basu and Rob Hatch-Miller.

Mann started developing the new music in 2018 when she agreed to write songs for a stage adaptation of Girl, Interrupted, Susannah Kaysen’s memoir about her psychiatric hospitalization in the late 1960s. It was material that Mann understood well, having had her own struggles with mental illness. The resulting music comes together in Queens of The Summer Hotel.

The album consists of a song cycle constructed from music that Mann wrote for the show, sung by Mann and orchestrated with her longtime collaborator Paul Bryan, using strings and woodwinds in a nod to the project’s theatrical origins.

In many ways Queens of The Summer Hotel is the unintentional part two to Mann’s 2017’s Grammy-winning album Mental Illness, both exploring themes of self-harm, depression and suicide. However, Queens of The Summer Hotel was written more quickly than any of Mann’s previous records. The assignment to write songs for someone else’s project offered Mann a sense of liberation, freeing her to enter another person’s consciousness and story—and a brand-new set of musical structures—through the lens of Kaysen’s own alienation. Although several different characters narrate the songs, they’re not strictly tied to any narrative. But together, they form a portrait of one woman’s crisis of disassociation as seen through another woman’s eyes. 

Album artwork

“I honestly felt almost possessed when I was writing this record as I’ve never written so fast and intensely,” recalls Mann. “I found the material very interesting and obviously really personal. I had specific ideas about what I thought the character’s backstory could be and incorporated a lot of shared experiences to flesh out specific characters discussed in the memoir.”

After several albums with ’Til Tuesday, Mann began her solo career in 1993 with the album Whatever and made a name for herself through her independent success and the founding of her record label, SuperEgo Records. Along the way, Mann forged a powerful new sound driven by her distinctive singing style—stripped-down, folky, acoustic but also forceful and cerebral, exploring psychological themes with dark wit and an eye for the world’s ugliest power plays. 

In 2017, Mann released her acclaimed album Mental Illness, which won Best Folk Album at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. The New York Times proclaimed, “Mental Illness wallows in its troubles, and it’s an exquisite wallow,” while The Los Angeles Times declared “Every doomed syllable is sacred and every tragic rhyme fits, as though each song were a puzzle to which only Mann knows the solution.”

In addition to her solo albums, she has appeared on many film soundtracks, most notably the score for Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia, with “Save Me” landing her Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Original Song. Mann has also made numerous cameo appearances in films such as The Big Lebowski and TV shows like “Portlandia” and “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” in which she sang an indelible cover of The Cars’ song “Drive.” Other extracurricular activities include performing for President Obama and the First Lady at the White House and starting a Podcast with Ted Leo called “The Art of Process.”

AIMEE MANN—QUEENS OF THE SUMMER HOTEL
1. You Fall
2. Robert Lowell and Sylvia Plath
3. Give Me Fifteen
4. At The Frick Museum
5. Home By Now
6. Checks
7. Little Chameleon
8. You Don't Have The Room
9. Suicide Is Murder
10. You Could Have Been A Roosevelt
11. Burn It Out
12. In Mexico
13. Check (reprise)
14. You're Lost
15. I See You