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Neil Young’s Four Essential 90s Albums Arrive as Individual Vinyl and CD Editions in Official Release Series Vol. 6

Eric Alper
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Neil Young’s Four Essential 90s Albums Arrive as Individual Vinyl and CD Editions in Official Release Series Vol. 6

Today, Neil Young returns to his Official Release Series (ORS) with the next installment of four classic titles from the 1990s. Last September we released the CD and vinyl box sets for ORS Vol 6: Discs 26, 27, 28 & 29 comprised of HARVEST MOON, UNPLUGGED, SLEEPS WITH ANGELS and MIRROR BALL Today on May 22, each of these titles are available now as individual vinyl and CD editions via Reprise Records.  

Each of these seminal 90s-era albums will feature the original, historically accurate artwork and will be reissued on double vinyl LPs, while the CDs will remain as single discs.

As MIRROR BALL is an analog recording, the album has been remastered from the original analog masters by John Hanlon and Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering. Additionally, four of the tracks have been remixed in analog by John Hanlon, as the originals were from digital mixes (“I’m The Ocean”, “Big Green Country”, “Truth Be Known”, “Throw Your Hatred Down”). 

HARVEST MOON (ORS Disc 26), originally released in 1992, helped open a new decade of Young’s music with what would become instant new classics like the title track “Harvest Moon,”  “From Hank to Hendrix,” and “One of These Days,” songs which quickly became fan favorites and one of the most beloved albums in his recorded output. 

UNPLUGGED (ORS Disc 27), originally released in 1993, was first recorded for an MTV Unplugged concert, along with additional live recordings. Young thoughtfully assembled a group of  musicians he had recorded with over the years for this special aggregation that quickly became a collector’s item as tapes were first shared from the show among his fans. The official live album is considered an acoustic one-of-a-kind release from Young’s 90’s canon. 

SLEEPS WITH ANGELS (ORS Disc 28), originally released in 1994, is an album that wrote its own legend when released. Including the 14-minute song “Change Your Mind”, it had a distinctiveness with Crazy Horse that Young achieved by keeping the sessions as spontaneous and immediate as possible allowing the tracks to breathe and come to life in real time. This albumwas the last album to be produced by Young’s long-time collaborator David Briggs, who passed away in 1995 at age 51, which also brings a special meaning to these recordings.  

All formats available at the Neil Young Archives Store only at Neil Young Archives (NYA) and music retailers everywhere and most DSPs.  

HARVEST MOON – Tracklisting:

  1. “Unknown Legend”
  2. “From Hank To Hendrix”
  3. “You and Me”
  4. “Harvest Moon”
  5. “War Of Man”
  6. “One Of These Days”
  7. Such a Woman”
  8. “Old King”
  9. “Dreamin’ Man”
  10. “Natural Beauty” (live)

UNPLUGGED – Tracklisting:

  1. “The Old Laughing Lady”
  2. “Mr. Soul”
  3. “World On A String”
  4. “Pocahontas”
  5. “Stringman”
  6. “Like A Hurricane”
  7. “The Needle And The Damage Done”
  8. “Helpless”
  9. “Harvest Moon”
  10. “Transformer Man”
  11. “Unknown Legend”
  12. “Look Out For my Love”
  13. “Long May You Run”
  14. “From Hank To Hendrix”

SLEEPS WITH ANGELS – Tracklisting:

  1. “My Heart”
  2. “Prime of Life”
  3. “Driveby”
  4. “Sleeps with Angels”
  5. “Western Hero”
  6. “Change Your Mind”
  7. “Blue Eden”
  8. “Safeway Cart”
  9. “Train of Love”
  10. “Trans Am”
  11. “Piece of Crap”
  12. “A Dream That Can Last”

MIRROR BALL – Tracklisting:

  1. “Song X”
  2. “Act of Love”
  3. “I’m The Ocean”
  4. “Big Green Country”
  5. “Truth Be Known”
  6. “Downtown”
  7. “What Happened To Yesterday”
  8. “Peace and Love”
  9. “Throw Your Hatred Down”
  10. “Scenery”
  11. “Fallen Angel”

Southwest Virginia Roots Rockers Matt Jones and The Bobs Return With Honest, Community-Driven “Weight Of The World”

Eric Alper
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Southwest Virginia Roots Rockers Matt Jones and The Bobs Return With Honest, Community-Driven “Weight Of The World”

Ten years away, and Matt Jones and The Bobs sound like they never left. The Southwest Virginia Americana outfit releases “Weight Of The World” today, a working-class folk rock song about burnout, the trap of chasing wins, and the friends who show up when the hustle stops working. Raw vocals sit above warm, stripped-back production, fingerpicked guitar carries the emotional thread, and a communal sing-along chorus makes the song’s core argument felt rather than just heard.

Jones describes it plainly. “The song looks at struggle not as defeat, but as a universal weight we all carry, and the beauty of having someone there to help lighten the load.” That directness runs through the whole track. There’s no gloss here, just honest songwriting delivered with an intentionally unpolished feel that suits the material completely.

The band formed at Radford University in 2011, released their debut ‘Brother’s Hymn’ in 2014, then stepped away in 2015 as members pursued separate careers and ventures. The reunion arrived in 2024, bringing with it a sound that retains the Prine, Petty, and The Band DNA of their origins while folding in 90s grunge grit and expanded instrumentation. Over a million streams in, the audience has been waiting.

“Weight Of The World” arrives ahead of their forthcoming self-titled debut full-length, due later this summer, and the music video finds the band playing together in a vibrant, lived-in studio, a visual that matches the warmth and communal spirit of the song itself.

Maryland Country Storyteller Luke Borchelt Brings a Softer Side With New Single “Stay Warm”

Eric Alper
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Maryland Country Storyteller Luke Borchelt Brings a Softer Side With New Single “Stay Warm”

Luke Borchelt releases “Stay Warm” today via MDDN Records, and it marks a deliberate shift in texture ahead of his forthcoming album ‘Watertown’. Where his previous singles leaned guttural, this one opens up into something softer and more pop-leaning, capturing that specific Maryland feeling of early spring, the boat back in the water, the season breaking open, and someone missing from the moment. Borchelt is clear about the intention. “It’s a softer, poppier side of LB on ‘Stay Warm,'” he says. “I’m eager to present something else before the album drops.” The release follows an acoustic version of previous single “Red Sky,” built around the old waterman saying “red sky in the morning, sailors take warning,” now available on all platforms. Tonight, Borchelt opens for breakout country artist Sam Barber at Pompano Beach Amphitheater, and both singles are building toward ‘Watertown’, a record that promises to be one of the more interesting country albums to watch for this year.

Norah Jones Receives Humanitarian Honor at Jazz Foundation of America’s Annual Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center

Eric Alper
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Norah Jones Receives Humanitarian Honor at Jazz Foundation of America’s Annual Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center

The Jazz Foundation of America held its annual spring benefit gala, A Great Night in Harlem, Thursday evening at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the room delivered exactly what the occasion called for. Ten-time Grammy Award winner Norah Jones received the 2026 Dr. Billy Taylor Humanitarian Award, the evening’s central honor, recognizing her contributions to music and community.

Artistic Director Steve Jordan shaped a program that moved across jazz history with real intention. The night included a centennial tribute to Miles Davis featuring Gary Bartz and Patrice Rushen, a set from Buster Williams’ Something More featuring Lenny White, a tribute to Ernest Ranglin spotlighting 17-year-old guitar phenom Marel Hidalgo, and a tribute to Cal Tjader and Willie Bobo featuring Juan Diego Villalobos and Sammy Figueroa. Special guest Ann Curry also appeared during the program.

Gary Bartz and Buster Williams were named 2026 Jazz Legacies Fellowship recipients, both recognized for careers that have shaped the language of jazz across decades. The broader performer list included Mino Cinelu, Clifton Anderson, Stefon Harris, James Genus, Winard Harper, and many more, reflecting the depth of talent the Jazz Foundation continues to support and celebrate.

Now in its 37th year, the Jazz Foundation of America provides housing assistance, pro bono medical care, disaster relief, and direct financial support to musicians facing crisis due to age, illness, or unforeseen circumstances. In the past year alone, JFA assisted in more than 7,000 cases. Past gala honorees include Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, Tony Bennett, Roberta Flack, Chaka Khan, and Keith Richards.

San Francisco Americana Storyteller Liz Kennedy Gives Fan-Favorite “Arugula” a Playful New Animated Video

Eric Alper
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San Francisco Americana Storyteller Liz Kennedy Gives Fan-Favorite “Arugula” a Playful New Animated Video

Liz Kennedy has released a new animated video for “Arugula,” a fan-favorite track from her 2014 album ‘Speed Bump’, and the story behind the song is as charming as the song itself. A friend challenged her to write something about arugula over dinner, and she did. “True!” Kennedy confirms. The animated visual, described as sweet, fun, and literally spicy, gives a 12-year-old track a fresh moment in the spotlight, and it earns it. The recording features Kennedy on vocals and piano alongside Billy Johnson, Don Bassey, J. Jaffe, Eamonn Flynn, and Omega Brooks, produced by J. Jaffe at Studio D Sausalito. “I just like the guy in the song,” Kennedy says simply. “Someone I married long ago.” That kind of quiet, honest specificity is exactly what makes her songwriting land.

Drew Baldridge Strips Down Radio Hit “Rebel” to Its Emotional Core With New Acoustic Version

Eric Alper
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Drew Baldridge Strips Down Radio Hit “Rebel” to Its Emotional Core With New Acoustic Version

Drew Baldridge releases an acoustic version of his current radio hit “Rebel” today via Lyric Ridge Records/Stoney Creek Records, and the stripped-down treatment does exactly what a great acoustic version should: it pulls the song’s emotional core into full view. Filmed at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, the performance lets the writing breathe without the driving production, and the message lands just as hard. Listen here.

Written by Baldridge and Adam Sanders and produced by Zach Crowell and Nick Schwarz, “Rebel” flips the traditional idea of rebellion entirely. The song makes the case that standing firm in faith, family, and integrity, doing the right thing when compromise would be easier, is the most defiant act of all. Baldridge wrote it from a personal place. “I wrote this song after noticing how often the wrong things get glorified,” he says. “Doing the right thing can feel rebellious, and I hope fans, and one day my sons, see that being a rebel here is actually a good thing.”

“Rebel” follows “Tough People,” Baldridge’s second consecutive Top 10 hit at country radio, and continues to climb the charts. The acoustic version gives radio listeners and new fans alike a closer look at the songwriting at the heart of a track that has already connected widely.

Baldridge’s story carries real independent credibility. His Platinum-certified “She’s Somebody’s Daughter” made him the only self-funded artist to score a number 1 debut on Mediabase and the highest-charting independent artist in Billboard Country Airplay history. With over 2 billion streams and impressions behind that single alone, the foundation he’s built is substantial.

The FARM FAITH FAMILY Tour runs through the end of the year, with Baldridge also joining Luke Bryan on select dates. International touring continues following recent runs through Australia, the UK, and Europe.

The Script Announce UK, Ireland and Global Arena Tour Behind New Album ‘The User’s Guide To Being Human’

Eric Alper
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The Script Announce UK, Ireland and Global Arena Tour Behind New Album ‘The User’s Guide To Being Human’

The Script have announced a full UK and Ireland headline arena tour kicking off October 30 in Dublin, with dates running through November before extending into Europe and continuing globally into 2027. The tour follows the August 14 release of their new album ‘The User’s Guide To Being Human’, with lead single “Man In The Arena” out now.

The headline run comes on the back of a massive summer as special guests on Take That’s 15-date stadium tour, playing to a combined audience of 1.3 million, alongside 5 dates supporting Luke Combs including a show at Slane Castle in Ireland. The Script arrive at their own headline dates with serious live momentum behind them.

‘The User’s Guide To Being Human’ follows 2024’s ‘Satellites’, the album Danny O’Donoghue made while processing the grief of losing bandmate and close friend Mark Sheehan in 2023. Every show on that subsequent global arena tour paid tribute to Mark, including a sold-out O2 in London that moved 17,706 tickets, a sold-out Co-op Live in Manchester with 17,262 tickets, and a packed OVO Hydro in Glasgow. Those numbers reflect a fanbase that showed up with real emotional investment.

The Script’s catalog speaks for itself. Six UK number 1 albums, 8 in Ireland, over 14 billion streams, 5 million album sales, and an international footprint that includes 2 US Platinum singles and 2 US Top 10 albums. Having sold 4.5 million tickets across their career, this tour adds another major chapter.

The 2027 global leg extends to the Philippines, Australia, Singapore, and Indonesia, confirming the reach of a band that has built one of the most devoted international audiences in modern arena rock.

Fans who pre-order ‘The User’s Guide To Being Human’ from The Script’s official store receive access to a fan pre-sale opening May 27 at 9:30am. General on-sale follows May 29 at 9:30am.

The Script Tour Dates:

Oct 30 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena

Oct 31 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena

Nov 2 – Belfast, UK – SSE Arena

Nov 5 – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena

Nov 6 – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena

Nov 7 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live

Nov 9 – Nottingham, UK – Motorpoint Arena

Nov 10 – Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena

Nov 12 – Aberdeen, UK – P&J Live

Nov 13 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro

Nov 14 – Sheffield, UK – Utilita Arena

Nov 16 – Bournemouth, UK – International Centre

Nov 17 – Cardiff, UK – Utilita Arena

Nov 19 – Liverpool, UK – M&S Bank Arena

Nov 21 – London, UK – The O2

Nov 23 – Munich, Germany – Zenith

Nov 24 – Düsseldorf, Germany – MEH

Nov 26 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome

Nov 28 – Antwerp, Belgium – Lotto Arena

Mar 18 – Manila, Philippines – Mall Of Asia

Mar 23 – Brisbane, Australia – Entertainment Centre

Mar 25 – Melbourne, Australia – Rod Laver Arena

Mar 27 – Sydney, Australia – Qudos Bank Arena

Mar 31 – Singapore – Indoor Stadium

Apr 3 – Jakarta, Indonesia – Venue TBA

Philadelphia Shoegaze Renegades Nothing Deliver a Stunning Five-Song KEXP Session

Eric Alper
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Philadelphia Shoegaze Renegades Nothing Deliver a Stunning Five-Song KEXP Session

Philadelphia shoegaze outfit Nothing recorded a five-song live session for KEXP, running through “cannibal world,” “a short history of decay,” “purple strings,” “Famine Asylum,” and “toothless coal,” the performance showcases the band at full sonic intensity, with Domenic Palermo, Doyle Martin, and Cam Smith’s layered guitars filling the room with the kind of dense, gorgeous noise that has made Nothing one of the most compelling acts in modern shoegaze. The session features Bobb Bruno on bass and Zachary Jones on drums, with audio engineering handled by Julian Martlew and mixed by Nick Bassett.

Dick Parry, The Saxophone Voice Behind Pink Floyd’s Greatest Moments, Dead at 83

Eric Alper
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Dick Parry, The Saxophone Voice Behind Pink Floyd’s Greatest Moments, Dead at 83

Dick Parry died this morning, May 22, 2026, at the age of 83. The saxophonist whose playing became inseparable from some of rock music’s most enduring recordings passed away with no cause of death announced. David Gilmour broke the news on social media, writing, “My dear friend Dick Parry died this morning. Since I was seventeen, I have played in bands with Dick on saxophone, including Pink Floyd.”

Parry and Gilmour’s friendship stretched back to Cambridge in the early 1960s, where both were part of the city’s mid-decade music scene. Gilmour played in Jokers Wild while Parry fronted The Soul Committee. That bond, formed before either had any idea where music would take them, turned out to be one of the most quietly consequential friendships in rock history.

When Gilmour brought Parry into the studio for ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ in 1973, the result was permanent. The saxophone line on “Money” became one of the most recognizable instrumental moments in the entire classic rock canon. Parry also appeared on “Us and Them” from that record, and his contributions extended to 1975’s ‘Wish You Were Here’, most notably on “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” Gilmour described his playing as “a signature of enormous beauty that is known to millions.”

Parry toured with Pink Floyd from 1973 through 1977, one of the band’s most celebrated live periods. Nearly two decades later, Gilmour tracked him down after receiving a Christmas card from a man who had sold his saxophones, become a farrier, and largely stepped away from music. A brief audition on the boat was enough. Three phrases in, Gilmour and producer Bob Ezrin agreed he still had it completely. Parry played on “Wearing the Inside Out” for 1994’s ‘The Division Bell’ and toured behind it, with his performances documented on the live album ‘Pulse’.

He was there for the historic Live 8 reunion in 2005, the only time the classic Pink Floyd lineup performed together after Roger Waters’ departure. He appeared again on Gilmour’s 2006 On An Island Tour alongside the late Rick Wright, a run Gilmour referenced specifically in his tribute post. Beyond Pink Floyd, Parry’s discography touched John Entwistle, Rory Gallagher, the Violent Femmes, and dozens more across six decades of session and touring work.

Dick Parry never sought the spotlight. He was a sideman in the truest and most honourable sense, someone whose contributions shaped records that hundreds of millions of people have carried with them through their lives, often without knowing his name. Now they do.

Dick Parry, the saxophonist whose playing on Pink Floyd classics “Money,” “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” and “Us and Them” became part of rock history, has died at 83. David Gilmour called him “a signature of enormous beauty.”

Decoding the Canadian Casino Landscape: A Strategic Playbook by Industry Analysts

Eric Alper
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By Mitch Rice

Canada’s online casino market is entering its most consequential year since regulated iGaming first arrived in the country. On July 13, 2026, Alberta will officially become the second Canadian province after Ontario to open its market to private operators, ending a five-year stretch in which Ontario stood alone as the country’s only competitive online gambling jurisdiction. The shift comes just weeks after Ontario reported a record C$4.04 billion in 2025 iGaming revenue, up 34% year over year — confirming what analysts have long forecast: a regulated, multi-operator model can rapidly outscale legacy provincial monopolies.

For Canadian consumers, the more visible change has been the steady normalization of player-friendly promotional formats. Analyst desks tracking the country’s affiliate landscape point to no-wagering bonuses, free spin offers without playthrough requirements, and faster withdrawal commitments as the features now dictating where Canadian players choose to sign up. Independent review platform Jeux.ca, for example, currently ranks what its editors describe as the Best no-wager online casino options across the country, illustrating how the bonus arms race has shifted from headline match percentages toward terms that players can actually clear. Industry observers say the trend is reshaping operator acquisition costs nationwide.

The numbers behind Canada’s iGaming boom

The scale of Ontario’s transformation is now hard to ignore. According to iGaming Ontario, licensed operators handled close to C$98.3 billion in cash wagers in 2025, a 26% jump over the prior year, while gross gaming revenue cleared the C$4 billion mark. Online casino verticals — slots, live dealer tables, and digital table games — accounted for roughly three-quarters of that revenue, with sports betting and peer-to-peer poker filling out the remainder. December alone produced C$9.5 billion in handle and C$425.4 million in monthly revenue, the highest figures the market has ever recorded.

These results have transformed Ontario into a benchmark case study for North American regulators. The province now hosts roughly 50 licensed operators running more than 80 distinct gaming sites, and channelization — the share of online gambling activity captured by the legal market — sits above 83% according to the regulator’s own surveys, well ahead of its initial 70% baseline target.

A patchwork of provincial frameworks

Outside Ontario, the rest of Canada still operates under provincial Crown corporation monopolies. Quebec’s Loto-Québec runs Espacejeux. British Columbia’s BCLC operates PlayNow. Atlantic Canada is served by Atlantic Lottery Corporation properties, and Manitoba and Saskatchewan share PlayNow.com infrastructure. None of these provinces currently license private competitors, leaving most Canadians outside Ontario to choose between a single government-run site and international platforms that operate in a long-standing legal grey area.

Analysts tracking the sector argue that this fragmented map is the single biggest variable in Canada’s medium-term outlook. Affiliate publishers and operator strategists are watching for whether Quebec’s National Assembly or British Columbia’s gaming policy unit will eventually signal interest in following Ontario’s commercial model — moves that, if they materialize, would unlock the country’s two largest remaining urban markets.

What analysts are watching: the rise of no-wager bonuses

Inside the competitive Ontario market, the bonus product itself has evolved fastest. Where 2022 launches were dominated by 100% deposit matches with 35x or 50x playthrough requirements, 2025 and 2026 promotions increasingly feature reduced or zero wagering attached to free spin allocations, cashback offers, and welcome packages. Editorial teams at independent comparison sites view this as a structural response to player education: Canadian users now routinely model the effective value of an offer before claiming it.

Comparison hubs covering Canadian operators have tracked the migration of major brands toward these formats. Analysts treat the data as a useful proxy for which operators are willing to compete on transparent value rather than on headline numbers — a distinction that has become a meaningful differentiator in regulated Canadian markets.

Alberta’s July 13 launch reshapes the map

Alberta’s go-live date is now the most-watched item on the Canadian iGaming calendar. The province passed Bill 48, the iGaming Alberta Act, in May 2025, and amendments to the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Regulation followed in January 2026. The Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC) will act as regulator, while the newly formed Alberta iGaming Corporation (AiGC) will play the conduct-and-manage role iGaming Ontario performs in Ontario.

More than 30 operators have applied to enter the market, and at least 20 have already paid the C$150,000 application fee, according to public statements from Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally. JMP Securities estimated in 2024 that a fully regulated Alberta market could ultimately surpass C$700 million in annual revenue — a figure that would represent more than triple PlayAlberta’s 2025 net sales of C$275 million. Nally has publicly estimated that roughly 65% of current Alberta online gambling activity takes place on unregulated platforms; channelling that demand into a licensed environment is the stated policy goal.

The strategic playbook for 2026 and beyond

For operators, the playbook now reads roughly as follows: defend share in Ontario, prepare licensing applications for Alberta, and watch Quebec and British Columbia for early-stage policy signals. For affiliates and comparison platforms, the priority is producing localized, province-specific content — separate guides for Ontario, Alberta, and the rest-of-Canada market — rather than a single national page. For players, the consensus advice from analysts is straightforward: stick to operators licensed by AGCO in Ontario or AGLC in Alberta, verify the responsible-gambling tools each operator provides, and read bonus terms in full before depositing.

What makes 2026 different from prior years is that the market is no longer hypothetical. Ontario has proven the model both commercially and from a player-protection standpoint. Alberta is weeks away from validating that the framework is portable. And the consumer-facing innovation — no-wagering bonuses, faster withdrawals, more transparent terms — is no longer a marketing curiosity but the central battleground for player acquisition.

Final takeaways

The Canadian iGaming story for the next 18 months will be told in three numbers: Ontario’s full-year 2026 revenue total, Alberta’s first six months of licensed activity, and whatever channelization figure the country’s third commercial market eventually reports. Analyst models are already in place for all three. For readers tracking the consumer side, the cleaner takeaway is this: the Canadian online casino market is more regulated, more competitive, and more transparent than at any point in its history — and the players paying attention to terms and conditions are the ones extracting the most value from it.

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That Eric Alper

Eric Alper is a 6-time nominee for Publicist of the Year during Canadian Music Week and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 183 JUNO Award-nominated albums (and 16 in 2025), 45 Grammy-nominated albums, including 47 JUNO Award, 58 Canadian Folk Music Award, 126 Maple Blues Award-winning albums and is also truly honoured to work with some of the biggest and most important artists of our time.

Contact me: eric@thatericalper.com

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