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Talking Heads Unlock Their Origin Story With Sprawling New Collection ‘Tentative Decisions: Demos & Live’

Eric Alper
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Talking Heads Unlock Their Origin Story With Sprawling New Collection ‘Tentative Decisions: Demos & Live’

Before Sire Records, before Jerry Harrison, before any of it, there were three art school kids in New York City trying to figure out what they sounded like. ‘Tentative Decisions: Demos & Live’, out now from Talking Heads and Rhino, answers that question in full, collecting 15 previously unreleased CBS demos from September 1975 alongside more than a dozen unreleased live recordings from the band’s first two years, all presented across three CDs.

The collection traces the original trio of David Byrne, Chris Frantz, and Tina Weymouth from their earliest apartment recordings through two pivotal live shows: an October 1976 night at Max’s Kansas City in New York, recorded just weeks before they signed to Sire Records, and a January 1977 set at The Jabberwocky Club in Syracuse, one of the last performances before Jerry Harrison joined the band in March. The CBS demo session, recorded at Mark Spector’s request, preserved early versions of songs that would anchor the band’s first two albums, including “Don’t Worry About The Government,” “The Book I Read,” and “Stay Hungry.”

The collection also reaches back to The Artistics, the band Frantz and Byrne formed at the Rhode Island School of Design, where the earliest known recordings of “Psycho Killer” and “Warning Sign” were captured in 1974 at Frantz’s apartment on Benefit Street in Providence. A black-vinyl edition is also available now, including a 7-inch single featuring The Artistics’ 1974 recordings of both songs.

‘Tentative Decisions: Demos & Live’ Tracklist:

CD 1:

  1. Psycho Killer (September 1975 Demo)
  2. Tentative Decisions (September 1975 Demo)
  3. No Compassion (September 1975 Demo)
  4. Warning Sign (September 1975 Demo)
  5. I’m Not in Love (1976 Demo)
  6. Thank You For Sending Me An Angel (1976 Demo)
  7. The Book I Read (1976 Demo)
  8. I Wish You Wouldn’t Say That (1976 Demo)
  9. Love Goes To A Building On Fire (1976 Demo)
  10. Happy Day (1976 Demo)
  11. Artists Only (Live at the Lower Manhattan Ocean Club, New York, NY, 8/17/76)
  12. Psycho Killer – The Artistics
  13. Warning Sign – The Artistics

CD 2: CBS Demos (September 1975) [Previously Unreleased]

  1. Psycho Killer
  2. Sugar On My Tongue
  3. Thank You For Sending Me An Angel
  4. I Want To Live
  5. I Wish You Wouldn’t Say That
  6. The Girls Want To Be With The Girls
  7. Who Is It?
  8. With Our Love
  9. Stay Hungry
  10. Tentative Decisions
  11. Warning Sign
  12. I’m Not In Love
  13. The Book I Read
  14. Love Goes To A Building On Fire
  15. No Compassion

CD 3: Previously Unreleased Live Tracks

Take Me To The River [Live at the Lower Manhattan Ocean Club, New York, NY (8/17/76)]

Artists Only [Live at Max’s Kansas City, New York, NY (10/9/76)]

1, 2, 3 Red Light [Live at Max’s Kansas City, New York, NY (10/9/76)]

Happy Day [Live at Max’s Kansas City, New York, NY (10/9/76)]

Don’t Worry About The Government [Live at Max’s Kansas City, New York, NY (10/9/76)]

Psycho Killer [Live at Max’s Kansas City, New York, NY (10/9/76)]

Love Goes To A Building On Fire [Live at Max’s Kansas City, New York, NY (10/9/76)]

Thank You For Sending Me An Angel [Live at Max’s Kansas City, New York, NY (10/9/76)]

With Our Love [Live at Max’s Kansas City, New York, NY (10/9/76)]

Pablo Picasso [Live at Max’s Kansas City, New York, NY (10/9/76)]

I’m Not In Love [Live at Max’s Kansas City, New York, NY (10/9/76)]

No Compassion [Live at the Jabberwocky Club, Syracuse, NY (1/26/77)]

New Feeling [Live at the Jabberwocky Club, Syracuse, NY (1/26/77)]

Psycho Killer [Live at the Jabberwocky Club, Syracuse, NY (1/26/77)]

A Clean Break (Let’s Work) [Live at the Jabberwocky Club, Syracuse, NY (1/26/77)]

Sugar On My Tongue [Live at the Jabberwocky Club, Syracuse, NY (1/26/77)]

I Wish You Wouldn’t Say That [Live at the Lower Manhattan Ocean Club, New York, NY (8/17/76)]

NSYNC and Slipknot Collide in Wild Pop Metal Mashup by Bill McClintock

Eric Alper
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NSYNC and Slipknot Collide in Wild Pop Metal Mashup by Bill McClintock

Mashup wizard Bill McClintock collides NSYNC and Slipknot in one gloriously chaotic track that blends boy band power pop with crushing groove metal. The result sounds like a Dear John letter to the underworld, complete with unexpected hooks and riffs that somehow fit together perfectly. There is even a little Mötley Crüe mixed in, turning this wild experiment into a mashup that should not work, but absolutely does.


Toronto Jazz Musician Kubla Turns Daft Punk’s “Something About Us” Into a Smooth Late-Night Jazz Groove

Eric Alper
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Toronto Jazz Musician Kubla Turns Daft Punk’s “Something About Us” Into a Smooth Late-Night Jazz Groove

Toronto musician Kubla and bandmates Christian Antonacci, Cameron “Tink” Tinklenberg, Damian Matthew, and Austin Gembora reimagine Daft Punk’s “Something About Us” as a warm, late-night jazz groove. Fuzzy guitar lines, soulful vocals, and expressive trumpet transform the Discovery-era classic into something smoky and intimate. It is a fresh take on one of Daft Punk’s most beloved songs, showing how great songwriting moves effortlessly across genres.


Genesis Soundcheck Footage From “The Way We Walk” Tour

Eric Alper
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Genesis Soundcheck Footage From “The Way We Walk” Tour

A fan-shot home video captures Genesis on “The Way We Walk” Tour, the massive early 1990s run that followed the success of the ‘We Can’t Dance’ era and filled arenas around the world. Fronted by Phil Collins with Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford, the band delivered a set blending new hits with classics like “Land of Confusion,” “Invisible Touch,” and “I Can’t Dance.” The tour was later documented on the live albums and concert film ‘The Way We Walk,’ preserving one of Genesis’ biggest touring moments.



Singer-Songwriter Gus Englehorn Hits the Road With Holy Fuck Ahead of Debut Album ‘The Broken Balladeer’

Eric Alper
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Singer-Songwriter Gus Englehorn Hits the Road With Holy Fuck Ahead of Debut Album ‘The Broken Balladeer’

Gus Englehorn has a full spring mapped out. The singer-songwriter shares new single and video “Better Watch Your Step,” the latest preview of his debut album ‘The Broken Balladeer’, out February 27, while announcing an extensive tour that runs from Quebec through Europe and back across North America with Holy Fuck.

After album launch shows at Montreal’s La Sotterenea and Quebec City’s L’Anti, Englehorn heads to SXSW before a run of European dates in Germany and the Netherlands. He returns to North America in April to join Holy Fuck across 19 dates, hitting Lee’s Palace in Toronto, Sala Rossa in Montreal, Elsewhere in Brooklyn, Space Ballroom in Somerville, and Schuba’s in Chicago, among others. Tickets are on sale now.

2026 Tour Dates:

March 5: La Sotterenea, Montreal, QC

March 6: L’Anti, Quebec City, QC

March 12–18: SXSW, Austin, TX

March 20: Noch Besser Leben, Leipzig, DE

March 26: Blauer Salon, Tübingen, DE

March 27: Altes Volksbad, Mannheim, DE

April 1: Hafenklang, Hamburg, DE

April 2: V11, Rotterdam, NL

April 8: Lee’s Palace, Toronto, ON (with Holy Fuck)

April 9: Sala Rossa, Montreal, QC (with Holy Fuck)

April 10: Tubby’s, Kingston, NY (with Holy Fuck)

April 11: Space Ballroom, Hamden, CT (with Holy Fuck)

April 12: The Rockwell, Somerville, MA (with Holy Fuck)

April 14: Elsewhere Z1, Brooklyn, NY (with Holy Fuck)

April 15: Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia, PA (with Holy Fuck)

April 16: Pearl Street Warehouse, Washington, DC (with Holy Fuck)

April 17: Kings, Raleigh, NC (with Holy Fuck)

April 18: Eastside Bowl, Nashville, TN (with Holy Fuck)

April 19: The Earl, Atlanta, GA (with Holy Fuck)

April 20: Eulogy, Asheville, NC (with Holy Fuck)

April 21: Hi-Fi, Indianapolis, IN (with Holy Fuck)

April 22: Schuba’s, Chicago, IL (with Holy Fuck)

April 23: Turf Club, St. Paul, MN (with Holy Fuck)

April 24: X-Ray Arcade, Milwaukee, WI (with Holy Fuck)

April 25: Brachland Ballroom and Tavern, Cleveland, OH (with Holy Fuck)

April 26: Loving Touch, Detroit, MI (with Holy Fuck)

Def Jam Recordings China Launches in Chengdu, the Beating Heart of Chinese Hip-Hop

Eric Alper
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Def Jam Recordings China Launches in Chengdu, the Beating Heart of Chinese Hip-Hop

One of the most storied names in hip-hop history just planted its flag in China. Universal Music Greater China has officially launched Def Jam Recordings China in Chengdu, widely recognized as the capital of Chinese hip-hop, marking a significant expansion of the label’s global footprint and a major new chapter for urban music in the region.

The launch comes with a clear creative direction. Def Jam Recordings China will focus on Guofeng Hip-hop, a genre that draws from Chinese language, cultural references, and storytelling traditions while engaging with modern production and global music trends. The label is partnering with Migu, a leading digital content platform under China Mobile with over 160 million users, on content development, talent discovery, marketing, distribution, live performances, and street culture-driven merchandise.

Three acclaimed Chinese rappers have been named Special Guest Curators: Xie Di, Yitai Wang, and Deng Dianguo “DDG.” Their role is to identify, mentor, and spotlight emerging voices from across China, feeding new talent directly into the Def Jam Recordings China ecosystem. The launch event took place at Eastern Suburb Memory in Chengdu, a landmark cultural district built from transformed industrial heritage.

“Def Jam has always been built around dynamic voices,” says Tunji Balogun, Chairman and CEO of Def Jam Recordings. “The goal is not to copy what’s worked elsewhere, but to support Chinese artists in defining hip-hop on their own terms.” UMG Executive Vice President Adam Granite and Universal Music Greater China Chairman Timothy Xu echoed that commitment, emphasizing global pathways for artists who remain rooted in local culture.

Founded in 1984 in downtown New York, Def Jam built its legacy through LL Cool J, Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Rihanna, and Kanye West. The China launch is the label’s most ambitious geographic expansion in years, and Chengdu, with its organic hip-hop community and thriving live music ecosystem, is exactly the right place to start.

Swedish Extreme Metal Destroyers Humanity’s Last Breath Drop Crushing New Single “Godhood”

Eric Alper
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Swedish Extreme Metal Destroyers Humanity’s Last Breath Drop Crushing New Single “Godhood”

Fresh off a sold-out European run with Lorna Shore, Humanity’s Last Breath show no signs of easing up. The Swedish extreme metal outfit releases “Godhood” alongside a dystopian video by Riivata Visuals, another calculated strike from a band that has spent over a decade pushing the outer limits of heaviness.

“Godhood” lands exactly where you’d expect from a group built on aural dissonance and maximum sonic weight. Dense, crushing, and relentless, the track adds another strong entry to a catalog that keeps raising its own bar. The dystopian visual treatment from Riivata Visuals matches the music’s intensity without trying to overshadow it.

Humanity’s Last Breath was founded by guitarist and producer Buster Odeholm, who also plays with Swedish progressive metal legends Vildhjarta and drums with metalcore standard-setters Thrown, alongside vocalist Filip Danielsson. The band’s approach to heaviness is architectural, building walls of sound that feel genuinely immersive rather than simply loud.

“Godhood” follows recently released single “Anthracite,” continuing a run of new material that signals something significant is building. Two strong singles in quick succession from a band of this caliber means more is coming, and that anticipation is fully warranted.

East Coast Hardcore-Gazers Negative Love Make a Striking Entrance With Self-Titled Debut EP

Eric Alper
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East Coast Hardcore-Gazers Negative Love Make a Striking Entrance With Self-Titled Debut EP

Five tracks and a fully formed identity. Negative Love’s self-titled debut EP is out now on Static Era Records, and it announces a band that already knows exactly what it wants to sound like.

Produced by vocalist Brendan Williams, the EP sits at the intersection of hardcore, alternative rock, and shoegaze, moving fluidly between aggression and atmosphere without losing its footing in either direction. Vocals stretch from raging to floaty, heavy riffs dissolve into fuzzed-out swirls, and pockets of experimental ambience pull the whole thing into genuinely dreamlike territory. It’s a broad sonic palette handled with real confidence for a debut release.

Formed from members across New York, Connecticut, and Maryland, Negative Love brings together Brendan Williams on vocals, Mitch Olshansky and Chris Marchesseault on guitar, Kevin McCauley on drums, and Peter Bruno on bass and vocals. The five-piece hit hard and cohesive on this first outing, with each track shifting the emotional register just enough to keep the listener fully engaged.

The Negative Love EP is out now through Static Era Records.

German Thrash Metal Icons Kreator Unleash Ferocious 16th Album ‘Krushers Of The World’

Eric Alper
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German Thrash Metal Icons Kreator Unleash Ferocious 16th Album ‘Krushers Of The World’

Sixteen albums in, and Kreator still hit harder than most bands manage on their first. ‘Krushers Of The World’ is out now, produced by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios, the same partnership that delivered ‘Phantom Antichrist’ and ‘Gods Of Violence’, and the result is the most massive-sounding record of their catalog.

The ten-track album opens with the rabid aggression of “Seven Serpents” and never lets up. “Barbarian,” “Deathscream,” and “Psychotic Imperator” showcase Sami Yli-Sirniö’s majestic lead work alongside some of Ventor’s fastest drumming on record. The title track and “Satanic Anarchy” bring monumental mid-tempo groove, giving bassist Frédéric Leclercq room to dominate. “Tränenpalast” pays tribute to Dario Argento’s Suspiria, with Britta Görtz of Hiraes adding a vicious vocal layer over dark, hook-driven melodies.

The album cover, created by Zbigniew Bielak (Ghost), weaves classic Kreator visual trademarks from ‘Coma Of Souls’, ‘Out of the Dark… into the Light’, and ‘Pleasure To Kill’ into a richly detailed, occult-laden tapestry. It’s one of the most striking pieces of metal art in recent memory, and it rewards a long look.

The official music video for “Krushers Of The World” is out now, set in a post-apocalyptic Berlin with themes that feel as urgent as anything the band has put to film. “Hordes! Krushers Of The World is yours now,” says frontman Mille Petrozza. “We hope you will enjoy it as much as we do. See you on tour.”

The Krushers Of The USA Tour runs through May with Carcass and Cold Steel, hitting 13 dates including Welcome to Rockville, Sonic Temple, Maryland Deathfest, and First Avenue in Minneapolis.

‘Krushers Of The World’ Tracklist:

  1. Seven Serpents
  1. Satanic Anarchy
  1. Krushers Of The World
  1. Tränenpalast
  1. Barbarian
  1. Blood Of Our Blood
  1. Combatants
  1. Psychotic Imperator
  1. Deathscream
  1. Loyal To The Grave

Krushers Of The USA Tour 2026 (with Carcass and Cold Steel):

May 7: Revolution Live, Fort Lauderdale, FL

May 8: Welcome to Rockville, Daytona Beach, FL

May 10: The Masquerade, Atlanta, GA

May 11: The Mill & Mine, Knoxville, TN

May 12: The Ritz, Raleigh, NC

May 14: Palladium, Worcester, MA

May 15: Roxian Theatre, McKees Rocks, PA

May 16: Sonic Temple, Columbus, OH

May 18: Capitol Theatre, Davenport, IA

May 19: First Avenue, Minneapolis, MN

May 20: Romova Theatre, Chicago, IL

May 22: Paramount, Huntington, NY

May 23: Maryland Deathfest, Baltimore, MD

Singer-Songwriter Jann Klose Hits the Road in 2026 With New Album on the Way

Eric Alper
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0
Singer-Songwriter Jann Klose Hits the Road in 2026 With New Album on the Way

Jann Klose is moving. The globe-trotting singer-songwriter has an extensive run of 2026 tour dates locked in across the U.S. and UK, with stops ranging from intimate house concerts to storied New York stages. The dates support his eighth studio album, due in June, and the momentum behind this run is real.

The upcoming album reunites Klose with producer Marcus Dembinski, who helmed his acclaimed ‘Surrender’ record. The guest list is striking: Everett Bradley (Bon Jovi, Seal), Marcella Detroit (Shakespears Sister, Eric Clapton), Rachel Flowers (Dweezil Zappa), and Alphonso Horne of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert are all confirmed contributors, with more names still to come.

Meanwhile, Klose’s latest single “When I’m With You” has cleared 150,000 views on YouTube. The video, directed by Sam Casey and shot entirely in stop motion on location in New York City, is a genuine visual achievement that matches the craft of the music itself.

The tour runs through September, hitting Fort Myers, London, Port Washington, Youngstown, two nights at The Bitter End in New York, The Sellersville Theater in Pennsylvania with Craig Thatcher, and house concerts in Orleans and Shrewsbury, MA. It’s a deliberately curated routing that prioritizes connection over volume.

2026 Tour Dates:

March 15: House Concert, Fort Myers, FL

April 17: One Marylebone, London, UK

May 10: Port Washington Public Library, Port Washington, NY

May 25: House Concert, Youngstown, OH

May 29: Private Event, New York, NY

May 30: The Bitter End, New York, NY

May 31: The Bitter End, New York, NY

June 6: The Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA (with Craig Thatcher)

September 26: Brick Hill House Concerts, Orleans, MA

September 27: House Concert, Shrewsbury, MA

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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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