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Martha and the Muffins Set To Release First New Album in 11 Years with New Single “Do You Ever Wonder”

Eric Alper
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Martha and the Muffins Set To Release First New Album in 11 Years with New Single “Do You Ever Wonder”

Described as “one of the most innovative of their era,” iconic Canadian artists Martha and the Muffins have announced the release of their new album, Marthology: In and Outtakes — available November 5th.

Groundbreaking from the start, Martha and the Muffins formed during the early days of Toronto’s punk / new wave / art pop scene in 1977. They were the first Canadian band to sign to a UK label, recording their debut, Metro Music, at England’s The Manor Studio, and would go on to tour and receive more than three decades worth of critical acclaim worldwide.

Since then, the band has released seven studio albums, three of which they co-produced with Daniel Lanois (U2/Peter Gabriel). The songs they worked on together included the groundbreaking singles “Women Around The World At Work”, “Danseparc”, “Black Stations White Stations”, “Come Out And Dance” and “Cooling The Medium”. Martha Johnson and Mark Gane, founding members of Martha and the Muffins, have gone into their extensive archives to select 12 rare singles, B-sides and unreleased tracks for ‘Marthology: In And Outtakes’.

‘Marthology: In And Outtakes’ spans 35 years of recordings including previously limited releases of “Summer Of Song,” “Big Day,” and “Do You Ever Wonder,” as well as the 30th anniversary version of JUNO-winning single, “Echo Beach,” as well as never heard before songs and alternative versions of album cuts.

For the band’s global audience as well as the uninitiated, ‘Marthology: In And Outtakes’, offers a behind the scenes glimpse of the original and diverse avenues of Martha and Mark’s songwriting which has defined Martha and the Muffins as a groundbreaking band since it’s formation.

Marthology: In and Outtakes is available November 5th, 2021.

Marthology: The In and Outtakes Track Listing

“On A Silent Summer Evening”
“Summer Of Song”
“Do You Ever Wonder?”
“Act Like A Woman”
“Don’t Monkey With My Love”
“Talking Through My Hat”
“Big Day”
“There Comes A Day”
“Fighting The Monster (Alt. Version)”
“Resurrection”
“Delicate”
“Echo Beach (30th Anniversary Version)”

Singer-Songwriter Mike Green Unveils Living Room Session EP with “No One’s Gonna Love You Like I Do”

Eric Alper
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Singer-Songwriter Mike Green Unveils Living Room Session EP with “No One’s Gonna Love You Like I Do”

Two acoustic guitars (one plugged in, one not), some smooth but earnest vocals, and one cozy living room is all Mike Green, and his longtime friend, Tim Palmieri (Lotus, Kung Fu), needed to create the new single, “No One’s Gonna Love You Like I Do” — available now.

The first single from their Living Room Session EP, the song tells the story of a guy who knows he’s not the girl’s type, but he’s going to pursue her anyway and give it all he’s got. The rhythm is steady and, at times, passionately emphatic — and Palmieri adds some deft fingerpicking and beautiful wailing notes. The bridge alternates between exuberance and lament, and the song ends on the slow and full-hearted declaration, “Somehow…we’ll figure it all out…no one’s gonna love you like I do.”

Mike Green and Tim Palmieri grew up together in Connecticut on a street named Cosey Beach Avenue, and Palmieri had always been a guitar hero of Green’s. “We’ve known each other so long we’re essentially brothers,” Green said. They had collaborated together on a few occasions, but usually they were both seeing family and couldn’t find the time to play seriously together and record.

Recently, however, this time was different.

“This felt emotional because it was filmed in my childhood home, with my family who I was visiting, on the other side of the camera, watching from across the room,” Green said. “Anyone in this room at the time of this recording is someone I have not seen in almost two years due to the pandemic. It’s been just as long since I’ve had someone performing by my side.”

Ironically, the first time Palmieri ever heard Green perform was in that same room — with an eight-year-old Green singing “Rocky Racoon.” “We have both grown so much individually as performers, musicians and travelers, to come full circle and be reunited for this performance really aligned us with our roots again,” Green said.

It was great to be together again with family and friends, having some wonderful laughs along with wine and cheese. The only obstacle, though, was Palmieri’s guitar, which was a semi-hollow body acoustic that didn’t project enough for the room mic. They didn’t have time to borrow another guitar, but they realized Palmieri could plug in, so Green found an old, beat-up amp he had in the attic that didn’t even have a power button and that had to be pressed in with a pen or a cable. It crackled a bit, and then, hallelujah, it worked.

They recorded each song back to back in one take, without rehearsing first. “I wanted to keep these songs simple and stripped down,” Green said. “There aren’t any effects or glamour. Two guitars, two hearts.” “No One’s Gonna Love You Like I Do” originally appeared on Green’s self-produced debut album Restart, and the original was a bit cheerier. “It was fun to try out a more chill version of it,” Green said.

Green is a Berklee College of Music grad, and is now a sought-after L.A. session player and singer, and has performed in front of renowned artists such as Mick Jagger, John C. Reilly, Wyclef Jean, Maroon 5, and Jamie Cullum.

“No One’s Gonna Love You Like I Do,” and his Living Room Session EP with Tim Palmieri, are available now.

Veteran Recording Artist JOHN AULABAUGH Utilizes Sonic Expertise For “Sweet as You” Album

Eric Alper
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Veteran Recording Artist JOHN AULABAUGH Utilizes Sonic Expertise For “Sweet as You” Album

In his most personal work to date — and a dynamic and layered fusion of his signature Americana sound and anything-but-conventional classic rock sensibilities — Champaign, Illinois veteran recording artist John Aulabaugh’s fourth studio album, Sweet As You, has arrived.

Aulabaugh’s creative vision for the release is realized with musical collaborations with artists encountered throughout his songwriting career; Sweet as You began taking shape in the final months of 2016 after working on his first solo album with long-time studio musician and master session keyboardist Rami Jaffee (Wallflowers, Foo Fighters, Sound City Players).

The overall musical texture of Sweet as You was informed by meticulous attention to rhythmic detail and the use of the fabled recording space New Monkey Studios in Los Angeles, California. The studio of legendary Elliot Smith was a playground for musical creations, with Aulabaugh attesting the “console is a rare Trident used on Rush albums back in the day” and that they “were seeking out the ghosts in the machine.”

The decision to record Sweet as You all-analog was a cumbersome test of mettle for the all-star cast of sound engineers and musicians. A process that was two years in the making had finally reached the stage where the album’s tracks could be laid down over the five-day recording period; the final embellishments on Sweet as You were added in the renowned Jackpot! Recording Studio in Portland, Oregon, soon after.

From there, Aulabaugh sought out Australian comic book artist Daniel Reed to create the cover art for the album, knowing he would effectively communicate all of the harmonic subtleties of the music through Reed’s striking visual style.

John Aulabaugh came from humble beginnings. He played his brother’s guitar throughout the Illinois area until the early ’80s until he eventually gave up music entirely to settle in corporate America. Inevitably he picked up his guitar again sometime later and began recording with some of the most accomplished musicians in the business; his journey has been anything but simple. Finding a renewed sense of creative purpose, he decided that the time was right to pursue his dream of putting together his debut record, Of Sins Past & Present, which spent 20 weeks on the US Americana chart in 2015, and has been on fire ever since.

John Aulabaugh’s album, Sweet as You, and his new single, “A Reason,” are available now.

Seattle Duo THE NYLON ADMIRALS Defy Norms With Dramatic Electronic/Orchestral Fusion in “Morgunsár”

Eric Alper
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Seattle Duo THE NYLON ADMIRALS Defy Norms With Dramatic Electronic/Orchestral Fusion in “Morgunsár”

The Nylon Admirals are at the helm of the ship of life, ready to grab it by the wheel and sail through the stormy darkness and back into the light. That is the feeling instilled by the cinematic mood of their new single, “Morgunsár,” as it shepherds the listener from a dark, dramatic beginning through several distinct themes — all towards a bright, upbeat climax.

Blending pounding rhythms, ethereal vocals, hypnotic guitar riffs, and tension building strings, “Morgunsár” has everything necessary to at least be a profound hype track, if not an excellent cinematic feature. Available now, the song makes it easy to see why The Nylon Admirals describe their sound as “electronic music for thrill seekers.”

Titled with an Icelandic word that translates literally as “morning scar,” “Morgunsár” also represents The Nylon Admirals’ return to recording after a health issue forced an extended break for most of 2021.

Aptly, the song is a reflection on the struggle from darkness back into light — a light at the end of the tunnel — whether personal or societal. With that sort of commitment and resolve, it feels as if The Nylon Admirals may have already earned their stripes.

The Nylon Admirals are a Seattle-based instrumental act, creating an exciting and eclectic blend of electronic, acoustic, orchestral, and choral elements fused with Breakbeat and Taiko rhythms. Formed in 2019, this group’s specific mission has been to inject the drama and richness of cinematic music into an often tepid modern electronica scene. Citing such influences as legendary British multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield, Hans Zimmer, and Björk, it’s easy to see where the Nylon Admirals got such a driving and impactful timbre for their productions.

“Morgunsár” hardly stands alone in its epic magnitude among the duo’s additional offerings; other notable works include “Sono Binario,” a unique opera / chiptune mashup, and their big beat / orchestral cover of the Soundgarden classic “Black Hole Sun,” featuring a vocal performance by digital pop star, Hatsune Miku.

“Morgunsár” is available now.

Pete Townshend & Roger Daltrey: ‘The Who Sell Out’ Released in 1967 and Their Legacy

Eric Alper
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Pete Townshend & Roger Daltrey: ‘The Who Sell Out’ Released in 1967 and Their Legacy

The legendary guitarist of The Who, Pete Townshend connects with Zane Lowe to reflect on the band’s third studio album ‘The Who Sell Out’ which propelled their career back in 1967. Celebrating the deluxe version of this standout record, Pete Townshend talks about the storytelling throughout this concept album, influencing how other musicians approached their sound, and moments that shaped The Who’s legacy. Roger Daltrey also reflects on creating the record, his involvement with the Teenage Cancer Trust charity in the UK, and motivation for the band’s future. Listen to The Who on Apple Music: http://apple.co/_TheWho

New Dave Gahan & Soulsavers Album IMPOSTER to be Released November 12th

Eric Alper
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New Dave Gahan & Soulsavers Album IMPOSTER to be Released November 12th

Multi-platinum selling, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted recording artist and songwriter Dave Gahan, along with long time musical partner Soulsavers (Rich Machin), will release a new album on November 12th. Entitled Imposter, Dave takes listeners on a personal journey of 12 meticulously chosen reimagined songs from across genres and time periods, including selections from Neil Young, Bob Dylan, PJ Harvey, Charlie Chaplin, Cat Power and Mark Lanegan, amongst others.

One would be remiss to refer to Imposter as a cover album. Rather, Imposter is a story of songs, which Dave Gahan & Soulsavers listened to, studied, absorbed, and gave a new life. All of the songs have deep meaning to Dave, making Imposter a reflection of Dave’s life – a story told by others, but in his own distinct voice.

“When I listen to other people’s voices and songs—more importantly the way they sing them and interpret the words—I feel at home,” Dave Gahan confesses. “I identify with it. It comforts me more than anything else. There’s not one performer on the record who I haven’t been moved by.” He adds, “I know we made something special, and I hope other people feel that and it takes them on a little kind of trip—especially people who love music and have for years.”

The first offering from Imposter will be “Metal Heart.” Written by Chan Marshall (Cat Power), and first released in 1998, the reimagined version from Dave & Soulsavers will drop on October 8th.

Imposter track listing:

  1. The Dark End of the Street
  2. Strange Religion
  3. Lilac Wine
  4. I Held My Baby Last Night
  5. A Man Needs a Maid
  6. Metal Heart
  7. Shut Me Down
  8. Where My Love Lies Asleep
  9. Smile
  10. The Desperate Kingdom of Love
  11. Not Dark Yet
  12. Always On My Mind

Unlike Dave Gahan & Soulsavers’ past albums which were transatlantic collaborations where the duo recorded separately and passed parts back and forth, the recording of Imposter was done live as a ten-member band at the famed Shangri-La Recording Studio in Malibu, CA in November of 2019. This allowed for not only a more intimate collaboration, but for Dave & Soulsavers to truly absorb the atmosphere and have the space to breathe a different spirit into the tracks. In an interview with podcaster and media personality Chris Black, Dave noted, “This was the first time we were all in one space. It was kind of lucky [timing] as well… Arriving at Shangri-La every day, it was magical. We’d have coffee, go in, and work.”

Imposter, also produced by Rich Machin and Dave Gahan, serves as the collaborators’ third album, following their critically acclaimed 2015 release Angels & Ghosts and their first release, 2012’s The Light the Dead See. The album will be released in digital, as well as physical formats, worldwide on November 12th through Columbia Records.

Visit www.DaveGahan.com and Instagram.com/theimposter for additional album information and updates.

The Who’s Roger Daltrey Introduces “The Real Me” Podcast From Pantheon and Teen Cancer America

Eric Alper
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The Who’s Roger Daltrey Introduces “The Real Me” Podcast From Pantheon and Teen Cancer America

“The Real Me,” a new production from Pantheon Podcasts premiering Tuesday, Oct. 5, follows the emotionally powerful stories of young songwriters and performers with cancer who found hope, healing and connection through music.

 

Presented by Teen Cancer America (TCA), the national non-profit founded by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who, “The Real Me” highlights the moving experiences of cancer patients in TCA’s Play It Back program, which matches them with music professionals to write, perform and record fully produced studio versions of their original songs.

“Music is in the DNA of our charity,” said Daltrey, whose familiar voice opens and closes each podcast episode. “Its therapeutic benefit to young people going through cancer is indisputable.”

Based in Los Angeles, TCA funds and develops specialized facilities and services for adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients. The Play it Back program has attracted the participation of Grammy award-winning pop group Portugal. The Man and five-time BMI Songwriter of the Year, Benny Blanco, whose collaborations include hits written and produced with Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Rhianna, Maroon 5, Halsey, Katy Perry, Kanye West, The Weeknd, Selena Gomez and others.

“The Real Me,” named for The Who’s 1974 hit song, is hosted by singer/songwriter Erin Alden and produced by Pantheon’s Christian Swain. Songwriter, performer and producer Kenli Mattus, music director for Play it Back, is featured on air helping each artist share their inspiring story.

“Pantheon Podcasts is very excited to be working with Teen Cancer America to fulfill the vision of Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend,” said Swain. “‘The Real Me’ podcast achieves a balance that makes these authentic stories so powerful – full of joy, sometimes sad, but always uplifting as we hear these young people find their wings and fly. It’s a privilege to share the journey with them.”

The debut episode features Juan Carlos “JC” Razuri, a Los Angeles native who was diagnosed with lymphoma while in high school. An active musician, JC was looking forward to pursuing music in college when life as he knew it suddenly changed. Through Play it Back, music helped him persevere during treatment. He recalls his first “a-ha” moment working on a song with Mattus, inspired while improvising on a violin, feeling the exhilaration of the creative process.

“It is extraordinary to hear these first-person accounts and to understand how important a program like Play it Back is to a young person facing a life-threatening situation,” said Simon Davies, Executive Director of Teen Cancer America. “We’re extremely grateful to the artists who donate their time and passion for music to the program.”

Beginning Oct. 5, “The Real Me” will be available at TeenCancerAmerica.org and on Amazon, Apple, Google, iHeart, Spotify, Stitcher and other podcast platforms.

Sonic Reducers: You Might Be Able To Buy Stock In Your Favorite Song

Eric Alper
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Sonic Reducers: You Might Be Able To Buy Stock In Your Favorite Song

Sonic Reducers. 1 topic. 2 music nerds. 5 minutes.

We talk about the opportunity to buy shares in your favorite song, and debate whether it’s a great idea or a new way for the music industry to fleece the fans.

Fender Has Re-Launched Kurt Cobain’s Jag-Stang Guitar

Eric Alper
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Fender Has Re-Launched Kurt Cobain’s Jag-Stang Guitar

Few artists in music history can be credited with changing the industry nearly overnight and continuing to influence music culture three decades after the height of their popularity. Kurt Cobain and his bandmates in Nirvana appeared on the scene in the early ‘90s as generational talents who combined raucous, heavy tones, punk-infused energy and melodic hooks to create a sound that quickly attracted millions of fans and established grunge and alternative rock as a genre with legitimate mainstream appeal.

Although Kurt was seen playing a variety of Fender guitars over the years, his Fender Jaguar and Mustang remain the most iconic due to their use on the “Nevermind” tour and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” music video. Kurt designed the Jag-Stang to combine his favorite elements of both instruments and brought it to life with help from the Fender Custom Shop in 1993.

Commemorating the 30th anniversary of Nirvana’s seminal record “Nevermind,” this Jag-Stang comes equipped with the same features that made it Kurt’s ideal instrument. The alder body delivers a punchy tone perfect for big power chords, the 24” short-scale reduces string tension for easier playing, and the 7.25” radius rosewood fingerboard with maple neck has a comfortable feel that won’t fatigue your hands when chording. The vintage-style single-coil and custom humbucking pickups are perfect for recreating Kurt’s classic tones, while the Mustang slider switches provide the flexibility to dial in four distinct settings for a variety of in or out-of-phase tones.

You can get it here, perfect timing for the holidaze.

Neil Young and Crazy Horse New Album ‘Barn’ Out December 10

Eric Alper
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Neil Young and Crazy Horse New Album ‘Barn’ Out December 10

Neil Young & Crazy Horse’s new album BARN will be released December 10th, 2021 on Reprise Records, their longtime home since the beginning. The band’s debut album EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS NOWHERE came out in May 1969. Today, Crazy Horse features Ralph Molina on drums, Billy Talbot on electric bass and multi-instrumentalist Nils Lofgren. Lofgren, a founding member of the Horse, played on Tonight’s The Night, After The Gold Rush and Trans.

10 new songs that capture the raw, idiosyncratic rock and roll spirit and lyrical beauty that epitomizes a classic NYCH collaboration. Recorded this summer under a full moon, in a restored off-grid 19th century barn high up in the Rockies, the Horse was right at home and the album’s stunning love songs, reflective ballads and powerhouse rockers naturally burst into life.

Produced by The Volume Dealers – Neil Young and Niko Bolas, the album will be released on vinyl, CD, cassette, and digitally, including hi-res audio on Neil Young Archives (NYA). There will also be a deluxe edition that will include the LP, CD, and Blu-ray film.

The film of the same title – BARN captures this legendary band in their element – in the wild, their easy humor, their brotherhood, their humanity, and of course, the music, live, recorded in their unique spontaneous way. A Blu-ray of the film directed by Daryl Hannah, will be available as a stand-alone release.

Six behind-the-scenes photos will be included with the LPs sold at The Greedy Hand Store at NYA and at independent record stores! The photos will also be included in all deluxe box sets. All Greedy Hand Store purchases of BARN (LP, CD, cassette, deluxe boxset) come with a free hi-res digital audio download from the Xstream Store © at NYA.

BARN Tracklisting:
1. Song of the Seasons
2. Heading West
3. Change Ain’t Never Gonna
4. Canerican
5. Shape of You
6. They Might Be Lost
7. Human Race
8. Tumblin’ Thru the Years
9. Welcome Back
10. Don’t Forget Love

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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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