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Pisgah Announces Second Album ‘Faultlines’ Balancing Indie Rock and Emotional Confession

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Pisgah, the solo project of London-based American singer-songwriter Brittney Jenkins, announces the release of her second full-length album, ‘Faultlines’. The record follows her acclaimed 2022 debut, ‘Call Louder for Me When You Call’, and marks a bold artistic leap forward by balancing shimmering indie rock textures with deeply personal songwriting. Blending the introspective lyricism of Julia Jacklin and Ex:Re with the raw emotional weight of Big Thief and Indigo de Souza, ‘Faultlines’ stands as an emotionally unflinching meditation on generational trauma, loss, and the subtle fault lines that shape who we ultimately become.

‘Faultlines’ was written and recorded by Jenkins in her home studio and co-produced, mixed, and mastered by Dan Duszynski. Across eight tracks, Jenkins expertly weaves together reflective storytelling and evocative sonic landscapes that range from euphoric electric guitar layers to stark, haunting minimalism. The album draws inspiration from a wide constellation of sources, including mythic figures like Hecate, the quiet devastation of Aimee Mann, and visual artists like Francesca Woodman. Her academic background in art history even led her to create a moodboard before recording, a juxtaposition of shadow and light that perfectly mirrors the record’s duality.

Jenkins explains that the album “explores where fault lies when our relationships, with others and with ourselves, break down completely.” The final cover image, taken on the north shore of Utah’s Great Salt Lake, beautifully captures the record’s essence: transformation through turbulence. The music, which sits at the crossroads of alternative rock, indie folk, and dream pop, is both intimate yet cinematic, fragile yet fierce. With ‘Faultlines’, Jenkins refines her vision, expanding her sonic palette and deepening her lyrical focus, delivering a compelling musical statement.

ABSTRACTED Unveils Massive New Progressive Single “Axis” From Upcoming Album ‘Hiraeth’

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Brazilian extreme progressive metal group ABSTRACTED has returned with their second single, the over nine-minute odyssey “Axis,” from their forthcoming album, ‘Hiraeth’. The band is “super stoked” to present the new single, which they feel combines all the moods they try to bring as a group—a long, heavy, and bold piece of music. The release is accompanied by a new music video filmed during their return to the stages in São Paulo, Brazil. Fans should also remember their premiere single, “Languish,” which features Chaney Crabb from Entheos, as both tracks will be featured on the new album.

The two singles showcase the impressive diversity and ability of the group. While “Languish” highlighted the group’s more extreme tendencies, channeling deathcore and djent influence with a brash and aggressive sound, “Axis” displays a profound progressive odyssey. This over nine-minute track features rich peaks and valleys that celebrate the group’s atmospheric, melodic, and instrumental prowess, marking something truly inspiring in its workout of notes and emotions. ‘Hiraeth’, the follow-up to 2022’s ‘Atma Conflux’, is set for a February 20th release on CD and digital via M-Theory Audio.

Why ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ Is The Most Important Holiday Soundtrack of All Time (And How Vince Guaraldi Quietly Changed Everything)

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There are holiday albums, there are holiday classics, and then there is Vince Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas — the cozy, melancholic, jazz-soaked blanket that somehow makes the world feel both brighter and more reflective. It’s a soundtrack wrapped in brushed cymbals and children’s choir harmonies. And yes, Charles Schulz had to fight for it. Television executives thought jazz was “too adult,” “too sad,” and “too sophisticated” for a kids’ special. Schulz believed the opposite: that jazz captured the honest emotional lives of children better than any cartoon jingle could.

So Guaraldi sat down at the piano, and the world quietly shifted. Here are ten ways this little soundtrack transformed holiday music, jazz, television, and the entire emotional range of December.

  1. Jazz in a children’s special? Unthinkable at the time. Guaraldi didn’t just introduce jazz to kids — he made them love it.
  2. It dared to show emotions beyond “merry and bright.” “Christmas Time Is Here” proved holiday music could be tender, wistful, even a little sad.
  3. The soundtrack became the narrator. Guaraldi’s music isn’t background — it’s the heartbeat of the story.
  4. It brought small-combo jazz into mainstream living rooms. Millions heard jazz chords for the first time without even realizing it.
  5. It created one of the most recognizable sonic identities ever. Two seconds of “Linus and Lucy” and everyone knows exactly what month it is.
  6. It reinvented Christmas music as something soft, introspective and emotionally layered.
  7. It launched an entirely new December vibe — the warm, subtle, cozy-jazz aesthetic dominating holiday playlists today.
  8. It proved instrumental holiday albums could be commercial hits, despite zero sleigh bells screaming for attention.
  9. It became a gateway drug to jazz. Ask musicians what first pulled them in — many say this album.
  10. It permanently embedded jazz into the cultural fabric of Christmas, without asking permission.

TV executives wanted generic cheer. Schulz wanted truth. They worried jazz was “too sad.” Schulz knew kids felt everything — joy, longing, hope, loneliness, the Big Questions.

And Guaraldi could score all of it.

So Schulz fought, Guaraldi played, and a miracle landed on television screens in 1965.

The result?

The most important holiday soundtrack of all time.

Not because it’s the biggest.

But because it told the truth — softly, beautifully, honestly — at a time of year when we all need a little honesty.

Cue the first piano notes. December has officially begun.

HBO’s New ‘Music Box’ Documentary Explores Underestimated World of Children’s Music

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The HBO Original documentary Music Box: Happy and You Know It, part of the new installment of the Music Box series created by Bill Simmons, will debut on Thursday, December 25th at 9 pm ET/PT on HBO and HBO Max. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Penny Lane, the film explores the underestimated and wildly popular genre of children’s music, a world terminally uncool to adults yet adored by kids. It delves behind the scenes to tell the origin stories of some of the top names in the field, while also tracing the evolution of this prolific business and examining how advancements in technology and AI are turbo-charging the genre.

The documentary features a colorful and charming cast of musicians, reframing children’s music as a misunderstood yet vital cultural art form that profoundly influences how kids develop. The film chronicles the unexpected paths artists take to embrace the creative freedom found in writing songs that shape childhoods. Participants include Anthony Field of “The Wiggles,” who built a global phenomenon; Chris Ballew of the rock band “The Presidents of the United States of America,” who reinvented himself as the surrealistic Caspar Babypants; Divinity Roxx, who toured as Beyoncé’s bassist before releasing a Grammy-nominated album for children; and Laurie Berkner, a former preschool music teacher.

The documentary also chronicles the journey of Johnny Only, who was crushed when the newer, shinier, mass-produced version of “Baby Shark” overshadowed the original he had posted years earlier. Subverting the notion that making music for children is easy, Happy and You Know It proves that love, imagination, and emotional truth are the foundational elements of songs that truly resonate. The film ultimately reminds us of the magical way music connects us across generations and to the child inside us all.

Nashville’s BIG BASH Announces Final Star-Studded Lineup for New Year’s Eve

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The final star-studded performers have been announced for the five-hour TV special, NEW YEAR’S EVE LIVE: NASHVILLE’S BIG BASH, airing live on Wednesday, December 31, on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+. The massive broadcast will feature performances from Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Riley Green, Marcus King, Megan Moroney, Zach Top, Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson, Stephen Wilson Jr., and Dwight Yoakam from venues and clubs across Nashville. These newly announced performers join previously confirmed headliners Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson, and Bailey Zimmerman, who will be performing live from Nashville’s Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park.

The special will air across multiple time zones, including the traditional countdown at midnight Eastern and the renowned Nashville Music Note Drop and celebratory firework display at midnight Central time. The official in-person watch party for NASHVILLE’S BIG BASH will take place at Luke Combs’ Category 10, featuring a live performance from Dwight Yoakam with newly added Marcus King and special appearances by Cody Alan and Caylee Hammack. The watch party is free and open to fans 21 and older on a first-come, first-served basis.

Counterglow Releases Debut Album ‘echoes of self’ and Announces Hamburg Headlining Show

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The Hamburg-based alt-pop duo counterglow, the collaborative project of indie artists Lauren Goodley and Jonas Grell, is thrilled to announce the release of their debut album, ‘echoes of self’, alongside their first headlining show on December 18 in Hamburg, Germany. The duo crafts a signature sound that feels like floating through a cosmic dreamscape, blending dream-pop, indie-soul, modern psychedelia, lush synth textures, and jazzy grooves with soft, echoing vocals. What began as carefree late-night experiments and exploration quickly revealed a unique creative identity, with the resulting 11-track album becoming an emotional roadmap of early adulthood, reflecting on pressures, self-doubt, finding love, and ultimately realizing, as the band puts it, “you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.”

‘echoes of self’ was never meant to be an album, but the first track they wrote, “soon,” solidified the project and led to the creation of counterglow. Though inspired by artists like Tame Impala and Beach House, the final record spans ethereal dreamscapes and atmospheric grooves that are resolutely their own. The album captures key personal themes—the pressures of success, anxiety, loneliness, growth, and acceptance—and is a compelling entry into a sound universe where emotion, imagination, and atmosphere intertwine with a magic uniquely their own.

IGNESCENT Unveils New Single “Light Up The Night” From Upcoming Album ‘Eternal’

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Female-fronted Chicago rockers IGNESCENT are excited to unveil their new single, “Light Up The Night,” along with a visualizer video, taken from their powerful upcoming studio album, ‘Eternal’, out on March 20, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl. Frontwoman Jennifer Benson notes that the track is a worship song about the light Jesus brings at Christmas, co-written alongside Christopher Marvin of The Spark, whose recent work features Ledger of Skillet. The band is beyond excited for the new record, declaring it a “battle cry – for faith, for hope, for forever,” showcasing a fierce contemporary metal sound reminiscent of Flyleaf, Evanescence, and Skillet, blending raw emotion with driving riffs and soaring melodies.

‘Eternal’, produced by Jeremy Valentine and Brandon Wolfe, features a collection of modern metal anthems, including “Fearless,” co-written with Sameer Bhattacharya of Flyleaf, and “Chariot Of Fire,” featuring Clint Lowery of Sevendust. Over the course of their career, IGNESCENT has made a notable impact on the rock scene; their single “Remnant” climbed to #46 on the Billboard Rock Charts, and their debut EP was produced by four-time Dove Award-winning and Grammy-nominated producer Travis Wyrick. The band is more than just a rock act; they are powerful storytellers who draw from real-life struggles with anxiety and depression to offer a powerful message of hope, resilience, and connection.

‘Eternal’ Track List:

    1. “Joker”
    1. “Scream”
    1. “Fight For Me”
    1. “Fearless”
    1. “Shame Shadow”
    1. “Our Love Dies”
    1. “Light Up The Night”
    1. “In The Dark”
    1. “Chariot Of Fire”
    1. “Eternal”

Bardcore Artist Jonas Wolf Records A 16th Century A Cappella Cover of “Stayin’ Alive”

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Bardcore musician Jonas Wolf and Tabea Bös performed the Bee Gees song “Stayin’ Alive” as a mesmerizing a cappella song reimagined for the 16th Century. The pair accompanied themselves with hauntingly beautiful harmonies, creating a surprisingly apt and multilayered experience that references the era of bubonic plague recurrences.

Mr. Mister’s Original Lineup Reunites to Record “Broken Wings” Live

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The four original members of the incredible band Mr. Mister—Richard Page, Steve George, Pat Mastelotto, and Steve Farris—recently reunited at the Thrak Shack Studios in Austin in September 2025. They recorded a fantastic new live version of their massive 1985 hit song “Broken Wings.” This special, emotional performance was also a celebration of two major milestones: the 40th anniversary of the track itself, and Mastelotto’s 70th birthday.

Why Kitchen Knives Matter More Than Fancy Cookware

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By Mitch Rice

Cooking requires tools that make preparation easier. A knife provides precise slicing with ease. A japanese chefs knife delivers versatility for every task. Fancy cookware cannot match their consistent daily value. Knives handle chopping dicing and mincing effectively each time. Every dish begins with properly cut fresh ingredients. Quality knives ensure clean cuts and better textures. Many chefs trust knives over expensive cookware investments. A japanese santoku knife works well for vegetables. A knife handles meat or fish perfectly. Knives remain the foundation of efficient cooking routines always. Strong knives save time and effort in kitchens. Their importance proves undeniable in everyday meal preparation.

Precision Creates Better Flavors in Meals

Cooking flavors improve with precise cuts every time. A knife slices vegetables in uniform pieces. A knife makes meat portions accurate consistently. Equal cuts allow even cooking during meal preparation. This balance improves taste and presentation on plates. Fancy cookware cannot control flavor without proper preparation. Knives create the foundation for delicious meals always. Chefs value sharpness for enhancing cooking outcomes consistently. A japanese santoku knife supports consistent slicing for stir-fry dishes. A japanese chefs knife  ensures meat stays tender after cooking. Their precision builds harmony in every recipe crafted. Quality knives make flavor development more reliable overall.

Durability Matters More Than Appearance

Durability ensures cooking tools remain reliable long-term. A japanese santoku knife lasts through repeated use easily. A japanese chefs knife maintains sharpness under heavy workloads. Fancy cookware may look appealing but loses performance quickly. Knives built with quality steel resist wear and tear. Their strength ensures longevity in every kitchen daily. Reliability means cooks spend less money on replacements. Knives stand as smarter investments compared to flashy pots. A japanese santoku knife withstands tough vegetables without chipping. A knife endures daily slicing without bending. Durable knives give long-term value and peace of mind. Strength matters more than stylish cookware appearances.

Versatility Makes Knives Irreplaceable

Knives serve multiple functions in kitchen tasks. A japanese santoku knife works for chopping and mincing vegetables. A knife adapts for carving meats efficiently. Fancy cookware serves only specific limited purposes daily. Knives support endless styles of cooking preparation everywhere. Their versatility helps professionals and home cooks equally. A single knife can replace multiple unnecessary gadgets. A japanese santoku knife manages herbs fish and cheese easily. A japanese chefs knife offers wide adaptability for cuisines. Their multifunctional roles keep them central in kitchens. People recognize knives as true backbone of cooking always. Versatility ensures they remain irreplaceable across different cultures.

Efficiency Saves Time During Cooking

Cooking time reduces with efficient cutting tools. A knife slices ingredients quickly with accuracy. A knife speeds up meat preparation significantly. Cookware cannot shorten preparation without proper cutting methods. Knives ensure meals finish faster with less stress. Time matters in both professional and home kitchens. Chefs save hours weekly using reliable sharp knives. A japanese santoku knife supports rapid vegetable preparation daily. A japanese chefs knife keeps workflow smooth and consistent. Efficiency increases productivity and enhances enjoyment of cooking. Knives make routines easier than relying on extra cookware. Sharp reliable blades remain vital for saving time.

Knives Protect Food Quality Better

Food quality improves when knives cut cleanly always. A knife slices vegetables without crushing texture. The knife carves meat to preserve juices. Fancy cookware cannot maintain food integrity before cooking begins. Knives allow flavors and freshness to remain intact longer. Freshly sliced ingredients taste better in final dishes. A japanese santoku knife protects delicate herbs during cutting. A japanese chefs knife ensures steaks cook evenly with flavor. Quality knives help food retain nutrients during preparation. Every meal depends on how ingredients are handled first. Protecting quality starts with sharp well-made knives daily. Knives secure healthier and tastier results each time.

Tradition Builds Trust in Quality

Japanese knives hold centuries of craftsmanship tradition strongly. A knife reflects culture in design and sharpness. A knife embodies skill from master artisans carefully. Fancy cookware lacks the same heritage and proven reliability. Knives pass down skills and methods across generations globally. Tradition ensures blades remain reliable tools in kitchens. Cooks worldwide trust Japanese knives for consistent quality. A japanese santoku knife shows artistry with every smooth slice. A japanese chefs knife delivers balance valued by professionals everywhere. This tradition creates trust in durability and performance always. Heritage connects cooking with cultural respect and pride. Knives symbolize both history and practical functionality today.

Knives Remain the Core of Cooking

Cooking begins and ends with sharp knives daily. A knife defines preparation for vegetables clearly. A knife shapes how meals are served beautifully. Fancy cookware cannot replace these primary kitchen tools effectively. Knives remain central to cutting shaping and preparing foods. Their value outlasts modern gadgets and short-lived trends easily. Chefs rely on blades as extensions of their hands. A japanese santoku knife continues shaping meals with consistency. A japanese chefs knife proves versatile across countless recipes always. Together they represent the backbone of cooking worldwide. Reliable knives will always matter more than cookware. They hold the key to culinary success everywhere.

Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.