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Eve Marks 25 Years of Platinum Album ‘Scorpion’ With Limited Edition Anniversary Vinyl

Eric Alper
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Eve Marks 25 Years of Platinum Album ‘Scorpion’ With Limited Edition Anniversary Vinyl

A quarter century after its original release, Eve’s era-defining second album ‘Scorpion’ gets the anniversary treatment it deserves. A limited-edition red-and-black splatter 2LP, featuring an autographed insert, is available now. The release lands exactly 25 years to the day since the album first arrived, and the timing couldn’t be better, with Eve set to co-host the 2026 MOBO Awards in Manchester later this month. Get it here.

‘Scorpion’ went Platinum in the US and Canada and Gold in the UK and France. It has been streamed over 1 billion times. The album produced some of the most celebrated hip-hop tracks of the era, including “Who’s That Girl” and the Grammy-winning “Let Me Blow Ya Mind.” Across 16 tracks, Eve brought in Gwen Stefani, DMX, Damian Marley, and Stephen Marley, delivering a record that announced her place among the greats with complete confidence.

The context around ‘Scorpion’ remains significant. Eve was only the 3rd female rapper ever to top the US charts with a debut album. A double Grammy winner with over 10 million records sold worldwide across 4 studio albums, she has appeared on hits alongside Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani, The Roots, Missy Elliott, Janet Jackson, Doja Cat, Prince, Nate Dogg, Sean Paul, and Shaggy. Her on-screen career has run parallel to her music throughout, including co-hosting CBS Daytime’s The Talk, where she earned 2 Daytime Emmy Award nominations.

25 years on, ‘Scorpion’ sounds exactly as hard-hitting and vital as it did in 2001. The anniversary vinyl is the right way to mark that.

‘Scorpion’ 25th Anniversary Edition Tracklist:

LP1 – Side A

Cowboy

Who’s That Girl?

Let Me Blow Ya Mind

LP1 – Side B

You Had Me, You Lost Me

Got What You Need

Gangsta Bitches

LP2 – Side A

That’s What It Is

Scream Double R

Thug In The Street

LP2 – Side B

No, No, No

You Ain’t Gettin’ None

Life Is So Hard

Be Me

Minneapolis Rap Force Prof Drops “Kia Boy” Ahead of New Album ‘GOOD TIME BOY’

Eric Alper
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Minneapolis Rap Force Prof Drops “Kia Boy” Ahead of New Album ‘GOOD TIME BOY’

Prof is back with “Kia Boy,” a new single out today and the latest preview of his forthcoming eighth studio album ‘GOOD TIME BOY’, arriving June 26 via his own imprint Stophouse Music Group. Driven by jubilant horns and his unmistakable animated flow, the track blends menace, chaos, and razor-sharp dark humor into a 3-minute statement of pure force. Listen here.

Prof debuted “Kia Boy” live on the Bootleg Kev Podcast with the kind of wild, unfiltered energy that has made his name in independent rap. He called it “a lot of energy and testosterone,” which lands as both accurate description and significant understatement. The track leans fully into the madness and doesn’t look back once.

“Kia Boy” joins a rollout that has already produced several standout singles: “Big Dog” featuring That Mexican OT and 2 Chainz, “Jewelry Duty” featuring T-Pain, and the title track “Good Time Boy.” Each arrives with an expertly crafted music video, and each one adds another dimension to what ‘GOOD TIME BOY’ is building toward.

The album runs 16 tracks and features T-Pain, That Mexican OT, 2 Chainz, E-40, Pete & Bas, JonRay, and Sauce Walka alongside Prof’s singular mix of technical skill, absurd humor, emotional honesty, and larger-than-life personality. It arrives as his most commanding record to date.

The foundation under this release is substantial. Prof’s 2023 LP ‘HORSE’ shocked the industry with its chart performance, reaching No. 2 Current Rap Album, No. 1 Heatseekers Album, No. 1 Emerging Artist Album, No. 8 Top Billboard Album, and No. 17 Independent Album during release week. He built that audience through relentless touring and one of independent rap’s most devoted fanbases, developed over years of blue-collar hard work and unimpeachable content.

A 12-city headline fall tour supports ‘GOOD TIME BOY’, with stops including Jannus Live in St. Petersburg and The Factory in St. Louis. Prof’s live shows have become known as full-blown experiences, including life-sized carpet rides over packed crowds, the kind of spectacle that rewards the devotion his fanbase brings every night.

AJ McLean Re-Releases “Flowers” With Ty Dolla $ign, New Video, and Fall Tour Dates

Eric Alper
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AJ McLean Re-Releases “Flowers” With Ty Dolla $ign, New Video, and Fall Tour Dates

Alexander James McLean has re-released “Flowers,” featuring Ty Dolla $ign, with a brand-new official music video and instrumental version now available on all platforms. The re-release shines a renewed light on one of the standout tracks from his deeply personal LP ‘My Name Is Alexander James’, and arrives alongside the first confirmed dates for his upcoming ‘The Better Man’ tour this fall.

The track finds McLean in a reflective and intentional space, built around the idea of expressing love and appreciation in real time. Ty Dolla $ign’s signature smooth delivery pairs naturally with McLean’s vocals, bridging pop and R&B with the kind of warmth the song’s message demands. “This song is about giving people their flowers while they’re still here,” McLean says. “It’s about showing up, being present, and not waiting to say what matters.”

The re-release adds both a new instrumental version and an official video, giving the song added depth and a more immersive way into its emotional core. The instrumental version lets the production speak on its own, while the video brings the track’s themes of gratitude and presence to life visually.

McLean extended the song’s message beyond the music with a fan-driven social media campaign inviting followers to share who in their lives deserved their flowers. In collaboration with Ty Dolla $ign, McLean selected winners to receive real floral deliveries. One grand prize winner received hers hand-delivered by McLean himself, a direct extension of the track’s core idea.

Best known globally as a member of the Backstreet Boys, McLean has stepped into a new creative chapter under his full given name, Alexander James, defined by authenticity and artistic freedom. ‘My Name Is Alexander James’ established that shift, and “Flowers” remains one of its most resonant moments.

4 initial dates for ‘The Better Man’ tour have been confirmed, with more to follow. The run opens October 20 at Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn.

‘The Better Man’ Tour Dates:

October 20 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Bowl

October 24 – Montclair, NJ @ Wellmont Theater

October 25 – Huntington, NY @ The Paramount

November 26 – Atlantic City, NJ @ Hard Rock Casino

The Malpass Brothers Release “He Touched Me” From Upcoming Live Gospel Album ‘Satisfied’

Eric Alper
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The Malpass Brothers Release “He Touched Me” From Upcoming Live Gospel Album ‘Satisfied’

The Malpass Brothers have released “He Touched Me,” the second single from their forthcoming live album and DVD ‘Satisfied: Country Gospel Classics’, arriving June 26 through Gaither Music Group. Listen here.

Filmed live at TBN Studios in Hendersonville, Tennessee, ‘Satisfied: Country Gospel Classics’ brings together 20 beloved hymns and gospel standards performed in an intimate concert setting by Chris and Taylor Malpass, backed by a seasoned band. The project captures the warmth, simplicity, and deep reverence that have defined the duo’s sound across years of traditional country and gospel performance.

“These are the songs we were raised on,” the brothers say. “They were always playing at home, on the road, and backstage. We wanted this project to feel true to the music and present the songs the way we’ve always loved hearing them. Recording them live made the experience even more meaningful.”

“Chris and Taylor have a deep respect for the traditions that shaped country and gospel music, and they bring that to life every time they step on stage,” says Paul Sizelove, President of Sun Label Group and Gaither Music Group. “This project captures that authenticity in a powerful way.”

The full project arrives as audio album, full-length DVD, and television special, airing on TBN, RFD-TV, The Word Network, Vision, TCT, The Walk TV, TLN, HopeTV, The Miracle Channel, CTS, CTN, and Heartland. The album is also available to stream at Gaither TV+.

The Malpass Brothers come to this project with deep roots and a remarkable mentorship lineage. Inspired early by the harmonies of Jim & Jesse, the Louvin Brothers, and the Wilburn Brothers, they were mentored by steel guitar legend Don Helms and handpicked by Merle Haggard as an opening act for 7 years. Their debut album was produced by Haggard himself. Recent releases have been co-produced by Bluegrass Hall of Famer Doyle Lawson and Ben Isaacs.

The duo received an official proclamation from Goldsboro Mayor Charles Gaylor IV recognizing their dedication to country music and their contributions to their hometown. The Paramount Theatre in Goldsboro will also name its annex after The Malpass Brothers later this year.

Track Listing:

  1. Satisfied
  2. Family Bible
  3. In the Garden
  4. Jesus, Take a Hold
  5. Wings of a Dove
  6. I Saw a Man
  7. Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself
  8. Praying
  9. O Why Not Tonight
  10. Sheltered in the Arms of God
  11. Because He Lives
  12. He Touched Me
  13. Wait a Little Longer Please Jesus
  14. The Lighthouse
  15. There’s a Higher Power
  16. I’ll Live for Him
  17. Take Up Thy Cross
  18. The Family Who Prays Together (Never Shall Part)
  19. Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
  20. Ragged Old Flag

The Malpass Brothers Tour Dates:

June 3 – Nashville, TN @ Country For A Cause

June 5 – Kirksville, KY @ The Farm Jamb

June 6 – Cherokee, NC @ Cherokee Bluegrass Festival

June 19 – Elkin, NC @ The Reeves Theater

June 20 – Selma, NC @ Rudy Theatre

June 24 – Waco, TX @ 75th National Square Dance Convention

June 25 – Greenville, TX @ Greenville Municipal Auditorium

June 26 – Llano, TX @ The Lantex Theater

June 27 – Seguin, TX @ The Texas Theatre

June 28 – Tomball, TX @ Main Street Crossing

July 17 – Radford, VA @ Little River Bluegrass Barn

July 19 – Nashville, TN @ The Nashville Palace

July 25 – Spartansburg, PA @ Spartansburg Fairgrounds

July 29 – Colborne, ON @ Keller Centre

August 6 – Parsons, WV @ Pickin’ In Parsons

August 7 – Troy, NC @ James H. Garner Conference Center

August 14 – Huntingdon, PA @ Huntingdon County Fair

August 21 – North Myrtle Beach, SC @ Alabama Theatre

August 28 – Stanley, ND @ Sibyl Center

August 29 – Backus, MN @ The Lakes Bluegrass Festival

September 5 – Kinston, NC @ Stonington Farms Music Fest

September 11 – Toccoa, GA @ The Historic Ritz Theatre

September 12 – Liberty, NC @ Liberty Showcase

September 17 – Buena Vista, VA @ Nothin’ Fancy Bluegrass Festival

September 20 – Lancaster, PA @ American Music Theatre

September 21 – Millersburg, OH @ Amish Country Theater

September 25 – Hodgenville, KY @ The Lincoln Jamboree

September 26 – Benton, KY @ Kentucky Opry

September 30 – Shipshewana, IN @ Blue Gate Performing Arts

October 3 – Spencer, WI @ Lucille Tack Center

October 5 – Branson, MO @ Malpass Brothers Show Live (w/ David Frizzell)

October 6 – Branson, MO @ Malpass Brothers Show Live (w/ Dion Pride)

October 7 – Branson, MO @ Malpass Brothers Show Live (w/ Tony Booth, Mary Lou Turner & Barbara Fairchild)

October 8 – Branson, MO @ Malpass Brothers Show Live (w/ Moe Bandy)

October 9 – Branson, MO @ Malpass Brothers Show Live (w/ T. Graham Brown)

October 10 – Steelville, MO @ Meramec Music Theatre

October 11 – Moberly, MO @ 4th Street Theater

October 15 – Hiawassee, GA @ Georgia Mountain Fall Festival

October 30 – Goldsboro, NC @ Paramount Theatre

November 20 – Granbury, TX @ The New Granbury Live

December 2 – Millersburg, OH @ Amish Country Theater

Portola Music Festival Returns to San Francisco With Robyn, Swedish House Mafia, and DOG BLOOD

Eric Alper
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Portola Music Festival Returns to San Francisco With Robyn, Swedish House Mafia, and DOG BLOOD

Portola Music Festival returns to Pier 80 in San Francisco on September 26-27, and its fifth edition arrives with a lineup that delivers at every level. Goldenvoice has assembled a bill built around electronic music’s biggest names and some of the most compelling one-off moments of the year.

Robyn headlines in her only festival appearance of 2026, fresh off a new album release. DOG BLOOD, the project from Skrillex and Boys Noize, reunites for the duo’s first show under that moniker since 2019 and their singular performance of the year. Swedish House Mafia make Portola one of only 2 currently announced US appearances in 2026. Zara Larsson brings her “Midnight Sun” era to San Francisco. Tiësto headlines the Warehouse. Four Tet, Tove Lo, and Soulwax round out the top of the bill.

The full lineup runs deep. Fatboy Slim, Groove Armada, Kelela, Skepta, DJ Shadow, Channel Tres, Overmono, SG Lewis, Melanie C (DJ Set), Tricky, Parcels, Chloé Caillet, Daphni, horsegiirL, underscores, VTSS, Ben UFO, Mochakk, and KETTAMA are among the many acts across both days.

Returning this year is DESPACIO, the high-powered immersive audio experience designed by James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem, David and Stephen Dewaele of 2ManyDJs and Soulwax, and sound engineer John Klett. It remains one of the most singular listening experiences in festival culture.

New for 2026 is the Captain’s Club, an elevated hospitality package offering access to an exclusive double-decker viewing deck and lounge at the Pier Stage, on-stage access within the Warehouse, hosted bar service, a dedicated merch concierge, first access to all Portola Week shows, curated culinary offerings from San Francisco’s Bodega SF, and coffee and tea service from local café The Coffee Movement.

A past purchaser loyalty presale launched yesterday. General on-sale is today at noon Pacific time. 2-day GA passes start at $379.95, 2-day VIP at $699.95, single day GA at $249.95, and single day VIP at $439.95. The Captain’s Club package starts at $1,599.95.

The Smashing Pumpkins Mark ‘Gish’ Turning 35 With New Vinyl and a Massive Arena Tour

Eric Alper
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The Smashing Pumpkins Mark ‘Gish’ Turning 35 With New Vinyl and a Massive Arena Tour

 Before the Smashing Pumpkins were the iconic, GRAMMY Award-winning, generation-defining band fans have known and loved for decades, they were another young group trying to make their name in the vibrant rock scene of the early ‘90s. Thirty-five years ago, The Smashing Pumpkins introduced themselves to the world with Gish, a seminal debut that would become one of the most important albums of the early ‘90s. Now, to celebrate the album’s 35th anniversary, the band has announced new vinyl variants — available now, just in time for Gish’s birthday. Order them HERE. 

Billy Corgan’s beloved Chicago teahouse, Madame ZuZu’s, and other independent record stores will carry the new reissues. Housed within the original 1991 packaging, the anniversary vinyl features a limited-edition colorway vinyl pressed on striking 180-gram grey vinyl, accented with pink and purple splatter to evoke the classic Gish cover. A standard black 180-gram vinyl will also be available. 

Reflecting on the album’s enduring legacy, Jimmy Chamberlin shares, “Gish represents the manifestation of all of our hopes, dreams, and abilities at that incredible time and allows the listener an early inside look at the insanity that would ultimately define The Smashing Pumpkins!”

Originally released on May 28, 1991, via Caroline Records, Gish became one of the most successful independently released albums of its era and one of the most commercially successful independent rock albums of the early ’90s, helping redefine the possibilities for alternative music on an independent label. The Pumpkins recorded the album with producer Butch Vig at Smart Studios in Madison, WI, introducing a band already carving out its own path amidst an alt-rock boom. Though sometimes associated with grunge in their early days, The Smashing Pumpkins were so much more — swirling rock, metal, psychedelia, pop, and shoegaze together into an idiosyncratic vision of alternative music unlike anything before it. The album set the stage for the stratospheric success the Pumpkins would experience for the rest of the decade, while also boasting staples such as “I Am One,” “Siva,” and “Rhinoceros” that would eventually help drive Gish to Platinum status. A landmark debut featuring 10 unassailable compositions, Gish’s influence continues to be felt from one generation to the next, with publications praising it as one of music’s most enduring and celebrated albums.

The Gish reissues are the latest in a series of anniversary celebrations marking the massive achievements of The Smashing Pumpkins’ early years. Last year saw a multi-faceted 30th anniversary blowout for 1995’s Diamond-certified Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness, including a deluxe vinyl reissue featuring previously unheard live recordings from the world tour supporting the album, a special reimagining of Mellon Collie’s iconic hits and beloved fan-favorites onstage with the Lyric Opera Of Chicago, and culinary collaborations with Vosges Haut-Chocolat and Erewhon. Released the same year as Machina/The Machines Of God’s 25th anniversary reissue, the Mellon Collie celebration continued what has been a furiously productive decade for The Smashing Pumpkins, with a flood of inspiration producing 2020’s Cyr, 2022/2023’s triple-album Atum: A Rock Opera In Three Parts, and 2024’s Aghori Mhori Mei. 

Alongside all of his Pumpkins activity, the ever-prolific Corgan has remained busy in other ventures as well. Entering its second year, his widely praised podcast, The Magnificent Others, has recently featured candid conversations about creativity and legacy with Courtney Love, Billy Idol, Nancy Wilson, and Yungblud. Corgan also made his Coachella debut, joining Sombr onstage for a surprise performance. Most recently, in his capacity as president of the National Wrestling Alliance, Corgan led the hallowed athletic institution to a landmark deal with Comet TV, bringing NWA back to free broadcast TV nationwide for the first time since the early ‘90s. 

Earlier this month, The Smashing Pumpkins also announced the sprawling Rats In A Cage tour, one of their most ambitious live shows yet. Following The Smashing Pumpkins’ first appearance at Lollapalooza since 1994, the full tour kicks off in September and runs through November, and will feature the band playing two distinct sets: one celebrating Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness and one a career-spanning journey through nearly four decades’ worth of beloved hits, deep cuts, and fan-favorites alike. In addition to the Mellon Collie set, expect all the key tracks from their latest release , Aghori Mhori Mei, all the way back to the early Gish favorites that first put The Pumpkins on the map. 

FULL TOUR ROUTING
Wed, Sep 30 — Columbus, OH — Schottenstein Center
Fri, Oct 2 — Boston, MA — TD Garden
Sat, Oct 3 — Baltimore, MD — CFG Bank Arena
Sun, Oct 4 — Brooklyn, NY — Barclays Center
Tue, Oct 6 — Pittsburgh, PA — PPG Paints Arena
Wed, Oct 7 — Hamilton, ON — TD Coliseum
Fri, Oct 9 — Montreal, QC — Bell Centre
Sun, Oct 11 — Madison, WI — Kohl Center
Tue, Oct 13 — St. Paul, MN — Grand Casino Arena
Wed, Oct 14 — Chicago, IL — United Center
Fri, Oct 16 — Charlotte, NC — Spectrum Center
Sat, Oct 17 — Jacksonville, FL — VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
Sun, Oct 18 — Tampa, FL — Benchmark International Arena
Tue, Oct 20 — Indianapolis, IN — Gainbridge Fieldhouse
Wed, Oct 22 — Nashville, TN — The Truth
Sat, Oct 24 — Oklahoma City, OK — Paycom Center
Sun, Oct 25 — Austin, TX — Moody Center
Tue, Oct 27 — Denver, CO — Ball Arena
Thu, Oct 29 — Salt Lake City, UT — Delta Center
Fri, Oct 30 — Las Vegas, NV — MGM Grand Garden Arena
Sun, Nov 1 — Portland, OR — Moda Center
Tue, Nov 3 — Calgary, AB — Scotiabank Saddledome
Thu, Nov 5 — Vancouver, BC — Rogers Arena
Fri, Nov 6 — Seattle, WA — Climate Pledge Arena
Sun, Nov 8 — San Jose, CA — SAP Center
Wed, Nov 11 — Phoenix, AZ — Mortgage Matchup Center
Thu, Nov 12 — Los Angeles, CA — Kia Forum

The Smashing Pumpkins are one of the most iconic, iconoclastic, and influential bands of all time, shaping alternative music and culture. Since forming in Chicago in 1988, the group has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and garnered two GRAMMY® Awards, seven MTV VMAs, and an American Music Award. Their catalog includes seminal offerings such as the platinum Gish [1991], the quadruple-platinum Siamese Dream [1993], the diamond-certified Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness [1995], the platinum Adore [1998], and the gold Machina/The Machines of God [2000]. Rolling Stone cited both Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness among its “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” It would also be impossible to envision alternative music and culture without their signature iconography such as the idyllic album artwork for Siamese Dream, the black Zero shirt, the laissez faire bliss of the “1979” music video, the gothic metamorphosis of “Ava Adore,” or the multi-dimensional live shows that sell out worldwide to this day. 2018 saw The Smashing Pumpkins unveil SHINY AND OH SO BRIGHT, VOL. 1 / LP: NO PAST. NO FUTURE. NO SUN. and launched the immensely successful Shiny and Oh So Bright Tour, which packed arenas. Maintaining this momentum, the band released their eleventh full-length double album, CYR [2020], representing yet another evolution, and more recently, ATUM[2023], the sequel to 1995’s Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and 2000’s Machina/Machine of God. The band’s 2024 album, Aghori Mhori Mei, written in the immediate aftermath of ATUM, sees a return to form for original members Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin, and James Iha, and harkens back to the band’s early ‘90s canon, where guitars, bass, drums, and spiking vocals ruled. 

Brenda Lee’s Classic Albums Hit Streaming for the First Time With ‘Decades Vol. 1’

Eric Alper
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Brenda Lee’s Classic Albums Hit Streaming for the First Time With ‘Decades Vol. 1’

While Brenda Lee is known around the world as the unmistakable voice behind timeless classics like “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree” and “I’m Sorry,” her extraordinary career extends far beyond those signature hits. One of the female founders of rock ‘n’ roll, Lee was the first woman inducted into both the Rock and Roll and Country Music Halls of Fame, and is also a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. She earned 47 U.S. chart hits during the 1960s alone, ranking behind only Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Ray Charles for the decade. Beginning her career at just nine years old, she became a pioneering force across pop, country, and adult contemporary music. A national treasure and living legend, Lee is simply one of the most successful recording artists of all time, with more than 100 million records sold worldwide.

As one of the most influential and enduring voices in American music, Lee’s catalog continues to resonate across generations. Over the next several months, more than a dozen key albums from across her celebrated catalog — spanning the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s — will arrive on streaming platforms for the very first time, bringing another chapter of her groundbreaking career into the digital era.

Launching today via MCA/UMe, Decades Vol. 1 serves as the first installment in the rollout, featuring four landmark releases that showcase Brenda’s artistic evolution across multiple decades and genres. Spanning heartbreak ballads, countrypolitan classics, and modern country reinventions, the collection highlights Brenda during some of the most defining moments of her career.

“I’m thrilled that these albums are going to be available for streaming,” said Brenda Lee. “Listening through these albums which span three decades of my career, has brought back so many memories. I hope that my fans are able to relive these memories with me while allowing a new generation of fans to discover these gems for the first time. To all of you keep on rockin’.”

Originally released by Decca Records in 1965, Too Many Rivers marked the thirteenth studio album of Lee’s career and her transition from teen pop sensation into the sophisticated “Nashville Sound.” Produced by Lee’s longtime collaborator Owen Bradley — whom she first began working with at just 13 years old — the album features the crossover hit title track “Too Many Rivers,” which reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The album itself reached the Billboard 200 Top 40 and showcased Lee’s versatility through a mix of contemporary pop favorites and classic standards, including renditions of “It’s Not Unusual,” “Stormy Weather (Keeps Raining All The Time),” “Hello, Dolly!” and “Unforgettable.” Praising the album upon release, Billboard wrote that “Miss Lee displays her boundless versatility for equal feel of today’s pop music as well as the evergreens in this well balanced program.”

New Sunrise was released at the height of Lee’s country music resurgence, further solidifying her place as one of the era’s standout crossover artists. Released by MCA Records in 1973 as Lee’s twenty-third studio album, the project blended countrypolitan production with contemporary pop influences, pairing Lee’s unmistakable vocal style with interpretations of songs like Stevie Wonder’s “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” and Paul McCartney’s “My Love.” The project became Lee’s second consecutive Top 10 release on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, spending 25 weeks on the chart and peaking at No. 7. Driven by the hit singles “Sunday Sunrise” and “Wrong Ideas” — both of which reached the Top 10 on the U.S. country chart — New Sunrise further cemented Lee’s place within country music while expanding her visibility across country television, touring circuits, and Las Vegas performances throughout the decade.

Released in 1976 as Lee’s twenty-sixth studio album, L.A. Sessions found her embracing a polished pop-oriented sound after several years as a country hitmaker. Recorded in Los Angeles with producer Snuff Garrett — known for his work with Cher — the album reflected a stylistic shift toward upbeat West Coast pop arrangements while continuing to showcase Lee’s versatile vocal style. Praised by Billboard for its “commendable array of pop oriented tunes,” the album became Lee’s fifth release to chart on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and featured the singles “Takin’ What I Can Get” and “Ruby’s Lounge.”

Heralded as a triumphant return for Lee, Lee’s twenty-eighth studio album Even Better reestablished her presence on the country charts at the start of a new decade. Produced by Ron Chancey — the first of several successful collaborations between the two — the 1980 album embraced a more contemporary country sound while continuing to showcase Lee’s unmistakable vocal style across a collection of modern country compositions, including songs written by acclaimed songwriter Rafe Van Hoy. Promoted by MCA as a major comeback for the legendary singer, Even Better earned critical praise and delivered Brenda’s first country Top 10 hits in several years with “Tell Me What It’s Like,” which peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and “The Cowgirl and the Dandy,” which reached No. 10. A third single, “Keeping Me Warm For You,” followed in 1982, further extending the album’s success and helping introduce Brenda to a new generation of country audiences.

Whether rediscovering these albums or hearing them for the first time, listeners can now experience another essential chapter in Brenda Lee’s legendary career — from her evolution into the Nashville Sound of the mid-’60s to her countrypolitan reinvention of the ’70s and her country comeback success in the early ’80s — as more classic albums arrive on streaming platforms throughout the year.

Decades Vol. 1 is now available on all streaming platforms: https://brendalee.lnk.to/DecadesVol1PR

TOO MANY RIVERS
1. It’s Not Unusual
2. Call Me Irresponsible
3. Too Many Rivers
4. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
5. Whispering
6. Stormy Weather (Keep Raining All the Time)
7. Hello, Dolly!
8. Unforgettable
9. Everybody Loves Somebody
10. No One
11. Truer Than True
12. Think

NEW SUNRISE
1. Sunday Sunrise
2. My Love
3. You Are the Sunshine of My Life
4. Must I Believe
5. Wrong Ideas
6. We Had It All
7. Everybody’s Had the Blues
8. Why Me
3. Slippin’ Away
4. You’re My Man Again
5. Something for a Rainy Day
L.A. SESSIONS
1. Oklahoma Superstar
2. Takin’ What I Can Get
3. I Let You Let Me Down Again
4. Ruby’s Lounge
5. When Our Love Began (Cowboys and Indians)
6. Mary’s Going Out of Her Mind
7. Your Favorite Wornout Nightmare’s Coming Home
8. One More Time
9. Saved
10. The Lumberjacks Had a Lady
11. It’s Another Weekend

EVEN BETTER
1. Keep Me Warm for You
2. Love Ain’t Seen the Last of Me
3. You Only Broke My Heart
4. At The Moonlite
5. Goodbye Love
6. I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again
7. Tell Me What It’s Like
8. Memories for Sale
9. Do You Wanna Spend the Night
10. The Cowgirl and the Dandy

070 Shake Drops Original Track “Baby Driver” Built Exclusively for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS

Eric Alper
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070 Shake Drops Original Track “Baby Driver” Built Exclusively for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS

070 Shake has released “Baby Driver,” a new original track created specifically for battle royale video game PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS. It marks the first time an original song has been built for a PUBG game mode, and it arrives with a livestream performance and a summer tour alongside Daniel Caesar already locked in. Listen here.

The track moves the way 070 Shake’s best music always does: ethereal synths dissolving into otherworldly beat-craft, her signature delivery pulling you in immediately, building toward an anthemic hook that breaks open with raw emotional force. “There’s nothing more we could get out of here,” she sings at the peak of it, and the line lands with the kind of weight that reminds you why she occupies a lane entirely her own.

The song was teased through the PUBG x PAYDAY mode trailer before its official release. Her music has appeared in previous PUBG trailers including PUBG: UNBOUND and Xeno Point, but “Baby Driver” goes further, built from the ground up for the collaboration rather than licensed after the fact.

To mark the release, 070 Shake performed “Baby Driver” alongside “Cocoon,” “Come Back Home,” and “Elephant” in a special livestream event on the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS YouTube channel, hosted by K-pop phenomenon DAYOUNG. The performances drew viewers worldwide and underlined just how naturally her sound translates across platforms and audiences.

The résumé behind this moment is significant. Born Danielle Balbuena, 070 Shake has built a catalog across ‘Modus Vivendi’ (2020), ‘You Can’t Kill Me’ (2022), and ‘Petrichor’ (2024) that earns unanimous critical respect. She co-wrote Beyoncé’s “Amen” and “Alien Superstar” from ‘Cowboy Carter’ and ‘Renaissance’. “Guilty Conscience” is Gold-certified. Her collaboration with RAYE, “Escapism,” is 2x Platinum. DIOR named her a global ambassador.

This summer, she joins Daniel Caesar on his “SON OF SPERGY” tour across North America, opening August 5 in Ottawa and closing August 24 in Anaheim. Arena dates throughout Canada and the US west coast make this one of the summer’s most compelling support runs.

“SON OF SPERGY” Tour Dates (with Daniel Caesar):

August 5 – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre

August 6 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre

August 10 – Winnipeg, MB @ Canada Life Centre

August 13 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place

August 14 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome

August 16 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena

August 17 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena

August 18 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center

August 20 – San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center

August 21 – San Francisco, CA @ Chase Center

August 23 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center

August 24 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center

BABYMETAL Drop “From Me to U (Jordan Fish Remix)” Ahead of ‘METAL FORTH’ Deluxe Edition

Eric Alper
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BABYMETAL Drop “From Me to U (Jordan Fish Remix)” Ahead of ‘METAL FORTH’ Deluxe Edition

BABYMETAL have released “from me to u (Jordan Fish Remix),” the second preview from ‘METAL FORTH (DELUXE EDITION)’, arriving June 26 via Capitol Records. The track joins the previously released Major Lazer remix of the same song, with both versions now available alongside a lyric video for the new release.

The deluxe edition expands ‘METAL FORTH’ significantly. Available digitally and on vinyl, including a limited zoetrope pressing that brings 10 album icons to life in motion, the expanded set adds 3 live performances and 2 remixes across a 2-disc format. Live tracks include performances from The O2, Intuit Dome, and Saitama Super Arena.

The original ‘METAL FORTH’ made its debut last year at No. 9 on the Billboard 200, marking the first time in history that an all-Japanese fronted group has cracked the U.S. Top 10. The album accumulated over 200 million global streams and sold 36,000 equivalent album units in its first week. It also debuted at No. 1 on the Oricon Rock Chart and Digital Albums Chart in Japan, hit the Top 10 in Germany, and broke the Top 20 in the UK.

The 2026 World Tour launches August 30 in San Diego, opening for My Chemical Romance at Petco Park. From there, BABYMETAL headline their own North American run with support from Halestorm and Violent Vira, moving through Denver, Chicago, Toronto, New York, Boston, and more through early October. The Latin American leg follows in November and December, highlighted by their first-ever stadium show in Mexico City at Estadio Fray Nano, with support from I Prevail and Bilmuri.

Formed in 2010 and fronted by SU-METAL, MOAMETAL, and MOMOMETAL, BABYMETAL have spent 15-plus years building one of the most dedicated international followings in heavy music. Opening for Red Hot Chili Peppers, Korn, and Lady Gaga early in their career, they’ve since grown into headliners reshaping what metal looks and sounds like across every market they touch.

‘METAL FORTH (DELUXE EDITION)’ Track Listing:

Disc 1, Side A

  1. from me to u (feat. Poppy)
  2. RATATATA (BABYMETAL, Electric Callboy)
  3. Song 3 (BABYMETAL, Slaughter to Prevail)
  4. Kon! Kon! (feat. Bloodywood)
  5. KxAxWxAxIxI

Disc 1, Side B

  1. Sunset Kiss (feat. Polyphia)
  2. My Queen (feat. Spiritbox)
  3. Algorism
  4. METALI!! (feat. Tom Morello)
  5. White Flame ー白炎ー

Disc 2, Side C

  1. from me to u (Major Lazer Remix)
  2. from me to u (Jordan Fish Remix)

Disc 2, Side D

  1. from me to u (live from The O2)
  2. My Queen (live from Intuit Dome)
  3. Algorism (live from Saitama Super Arena)

North America Tour Dates:

August 30 – San Diego, CA @ Petco Park (w/ My Chemical Romance)

September 2 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena

September 4 – Chicago, IL @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island

September 5 – Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center

September 7 – Toronto, ON @ RBC Amphitheatre

September 9 – Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center

September 10 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center

September 12 – Bristow, VA @ Jiffy Lube Live

September 13 – Raleigh, NC @ Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek

September 15 – Charlotte, NC @ Truliant Amphitheater

September 16 – Alpharetta, GA @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

September 18 – Clarkston, MI @ Pine Knob Music Theatre

September 19 – Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life (Festival)

September 21 – St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater

September 23 – Dallas, TX @ Dos Equis Pavilion

September 25 – The Woodlands, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

September 26 – Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater

September 29 – Albuquerque, NM @ First Financial Credit Union Amphitheater

October 1 – Phoenix, AZ @ Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre

October 3 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival

Latin America Tour Dates:

November 28 – São Paulo, Brazil @ Espaço Unimed

December 1 – Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Movistar Arena

December 3 – Santiago, Chile @ Arena Movistar

December 7 – Lima, Peru @ Costa 21

December 12 – Mexico City, Mexico @ Estadio Fray Nano

Grace Ives Joins Gracie Abrams and Olivia Rodrigo on Tour Behind Acclaimed Album ‘Girlfriend’

Eric Alper
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Grace Ives Joins Gracie Abrams and Olivia Rodrigo on Tour Behind Acclaimed Album ‘Girlfriend’

Grace Ives has confirmed support slots on 2 of the biggest tours going. She’ll join Gracie Abrams for arena dates in Toronto, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Boston early in 2027, and Olivia Rodrigo on her Unraveled Tour across the UK and Europe, with newly added dates in Amsterdam and London on top of previously confirmed stops in Stockholm and Munich.

Both announcements build on the momentum of ‘Girlfriend’, Ives’s spring release via True Panther/Capitol Records, which earned Pitchfork’s Best New Music designation and landed on its best music of 2026 list. The New York Times, NPR, Stereogum, and NYLON all weighed in with equal enthusiasm. One critic called it “10 out of 10. No notes. No skips.” Another described it as “one of the year’s most pertinent examples of pop’s remedial properties.”

‘Girlfriend’ was written and produced alongside Grammy Award-winner Ariel Rechtshaid, whose credits include Charli XCX, Vampire Weekend, and Kelela, and John DeBold, known for his work with HAIM, Dora Jar, and Dijon. Dave Fridmann handled mixing. The album marks Ives’s return after a nearly 3-year hiatus, documenting a period of profound personal change with the most sonically ambitious music of her career.

The record follows her 2022 breakout ‘Janky Star’, which The New York Times, NPR, and Pitchfork all named among the best of that year. NYLON called it “the year’s most relatable pop record.” ‘Girlfriend’ takes everything that worked on ‘Janky Star’ and expands it considerably.

Ives recently wrapped a sold-out North American headline run and is currently on a European leg with dates in Barcelona, Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Amsterdam, and London. Physical formats include signed Girlfriend Pink vinyl, CD, and a newly available 7″ vinyl edition.

Grace Ives Live:

2026

June 6 – Barcelona, ES @ Primavera Sound

June 8 – Paris, FR @ Hasard Ludique

June 10 – Brussels, BE @ Rotonde/Botanique

June 12 – Berlin, DE @ Kantine am Berghain

June 14 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso (Small Hall)

June 16 – London, UK @ Village Underground

2027

February 18 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena (w/ Gracie Abrams)

February 19 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena (w/ Gracie Abrams)

February 23 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena (w/ Gracie Abrams)

February 24 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena (w/ Gracie Abrams)

February 26 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center (w/ Gracie Abrams)

February 27 – Charlotte, NC @ Spectrum Center (w/ Gracie Abrams)

March 1 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden (w/ Gracie Abrams)

March 2 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden (w/ Gracie Abrams)

March 19 – Stockholm, SE @ Avicii Arena (w/ Olivia Rodrigo)

March 20 – Stockholm, SE @ Avicii Arena (w/ Olivia Rodrigo)

March 23 – Amsterdam, NL @ Ziggo Dome (w/ Olivia Rodrigo)

March 24 – Amsterdam, NL @ Ziggo Dome (w/ Olivia Rodrigo)

March 27 – Amsterdam, NL @ Ziggo Dome (w/ Olivia Rodrigo)

March 28 – Amsterdam, NL @ Ziggo Dome (w/ Olivia Rodrigo)

April 1 – Munich, DE @ Olympiahalle (w/ Olivia Rodrigo)

April 2 – Munich, DE @ Olympiahalle (w/ Olivia Rodrigo)

April 5 – London, UK @ O2 Arena (w/ Olivia Rodrigo)

April 6 – London, UK @ O2 Arena (w/ Olivia Rodrigo)

April 8 – London, UK @ O2 Arena (w/ Olivia Rodrigo)

April 9 – London, UK @ O2 Arena (w/ Olivia Rodrigo)

April 12 – London, UK @ O2 Arena (w/ Olivia Rodrigo)

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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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