I've always had a sweet pot for Phoenix since the Lost in Translation soundtrack. Their songs are so compelling.
With the newest record - Alpha Zulu - they put out a tight and powerful piece of art.
Winter Solstice is one of their all-time best songs:
The third song from the new record of Mike Viola (called "Paul McCarthy", out, April 14, 2023) is here: I Think I Thought Forever Proof.
This will EASILY become my record of the year!
Preorder the record here:
USA: Grandphony
UK / Europe: Lojinx
Ben Folds is back! Finally!
The new album will be called "What Matters Most" - it will be out June 2, 2023.
Listen to the first song ("Winslow Gardens") here:
The record will be out digital, on CD, on Deluxe CD (with 3 additional songs), on blue vinyl (signed) at New West Records - there's also a signed golden vinyl including a flexidisc at amazon.co.uk (sadly it's sold out).
In February 2023 Mike Viola played with Brendon Urie, Rachel White and Jake Sinclair live at Freundlich+Kompetent in Hamburg.
Here are some of the songs:
The Beths are a Indie Rock band from New Zealand. And this song struck me hard (listen to the full album!):
Mike Viola will be in Europe with the Panic at the Disco tour in February 2023.
He will also do a set of solo concerts:
22/02/2023: Hamburg (Freundlich + Kompetent)
Ivy (Adam Schlesinger, Dominique Durand, Andy Chase) have just released an exclusive Best Of on opaque turquoise vinyl via VinylMePlease. It's limited to 1000 vinyls.
Buy it here:
https://www.vinylmeplease.com/products/ivy-ive-got-a-feeling-the-best-of-ivy
Dominique and Andy had an interview with VMP:
https://www.vinylmeplease.com/blogs/magazine/ivy-best-of-compilation-interview
Eric Barao is back with his new EP "From My Planet To Your Star" (release date: October 18, 2022).
The album was recorded during the pandemic in Eric's home studio with additional tracking in Austria. It's entirely self produced, mixed and mastered.
Listen to the wonderful first track "Whoever You Are" here:
Mike Viola is back!
His brand new song "Paul McCarthy" is out on digital platforms NOW!
If you look closer to the cover, you will recognize Brendon Urie (Panic at the Disco!) and Jake Sinclair (producer of Weezer, Fallout Boy and Panic at the Disco!) in the background...
Also: The new album will follow in January 2023!
Mike Viola - The Best Of
I made the (almost impossible) attempt to create a The Best Of Mike Viola collection of all the official records, songs that didn't make it on an album - and even not official released stuff. When I collected all my favourites, the result was six (!) overfull records!
So I tried to cut it down to a double album. Sadly almost half of the songs are not avaliable on streaming platforms. But still ... *drumroll* here is the result:
Here is the full list (including songs, that are not available on streaming platforms):
Mike Viola - The Best Of
Disc 1
01 Maybe Maybe Not (from "Lurch")
02 The Strawberry Blonde (from "Lurch")
03 Falling Into Place (from "Falling Into Place")
04 It Does A Number On My Brain (from "Bitten and Cursed EP")
05 That Thing You Do! - The Wonders (from "That Thing You Do soundtrack")
06 Hair Of The Dog (from "Just Before Dark")
07 Get You Back (from "Electro de Perfecto")
08 So Much Better (from "Lurch")
09 The Wind (from "Songs for Sandy Hook")
10 Rock N' Roll Denny's (from "Ghoul")
11 El Mundo De Perfecto (from "Electro de Perfecto")
12 You Belong To Me Now (from "Play With Your Head")
13 She Thinks She's In Love (from "Ghoul")
14 Paul McCarthy (from new album - out 2023)
15 Moving Forward (from "Ghoul")
16 Time For Everything To Change (from "Ghoul")
17 Hang On Mike (from "Hang On Mike")
18 King Kong Hand (from "American Egypt")
19 Unexpected Traffic (from "Hang On Mike")
20 Motel Mood (from "Lurch" - B-Side)
21 Start Of Something (unreleased)
22 Good Ideas Grow On Trees (from "Lurch")
23 Oh! Darling (Live) (unreleased)
24 Number Crunch (from "Just Before Dark")
25 Hunker Down (from "Hang On Mike")
26 Just Before Dark (from "Just Before Dark")
Disc 2
01 USA Up All Night (from "Godmuffin")
02 Soundtrack Of My Summer (from "Electro de Perfecto")
03 Cupid Complained to Venus (from "Candy Butchers")
04 Clusterfuck (from "Just Before Dark")
05 Sparkle! (from "Hang On Mike")
06 I Let Her Get Away (from "Play with your Head")
07 Be My Baby (from "Ghoul")
09 Superkid (from "Hang On Mike")
10 Something Electric (from "Lurch" - B-Side)
11 Break Your Heart (from "Falling Into Place")
12 Loving Is Enough (from "Ghoul")
13 Mutant Ninja Turtle (from "American Egypt")
14 Don't Want To Die In LA (from "Introducing Mike Viola - Japan Best Of")
15 Falling Into Place (Unplugged) (unreleased)
16 Can't We Do Anything Right (from "Falling Into Place")
17 Virginia (The Nines Cover) (unreleased)
18 Killing Floor (from "Falling Into Place")
19 California Girl (from "Live at La Bonboniere")
20 Sandi Bright (from "Just Before Dark")
21 Life Magazine (from "Candy Butchers")
22 Fall Back Down (Unplugged) (unreleased)
22 Secret Radio (from "Acousto de Perfecto")
23 Hair Of The Dog (Acousto) (from "Acousto de Perfecto")
A brand new Aqualung Album 'Dead Letters' will be released worldwide on 28th October, 2022.
Also the Aqualung records "Still Life" and "Aqualung" will be released on colored vinyl in November 2022.
You can get all of that here (vinyl, CD, digital, signed records):
https://aqualung.tmstor.es
Here is the new (and absolutely beautiful) single "Imperfect Cadence":
