Happy Music Friday! Right now in the South we are melting. It’s hotter than Satan’s palms at a church reunion. The first quarter of the year has started off with a bang, so many tours have been announced. Festival season is gearing up to be sweaty and jam packed with new music out of this world.  There are repeat offenders stampeding the festival trails and newbs making their names known. All the albums and new singles are hitting now in heated anticipation. Did I mention as I type this a perfectly formed bead of sweat is finding it’s way down my neck even the ice cold sweet tea won’t help. The cherry blossom trees are out and assaulting everyone with even the slightest allergies. It’s going to be a fun season. 

What album are you most looking forward to? Comment below! is what I’d usually ask but this week we have a new feature from our amazing friends at UMG – they put together this amazing conglomerate of some of their new hot talent just for you.

To wrap up this week, we’ve got some much-anticipated arrivals that have us tapping our toes, crossing our arms, and screeching, “Finally!” We’re sure you can see which ones we think you should grab and which ones we think may deserve a pass (cough). Dive in at your own risk, and let’s hear your picks!

Featured Album of the Week:

Excerpt: The 1980s was a time when heavy metal ruled the hard rock world. From your standard metal fare like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest to your more extreme thrash metal movement with bands like Metallica, Slayer, and Anthrax, the 80s were heavy as hell. Thrown in the mix here of this multifaceted genre was metal of a lighter fair, that all the chicks completely loved. Call it Hair Metal, Glam Metal, Pop Metal, or Cock Rock, the music was fun and infused with rock anthems supreme. Unfortunately, the style faded to obscurity before the end of the 20^th century.

And then came Steel Panther. Read the full review here!

**All dates are for U.S. releases unless otherwise noted. Dates are subject to change. 

ALBUM RELEASE CALENDAR February 24th, 2023

Friday, February 24th

• Ada Morghe — Lost
• Adam Lambert — High Drama
• Air Raid — Fatal Encounter (High Roller)
• The Alan Parsons Project — The Turn Of A Friendly Card (Deluxe Edition)
• Algiers — SHOOK
• Andrew Star — Enough
• Andy Fairweather Low [Roger Waters/Eric Clapton] — Flang Dang
• Asia — Fantasia… Live in Tokyo 2007
• Aundrey Guillaume — Cold Summer EP
• Autechre — Confield (Reissue)
• Autechre — Draft 7.30 (Reissue)
• Begonia — Powder Blue
• Ben Gallagher — Country in the House
• Bernie Marsden [Whitesnake] — Big Boy Blues and Green: 1995-2005 (4CD clamshell box)
• BIG|BRAVE — nature morte
• Billy Lemos — Control Freak EP
• Bodyfarm — Ultimate Abomination (Edged Circle)
• Booker T. & The MG’s — Green Onions: 60th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
• Bria — Cuntry Covers Vol. 2
• CAIN — Honest Offering (Live) – Provident Label Group
• Caleb Stanton — When I Trust In You (Single) – Independent
• Chasms — Glimpse of Heaven
• Christian McBride — Prime
• Christy Nockels — TBA – Fuel Music
• The Church — The Hypnogogue
• Citizens — I Can’t Find The Edges Of You – Integrity Music
• Cola — Deep in View (Deluxe Edition)
• daine — shapeless
• D.B. Shrier Quartet — D.B. Shrier Emerges (Reissue)
• David Brewis (of Field Music) — The Soft Struggles
• Death Pill — Death Pill
• Death Valley Girls — Island in the Sky
• Del Shannon — Stranger in Town: A Del Shannon Compendium (12CD box)
• Dierks Bentley — Gravel & Gold
• Don Toliver — Love Sick
• Dope — Blood Money Part Zer0
• Dougie Poole — The Rainbow Wheel of Death
• Dustin Starks — See Like That (Single) – Independent
• Elderbrook — Little Love
• Ellis Ludwig — Leone (of San Fermin) — False We Hope
• Elmiene — El-Mean EP
• En Attendant Ana — Same Old Story
• Faten Kanaan — Afterpoem
• Gabrielle Shonk — Across the Room
• Gina Birch (of The Raincoats) — I Play My Bass Loud
• Godsmack — Lighting Up the Sky
• Gorillaz — Cracker Island
• Gracie Abrams — Good Riddance
• GUNNAR — Best Mistake
• HEAVENSGATE — And All I Loved, I Loved Alone EP
• Heidevolk — Wederkeer (Napalm)
• HOST — IX
• Hypno5e – Sheol (Pelagic)
• Insomnium – Anno 1696 (Century Media)
• Iris DeMent — Workin’ on a World
• Jenny O. — Spectra
• Joe Westerlund — Elegies for the Drift
• John Bence – Archangels
• John Lee Hooker — Burnin’ (Reissue)
• Jozzy — Songs For Women, Free Game For N**** EP
• Jung Jaeil — ‘Listen’
• Karol G — Mañana Sera Bonito
• Kate Fagan — I Don’t Wanna Be Too Cool (Expanded Edition)
• Ken Hensley [Uriah Heep] — Past and Present, Songs in Time: 1972-2021 (6CD clamshell box)
• Key Glock — Glockoma 2
• KLAN — ​jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
• Larry Sparks — New Highway (Remastered) (Mountain Home)
• The Lathums — From Nothing to a Little Bit More
• Lecrae — CC4: Dry Clean Only
• Logic — College Park
• Lucero — Should’ve Learned By Now
• Matt Hillyer — Glorieta (State Fair)
• Matt McCoy – Spirit Songs – Independent
• Max Richter — SLEEP: Tranquility Base EP
• mazie — blotter baby
• Megaton Sword — Might & Power (Dying Victims)
• Miss Grit — Follow the Cyborg
• Mitch Wong — A Beautiful Ending, A Blessed Beginning – Integrity Music
• Model/Actriz — Dogsbody
• Moonalice — Moonalice – An Acoustic Adventure
• Motörhead — Bad Magic: Seriously Bad Magic
• mui zyu — Rotten Bun for an Eggless Century
• Muscadine Bloodline — Teenage Dixie
• Naughty by Nature — 19 Naughty III (30th Anniversary Edition)
• NAUT — Hunt
• The Necks — Travel
• Neutral Milk Hotel — The Collected Works of Neutral Milk Hotel
• NONAH – Waiting (Single) – Independent
• No Spill Blood – Eye Of Night (Svart)
• NNAMDÏ — Please Have a Seat (Deluxe Edition)
• OFF! — First Four EPs (Reissue)
• OFF! — OFF! (Reissue)
• OFF! — Wasted Years (Reissue)
• Omega Infinity — The Anticurrent (Season Of Mist)
• Owen Pallett — Has a Good Home (Reissue)
• Owen Pallett — He Poos Clouds (Reissue)
• Owen Pallett — Spectrum, 14th Centrury & Plays to Please (Reissue)
• Payroll Giovanni — Ghost Mode
• Philip Selway (of Radiohead) — Strange Dance
• Planetshakers – Nothing Is Impossible (Live) (Single) – Planetshakers Church
• Polinski (of 65daysofstatic) — Telex from MIDI City
• PTtheGospelSpitter — Kingdom (Single) – Independent
• quinnie — flounder
• Real Friends — There’s Nothing Worse Than Too Late EP
• Rick Wakeman (of YES) — A Gallery Of The Imagination
• Sam Gendel — COOKUP
• Shame — Food for Worms
• The Shootouts — Stampede
• Siena Root — Revelation (Atomic Fire)
• SKRILLEX — QUEST FOR FIRE
• The Slow Readers Club — Knowledge Freedom Power
• Steel Panther — On The Prowl Read our review on this album here!
• STÖNER (feat. Brank Bjork and Nick Oliveri) — Boogie to Baja
• The Strokes — The Singles Volume 01 [Box Set]
• $uicideboy$ & Shakewell — SHAMELESS $UICIDE – EP
• Swim Camp — Steel Country
• Tiësto — Drive
• Tink — Thanks 4 Nothing
• Trapeze [Glenn Hughes] — Don’t Stop the Music: Complete Recordings Vol. 1 (1970-92)
• Ty Segall & Emmett Kelly — Live at Worship
• U.S. Girls — Bless This Mess
• Unloved — Polychrome
• Various artists — Deviation Street: High Times on Ladbroke Grove 1967-75 (3CD clamshell set with Roxy Music, Motorhead, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Hawkwind, others)
• Various Artists — Pacific Breeze 3: Japanese City Pop, AOR & Boogie 1975-1987
• Various Artists — Soul’ed Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection
• VÉRITÉ — love you forever
• The Vogues — At Co & Ce – The Complete Singles And More
• Volores — Ages
• Wande — Winning (Single) – Reach Records
• Yeat — Aftërlyfe

Check below for:

New Singles by: Niall Horan, Jonas Brothers, Halsey, Ashley McBryde, The Weeknd and Ariana Grande

New albums by: Gracie Abrams, Gorillaz

New Singles:

NIALL HORAN SHARES MUSIC VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE “HEAVEN” NIALL’S THIRD STUDIO ALBUM THE SHOW, OUT JUNE 9 AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW Niall to appear as talk guest on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” Monday, February 27, And Joins “The Voice” As A Coach On March 6

Today, multiplatinum global superstar Niall Horan shares the cinematic music video for his soaring new single “Heaven.” The chart-topping artist wrote the track with John Ryan and Joel Little, who also produced, and Tobias Jesso Jr. Horan recorded the song in Southern California. Listen to “Heaven”    The song marked a momentous return for Horan as his first solo material in nearly three years. Upon impact last week, it bowed as the highest new entry on both the Spotify Global Chart and Spotify US Chart. It also achieved the highest-volume streaming day of his solo career thus far. Right out of the gate, Rolling Stone declared “Niall Horan’s certified lover boy era has commenced.” While Billboard notes “’Heaven,’ which previews third album The Show, reaches for eternal love with a vocal elasticity and guitar chug that play off each other with ease.”   The accompanying visual seamlessly translates the scope of the song to the screen. Shot in Los Angeles by director Dylan Knight, it evokes Horan’s energy and charisma with an impressive performance vignette alongside musician Emilia Schmier who accompanies Horan on drums. Niall Horan said, “One thing I’ve learned over the years is that society loves to pressure us into reaching certain milestones by a certain age. Whether that’s getting married or anything else that really should be based on our own instincts. As I’ve gotten older I’ve tried to let go of those expectations and just follow my heart. The chorus of this song is saying that what I have in my life currently is amazing. So it would be crazy to ruin that by giving into outside pressures.”   Horan will pay a visit to “Late Night with Seth Meyers” on Monday, February 27, and join “The Voice” as a new coach for Season 23, which premieres on March 6 on NBC. He appeared last week on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” View the interview HERE. Horan will make his festival debut at Boston Calling on May 26. He’ll also be performing at summer festivals around the globe, including Pinkpop and Isle of Wight. See below for itinerary.   Originally from Mullingar, Ireland, Horan has sold over 80 million records and toured the globe multiple times as part of the iconic One Direction. His full-length solo debut Flicker entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1 in October 2017 and contained the 3x RIAA Platinum single “Slow Hands” and the 2x RIAA Platinum “This Town.” The album hit the top 10 in 20 countries total. With combined global streams surpassing eight billion, Flicker has gone Platinum in five countries (including the U.S.) and Gold in additional seven countries. Heartbreak Weather followed in 2020 and topped the U.K.’s Official Albums chart and Billboard’s Top Album Sales tally. American Songwriter noted, “Horan guns right for the eye of heartbreak’s storm…He feels the sting quite viscerally, yet instead of writhing around in his misery, he fashions his acoustic guitar in new smoldering settings or opts to dance it out into the wee hours of the morning.”

Niall Horan – 2023 Festival Dates 5/26    Boston, MA                           Boston Calling Festival 2023 6/16    Landgraaf, NL                       Pinkpop 2023 6/18    Newport, UK                         Isle of Wight Festival 2023 7/6      Stavern, NO                           Stavernfestivalen 7/7      Glasgow, UK                        TRNSMIT Festival 2023 7/20    Ostrava, CZ                            Colours of Ostrava 2023 7/22    Paris, FR                                Lollapalooza Paris 8/9      Odemira, PT                          Meo Sudoeste 2023 8/12    Budapest, HU                       Sziget Festival 2023 9/1      Stradbally, IE                        Electric Picnic 2023

JONAS BROTHERS ARE BACK WITH SOARING NEW SINGLE “WINGS” TODAY. ACCOMPANIED BY OFFICIAL VIDEO FEATURING HALEY LU RICHARDSON. SET TO MAKE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED RETURN WITH NEW RECORD THE ALBUM OUT MAY 12^TH

EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY SINGER, SONGWRITER & PRODUCER JON BELLION

PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE THE ALBUM HERE
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 24^TH, 2023 – Today, GRAMMY® Award-nominated powerhouse trio Jonas Brothers return with their anxiously-awaited new single “Wings,” out now via Republic Records—listen to “Wings.” “Wings” launches a new era for the band and is the first single from their sixth full-length record—and one of the most anticipated releases of the year—The Album, out May 12^th.

The new song is released alongside the official music video featuring actress and self-proclaimed Jonas Brothers fan Haley Lu Richardson [White Lotus]. Shot in Las Vegas and directed by Josh Rimmey and Zach Williams, the feel-good video includes an impromptu hotel room dance party and surprise cameo by the Jonas Brothers themselves—watch HERE.

Kicking off another chapter, The Album marks Jonas Brothers’ first body of work since 2019’s Platinum-Certified Happiness Begins, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and spawned the GRAMMY® Award-nominated, 5x-Platinum, Billboard Hot 100 #1 smash hit “Sucker.” Pre-order/Pre-save The Album now HERE.

Executive produced by sonic visionary artist Jon Bellion [Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, Halsey], “Wings” revs up with shimmering keys, as it embraces late 70’s pop with thick bass, hummable synth runs, and heavenly harmonies. Wrapped up with lush guitar, a head-nodding beat, and no shortage of fiery falsetto, it culminates on the instantly chantable chorus “You are the wings I need to fly away.” The band began teasing the song on socials last month to online chatter and debuted it in full for the very first time last weekend at their “Jonas Brothers: Live in Las Vegas” residency.

The Jonas Brothers said, “‘Wings’ is the perfect start to this new chapter for us. Working with Jon pushed us to explore our artistry in a way we never have before. The song is a great first taste of that creative exploration and what’s to come with THE ALBUM.”

Jon Bellion chimed in, saying, “We wanted to wipe the palette clean and demolish every expectation and box the brothers have ever been put into out the gate. We pushed ourselves to launch this thing musically into space while grounding it in a sort of Americana / Laurel Canyon nostalgia. There was a time when structure and composition mattered not only loops and vibes, and we dove into that mind frame. We went so deep into the spirit and energy of the late 70’s, the mustaches and long hair method acting approach started to just become our actual reality. The brothers have a God given ability and talent that deserves this level of record making at this point, and I just wanted to honor how special they are with this music.”

Jonas Brothers notably wrote and recorded The Album with Bellion at the helm. Together, they unlocked the next level for the band, embracing formative influences and igniting their sound from every angle. They delivered an unpredictable, undeniable, and unstoppable record uplifted by their inimitable chemistry and endless creativity.

This is The Album. This is Jonas Brothers in 2023.

THE ALBUM TRACKLIST

1. “Miracle”
2. “Montana Sky”
3. “Wings”
4. “Sail Away”
5. “Americana”
6. “Celebrate!”
7. “Waffle House”
8. “Vacation Eyes”
9. “Summer in the Hamptons”
10. “Summer Baby”
11. “Little Bird”
12. “Walls” feat. Jon Bellion

Halsey – Die 4 Me

GRAMMY AWARD WINNER ASHLEY McBRYDE UNVEILS
“LIGHT ON IN THE KITCHEN”
Grand Ole Opry Member’s New Single Impacts Country Radio March 27
McBryde Joins “The Jennifer Hudson Show” Wednesday, March 1

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – GRAMMY Award winner Ashley McBryde has spent most of her life on the road and often writes about her experiences being away from her loved ones, evidenced by songs like “Sparrow” and live set favorite “Made For This.” With “Light On In The Kitchen,” written by McBryde with Connie Harrington and Jessi Alexander, the Arkansas native celebrates the warm glow shared across homes around the world, a symbol of affection signaling that someone may be missing tonight, but thoughts of them are present. 

“When I tell someone there’s a ‘Light On In The Kitchen’ for them, to me it means you’re thinking of them, even if they’re not coming home that night,” shares McBryde. “While writing this, we were all able to look back and remember the women in our lives who comforted us, gave us advice and made sure we knew we had a place to go. Writing this song showed me how necessary that simple comfort had been.

“I sent it to the important women in my life, and they reminded me that they still leave the kitchen light on for me, just like when I was growing up. Knowing someone, somewhere is thinking of you in that way can get you through a lot. And it’s a bonus that now we get to say, ‘I love you’ or ‘I’m thinking of you’ by saying ‘The light’s on for ya.'” 

Released today via Warner Music Nashville, “Light On In The Kitchen” conjures up images of those late nights spent at the kitchen table with a trusted confidant, the one person in the world with which you can unapologetically be yourself, all while they give you a little motherly advice:

    Always check the door before you lay down, 
    Keep a glass of water by the bed 
    A dose of local honey
    Will keep your nose from running 
    Little things like that she’s always said 
    Never back up farther than you have to
    And pray for those that don’t have a prayer 

    Honey trust yourself
    You better love yourself 
    Cause ’till you do 
    You ain’t no good for anybody else 
    And honey boys are dumb
    But you’re gonna find you one 
    You’ll love him hard 
    And bless your heart
    You’ll need someone to listen 
    That’s why I leave a light on in the kitchen 

Today’s release follows the Grand Ole Opry member’s triumphant two-night sold-out run of Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville Live at Ryman Auditorium, with American Songwriter praising, “Between the humorously crafted songs and brilliant creativity of some of Nashville’s brightest stars, with a little bit of heart mixed in, Live From Lindeville is easily one of the most unique shows Nashville has seen,” while POLLSTAR observes, “McBryde takes the caricatures and injects so much humanity into every stereotype… These songs serve as vignettes and scenarios, but also deliver pathos without getting saccharine.”

McBryde will appear on “The Jennifer Hudson Show” on March 1 to discuss “Light On In The Kitchen” and recent GRAMMY Award win for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for her No. 1 duet “Never Wanted To Be That Girl” with Carly Pearce. Check your local listings for timing.

Set to perform two shows in her home state tonight, Feb. 24 and tomorrow, Feb. 25, McBryde will embark on a run of additional headlining shows, festivals, two dates at the Grand Ole Opry, three dates with Eric Church on The Outsiders Revival Tour and seven shows with Jelly Roll this spring and summer. Tickets are available at AshleyMcBryde.com.

Ashley McBryde Upcoming Tour Dates

Feb. 24           TempleLive Fort Smith                                                Fort Smith, Ark.
Feb. 25           First Financial Music Hall                                           El Dorado, Ark.
March 8          The Cove at River Spirit Casino Resort                      Tulsa, Okla.
March 9          NRG Park                                                                    Houston, Texas
March 11        Grand Ole Opry House                                                Nashville, Tenn.
April 1             Country Thunder Arizona 2023                                  Florence, Ariz.
Aril 15             Isleta Resort & Casino                                                Albuquerque, N.M.
April 16           Ector Theatre                                                              Odessa, Texas
April 21           River Center Theatre                                                  Baton Rouge, La.
April 22           The Crawfish Music Festival 2023                            Biloxi, Miss.
April 28           Double Decker Arts Festival 2023                             Oxford, Miss.
April 29           Paramount Center for the Arts                                   Bristol, Tenn.
April 30           EKU Center for the Arts                                            Richmond, Ky.
May 12            Choctaw Grand Theater                                             Durant, Okla.
May 13            Cook’s Garage                                                            Lubbock, Texas
May 16            Grand Ole Opry House                                               Nashville, Tenn.
May 18            American Music Theatre                                            Lancaster, Pa.
May 19            Newton Theatre                                                          Newton, N.J.
May 20            Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom                              Hampton Beach, N.H.
May 21            Bottle & Cork                                                             Dewey Beach, Del.
May 28            Fairplex                                                                       Pomona, Calif.
June 2-4          BackCountry Festival 2023                                         Gardnerville, Nev.
June 17           Morgan County Fairgrounds                                        Martinsville, Ind.
June 22           Luther F. Carson Four Rivers Center for the                Paducah, Ky.

June 23           Pine Knob Music Center                                              Clarkston, Mich.
June 24           Blossom Music Center                                                 Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
June 29           Credit One Stadium                                                      Charleston, S.C.
July 8              Hodag Country Festival 2023                                      Rhinelander, Wis.
July 20-23       Country Thunder Wisconsin 2023                               Twin Lakes, Wis.
July 22            Ionia Free Fair Fairgrounds                                          Ionia, Mich.
July 27-29       Headwaters Country Jam 2023                                    Cardwell, Mont.
Aug. 4             Oregon Jamboree Music Festival 2023                        Sweet Home, Ore.
Aug. 6             Big Valley Jamboree 2023                                           Camrose, Alberta
Aug. 11           Jiffy Lube Live                                                             Bristow, Va.
Aug. 12           Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater               Virginia Beach, Va.
Aug. 19           Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre                                Maryland Heights, Mo.
Aug. 25           CHI Health Center Omaha                                          Omaha, Neb.
Aug. 26           T-Mobile Center                                                          Kansas City, Mo.
Sept. 19          Paycom Center                                                             Oklahoma City, Okla.
Sept. 21          Germania Insurance Amphitheater                              Austin, Texas

THE WEEKND AND ARIANA GRANDE RELEASE “DIE FOR YOU” REMIX
LIVE AT SOFI STADIUM PREMIERES THIS SATURDAY FEB 25 ON HBO

The Weeknd and Ariana Grande have teamed up for a remix of his single “Die For You” from his highly acclaimed album Starboy. The collaboration comes on the heels of the single’s staggering resurgence where it has completed “the longest climb to #1 in U.S. radio history,” it has also clinched #1 on the Billboard Radio Songs Chart for two weeks and has been on the Billboard Hot 100 for all of 2023, recently vaulting into the Top 10, serving as his 16^Th Top 10 entry on the respective chart. The record also broke into the Top 20 of the Billboard Global 200, scoring his 15^Th Top 20 in the process.
 
Fans were given a sneak peek of the collaboration through Ariana’s tik-tok account where she posted herself working on the vocals stating that she wrote and recorded a verse for one of her friends after a 14-hour day on the set of the upcoming Jon M. Chu film WICKED.
 
The Weeknd’s anticipated Live at SoFi Stadium special with HBO premieres this Saturday February 25th and will also be starring in his new television show, The Idol, (date tba) on HBO alongside Lily-Rose Depp which he wrote and executive produced with Reza Fahim and Sam Levinson.
 

New Albums:

GRACIE ABRAMS RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM GOOD RIDDANCE

ACCLAIMED SINGER-SONGWRITER SHARES NEW SINGLE & VIDEO

“I KNOW IT WON’T WORK”

ABRAMS TO KICK OFF NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE TOUR

MARCH 6

Santa Monica, California, February 23, 2023 — Today marks the highly anticipated release of Good Riddance, the debut album from acclaimed singer-songwriter Gracie Abrams. Produced by Aaron Dessner of The National, Good Riddance finds Abrams opening up about a recent period of intense transformation, bringing even more honesty and depth to her lyrical storytelling. Good Riddance is available now HERE.

To celebrate the arrival of Good Riddance, the 23-year-old artist is also sharing her quietly cathartic new single “I know it won’t work” and its accompanying video. Directed by Julian Klincewicz the video for “I know it won’t work” shifts from stark black-and-white to hyper-saturated color as it alternates between two striking scenes: one that finds Abrams on horseback in a lush and sunlit field, the other following along as she wanders through the surf of the Pacific Ocean. Filmed in the Santa Barbara area, the gorgeously shot visual ultimately reflects the raw and radiant naturalism at the heart of Abrams‘s songwriting. Watch the video for “I know it won’t work.”

Recorded at Long Pond Studio (the Hudson Valley homebase for Dessner), Good Riddance took shape as Abrams pushed herself toward a sometimes-daunting level of emotional truth in her songwriting.

“Making this album was the most cathartic experience I’ve ever had as a songwriter, and I’m so excited to share it with the world,” says Abrams. “I wrote it while I was going through some of the biggest transitions of my life so far, and the songs came from trying to look at myself very honestly and hold myself accountable. Aaron supported me through all that, while also challenging me in all the ways I’d ever dreamed a creative partner would. He’s been a hero of mine for years, and as our instincts combined it ended up creating a sound that we both really fell in love with.”

“Gracie first came to work with me at Long Pond two years ago and since then we have gathered many times, growing closer and generally writing multiple songs a day together,” says Aaron Dessner. “It’s been one of the most natural and prolific collaborations of my career — the tonality of music I would make each day somehow served as an ideal home for Gracie’s introspective lyricism and sense of melody…she showed such courage allowing herself to be vulnerable and making songs with me that are at turns minimalist and fragile, forceful and cathartic and where the music is allowed to breathe.”

Earlier this month, Rolling Stone published a feature story in which Abrams reflected on the making of Good Riddance, with her future tourmate Taylor Swift chiming in to note that “Gracie’s writing mixes fragility with introspection in a way that I really relate to.” Praising Good Riddance as “one of 2023’s best debuts,” Rolling Stone statedthatthealbum “shows a serious command of autobiographical songwriting” and hailed Abrams as “one of pop’s buzziest young artists.”

Tonight, Abrams takes the stage on Jimmy Kimmel Live! for a performance of “I know it won’t work,” returning to the late-night show for the first time since 2021. A prime example of Good Riddance‘s uncompromising emotionality, “I know it won’t work” captures the wildly conflicting feelings that arise at the end of a long-term relationship, its lyrics drifting from heavy-hearted poetry (“All the shine of half a decade fading”) to frustrated confession (“I’m thinking everything you wish I wasn’t”). With its hypnotic guitar tones, moody synth, and gently propulsive rhythms, “I know it won’t work” also epitomizes the album’s understated yet intricately detailed sound — a mesmerizing form of alt-pop that finds Abrams straying even further from the confines of pop convention.

Along with “I know it won’t work,“ Good Riddance includes the previously released singles “Difficult,“ “Where do we go now?” (a January release accompanied by a gorgeously composed video directed by Gia Coppola), and “Amelie” (a hazy reverie acclaimed by the likes of Uproxx, who highlighted Abrams‘s “knack for visceral storytelling”). Check out the album’s full tracklist below.

Tracklist for Good Riddance by Gracie Abrams:

1. Best

2. I know it won’t work

3. Full machine

4. Where do we go now?

5. I should hate you

6. Will you cry?

7. Amelie

8. Difficult

9. This is what the drugs are for

10. Fault line

11. The blue

12. Right now

Early next month, Abrams embarks on her sold out North American headlining tour in support of her debut album. With Tiny Habits opening on all dates, The Good Riddance Tour kicks off on March 6 at The House of Blues in in Chicago and continues through April 11 at The UC Theatre in Berkeley, CA. In addition to performing in 14 cities across the U.S., Abrams will join Taylor Swift on select dates for her blockbuster Eras Tour. For more information, and to purchase tickets, visit www.gracieabrams.com/tour.

North American Tour dates for Gracie Abrams:

March 6 Chicago, IL  House of Blues

March 7 Chicago, IL  House of Blues

March 9  Toronto, ON  History

March 10 Montreal, QC  MTELUS

March 12 Boston, MA  House of Blues – Boston

March 14  New York, NY  Irving Plaza

March 15 Brooklyn, NY  Brooklyn Steel

March 17 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of Living Arts

March 18 Washington, DC  Howard Theatre

March 20 Atlanta, GA  The Eastern

March 21 Nashville, TN  Marathon Music Works

March 22 Charlotte, NC  The Fillmore

March 25 Austin, TX  Emo’s Austin

March 26 Dallas, TX  The Echo Lounge & Music Hall

March 29 Los Angeles, CA  The Fonda Theatre

March 30 Los Angeles, CA  The Fonda Theatre

April 5  Portland, OR  McMenamins Crystal Ballroom

April 7  Seattle, WA  The Showbox

April 8  Vancouver, BC  Vogue Theatre

April 10  San Francisco, CA The Fillmore

April 11  Berkeley, CA     The UC Theatre

GORILLAZ
THE WAIT IS OVER!
CRACKER ISLAND
THE NEW ALBUM, OUT NOW

The wait is over for Gorillaz fans around the world. Cracker Island – the brand new album from the biggest virtual band on the planet – finally dropped today.  Listen here.  

Cracker Island is the eighth studio album from Gorillaz, an energetic, upbeat,  genre-expansive collection of 10 tracks  with an evocative synth-led 80’s sound featuring yet another stellar line-up of artist collaborators: including Bad Bunny, Stevie Nicks, Adeleye Omotayo, Thundercat, Tame Impala, Bootie Brown and Beck. Recorded in London and L.A., it is produced by nine-time Grammy Award-winning producer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter extraordinaire Greg Kurstin, Gorillaz and Remi Kabaka Jr. 

It’s been a virtual and real world whirlwind since the first taste of Cracker Island arrived with title track ‘Cracker Island ft Thundercat’ dropping in June last year. The band followed up this “…blissed-out groove” (New York Times) with a further hint of things to come when Damon Albarn and the Gorillaz live band performed album track ‘New Gold ft. Tame Impala & Bootie Brown’ live to a sold-out crowd of ecstatic fans at London’s All Points East Festival in August. Gorillaz World Tour 2022 saw the band bring their spectacular mixture of music and circus across 55 shows in 24 countries for over 1.5 million fans; the band shared two epic hit videos for ‘Silent Running ft. Adeleye Omotayo‘ and ‘Cracker Island ft. Thundercat‘ both directed by artist and Gorillaz co-creator Jamie Hewlett and the Emmy-nominated Nexus Studios director, Fx Goby. Gorillaz collected the Best Alternative Award at the MTV EMA’s in Düsseldorf and December saw Gorillaz revolutionize the very concept of musical performance to transform the streets of New York and London into stages for two larger-than-life ground-breaking world’s first geo-spatial AR performances of their track ‘Skinny Ape’, watch it here!

With Murdoc, 2D, Noodle and Russel relocating to Silver Lake, California, their new mansion home in the hills proved to be the perfect base from which to recruit new members to join ‘The Last Cult‘. The group of musical misfits have kept delighted fans updated on their latest series of misadventures: The Great Leader AKA Murdoc fell in love with the lady next door and bottled as his own Divine Essence. Russel was glued to the TV in an effort to salvage some meaning from the static and save humanity, while Noodle set about compiling a handbook of wisdom and knowledge. 2D kept busy being 2D. All the while barrelling towards a prophesized day of reckoning called The Rupture.

Drummer Russel Hobbs said – “Cracker Island is a 70s love letter to LA. Corduroy, big hair, pool parties, a different time when today was still a thousand tomorrows off. Sit back and party like it’s 1979.”

Murdoc said – “Every Gorillaz album is its own universe, behold our latest creation! Am I the all-powerful being at the centre of that universe? Listen and decide for yourself!”

Guitarist Noodle added – “A trip through many worlds, when I look back it already seems like some weird dream from another place and time.”

And 2D mused – “Apart from nearly being sacrificed in a cult ceremony I really enjoyed making this album.”

Gorillaz will return to North America this Spring, with a full live band performance – to include surprise guests – at Coachella on Friday April 14th and Friday April 21st 2023. Before heading out to that other desert for their highly anticipated, must-see Coachella performance, Gorillaz will bring Cracker Island to Las Vegas, where they’ll play a rare, intimate one-off show Wednesday April 12th at Zappos Theater. 

Raise the alarm! Murdoc Niccals is returning to live broadcast! This time, join him to usher in the new album with an exclusive listening party on YouTube on Tuesday 28th Feb at 5pm GMT.  Don’t say we didn’t warn you…

Notes For Editors

Cracker Island – FULL TRACKLISTING: 

1. Cracker Island ft. Thundercat
2. Oil ft. Stevie Nicks
3. The Tired Influencer
4. Tarantula
5. Silent Running ft. Adeleye Omotayo
6. New Gold ft. Tame Impala & Bootie Brown
7. Baby Queen
8. Tormenta ft. Bad Bunny
9. Skinny Ape
10. Possession Island ft. Beck

Until next week!

**Have an album coming out soon we should feature? Let us know! Indie, Regional, National – as long as you aren’t recording on an iPhone, hit us up! PSA – CD RELEASE SHOWS are our jam.