Jimmy (Duck) Holmes catfishes you, Imani Coppola contributes to society, City and Colour get stranger, Michael Schenker is afraid of the dark and more in today’s Roundup. As of this writing, nearly 10,000 people have clicked on that post the other day where I jokingly used the letters XXX in the headline. I don’t know whether to laugh or be horrified.
1 Said it before. Saying it again: I have come to the conclusion that virtually every African-American senior citizen in the state of Mississippi is currently or has been a bluesman. And furthermore, I posit that most of them have or will eventually make albums with Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach. Meet the latest talent: Singer-guitarist Jimmy (Duck) Holmes. His Cypress Hill album drops Oct. 18, but you can catch his Catfish Blues single and video right now. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Jimmy (Duck) Holmes is an American blues musician and proprietor of the Blue Front Cafe on the Mississippi Blues Trail, the oldest surviving juke joint in Mississippi. Holmes is known as the last of the Bentonia bluesmen, as he is the last blues musician to play the Bentonia School.” It’s Duck season:
2 We are all the heroes of our own stories. So it’s only right that New York singer and multi-instrumentalist Imani Coppola next album is dubbed The Protagonist. And that her latest preview single is titled Contributing Member of Society. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Featuring her graceful expertise on the violin, Contributing Member of Society celebrates the release of its accompanying video today. The song dons a wistful posture and drunken country twang with lyrics that don’t candy-coat Imani’s perceptions and hopes … The Protagonist is also a reaction to the state of the country, “I needed to make this album as entertaining and upsetting as America itself is right now. I’m a fucking artist, it is my job to react to what’s going on in society, this is not the time to shy away from difficult subject matters, now is the time to grab them by the fucking balls.” Hey, we all contribute in our own way:
3 Some people like to say a stranger is just a friend you don’t know yet. Dallas Green of City and Colour sees it a different way: A friend is really just a stranger that you can and will never really know. Always a sunny thought; that’s our Dallas. Get a look at what he means in the just-released video for Strangers. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Dallas Green shares, “Strangers is about how we never truly know one another. You’ll never really understand what it’s like to be inside someone else’s brain or heart. So, we need to appreciate the differences. Michael Maxxis and Chris Verene translated my song perfectly onto film.” Assuming any of us can really know ourselves, of course:
4 Guitar legend Michael Schenker will release his second Michael Schenker Fest album Revelation on Sept. 20. But to get you tuned up for it, here’s the second preview single and video Sleeping With The Light On. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Michael Schenker comments: “Many people in my interviews expressed how much they like this song and I tell them: wait till you see the video. It brings it to a whole other level. By the way, the making of the video was a lot of fun and sometimes even spooky. I hope you enjoy it.” Flick the switch:
5 Life is one long battle. Just ask Montreal singer-songwriter Karim Terouz, who records under his last name — and who takes that combative analogy to its logical conclusion in the pugilistic (and cinematic) video for his aptly titled electro-pop latest track Outstanding. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “My first single is an ode to my journey of renewal. It documents a major growth spurt of self-acceptance, letting go, going for it, forgiveness and deep love, not to mention tons of hysterical and sombre sarcasm – my life experience steeped in loss, pain, and fierce reality checks. All of this led me to wisdom, strength, love, and a deep appreciation for good old, consistent groove. Outstanding documents this cycle.” Get into the ring:
6 Berlin rock overlords Kadavar head to the Wild West in the video for The Devil’s Master, the opening track of Oct. 11 release For The Dead Travel Fast. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Fuerteventura was the perfect set for the idea to shoot a small Spaghetti Western. In the story, everyone is fighting everyone: there are cutthroats who don‘t trust each other trying to survive in the desert. They are hunted by their enemy, a violent priest who enslaves a young lady, who both of the cowboys admire. In the end, there won‘t be any winners…” Fill your hand, you sumbitch:
7 I like rum as much as the next guy. But perhaps not as much as the next woman — if said woman is Kai Lamay. After all, the Toronto pop singer’s debut single is titled Captain Bacardi. So not only does she apparently enjoy a mixed adult beverage, she also likes to mix her alcohol references. Stay tuned for her next singles Jack Beam, Jose Patron and Absolute Goose. Meanwhile, dance your drunken face off. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “I am Captain Bacardi. I am the life of the party, and it’s a carefree kind of song. I am there to make sure everybody is having a good time.” Cheers!
8 Dark-hearted Finnish demons The 69 Eyes have the release of their 30th-anniversary album West End firmly in their sights. The disc drops Sept. 13, though you can pluck their latest advance cut, the sinister rock hymn Black Orchid, right here and right now. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “This is the most straight forward Gothic Rock song on the album”, explains singer Jyrki 69. “The guy talking in the lyrics is a similar kind of old fashioned adventurer like the guy in white in Sister Of Mercy’s Dominion music video. He likes independent women, nightlife and reads E.A. Poe and Hermann Hesse.” It’s like I have a twin:
9 As I Lay Dying have risen. Now that frontman Tim Lambesis has finished serving time for soliciting the murder of his estranged wife in 2013, the San Diego bashers have regrouped to forge their seventh studio album Shaped By Fire. It comes out Sept. 20 — and the video for the title cut has all the pyro you want, need, expect and demand. Sound the alarm. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “We are tremendously grateful to have found positive resolve from the worst moments of our history. The previous chapter of our journey was one of pervasive hurt and pain. Subsequent years found us on varied paths — all of which slowly led towards resolutions of growth, healing, and reconciliation. As I Lay Dying’s collective purpose is to share a message of hope for everyone through the empowering outlet of music, and we are humbled by the overwhelming support we have received from family, friends, and fans so far.” See the shape of things to come:
10 German thrash vets Destruction unleash their a visualizer video for Inspired by Death, a hopeful little ditty from their just-release 17th record Born to Perish. They sound like really upbeat guys. No, seriously. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Enjoy the exciting fresh wind that the new line up brings into the well oiled wrecking machine! We had a blast doing this album, I hope you have the same enjoyment listening to it now! THRASH hardest!!!” Can’t I just thrash harder?
11 Philadelphia lyricist Bok Nero and producer Shizz Loteam up for a Hood Anthem — and a cartoon video to boot. Get animated. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “The booming collaboration exemplifies Nero’s signature #HoodEDM brand, with free-flowing rhymes spit rapidly over explosive bass drops.” But why are they standing in the middle of the street?
12 Surviving Motörhead guitarist Phil Campbell isn’t ready to retire just yet. In fact, he just finished recording his first solo record, Old Lions Still Roar. The star-studded set arrives Oct. 25, but you can enjoy the animated video for the first single These Old Boots, which features assists from Dee Snider, Mick Mars and Chris Fehn. Speaking of old lions. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “The album will include guest appearances by renowned artists such as Dee Snider, Rob Halford, Alice Cooper among many others.” Fair enough — most of them are already cartoon characters anyway:
13 Singer-songwriter Kelsey Waldon sings them as she sees them. Her songs have delivered honest observations of small-town life, drug addiction, and heartbreak. Her latest single Sunday’s Children — from the Oct. 4 release White Noise/White Lines — is cut from the same true-to-life cloth. Hear for yourself, and read along on the lyric video. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Essentially, that tune was inspired by how I felt about people using religion and God in the name of hate … I grew up in the Southern Baptist church, and I was really discouraged to hear so many people instil fear in the hearts of people, that just because somebody isn’t like them, they would be afraid of this person.” Amen to that:
14 If the Kingdom of Heaven really exists, everybody would want to go there. Dutch metal titans Epica can give you a ride — musically speaking, anyway — on the latest track and lyric video from their Oct. 4 Gold Edition reissue of the classic Design Your Universe album. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Mark Jansen comments: “Kingdom of Heaven is very dear to me. This song was dedicated to my grandmother after she passed away. The lyrics are dealing with near-death experiences and the bridge between spirituality and science. Up until today it’s the Epica song I’m most proud of and even though we cannot perform it that often live due to its length, we will perform it soon during the Design Your Universe 10th Anniversary shows.” See the light:
15 Countless artists create dance music to entertain. Marcus James also uses it to educate. The Vancouver veteran’s latest track Move On — featuring vocals by XYSM — deals with mental health issues, and makes it personal by incorporating phone recordings from James’ own life. That’s a bold move. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Move On sends a straight-forward story and message to all those listening: that vulnerability about these feelings is not a topic that should be stigmatized, and that there is light at the end of the tunnel.” Step into his world:
16 Sometimes you want to listen to thoughtful, intelligent music that elevates you. And sometimes you just want to rock out with a solid dose of dumbass nincompoopery. Toronto trio Sixteen Scandals have you covered on the latter count with their latest track C No Evil, Hear No Evil, Talk a Lot of Shit. You can almost feel your IQ lowering as you hear it. SAYS THE PRESS RELEASE: “Their live performance can be summed up as “…a chaotic blast of catchy hooks that frequently spills off the stage, and tells a lot of dad jokes.” No need to dumb it down. Just click HERE.
