The Fat Angel Sings

Four decades after igniting college-radio airwaves and launching R.E.M.’s remarkable career, their 1981 debut single “Radio Free Europe” is broadcasting a new signal. R.E.M. unveils “Radio Free Europe 2025″, a five-track benefit EP led by a never-before-released 2025 remix by Jacknife Lee. The release celebrates the 75^th anniversary of the “OG” “Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty”, which currently broadcasts news and information in 27 languages to 23 countries where a free press is either banned by the government or under threat. 

Members of R.E.M. say this mission of promoting free expression has always resonated with the band: “Whether it’s music or a free press – censorship anywhere is a threat to the truth everywhere. On World Press Freedom Day, I’m sending a shout-out to the brave journalists at Radio Free Europe,” says Michael Stipe, lead singer and founding member of R.E.M. “Radio Free Europe’s journalists have been pissing off dictators for 75 years. You know you’re doing your job when you make the right enemies. Happy World Press Freedom Day to the ‘OG’ Radio Free Europe,” says Mike Mills, bassist and founding member of R.E.M.

The EP is available a limited-edition 10-inch orange-vinyl pressing is available for pre-order now exclusively via the official R.E.M. store and independent record stores. Proceeds from all vinyl sales will go to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, an editorially independent nonpartisan and nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation. 

Van Morrison has debuted another song from his upcoming studio album, “Remembering Now”. The 47th studio album from the legendary Northern Irish singer/songwriter, it’s due out June 13th.  joining Morrison on this album is a backing band featuring Richard Dunn (Hammond organ), Stuart McIlroy (piano), Pete Hurley (bass) and Colin Griffin (drums and percussion) – the same group that has worked alongside him since “Three Chords and the Truth” in 2019.

“Remembering Now” features an array of accomplished collaborators. Its strings were arranged and directed by Fiachra Trench (Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello), whose association with Van Morrison goes back to the album “Avalon Sunset” in 1989. Those strings were performed by the Fews Ensemble led by Joanne Quigley.

Other contributions come from Michael Beckwith, the founder of the Agape International Spiritual Center, the renowned lyricist Don Black (Ennio Morricone, John Barry, Quincy Jones); and the acclaimed folk artist Seth Lakeman.

‘Remembering Now’ Out June 13th

“LIBERTY: Life, Billy, and the Pursuit of Happiness” is Liberty Devitto’s story: a tale of an Italian-American kid who followed his dream and attained unimaginable success, only to see it crumble before his eyes, and ultimately experience a rebirth after passing through the fire of broken relationships, divorce, substance abuse, the death of a brother and a bandmate, and the pain of losing the persona the world knew as “Billy Joel’s drummer.” In this compelling memoir, Liberty takes you back to his immigrant roots and ultimate settling on Long Island, a place he recounts in warm detail. The book traces the musician’s journey from early childhood bands, a rise through the local club scene, wedding bands, building a career, his first tours, and then a juggernaut of success, excess, through his stardom with Billy Joel. Devitto recounts the making of each of Billy’s albums in detail, with specific memories from the recording sessions of every song on each album — from “Turnstiles” through “Storm Front”. Liberty shares stories from the production and tour for “River of Dreams” and the end of his tenure with Billy. LIBERTY is a tale of following and fulfilling your dream, a love story of a drummer and his drums, and an inside look at the music and career of Billy Joel from the man who viewed it from the best seat in the house: the drum throne.

Liberatori “Liberty” DeVitto (born August 8, 1950) is an American rock musician best known for his work as a drummer for New York singer-songwriter Billy Joel’s recording and touring band. He’s been a session drummer on recordings of other artists and also performed with Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, Mick Jagger, Roger Daltrey, Ronnie Spector, Karen Carpenter, Phoebe Snow, Elton John, Meatloaf, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Morello, Elvis Costello, Mitch Ryder, and many more. For thirty years, Liberty DeVitto was the driving force behind one of the biggest pop artists of all time…Billy Joel. With his intense drive, endless creativity, and New York swagger, Liberty created the grooves for 13 platinum Billy Joel albums that have sold over 150 million copies worldwide. He also wrote and performed the drum parts on 22 of Billy’s 23 top-40 hits and all of his six GRAMMY@ Award-winning recordings. Liberty toured the world multiple times as one of the most well-known drummers of his era, but the amazing success did not come without a price. In 2013, he was inducted into The Classic Drummer’s Hall of Fame.

“Talkin To The Trees” is the debut full-length album from Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts and will be released on June 13th. “Talkin To The Trees” is a personal and powerful album featuring ten new compositions by Young. “Big Change”, the first song from the album, was released in January 2025, with a message that left no doubt where Neil Young stands in these challenging times.

This is just the thing! Mr. Young has drawn together the ferocity of “Ohio” or “Southern Man”, the quality in “Cinnamon GIrl” that says “Ah, so that’s what we were missing!”, and the skill and technique and wisdom to make the right thing for the times.

The Chrome Hearts are Spooner Oldham (Organ); Micah Nelson (Guitar and Vocal); Corey McCormick (Bass and Vocal); Anthony LoGerfo (Drums); with Neil Young (Guitar, Harp, Piano, Vibes). The album is co-produced by Lou Adler and Young, and recorded at Shangri La Studios in Malibu.

Titled “Lets Roll Again,” the track turned up with a music video, and previews the ensemble’s upcoming debut studio album, “Talkin to the Trees” Neil Young gave us a second early taste of his new album with The Chrome Hearts, the Elon Musk-blasting “Lets Roll Again,” 

All of this activity comes as Young and the Chrome Hearts also have a big tour kicking off in June, promising “music and songs, new and old” each night.

The former Miracle Legion front-man & singer from Polaris (the Adventures of Pete & Pete) now gone solo,  Mr. Mulcahy has been writing and recording and today we have “I Got Strangled”. It’s a four track all new songs EP recorded by MM and Ken over the last few weeks. Mixed by the maestro Paul Kolderie. Summer’s here and so are you. I opened a window last week. If you live around here you know what that means. It’s summer. Real air coming through the old screens. Birds diving and hopping.The neighbors are setting up some chairs and and the mail lady is wearing short sleeves again. Yeah. I missed a few days because I was inside recording this, but I don’t mind.

I got strangled so don’t have to. Put on yer t shirt and get some ice delivered. It’s gonna be hot. I hope you have a way to blast this so somebody hears it and gets in on the summer jump. Don’t wait….it’s already here.

released May 2, 2025

M Mulcahy vocals drums guitar bell
Ken Maiuri guitar bass drums keyboards glock tambourine

Adam Melchor is a Los Angles based singer-singer songwriter. Growing up as an opera student in New Jersey, a road trip to Los Angeles on a whim led to his success, Melchor plays both the soothing o-the-cusp folksinger and sonic tapestry-weaver on record. Melchor is set to release his next album, “The Diary of Living”. He has also joined notable acts on the road including Noah Kahan, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Mt. Joy, Jeremy Zucker and more. Melchor has written with a number of artists, including Ashe, Alexander 23, Briston Maroney, ELIO, The Chainsmokers and more.

My third album ‘The Diary of Living’ is out May 2nd on RR and Goodboy Records. This is for the friends I lost who stay forever in me. this is for the friends I found who told me to keep pushing. this is for the hopeful kid who grew up in new jersey. These are the 10 most vulnerable and heartfelt songs i have ever written and I’m a little terrified but mostly thrilled you’ll have them very soon.

released May 2nd, 2025

The first studio album from Car Seat Headrest in five years, ‘The Scholars.’ From Shakespeare to Mozart to classical opera, Car Seat Headrest’s Will Toledo pulled from the classics when devising the lyrics and story arc of ‘The Scholars,’ while the music draws, carefully, from classic rock story song cycles such as The Who’s ‘Tommy’ and David Bowie’s ‘Ziggy Stardust.’ “One thing that can be a struggle with rock operas is that the individual songs kind of get sacrificed for the flow of the plot,” Toledo notes. “I didn’t want to sacrifice that to make a very fluid narrative. And so this is sort of a middle ground where each song can be a character and it’s like each one is coming out on center stage and they have their song and dance.”

While Car Seat Headrest started as Toledo’s solo project, the four-piece is now fully a band. “What we’ve been doing more of in recent years is just taking the pulses of each other.” says Toledo. “It didn’t really feel to me like things got in sync in an inner feeling way until this record, with that internal communal energy. And it’s become that band feeling for me in a much more realized way. That’s been a big journey.”

It is a journey that listeners will want to embark on again and again as they absorb and discover the rich depths and clanging resonances of ‘The Scholars.’

released May 2nd , 2025 Matador Records

‘Interesting Corners’ marks the return of Ulrika Spacek and their first new material since 2023’s “Compact Trauma“

“We’re happy to say we’ve been making a lot of music in the past year but this felt like a song that stood on its own, so we’ve decided to let it free. It’s a pretty sentimental song for us as we started working on it during our last US tour, listening to it and discussing it in the van whilst travelling through the American landscape, it became a soundtrack in and of itself.”

Ulrika Spacek headline the ICA on Friday 9th May as part of Tough Love’s 20th birthday celebrations.

released May 2nd, 2025

“(Not) Indoor Safari Vol. 1” finds Nick Lowe joined by Los Straitjackets for a career-spanning set of Nick’s celebrated staples and tunes from their newest studio album, “Indoor Safari. Recorded across a series of shows from their 2024 tour, you’ll hear brand new versions of all-time Lowe’s such as “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding” and “When I Write the Book,” as well as the acclaimed compositions from Nick’s later period, including “Lately I’ve Let Things Slide” and “Blue on Blue.” After spinning this platter, you’ll see why Forbes declares that “Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets are a match made in heaven.”

releases August 1st, 2025 Nick Lowe Ltd. Under exclusive license to Yep Roc, LLC.

Nick Lowe: vocal & acoustic guitar
with Los Straitjackets
Eddie Angel: guitar & vocal
Pete Curry: bass
Chris Sprague: drums & vocal
Greg Townson: guitar

Eyelids contains former and current members of: GUIDED BY VOICES, STEPHEN MALKMUS/JICKS, THE DECEMBERISTS, CAMPER VAN BEETHOVEN.
Eyelids have turned inwards to their loves of New Zealand/Flying Nun guitar buzz , their teenage L.A. paisley underground obsessions, haunts of early Athens and all things beautiful, lopsided and rock. 

Eyelids are celebrating 10 years of lopsided rock with this new 2xLP release, “No Jigsaw” (their 20th vinyl offering). A look back as well as forward, it features tracks from their out-of-print 7″s, a multitude of unreleased songs & a slew of recent recordings. Get in…

Covers of: The Cars, Stereo Total, Big Dipper, The Clean, The Fall, Depeche Mode, John-Paul Sartre Experience, Camper van Beethoven, The Moles, Echo and the Bunnymen, Straightjacket Fits and Peter Buck

“Noisy and absorbed, blissful and punchy, moving and anthemic” – Shindig, 5 stars

“Evokes the feel of R.E.M.’s Reckoning with the brightness turned up and Big Star’s Radio City” – Mojo, 4 stars

released March 8th, 2024