3,2,1 – New Music Monday / 06-29-26

(3,2,1 New Music Monday Intro)

Welcome to Music That Matters with 3, 2, 1 New Music Monday.

This week, we’ve got sci-fi-sized rock from Muse, the Grinch’s favorite rocker – The Pretty Reckless – and Jersey punk veterans The Bouncing Souls.

Plus, Phoebe Bridgers goes solo again, Brandon Flowers goes solo again – but this time, he’s gone country – and Chris Cornell makes his way back to vinyl.

(Countdown Video)

3 major album drops.

First up — Muse.

They’re from the U.K., and yes, they are already huge around the world, but I still feel like we sometimes miss out on just how massive this band can sound.

(“Unravelling” clip)

They are back with their 10th studio album, The Wow! Signal.

And so far, it very much sounds like a “Muse being Muse” record: big guitars, organs, choirs, contagious energy, and as Louder described it: a “Spielberg-sized sci-fi epic.”

(“Hush” clip)

Next – before her music career, Taylor Momsen started as a child actress.

And yes, she made her film debut as Cindy Lou Who in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

(“Grinch” clip)

I’m sure Taylor gets tired of that fun fact, but every time I mention it, somebody is surprised.

By the way – she’s all grown up.

(“When I Wake Up” clip)

That’s Taylor Momsen, lead singer of The Pretty Reckless.

They just released their fifth studio album, Dear God.

And ladies and gentlemen, this is a rock album.

(“For I Am Death” clip)

And then we have The Bouncing Souls with Born To Be.

The New Jersey band is back with fast, melodic, punk energy – the same kind that’s kept them going for nearly four decades.

(“Only Echoes” clip)

2 new singles.

Mr. Brightside himself, Brandon Flowers, is not just going solo again.

He’s also gone country.

(“Plans” clip)

That’s his new song “Plans,” from the upcoming album Thrasher, arriving August 21st.

Another artist returning with solo music this week and feeling like she’s picked up right where she left us is Phoebe Bridgers.

(“Lost Boys” clip)

“Lost Boys” is off her upcoming 16 track album – Lost Weekend – arriving August 14th.

(Record Scratch video)

And finally, 1 vinyl pick.

Carry On, the second solo album from Audioslave and Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell, is making its vinyl debut.

This album from 2007 will be available on classic black vinyl and a limited-edition 2LP picture disc version.

I warned ya – any week I can put Chris Cornell in the vinyl spotlight, I’m going to do it.

(clip)

That’s your 3 albums, 2 singles, and 1 vinyl for the week.

This has been 3, 2, 1 New Music Monday

Until next time.

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

Released in late February of 1994,

by June 28th – this hip-hop song was still floating through radio and MTV.

“Electric Relaxation” from A Tribe Called Quest

(Music Cut #2)

The beat sounds way too smooth –

almost like it drifted out

of some New York recording studio

at 2 in the morning.

(Music Cut #3)

But – a lot of the Midnight Marauders album

was created

in Phife Dawg’s grandmother’s basement.

Q-Tip had production gear set up there,

and Phife said

his grandmother even gave him a key

so he could come in whenever to work

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Shorty, let me tell you ’bout my only vice
It has to do with lots of lovin’ and it ain’t nothin’ nice.” – A Tribe Called Quest

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

On June 27th of 1995…

Neil Young released an album

called Mirror Ball

It sounded a lot like Neil Young

But with Pearl Jam behind him.

(Music Cut #2)

And for good reason –

the album was recorded

with members of Pearl Jam.

But don’t go searching for them

on the album cover.

You’ll only find

Neil Young.

(Music Cut #3)

Because of record-label complications,

the album was officially credited

only to Neil Young.

However, the members of Pearl Jam were listed individually

in the liner notes –

but fans knew what they were hearing.

Neil Young…with Pearl Jam.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Like a water-washed diamond
In a river of sin
Goin’ down like a whirlpool
When you get sucked in.” – Neil Young from “Downtown”

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

On June 26th of 1995…

The Chemical Brothers released their debut album

with a title

that was basically an inside joke:

Exit Planet Dust.

(Music Cut #2)

Before they were The Chemical Brothers,
Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons
performed as The Dust Brothers.

(Music Cut #3)

But there was already
an American production duo
called The Dust Brothers.
So they changed their name —
and their debut album became
Exit Planet Dust.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“The brothers gonna work it out.” – The Chemical Brothers “Leave Home”

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

By June 25th of 1995…

MTV couldn’t stop playing

one of the most expensive music videos ever made.

Michael and Janet Jackson

with “Scream.”

(Music Cut #2)

“Scream” was the lead single

from Michael Jackson’s HIStory album.

But it was also

the first major duet

between Michael

and his younger sister Janet.

(Music Cut #3)

And the video

wasn’t just big.

It was record-breaking.

Directed by the legendary Mark Romanek,

“Scream” reportedly cost about $7 million

and Guinness states it as being

the most expensive music video ever made.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“You keep changin’ the rules
While I keep playin’ the game
I can’t take it much longer
I think I might go insane.” – Michael & Janet Jackson

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1 – “Hush” cut from Kula Shaker)

By June 24th of 1997…

one of the oldest songs on rock radio…

was suddenly one of the newest.

“Hush” from Kula Shaker

(Music Cut #2 – “Hush” cut from Kula Shaker)

Most ’90s kids knew it

as a Kula Shaker song.

Classic-rock fans knew it

as a Deep Purple song.

But Deep Purple

didn’t write it either.

(Music Cut #3 “Hush” cut from Deep Purple)

“Hush” was written by Joe South

for Billy Joe Royal,

who recorded it first in 1967.

So Kula Shaker

were covering the famous Deep Purple version

of a song

Deep Purple had already covered.

(Music Cut #4 – “Hush” cut from Billy Joe Royal)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“They got it early in the morning
They got it late in the evening
Well, I want that, need it
Yeah I gotta gotta have it.” – Kula Shaker (covering Joe South)

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

Yesterday,

back in 1998…

the Beastie Boys released

the lead single from Hello Nasty:

“Intergalactic.”

(Music Cut #2)

The song already sounded like hip-hop

from a broken spaceship.

Robot voice.

Sci-fi title.

Giant bounce.

(Music Cut #3)

Then MCA directed the video

under his fake filmmaker name:

Nathanial Hornblower.

And turned it into this full blown

Japanese monster-movie parody

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Too sweet to be sour; too nice to be mean
Well, on the tough guy style, I’m not too keen
Trying to change the world, I will plot and scheme.” – Beastie Boys

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MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

Released on this day in 1999…

this song bottled up

the entire summer.

LEN with:

“Steal My Sunshine.”

(Music Cut #2)

The back-and-forth vocals

between the siblings Marc and Sharon were intentional.

They were trying to capture

that male-female tradeoff

similar to The Human League’s

“Don’t You Want Me”

(Music Cut #3 – “Don’t You Want Me” cut)

But “Steal My Sunshine”

wasn’t created in some perfect summer moment.

It came after a rave…

during a time when the brother and sister

weren’t even talking.

And because every hit song

apparently needs an almost-didn’t-happen story…

the band nearly left it off the album.

Thankfully…

nobody stole the sunshine.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“I know it’s up for me
Making sure I’m not in too deep
Keeping versed and on my feet.” – LEN

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3,2,1 – New Music Monday / 06-22-26

(3,2,1 New Music Monday Intro)

Welcome to Music That Matters with 3, 2, 1 New Music Monday.

This week, we’ve got a breakout British singer-songwriter, a surprise R&B mixtape, and the return of an indie rock band after 15 years.

Plus, Snoop Dogg, FKA twigs, and vinyl from Def Leppard.

(Countdown Video)

3 major album drops.

First up — the official debut album from that British singer-songwriter Myles Smith:

My Mess, My Heart, My Life.

(“Stargazing” clip)

“Stargazing” was a massive global streaming hit, and yes, it’s on the album.

But there’s also a big collaboration with Niall Horan, who joins Smith on the standout duet “Drive Safe.”

(“Drive Safe” clip)

Next, Hard-Fi returns after 15 years with Sweating Someone Else’s Fever

I already liked the lead single “They Ain’t Your Friends” but it’s the story behind it that I really loved.

(“They Ain’t Your Friends” clip)

Frontman Richard Archer had two old demos sitting on his laptop. His 10-year-old son found them, meshed them together, and helped spark the comeback single.

So yes, the kid may need a producer credit.

Then there’s Resurrection — the new joint mixtape from Chlöe and Timbaland which has the big release “Talking Dirty”

(“Talking Dirty” clip)

With this album – don’t blink – it’s fast-paced – you can blitz through 13 tracks in just under 30 minutes.

By the way, the one that stood out to me – “Better Than She Can” – it feels like the brightest and most upbeat song with this future disco bouncing beat to it.

(“Better Than She Can” clip)

2 new singles.

First one is from the upcoming September release of Chakzilla. Snoop Dogg lends a hand to Chaka Khan on the single “Boogie’s in My Soul”

(“Boogie’s in My Soul” clip)

Also teaming up this week: FKA twigs and Lil Yachty on the song “On Your Mind.”

(“On Your Mind” clip)

And finally, 1 Vinyl pick for this week

(Record Scratch video)

Def Leppard’s Greatest Hits lands on vinyl. It’s a simple one for classic rocker — you’ve got big choruses (“Pour Some Sugar On Me” hook), huge ’80s hooks (“Rock of Ages” hook), and a reminder that greatest-hits collections are made for the turntable. (“Hysteria” hook)

That’s your 3 albums, 2 singles, and 1 vinyl for the week.

This has been 3, 2, 1 New Music Monday

Until next time.

Please subscribe on YouTube and spread the word wherever you can

MUSIC THAT MATTERS – “Lyric of the Day”

(Music Cut #1)

Tomorrow’s date back in 1998…

Metallica released a song

every dad with loud car speakers

was required to crank: “Fuel.”

(Music Cut #2)

Metallica didn’t just write

a song about going fast.

James Hetfield basically turned

his love of custom cars,

speed,

and engine culture

into a riff.

(Music Cut #3)

And a couple years later,

“Fuel” went exactly where it belonged:

NASCAR.

The song was used

for NASCAR on NBC…

because Metallica had written racing music

without even trying.

(Music Cut #4)

LYRIC OF THE DAY:
“Gimme fuel, gimme fire, gimme that which I desire.” – Metallica

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