Around the Tubes: April 20, 2024

  

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on Pearl Jam, Taylor Swift, Elton John, Joy Oladokun, Nikka Costa, Blair Lee, Blair Lee, Frank Turner, Ariana Grande, Chestnut, You Can't Run Forever, and Reginald the Vampire.

- Already heralded as the band’s best in decades, Pearl Jam proudly present their anxiously awaited twelfth studio album, Dark Matter, available now via Monkeywrench Records/Republic Records. Listen HERE.  From the kinetic opener “Scared of Fear” through the optimistic exhale of album closer “Setting Sun,” these eleven tracks find the musicians firing on all cylinders. A surge of energy underscores this body of work amplified by thunderous rhythms, skyscraping guitar solos, and vital vocals. Produced by GRAMMY® award winning producer Andrew Watt, Dark Matter, marks the band’s first release since critically acclaimed Gigaton (2020).

- Taylor Swift released THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT. The 16 track album of new recordings is Taylor’s 11th original studio album. LISTEN TO THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT HERE.

- Elton John is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his 8th studio album Caribou with rare footage of his first live performance of the iconic hit ‘The Bitch Is Back.’ The incredible video shows Elton on stage on May 5, 1974 in front of over 40,000 fans at Vicarage Road at his legendary Watford FC Benefit Concert, playing the song two months before its release on Caribou. The track would be the album’s second single and would reach No. 4 in the US and No. 15 in the UK charts. Elton had recently been appointed as director of Watford Football Club and put on the benefit concert to give the club a financial boost - tickets started from £1 and it included guests such as Rod Stewart and Nazareth. The concert was not filmed for official release, making the video a rare gem - watch the unearthed footage HERE.  The resurfacing of this special footage comes just before Record Store Day on April 20th, which will see UMe release a special 50th Anniversary Edition of Caribou, Elton’s eighth studio album. The reissue will be released as a 2LP set on 180 gram limited-edition sky blue vinyl. The package includes the original album which features favorites ‘The Bitch Is Back’ and ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me,’ plus a newly compiled LP of bonus tracks, including the previously unreleased ‘Ducktail Jiver,’ which is the only true out-take from the Caribou sessions in January 1974. Find your local participating record store where you can go to purchase the limited-edition sky blue Caribou 2LP vinyl HERE.

- In response to overwhelming demand from fans worldwide, acclaimed singer, songwriter, and maverick Joy Oladokun officially shares her anxiously awaited new single “questions, chaos, & faith” on all streaming platforms today via Amigo Records/Verve Forecast/Republic Records. Listen HERE.  Joy first unveiled the song on Instagram Reels. It not only exploded as her second most-engaged post to date, but it also reacted with listeners, inciting over 125K views and counting. With the song, she pays tribute to the memory of her childhood best friend Casey by delivering a stark and soul-stirring anthem. Faint acoustic guitar echoes with raw feeling as she laments, “Nothing is certain, everything changes,” only to try to accept, “There are no answers, only questions, chaos, and faith.” The accompanying music video translates this sentiment to the screen with an intimate vignette. Soaked in tears and brought to life with memories, it offers a gripping elegy to a friend gone too soon.  Recently, she contributed “I Wished On The Moon” for Jack Antonoff’s Official Soundtrack for The New Look on Apple TV+. Listen HERE.

- the LA-based soul and funk singer Nikka Costa releases her third single “It’s Just Love” after returning from a six-year hiatus with "Dirty Disco" and “Keep It High”. Known for her powerful vocals, dynamic stage presence, and diverse musical influences, Nikka Costa returns from a musical career break with future-forward disco-inspired sounds. “It’s Just Love” is “a song about being able to love who you want and everyone else should just mind their own damn business. Period.” Nikka says.  These first three singles fully set the tone for her disco and soul-fused, progressive album Dirty Disco, which will be released on June 7th. It was recorded with and produced by Justin Stanley (Prince, Jamie Lidell, Beck, etc.). 

- Toronto’s budding lyricist Blair Lee releases her second EP LIMBO. With her light touch of the pen, Lee crafts a sonic universe unbound by gravity. A masterclass in extracting the hopeful from the mundane, the six-song offering draws the curtains back to reveal a period of time for feeling caught in the in-between — Stream.  Simply put, she says, “‘LIMBO’ is all about the in-between, indecision, looping, stalling, being stuck.”  This EP arrives alongside an official video for “Don’t Wanna Leave.” Having written this song on her birthday last year during a phase where she was staying out too late, Lee admits that the song is, “about not wanting a night to end, but my friends would argue it was about my relationship at the time. Maybe it’s both.” In the video, Lee is spending a casual night out at the restaurant/bar she works at with friends and coworkers. It’s the kind of night that feels small at the time, but ends up being a moment you always look back on — Watch. 

- Fresh off his first #1 album in the UK, English folk/punk rocker Frank Turner embarks on a groundbreaking journey to become the third person — and the first non-American — to perform concerts in all 50 states in the span of 50 days during the summer of 2022. As he plays with his full band, The Sleeping Souls, in the United States for the first time since the pandemic, The Work: 50 States in 50 Days captures an inside look at Turner and his tour family on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.   Featuring Fat Mike, Tim Barry, The Bronx, Pet Needs, The Bouncing Souls, AJJ and more, the documentary will exclusively premiere its first two episodes this Tuesday, April 23 at 9 p.m. ET via premier streaming platform Veeps, which will be preceded by a live Q&A with Turner and filmmaker Aaron Roberts. Episodes three and four will premiere on Veeps on Tuesday, May 21. Four-episode bundles are available for purchase for $9.99, which will also include the Q&A. Get all the info and access at FrankTurner.veeps.com.

- Ariana Grande’s grandmother, Marjorie “Nonna”  Grande, receives special commemorative plaque certifying her history making achievement on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Ordinary Things”.  Featured on Ariana Grande’s #1 chart topping album, eternal sunshine, Nonna becomes the senior-most artist ever to have appeared on the Billboard Hot 100.

- Chestnut, starring Natalia Dyer, Rachel Keller and Danny Ramirez, written and directed by Jac Cron.  Opens in select theaters on June 21st and available on digital platforms on July 2nd.  Watch the Trailer.  Annie (Natalia Dyer, Stranger Things) just graduated college and she's stuck in her university town of Philly for the summer. She's ready to start her new job in LA come fall, but something is holding her back. As she falls into an aimless summer, she finds herself entangled with Tyler (Rachel Keller, Tokyo Vice), a woman she meets at a bar one night and Danny (Danny Ramirez, Top Gun: Maverick), Tyler's co-worker or best friend or…? Annie can never tell.  Chestnut follows Annie through a summer of self-discovery as she, Tyler, and Danny each battle for unrequited connection, ultimately helping Annie find her voice in desire and independence.

- YOU CAN'T RUN FOREVER: Release Date: In Theaters on May 17, 2024  (In Theaters, On Digital and On Demand).  Miranda, a young woman already suffering from acute anxiety due to a past tragedy, faces a new terror when a serial killer chooses her as his new target. In a harrowing hunt through the woods, Miranda finds strength she never knew she had as she tries to elude her murderous tracker. Academy Award® winner J.K. Simmons stars in a spine-chilling thriller about the strength of family and the astonishing power of the human spirit.  Watch the trailer.

- Reginald Andres finally got his life together – when he was turned into a vampire. While he doesn’t fit into the stereotypical expectations of what a vampire looks like – he’s not chiseled or classically handsome – Reginald has found his place amongst an unlikely cohort that includes the cool vampire who sired him, the former vampire chieftain turned unexpected ally (or is she?), and his co-worker/former girlfriend. A show with a lot of heart and just enough blood, “Reginald the Vampire” proves the undead life is just as complicated as life itself.  Season 2 Premieres on May 8th at 10pm on SYFY.  Watch the Official Season 2 Trailer

Around the Tubes: April 13, 2024

  

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on Shardlake, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Contestant, Slash and Chris Stapleton, Stephen Sanchez, and Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story.

- SHARDLAKE: A Thrilling New Series based on the internationally popular Tudor murder mystery novels by C.J. Sansom.  Premieres Wednesday, May 1 on Hulu in the U.S., Star+ in Latin America and Disney+ in Select Territories.  Starring:  Arthur Hughes (“Then Barbara Met Alan''), Sean Bean ("Game of Thrones," “Time”), Anthony Boyle (currently starring as John Wilkes Booth in "Manhunt," “Masters of the Air”) and more!

- For the first time ever, all episodes from HBO’s award-winning original series are brought together in one set with the release of Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Series. On October 8, get ready to binge on all 120 episodes from the series’ twelve critically acclaimed seasons, along with all the previously released special features including The Seinfeld Reunion: It Could Only Happen on Curb Your Enthusiasm.  For fans looking to complete their DVD library, Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Twelfth and Final Season will also be available to purchase on DVD on October 8.  Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Twelfth and Final Season and Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Complete Series are available now to purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more.

- THE CONTESTANT: The incredible true story will premiere Thursday, May 2, only on Hulu.  This true story of a Japanese reality TV star left naked in a room for more than a year, tasked with filling out magazine sweepstakes to earn food and clothing, prompts innumerable questions about our culture of oversharing.  Before the onslaught of reality television in the West, there was an ominous harbinger in Japan of what was to come in our oversharing-obsessed culture. "The Contestant" traces the experience of aspiring comedian Tomoaki Hamatsu, nicknamed Nasubi, who unwittingly became an extreme case study.

- SLASH the iconic, GRAMMY®-winning guitarist and songwriter will return with his star-studded debut blues album and sixth solo album of his career, Orgy of the Damned, May 17, 2024 on Gibson Records, pre-order HERE. Today, SLASH has released the new track “Oh Well” which features outlaw country star Chris Stapleton on vocals, and is a transcendent and electrified, bluesy folk-infused take on the Fleetwood Mac gem, written by original founder Peter Green.  Stream SLASH’s “Oh Well” featuring Chris Stapleton on vocals HERE, and watch/share the visualizer for the new song HERE.

- Multi-platinum emerging artist Stephen Sanchez expands his acclaimed debut album, Angel Face, with Angel Face (Club Deluxe), out April 26^th via Mercury Records/Republic Records. Pre-save HERE.  Stephen is extending the LP with five brand new tracks, as well as the fan favorite duet version of his 3x-platinum smash “Until I Found You” [with Em Beihold]. On Club Deluxe, Stephen builds upon the story of Angel Face, showcasing the scope of his signature style and dipping into everything from cinematic balladry to boisterous rockabilly. 

- PHOTOGRAPHIC JUSTICE: THE CORKY LEE STORY will be released theatrically in New York (DCTV’s Firehouse Cinema) on April 19 and in Los Angeles (Laemmle Glendale) on April 26 with a regional expansion to follow.  For 50 years, Chinese American photographer Corky Lee documented the celebrations, struggles, and daily lives of Asian American Pacific Islanders with epic focus. Determined to push mainstream media to include AAPI culture in the visual record of American history, Lee produced an astonishing archive of nearly a million compelling photographs. His work takes on new urgency with the alarming rise in anti-Asian attacks during the Covid pandemic. Jennifer Takaki’s intimate portrait reveals the triumphs and tragedies of the man behind the lens.  Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imLE17IgWHc

Around the Tubes: April 6, 2024

 

I have gotten a plethora of cool press releases have been flooding my inbox recently that you may find interesting. This post includes blurbs on Taylor Swift, Ben Fold, Garbage, Marcus King, Glass Animals, Dinosaur, and High Hopes.

- SiriusXM announced today that global superstar and 14-time GRAMMY winner Taylor Swift will have her own limited engagement exclusive SiriusXM channel - Channel 13 (Taylor’s Version) - starting Sunday, April 7, 13 days ahead of her highly anticipated new album The Tortured Poets Department.  Channel 13 (Taylor’s Version) will air 24/7 across North America and will be a destination for fans to hear Swift’s music from her chart-topping 17-year career, including Eras Tour favorites, all (Taylor’s Versions), From the Vault tracks, live tracks, bonus tracks and much more.   The 13^th day of the channel, Friday, April 19, coincides with the release of Taylor Swift’s new album The Tortured Poets Department. Channel 13 (Taylor’s Version) will be playing the full album beginning to end continuously throughout the weekend.  

- The NEXT AT THE KENNEDY CENTER, a multi-year partnership and collaboration with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to spotlight critical contributions to the arts, returns to PBS with two new performance specials this April featuring indie music icon Ben Folds and renowned jazz saxophonist Joshua Redman. This primetime series explores the enduring influence of artistic changemakers across art forms, genres, and backgrounds on Friday, April 12 with “Ben Folds Presents: DECLASSIFIED” and “Joshua Redman, where are we” on Friday, April 19. Both episodes premiere at 10 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS App.  In “Ben Folds Presents: DECLASSIFIED," Folds invites six-time GRAMMY®-winner Jacob Collier, renowned for his audience engagement, along with GRAMMY®-winning jazz sensation Laufey and chart-topping English singer-songwriter dodie, to join him and the National Symphony Orchestra in reimagining their music through an orchestral lens. With a driving mission that every note played on the stage matters, they create exquisite new versions of their hit songs, without a traditional rhythm section and only the orchestra as their band.

- Due to demand, influential alternative rock band Garbage is making their 4th studio album, Bleed Like Me, available on vinyl for the first time since it was originally released in 2005. Bleed Like Me is out on now via UMe.  Fully remastered for 2024, this expanded reissue of 2005’s Bleed Like Me includes 2CD, 1LP white vinyl, deluxe 2LP red vinyl, and HD digital formats and features b-sides, rare tracks, remixes and alternate versions of tracks.  Speaking about the new Bleed Like Me expanded reissue, Shirley Manson says: “This album was tricky to make and resulted in the band taking a 5-year hiatus shortly after it was released. However, over the years, it has become a mainstay of our discography, so we decided to finally make it available on vinyl due to the many pained pleas from our fans’.  ORDER HERE

- GRAMMY®-nominated singer-songwriter Marcus King released Mood Swings, his Rick Rubin produced album, via American/Republic Records. Listen to Mood Swings HERE  Mood Swings is King’s magnum opus, an eclectic symphony of soul that is uniquely timeless and current. Drawing on King’s darkest moments, it became a beacon of hope for King as he created it, and will be a refuge for anyone going through similar challenges in their lives. Legendary producer Rick Rubin who has worked with everyone from Adele to Johnny Cash, was instantly drawn to King’s guitar playing, singular voice and songwriting, and after witnessing a King live performance, one day randomly cold-called him to float the idea of working together.

- Global, GRAMMY®-nominated and Diamond-selling British band Glass Animals announces details of their fourth studio album, I Love You So F***ing Much, to be released on July 19th via Republic Records. The album is introduced by the band’s new single, “Creatures in Heaven,” out now—listen HERE and watch the visualizer HERE.  I Love You So F***ing Much is the follow-up to 2020’s critically revered Dreamland, which sold over 12 million copies globally and gave life to “Heat Waves,” the record-breaking song that became the biggest international hit from a British band in almost 30 years. It was the first song to reach #1 with a single writer and producer since Pharrell’s “Happy,” and led to the pop world’s biggest acts, including Florence Welch, all wanting to work with Glass Animals’ frontman, songwriter, and producer, Dave Bayley. But the birth of I Love You So F***ing Much was an existential crisis. Dave found himself struggling to make sense of this newfound global stardom, having watched it all happen while the world was in lockdown. “Life can change dramatically, but sometimes you aren’t able to change as quickly on a personal level. You end up feeling like a spectator. And then you are asked and expected to be a certain type of person, a different person. But…I wasn’t sure how. It confused me to the point of not knowing who I was or if anything was real.” It took being stranded on a cliff in a wooden house on stilts during one of California’s biggest storms in history to push that feeling into a full existential crisis. In forced isolation, watching trees tumble down mountains and assuming “death was coming,” Dave began asking questions of himself, of the universe, and of the human experience: namely, love. As he came to accept himself as an introvert, Dave realized that “human connection and the love between us is much bigger, more important, and more complex than anything else”. “Creatures in Heaven” is the sublime first glimpse into ten intimate love stories set against the backdrop of the universe.

- Created by Matilda Curtis and Ashley Storrie, Dinosaur follows Nina, an autistic woman in her 30s, who adores her life living with her sister and best friend Evie. However, when Evie rushes into an engagement after only six weeks and makes Nina her maid of honor, Nina is floored.  Dinosaur now streaming exclusively on Hulu!  

- From Executive Producer Jimmy Kimmel Hulu has released the official trailer and key art for the upcoming unscripted series "High Hopes," produced by Jimmy Kimmel's Kimmelot and ITV America. The six-episode first season will premiere Saturday, 4.20, only on Hulu.  “High Hopes” is a workplace reality series following Belarus-born brothers Slava and Mishka, and their stoned crew through the trials and tribulations of taking their cannabis business to new heights. As one of the oldest cannabis dispensaries in Hollywood, MMD attracts a wild mix of weed-loving customers and is a home away from home for their OG employees who work hard and smoke harder! This season builds to their biggest day of the year—4.20—as the gang attempts to expand nationwide and release their own top-shelf cannabis brand. Will they find what they’re looking for or will their hopes go up in smoke?  TRAILER: HERE

Transmissions from Pluto - Everything coming to Pluto TV in April 2024

 

Welcome to Transmissions from Pluto, your monthly download of all the content coming to Pluto TV! Here, you’ll find all the latest channels, programming, stunts and titles available on the service along with key insights into free, ad-supported television (FAST) from the category's leading pioneer. In April, we're celebrating our 10th anniversary in a big way, welcoming a dedicated Deep Space Nine channel to our growing Star Trek lineup and more. For a closer look at all the entertainment coming to Pluto TV in April, check out the latest edition of Transmissions from Pluto.

FAST FORWARD

Tom Ryan, President & CEO of Paramount Streaming and co-founder of Pluto TV shares his thoughts on the future of FAST as we enter the next inning of streaming. Ten years ago today, we introduced the world to Pluto TV. We launched on April Fool’s Day—and that’s what people thought we were: fools. Pluto TV was linear in the age of on demand, free in the age of paid subscription and ad-supported in the age of ad-free. It was a contrarian idea at the time, but Pluto TV became a billion-dollar business in just seven years and, as we celebrate its 10th anniversary, we can confidently say that we have a sustainable business and winning strategy.  It’s nice to look back on our journey but, as leaders in this space, we have our eyes firmly on the road ahead. As I’m often asked what the future of FAST looks like, here is where I believe we are headed.   The future of FAST is expanding. As cord-cutting accelerates, FAST will become an even more universally appealing proposition for consumers. With a no-cost entry point and constantly evolving library of content, FAST is estimated to hit $12 billion by 2027 and will play a critical role in the future of streaming. The future of FAST is global. Our mission is to entertain the planet and, in the last decade, our global footprint has expanded to four continents and more than 35 countries, with a sizable part of our engagement coming from outside of the U.S.—and we’re just getting started. We work with local content and distribution partners around the world to bring together the best of our libraries in one seamless service to give viewers an unbeatable product and unique user experience. The future of FAST is human. What sets us apart at Pluto TV is our human touch when delivering highly curated channels. Our 700,000 hours of content are programmed by genre experts who purposefully curate our collections and channels to keep audiences engaged. This highly editorialized touch to content curation will continue to be a defining factor for Pluto TV and shape the FAST experience. – Tom

BIG PLANET ENERGY

A cause dear to our hearts is the plight of our solar system's ninth planet Pluto, which the International Astronomical Union downgraded to "dwarf" status in 2006. To raise awareness about this injustice (or possibly just in celebration of April Fool's Day), the Pluto TV team will hold a rally today at the UCLA campus that will include remarks from Dr. Alan Stern, planetary scientist, space program executive and leader of NASA’s New Horizons mission that explored the Pluto system. If you're as invested as we are, we ask you to sign our Change.org petition here. In an effort to highlight all points of view on Pluto's planetary status, you can hear a rebuttal from astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, who has his own StarTalk TV channel on Pluto TV, by clicking the button below.

NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON ON PLUTO'S STATUS

FAST APPROACHING

Each month, Pluto TV’s team of programmers assembles a stellar collection of movies and TV shows to help you uncover new titles and rediscover familiar favorites. This April, we're celebrating our 10th birthday, highlighting star-studded dramas and marking the halfway point to Halloween with April Ghouls where you’ll find spooky marathons across our favorite scary and thrilling channels. 10th Anniversary: Pluto TV is giving the gift of great TV and movies for its birthday April 1 at 8 p.m. ET on Action Drama: 10 Hour SEAL Team marathon April 1 on Pluto TV Spotlight: 2014 Movie Marathon featuring Big Eyes, Noah, The Homesman, Imitation Game and The Immigrant Revisit Original Pluto TV Channels: Stand-Up TV, MST3K   Drama: Watch the red-carpet worthy drama unfold with Oscar favorites, Emmy-winning classics, and a whole world of gripping stories and powerful performances.  April Movies Include: The Godfather, Titanic, As Good As It Gets, Arrival, Noah and more 24/7 Channels include: Criminal Minds, Blue Bloods, CSI, CSI: NY, CSI: Miami, Midsomer Murders, Degrassi, Heartland and more. April Ghouls: It’s Halloween in April! We have you covered with a whole month of ghosts, goblins and all things spooky. April Movies include: Pet Sematary (2019), Crawl, Evil Dead (2013), The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Bram Stoker’s Dracula and more 24/7 Channels include: The Walking Dead Universe, Universal Monsters, Pluto TV Horror, Pluto TV Terror, Pluto TV Paranormal and more

PREPPING FOR LAUNCH

Here are all the new channels and movies launching throughout April on Pluto TV. CHANNELS Perform by Lifetime Watch these up-and-coming performers, and the icons they admire, as they strive to make it big and shine in the spotlight. Pickers and Pawns Welcome to Pickers & Pawn, the ultimate destination for uncovering hidden treasures and forgotten objects. Watch fan-favorites now 24/7 on Pickers & Pawn. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine  Explore the final frontier even more. All episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine will transport you into another set of space missions all day long. UnXplained Zone Join top investigators as they seek to uncover the truth behind some of the world’s greatest mysteries and cover-ups. 4UV At 4UV we welcome unique, united, and universal voices. We're the intersection where art meets opportunity, giving you the chance to discover new worlds and embrace new heroes.

MOVIES 30 Days of Night 30 Days of Night: Dark Days 48 Hrs. Another 48 Hrs. An Inconvenient Truth An Inconvenient Sequel April Fool's Day (1986) As Good As It Gets Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius Bram Stoker's Dracula Brian's Song (1971) Child's Play (1988) Crawl Days of Thunder Detention Donnie Brasco Empire Records Evil Dead (2013) Face/Off First Blood Rambo: First Blood Part II Rambo III Five Easy Pieces Fright Night Get Rich or Die Tryin' Go Hannibal I Spy Idle Hands Jeepers Creepers Jeepers Creepers 2 Juice L.A. Confidential Lords of Dogtown Marie Antoinette Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Night of the Creeps Noah On the Waterfront Only Lovers Left Alive Overlord Pet Sematary (2019) Planes, Trains and Automobiles Platoon School of Rock Shutter Island Side Effects Sleepwalkers Sonic the Hedgehog South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut Super 8 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Teen Wolf The Belko Experiment The Blob (1988) The Covenant The Exorcism of Emily Rose The Fighting Temptations The Godfather The Godfather Part II The Godfather Part III The Guilt Trip The King of Comedy The Messengers The Monster Squad The Negotiator The Possession of Hannah Grace The Prince of Tides The Running Man The Stand-In (2020) The Truman Show The Way We Were The Wild One Titanic Tommy Boy Trading Places Urban Cowboy Urban Legend Urban Legends: The Final Cut Urban Legends: Bloody Mary Vampire in Brooklyn Wind Chill Wolf Zoolander 2