Kristi Kates | Author
Tom Holkenborg – Mortal Engines Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Jan. 26, 2019
With its modernized, cutting-edge feel, Holkenborg’s tracks for Mortal Engines click right into place alongside the film itself, a futuristic romp in which cities literally roll around the globe and battle each other. Holkenborg — whom you might also know as Junkie XL — ...
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Are You Ready For Some Maroon 5?
Jan. 26, 2019
Adam Levine and his Maroon 5 bandmates have officially been confirmed as the headliners for this year’s Pepsi Super Bowl LIII halftime show, with special guest musicians for the big event including rapper Big Boi and Travis Scott. Maroon 5 will follow in the halftime show footsteps ...
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Balsam Range – Aeonic – MH Music
Jan. 19, 2019
A half-dozen albums in, and Balsam Range has yet to fully reach the range of its skills, but offers a decent listen nonethless. Primarily a bluegrass-pop outfit, the five musicians kick things off with up-tempo standout “The Girl Who Invented the Wheel,” full of careening banj...
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Ed Sheeran Wins the Touring Game
Jan. 19, 2019
The numbers are in, and not only did Ed Sheeran win 2018 in the tour department, he’s also technically the “winner” of the past 30 years of touring, according to Pollstar’s box office research. Sheeran performed mostly solo on tour (with a few gues...
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Teenage Fanclub – Man-Made – Merge
Jan. 12, 2019
The Scottish alternative rock outfit wound up 2018 by releasing this special edition vinyl pressing right before the year ended, with a dual press effort on both the band’s own EU PeMa label and Merge in America. The trio recorded this set in Chicago with John McEntir...
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Lamar, Gaga, Drake, Lead Grammys Pack
Jan. 12, 2019
The complete list of 2019 Grammy Award nominees has been revealed, showing Kendrick Lamar at the top of the list, with eight nods, most due to his work on Black Panther: The Album. Right behind him is Lady Gaga, with eight nominations, prima...
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Profile: Musician Jake Allen
Jan. 12, 2019
Jake Allen started experimenting with mixing boards when he was just six years old, in his dad’s home recording studio in Grayling. With parents who both played music, it might have seemed inevitable that he would gravitate toward the same pursuit. It was. By the time he’d pic...
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Walk the Moon– What If Nothing– RCA
Jan. 5, 2019
Right from the album’s first track (the aptly named, earnest “Press Restart”), Walk the Moon immediately stakes its claim to the third of their album releases by throwing down some unswerving hooks on tunes like first single, “One Foot,” and the impudent &ldq...
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Arctic Monkeys Go Warp Speed
Jan. 5, 2019
Arctic Monkeys have released a brand new short rockumentary called Warp Speed Chic. Directed by Ben Chappell, the doc features a mini selection of live performances from the band’s recent tour dates, plus some studio and behind-the-scenes c...
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Tune-Yards Release “Mango” and More
Dec. 29, 2018
Tune-Yards, currently wrapping up its tour with David Byrne (of Talking Heads) and U.S. Girls, has been busy in the studio as of late, releasing not only its new single, “Mango” (a collaboration with Lakeith S...
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The Hold Steady – Stay Positive (Deluxe Edition) – Vagrant
Dec. 29, 2018
If you’re a vinyl collector and a Hold Steady fan, make this your next purchase. This 10th anniversary reissue of the band’s standout Stay Positive set is jampacked with, well … loads of jams, broken down into three LPs that bring together the original album, t...
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Santa Kaskade Is Back With Holiday Tunes
Dec. 15, 2018
DJ extraordinairre Kaskade presented his first holiday collection of tracks last year, and now he’s returned with another set for this December, simply titled Kaskade Christmas 2018. Kaskade puts some excellent new spins on many of your favorite familiar ho...
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Gwen Stefani – You Make it Feel Like Christmas – Interscope
Dec. 15, 2018
Stefani ups the ante on the holiday by releasing a special deluxe edition of this set that includes five new tracks, including two original holiday tunes penned by Stefani (the winsome “Secret Santa” and “Cheer for the Elves,” a nod to Santa’s little helpers)...
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Backstreet Boys – DNA – RCA
Dec. 8, 2018
They’re not quite boys any more, but the Backstreet … er, men … are keeping a tight hold on the harmony vocals and danceable rhythms that brought them worldwide acclaim. Their latest set is poised to generate a resurgence of interest in the group once it hits outlets i...
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California Mesmerizes Wolf Alice
Dec. 8, 2018
London indie-rock band Wolf Alice has been named the 2018 Mercury Music Prize winner for its second album effort, the critically and fan-acclaimed Visions of a Life. The band recorded the album throughout 2017, having transplanted themselves temporarily to Los An...
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Mumford and Sons – Delta – Glassnote
Dec. 1, 2018
Of course critics are going to be stomping around about Mumford and crew’s latest: How dare an established, successful band attempt to evolve? But thankfully, the band deftly does its own thing here, combining its earlier acoustic sensibilities and third album’s pop turn for a...
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Charli XCX Pops Into a Rockumentary
Dec. 1, 2018
Charlotte Aitchison, aka Charli XCX, is the latest singer featured in a new radio rock documentary from the BBC. The doc follows Charli on both her own recent tour, Pop 2, and went along with her as she served as opening act for Taylor Swift’s Reput...
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Ben Poole – Anytime You Need Me – Manhaton
Nov. 24, 2018
Poole’s latest is a somewhat short effort, with only eight songs, but the tracks themselves have enough depth that you’ll find this worth repeated listens. “Take It No More” is a tune that’s actually over a year old, and while good, it also sho...
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Avril Lavigne Returns
Nov. 24, 2018
After five years away from the music scene while she struggled with Lyme disease, Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne is back with the first single from her upcoming sixth album (title TBA). The track “Head Above Water” is an emotional and personal power ...
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Ready, Set, Shop!
Nov. 17, 2018
Looking to put some local gifts under your tree this year? Look no further: We've scoured the shops of northern Michigan to find a mix Up North classics and out-of-the-box surprises — at all price points — that'll excite everyone on your list. Behold: Our 2018 picks for 2... Read More >>