Media Monarchy plays Ghost, Lana Del Rey, The Head And The Heart and more on #PumpUpThaVolume for April 18, 2025. ♬
Kool & The Gang – “Be My Lady” (Vinyl)
‘Be My Lady b/w Let’s Go Dancin’ (Ooh La, La, La)’
De-Lite Records – September 24, 1981
*Kool & The Gang – “Be My Lady” (Vinyl) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18Ak4p0vJEY // https://www.discogs.com/release/577292-Kool-The-Gang-Be-My-Lady-Lets-Go-Dancin-Ooh-La-La-La // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Something_Special_(Kool_&_the_Gang_album) // https://genius.com/Kool-and-the-gang-be-my-lady-lyrics // Here’s ‘Something Special’ from Kool & the Gang, their 1981 Deodato-produced 13th album that hit #12 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Single gifted to the Monarchy by our buddy, Jude Cole, who was 21 when this record came out!*
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Ghost – “Lachryma”
‘Skeletá’
Loma Vista Recordings – April 25, 2025
*Ghost – “Lachryma” https://soundcloud.com/thebandghost/lachryma // https://bodega.lomavistarecordings.com/collections/skeleta // The second single to preview ‘Skeletá,’ the upcoming album by Ghost, due on April 25th via Loma Vista Recordings.*
Sports Team – “Sensible”
‘Boys These Days’
Bright Antenna / Distiller Records – May 23, 2025
*Sports Team – “Sensible” https://soundcloud.com/sportsteam/track-2 // https://sportsteam.tmstor.es // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_Team // From ‘Boys These Days,’ the upcoming album by UK band, Sports Team. Due on May 23rd via Bright Antenna / Distiller Records.*
Craig Finn – “A Man Needs a Vocation”
‘Always Been’
Tamarac / Thirty Tigers – April 4, 2025
*Craig Finn – “A Man Needs a Vocation” https://craigfinn.bandcamp.com/track/a-man-needs-a-vocation // https://craigfinn.net // From ‘Always Been,’ the just-released album by Craig Finn, available now via Tamarac / Thirty Tigers.*
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Gwenno – “Dancing On Volcanoes”
‘Utopia’
Heavenly Recordings – July 11, 2025
*Gwenno – “Dancing On Volcanoes” https://youtu.be/ilBQpl0rmtg // https://ffm.to/gwenno-utopia // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gwenno_Saunders // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pipettes // From ‘Utopia,’ the upcoming fourth solo album by UK singer-songwriter Gwenno (Gwenno Saunders – formerly of indie pop band, The Pipettes), due on July 11th via Heavenly Recordings.*
Esther Rose – “The Clown”
‘Want’
New West Records – May 2, 2025
*Esther Rose – “The Clown” https://soundcloud.com/estherroseofficial/the-clown-1 // http://newwst.com/want // The latest single to preview ‘Want,’ the upcoming album by Esther Rose, due on May 2nd via New West Records.*
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Lana Del Rey – “Henry, come on”
Digital Single
Interscope Records – April 11, 2025
*Lana Del Rey – “Henry, come on” https://youtu.be/nDYY3nJ7a0s // https://lanadelrey.lnk.to/henrycomeonID // This song written by Lana Del Rey and country songwriter Luke Laird will appear on Lana’s forthcoming country album. The title of the album and its release date have yet to be announced. The single is available now via Interscope Records.*
The Head And The Heart – “Blue Embers”
‘Aperture’
Verve – May 9, 2025
*The Head And The Heart – “Blue Embers” https://youtu.be/vLovUdCX4Tg // https://theheadandtheheart.lnk.to/Aperture // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Head_and_the_Heart // From ‘Aperture,’ the upcoming album by The Head And The Heart, due on May 9th via Verve.*
The Divine Comedy – “Achilles”
‘Rainy Sunday Afternoon’
Divine Comedy Records – September 19, 2025
*The Divine Comedy – “Achilles” https://youtu.be/5YIF2Gw-_-I // https://lnk.to/RainySunday // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Divine_Comedy_(band) // The lead single to preview ‘Rainy Sunday Afternoon,’ the upcoming album by long-running Irish pop band, The Divine Comedy. Due on September 19th via Divine Comedy Records.*
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Gang Of Four – “Damaged Goods”
‘Entertainment!’
EMI – 1979
*Gang Of Four – “Damaged Goods” https://youtu.be/bhYP_aPvZTE // https://www.discogs.com/master/6309-Gang-Of-Four-Entertainment // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Allen_(English_musician) // From ‘Entertainment!,’ the 1979 debut album by Gang Of Four, offered in tribute to bassist Dave Allen, who passed away on April 5th at the age of 69.*
Blondie – “X Offender”
‘Blondie’
Private Stock – 1976
*Blondie – “X Offender” https://youtu.be/DrpDA7_XEJU // https://www.discogs.com/master/3454-Blondie-Blondie // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clem_Burke // From the self-titled 1976 debut album by Blondie, offered in tribute to the band’s drummer, Clem Burke, who passed away on April 6th at the age of 70.*
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Ramones – “Don’t Come Close” // “Needles & Pins” (The Searchers Cover // Vinyl)
‘Road To Ruin’
Sire – September 22, 1978
*Ramones – “Don’t Come Close” // “Needles & Pins” (The Searchers Cover // Vinyl) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eKKI8DFEsY // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7kT4e4cKOo // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_to_Ruin_(Ramones_album) // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Needles_and_Pins_(song) // This week’s chronologically deep dive cuts are two bubblegum gems from Ramones’ fourth album, ‘Road To Ruin’. Dee Dee wrote the great “Don’t Come Close” and then The Searchers’ classic was by Sonny Bono and Jack Nitzsche!*