Media Monarchy plays Michael Giacchino, Kenrda Morris, Hermanos Gutiérrez x Leon Bridges and more on #PumpUpThaVolume for July 24, 2025. ♬
John Barry – “A View To A Kill (That Fatal Kiss)” (Inst. // Vinyl)
‘A View To A Kill’
Capitol Records – May 6, 1985
*John Barry – “A View To A Kill (That Fatal Kiss)” (Inst. // Vinyl) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oc0P6xxgv7I // https://www.discogs.com/release/1130741-Duran-Duran-A-View-To-A-Kill // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_View_to_a_Kill_(song) // The film score b-side to the pop hit! Written and recorded as the theme for the James Bond film of the same name and included on its accompanying soundtrack album, it became one of the band’s biggest hits. It is the only James Bond theme song to have reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100; it also made it to number two for three weeks on the UK Singles Chart while stuck behind Paul Hardcastle’s “19”.
*****
Michael Giacchino – “The Fantastic Four: First Steps Main Theme Extended Version” (Inst.)
‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)’
MarvelMusic – July 18, 2025
*Michael Giacchino – “The Fantastic Four: First Steps Main Theme Extended Version” (Inst.) https://soundcloud.com/michael-giacchino/the-fantastic-four-first-1 // https://open.spotify.com/album/0yuJY1TWdXHnG74u5yAPLB // https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10676052/ // From ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack),’ available now via MarvelMusic.*
Greg Birkumshaw – “The Thing About Neverland” (Inst.)
‘Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare’
GregAudio Music – July 10, 2025
*Greg Birkumshaw – “The Thing About Neverland” (Inst.) https://youtu.be/0gvPkfd_mnk // https://open.spotify.com/album/5taD4TBb8EOpjSup0aie8s // https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21955520/ // From ‘Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare,’ available now via GregAudio Music.*
Guido De Angelis and Maurizio De Angelis – “The Reason of a Just War (Version 8)” (Inst.)
‘Roma Violenta – Violent Rome (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)’
Beat Records – July 11, 2025
*Guido De Angelis and Maurizio De Angelis – “The Reason of a Just War (Version 8)” (Inst.) https://cinemahotelstudios.bandcamp.com/track/the-reason-of-a-just-war-version-8 // https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073633/ // From ‘Roma violenta – Violent Rome (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)’, the just-released soundtrack of the 1975 Italian crime drama, ‘Roma Violenta – Violent Rome,’ available now via Beat Records.*
*****
Mae Powell – “Contact High”
‘Making Room for the Light’
Karma Chief Records – August 15, 2025
*Mae Powell – “Contact High” https://maepowell.bandcamp.com/track/contact-high // From ‘Making Room for the Light,’ the upcoming album by San Francisco pop singer and songwriter, Mae Powell. Due on August 15th via Karma Chief Records.*
The Emkays – “Let Love Walk Out Again”
‘Let Love Walk Out Again / Through The Pines’ (7″ Vinyl)
Wick Records – August 1, 2025
*The Emkays – “Let Love Walk Out Again” https://theemkays.bandcamp.com/track/let-love-walk-out-again // The A-side of ‘Let Love Walk Out Again / Through The Pines’, the upcoming 7″ by Los Angeles duo The Emkays, due on August 1st via Wick Records.*
Mike Polizze – “Everybody I Know”
‘Around Sound’
Paradise of Bachelors – July 11, 2025
*Mike Polizze – “Everybody I Know” https://mikepolizze.bandcamp.com/track/everybody-i-know // From ‘Around Sound,’ the just-released album by Philadelphia singer-songwriter, Mike Polizze. Available now via Paradise of Bachelors.*
*****
Kendra Morris – “Flat Tire”
‘Next’
Colemine Records – September 19, 2025
*Kendra Morris – “Flat Tire” https://kendramorris.bandcamp.com/track/flat-tire // https://colemine.lnk.to/stream // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendra_Morris // From ‘Next’ the upcoming album by Kendra Morris, due on September 19th via Colemine Records.*
The Planet Smashers – “Meet Me on the Dancefloor”
‘On The Dancefloor’
Stomp Records – August 22, 2025
*The Planet Smashers – “Meet Me on the Dancefloor” https://planetsmashers.bandcamp.com/track/meet-me-on-the-dancefloor // From ‘On The Dancefloor,’ the upcoming album by Montreal band, The Planet Smashers. Due on August 22nd via Stomp Records.*
Mark Stewart – “This Is The Rain”
‘The Fateful Symmetry’
Mute – July 11, 2025
*Mark Stewart – “This Is The Rain” https://markstewartmusic.bandcamp.com/track/this-is-the-rain // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Stewart_(English_musician) // From ‘The Fateful Symmetry,’ the just-released eighth album by the late Mark Stewart (completed shortly before his untimely passing in April 2023), available now via Mute. Stewart died at the age of 62 on April 21, 2023. Cause of death not revealed.*
*****
Hermanos Gutiérrez – “Elegantly Wasted” (w/Leon Bridges)
Digital Single
Easy Eye Sound – July 17, 2025
*Hermanos Gutiérrez – “Elegantly Wasted” (w/Leon Bridges) https://hermanosgutierrez.bandcamp.com/track/elegantly-wasted // https://www.hermanosgutierrez.ch // Here’s the new single by sibling duo Alejandro and Estevan Gutiérrez, aka Hermanos Gutiérrez, available now via Easy Eye Sound.*
JayWood – “Sun Baby”
‘Leo Negro’
Captured Tracks – September 5, 2025
*JayWood – “Sun Baby” https://jaywood1.bandcamp.com/track/sun-baby // https://jaywood.ffm.to/sunbaby.oem // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JayWood // From ‘Leo Negro,’ the upcoming album by JayWood, the project of Montreal producer, musician and singer-songwriter, Jeremy Haywood-Smith. Due on September 5th via Captured Tracks.*
Robert Plant – “Everybody’s Song” (Low Cover w/Saving Grace)
‘Saving Grace’
Es Paranza/Nonesuch – Jul. 16, 2025
*Robert Plant – “Everybody’s Song” (Low Cover w/Saving Grace) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfcRe8NyFjE // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Plant#Saving_Grace_(2019%E2%80%93present) // Robert Plant and Saving Grace perform Low’s “Everybody’s Song,” from the upcoming album, ‘Saving Grace,’ due September 26 on Nonesuch Records. Man, RP’s always trying to bring up bands and give big opportunities to up-and-coming artists. And doing a Low cover?! (‘The Great Destroyer’ 2005).*
*****
The Little Darlings – “Little Bit O’ Soul” // “Easy To Cry”
‘Get Ready For The Countdown’
Strawberry – April, 2025
*The Little Darlings – “Little Bit O’ Soul” // “Easy To Cry” https://youtu.be/4wes1aJRC_g // https://youtu.be/2ldReLOq_ps // https://www.discogs.com/release/33814341-Various-Get-Ready-For-The-Countdown // https://www.discogs.com/release/7215857-The-Little-Darlings-Little-Bit-O-Soul // Here’s both sides of the lone record released by Coventry, UK band The Little Darlings. The A-side, “Little Bit O’ Soul” which failed to chart for The Little Darlings, became a smash hit in the US two years later for Ohio garage band The Music Explosion. Both sides of the record were written by the successful UK songwriting duo John Carter and Ken Lewis.*