Media Monarchy plays Aimee Mann, Rufus Wainwright, Saintseneca and more on #PumpUpThaVolume for December 4, 2025. ♬
U2 – “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” (Vinyl)
‘Original Music From The Motion Picture Batman Forever’
Atlantic – May 30, 1995
*U2 – “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” (Vinyl) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIdTNyJp38A // https://www.discogs.com/release/677502-Various-Original-Music-From-The-Motion-Picture-Batman-Forever // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_Forever_(soundtrack) // Hit singles from the soundtrack include “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me” by U2 and “Kiss from a Rose” by Seal, both of which were nominated for MTV Movie Awards. “Kiss from a Rose” (whose video was also directed by Joel Schumacher) reached No. 1 in the U.S. charts as well. The soundtrack itself, featuring additional songs by the Flaming Lips, Brandy, the Offspring (songs also included in the film), Method Man, Nick Cave, Michael Hutchence (of INXS), PJ Harvey, and Massive Attack, was an attempt to (in producer Peter MacGregor-Scott’s words) make the film more “pop”.*
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Brian Tyler – “Now You Don’t” (Inst.)
‘Now You See Me, Now You Don’t (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)’
Lakeshore Records – November 21, 2025
*Brian Tyler – “Now You Don’t” (Inst.) https://soundcloud.com/briantyler/now-you-dont-1 // https://open.spotify.com/album/2MuMehlnXlctgRy56V2qXa // https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4712810/ // From ‘Now You See Me, Now You Don’t (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)’, available now via Lakeshore Records.*
Navid Hejazi – “They Are In The House” (Inst.)
‘Dashing Through The Snow (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)’
Navid Hejazi – November 21, 2025
*Navid Hejazi – “They Are In The House” (Inst.) https://youtu.be/NVlbod2Wkkk // https://open.spotify.com/album/3eIebTnAa3uX2WXDgkfQRU // https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29622834/ // From ‘Dashing Through The Snow (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)’, available now as an independent release via the artist.*
Aimee Mann – “Rainy Days and Mondays” (The Carpenters Cover)
Digital Single
WaterTower Music – November 9, 2025
*Aimee Mann – “Rainy Days and Mondays” (The Carpenters Cover) https://youtu.be/c1RyMJz4Udo // https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31987295/ // Here’s a cover of the Carpenters’ classic, (written by Paul Williams and Roger Nichols), by Aimee Man, the song is featured in the HBO series, “The Chair Company”. The single is available to stream now via WaterTower Music.*
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Rufus Wainwright – “September Song” // “I’m A Stranger Here Myself” (Live Kurt Weill Covers w/Pacific Jazz Orchestra)
‘I’m A Stranger Here Myself – Wainwright Does Weill’
Rock and Roll Credit Card Inc / Thirty Tigers – November 21, 2025
*Rufus Wainwright – “September Song” // “I’m A Stranger Here Myself” (Live Kurt Weill Covers w/Pacific Jazz Orchestra) https://soundcloud.com/rufuswainwright/september-song // https://30tgrs.ffm.to/iashm-wdw // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Weill // https://soundcloud.com/rufuswainwright/im-a-stranger-here-myself // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Touch_of_Venus // Here’s a fine rendition of Kurt Weill’s 1938 classic (with lyrics by Maxwell Anderson); Wainwright also performs “I’m a Stranger Here Myself,” composed by Kurt Weill, (with lyrics by Ogden Nash), which originally appeared in the 1943 Broadway musical, ‘One Touch of Venus’. From ‘I’m A Stranger Here Myself – Wainwright Does Weill,’ available now via Rock and Roll Credit Card Inc / Thirty Tigers.*
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Would-Be-Goods – “The Gallopers”
‘Tears Before Bedtime’
Skep Wax – February 13, 2026
*Would-Be-Goods – “The Gallopers” https://would-be-goods.bandcamp.com/track/the-gallopers // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Would-Be-Goods // The lead single to preview ‘Tears Before Bedtime,’ the upcoming album by London indie-pop band, Would-Be-Goods. Due on February 13, 2026 via Skep Wax.*
PONY – “Middle Of Summer”
‘Clearly Cursed’
Take This To Heart Records – February 13, 2026
*PONY – “Middle Of Summer” https://ponyband.bandcamp.com/track/middle-of-summer // https://linktr.ee/ponytheband // Here’s the new single to preview ‘Clearly Cursed,’ the upcoming album by Toronto grunge-pop outfit, PONY. Due on February 13, 2026 via Take This To Heart Records.*
Naked Lunch – “To All And Everyone I Love”
‘Lights (And A Slight Taste Of Death)’
Tapete Records – November 7, 2025
*Naked Lunch – “To All And Everyone I Love” https://nakedlunched.bandcamp.com/track/to-all-and-everyone-i-love-2 // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naked_Lunch_(Austrian_band) // From ‘Lights (And A Slight Taste Of Death),’ the just-released album by Klagenfurt, Austria experimental/alternative music outfit, Naked Lunch. Available now via Tapete Records.*
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Saintseneca – “Battery Lifer”
‘Highwalllow & Supermoon Songs’
Lame-O-Records – October 31, 2025
*Saintseneca – “Battery Lifer” https://saintseneca.bandcamp.com/track/battery-lifer-2 // https://lnk.to/hwss_ss // Here’s another track from ‘Highwalllow & Supermoon Songs’, the just-released album by Saintseneca, available now via Lame-O-Records.*
Mikaela Davis – “11:11”
Digital Single
Kill Rock Stars – November 11, 2025
*Mikaela Davis – “11:11” https://mikaeladavis.bandcamp.com/track/11-11 // https://pocp.co/11-11 // BLEVEN BLEVEN! Here’s the new single by Catskill, New York-based singer-songwriter, Mikaela Davis. Available now via Kill Rock Stars.*
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Christo Graham – “That’s Not What It Looks Like To Me”
‘Good Covers’
We Are Busy Bodies – January 30, 2026
*Christo Graham – “That’s Not What It Looks Like To Me” https://christograham.bandcamp.com/track/thats-not-what-it-looks-like-to-me // From ‘Good Covers,’ the upcoming album by Canadian singer-songwriter, Christo Graham. Due on January 30, 2026 via We Are Busy Bodies.*
The Surfrajettes – “Hockey Night In Canada” (Inst. Cover)
Digital Single
Hi-Tide Recordings – November 13, 2025
*The Surfrajettes – “Hockey Night In Canada” (Inst. Cover) https://thesurfrajettes.bandcamp.com/track/hockey-night-in-canada // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hockey_Theme // Toronto’s The Surfrajettes cover the 1968-2008 opening theme to the CBC program, ‘Hockey Night In Canada’ (written by Dolores Claman and originally performed by the Jerry Toth Orchestra). Available now via Hi-Tide Recordings.*
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Lesley Gore – “What’s A Girl Supposed To Do” // “You Didn’t Look ‘Round”
‘My Town, My Guy & Me’
Mercury – September, 1965
*Lesley Gore – “What’s A Girl Supposed To Do” // “You Didn’t Look ‘Round” https://open.spotify.com/track/1CXoVq9l263NbdXqScoUia // https://open.spotify.com/track/3AIyZLDyQ6cwNFAmb1hcpW // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Town,_My_Guy_&_Me // Here are two tracks from Lesley Gore’s 1965 Mercury album, ‘My Town, My Guy & Me’. The record was the last of Gore’s albums produced by Quincy Jones, ending his association with Lesley Sue Goldstein that began with her debut album in 1963. The album produced just one top 40 single, the title track, which peaked at number 32 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album features 12 great songs and should not be overlooked by fans of 1960’s pop music.*