Media Monarchy plays Aerosmith x Yungblud, Squeeze, Bret McKenzie and more on #PumpUpThaVolume for December 5, 2025. ♬
Poison – “Look What The Cat Dragged In” (Vinyl)
‘Look What The Cat Dragged In’
Enigma/Capitol – May 23, 1986
*Poison – “Look What The Cat Dragged In” (Vinyl) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLt5r1O7qiE // https://www.discogs.com/release/5589600-Poison-Look-What-The-Cat-Dragged-In // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Look_What_the_Cat_Dragged_In // Though not a success at first, it steadily built momentum and peaked at #3 on the US Billboard 200 on May 23, 1987. The record was described by vocalist Bret Michaels as a “glorified demo”. It was recorded in twelve days at Los Angeles’ Music Grinder Studios with producer Ric Browde, for a cost of US$23,000, part of which was funded from the pockets of the band members and their families.*
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Aerosmith x Yungblud – “Wild Woman”
‘One More Time’
Capitol Records – November 21, 2025
*Aerosmith x Yungblud – “Wild Woman” https://soundcloud.com/yungblud/wild-woman // https://onemoretime.lnk.to/theep // From ‘One More Time,’ the just-released collab EP by Aerosmith x Yungblud, available now via Capitol Records.*
Squeeze – “Trixies Pt. 1”
‘Trixies’
Love Records / BMG – March 6, 2026
*Squeeze – “Trixies Pt. 1” https://youtu.be/BPK-EVnOvyY // https://squeeze.lnk.to/trixies // The lead single to preview ‘Trixies,’ the upcoming first new album by Squeeze in eight years, due on March 6, 2026 via Love Records / BMG.*
Magdalena Bay – “This Is The World (I Made It For You)”
‘This Is The World (I Made It For You) / Nice Day’
Mom+Pop – November 14, 2025
*Magdalena Bay – “This Is The World (I Made It For You)” https://magdalenabay.bandcamp.com/track/this-is-the-world-i-made-it-for-you // https://imaginaldisk.world // From ‘This Is The World (I Made It For You) / Nice Day,’ the just-released single by Los Angeles duo, Magdalena Bay. Available now via Mom+Pop.*
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Bret McKenzie – “That’s the Way That the World Goes ‘Round”
‘Freak Out City’
Sub Pop Records – August 15, 2025
*Bret McKenzie – “That’s the Way That the World Goes ‘Round” https://bretmckenzie.bandcamp.com/track/thats-the-way-that-the-world-goes-round // From ‘Freak Out City,’ the recently-released solo album by Grammy and Academy Award-winning artist, Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords. Available now via Sub Pop Records.*
Eric Hilton – “Lost In The Light” (w/Natalia Clavier)
‘Lost In The Light’
Mixto Records – Oct. 9, 2025
*Eric Hilton – “Lost In The Light” (w/Natalia Clavier) https://play.cdnstream1.com/s/kcrw/today-s-top-tune/eric-hilton-lost-in-the-8b5e93 // https://erichilton.bandcamp.com/track/lost-in-the-light-feat-natalia-clavier // Eric Hilton (Thievery Corporation) drifts into his signature blend of downtempo elegance and smoky, late-night atmosphere, letting warm basslines, shimmering textures, and a subtly propulsive groove set the pace. The track moves like a slow exhale after midnight, guided by Natalia Clavier’s soft, hypnotic vocals. This exclusive song was written for Cafe Del Mar and features Natalia Clavier! This song was tailor made for the famed Ibiza golden hour.*
The Lemon Twigs – “I’ve Got A Broken Heart”
‘I’ve Got A Broken Heart’
Captured Tracks – “Nov. 25, 2025
*The Lemon Twigs – “I’ve Got A Broken Heart” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OHuQ2-4aUM // https://floodmagazine.com/213233/listen-the-lemon-twigs-ive-got-a-broken-heart/ // The Lemon Twigs have returned with a new single called “I’ve Got a Broken Heart,” the band’s first new music since 2024’s ‘A Dream Is All We Know’. The new track, which comes the the B-side “Friday (I’m Gonna Love You),” is a psych-pop jam full of sunshine-y harmonies and raffish guitar—upbeat little tricks that play against lyrics of longing and sadness. The duo is also reportedly gearing up to release another new album, this one in collaboration with the veteran songwriter (and their dad) Ronnie D’Addario.*
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The Lemon Twigs – “Not Today” (Ronnie D’Addario Cover)
‘Written By’
Omnivore Recordings – Dec. 5, 2025
*The Lemon Twigs – “Not Today” (Ronnie D’Addario Cover) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvA3s43A9pI // https://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/written-by/ // The Lemon Twigs are not the phenomenon they are by accident. Brian & Michael D’Addarios’ father is a brilliant songwriter and musician in his own right. The Lemon Twigs pay tribute to him by producing and performing on a collection of their father’s music (with Ronnie involved every step of the way).*
The Black Crowes – “High Head Blues”
‘amorica. (Deluxe Edition)’
UMG Recordings – Nov. 14, 2025
*The Black Crowes – “High Head Blues” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiGrapDOdUg // https://youtu.be/GtbwzH5axNY (432Hz Version) // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amorica // https://www.udiscovermusic.com/news/the-black-crowes-wiser-time-high-head-blues-videos/ // “Esta es la mejor mota!” As part of The Black Crowes’ 30th anniversary celebration of their seminal 1994 album, ‘Amorica,’ they’ve shared 4K remastered versions of two music videos: “Wiser Time” and “High Head Blues.” Both fan favorites from ‘Amorica,’ the Jon Reiss-directed clips are now available to view on YouTube for the first time.*
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Depeche Mode – “Ghosts Again” (Live)
‘Memento Mori: Mexico City’
Columbia – Dec. 5, 2025
*Depeche Mode – “Ghosts Again” (Live) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c_MUh9w690 // https://www.allmusic.com/album/memento-mori-mexico-city-mw0004642591 // The live companion of Depeche Mode’s 15th set Memento Mori was released two years after the album, documenting a massive world tour of over 100 shows that kept Dave Gahan and Martin Gore on the road from 2023 to 2024. Their first jaunt following the death of Andy Fletcher, the tour had a bittersweet air to it, but also one that celebrated life and all that they had done together. For Gore and Gahan, that spirit of life and death was particularly strong in one of their stops: Mexico City. A three-night stint in the Mexican capital was filmed for this release (and was also used for the film Depeche Mode: M, directed by Fernando Frías).*
St. Paul & The Broken Bones – “Change a Life” (Live)
Digital Single
Southern Grooves – Dec. 4, 2025
*St. Paul & The Broken Bones – “Change a Life” (Live) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HGd2EJd-2o // A brand spanking new live version of a cut from their latest s/t album. Lol he’s really dropping product placement on these new ones, “Sushi and Coca-Cola” is going on our best-of and now here’s Burger King. Have it your way, Paul Janeway!*
Olivia Rodrigo – “Just Like Heaven” (Live Cure Cover w/Robert Smith)
YouTube Video
BBC Music – July 1, 2025
*Olivia Rodrigo – “Just Like Heaven” (Live Cure Cover w/Robert Smith) https://youtu.be/MDTlUtrzeFI // Closing night headliner Olivia Rodrigo did two Cure songs live with Robert Smith at Glastonbury 2025 – this and “Friday, I’m In Love”. Available now via BBC Music’s YouTube channel.*
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Ramones – “Journey To The Center Of The Mind” (Amboy Dukes Cover) // “Somebody To Love” (Jefferson Airplane Cover) // “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” (Creedence Clearwater Revival Cover)
‘Acid Eaters’
Radioactive Records – Dec. 1, 1993
*Ramones – “Journey To The Center Of The Mind” (Amboy Dukes Cover) // “Somebody To Love” (Jefferson Airplane Cover) // “Have You Ever Seen The Rain” (Creedence Clearwater Revival Cover) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLs94EQmXKI // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUiDfU1s4no // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk-bt632h2o // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_Eaters // https://www.allmusic.com/album/acid-eaters-mw0000102747 // Tearing through a bunch of psychedelic and garage rock classics from the 1960s, the Ramones regain much of the fun and abandon of earlier records, making Acid Eaters easily their best record in a decade; the guest appearances of Pete Townshend (“Substitute”) NEXT WEEK and Traci Lords (“Somebody to Love”) help make the record a blast. That’s CJ on lead vocals on the Nuge cut.*