Media Monarchy plays Gorillaz x Yasiin Bey, Chrissie Hynde x Cat Power, Ramones and more on #PumpUpThaVolume for December 19, 2025. ♬
JD McPherson – “Hey Skinny Santa” (Vinyl)
‘When The Fat Guy Tries The Chimney On For Size b/w Hey Skinny Santa’
New West Records – 2018
*JD McPherson – “Hey Skinny Santa” (Vinyl) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP4wdVH4JmU // https://www.discogs.com/release/12797708-Rodney-Crowell-JD-McPherson-When-The-Fat-Guy-Tries-The-Chimney-On-For-Size-Hey-Skinny-Santa // https://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2018/12/12/album-of-the-week-jd-mcpherson-socks // “Hey Skinny Santa” will have you clapping, giggling, and dancing at the same time! This is the album to put on when you are baking cookies in the kitchen, putting up the tree with a spiked eggnog in hand or the ultimate album to kick that Christmas party up a notch! This is coming from my holiday split 7″ from New West Records featuring Rodney Crowell’s “When The Fat Guy Tries The Chimney On For Size” as the A-side. I got it at Admiral Analog, the good record store that didn’t exist when I lived there in Shepherdstown, WV. Not sure if they were selling them or giving them away lol I didn’t make that note in my Discogs.*
*****
Guns N’ Roses – “Nothin'”
Digital Single
Geffen Records – December 4, 2025
*Guns N’ Roses – “Nothin'” https://youtu.be/gJng5qD7Nhw // https://gunsnroses.lnk.to/nothin // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nothin’_(Guns_N’_Roses_song) // Here’s the second of two new ballads by Guns N’ Roses, available now via Geffen Records.*
Gorillaz – “Damascus” (w/Omar Souleyman x Yasmin Bay)
‘The Mountain’
Kong – February 27, 2026
*Gorillaz – “Damascus” (w/Omar Souleyman x Yasmin Bay) https://soundcloud.com/gorillaz/damascus-feat-omar-souleyman // https://gorillaz.com // Here’s the new single to preview ‘The Mountain,’ the upcoming album by Gorillaz, due on February 27, 2026 via Kong.*
*****
The Nude Party – “Honey for the Barflies”
‘Look Who’s Back’
The Nude Party – February 13, 2026
*The Nude Party – “Honey for the Barflies” https://thenudeparty.bandcamp.com/track/honey-for-the-barflies // https://lnk.dmsmusic.co/thenudeparty_lookwhosback // Here’s the new single to preview ‘Look Who’s Back,’ the upcoming album by folk-rock band The Nude Party. Due on February 13, 2026 as an independent release via the band.*
Chrissie Hynde – “First Of The Gang To Die” (Morrissey Cover w/Cat Power)
‘Duets Special’
Parlophone Records – October 17, 2025
*Chrissie Hynde – “First Of The Gang To Die” (Morrissey Cover w/Cat Power) https://youtu.be/ea1ZLBLSvQo // https://soundcloud.com/chrissiehynde/first-of-the-gang-to-die-feat // https://chrissiehynde.lnk.to/duetsspecial // From ‘Duets Special,’ the just-released album by Chrissie Hynde, available now via Parlophone Records.*
*****
Raul Malo – “Make The World Go Away” (Live Hank Cochran Cover w/The Northern Sinfonia)
‘Around The World’
Fantasy / Universal Music International – 2012
*Raul Malo – “Make The World Go Away” (Live Hank Cochran Cover w/The Northern Sinfonia) https://youtu.be/rHIQL0ZRuHI // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Make_the_World_Go_Away // From ‘Around The World,’ the 2012 album by Raul Malo, offered in tribute to the vocalist of The Mavericks, who passed away abruptly on December 8th at the age of 60.*
Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – “Friendlytown”
‘Friendlytown’
Provogue – August 23, 2024
*Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour – “Friendlytown” https://soundcloud.com/steve-cropper-official/friendlytown // https://www.discogs.com/master/3682668-Steve-Cropper-The-Midnight-Hour-Friendlytown // The title track of the final album by Steve Cropper, offered as a tribute to the legendary Stax Records guitarist and songwriter who passed away on December 3rd at the age of 84.*
Eric Clapton – “Higher Power”
‘Journeyman: Deluxe Edition’
Surfdog Records – November 21, 2025
*Eric Clapton – “Higher Power” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5Nhb2H1GDM // https://www.everettpost.com/music/rock/eric-clapton-drops-video-for-higher-power-from-journeyman-deluxe-reissue/ // A previously-unreleased song from ‘Journeyman: Deluxe Edition,’ the just-released album by Eric Clapton, available now Surfdog Records.*
*****
Hard Archive – “Jim Waterhouse – ‘Santa’s Sweatshop'”
‘A Fool’s Golden Christmas Volume 2’
Almost Vinyl – December 5, 2025
*Hard Archive – “Jim Waterhouse – ‘Santa’s Sweatshop'” https://youtu.be/abIsCDxsMIk // https://almostvinyl.bandcamp.com/album/a-fools-golden-christmas-volume-2 // An elf describes his holly jolly toil in this obscure 1960s Christmas vinyl cut from Jim Waterhouse, brought to you via ai music magic.*
Hard Archive – “Dr J. Taylor – ‘White Christmas'” (Bing Crosby Parody)
Digital Single
Hard Archive – December 4, 2025
*Hard Archive – “Dr J. Taylor – ‘White Christmas'” (Bing Crosby Parody) https://youtu.be/YDLRh3IfNNQ // This cover of the Bing Crosby classic was issued by Dr J. Taylor in 1964, unsurprisingly it was banned, making this copy of the song extremely rare. Lyrics composed by the always-racist, Hard Archive, music created with the help of A.I.*
*****
Mattiel – “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)” (Ramones Cover)
Digital Single
Heavenly Recordings – December 16, 2025
*Mattiel – “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)” (Ramones Cover) https://mattiel.bandcamp.com/track/merry-christmas-i-dont-want-to-fight-tonight // https://mattiel.substack.com // Here’s a fine cover of Ramones by Monarchy fav, Mattiel, available now via Heavenly Recordings.*
MXPX – “KKK Took My Baby Away” (Live Ramones Cover)
‘At The Show’
Tooth & Nail – Jul. 27, 1999
*MXPX – “KKK Took My Baby Away” (Live Ramones Cover) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1JZX9CxaMQ // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXeQfojd0E8 (Live Ramones Cover Video Version) // https://www.discogs.com/master/109644-MxPx-At-The-Show // ‘At the Show’ is a live album recorded by American punk rock MxPx live at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., on August 24, 1998, and The TLA in Philadelphia, PA on August 25, 1998, while the band was touring in support of their latest album, 1998’s Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo as well as the B-sides collection Let it Happen, also released in 1998. At the Show was released on July 27, 1999. Out of print and not officially on any streaming platforms!*
KISS – “Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio?” (Ramones Cover)
‘We’re a Happy Family: A Tribute to Ramones’
Columbia – Feb. 11, 2003
*KISS – “Do You Remember Rock and Roll Radio?” (Ramones Cover) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6SYfguaJtk // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We’re_a_Happy_Family:_A_Tribute_to_Ramones // ‘We’re a Happy Family,’ wrote MOJO Magazine, “doesn’t send you running to dig out Rocket to Russia in disgust. Instead, it’s edifying to see their trademark minimalist sound transmuted in the hands of their most high profile fans… Kiss get the best-in-show nod for their anthemic ‘Do You Remember Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio?’, which sounds ripped right off an early Slade album.”*
*****
Ramones – “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight)”
‘Brain Drain’
Sire – May 23, 1989
*Ramones – “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight)” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTgaD3pwRTc // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIhIBFPtnoc (Music Video Version) // A great holiday tune from the bruddahs! The only reason people hated it was because they unwisely tacked it on to the doomy album with “Pet Semetary”.*
Ramones – “Spider-Man”
‘Saturday Morning: Cartoons’ Greatest Hits’
MCA – Dec. 5, 1995
*Ramones – “Spider-Man” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SL-5L1OmW4 // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider-Man_(theme_song) // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_Morning:_Cartoons%27_Greatest_Hits // In 1995, Ramones recorded a version of the song for the tribute album ‘Saturday Morning: Cartoons’ Greatest Hits’. (I got it from Christmas that year! Along with Tricky’s ‘Maxinquaye’ and Wilco’s ‘Being There,’ iirc) A different recording of the song appeared on the American version of their album Adios Amigos, and later as part of the compilation album Weird Tales of the Ramones. This version omits the hyphen, spelling it “Spiderman”.*
Ramones – “R.A.M.O.N.E.S.” (Motörhead Cover)
‘¡Adios Amigos!’
Radioactive Records – Jul. 18, 1995
*Ramones – “R.A.M.O.N.E.S.” (Motörhead Cover) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnv72CTXK6Q // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2PLrbnTf2c (Music Video Version) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adios_Amigos_(Ramones_album) // ‘¡Adios Amigos!’ (in Spanish, “Goodbye Friends”) is the fourteenth and final studio album by the American punk rock band, Ramones. It was released on July 18, 1995, through Radioactive Records. The Ramones disbanded a year after its release and subsequent tour. They added this Motörhead tribute to the 1995 Japanese edition & as a 2004 Captain Oi! bonus track. BEST JIMMY BAND DEEP DIVE EVER! (SO FAR!)*