Media Monarchy plays Jeff Russo, Jill Scott x Too $hort, The Slackers and more on #PumpUpThaVolume for February 19, 2026. ♬
Don Baker – “Serenade Rhumba” (Inst. w/Lee Pepper // Vinyl)
‘At The Paramount Theatre Organ’
Rondo-Lette – 1958
*Don Baker – “Serenade Rhumba” (Inst. w/Lee Pepper // Vinyl) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2iDKKoX_LI // https://www.discogs.com/release/8894563-Don-Baker-2-With-Lee-Pepper-At-The-Paramount-Theatre-Organ // https://www.discogs.com/artist/1739920-Don-Baker-2 // https://search.brave.com/search?q=when+was+Clearwater%2C+Florida+taken+over+by+scientology // Canadian-born American organist, Baker studied piano at the Mount Royal Conservatory in Calgary. In 1925, he was hired as a demonstrator and a teacher at the Wurlitzer Music store in New York City. He then moved to the Paramount Theater and played on bills featuring top big bands headed by Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and others. He resided in Nevada until 1974, performing in Reno and Lake Tahoe. Then he moved to Clearwater, Florida, where he spent his final years. Gifted by Danny!*
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Jeff Russo – “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Main Title” (Inst.)
‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy – Season 1 (Original Series Soundtrack)’
Lakeshore Records – January 16, 2026
*Jeff Russo – “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Main Title” (Inst.) https://youtu.be/_dwLu98jaiw // https://open.spotify.com/album/017Vsy9tl2ZVP3gslcaZQT // https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8622160/ // From ‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy – Season 1 (Original Series Soundtrack),’ available now via Lakeshore Records.*
Andrew Hulshult – “Ocean Of Blood” (Inst.)
‘Iron Lung (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)’
Andrew Hulshult – January 26, 2026
*Andrew Hulshult – “Ocean Of Blood” (Inst.) https://youtu.be/tnQsohEFgjQ // https://open.spotify.com/album/2DDYP7buLZ0CpEwbzSJdF3 // https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27564844/ // From ‘Iron Lung (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack),’ available now via the artist.*
Santi Pulvirenti – “The Big Fake” (Inst.)
‘Il Falsario (Colonna sonora del film Netflix)’
Netflix Music – January 23, 2026
*Santi Pulvirenti – “The Big Fake” (Inst.) https://youtu.be/cRnF7z1UTL8 // https://open.spotify.com/album/3NoNlrVKsRmulLSwyZcp9L // https://www.imdb.com/title/tt36741457/ // From ‘Il Falsario (Colonna sonora del film Netflix),’ available now via Netflix Music.*
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Jill Scott – “BPOTY” (w/Too $hort)
‘To Whom This May Concern’
Blues Babe Records / Human Re Sources – February 13, 2026
*Jill Scott – “BPOTY” (w/Too $hort) https://open.spotify.com/track/3VC2OG45kkdykebomK6Eus // https://missjillscott.com // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jill_Scott_(singer) // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Too_Short // Biggest Pimp Of The Year! From ‘To Whom This May Concern,’ the just-released sixth album – and the first in ten years by singer, songwriter, poet and actress, Jill Scott. Available now via Blues Babe Records / Human Re Sources.*
The Olympians – “Thunderball” (Inst.)
‘In Search Of A Revival’
Daptone Records – February 13, 2026
*The Olympians – “Thunderball” (Inst.) https://youtu.be/uobO0LSem5o // https://theolympians.bandcamp.com/album/in-search-of-a-revival // https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059800/ // From ‘In Search Of A Revival,’ the just-released album of orchestral soul by The Olympians, the project of composer Toby Pazner. Available now via Daptone Records.*
Dana DeRose – “Dancing In The Dark” (Inst.)
‘Dancing In The Morning Dew’
G2 Records – February 12, 2026
*Dana DeRose – “Dancing In The Dark” (Inst.) https://youtu.be/PRNTOvGJg-k // https://denaderose.com // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dena_DeRose // From ‘Dancing In The Morning Dew,’ the just-released four-song EP by jazz pianist and vocalist, Dana DeRose. Available now via G2 Records.*
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Baby Rose – “Friends Again” (w/Leon Thomas)
Digital Single
Secretly Canadian – February 10, 2026
*Baby Rose – “Friends Again” (w/Leon Thomas) https://babyrose.bandcamp.com/track/friends-again-feat-leon-thomas // https://secretlycanadian.com/artist/baby-rose/ // Here’s the new single by rising Atlanta-based soul singer and songwriter, Baby Rose, available now via Secretly Canadian.*
Cut Worms – “Dream”
‘Transmitter’
Jagjaguwar – March 13, 2026
*Cut Worms – “Dream” https://youtu.be/P896IzNhOD0 // https://cut-worms.lnk.to/transmitter // The latest single to preview ‘Transmitter,’ the upcoming Jeff Tweedy-produced album by Cut Worms, due on March 13th via Jagjaguwar.*
Olga Pashchenko – “Piano Concerto No. 6 in B-Flat Major, KV 238: I. Allegro aperto” (Inst. Mozart Cover w/Il Gardellino)
‘Mozart: Piano Concertos 6, 8 & 18’
Alpha Classics – February 13, 2025
*Olga Pashchenko – “Piano Concerto No. 6 in B-Flat Major, KV 238: I. Allegro aperto” (Inst. Mozart Cover w/Il Gardellino) https://youtu.be/gU-lEcqjmh0 // https://olgapashchenko.com // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga_Pashchenko // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Il_Gardellino // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6chel_catalogue // From ‘Mozart: Piano Concertos 6, 8 & 18,’ the just-released album by Russian keyboardist (harpsichord, fortepiano, modern piano, organ) Olga Pashchenko and Dutch Baroque music ensemble, Il Gardellino, available now via Alpha Classics.*
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Crooked Fingers – “Insomnia”
‘Swet Deth’
Merge Records – February 27, 2026
*Crooked Fingers – “Insomnia” https://crookedfingers.bandcamp.com/track/insomnia // https://www.mergerecords.com/product/swet_deth // The latest single to preview ‘Swet Deth,’ the upcoming album by North Carolina project of former Archers Of Loaf main man, Eric Bachmann – Crooked Fingers. Due on February 27th via Merge Records.*
The Slackers – “Hold On”
‘Money Is King’ (EP)
Pirates Press Records – Nov. 7, 2025
*The Slackers – “Hold On” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHzkHJ1k03I // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwOUZujuxsc (Music Video Version) // https://theslackers.bandcamp.com/album/money-is-king // “Is this ska Morrissey?” Brand new video (featuring, who I’m pretty sure is, Carrie Brownstein) for the middle cut off the NYC band’s latest EP, 2025’s ‘Money Is King’.*
Camper Van Beethoven – “Eye Of Fatima (Pt. 1)”
‘Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart’
Virgin – May 24, 1988
*Camper Van Beethoven – “Eye Of Fatima (Pt. 1)” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51PP8TwXrxE // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Beloved_Revolutionary_Sweetheart // https://genius.com/Camper-van-beethoven-eye-of-fatima-pt-1-lyrics // https://120minutes.org/search/eye+of+fatima // ‘Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart’ is a 1988 album by Camper Van Beethoven, released on Virgin Records. It was the band’s first major-label album, and was produced by Dennis Herring, the first time the band had used an outside producer. The album cover art, designed by Bruce Licher, was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1989. (The Grammy Award for Best Album Package in 1989 was awarded to The O’Kanes for their album, ‘Tired of the Runnin” – whoever tf that is!)*
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The Poor Things – “She’s Mine” // The Bats – “Got A Girl”
‘German Measles Volume 1 – Flames Of Love: ’60s Beat, Garage & R&B From Germany’
Cree Records – November, 2013
*The Poor Things – “She’s Mine” // The Bats – “Got A Girl” https://youtu.be/MOq8JbjY4Fw // https://youtu.be/CzKOK3HVtNQ // https://www.discogs.com/release/5109943-Various-German-Measles-Volume-1-Flames-Of-Love-60s-Beat-Garage-RB-From-Germany // https://www.discogs.com/release/8770112-The-Poor-Things-Mixed-Feelings // https://www.discogs.com/release/6002054-The-Bats-Got-A-Girl-Im-So-In-Love-With-You // Here’s two fine examples of German freakbeat compiled on ‘German Measles Volume 1 – Flames Of Love: ’60s Beat, Garage & R&B From Germany,’ released back in 2013 by Bear Family imprint Cree Records. If you love this genre, grab a copy of the album, it’s sonically excellent and has great liner notes by Mike and Anja Stax of Ugly Things Magazine fame.*