Media Monarchy plays Damon Albarn, Charli xcx, J. Cole and more on #PumpUpThaVolume for February 20, 2026. ♬
Violent Femmes – “I Held Her In My Arms” (Vinyl)
‘The Blind Leading The Naked’
Slash/Warner Bros. – Feb. 12, 1986
*Violent Femmes – “I Held Her In My Arms” (Vinyl) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJUVPoZyMlM // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkeb3HSun0k (Music Video Version) // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blind_Leading_the_Naked // See? We were trans-friendly in the 80’s! Second single from ‘The Blind Leading the Naked,’ the third album by Violent Femmes. It was produced by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads and released in 1986. Spin said, “This is a great album, one that may finally earn the Violent Femmes the attention they deserve.*
*****
Damon Albarn – “Flags” (w/Grian Chatten of Fontaines D.C. x Kae Tempest)
‘Help(2)’
War Child Records – March 6, 2026
*Damon Albarn – “Flags” (w/Grian Chatten of Fontaines D.C. x Kae Tempest) https://youtu.be/EUdF5cPF8mk // https://warchildrecs.ffm.to/help2 // The second single to preview ‘Help(2),’ due on March 6th via War Child Records.*
Charli xcx – “Eyes of the World” (w/Sky Ferreira)
‘Wuthering Heights’
Atlantic Records – February 13, 2026
*Charli xcx – “Eyes of the World” (w/Sky Ferreira) https://youtu.be/ZYvXf-hxsX0 // https://charlixcx.lnk.to/wutheringheights // From ‘Wuthering Heights,’ the just-released album by Charli xcx, available now via Atlantic Records.*
The New Pornographers – “Pure Sticker Shock”
‘The Former Site Of’
Merge Records – March 27, 2026
*The New Pornographers – “Pure Sticker Shock” https://youtu.be/vf_qcJFtpqY // https://lnk.to/TheFormerSiteOf // The second single to preview ‘The Former Site Of,’ the upcoming album by The New Pornographers, due on March 27th via Merge Records.*
*****
They Might Be Giants – “Wu Tang”
‘The World Is to Dig’
Idlewild Recordings – April 10, 2026
*They Might Be Giants – “Wu Tang” https://youtu.be/Io63tR8u5_4 // https://tmbgshop.com // The lead single to preview ‘The World Is to Dig,’ the upcoming album by They Might Be Giants, due on April 10th via Idlewild Recordings.*
Louis Tomlinson – “Broken Bones”
‘How Did I Get Here?’
BMG UK – January 23, 2026
*Louis Tomlinson – “Broken Bones” https://youtu.be/C3SSTMRq0TQ // https://louis-tomlinson.com // From ‘How Did I Get Here?,’ the just-released album by Louis Tomlinson, available now via BMG UK.*
Brigitte Calls Me Baby – “I Danced With Another Love In My Dream”
‘Irreversible’
ATO Records – March 13, 2026
*Brigitte Calls Me Baby – “I Danced With Another Love In My Dream” https://youtu.be/RQFDLA0CzEk // https://atorecords-ffm.com/irreversible // The second single to preview ‘Irreversible,’ the upcoming album by Brigitte Calls Me Baby, due on March 13th via ATO Records.*
*****
J. Cole – “WHO TF IZ U”
‘The Fall-Off’
Dreamville/Interscope – Feb. 6, 2026
*J. Cole – “WHO TF IZ U” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4NPNp8SEk0 // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fall-Off // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_TF_Iz_U // https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/j-cole-the-fall-off-number-one-billboard-200-chart-1236180124/ // J. Cole rapping like somebody stole his bike 😂 “Who TF Iz U” is a song by American rapper J. Cole. It was sent to U.S. rhythmic radio on February 11, 2026 as the lead single from his seventh studio album, ‘The Fall-Off’ (2026). It was produced by Cole himself, T-Minus, Vinylz, FnZ, Steve Bilodeau and Scotty Coleman. The song contains a sample of “Can’t Help But Love You” by The Whispers and interpolation of “Some Cut” by Trillville. Now that’s some good cult crate-digging!*
Bill McClintock – “Funktonite” (Three Doors Down x People’s Choice)
Digital Single
YouTube – Apr. 24, 2021
*Bill McClintock – “Funktonite” (Three Doors Down x People’s Choice) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2Ba0G2Ld0M // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People’s_Choice_(band) // RIP Brad! 3 Discos Down from five years ago to pay tribute to the passing of Three Doors Down front man. Music used in this mashup: 3 Doors Down – “Kryptonite,” People’s Choice – “Do It Any Way You Wanna,” Aerosmith – “Walk This Way,” Bon Jovi – “You Give Love a Bad Name”.*
Julie Brown – “I Like ‘Em Big and Stupid” (Vinyl)
‘Trapped In The Body Of A White Girl’
Sire – Sep. 15, 1987
*Julie Brown – “I Like ‘Em Big and Stupid” (Vinyl) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvvGR09P5XI // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFfWqSI_aJQ (‘Earth Girls Are Easy’ Version) // https://www.discogs.com/release/1013987-Julie-Brown-Trapped-In-The-Body-Of-A-White-Girl // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trapped_in_the_Body_of_a_White_Girl // https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097257/soundtrack/ // https://mediamonarchy.com/20260212pumpupthavolume/ // The track I was going to play first off this classic until that weird Canada trans shooter thing last week, so I played “The Homecoming Queen’s Got A Gun”. Now what #BestOf2025 song would this mashup with perfectly? “But there’s a cuter word for it”!*
*****
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – “Don’t Do Me Like That” // “Century City” // “Casa Dega”
‘Damn The Torpedoes’
Backstreet/MCA – Oct. 19, 1979
*Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers – “Don’t Do Me Like That” // “Century City” // “Casa Dega” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbMsdCMC_N0 // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSfzFCbxjv8 // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZlgx9uiK18 // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don’t_Do_Me_Like_That // https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damn_the_Torpedoes_(album) // “Don’t Do Me Like That” was written by the band’s eponymous front man, the song was first recorded as a demo with his band, Mudcrutch, in 1974. Tom Petty considered giving the song to The J. Geils Band, but producer Jimmy Iovine convinced him to include it on ‘Damn the Torpedoes’. Non-album b-side “Casa Dega” came from YouTube, but the first two cuts are from my vinyl copy. Petty’s recording contract was assigned to MCA when his distributor ABC Records was sold to MCA in 1979.*