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AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: WEYES BLOOD/AND IN THE DARKNESS, HEARTS AGLOW

Born Natalie Mering, the Santa Monica, California-born singer, songwriter, and musician is better known by her stage name Weyes Blood. Born into a family of musicians – her father was the leader of Sumner, who released a self-titled album on Elektra Records in 1980 – the young Natalie moved several times with her family before settling in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. She began writing songs while in high school, penning them under the name Wise Blood. After [...]

By | November 18th, 2022|News|Comments Off on AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: WEYES BLOOD/AND IN THE DARKNESS, HEARTS AGLOW

AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: RANDY HOUSER/NOTE TO SELF

Country Music is like a Timex watch – it takes a licking and keeps on ticking! In decades past, the popularity of Country Music would infiltrate the Pop music charts, turning many of the Country artists into ‘crossover’ artists. In the 1970s, Kenny Rogers gained attention on the Country charts and would eventually become a fixture on the Pop charts. In the ‘80s, George Strait and Reba McEntire may not have become bona-fide Pop stars, [...]

By | November 11th, 2022|News|Comments Off on AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: RANDY HOUSER/NOTE TO SELF

AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: OKAY KAYA/SAP

Born in New Jersey in 1990, Kaya Wilkins is a musician, actor, and model better known by her stage name Okay Kaya. While born in the U.S., she grew up on a peninsula outside of Oslo, Norway. Learning to play guitar with her brothers, who were members of a local black metal band, she organically grew into her own unique writing and singing style. But music was not how she first came to prominence in [...]

By | November 4th, 2022|News|Comments Off on AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: OKAY KAYA/SAP

AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA/TUBULAR BELLS: 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

In the US, the title “Tubular Bells” (by British guitarist Mike Oldfield) usually conjures up frightening memories of the 1973 motion picture THE EXORCIST. However, the short excerpt of the album-length song that was used as the theme to that legendary film was only a small part of the music written and performed by Oldfield. In fact, on the 1973 album TUBULAR BELLS, the title track took up both sides of the album. And in [...]

By | October 28th, 2022|News|Comments Off on AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: ROYAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA/TUBULAR BELLS: 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: ARCHITECTS/THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS OF A BROKEN SPIRIT

Formed in Brighton, England in 2004, Metalcore band Architects has most certainly made their mark in the Metal community. Their rage-filled musical onslaught incorporates Progressive Metal and Post Hardcore influences, creating an aggressive yet beautiful sound that has earned them an ever-growing legion of fans and a #1 album on the UK and Australian album charts (2021’s FOR THOSE THAT WISH TO EXIST). The band’s rise to success began back in Brighton, East Sussex, England [...]

By | October 21st, 2022|News|Comments Off on AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: ARCHITECTS/THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS OF A BROKEN SPIRIT

AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: TODD RUNDGREN/SPACE FORCE

Rock ‘n’ Roll icon. Legend. Pioneer. You can hang all types of praise on Todd Rundgren and any word or phrase you choose will be an understatement. From bandleader (Nazz and Utopia) to solo artist to producer (Badfinger, XTC, Sparks, etc.), the singer/songwriter/musician has done it all. For 56 years, he has been a part of Rock and Pop’s musical tapestry with his songwriting, his chart successes, and his influence. From ‘We Gotta Get You [...]

By | October 14th, 2022|News|Comments Off on AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: TODD RUNDGREN/SPACE FORCE

AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: ALVVAYS/BLUE REV

Formed in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada in 2011, Alvvays has become one of the most respected bands in modern Indie Rock. Founded by Molly Rankin – whose father is John Morris Rankin from Celtic Folk group The Rankin Family – the roots of Alvvays began in 2010 when she and guitarist Alec O’Hanley recorded her solo EP, SHE. The following year, Molly recruited O’Hanley, keyboardist Kerry MacLean, bassist Brian Murphy (replaced by Abbey Blackwell [...]

By | October 7th, 2022|News|Comments Off on AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: ALVVAYS/BLUE REV

AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: DEAD KENNEDYS/FRESH FRUIT FOR ROTTING VEGETABLES (2022 Mix)

 If you didn’t live through the original Punk movement of the late 1970s, you might not realize the seismic impact that the movement had on music lovers and the industry itself. From the Ramones and Sex Pistols to the Clash and Black Flag, Punk Rock became a genre to be reckoned with. Initially considered a ‘novelty,’ Punk was embraced by the fans and poked by music press, whose skepticism turned to elation when they realized [...]

By | September 30th, 2022|News|Comments Off on AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: DEAD KENNEDYS/FRESH FRUIT FOR ROTTING VEGETABLES (2022 Mix)

AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: BEHEMOTH/OPVS CONTRA NATVRAM

Formed in 1991 in Poland, Behemoth is known as one of pioneers of Extreme Metal and their musical influence helped to inspire the Extreme Metal underground in Poland.  Founded by vocalist/guitarist Adam ‘Nergal’ Darski, the group has gone through several line-up changes over the course of their 30+ year career with Nergal remaining the only constant member since their formation. Behemoth has incorporated many styles of Extreme Metal into their sound – including Black Metal, [...]

By | September 16th, 2022|News|Comments Off on AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: BEHEMOTH/OPVS CONTRA NATVRAM

AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: MOBY/18 (Double vinyl LP pressing)

Modern electronic music owes a great deal of gratitude to a gentleman by the name of Richard Melville Hall. If that name doesn’t sound familiar, you might know him better by his stage name, Moby. Since the late 1980s, he has been creating innovative electronic music that pushes boundaries while also sounding aesthetically pleasing and melodic. During the early part of his career, his music may not have crossed over into commercial territory, but as [...]

By | September 9th, 2022|News|Comments Off on AMPED™ FEATURED ALBUM OF THE WEEK: MOBY/18 (Double vinyl LP pressing)