Vinyl Minded, Gift Guide Edition Vol. 3The Monkees

Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd (Rhino/Warner)

Part of the wonderful Rhino High Fidelity, arguably the most adventurous album by The Monkees has been given the heavyweight vinyl treatment, which offers us a chance to revisit an underrated gem.

The 180-gram release has been cut from the original analog tapes at Cohearent Audio. "Released at the height of Monkeemania in November 1967, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. was The Monkees’ fourth consecutive #1 album—and their third release that year alone," a statement reads. "It spent five weeks atop the Billboard 200 and earned double platinum certification. Building on the creative control they established with Headquarters, the album marked a turning point in the band’s sound, incorporating sharper lyrics, electric banjo, and one of the earliest uses of a Moog synthesizer on a rock album. Recorded amid a grueling tour schedule and across multiple studios, the sessions captured both the group’s growing studio ambitions and the fragmented pace of their late-’60s reality. The result was one of their most adventurous—and enduring—records."

It's tough to ignore the Beatles comparisons on this one, particular the "Salesman"/"Taxman" of it all. But it's also undeniable that, when they stretched out and allowed the creativity to flow, as they did here, the Monkees were a real force. The whole "they were just actors for a TV show" thing should be put to bed.

The Cranberries

MTV Unplugged (Island/Universal)

It was 1995--30 years ago--that The Cranberries recorded one of the great MTV Unplugged sets, and it's available for the first time here in full, on newly mastered vinyl.

It's bittersweet because, boy, do we still miss singer Dolores O'Riordan. But having the opportunity to hear her in a stripped down environment, crooning her band's better known songs--that's a real treat.

"Linger," "Empty," "Zombie" -- these are glorious versions given new life in a space setting. Nirvana pulled the same trick with an MTV Unplugged, and here we are entering 2026, wishing Delores and Kurt were still with us.

"If you saw the episode, it's time to relive the majesty of their hypnotic performance that chilly February night in 1995," reads a statement. "If you hadn't seen it, be prepared to be awed."

Eternity's Children

Eternity's Children (High Moon)

Timeless (High Moon)

In the case of both of these albums from "sunshine pop legends" Eternity's Children, this is the first time they've been released on vinyl since the late '60s. We can thank the fine people at High Moon Records for that--the label has been helping us rediscover many a lost gem of late. Both of these fall into that category.

“Possessed of two exceptional lead vocalists and a self-penned hit single, immensely talented, college-educated, and great-looking to boot, they toured with some of the biggest names in music, and worked with the finest producers and musicians,” writes Steve Stanley, who produced these for reissue and wrote the liner notes. “They transformed the songs they covered – many composed by the industry’s top songwriters – and made them their own. Eternity’s Children clearly had all the ingredients necessary to conquer the pop world, yet their career path was littered with more pitfalls and landmines than most artists could ever fear to endure. Why did this band, whose talent far surpassed that of many of their more renowned contemporaries, fail to achieve the measure of acclaim and financial success they deserved?”

That is the big question. Eternity's Children certainly had the tunes, and there was a time when their very Hair, "Dawning of Aquarius" vibe was in vogue. Now, it feels like a product of its time but that's no bad thing. It's nice to look back, and enjoy.The post Vinyl Minded, Gift Guide Edition Vol. 3 first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

How Musicians Get Discovered in 2026: Case Study & Downloadable ChecklistMusic discovery and how musicians get discovered is no longer about landing one big moment. With listeners encountering new music across streaming playlists, short-form video, social feeds, and peer recommendations, discovery has become a process - not an event. For artists, the challenge isn’t just getting heard once, but building momentum that compounds over time.
The post How Musicians Get Discovered in 2026: Case Study & Downloadable Checklist appeared first on Hypebot.

Measure of Music Conference’s 2026 Speakers & Sponsors AnnouncedThe Measure of Music Conference & Workshop, presented by Chartmetric, which runs from Feb. 20-22, 2026, has announced a number of key speakers and an open call for proposals.
The post Measure of Music Conference’s 2026 Speakers & Sponsors Announced appeared first on Hypebot.

AllMusic Loves 2025 ReissuesScanning the reissues and other archival releases loved by ten of our editors, it's clear that 2025 was an outstanding year for vintage live recordings as well as a myriad multi-disc compilations catering to explorers of old school R&B, synth pop, British folk, German rock, and more, even electroclash. Here are our individual editors' personal selections for the reissues and archival albums that came out this year.

Vinyl Minded, Gift Guide Edition Vol. 2Frank Sinatra

Long Ago, Far Away (1943-1951) (SING)

5XLP Deluxe Box Set

Five albums, all jam-packed with live gems by Ol' Blue Eyes, originally recorded in the '40s and very early '50s. The bulk were recorded in New York or at the Hollywood Bowl, with a few from Philadelphia. But regardless of the geographical location, all 10 sides of vinyl showcase The Voice at his very best. Smooth, emotion-inducing, and just on it!

Frank's "Ol' Man River," at the Hollywood Bowl, is a show-stopper, and it's impossible not to get goosebumps when he croons "I Fall in Love Too Easily." His banter between songs is a glorious time capsule; there are moments when he just stops short of chastising the crowd for getting too excited.

The packaging here is exquisite. "Paired with a deluxe booklet featuring expert liner notes, rare photos, and vintage memorabilia, every set is unique—each vinyl record is visually distinct, ensuring no two are alike," reads a statement.

“What SING has done with these mono broadcast recordings is nothing short of revolutionary – and remarkable,” said world-renowned Sinatra expert and author Charles L. Granata. “Engineer Harry Hess has taken the vintage sonics to an entirely new level by using professional AI tools to separate Sinatra’s voice from the orchestra, clean it and raise the volume and re-integrate it with the instrumental backing so it has more presence and stands more prominently at the forefront of the recording. This judicious use of professional AI tools has enabled SING to build on the inherent fidelity of these recordings. No gimmickry, fakery or psycho-acoustic tricks were used. Harry’s innovative, targeted and sensitive use of the burgeoning technology in a very specific way resulted in recordings that remain faithful to the artist’s performance while allowing it to shine as never before.”

If the full box set is a stretch financially, there is single LP called Frank Sinatra at the Hollywood Bowl 1943-1948, which picks out some highlights. There's also an album which picks out the best of Sinatra's Christmas on the Air tunes, which is disc 5 in the box set, just in time for the holidays. They've thought of everything.

Ray Charles

No One Does It Like Ray Charles

Come Live With Me

Love Country Style

Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul (Tangerine Record Corp.)

There aren't many voices that can follow Sinatra, but Ray Charles certainly has one of them.

Tangerine has remastered and reissued a bunch of classic Charles albums while, in No One Does It Like Ray Charles, they've dropped a new and quite stunning compilation, "collecting for the first time ever a number of mid-1960s singles, B-sides, and non-LP tracks never before gathered together on a single cohesive album," they say. "The instant classic collection captures Ray Charles at the height of his powers, offering a rare glimpse into a prolific and creatively explosive moment in his career."

"Without Love (There is Nothing)" is spellbinding, as is "Something's Wrong." At his peak, Charles' voice finds its way to your very core and wraps itself around your soul.

All of these albums, on stunning orange vinyl (Tangerine -- see what they did there?) are quite beautiful. Ray's version of "You'll Never Walk Alone" on Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul is worth the price of that particular album alone. But there's no filler on any of these.The post Vinyl Minded, Gift Guide Edition Vol. 2 first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

The Most Annoying Christmas Song of All Time? (The Data Has Spoken)We dive in to America's ultimate seasonal controversy: Is “All I Want for Christmas Is You” our favorite Christmas song, or our most hated?
The post The Most Annoying Christmas Song of All Time? (The Data Has Spoken) appeared first on Hypebot.

Chris Carvalho of Songcards on Building Fan Value Into Digital Music ReleasesEver heard of Songcards? They're a new format for digital music and fan exclusives. We sat down with CEO Chris Carvalho to learn more!
The post Chris Carvalho of Songcards on Building Fan Value Into Digital Music Releases appeared first on Hypebot.

Bandcamp Fridays hit $154m in payouts since 2020, with $19m paid in 2025 aloneThe latest figure represents a $31 million increase from the $123 million Bandcamp reported in May 2024.
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GRAMMY Nominations 2025: Best Americana AlbumThe 2025 GRAMMY nominations are here and we're going to help you to untangle it all right up until the big event, continuing with the Best Americana Album category.

Take a listen to the nominated albums below--who do you think will win?

See the full list of nominees in every category here.

BIG MONEYJon Batiste

BloomLarkin Poe

Last Leaf On The TreeWillie Nelson

So Long Little Miss SunshineMolly Tuttle

MiddleJesse Welles

Molly Tuttle photo by Fletcher MooreThe post GRAMMY Nominations 2025: Best Americana Album first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

GRAMMY Nominations 2025: Best American Roots SongThe 2025 GRAMMY nominations are here and we're going to help you to untangle it all right up until the big event, continuing with the Best American Roots Song category.

Take a listen to the nominated songs below--who do you think will win?

See the full list of nominees in every category here.

Ancient LightSarah Jarosz, Aoife O'Donovan & Sara Watkins, songwriters (I'm With Her)

BIG MONEYJon Batiste, Mike Elizondo & Steve McEwan, songwriters (Jon Batiste)

Foxes In The SnowJason Isbell, songwriter (Jason Isbell)

MiddleJesse Welles, songwriter (Jesse Welles)

SpitfireSierra Hull, songwriter (Sierra Hull)

I'm With Her photo by Alysse GafkjenThe post GRAMMY Nominations 2025: Best American Roots Song first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Top Music Business News Last WeekTop music business news last week includes a Facebook test and shifts in music discovery that are upending music marketing, the release of Bandsintown's year end High Notes, 2026 predictions and much more.
The post Top Music Business News Last Week appeared first on Hypebot.

New Music Critique: The MIDI World of FreedomContact: angelcross826@aol.comWeb: themidiworldoffreedom.bandcamp.com/album/luna-sparksSeeking: Label, Booking, Film/TVStyle: Electronic MIDI Plunderphonics

There’s a lot of fun to be had here. The MIDI World of Freedom is, according to the small amount of information we could dig up online, an experimental MIDI project created by a musician called Angel Cross in 2021. They’re best known for the Luna Sparks album, which features reinterpretations of Oasis and Nickelback tunes (perhaps among others). Ultimately though, this earns points with us due to the originality of thought, combined with some healthy, warm nostalgia for that old MIDI sound. “Two Universes” and “I Miss You” are a ton of fun, and sometimes that’s enough.The post New Music Critique: The MIDI World of Freedom first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Con Raso of Tuned Global Shares His 2026 Music PredictionsHypebot's Future Predictions series is back. Join us as we ask the music industry's expert analysts what they think might unfold in the world of music in 2026.
The post Con Raso of Tuned Global Shares His 2026 Music Predictions appeared first on Hypebot.

Black Box’s Livia Tortella on Her Top Artist Brands of the DecadeBlack Box shared their widely-anticipated annual "Top Artist Brands" analysis, expectedly featuring some bombshell picks. We talked to CEO Livia Tortella about their list.
The post Black Box’s Livia Tortella on Her Top Artist Brands of the Decade appeared first on Hypebot.

From YouTube pulling its data from Billboard’s charts to HYBE’s new partnership with Tyla’s managers… it’s MBW’s weekly round-upThe biggest headlines from the past few days...
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