SPINAL TAP
The End Continues
Spinal Tap, the fake band to end all fake bands, is back with a new album, and yes, it still goes to eleven. The End Continues is everything you’d want from the world’s loudest fictional band: ridiculous lyrics, monster riffs, and cameos galore (Elton John, Paul McCartney, and more). It’s part soundtrack, part sequel, and all satire. But underneath the jokes, there’s real love for rock’s excesses. If you’ve ever headbanged to “Big Bottom,” this one’s worth cranking up.
Stream • Interscope • Connect: @spinaltapmovie
VARIOUS ARTISTS
Play On: A Raspberries Tribute
Power pop fans, rejoice. Play On is a heartfelt tribute to the Raspberries, packed with big names and even bigger hooks. Rick Springfield, The Bangles, and Marshall Crenshaw all show up to pay homage, and the results are pure joy. “Go All the Way” still sounds like a hit, and Eric Carmen’s ghostly count-in on “Tonight” is a nice touch. It’s a reminder that great songwriting never goes out of style and that the Raspberries deserve way more credit than they get.
Stream • Think Like A Key • Connect: @tlakmusic
BUCKINGHAM NICKS
Buckingham Nicks
Before Fleetwood Mac turned into a soap opera with platinum records, there was Buckingham Nicks. The long-lost 1973 debut finally gets its reissue, and it’s a fascinating look at two artists on the edge of something massive. Stevie’s vocals are already haunting, Lindsey’s guitar work is sharp, and the tension between them is palpable. Tracks like “Crying in the Night” and “Races Are Run” showcase the raw chemistry and emotional tension that would later explode in Fleetwood Mac.
Stream • Rhino • Connect: @bn2025
JOHNNY MARR
Look Out Live!
Johnny Marr stood on stage next to Morrissey as the epitome of cool. Other bands have added him to the mix to give them that shimmery sound that made The Smiths sound so magnetic. Look Out Live! Highlights that precision, passion, and swagger. It’s a live album that feels live and brings you one of the guitar greats of the common era.
Stream • BMG • Connect: @johnnymarr
