Brownout Share Singles "Somewhere to Go" & "Naín" from Upcoming Album of Original Material Berlin Sessions (FatBeats Records)

My wife and I first heard about "Funk Powerhouse" Brownout a few years ago on an episode of A&E's Ozzy & Jack's World Detour. It was during Season 2 on an episode entitled Texas, Bloody Texas, wherein son Jack was treating Ozzy Osbourne to covers of Black Sabbath, as well as his own solo songs. Brownout were then moonlighting as Brown Sabbath (their Black Sabbath cover band) and treated Ozzy & Jack to spirited renditions of a few Sabbath staples, whilst bargoers played Chicken Sh*t Bingo. As a direct result of their appearance on Ozzy & Jack's World Detour and praise from Ozzy himself, Brownout/Brown Sabbath were invited to play Ozzfiesta in Mexico. Brownout has released three EP's-worth of Black Sabbath covers with an expanded line-up including vocalist Alex Marrero and in 2018, released a full album of Public Enemy covers entitled, of course, Fear of A Brown Planet. Brownout has, additionally, served as a highly in-demand backing band for artists including Prince, Daniel Johnston, GZA, and Bernie Worrell.

Now, Brownout have returned once more with the announcement of their first proper non-covers album since 2012's Oozy. Brown Sabbath frontman Alex Marrero has now been brought back into the fold as a full-time member of Brownout and they've joined forces with FatBeats Records—together, they previously released Fear of A Brown Planet—to issue said new album, Berlin Sessions. For Berlin Sessions, Brownout recruited esteemed saxophonist, keyboardist, and producer Steve Berlin of Los Lobos fame. Brownout's current line-up includes Gilbert Elorreaga, Mark "Speedy" Gonzales, Greg Gonzalez, Josh Levy, Matthew "Sweet Lou" Holmes, Beto "Bigtoe" Martinez, Adrian Quesada, John Speice, Alex Marrereo, and, Peter Stopchinski. Ahead of Berlin Sessions, Brownout have released two pre-album singles: "Somewhere to Go," as premiered on KCRW, and "Naín," which was recently premiered KUTX 98.9, based out of California and Texas, respectively.

Last month, Brownout did a Tiny Desk Concert for NPR and they treated viewers to spirited renditions of both "Somewhere to Go" & "Naín," along with "You Don't Have to Fall" from their 2017 FatBeats covers EP, Over The Covers. Newest addition Alex Marrero explains, "the name comes from Biblical times and means "a person of great spirit and beauty." It's a name commonly used for gender neutrality. So, it's the story of Naín, a young person who does not fit within the small-minded framework of their birthplace. They are not accepted or understood. It's about the struggle and pain in being different and their subsequent triumph against prejudice and adversity to shine as the individual they knew they were from Day One." Below, you will find a perfectly trippy/spacey animated music video for "Somewhere to Go," as directed by Eduardo Xavier Garcia. Brownout's Berlin Sessions drops this upcoming Friday, March 6, 2020, on FatBeats Records.

"Let Me Shine for You:" Lindsay Lohan for Playboy (Winter 2011-12 Leak)

Lindsay Lohan essentially embodies exactly "What NOT to Do In Hollywood :" Fame, fortune, success... sex, drugs & Rock "N" Roll . Within a fairly short period of time, Lohan somehow managed to obtain a plentiful helping of POWER @ a very young age. This gradual rise-downfall was captured on film; Between 1998-2010, she portrayed a wide array of roles across the silver screen in movies including: Mean Girls, Bobby , Herbie Fully Loaded , Georgia Rule, Machete , and Freaky Friday . Between rapid-paced film shoots, Lindsay Lohan also found time to record 2 Pop Rock albums for Casablanca , Speak (2004) and A Litter More Personal-Raw (2005). Needless to say, Lindsay Lohan has gotten roped up in a lot of troubles and woes with the law over the last 3-5 years... a vicious cycle of drugs, arrest, court, rehab, "daddy issues," jail time [Repeat]. That's the pure basics of it - But Google that shit for additional info, if necessary. Towards the end of...

[W]reckless, Topless American Youth: Lana del Rey - "Born 2 Die" (Britney Spears Birthday 30)

Lana del Rey [Lizzy Grant] effectively became 2011's "It Girl" with the release of her phenomenal debut single, "Video Games" (Stranger) . Like many struggling singer-songwriters, Grant has been signed, dropped, and significantly changed her public image since bursting onto the scene (2009). With that said, it can be assumed that Lana del Rey has collected just as many "haters" as she has avid supporters. To be perfectly honest, the only other artist I can think of that made this much commotion... garnered so much wide-spread buzz/hate and critical acclaim -- right out of the gates -- with just one track is Britney Spears . And maybe in this post- Mike musical era, that's the true synthesis of Pop Culture: Britney Lynn Spears . After months of repeated teasing and speculation, Lana del Rey 's major label debut, Born 2 Die will [finally] be released this coming Jan. 30-31, 2012. Pitchfork reports that it will feature "Off to The Ra...

Liberty Bell Cracked In 1/2: Ween - "Freedom of '76" (Gene Ween's Final Send-Off)

Chocolate & Cheese (1994) was one of the first albums I bought with my own money. I was in some sort of BMG Music Club , where you'd buy 5 CD's and then get 10 for "FREE." It was all sent through mail order and you picked the titles from some special booklet. I'm almost positive that Chocolate & Cheese's side boob-baring album cover was what initially drew me in... mind you, I was 12-15 and the zany Ween logo/middle finger CD graphic really didn't hurt either. Honestly, I forget how I really felt about it @ the time, but a few years later, my older cousin Josh told me that Ween were this BIG college "jam band." CKY did some sort pf 93.3 radio takeover to promote their new album and played "Freedom of '76" late that night on air. Needless to say, I re-visited Chocolate & Cheese @ about 20-something this go 'round and I fucking loved it! Ween were really weird, yet talented... almost too talented. I can vaguel...

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