Tune Talk: Weekly Music News

July 28, 2025 • Entertainment

Hosted by Cookie

About This Episode

Generated entertainment podcast with host Cookie based on prompt: I want weekly music news. Highlight any new albums, industry news, or noteworthy information.

Transcript

Hey! It's Cookie O'Clock! Welcome to "Tune Talk: Weekly Music News," where we unwrap all that's buzzing in the world of music with a fresh, witty take. I'm Brooke, your guide through this vibrant soundscape. Buckle up, because we've got surprise drops, superstar collaborations, and more.

Let's dive into the shockwave that hit on July 21, 2025. Tyler, the Creator said, "Surprise!" and dropped his ninth album, *Don't Tap the Glass*, out of nowhere. It's a 30-minute sonic adventure featuring big names like Pharrell Williams, Too Short, Busta Rhymes, and yes, even Michael Jackson! Pharrell kicks things off strong on “Big Poe.” And, as if that wasn't enough, Tyler served us a hot music video for “Stop Playing With Me,” with cameos from LeBron James and hip-hop duo Clipse. No biggie, right? All of this while teasing fans with cryptic social media posts and updating his Golf Wang merch. He's got us all buzzing ahead of his big performance at San Francisco’s Outside Lands festival in August.

Now, let's talk bands. Tomorrow X Together, the K-pop sensation, dropped their fourth full-length album, *The Star Chapter: Together*. This marks the end of their Star Chapter series. Each member even has a solo track. From SOOBIN’s “Sunday Driver” to HUENINGKAI’s “Dance With You,” it's a buffet of talent. Their video for “Beautiful Strangers” is a cinematic treat, reinforcing their flair for storytelling.

Meanwhile, GWAR is celebrating 40 years of... well, being uniquely GWAR. Their latest, *The Return of Gor Gor*, comes with a 32-page comic book. It's a wild ride that matches their outrageous style. And hey, they're touring North America soon, ready to unleash chaos from Salt Lake City to Norfolk!

Fitz and the Tantrums have unveiled *Man On The Moon*, their sixth album. They've called it their "most daring" yet, blending soulful songwriting with pop zest. Keep an eye out for their tour across 31 North American cities, with fantastic guests like Aloe Blacc and Neal Francis. It's summer, it’s live music—sounds like a party to me!

Singles, anyone? J-Lo celebrated her birthday on July 24 by gifting us "BIRTHDAY." It's a bouncy dance track that’s already a hit on her Up All Night Tour. And Luke Combs is back with “Back in the Saddle,” a country-rock anthem featuring NASCAR legends. Start your engines!

Mariah Carey continues to charm us with “Sugar Sweet,” where she teams up with Kehlani and Shenseea. It's a sneak peek into her upcoming album *Here for It All*, and we’re all ears!

Ever heard of King Ultramega? This supergroup combined forces to cover Soundgarden’s “Rusty Cage.” It’s loud, gritty, and all for a good cause—supporting MusiCares.

Nine Inch Nails returned with “As Alive As You Need Me To Be,” a piece for the *Tron: Ares* soundtrack. It's been five years since their last drop, and it’s clear they've still got that industrial edge.

Tour announcements? We've got them! Toto, Men at Work, and Christopher Cross have banded together for a summer tour, transforming the stage into a time machine with hits from the ’70s and ’80s. Nostalgia, anyone?

Before we sign off, a little spotlight on Jessie Murph. Her candid chat with Teen Vogue revealed insights into her second album, *Sex Hysteria*. She’s stirred up the musical waters with her blend of country, hip-hop, and pop-trap. Her upcoming tours promise more of the same intensity.

Wow, what a week! Surprise albums, bold new releases, and collaborations that span the musical galaxy. Whether you’re into soulful pop, raucous rock, or the latest K-pop magic, there’s something here for everyone.

That's all for today’s cookie crumble on "Tune Talk." Stay groovy and see you next time!

## Surprise Album Releases

On July 21, 2025, Tyler, the Creator dropped his ninth studio album, Don't Tap the Glass, without prior announcement, marking one of the year’s most talked-about surprise releases. Clocking in at just under 30 minutes with 10 tracks, the album features collaborations with heavyweights such as Pharrell Williams, Too Short, Busta Rhymes, and Michael Jackson, with Williams notably appearing on the opener “Big Poe.” Following the digital release, Tyler also unveiled a music video for the lead track “Stop Playing With Me,” which includes cameos from LeBron James, Maverick Carter, and the hip-hop duo Clipse. The rollout, teased only by cryptic social-media hints and an update to his Golf Wang merchandise line, builds momentum ahead of his headlining slot at San Francisco’s Outside Lands festival in August ([economictimes.indiatimes.com](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/us-news-tyler-the-creator-big-poe-releases-dont-tap-the-glass-album-check-full-tracklist-and-where-can-you-stream-it/articleshow/122817320.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [sfchronicle.com](https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/tyler-the-creator-outside-lands-20778612.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).

## Noteworthy Album Drops from Bands and Collectives

Several bands and collectives joined the parade of new releases this week:

- Tomorrow X Together released their fourth full-length album, The Star Chapter: Together, on July 21. The K-pop quintet’s latest effort is the finale of their Star Chapter series and, for the first time, includes solo tracks from each member—SOOBIN’s “Sunday Driver,” YEONJUN’s “Ghost Girl,” BEOMGYU’s “Take My Half,” TAEHYUN’s “Bird of Night,” and HUENINGKAI’s “Dance With You.” The album was accompanied by a high-concept video for lead single “Beautiful Strangers,” cementing TXT’s reputation for ambitious audiovisual storytelling ([grammy.com](https://www.grammy.com/news/the-week-in-music-headbangers-ball?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).

- GWAR, celebrating their 40th anniversary, dropped The Return of Gor Gor on July 25. This multi-format release includes a 32-page comic book chronicling the return of the band’s long-lost Tyrannosaurus Rex mascot, Gor Gor. Current frontman Blöthar The Berserker describes the narrative as a wild, satirical odyssey, matching GWAR’s trademark shock-rock theatrics. The album arrives ahead of GWAR’s North American tour, which launches in Salt Lake City on October 18 and concludes in Norfolk, Virginia on November 22 ([grammy.com](https://www.grammy.com/news/new-albums-july-2025-kesha-burna-boy-backstreet-boys?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).

- Fitz and the Tantrums unveiled their sixth studio album, Man On The Moon, also on July 25. The pop-rock veterans dubbed the record their “most daring” yet, emphasizing a return to soulful, no-frills songwriting. Lead single “Ruin the Night,” released in March, hinted at the album’s bold pop sensibility, while tour dates across 31 North American cities (with special guests Aloe Blacc, Neal Francis, Ax and the Hatchetman, SNACKTIME, and Gable Price and Friends) promise to bring the new material to life live this summer ([grammy.com](https://www.grammy.com/news/new-albums-july-2025-kesha-burna-boy-backstreet-boys?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).

## Standalone Singles and Collaborations

This week saw several high-profile single releases and collaborations:

- Jennifer Lopez celebrated her 56th birthday on July 24 by dropping “BIRTHDAY,” her first solo single since 2024’s This Is Me… Now. The slinky dance track, which Lopez has already integrated into her Up All Night Tour set in Europe, boasts a swaggering chorus (“Name on top of the cake… Every day is my birthday”) that has quickly generated social-media buzz ([grammy.com](https://www.grammy.com/news/the-week-in-music-headbangers-ball?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).

- Luke Combs returned with “Back in the Saddle,” his first solo single of 2025. The high-octane country-rock number, whose video features NASCAR legends Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Richard Petty, sets the tone for Combs’s upcoming tour and underscores his penchant for raucous, arena-ready anthems ([grammy.com](https://www.grammy.com/news/the-week-in-music-headbangers-ball?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).

- Mariah Carey released “Sugar Sweet,” featuring Kehlani and Shenseea, on July 25 as the second preview from her forthcoming sixteenth studio album Here for It All, due September 26 via Gamma. This single follows June’s “Type Dangerous,” which marked Carey’s 50th entry on the Billboard Hot 100, and highlights her continued knack for cross-genre collaborations ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariah_Carey?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).

## Special Releases and Soundtrack Contributions

- Supergroup King Ultramega—comprising members of Alice in Chains, Anthrax, and Mastodon—issued a cover of Soundgarden’s “Rusty Cage” this week in support of MusiCares. Their gritty, hard-rock interpretation has been lauded for honoring the original’s intensity while showcasing each member’s distinct style ([shows.acast.com](https://shows.acast.com/daily-music-headlines/episodes/daily-music-headlines-july-22-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).

- Nine Inch Nails dropped “As Alive As You Need Me To Be,” their first new music in five years, as part of the Tron: Ares soundtrack. The industrial-tinged track blends Trent Reznor’s signature dark textures with futuristic synth elements, building anticipation for the film’s September release and NIN’s long-rumored return to the studio ([shows.acast.com](https://shows.acast.com/daily-music-headlines/episodes/daily-music-headlines-july-22-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).

## Tour Announcements and Live Music Updates

- Classic rock acts Toto, Men at Work, and Christopher Cross kicked off their joint summer tour in Florida this week. The trek, which features an eclectic setlist spanning ’70s and ’80s hits, will wind through 15 cities before concluding in Washington, D.C. on August 30. Fans have praised the collaboration for its nostalgic appeal and cross-generational line-up ([shows.acast.com](https://shows.acast.com/daily-music-headlines/episodes/daily-music-headlines-july-22-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).

- Ahead of her fall arena dates, Jessie Murph sat down with Teen Vogue to discuss the rollout of her second album, Sex Hysteria (released July 18). Murph, who blends country, hip-hop, and pop-trap, opened up about her Southern upbringing, personal struggles, and desire to provoke strong reactions rather than indifference—insights likely to resonate during her upcoming live shows ([teenvogue.com](https://www.teenvogue.com/story/jessie-murph-on-sex-hysteria-1965-and-fan-reactions-interview?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).

This roundup captures the key music industry developments from July 21 to July 27, 2025—a period marked by surprise releases, genre-spanning collaborations, and high-profile tours, underscoring the vibrancy and diversity of today’s musical landscape.

Tune Talk: Weekly Music News