GEORGE KOOYMANS, co-frounder/ guitarist/songwriter/co-vocalist of Dutch
rock icons GOLDEN EARRING (1961–2021) has passed away, aged 77, following complications with ASL (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). His illness meant the end
of the long lasting career back in 2021.
George Kooymans on the far right – 1971
The band started their career in 1961, named The Tornados, they changed it a few times, and finally became Golden Earring in 1969. They recorded/released 25 albums. They had their greatest triumphs in Europe, but scored also some hits worldwide.
Maybe because you wear the same hat, and same sunglasses in public for
ages now, Slash. Oh, and let’s not forget the long curled hair and the fact you
play in one of the greatest rock ‘n’ rolls band since 1985.
Slash was born, named Saul Hudson , in London (UK) on 23 July 1965. Happy 60!
[Verse 1] Gazing through the window at the world outside
Wondering will mother earth survive
Hoping that mankind will stop abusing her sometime
[Verse 2] After all, there’s only just the two of us
And here we are still fighting for our lives
Watching all of history repeat itself time after time
[Chorus] I’m just a dreamer
I dream my life away
I’m just a dreamer
Who dreams of better days
[Verse 3] I watch the sun go down like everyone of us
I’m hoping that the dawn will bring a sign
A better place for those who will come after us this time
[Chorus] I’m just a dreamer
I dream my life away, oh yeah
I’m just a dreamer
Who dreams of better days
[Bridge] Your higher power may be God or Jesus Christ
It doesn’t really matter much to me
Without each other’s help there ain’t no hope for us
I’m living in a dream of fantasy, oh yeah, yeah, yeah
[Verse 4] If only we could all just find serenity
It would be nice if we could live as one
When will all this anger, hate and bigotry be gone?
[Chorus] I’m just a dreamer
I dream my life away, today
I’m just a dreamer
Who dreams of better days, okay
I’m just a dreamer
Who’s searching for the way, today
I’m just a dreamer
Dreaming my life away, oh yeah, yeah, yeah
Musical wizard and Beach Boys mastermind BRIAN WILSON passed away last month,
aged 82. He was a genius when it came to writing, arranging and producing pure pop pearls with Good Vibrations as one of the best, released in 1966.
Wilson in 2006 in Uncut Magazine: “It took six weeks to record, in five different studios.
I wrote out each musician’s part on music paper then they all played it together. I found
I could work out each part without it being too difficult. It did get tedious, though. The musicians understood it all more or less straight away. ”
Here’s a magical live version performed by Wilson at Live 8 in 2005.
In order to not miss a beat TURN UP THE VOLUME scans the musical
horizon daily, for 10 years now, to pick ace tracks and add 5 new ones
twice per week, to the one and only JUKEBOX playlist that matters.
ALL TOGETHER
The 5 fresh ones TRACK BY TRACK
Band: IDLEWILD Who: Scottish indie pop team.
1995–2010, 2013–present
Track: IT’S NOT THE FIRST TIME
Newest single from their 10th, self-titled
album, their first full length in 6 years.
It’ll hit the streets on 3 October.
New album artwork
“We’re looking back without being nostalgic — we were thinking about all the songs we’d made and the new songs we were making. For the first time we were referencing ourselves, not in a nostalgic way, in a positive, creative way, realising that we had a ‘sound’ and the songs we were writing should celebrate that. After it was all recorded and done, it felt fitting to simply title it ‘Idlewild’.”
Shiny sparkling guitars. Sparkling chorus. Melancholia in sonic motion.
Crayon Jones (guitarist): “Nightbird is a song for insomniacs and people
who find their creative energy after the sun goes down. A song for when
the world around you is dark and quiet but your mind is racing with ideas.”
TUTV: Guitar pop dead? C’mon go away, or wait, stay and listen to this fizzy thrill,
it’ll change your mind in 3 minutes. Nightbird is poppy, sprightly, and zingy energized
by glowing guitars, beating drum/bass dynamics, and lively vocals. An ideal companion
for sleepless nights.
The song’s been created in a really unique way, improvised by chance
through drawing down UNO cards representing different sonic textures,
one of many avant-garde techniques the band employ across their
upcoming album Pure, out on September 26.
TUTV: Poptones craft woozy psych-pop tunes like this one. Say Something New
is also a puzzling rollercoaster starting with all guitar cylinders on, then slowing
down and floating around with, dreamy vocals, for a short while only to turn up
the amps again. A mind-boggling affair.
Band: GHXST Who: L.A.-based noise duo who released their debut album Admire in 2022. Known for their moody and existential doom-infused tracks, they have solidified their place in the music scene over the past decade. Originally emerging from the New York underground scene, have transitioned West, bringing their signature style with them.
Press info: True to their doom-heavy roots, on the new single, GHXST’s sound floats
between grit and atmosphere, a meditation on weight, distance, and the quiet
pull of the infinite.
TUTV: Cosmic gets under your skin, slowly but surely. Quiet/Loud/Quiet/Loud. The foreboding slo-mo progression, pushed by industrial drones, scintillating guitars and ghostly vocals create an ill-omened karma. Well, it’s 2025 and the signs aren’t optimistic.
Isbell has reissued his 10-year-old album Something More Than Free
digitally and will be available on physical media on October 3. It includes
this previously unreleased track, a B-side for one of the LP’s singles.
TUTV: Fortunately this psychedelic, slide-guitar ripper didn’t go missing. It resonates like a swamp blues burner spiced with good old organ play and Isbell‘s firm voice. Chill-out cool.
Band: EPA Who: Lo-fi pop-folk project from Norway with
changing line-ups throughout the years.
Album: BLOMSTERS/FLOWERS
Their 2nd one, released in 2006.
So far they have canned 4.
I stumbled by accident upon this album. The cover is hilarious.
The awful 60s haircuts, but most of all, the yawning bride, already
bored on her wedding day.
Daily noise that works faster than a stream of caffeine
23 July 2025
Canadian guitar rock seniors SLOAN started their journey
back in 1991 and became one of the best-selling bands of Canada over the years.
They have finished the recordings of album #14.
Titled Based On The Bestseller it’ll make their
fans happy when it lands on 25 September.
The newest single DREAM DESTROYER is a 60s inspired glam
riff-rocker propelled by a T. Rex groove and Slash (60 today) solo.
Patrick Pentland (guitarist and Irish born): “Combining my/our love of
glam, shoegaze, and power pop, the song is an ode to lost love, past mistakes,
and the recklessness that has been the blueprint of my life, for better or worse.
Worse in terms of relationships, better in terms of fodder for hit songs. A door
slams shut, a window smashes open.”
Wake up people, your dreams
are cancelled. Back to reality,
back to rawk ‘n’ roll.
