Celebrate The 30th Anniversary Of The Black Album Your Way September 10t

Metallica marks the 30th anniversary of its self-titled fifth album — a/k/a The Black Album — with two landmark releases, both out September 10th on the band’s own Blackened Recordings.
 
The Black Album is one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed records of all time. Its 1991 release not only gave Metallica its first #1 album in no fewer than 10 countries, including a 4-week run at #1 in the U.S., its unrelenting series of singles — "Enter Sandman", "The Unforgiven", "Nothing Else Matters", "Wherever I May Roam", and "Sad But True” — fueled the band’s rise to stadium headlining, radio and MTV dominating household name status. The album’s reception from the press was similarly charged, building over the years from the top 10 of the 1991 Village Voice Pazz & Jop national critics poll to becoming a constant presence in the likes of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time. The album's impact and relevance continue to grow—as proven by one indisputable fact: The Black Album remains unchallenged as the best-selling album in the history of Nielsen Soundscan, outselling every release in every genre over the past 30 years.

Sweet Relief is thrilled to be the featured organization in this year’s iHeartRadioBattle of the Bar Bands, sponsored by Jack Daniels! Through this partnership, we’re working together to heal musicians and music industry workers in need.

The Jack Daniel’s Battle of the Bar Bands is back for the third year, and it’s bigger and better than ever. One artist in each participating market will win $1,000 cash and go on to the voting round for a chance to win $10,000 cash and a chance to perform on an iHeartRadio Stage! All genres are welcome, original music only. Submissions end 6/20 and must be 21 to enter. For rules, click below!

Musician and supporter of Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, Caitlin Jemma defines what it means to defy adversities and blossom artistically and personally. Her sound “traverses the musical spectrum of country, soul and mystic folk, while her identity remains steady and unshakable.” We at Sweet Relief, had the opportunity to digitally “sit down” with Caitlin and chat about her inspiration, process, mental health, music, and more. Read Caitlin’s Q & A below.

Horace Greeley, one of this nation’s spiritual fathers, once commanded, “Go west, young man, go west and grow up with the country.” He was speaking to a country just beginning to heal from a civil war. A country that was looking to move past its divisions, and towards a future of hope and optimism. His call to action came at a time much like our own, a time where people were looking to move out of darkness, and find themselves through adventure and movement. As these United States move on from the crisis of a generation, we do so with the hope that things can get better, and, god willing, with a belief that helping our fellow man is the only way forward.

In this spirit, “Go West, Aging Man” (GxAx) charity bike ride spanning the length of our sprawling land, is dedicated to helping the artistic Precariat. A hybrid cycling trip and solo musical tour, GxAx begins in Horace Greeley’s eponymous park in Manhattan, and finishes on the beaches of Los Angeles. With stops and performances in Chicago, Tulsa, Dallas,  and Austin, the event will take place across 8 weeks, 12 states, and 3600 miles. Founded and executed by Yawpers’ front man Nate Cook, this event is designed to benefit musicians and musical staff affected by the coronavirus, and to help bring back the music we need now more than ever. ​

On June 29th, indie-soul artist Ali McGuirk will release the captivating single “That’s The Way I Feel About You.”  via Signature Sounds. Written by Bobby Womack and covered by Aretha Franklin, 100% of the proceeds from the song will benefit Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, which provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians and music industry workers who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems. 
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"I’ve loved this song ever since I heard Aretha Franklin sing it on her Rare & Unreleased B-sides record, '' says Ali. "It’s the type of dreamy, openhearted soul ballad that I’m a sucker for.  I’ve always been drawn to the soul singers of the 60s and 70s and Bobby Womack is one of the greats. I recorded it on a whim in a living room one afternoon on tour with my friend Justin Henricks around the time Aretha passed away."
Ali continues, "There is so much feeling written into this song, and when I sing it I can really feel the unconditional love in the lyric." Known for her “honeyed swooping” vocals, Ali conveys that love brilliantly, bringing listeners along for an intimate and emotional ride. Co-produced by Jonah Tolkin, the song features Jeffrey Lockhart (Tedeschi Trucks) on guitar and Deshawn Alexander (Marcus King Band) on keys and organ. GRAMMY winner Sheldon Gomberg mixed the single.