Another year of hectic times is upon us and another Black Friday looms as consumers go on a annual frenzy to find the best gifts for the best people in their life at the best prices. As always, music acts as so much more than an easy go-to gift, it’s also such a healing agent for the soul, a celebratory agent for the emotional, a fun agent for mindless loose times, and a true passionate art manifested for all, those creating it and those absorbing it. Here are some bright musical spots on the holiday radar this year, a bakers dozen to choose from.

Check out our 2018 Holiday Geek Gift Guide for Music“¦

Chris Cornell, who is best known as the frontman of Seattle grunge legends Soundgarden, died Wednesday night while on tour in Detroit, according to the AP. He was 52.

No cause of death is known at this time, but Cornell’s representative told the AP that the musician’s death was “sudden and unexpected.” AP News is reporting that police are investigating his death as a possible suicide, stating there were “basic things observed at the scene” to warrant this. Cornell had performed with Soundgarden in Detroit, MI, that night, and was later found dead on the bathroom floor at the MGM Grand Detroit hotel.

Netflix has added an exciting new series to its ever expanding repertoire. A new musical animated series, Beat Bugs, brings Beatles music to the young. On top of that already, the songs will be sung by various artists including Eddie Vedder, Pink, and Chris Cornell.

More below.

As part of Amazon’s monthly $5 MP3 album deals, the self-titled debut album by Audioslave is on sale for only $5. If you would like a physical copy of Audioslave, the CD is available for only $6.99.

Audioslave was the short-lived band comprised of former Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell and former Rage Against the Machine members Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, and Brad Wilk. Hard to believe this album is already ten years old. It seems like only yesterday my local rock station was spinning “Cochise,” “Show Me How to Live,” and “I Am the Highway” in heavy rotation. Audioslave is still a great album and totally worth five bucks just to give you something cool to sing/growl/screech in the shower.

Browse all 100 albums on sale this month for only $5 each, as well as several albums on sale this week for only $2.99.

Pearl Jam Twenty
Netflix Streaming
DVD | Blu-Ray
Written and Directed by Cameron Crowe
Starring Eddie Vedder, Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament, Mike McCready, Matt Cameron, Chris Cornell, Kurt Cobain, Neil Young
Tremolo Productions
Originally Released: September 10, 2011

As a rock fan and metalhead, it’s hard for me to imagine in many ways that Pearl Jam is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. The time, in my mind’s eye, has flown; but the more I think about it, the more I consider how much this band has been a part of my passion for music… something evidently experienced by other fans as portrayed in Pearl Jam Twenty.

When Pearl Jam was only just starting to achieve international recognition, I was entering my teens. Music was in a transitional period, as far as rock was concerned. In the background, you had your harder edged thrash bands (and up and coming death metal groups) there, consistent with their attack. In the forefront you had the glam and the rock of the 1980s – but not for long…