New Music Friday is back with another few distractions from the craziness that is US presidential politics. It’s like the whole world is waiting for the results of a biopsy, you know?
Singles
1. Michael Kiwanuka, Rebel Soul (Polydor/Universal)
The more I listen to Kiwanuka’s music, the more I hear new things within his songwriting. This is the fourth advance single from his upcoming album Small Change (record number four), which is coming on November 22. Man, this guy’s got soul. Lovely production on this song, too.
2. The Struts, Can’t Stop Talking (Big Machine/John Vavartos)
The Struts in the middle of a European tour right now, which they think is a good time to freshen things up with a new song in their live set. This song came together very quickly and apparently everyone in the band was laughing a lot during the session. It is a fun song, for sure. That Greg Kihn-y chorus is going to stick in your head for the rest of the day.
3. Royel Otis, Sofa King (Ourness/Believe)
The Australian guitar-pop duo have been blitzing North America recently, selling over 60,000 tickets and recently had to bump up the size of their venue in Vancouver. Not too shabby. A couple of things: Yes, I spelled their name correctly; and two, beware saying the title of this song too quickly out loud in public. It seems a little gimmicky to me, but you can imagine how well this goes over live.
4. The Offspring, Ok, But This is the Last Time (Concord/Universal)
Another single from the Bob Rock-produced album SUPERCHARGED. There’s a sheen on this one that makes it a little softer in tone. This could be a Simple Plan or Blink-182 pop-punk song.
Albums
1. 311, Full Bloom (SKP)
It’s been a while, hasn’t it, 311? Has it been five years since the last album? This is the group’s 14th studio record which the band describes as “311 on steroids.”
2. Amyl and the Sniffers, Cartoon Darkness (B2B Records/Virgin)
This Australian group is one of my favourite discovery so far this year and I’m happy to say that they keep getting better with each album. For this record, we have a collection that covers everyone from the threat of AI to divisive politics to war to the climate crisis. Despite the heavy themes, this is still a lot of fun as you might gather from this video for the latest single. Some NSFW language in this “censored” video.
3. Pixies, The Night the Zombies Came (BMG Rights Management)
A new direction for The Pixies for their ninth album? Maybe. It is the first album since Emma Richardson, ex of Band of Skulls, joined the group to offer bass and vocals–and her vocals can be heard throughout the album, even short solo bits. This single features some of Richardson’s harmonies. Hear the difference?
4. Soccer Mommy, Evergreen (Loma Vista Recordings/Concord)
Soccer Mommy (aka Nashville’s Sophie Allison) seems to be feeling a bit vulnerable now, which is okay since it’s autumn and we’re all maybe feeling a bit melancholy as the days grow shorter. This whole record is one big therapeutic outpouring of emotion. That’s not to say it’s depressing. But prepare yourself for some feels.
5. Tears for Fears, Songs for a Nervous Planet (Concord)
As we prepare for The Cure’s Songs for a Lost World (due November 1), Tears for Fears have arrived with Songs for a Nervous Planet. This is a double live release recorded at the FirstBank Amphitheatre in Franklin, Tennessee mix with four new studio tracks.
6. Underworld, Strawberry Hotel (Smith Hyde Productions/Virgin)
Another act that’s been AWOL for five years. This is their 11th album, which they describe as “gleaming tensile techno forms clean, straight lines while scratchy acoustic guitars scuff up the edges to produce ghostly audio. Poetry is snatched from the overhead, removed from the overheard; words borrowed from the ether are spun into dizzying new shapes, sometimes reappearing in new settings, twisted back to front, side to side.” Uh, okay.
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