A ton of new music pitches came in this week–I stopped counting after 600–but I did go through them all. Here’s what survived for the Five Songs You Must Hear This Week list.
1. Noah Weiland, 2 Nights
Single (Regime Music Group)
Recommended If You Like: His dad
Noah, the song of the late former STP singer, has been trying to establish a music career for a few years now. There was a band called Suspect208 in 2020 with the sons of Slash and Metallica’s bass player, Rob Trujillo but he was fired. Then there was a stretch of opioid addiction. And he’s had to deal with the fact that his father died millions of dollars in debt. Now he’s clean and writing pop-punk songs on his own. I wonder what Dad would think of this?
2. The Smashing Pumpkins, Who Goes There
Aghori Mhori Mei (Martha’s Records)
RIYL: Early Pumpkins
Months before this album came out, Billy Corgan told me that it was going to be something of a throwback to the sound of the early Smashing Pumpkins. It is and it’s been a good move with the first single, Sighommi, reaching into the top 10 on the Canadian rock songs charts. I’d expect this one will do just as well. Best Pumpkins is old (and old-like) Pumpkins? Maybe.
3. Ten Kills the Pack, Girl of My Dreams
Single (Independent)
RIYL: Something laid-back
Ten Kills the Pack—a vehicle for artist/producer Sean Sroka—has toured recently with Born Ruffians and Hannah Georgas, and wrote a song for Aysanabee, which netted him a JUNO. This song features Jay Som of Boy Genius and Dawes drummer Griffin Goldsmith. His other material is a nice blend of folk and punk rock.
4. The Head and the Heart, Arrow
Single (ICLG)
RIYL: Indie folk
Now we can segue into Seattle’s The Head and the Heart, who have just celebrated their fifteenth year together. They haven’t released an album since early 2022, but this song is designed to loosen us up for their sixth record which is due sometime in early 2025. If you saw the band live this year, you may have already heard this one.
5. Father John Misty, She Cleans Up
Mahashmashana (Sub Pop/Bella Union)
RIYL: Surprises!
The first few times I heard this song, I had no idea who the artist was. When I was told it was the normally quiet and sedate Father John Misty (real name: Joshua Tillman), I did a doubletake. Really? This bit of swagger comes from the Fleet Foxes guy? That got my attention. The album is out now.
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