This week’s New Music Friday is heavy on the singles and light on albums. Then again, tomorrow is Record Store Day, so there will be lots of limited-edition records to be had. Gotta mind the budget, you know?
Singles
1. Arcade Fire, Year of the Snake (Columbia)
After being thoroughly canceled thanks to some #MeToo problems that stuck to frontman Win Butler, Arcade Fire is hoping that enough time as passed for them to enter the limelight again. This is the first single from the band’s seventh album, Pink Elephant, which will be in stores on May 9. Is all forgiven/forgotten? I guess we’ll see.
2. Envy of None, The Story (Kscope)
One of my current favourite bands. Featuring Coney Hatch/Copyright bass player Andy Curran and Alex Lifeson (I think he was in some band called Rush) are part of a four-piece who released their second album, Stygian Wavz, a few weeks back. I think they hit it out of the park with the whole record. This is the new single.
3. Garbage, There’s No Future in Optimism (BMG)
It’s been more than 30 years of Garbage and the band is still going strong with the original lineup. A new album entitled Let All That We Image Be the Light is coming on May 30. It leads off with this glass-half-full track that still somehow manages to push back on negativity and fatalism. A 31-city tour is coming up, too.
4. Headstones, Navigate (feat. City and Colour) (Dine Alone)
Another solid banger from Hugh and Co. This time they get some help from Dallas Green of City of Colour who, says the bands, “is a musician who unlocks the potential of a song.” You’ll want to turn this one up very loud. Oh, and buy the 7-inch vinyl. The B-side features a cover of The Gambler by Kenny Rogers.
5. Inhaler, Your House (Polydor/UMC)
The Band Fronted by Bono’s Kid has gone back to the 70s for something anthemic with a big chorus. Sounds like something out of the U2 playbook, doesn’t it? Elijah Hewson: “We’re an ambitious band that wants to create anthemic music, particularly when things feel so destructive.” Let’s give this a listen–and watch out for that car.
6. Pulp, Spike Island (Rough Trade)
Fans didn’t really expect Pulp to reunite, yet here we are. With their first album in 24 years (We Love Life, due June 24), Jarvis Cocker and crew have returned to provide the spirit of Britpop one more time. The first single is all about AI.
7. Tune-Yards, Heartbreak (4AD)
Tune-Yards (or tUnE-yArDs, as they spell it) is the duo fronted by Merrill Garbus who has a unique way of approaching music with loops and other effects through five previous album. The sixth, Better Dreaming, arrives on May 16. Love the melodies/harmonies on this one.
8. Turnstile, Never Enough (Atlantic Records)
Emo is back and having a moment right now. Among the newest wave of emo bands is Turnstile, a Baltimore group with hardcore in their DNA. They hope to keep things running with Never Enough, an album due for release on June 6. The title track is the first single and video.
Albums
1. Bon Iver, SABLE fABLE (Jagjaguar)
Justin Vernon is back with his brand of mellowness and his first full album since 2019. This fifth record seems to be a little more…joyful than usual. It’s also a follow-up to last year’s SABLE EP. This album is best ingested during quiet times. A glass of white wine is recommended.
2. OK Go, And the Adjacent Possible (Paracadute)
The band may be famous for their insanely complicated videos, but they also write some very good power-pop songs. Their fifth album is their first in more than a decade (hey, making those wild videos takes a long time). This clip was shot using 64 iPhones.
3. Nell Smith, Anxious (Bella Union)
Seventeen-year-old Nell Smith was a valued contributor to The Flaming Lips (she recorded nine tracks with the band when she was just 13!) before she died in a single motor vehicle crash. She was born in Leeds, England, but grew up in Fernie, BC. This is her debut album.
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