It’s a light week when it comes to albums for rock fans this New Music Friday, but there’s always something new to explore. And check out who’s back this week.
Singles
1. Kevin Abstract and Dominic Fike, Geezer (Virgin)
Here’s a lazy, hazy summer-sounding tune from an upcoming record called Blush. Kevin Abstract is a Texas-born rapper who veers into alternative while Fike is well known in the world of alt-rock and indie. This is something that should sound good in the car with the windows down and the stereo up.
2. Headstones, Daylight Lighting (Dine Alone)
The Headstones are heading out on a Canadian tour with The Tea Party and Finger Eleven this summer in advance of a new album entitled Burn All Ships (Sept 26). Here’s something else from the album to get wet your whistle.
3. Lorde, Hammer (Universal)
We’re a week out from the release of Lorde’s fourth album, Virgin. This is the record’s opening track.
4. Muse, Unravelling (Warner)
Muse debuted this song during a show in front of 50,000 people in Helsinki earlier this month, so it was inevitable that an official release would come on its heels. This is their first new music since 2022. An album is coming, right? Right?
5. Sloan, Live Forever (Murderecords/Known Accomplice)
Sloan has been with us for more than 30 years and they have no intentions of stopping. Their fourteenth studio album, Based on the Best Seller, is set for release on September 26. Watch for shows across Canada in Ontario, Alberta, Nova Scotia, and BC. There will be a wider-ranging tour in the fall. And no, this isn’t an Oasis cover.
6. Three Days Grace, Dominate (BMG)
With vocalist Adam Gonthier back in the fold, Three Days Grace is currently on a cross-Canada area tour head of a new album entitled Alienation. Watch for it August 22.
Albums
1. Boy George, SE18 (BGP)
Culture Club’s Boy George will officially be a pensioner next year but still has something to say with his music in more ways than one. In this case, he’s gone reggae in what calls an “old school” sort of way. By that he means no streaming. Want a copy? Buy the CD or vinyl. “My audience doesn’t seem to care about streaming,” he told British TV. “They like the product, the lyrics.” The title refers to the podcode in London where he grew up.
Sorry. It’s obviously not posted anywhere, but I thought I’d mention it just the same.
2. The Farm, Let the Music (Take Control) (Modern Sky UK)
Wait. This is the same The Farm from Liverpool who had hits with songs like Groovy Train and All Together Now from the Spartacus album released back in Madchester times? Yep. Them. This is their first album since 1994. This is this their second comeback single of the year.
3. U.S. Girls, Scratch It (4AD)
First, there’s just one girl (Meghan Remy) and she’s not American–at least not now because although Remy was born in Chicago, she’s based out of Toronto and is officially a Canadian citizen after marrying Canuck musician Max “Slim Twig” Turnbull. She’s done well in her adopted nation with Juno nominations for Alternative Album of the Year and a couple of shortlistings for the Polaris Music Prize. This is her ninth album overall and the debut single is 12 minutes long. Worth it.
4. The Wandering Hearts, Deja Vu (We Have All Been Here Before) (Chrysalis)
This is a bit of an oddball, which is why I thought I’d mention it. This is an British-American folk project who decided to reimagine Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s seminal 1970 album. Why? Why not, I guess. This will work quite well on summer weekends.
© 2025 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Ad Choices