It’s almost mid-summer, so we’re in a bit of a trough following all the pre-summer releases and everything that’s coming in the fall. This gives a lot of indie artists a chance at attracting some attention this New Music Friday.
Singles
1. AJR, Betty (AJR Productions)
The Metzer brothers, Adam, Jack, and Ryan, are back with an advance single from their upcoming EP, No One’s Thinking. If you’ve ever had a hard time grappling with the concept of “forever,” this song may help. “It’s all about the pressure we feel at this age to propose and settle down, and all the confusion that comes with it.”
2. Deftones, My Mind is a Mountain (Warner)
The Deftones have returned with a new single ahead of a new album (Private Music, their tenth studio record) and to go alone with their first North American tour since 2022 (which was 100% sold out). The album will be here August 22.
3. Good Neighbours, Suburbs (Polydor)
Good Neighbours are having a busy year. After touring with Mumford & Sons and performing at Glastonbury for the first time, they’re preparing to release their debut album, Mentality, on September 26. Says the band: “Suburbs is a message back to our younger selves. Coming from small towns outside of London, it was hard to dream big without getting shot down. This track is our anthem for breaking free from that mindset and chasing something bigger.”
4. Tom Morello, Pretend You Remember Me (Mom + Pop)
Tom has released a lot of music outside of Rage Against the Machine–22 albums’ worth, in fact–but now he’s almost ready with what he considers to a proper solo album. We don’t have a title or date yet, but this anti-ICE single (says Tom) in indicative of what it will be like. Big riffs and protest songs ahead.
5. Oasis, Slide Away (Live) (Sony)
Oasis kicked off their world reunion tour last week in Cardiff, Wales, and were in fine form. So fine, in fact, that they rushed out this performance of Slide Away from the show.
6. Softcult, Naive (Easy Life Records)
I’ve been following the evolution of Softcult since Kitchener twins Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn traded under the name Courage My Love. They’ve moved to grungy shoegazey territory, something that got them a JUNO nomination. Here’s what they say about this one: “It’s about coming to the painful realization that the person, idea, or reality we trusted and believed in never really existed in the first place. This song is about the moment the scales fall from our eyes after we realize we’ve been romanticizing someone or the idea of someone. After this moment we’re no longer able to see them or the world as innocently as we did before.”
7. Yellowcard, Take What You Want (Better Noise Music)
Yellowcard’s first bit of widespread attention came when they released Ocean Avenue, their third album, in 2003, which went double platinum. After touring and recording almost non-stop for ten years, they took a break in 200, reformed in 2010 and then broke up again in 2017. This current reformation has stuck since 2022. This album–their first in almost a decade–was produced by Travis Barker of Blink-182. Release date is set for October 10.
Albums
1. Dropkick Murphys, For the People (Dummy Luck Music/Play It Again Sam)
Since their anti-Trump political stance went viral, Dropkick Murphys have never had it this good. If you’re into the Celtic punk of the US Northeast, you can’t do much better than these guys. After 30 years, they’re still a helluva lot of fun. And who doesn’t love punk rock bagpipes?
2. Gwenno, Utopia (Heavenly Recordings)
Once upon a time, Gwenno Saunders was the singer for a band called The Pipettes. Somewhere along the way, she dropped the band, dropped her last name, and continued to write and perform music in the Welsh and Cornish languages–but no more. This is her first English language solo album.
3. Wet Leg, Moisturizer (Domino)
I’ve been waiting for this album for months (well, since April when they started teasing it. Would Wet Leg (led by Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers) be able to deliver The Difficult Second Album? The answer is “yes.” They very much did. After two brilliant singles (Catch These Fists and CPR), the new single on release day is Davina McCall.
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