Mid-summer New Music Fridays can be hit and miss. Occasionally, a major artist or two who has been hanging onto a new album since the spring will finally get it out there. Meanwhile, we’re already talking albums for the fall, which are being set up now.
Singles
1. Matt Maeson, Downstairs (Atlantic)
Matt turned a few heads with his 2019 debut album, Bank on the Funeral, and again with his second, Never Had to Leave. This fall (September 12) will see the release of A Quiet and Harmless Living, something inspired by getting married, becoming a dad for the first time, and moving from Austin to Nashville. You’ll hear notes of exhaustion in this single, which he wrote (you guessed it) downstairs.
2. The Last Dinner Party, This is the Killer Speaking (Universal Music Canada)
The world’s current favourite baroque/Gothic alt-rock band will release their second album on October 17. Their debut was a number one record, so there’s pressure to deliver with this album. Let’s see how producer Markus Dravs (Mumford & Sons, Bjork, Florence & the Machine, Wolf Alice) helped them through the process.
3. Nine Inch Nails, As Alive As You Need Me (Universal Music Canada)
When Trent Reznor announced the reactivation of Nine Inch Nails, fans knew it was just a matter of time before we got new music. This week we got a song from the reboot TRON: Ares (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack). You can watch the trailer here. This is just a taste of the score Trent and Atticus Ross wrote for the movie. More to come by September 19. The movie opens in theatres October 10.
4. Shinedown, Killing Fields (Atlantic)
Shinedown will be on tour with Bush (see below) later this year, so it’s good to have some new music ready to present to the faithful. This is their third single of the year, which show up with the others on an eighth studio album, which isn’t quite done yet. Oh, and unlike the last two, it won’t be a concert record.
5. Sublime, Ensenada (Frontside)
Originally Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell died of an overdose when his son Jakob was still a kid. No Jakob has taken his father’s place in Sublime with Dad’s bandmates, Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh. This is something fans have been waiting for.
6. Kyle Wildfern, Sin in the Nude (Cowboys Will Be Cowboys)
Wildfern sold out his debut headlining show in Toronto, which is a nice way to get into the first single from his debut album, What a Life. This song is really short–just 109 seconds–but so many influences are at work, ranging from alt-rock to hip-hop to Brazilian funk. Fascinating.
Albums
1. Jade Bird, Who Wants to Talk About Love (Glassnote)
Jade is English but launched her career in the US. This is her third album and is focused largely on her breakup with ex-fiancee Luke Prosser, who was also a member of her band. This time, the producer is Dave Grohl’s buddy, Greg Kurstin of the bands Geggy Teh and The Bird and the Bee.
2. Bush, I Beat Loneliness (earMusic)
When I spoke to Gavin Rossdale about the tenth Bush album, he told me that this record is “very autobiographical. What’s wild is when you reach the inner caves of your sick mind, you start saying things that resonate with other people who have sick minds, which, by the way, is everyone. I think that’s why I’m writing records for regular people who bash through lives, good days, bad days, in different ways, and just bash on regardless.” I think we can all abide.
3. Laura Jane Grace in the Trauma Tropes, Adventure Club (Polyvinyl)
This is the fourth solo album from the founder of Against Me! and one that features her wife (and comedian and content creator) Paris Campbell Grace on vocals. Laura continues to fight the good fight for people who have transitioned and those who yearn to.
4. Daron Malakian and Scars on Broadway, Addicted to the Violence (Scarred for Life)
As of today (July 18), it has been 18 years, seven months, and 26 days since System of a Down released a new record. It has also been six years, 11 months, and 28 days since SOAD guitarist Daron Malakian released a Scars on Broadway album. You can’t rush any of these guys.
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