How can you tell that the music industry is at full speed after the summer? This New Music Friday has more recommendations than any other week so far this year. Let’s dive in.
Singles
1. Coach Party, Disco Dream ft. Black Honey (Chess Club Records)
Here’s one of those new British bands that UK critics seem to like quite a bit. Coach Party is a four-piece from the Isle of Wight who have already toured with Queens of the Stone Age, Royal Blood, and Isle of Wight mates Wet Leg. Looking for something noising grungy this weekend. This is an excellent start. Their sophomore album, Caramel, will be here on the 26th.
2. The Dears, Tears of a Nation (Next Door)
Montreal’s The Dears have announced their ninth album, Life is Beautiful! Life is Beautiful! for released on November 7, their first album since 2020. The band recognizes that “life is tough. We experience challenges all the time. In our darkest hours we might think it’s never going to be better. But if we can just make it through, we find out what we thought was impossible; that we could smile again, maybe even laugh. We feel our loved ones. We find out how strong we can be. The songs in this record are for everyone and anyone. They are meant to be supportive.”
3. Gorillaz, The Happy Dictator ft. Sparks (Kong)
Nice to see Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett back–but they’re not quite here yet. The next album, The Mountain, won’t be here until March 20, which is more than six months away. They’re already talking about a 2026 tour, too, which will include their first-ever stadium headline show. Interesting to see that they’ve brought in the Mael brothers from Sparks. Good combo.
4. Milky Chance, Camouflage (Frontside)
When TikTok showed up, this German Rock duo has become something of a favourite on the platform. Just this past summer, they had more than 50 billion TikTok views. Now they’re back with something reflective but playful. Does this sort of sound like Gorillaz from back in the day?
5. Villanelle, Hinge (Orchard)
Who? This is the band featuring Gene Gallagher, the spawn of Liam. The boy and his two mates seem to like his music a little harder than Gene’s old man. Who knew there were Black Sabbath, Deftones, and Nirvana albums in the Gallagher household? There’s just this single for now, but an EP is on the way.
6. Wolf Alice, Just Two Girls (Columbia)
Fresh off their nomination for Britain’s Mercury Prize (their fourth shortlist placing), a new single from Wolf Alice has arrived with a new single from their recently-reeleased fourth album, The Clearing, (yes, each of their four albums were given a Mercury nod. How’s that for a run of success?)
Albums
1. Between the Buried and Me, The Blue Nowhere (InsideOutMusic)
In the mood for some progressive metalcore? This Raleigh SC band is now up to 11 albums, which comes with a deluxe edition featuring two CDs and two “iceberg” vinyl, along with some bonus instrumentals. You don’t see that everyday in this genre.
2. The Chameleons, Arctic Moon (Metropolis)
Fans of old-school British alternative will remember The Chameleons (Chameleons UK here in North America, est. Manchester c. 1981)) from their 80s hits, Up the Down Escalator from an 1983 record entitled Script of the Bridge and Swamp Thing from 1986. The band survives, although they haven’t released a full-length album in 24 years. Until now, that is.
3. Baxter Dury, Allbarone (Heavenly Recordings)
Another son of someone famous. Baxter Dury, son of the late Ian Dury, he of The Blockheads and Sex and Drugs and Rock’n’Roll fame, has had his own career for years, forging a path that is quite different from his father’s. This is his tenth album, so if you like what you hear, there’s plenty to explore.
4. King Princess, Girl Violence (section1)
A hero in the LGBTQ+ community, King Princess needs to be heard by more people. Mikaela Strauss began as a street artist in NYC, but has since developed a live reputation that can fill decent-sized venues. The good news is that she’s making progress. This single from her third album–which she describes as “a slutty anthem for lesbians”–received its debut on Stephen Colbert. See?
5. The Pack A.D., Little Ado (About Nothing)
After announcing what seemed like a break-up a few years ago, singer/guitarist Becky Black and drummer Maya Miller are thankfully back as The Pack A.D. This reunion started tentatively with what was supposed to be a 7-inch EP of unreleased songs dating back to 2011. But the more they looked through their archives, the more cool stuff they found. The result is this eight-song digital album.
6. Silverstein, Pink Moon (UNFD)
Burlington, Ontario’s Silverstein is one of the hardest-working bands I know. Not only are they up to 12 albums, but this record is the second of a two-part project that began with a record called Antibloom back in February. The band’s dynamic range has really expanded. Note the guerilla-style video shot in Las Vegas.
7. Spinal Tap, The End Continues (Interscope)
They’re back and things are again turned up to 11. With the sequel to the original Spinal Tap in theatres today (September 12) after a premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, the soundtrack is also available. Guests include Paul McCartney, Elton John, Garth Brooks(!), and Trisha Yearwood(!!!). Speaking of Elton, please enjoy this 2025 version of the classic Stonehenge featuring him on piano.
8. Teenage Bottlerocket, Ready to Roll (Pirates Press)
I’ve always had a thing for this band from Laramie, Wyoming, because I’ve never heard of any other pop-punk band from there. Formed in 2000 in the image of The Ramones, Green Day, and the Misfits, they’re up to their tenth album.
9. Twenty One Pilots, Breach (Fueled by Ramen)
Tyler Joseph and John Dun of Twenty One Pilots are very much in the business of myth-making and world-building when it comes to the aura and mystery surrounding the band, their albums, and their songs. Today marks the release of Breach, their eighth album. It’s a follow-up to Clancy from 2024 and continues the concepts that began with the Blurryface album in 2015. Trench (2018) and Scaled and Icy (2018) are also part of this.
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