I was sent a lot of Christmas songs this week. And I mean a lot, including the reissue of a Dean Martin holiday record that’s 72(!!!) years old and a LeAnn Rimes cover of Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You. Was that really necessary? However, New Music Friday is more than just Christmas fluff. There’s some really good new stuff out this week.
Singles
1. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Wild God (Live God) (Play It Again Sam)
If you’ve ever seen Nick Cave in concert, you’ll know why so many people consider it to be something of spiritual experience. Cave has tried to capture that magic with a new album entitled Live God (due December 5). It will feature 18 tracks that Nick describes as “an antidote to despair.” Good, Right about now, we could use that.
2. Foo Fighters, Asking for a Friend (Roswell/Sony)
The Foo Fighters have been largely quiet for the last while, ever since Dave’s awkward baby daddy episode and the departure of drummer Josh Freese. But the band is back, having broken in new drummer Ilan Rubin, played some club shows, and performed at the F1 race in Singapore. This single sets things up for a busy 2026.
3. The Jins, Force a Metamorphosis (Frontside)
Garage-y, punk-y, grunge-y stuff our of Vancouver. The Jins have a reputation of being one of Canada’s hardest-working bands–they’re on the road now and will head out overseas in January–and are hoping that this song will go beyond the success they had with their last single, She Said, which has been streamed over 17 million times. In another timeline, this was a Nirvana song.
4. Kami Kehoe, Dopamine (Atlantic Records)
Kami is an LA-based drummer with a big voice. If you’re looking for something along the lines of Evanescence, Halestorm, and The Pretty Reckless, she’s one to watch. You’ll see what I mean from this video.
5. Mumford & Sons w/Hozier, The Rubber Band Man (Sony)
Well, this is an interesting combination. And no, it’s not a cover of that song by The Spinners from the summer of 1976. It’s Marcus Mumford and Hozier take turns trading off on vocals. It’s very gentle, very folky, and there are plenty of banjoes.
6. The Sophs, I’m Your Friend (Rough Trade)
Something else from LA. The Sophs–there’s six of ’em–who, for this song, have channeled a little bit of Weezer with flourishes of the kind of pop-punk that’s being made on both sides of the Atlantic. And before you ask, “Sophs” has no particular meaning. It’s just an arbitrary pick. They sent a demo to the UK’s Rough Trade Records who were so impressed that they immediately tracked the band down and offered them a deal. Funny how someone titled the video I’m Your Fiend. Oops.
Albums
1. Bahamas, My Second Last Album (Brushfire/Republic)
That’s an ominous title and we may have to take his word for it. Afie “Bahamas” Jurvanen says that he’s been making music for 15 years now and might be at the end of his run. Then again, he also says “Don’t take me seriously.” He told one interviewer, “It should be the opposite of whatever I’m saying — check with me tomorrow, and it’ll be a different answer.” To underscore that sentiment, the original title was My Second Best Album.
2. Big Wreck, The Rest of the Story (Big Wreck Music)
More than 30 years after Ian Thornley started Big Wreck, he’s still grinding it out. The band’s latest marks a chance of plans. Ian was planning to release a series of EPs but stopped after just one and grouped everything into this full album. Watch for a cross-Canada tour with Live in the New Year.
3. Just Mustard, We Were Just Here (Partisan)
I stumbled on Ireland’s’ five-piece Just Mustard listening to BBC 6 Music one morning. They’re a shoegaze-y bunch who may have really hit their stride with their third album. If you like layers of swirly, fuzzy guitars, this is one to stream this weekend.
4. The Lemonheads, Love Chant (Fire Records)
Evan Dando, the only constant member of The Lemonheads since the band was established in the 80s, is an interesting case. He’s gone from punky noisy Boston kid to grunge-era pin-up to someone who just couldn’t get it together for years. In fact, it’s been 19 years since Dando could be arsed to make a new album of new material (there were covers collections in 2009 and 2019).
5. Mammoth, The End (ByStorm Entertainment/RCA)
Wolfgang Van Halen continues to carry on what his father started–and so far so good. He’s band has already been nominated for a Grammy and continues to get better with each song. With this third album, the band’s name has been shortened from “Mammoth WVH” to just Mammoth, which was the original name of his dad’s band in the very early 70s. Cool video for this single, too. They mess with El Mariachi.
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