Now that we’re into December, just about everything that’s supposed to be released is out there. We may see a few stragglers–I was surprised by the surprise release of a couple of new singles this week, so there could be a few more– but unless something really unexpected and interesting happens, New Music Friday is finished for 2025. We’ll see. A quick note: I’ll be on vacation next week, so be on the lookout for SHISH from Portugal. The Man, which drops next Friday.
Singles
1. 54-40, Virgil (True North)
Given that they’ve been around since 1981, it’s hard to imagine the Canadian music scene without BC’s 54-50. Damn, that’s 45 years in a really tough business. They aren’t interested in stopping, either. Come January 23, they will have a new album entitled PORTO. Frontman Neil Osbourne has this to say: “It’s about the work it takes to keep creating, to stay connected, and to keep loving what you do.”
2. The Damned, See Emily Play (earMusic)
Speaking of bands who have been around forever, The Damned (est. London 1976 and the first-ever British punk band to release a single), is still going. Their latest project is a covers album entitled Not Like Everybody Else that includes material from Iggy and The Stooges, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, The Animals, and this early Pink Floyd single.
3. Flea, A Plea (Nonesuch Records)
Flea? As in the bass player from The Red Hot Chili Peppers? Yep. In all his years in the music business (about 45 years), he’s never released a solo album. That will change sometime in 2026 (exact date is still TBA) with a record entitled…well, we don’t know that, either. So more punk-funk, right? Probably not. If you look at the list of guests on the record, there are a lot of jazz players and people who like to experiment. Still, Flea says “This recording is just straight rockin’.”
4. Girlfriend Material, Too Cold to Sleep (Ray Cat Records)
I have to seek in this Christmas track from Tokyo Police Club spin-off Girlfriend Material ahead of the December 12 release of an album entitled Hyped for the Holidays. They’re on a rampage to release one song per day between December 1-12. If you want to get ahead of things, please enjoy this festival Yule log.
5. Guns N’ Roses, Nothin’ (Geffen/Universal Music Canada)
A few days ago, Guns N’ Roses announced another tour for 2026. There was also speculation that the group might have some new music for us. Guess what?
6. Danko Jones, Diamond in the Rough (Sonic Unyon)
Danko Jones continues to light up bar rooms with Leo Rising (an album that was released digital on November 21 but out physically today) with this single, one that he told me is his tribute to KISS and sounds like Shout It Out Loud. It made perfect sense to get a Swedish KISS tribute band for the video.
7. Austin Mulka, About a Girl (SODEH Records)
Mulka is a member of the Leeds-based band When They Riot and occasionally likes to put out his own material. How about this acoustic version of the Nirvana classic? And yes, it’s more acoustic than what we hear on the Unplugged album.
8. Scott Weiland, If I Could Fly (Primary Wave/Virgin)
I certainly wasn’t expecting something new from Scott Weiland, who died ten years ago this month. This unreleased track recorded in 2000 came out on the anniversary of his passing. This song was written after the birth of his son, Noah, who is working on a music career of his own. Is there anything else in the STP/Scott Weiland vault? I’d bet on it.
Albums
1. Depeche Mode, Depeche Mode: M (Columbia)
This is a 2 x CD and 2 x DVD live album and film recorded at Foro Sol Stadium in Mexico City on the band’s Momento Mori tour in 2023. You can also purchase it as a 4 x LP box set that includes outtakes from the Momento Mori studio sessions.
2. Tom Smith, There is Nothing in the Dark That Isn’t There in Light (PIAS)
Editors is a fine English band from Birmingham who came to our attention during the post-punk revival in the early 2000s. The group is still a going concern, but like Flea (see above), Tom has material of his own that needs to get out there. This is his debut solo record.
3. The Waterboys, The Waterboys Present: Rips from the Cutting Room Floor (Sun Records)
Mike Scott’s Waterboys had a good year with the album Life, Death And Dennis Hopper, which came out back in April. Like the title of this record suggests, it features 16 tracks that didn’t make the cut for the album. This is the official single.
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