Now that we’re starting our first full week after summer, we probably could use some fresh tunes to ease the pain. The Five Songs You Must Hear list features some appropriately aggressive stuff.
1. K.Flay, Ants
Single (Bummer Picnic Records)
Recommended If You Like: Fighting against adversity
Kristine Meredith Flaherty has a new album coming sometime in the near future, her sixth and first since Mono in 2023. It’s also her first album since she suffered some serious hearing loss in her right ear due to an inoperable nerve issue deep in her inner ear. This caused her to become totally deaf on that side and now requires a cochlear implant. The new album covers the emotions from that, as well as her newly sober lifestyle. If this first single is any indication, it sounds like it’s gonna be an emotional listen.
2. Scott Hellman, Mr. Record Label
Single (Fo Fum Records)
RIYL: Hating on your record label
Scott has seven JUNO nominations under his belt yet somehow (at least in his telling) didn’t get the appropriate respect from his record company. This song was written from personal experience. Here are some lyrics: “Mr. Record Label got a really fast car/And he drives into Hollywood/Parallel pakrs/And knows when he hears a “hit”/And he couldn’t write for sh*t.” This is destined to become a great screw-the-music-industry song.
3. Stuck on Planet Earth, Sun Gazing
All But Nothing (Coady./Anthem)
RIYL: Bands from the city above Toronto
Stuck on Planet Earth (est. 2007 Vaughn, Ontario) played live for years before they managed to release a debut album in 2020—which, of course, wasn’t the greatest time for the music industry. They were able to get back on track and now have a record called All But Nothing, which features collaborations with Brendon Benson, Jack White’s buddy in The Raconteurs. And yeah, there are some 90s feels here.
Listen on Spotify
4. Bad Wolves, Jolene
Single
RIYL: Dolly Parton with a side of controversy
In January 2018, Bad Wolves was all set to record a cover of The Cranberries’ “Zombie” with guest vocals from Dolores O’Riordan. Before she could do that, she died. They released the song, anyway, and it became a hit. In August 2026, Bad Wolves was all set to record a cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene.” Then she died. They’ve released it, but before not guitarist AJ Rebollo quit the band, saying it was “too soon.” They released it anyway. Note to other artists: Reconsider collaborations with Bad Wolves.
5. Midnight Syndicate, Echoes of the Past
Plankett’s Grove (Independent)
RIYL: Horror music
This Cleveland band is all about horror. They describe themselves as “foundational audio architects of the haunt, Halloween, and tabletop gaming industries.” There are two guys: Edward Douglas and Gavin Goszka. This new album features 18 tracks designed to transport listeners into a shadowy realm of gothic mystery and dark fantasy…building on nearly three decades of pioneering ‘soundtracks to imaginary films.’”
Listen on Spotify
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