The vast number of singles sent my way all have to do with Christmas and are 100% directed at adult contemporary and country formats. New Music Friday loves Christmas, but we’ll let someone else take on that particular burden. Instead, we’ll look at some indie singles (all of which are Canadian) along with our usual selection of albums.
Singles
1. Autumn Kings, Gone, Gone, Gone (Hopeless Records)
Coming out of LaSale, Ontario, Autumn Kings are already having a moment with American rock radio with this one, which underscores a sound that’s part System of a Down, Part Billy Talent, and part Avenged Sevenfold. They might be Canada’s more important up and coming hard rock band.
2. The Bankes Brothers, Risk It All (Blue Heron)
Here’s a Victoria, BC band, with a single produced by Gus van Go, who has worked with Metric, The Beaches, and Arkells. This song was used by the WHL as their season-opener across all arenas in the league. Yes, even the American ones.
3. Trudy, Belong Together (Trudy)
This song by Montreal’s Trudy is actually aimed at country radio, but it rocks just enough to be included here. She was named Amazon’s Breakthrough Artist for October and got a big feature from Spotify.
Albums
1. Tony Iommi, From the Dark (BMG Rights Management)
Ozzy and Sabbath may be over, but guitarist Tony Iommi still has something to say with his first solo album in 21 years. He brought in some younger collaborators to add the tiniest bit of joy to the doom. But don’t worry because doom still wins. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
2. Michael Kiwanuka, Fudge (Geffen)
Kiwanuka is one of Britain’s best songwriters right now, having already won the Mercury Prize. After suffering a severe stroke a few months ago (he had chronic high blood pressure; get yours checked, kids) he’s currently going through rehab and all touring commitments have been put on hold indefinitely. This album was finished before it all went down. Listen to the lyrics of this single and feel what he must be feeling right now.
3. Tom Morello, Everyone Gets Everything They Want (Mom+Pop Music)
Tom has been involved in a ton of albums outside Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, but this is officially his first solo album. Guests include Tool drummer Danny Carey, Serj Takian from System of a Down, Beartooth, rabble rousers Kneecap and his very capable 15 year-old song, Roman. This single was inspired by some Dutch teenagers who fought the Nazis in WWII. The riff is very Rage.
4. O.A.R., Three Tinted Windows (ATO/Ineffable Records)
Maryland’s O.A.R. (short for Of a Revolution) has been around for 11 albums now, putting out jam-band material that has occasionally teetered into platinum territory. This single Citizen Cope and G. Love. Nice reggae lilt to this one.
5. Priest, Altered State Police (Blue Nine)
Time for some Swedish dark synth from a band that features some ex-members of Ghost. Worried about Big Brother, surveillance, and the government knowing everything about you and your every move? So does Priest.
6. JP Saxe, Okay Piano Guy (Diggers Factory)
It’s the third album from this Canadian singer-songwriter and features more melodic confessional songs. If you’re feeling introspective as the days get shorter, this might be the right album for you rightnow.
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