The Five Songs list for this week highlights what’s happening in Montreal. Plus The Decemberists have made up for lost time–six years–with a double album.
1. The Decemberists, All I Want is You
As It Ever Was, So Will It Be Again (Kill Rock Stars)
Recommended If You Like: Naked love songs
Here’s the first single from the next (and ninth) Decemberist album, As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again, which is due on June 14, their first in six years. It’s a wear-your-heart-on-your sleeve love song. It’s a double record, too, split into four thematic sides. It features an appearance by Mike Mills from REM and James Mercer from The Shins.
2. Des Rocks, I Am Lightning
Dream Machine (Sumerian Records)
RIYL: Serious barroom rock
Des (aka Danny Rocco) has been around since 2018 coming out of Long Island. (Other than Billy Joel, can you name another Long Islander?) He started performing at 13 and later worked as a lawyer for Epic Records. Things started well with a band called Secret Weapons but that fell apart when a member was taken out by Lyme disease. Des has released three EPs and two albums with this single coming from a record released last summer. Patience seems to be paying off.
3. Big Brave, Canon : In Canon
A Chaos of Flowers (Thrill Jockey)
RIYL: Whatever is happening in Montreal
There’s some extremely good hard rock coming out of Montreal these days thanks to bands like Les Shirleys, NOBROS, and a few others. Add Big Brave to that list, although to be fair, they’ve been making music since 2012. Their seventh album is now here—and it’s isn’t quite as loud as some of their previous material. It is, however, nice and heavy with plenty of doom dressed with poetry.
4. The Damn Truth, I Just Gotta Let You Know
Single (Frontside)
RIYL: MGMT and Passion Pit
More Montreal. After nine years together, this four-piece female-fronted band may be poised for a breakout with a forthcoming album produced by Bob Rock. They’ve already opened tours for ZZ Top, Styx, The Sheepdogs, and Rival Sons and have managed to sell out places like the Whisky in LA. Another indication that we’re seeing a rock revival.
5. Lonely Little Kitsch, Stuck in Place
Single (Independent)
RIYL: More Canada
Lonely Little Kitsch is from the Niagara region of Ontario and usually plays with a little more volume and power. But you can’t do that all the time. This new single is a little more reserved—they call it “Fleetwood grunge”—and certainly evokes feels from both the 70s and 90s. Someone needs to sign these people.
Listen on SoundCloud.
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