Two things before we begin. First, this New Music Friday coincides with my father’s 90th birthday. Second, Bono turns 64. The two men have absolutely nothing in common. Let’s continue.
Singles
1. Fraxinus Prime, Control Alt Delete (Independent)
Welcome to the new project by As Buchholz, one-half of the dearly departed USS. This first single–“a song about pressing ‘reset'” Ash told me–comes after a rough period during which he nearly lost a hand because of a band staph infection. Forming chords on a guitar is still difficult, so it was time to bring out the synths and other electronics. Good to have him back.
2. Kings County, Blue Monday (TriBro Records)
Yes, another interpretation of the New Order drum machine dance classic from 1983. Kings County, a power rock four-piece outfit from Orlando, uses live drums in their version. Me? I like this better than the Orgy cover from 1998.
3. Francis of Delirium, Blue Tuesday (Dalliance)
What are the chances of a song called Blue Tuesday being released on the same day as that cover of Blue Monday? Yet here we are. Francis–aka Jana Bahrich–was born in Canada but is now based in Luxembourg, of all places. After recording and self-producing three EPs during lockdown (“in a basement next to the washing machine”) and touring with everyone from Kings of Leon to Soccer Mommy, this track from her debut album Lighthouse is starting to catch fire worldwide. There’s a real Broken Social Scene vibe to this one.
4. Bleeker, Let’s Go (Cadence Recordings/Universal Music Canada)
Bleeker (ne Bleeker Ridge), the Orillia, Ontario-based Juno-nominated band is about to return with their sixth album, Self-Made, after not having released anything since 2016. Need an anthem for driving this spring? This might work. It’s already been used during the NHL playoffs.
5. Kaleb Hikele, All Day (Independent)
Here’s a totally DIY home studio recording from Toronto-based Kaleb who is also known by the stage name The Sun Harmonic. My Mind is Like a Radio is his first solo album in 16 years and his 12th studio record overall. He worked at a crazy pace, recording a song a day before mixing everything in mono to get that old-school vinyl feel.
Albums
1. Kings of Leon, Can We Please Have Fun (Capitol)
The Followill boys are back with their ninth studio album and yet another with a five-syllable title. (That’s been a thing from the beginning with the exception of the 2016 album, Walls. And that title has five letters, so…) Watch for a big headlining tour this summer.
2. Arab Strap, I’m Totally Fine with It Don’t Give a F*ck Anymore (Rock Action)
If I’m honest, the only reason I noticed this album was because of the title. The Scottish electronic duo of Moffat and Malcolm are back after originally packing it all in back in 2006. It appears that they do care more than they’re letting on.
3. Judah & The Lion, The Process (Cletus the Van/Downtown Artist & Label Services)
Another duo–Judah Akers and Brian Macdonald–have returned to follow up 2022’s Revival album (a lockdown record) with a double that documents the five stages of grief. I quote Akers: “I was fighting for my marriage, going crazy, and getting sick. I fought writing about what I was going through. Finally, a friend told me, ‘If you don’t write about the biggest heartbreak of your life, you can’t be honest in your work.’ And he was right.”
4. Sonic Universe, It Is What It Is (earMusic)
First, we have the coincidence of songs called “Blue Monday” and “Blue Tuesday” released during the same week. Here’s another. Corey Glover, he of Living Colour, has a new project and their debut is entitled It Is What It Is, the same as that Judah & the Lion song. The sound is a little different though.
5. Powerman 5000, Abandon Ship (Cleopatra)
If there’s one genre of music that’s being pitched to me more than any other these days, it’s hard rock. It really does feel that music is head in that direction again–and about time, too. Powerman 5000, the industrial metal band, (PM5K to their friends) returns with their eleventh album. This should help the rock cause. And no, this isn’t a Prince cover, but it does namecheck a certain historical era.
6. Unleash the Archers, Phantoma (Napalm)
This is the sixth from the BC-based Juno-winning metal band and their first in four years. If you follow along, you’ll see that it’s a concept record set in an post-apocalyptic world. It could be the feel-good record of the summer. Super-cool AI video, too.
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