Songs of the Week: November 03 - 09, 2025

November 10, 2025 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“What Killed Elvis Presley” by Hollerado

Last week Hollerado announced that they were re-forming (Hollerado 2.0 you might say) and surprise released a 5-song Ep titled Start A Band, with the lead single “What Killed Elvis Presley”.

After performing at a Tokyo Police Club farewell show in Toronto, it kind of kickstarted the band to get back together after 6 years away working on their own projects.

I was lucky enough to catch Menno and Nixon when they performed the song (as well as the title track “Start A Band”) live at the Peak Lounge, and I couldn’t have been more excited about what is to come, including a full length album in 2026!

Christine

“Doom Pays” by The Dears

Last Friday, The Dears released their ninth studio album called Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful!, and along with it dropped a video for the song “Doom Pays”

With some killer sax, a frantic beat, and Murray Lightburn’s urgent vocals, the song is as chaotic as the accompanying video. Murray says the song was “written very quickly, all at once; words, music, melody and arrangement. It is probably the closest thing to making any kind of political statement we will ever make. In the face of that, there is an internal noise and an external noise and they feel immovable. It’s a battle on two fronts.”

You can check out the video below — directed by Kevin Drew and Rachael McLean — and grab the new album anywhere you get new music (and I highly recommend it!)

Kirk

“I Got A Feeling” by Wintersleep

I honestly wondered if we’d ever hear from Wintersleep again, or if it’d be “Weighty Ghost” on the radio forever…but they’re back!

Six whole years after their last EP In The Land Of, the band returns with a new album (the band’s eighth) titled Wishing Moon, which will arrive on March 27th, 2026.

The first track, “I Got A Feeling”, starts slow with anticipatory guitar and drums, and then goes full blown rock by the time the chorus hits.
Despite being the first single, it was a last minute addition to the album: “It might have been the last song we demoed for the record. We were packing up at our rehearsal space in Great Village Nova Scotia and we by some miracle had time to fit in one more. It immediately came together. This song started to morph into something more in Pioneertown.
Our collaborator, Nicolas Vernhes, had the idea to hold off on the main riff until the second verse, which gives it this really suspenseful feeling building on this one note until the chorus. That feeling it created got us shaking up the chords in the chorus which really highlighted and pushed the tension and energy up another level. Lyrically it centres around that kind of excited anticipation. That moment when you know that someone special you care about, cares about you too.”
Can’t wait to get more music in the coming months and just today the band announced tour dates, including Saturday June 6, 2026 in Vancouver at the Hollywood Theatre!

Christine

“Bloom” (feat. Kendel Carson) by Debra-Jean Creelman

Gearing up to release her latest album Little Town, Debra-Jean Creelman has released a new song “Bloom”, featuring Kendel Carson.

The album has a fun backstory full of some heavy hitter musicians, so I’ll just relay the story from the press release:

Born out of a writing exercise with one of her students, “Bloom” evolved from a simple lyrical prompt into a stirring collaboration with longtime creative partner Sean Cronin. The track was recorded live to tape in a barn in Catskill, NY, with Cronin assembling an all-star ensemble of collaborators, including Noah B. Harley (Spirit Family Reunion), Andy Weaver, Adam Brisbin (Big Thief), and Alex P. Wernquest (recording engineer and owner of Basement Floods Record.)
Creelman later overdubbed her vocals in Vancouver with Dave Genn (54-40, Matthew Good Band) & Kendel Carson (Alan Thomas Doyle; Shania Twain), whose fiddle and harmonies add depth and shimmer to the track.

Creelman added: “The goal was to make something soulful that properly reflected my biggest musical influences and had my vocals front and centre. I wanted it to be something that would translate well live – more of an emotional experience for the listener rather than a cerebral one.”

You can grab Little Town when it’s out on December 5th, and catch the album launch show here in Vancouver on November 28th at Green Auto!

Kirk

“Don’t Talk” by Jets Overhead

Last week, Victoria’s Jets Overhead released their first new album since 2012’s Boredom and Joy, though it’s not quite new music.

As you might expect from the album’s title, Ordinary Dreamers - Rarities and Demos, Vol. 1 is a collections of previously unheard music from the band, recorded during the Boredom and Joy session.

Lead singer Adam Kittredge explains, “We've been inspired by the number of messages we get from people around the world saying our music is still part of their lives. We built this band before streaming existed, so watching new listeners discover our songs all these years later feels like a second life for the music. This archive release is our way of saying thank you.”

No word yet if this is a full-on comeback for the band, but to celebrate the album, they also released a new single “Don’t Talk”, which is classic Jets Overhead, with swirling shoegaze vibes and ethereal vocals. Check it out below!

Kirk

Songs of the Week: October 27 - November 02, 2025

November 03, 2025 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“What Good?” by Arkells

After a couple weeks of teases, Arkells have given us the first hint of their upcoming album with “What Good?”

The new single is a classic, boisterous Arkells banger, which asks the question What good can come from the noise of modern day life. Though as frontman Max Kerman elaborates: “The song doesn’t pretend to have neat answers—but it points toward where meaning might still be found. The sun, the moon, the neon glow of your neighborhood bar. Things we can share, things that feel real.”

The album is due out next year, as the band promises more info (and tour dates) are to come, so for now check out the video below!

Kirk

“Airport” & “The Only Truth” by The Weather Station

Earlier this year, The Weather Station released the acclaimed album Humanhood, and is now back with a pair of new songs from that recording session with the rollicking “Airport” and the rich, gorgeous “Only The Truth”.

Tamara Linderman explains why the songs were omitted from the album, saying “There were so many strong songs I left off Humanhood because the album had such a narrative arc to adhere to. ‘Airport’ was one of them that I’m glad to release now. I’ve always hated airports; I find them so dehumanizing. This song tells a story of a person trying to mirror what is around them; that sort of shutting down, not caring, acting like you don’t care even when you really do. At the heart of it though is, of course, an intense longing, and a hope for something alive that feels like it can't be.”
And she describes “Only The Truth” as “one of my favourite songs from Humanhood and just didn’t make the tracklist at the very last moment, but it feels so relevant and connected with the record. It intersects with ‘Neon Signs,’ it expands on the same idea; that the truth is this sort of lumpen, complicated, organic thing. Falsehoods and lies glimmer, reach towards you, need you; but the truth ‘doesn’t care if you care / all it ever is is there.’”

Check out both new singles below, and make sure to check out Humanhood if you haven’t yet!

Kirk

“Human” by Hawksley Workman

Canada’s troubadour Hawksley Workman has announced his Canadian tour to support his latest EP, Fly Like An Ego and I couldn’t be more excited.

Hawksley’s live show has always been something fantastic to watch and one of my favourites to see, and his statements on what this tour is going to be has got me giddy…
“For the last UK solo run, I pushed myself to perform newer and more ‘forgotten’ songs. You can rehearse endlessly, but a song only finds its confidence in front of an audience. Mr. Lonely and I are now diving into rehearsals, adding a new big rock-club section and dusting off older duo pieces. We may even transform ourselves, from time to time, into a Dance-Rock Power Duo, and yes, the keytar will finally make an appearance.
On these two tours you can expect to hear some long-forgotten orphans, in particular the song ‘Striptease’, which is arguably my biggest hit in Canada, and a song I rarely play live. We are also planning on some extreme deep cuts like, ‘Above Ground Pool’, which has never been played live. Expect some introspective moments and some exciting rockers too!”

I’m excited by all the tour chat, so check out the video for “Human” from the new EP, which features Canadian actor/comedian Chris Locke!

Christine

“Mountainside (acoustic)” by David Vertesi

I cannot believe it’s been fifteen years since David Vertesi released his debut solo album Cardiography. And to celebrate, he’s releasing a special acoustic reimagining of the whole thing.

Along with the announcement of the new album (and vinyl), Vertesi has released “Mountainside (acoustic)”, a stunning version of the already beautiful song.

Have a listen below, and you can check out a special live show on December 7th here in Vancouver at The Gallery @ Artech!

Kirk

“Giallo” by Rich Aucoin

The fourth and final season of SYNTHETIC, Rich Aucoin’s incredibly ambitious project, has finally arrived (mine came in the mail last week!).

To celebrate Rich released the video for the track “Giallo”, which was filmed by Malcolm Macmaster & Seth Daniel Willard and starring Florence Wallace & Malcolm Macmaster.

Season 4 comes with the most synthesizers used, compared with the following three seasons, and clocks in at 103 unique syths, and brings the total to 162, which blows my mind.

This might be my favourite of the four (I think I say that with every new release), and I’m excited to hear it on my record player finally!

Christine

“Breakaway” by Blue Jay Valley

How about being the youngest Canadian band to EVER sign to a record label!? Well that’s exactly what Blue Jay Valley did when they signed with the new label Fink City Records headed up by Vancouver punk rock legend Billy Bones (of Clampdown Record Press, the Vicious Cycles).

With an average age of 11, the band is comprised of Noa (lead vocals, age 11), Josh (guitar, age 12), Obi (drums, age 11), and brothers Mikey (lead guitar, age 12) and Alex (bass, age 10).

They are following up their debut EP, We Like To Rock, with their new one Breakaway on November 15th with a show at Green Auto.
Check out the title track below!

Christine

“Slanted” by Shad

Speaking of album releases, Shad’s latest Start Anew is finally out!
Been excited to get the whole package since he released the first single “Bars and BBQs” and I cannot wait to hear some of the new stuff live when he rolls into town for a show on January 17th at the Hollywood Theatre.

With the album, Shad also released the single “Slanted” with a video directed by Justin Broadbent (who also did the album artwork). Of the track Shad says: “"Slanted" is a song about the proverbial slippery slope. Or the proverbial frog in boiling water. Whatever metaphor you want to use to describe how things can slide in the wrong direction while we fail to notice. It's hard work to perceive the slope before it's too late and restore balance. But it's often the main task at hand.”

Now excuse me, I’m off to listen to this one front to back…

Christine

Songs of the Week: October 20 - 26, 2025

October 27, 2025 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Jim Cuddy Dress” by Jenn Grant

Last week Jenn Grant released beautiful ode to her late mother with the new song “Jim Cuddy Dress”. It’s the first single from her new album, Queen of the Strait, which is out early next year, and I’ll just let Jenn tell the story behind the song:

“This single coming out today feels very serendipitous because it would have been my mother's 76th birthday, and this song is a tribute to her.

This is the story of when we met Jim Cuddy at the JUNOs back in 2012. She was wearing a dress that we'd picked out together. It was actually chosen not only for its colour and fabric but because it also helped to conceal the swelling in her stomach and liver from the metastatic breast cancer.

I grew up listening to Blue Rodeo in the house, and my mother, like so many Canadians, was such a big fan of Jim Cuddy.

So when I saw him standing there in the lobby on his own, I decided it would be ok to introduce ourselves. What a strange and magical moment now that I think back on it. When I took their photo, it was the last time I saw her sparkly blue eyes shining bright. Jim, who is now a very dear friend, didn't know how much that moment meant, or even that she was sick, but I think the flight home might have been the thing that pushed her over the edge. She died 3 weeks later. Just before she left us, she said she'd like to be laid to rest in the 'Jim Cuddy Dress'.

So this song is about the last time we saw her, said goodbye in that moment, like it was a movie, in a little funeral home in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. On that day, it was just my brother Daniel (Grant), my husband Danny (Ledwell) and our dog Charlie that mom and I shared. Charlie and I danced as Danny played Beach Boys songs on the organ, my mother in her dress, still beautiful as ever. This was 'the make-believe funeral'.”

Kirk

“Feels So Good” by Bahamas

It feels like Bahamas just announced his newest album, My Second 𝖡̶𝖾̶𝗌̶𝗍̶ Last Album, and now it’s already out!

The album’s release was accompanied by the latest single, “Feels So Good”, a chill groove that’s about balancing discipline and indulgence and the internal struggle not to give in to impulses.

Have a listen below, and pick up (what is hopefully not) My Second 𝖡̶𝖾̶𝗌̶𝗍̶ Last Album now!

Kirk

“Southern Star” feat. AURORA by Leif Vollebekk

Super cool news our of the Leif Vollebekk front!
The musician released a new version of his song “Southern Star” featuring Norwegian artist AURORA this week, and with it another announcement - a short film.

Also to be titled Southern Star and featuring both Voleebekk and Aurora as characters, Leif concieved the idea around his album Revelation:
“Revelation always reminded me of a dream sequence, the songs felt like a little movie, and I wanted to see that movie. AURORA and I had been fans of each other’s music for years and kept talking about finding the right way to collaborate. When I mentioned I couldn’t find a lead actor for a film I was working on, she simply said, ‘I’ll do it. Come to Norway.’ Two weeks later, we were filming. I can’t thank her enough for what she brought to it - her radiant presence, her generosity, and that unmistakable voice.”

No details yet on a release date for this, but Leif heads out on tour in November for the next several months, so it might be a bit.

Christine

Songs of the Week: October 13 - 19, 2025

October 20, 2025 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Falling Apart” by The Rural Alberta Advantage

Last week, The Rural Alberta Advantage released their first new music of the year with “Falling Apart”.

The single is a classic RAA slowburn, and comes with a video of them performing it live, as well as the announcement of a run of tour dates in the States early next year.

No word on a new album (or Canadian dates) so fingers crossed we hear more from them soon!

Kirk

“First Kiss” by Larkk

A month back Danielle McTaggart of Dear Rouge announced a solo project titled Larkk and released a dreamy instrumental piano track, and now we have the first song with lyrics!

“First Kiss”, which was co-written with American spoken word artist Derek C. Brown, is also dreamy and piano-focused but with added depth from strings and Danielle’s delicate vocals.

Danielle says “First Kiss is about that meeting point between memory and imagination—where a moment can be both the start of something and the echo of everything that came before. It’s a type of confession and a beginning. It’s gentle and raw, hushed and insistent—a small light in a dark room. There are threads of poems woven inside, fragments that helped me open the door, but the song is ultimately me telling myself: I’m ready to feel again. I’m ready to risk softness. I’m ready to name the thing that once only lived as a shape in the dark. First Kiss, is the first step, to singing out the world inside.”

Christine

“Sounds Like a Deal” by Alex Little

Alex Little is back (and this time without her Suspicious Minds) with a brand new single from her upcoming EP, Spider in the Sink.

“Sounds Like a Deal” is a catchy garage rocker that was inspired by a recent documentary on The Jerry Springer Show, of all things, with Alex explaining: “The poor treatment and exploitation of the people on the show was truly awful and I needed to sing about it.”

It also features some familiar faces; Tony Dallas on drums and Hayz Fisher on bass, with James Younger producing! You can have a listen below, and make sure to grab Spider in the Sink, on November 19th.

Kirk

“Whoever You Are…” by Clothesline From Hell

I’m not gonna lie, part of why I listened to Clothesline From Hell in the first place was that Adam LaFramboise named his project after a pro wrestling move. But I kept listening because of songs like the new single, “Whoever You Are…” a twitchy earworm with deeply introspective lyrics.

Adam says, “Most days this is my favourite song on the album. It’s become an endorsement for baptism by fire. The hardest lessons being the only life-affirming ones, available to anyone who resists warping the past into something tragic. Placing blame on someone else, only to pity yourself, never had longevity in mind. It’s a sped up healing process, but eventually it comes back to fuck you over and steer you clear of any sort of enlightenment.”

The new song comes with the announcement of his debut full length album, called Slather On The Honey, which is available early next year, on January 16th.

Kirk

“End Of The Road” by Royal Wood

Royal Wood’s ninth album Dear John is out now and with it came the latest single “End Of The Road”.

Of it Royal says: “the song came to me almost in a dream. The moment my fingers touched the keys the melody and words played themselves out. I remember sitting back and listening to the demo recording that I had fortunately captured and it was all there. Everything I needed to say that day. I think this song healed my heart, and set the tone for this album. When the words revealed themselves, I knew what they meant. I was going to fall in love with life, music and my career again.”
The record is a love letter to his younger self and he says he wrote it to create an album that the kid in him would love.

Christine

Songs of the Week: October 06 - 12, 2025

October 14, 2025 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Tomorrow And Tomorrow” by The Dears

It’s a little over a month until The Dears release their ninth studio album, and we’re getting another tease with the latest single “Tomorrow And Tomorrow”. The new track has a bit of a doo-wop vibe, with Murray Lightburn’s rich voice crooning out as the song soars.

Check out the video, directed by Kevin Drew and Rachael McLean, and make sure to pick up the new album titled Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful! Life Is Beautiful! when it’s out on November 7th!

Kirk

“Give Me Everything Your Own” by Total Fucking Darkness

The “landslide winners of ‘BAND OF THE VOID 2025’” Total Fucking Darkness is back with a brand new dreamy, twitchy dance number.

“Give Me Everything Your Own” is the latest from the collaboration of Torquil Campbell, Stephen Ramsay, and Tom McFall, with the band saying: “We live in a late-period capitalist wasteland where art is devalued and podcasters are the new creative upper class. What a fucking bore. “Give Me Everything Your Own” is a reminder of the intrinsic, anarchic power of our music. We made it to feel like a nice cold wet fish slapping you upside the head to remind you not to fall asleep in your own life, that connection matters, that a dancefloor can be the site of rebellion and dissent. Don’t forget that cunts are still running the world...”

Crank it up and have a listen below!

Kirk

“Reckless Kids” by Danny Miles

Seems like the members of July Talk are always on a side quest…

This time it’s drummer Danny Miles, who has been releasing solo music including this latest song “Reckless Kids”.
Of the song Danny shares that it is about “living life to the fullest. It’s about trying to enjoy everyday. I’ve had some huge life-changing events happen in the past couple of years and I think it made me care a little less about what people think about me, and people pleasing in general but in a positive way. It’s been freeing to lose some of that.”

And notably, Danny did all the vocals, and played all the instruments for this funky and sporadic track, as well as mixed the song himself!

Christine

“For You To Come Around” by Great Lake Swimmers

The new album Caught Light from Great Lake Swimmers is now out and the band embarks on their tour with Elliott Brood starting tomorrow.

Before they headed out on the road, they released a live version of the album’s track “For You To Come Around”. Lead singer Tony Dekker say it’s about “the baggage we carry and the emotional lifting it requires for us to endure, and ultimately, it is about loneliness and longing, and the inability to truly know someone.”

I can’t wait to hear the new music live - the band comes to Vancouver on October 23rd at the Biltmore Cabaret.

Christine

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Songs of the Week: September 29 - October 05, 2025

October 06, 2025 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“The Calm” by The Protomen

Holy crap it’s happening!

It’s been sixteen years since the release of Act II: The Father of Death, the second part in the epic Mega Man influenced rock opera from Tennessee band The Protomen, and now we’re finally getting the long awaited Act III: This City Made Us!

The announcement was made with the first two tracks on the album released on Bandcamp, with a promise of a weekly release model, until the final Bandcamp Friday of the year; or as the band puts it on their website, “sort of like that Alien show you’ve been watching… but with sound only. And less aliens, but maybe more robots.”

The two songs released so far are “Hold Back the Night”, which has been floating around for a few years, and the opening track “The Calm” (which I can only assume comes before some sort of storm), an instrumental opener that builds in suspense and anticipation.

The band has also promised a physical release of a CD which comes with a “story booklet/libretto + the amazing John DeLucca artwork” and a vinyl to come, with the release date set once they have the timeline set.

Have a listen below or on their Bandcamp page!

Kirk

  
    <a href="https://theprotomen.bandcamp.com/album/act-iii-this-city-made-us">Act III: This City Made Us by The Protomen</a>
  

“Fully Completely” Tragically Hip Cover by Alexisonfire

You know I love a good cover and especially when they’re unexpected ones…well Alexisonfire covering The Hip is delightfully unexpected!

The band is releasing an EP on November 7th titles Copies of Old Masters Volume 1 and along with the “Fully Completely” cover they’re tackling other 90’s CanCon: “Neighbourhood Villain” by Doughboys, “Cuz” by Shallow North Dakota and “Misogyny” by Rusty.

Enjoy the song below!

Christine

“Look What You Did” by JEEN

JEEN is back with a gritty pop anthem, “Look What You Did”, the first track off her upcoming EP For the Romance.

The song was recorded early this year, but almost didn’t make the cut, with JEEN sharing: “A couple months after recording, I had some unexpected music business trouble that completely derailed me and the whole release came to a full stop. I was crushed, so I was about to trash the whole EP and just start again, but I had a change of heart over the summer. I ended up using three of the original January recordings and one of them was ‘Look What You Did.’.”
And about the song itself, she adds: “At the end of the day, it's a pop song so I just wanted it to be light and easy to sing along with but hopefully still have some teeth/grit. It's about being entranced by someone or something and following that feeling all the way, even though you can't see where it will lead yet. I've had to learn a lot of hard lessons in this industry and 2025 tested me more than ever on that front, but for the first time in a while, I'm happy I'm still here, even if I have to follow a bit blindly for now.”

The EP comes out at the end of the month, on Oct 30, and get ready to have the chorus stuck in your head for the rest of the day when you check out the lyric video below!

Kirk

“Somebody To Love” by The Washboard Union

Getting new music from The Washboard Union was a really fun way to learn that Art & Crafts launched a country label!

The new song “Somebody To Love” is about hopeless romantics and the search for “that one who was meant for each and every one of us”.

The band is heading to Australia this week for a string of shows and festivals, and hopefully there’s more music on the way upon their return.

Christine

“Frequency Modulation” by Rich Aucoin

Last month, Rich Aucoin announced the final entry in his quadruple album project with Synthetic Season 4, and now we’re getting a tease with the new song “Frequency Modulation”.

The track (which of course comes right before “Amplitude Modulation” on the album) lives up to it’s name with a wavy vibe, and exemplifies what Rich says about the album overall: “A goal for this season was to have tonal shifts in genres and/or combine elements from multiple genres for each track (really subverting the idea of getting playlisted haha). I think the results of this experiment worked out the best with a heavy late 70s synth funk groove breaking way to French baroque house.”

Synthetic Season 4 is out on October 30, and “boasts the highest number of synthesizers of any of the previously released Seasons with its sounds being comprised of 103 unique synths!”

Kirk

“Nobody But You” by The Sheepdogs

When The Sheepdogs announced the departure of drummer Sam Corbett two weeks ago, I wasn’t sure when we’d be getting any music news from them… turns out is was this past Friday!

The band is out on tour, opening for Bryan Adams but that hasn’t stopped them from releasing a new song called “Nobody But You”. Of it frontman Ewan Curry says: “The twin pillars of love and rock ’n’ roll come together here in a pure expression of musical bliss. It’s the sound of windows down in your Trans-Am, the end of a workday, the optimism of a long weekend on the horizon. Power-pop vocals and southern rock guitars burst from your speakers like a double bill of April Wine and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Both a testament to the power of rock ’n’ roll and a tender love ballad.”

Oh, and speaking of Bryan Adams, The Sheepdogs will appear on his holiday special “Bryan Adams and Friends: A Great Big Holiday Jam” along with appearances from Alessia Cara, Alan Doyle, Barenaked Ladies, Lights, and more (all set in Vancouver/Bryan’s Warehouse Studio). That makes facing the chilly weather ahead a little less daunting!

Christine

“Video Life” Chris Spedding Cover by Art d’Ecco

About a month ago Art d’Ecco released a cover of “Outcast” by Eddie & Ernie and he’s back with another, this time tackling “Video Life” by Chris Spedding.

I’ll let Art tell you about it: “I don’t know how this song came into my life but as soon as I learned Chris Spedding played on two of my all time favourite records (Here Come The Warm Jets and Nilsson Schmillson) I had to know more. There’s something quite prophetic about the lyrics in ‘Video Life’, given the state of things in 2025 and the obsession the music industry has with artists creating content (juxtaposed against the ongoing geopolitical darkness that blankets our screens on the hour, every hour). It’s maddening to be sucked into that gravitational pull, and most days I just tune out and pretend the world doesn’t exist outside my little island bubble. Sometimes a song speaks to you so clearly, and this one was on repeat all summer so I felt compelled to shine a little light on it.”

With this second cover being released (and my obsession with his latest album Serene Demon still going strong) I hope that means we’ll continue to get more music!

Christine

Songs of the Week: September 22 - 28, 2025

September 29, 2025 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“The Bridge” by Bahamas

This week Bahamas announced a new album titled My Second Last Album (I sure hope it’s not!) and released the first track from it, “The Bridge”.

His previous album Bootcut saw Afie lean into country music, and if this new track is any indication, we’re getting back to classic Bahamas sound. Featuring light flute and catchy bass licks, the dreamy tune is accompanied by an equally dreamy video featuring his family walking and frolicking along the water together.

The new album will be released on October 24th and I cannot wait to hear the rest of the music!

Christine

“Rusty Mountain” by Neko Case

Neko Case released her new album, Neon Grey Midnight Green, last Friday and ahead of that gave one last tease with “Rusty Mountain”.

The new single is a gorgeous, sprawling song with Case’s iconic voice joined by swirling strings, as she insists “We all deserve better than some love song.”

Neon Grey Midnight Green is available now everywhere, and this week Case embarks on a massive North American tour, which includes a show here at the Vogue on November 13!

Kirk

“Skin Of My Teeth” by The Strumbellas

The Stumbellas new song “Skin Of My Teeth” follows up the singles “Hard Lines” and “Maybe It’s Me” from their recently announced new EP Burning Bridges Into Dust (due October 24).

The band’s Dave Ritter says: “‘Skin of My Teeth’ is about how it feels to hold tight to a dream. Obstacles, doubts, and disappointments make you want to quit. They make your dreams feel heavy, or worse, ridiculous, like everyone can see that you’re a fool to keep trying. But hope clings like a spider’s thread, and as the creeping keys and spy-movie guitars break into the chorus, we feel the grit and determination that convinces you never to give up.”

The band is hitting the road to celebrate the new album starting in November, and the Vancouver stop is on December 7th at the Commodore Ballroom.

Christine

“Burn After Reading” by Dust Cwaine

Speaking of new album released last week, Vancouver’s Dust Cwaine released their latest Twin Lakes, and celebrated with a new video for “Burn After Reading”

The song follows the album’s theme of thoughtful, introspective lyrics informed by Cwain’s past, paired with incredibly catchy music; the chorus for this one will be stuck in your head all day.

Check out the video below, directed by Cole Schmidt, and make sure to catch the Dust Cwain album release party this Thursday (Oct 2) at the Fox Cabaret!

Kirk

Songs of the Week: September 15 - 21, 2025

September 22, 2025 by Christine McAvoy in Song Of The Day, Songs Of The Week

“Caverns” by Larkk

You know Danielle McTaggart as the voice of Dear Rouge, but now she’s venturing out on her own with a brand new solo project, Larkk.

Her first single is “Caverns”, a stunning piano-driven instrumental, with Danielle explaining the song is “about the deep and sacred journey I took when I suddenly and unexpectedly experienced deep grief like I had never known. The memories of my life, the unexplored ideas and questions I had long ignored, began to awaken — as I went down into the caverns of my heart. I heard a voice in my innermost spirit, ‘When you can’t go around, you must go down.’ And I knew I could not go around. So down I went. I walked slow, afraid and shaking, through the tunnels of my heart. Down, into the places I’d forgotten or wished I could forget. And yet, to my utter surprise, there was such treasure there. Rare and precious jewels being formed in the heat of my heart's pain. And I knew, somehow I was not alone.”

Danielle promises Larkk will embrace intimacy and introspection, and you can see that in the incredible live performance below.

Kirk

“Naturally” by The Barr Brothers ft. La Force

The new album from The Barr Brothers is out in a couple weeks, and we’re getting one more tease with the new song “Naturally” featuring Ariel Engle (aka La Force)

I’ve been a fan of Ariel Engle back to AroarA (her project with partner Andrew Whiteman) so I was very happy to see her as one of the many guests on Let It Hiss, which also includes contributions from Klô Pelgag, Elizabeth Powell (of Land Of Talk), Patrick Watson, and Jim James (from My Morning Jacket)

She adds her ethereal vocals to the heartfelt ode to personal growth and self-acceptance, as Brad Barr notes: “This was one of the more demanding songs that I wrote for the album. It required a degree of honesty and humility that, once finished, set the mark a lot higher for what I hope to offer as a songwriter. It helped me open up to some hard truths.”

Listen to “Naturally” below, and pick up Let It Hiss when it’s out on October 17th.

Kirk

“An Effort To Forget” by Headstones ft. Emily Haines

Legendary Canadian rockers Headstones are back with a brand new album, and along with it, a new single featuring Emily Haines!

The Metric singer joined the band for the banger “An Effort To Forget”, their latest single off their eleventh(!!) studio album, BURN ALL THE SHIPS.

Singer Hugh Dillon says, “If there is such a thing as a perfect storm creatively AND collaboratively for this band, ‘An Effort To Forget’ IS that song. Emily Haines is an incendiary talent, adding a powerfully subtle, emotionally elegant perfection to this intensely haunting piece of pure rock & roll.”
And Emily adds she “Was thrilled to make it happen. Instant Headstones classic. I love how the song turned out!”

BURN ALL THE SHIPS is out now, and also features a collaboration with City & Colour’s Dallas Green!

Kirk

“It Come Alive” by Rich Hope

I’m still kicking myself over missing out on Rich Hope recording an album live off the floor at the Anza Club in April, but the beauty is…it’s recorded!

The first song, “It Come Alive”, was released this week as well as the date for the Live At The ANZA Club (November 21st).
Of the reasoning behind recording a live album, Rich says:
“I have always been at my best live, and we wanted to capture what this version of the band is doing. Since we didn’t have the luxury of extended touring and recording every show, we decided on finding the best venue and taking two nights to capture lightning in a bottle. The ANZA is a venue where I played some of my first shows in a neighbourhood where I lived for many years, so I feel a personal connection to the club.”

Well, Kirk and I do too, as it’s been our home for hosting Simpsons Trivia for 4+ years now and I can’t wait to see it highlighted in more videos and songs!

Christine

“Deeper Than Blue” by MALINOWSKI

Yes, that MALINOWSKI!

Jay Malinowski of Canadian staple Bedouin Soundclash, is releasing his first new solo music in more than a decade.

His first offering “Deeper Than Blue”, is a ballad for his son Finn and of writing the song, Jay says: “when I went to write a love song for my son Finn, I was in unknown territory. I had written love songs before but this was a love I had never felt. I went through all the cliches; Valentine’s Day and roses etc. I went through all the colours; reds, pinks and violets. None of that was right. Then I thought about blue.
I went to art school for painting and loved reading about the history of pigments. Blue is very rare in nature and highly prized. I once read an art historian talk about blue in even more poetic terms; that if you try to reach the blue of the sky or the blue of the sea it moves to the horizon or depths just beyond you. You can never reach blue. That was my love for Finn, I thought, except my love is just a bit deeper.”

No official word on a full project, but the rumour mill is churning!

Christine

“Halloween Mask” by sundayclub

It’s the autumnal equinox, so what better way to celebrate than with a song called “Halloween Mask”?

The new track is from Manitoba’s sundayclub, and is an (appropriately) haunting and dreamy indie-pop jam from the duo of Courtney Carmichael and Nikki St. Pierre.

Have a listen below, and check out their upcoming EP Bannatyne when it’s released (appropriately) on October 31st on Paper Bag Records!

Kirk

“Freaks” by Mermaid Island

So fun news… the one and only George Stroumboulopoulos started a music label called No Dad Records, and the first band to sign on released some music!

Mermaid Island, a punk-rock band based out of Los Angeles (though multi hyphenate frontwoman Allie MacDonald is a Canadian!) has released their first track, “Freaks” off of their upcoming album.

It’s a fast-driving track both in pounding drums and furious vocals (that gives me PUP vibes) and speed, with the song clocking in at just over 2.5 minutes.

I’m so excited to see what else is to come from Strombo’s label and from the band.

Christine