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