Wait–what? We’re at the end of July already? Does that mean New Music Friday will be filled with news about releases coming as late as early next year? Yep.
Singles
1. Finger Eleven, Adrenaline (Better Noise Music – Canada)
As the band tours with Creed this summer, Finger Eleven is gearing up for the release of their first album in over nine years. Yes, it’s been that long since Five Crooked Lines in 2015. The new record, their eighth and still untitled, is set for release in early 2025. Yes, it’s time to start talking about albums coming out next year.
2. Jane’s Addiction, Imminent Redemption (Independent)
Speaking of hiatuses, the last time there was a new Jane’s Addiction single was 2011 with The Great Escape Artist. And that one came nine years after the one before that (Strays in 2003). Adding spice to this song is that it features the band’s classic lineup of Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins, and Eric Avery. It’s been 34(!!!) years since we saw that. We would have probably had this song earlier had Dave Navarro not come down with Long COVID. Does this mean a new Jane’s Addiction album in the near future? We’ll see.
3. Karen O and Danger Mouse, Super Breath (LuxPrima)
Another collaboration featuring Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and producer Danger Mouse (aka Brian Burton). The last time they worked together was on Lux Prima, a Grammy-nominated album back in 2019. And to make things confusing, this new song is from that old album, specifically a reissue of Lux Prima, which will arrive on September 20.
4. Pixies, Chicken (BMG)
The Pixies have announced a new album (their tenth) just in time for Halloween (October 25) in the form of The Night the Zombies Came. Frontman Black Francis describes the album this way: “Fragments that are related and juxtaposed with other fragments in other songs. And in a collection of songs in a so-called LP, you end up making a kind of movie.” Expect songs with themes of apocalyptic shopping malls, Druids, surf rock, gargoyles, bog people, 12th century poetry, and mediaeval-themed restaurants. Oh, and chickens, obviously.
5. Sports Team, I’m in Love (Subaru) (Distiller/Bright Antenna)
I bring this song to your attention because I honestly don’t know what to make of it. It’s not only a departure from Sports Team’s older songs (this sounds like something from the early 80s with the smooth production and saxophone) but the lyrics are fixated on a Subaru. We’ve had plenty of songs about Cadillacs, Mustangs, and Mercedes-Benzes in the past. But a Subaru? Fire up the boxer in the Impreza, I guess.
Albums
1. Blur, Live at Wembley Stadium (Warner/Parlophone)
A straight live album from Blur recorded over two nights at Wembley Stadium last July 8th and 9th. It comes as a double CD 30-song performances featuring all the hits. In other words, an old-fashioned live rock album.
2. Crack Cloud, Red Mile (Jagjaguar)
With a dearth of new rock albums released this week, it’s good time to dig a little deeper. Crack Cloud is a musical and multimedia collective out of Vancouver (and originally from Calgary) who are now up to their third album. While the membership is always evolving (there are 10 current members, 15 ex-members, and two dozen “associates”), the one constant has been founder Zach Choy.
3. Empire of the Sun, Ask That God (Universal Music Australia)
One of Australia’s biggest duos is back after a gap of eight years. Their fourth album comes with this mighty description: “It represents the greatest shift in consciousness our world has ever seen and that’s reflected in the music.” Right. The band also claims to have written 1,200 songs for the record and had to reduce that by a factor of 1,000. Since I love a good radio-themed song, I’m glad this one made the cut.
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