The Five Songs You Must Hear list is back after a one-week break (sorry, I was on the road with my speaking tour) and features some fresh stuff that comes at you from several different angles.
1. Giovanni and the Hired Guns, Cheap Date
Single (Fearless/Concord)
Recommended If You Like: Rock songs with a touch of country
Here’s a five-piece band from Stephenville, Texas, with a sound featuring rock guitars and the wobbliness of some early Weezer but also a melody that borrows from country, right down to a regular “Hell, yeah!” in the lyrics. If you like when Nickelback spills into this territory, you might like this.
2. The Linda Lindas, Burning Out
Gotta Get Out (Reprise)
RIYL: Knowing that the kids are alright
LA’s awesome moppets are growing up fast, largely because they’ve been through so much over the last few years. And considering that none of them are old enough to drink yet, I completely understand why they’re writing songs with titles like Burning Out. Hang in there, people.
3. Fat Dog, Call It What You Want
Single (Domino)
IYL: British indie with an attitude
South London’s Fat Dog has been with us since the pandemic set in back in 20202. They’re a little nuts, having been described as “2023’s wildest band.” The lineup changes a lot; there are seven members currently with the group and five ex-members, which seems like a lot of churn for a band that hasn’t been around for that long. They’re already a name in the UK, and this song is now being pushed at radio.
4. The Big Moon, Three Things
Forever (Fiction)
RIYL: MGMT-style alt-pop but with women
The Big Moon first showed up in 2017 and has since released three more albums that have won over a lot of hearts, including a Mercury Prize nomination. Their lead singer, Juliette Jackson, is a former waitress who was addicted to writing sad songs, but has since pivoted into something a little more joyful, even though she lost half her hearing due to a non-malignant cyst one ear. Yet she has not let that get her down, as this song shows.
5. Bealby Point, Metastasized
Happiness Frontier (Independent)
RIYL: Songs that are happier than their titles
Bealby Point has been a slow burn since they were formed in Vancouver in 2018. There have been national tours with sellouts both at home and Toronto. They’re currently on the road again, jamming in more shows before Christmas. Oh, and the geographic Bealby Point is just north of Nelson BC.
© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Ad Choices
