Music Alert: Eight Cool New Songs to Listen To

I’ve come across a sampling of new songs for you to hear and possibly explore the album and/or the band. As usual they’re a hodgepodge of new bands, new bands to me, a band I was a little familiar with, and lastly, a veteran artist that has 13 albums in my collection.

“Billie Toppy” by Men I Trust: Men I Trust formed in Montreal in 2015 and has self-released their four albums to date. They’re a trio led by Emma Proulx (singer, guitars) whose indie pop is on the dreamy side. This catchy tune off their newest (2021) album, Untourable Album, was yet another song introduced to me by Sirius XMU.

“Wretched Lie” by The Tubs: The Tubs are a post-punk London band whose jangly beats hark back to the college radio heyday of the 80s. Dead Meat is their just released first album. Their likeable style is juxtaposed by lyrics about the mental health issues of the lead singer/songwriter. If you like this song, take a listen to another one by The Tubs, “Sniveller.”

“Scratch the Surface” by Sloan: Have you ever heard of these Canadians? I hadn’t. They’ve been around 30+ years and have released 13 LPs! They’ve had the same four-man band since forming in 1992 and all share in writing and singing. They deliver their timeless rock with power pop riffs. “Scratch the Surface” is from the Steady album of 2022. Their second album in 1994, Twice Removed, has been voted the best Canadian album of all time beating out Blue and Harvest. So, in honor of their longevity these guys also get a bonus track, “People of the Sky,” from 1994.

“Kaleidoscope” by Eyewash: A brand new band from Pittsburgh, PA with their first album, a self-titled EP, just being released in March 2023. “Kaleidoscope,” the first single affirms they’re in the post punk mold with an uplifting melancholy sound.

“Saturdays” by Broken Bells: You may have heard of Broken Bells, or if not, you probably know of Brian Burton (better known as Danger Mouse) and James Mercer, lead vocalist and guitarist of the Shins. They compose and produce as a duo and tour with an expanded band. The two met at the Danish Roskilde Festival in 2004, but it wasn’t until 2010 that they released their first album. After an EP in 2011, second album in 2013, and working with Sparklehorse, they released Into the Blue in 2022. It continues their experimental melodies while employing a variety of musical instruments and styles. I’m assuming this is the catchiest song on the album, and it had me from the start. I love the psychedelic joy of “Saturdays.”

“Panopticom” by Peter Gabriel:

“Firth of Fifth.” “Solsbury Hill.” “Shock the Monkey.” “Digging in the Dirt.” From his early Genesis days through his many solo albums, Peter Gabriel’s career is full of moving and innovative songs. Oh, the gravitas of that voice! The SO album in 1986 brought us “Don’t Give Up” (with Kate Bush), “Red Rain,” and the classic “In Your Eyes.” I attended the Back to Front Tour show at the Santa Barbara Bowl in 2012 where he played SO in its entirety. His last proper album was 2002’s Up, so there’s much anticipation for the upcoming release, I/O. (Intervening musical endeavors were a covers album, an orchestral arrangement album of his earlier songs, soundtracks, and world music experimentation.) The new album was in the works over the last 20 years while working on those other projects. The first single, “Panopticum,” starts off somber and spare, slowly morphing into a stirring chorus. It’s grown on me. It sounds like, well, Peter Gabriel. He’s joined on the album by longtime band members, bassist Tony Levin and guitarist David Rhodes, along with Brian Eno.

Trivia: What other song (not noted above) on Peter Gabriel’s SO album became a huge MTV video and his biggest hit?

Answer: “Sledgehammer”