Songs of the Week: March 24 - 30, 2025

“Make Way For Waves” by Amy Millan

Last week Amy Millan shared another tease of her upcoming solo album with the latest song, “Make Way For Waves”

The beautiful, twitchy song was the first collaboration between Millan and the album’s co-writer/co-producer Jay McCarrol (of Nirvana the Band the Show fame), and Amy says:

“This song has a very special place in my heart. It’s the first song Jay and I collaborated on and was initially titled ‘gentle beginnings.’ It is the song that launched our relationship and the making of this album. The first verse was an old Stars demo sitting in a hard drive cemetery. I never forgot it and my attachment to the sentiment of the verse lyrics. I sent what I had to Jay and told him it needed a chorus and obviously a second verse. A few weeks later, he sent the song back completed and with this punch in the gut chorus that made me fall out of my chair. We were off. Lyrically I was seeking to articulate how difficult patches in life can influence you to blow it all up or throw in the towel. I was clinging to the idea that with some patience and reflection maybe calmer waters eventually return like the cycle of the moon. Mourning time passing is a right of passage, and the forlorn can make a beautiful hook. Trying not to let fear find a home in my heart.”

Amy’s new album I Went To Find You comes out May 30 on Last Gang Records, and you can check out the gorgeous hand-drawn animated video by Gaia Alari below!

• Kirk

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“Get Dumber” by PUP

My favourite part of the video for this song is when the saxophone lights up a mini saxophone weed pipe.

Honestly I’d love to just leave it at that, but I’ll tell you more about PUP’s new single “Get Dumber”.
The track will appear on the band’s upcoming album Who Will Look After The Dogs? which is out in just over a month on May 2nd.

The song features band bud and collaborator Jeff Rosenstock and has a hilarious story behind it that singer Stefan Babcock relates below:
“I wrote ‘Get Dumber’ in Jeff’s basement. I was house sitting for him while he was on tour. I recorded the first demo for it on his guitar using his mics and his computer. Maybe because the ghost of Jeff was in the room with me, I always imagined our voices on this song together, so I was very happy when he agreed to sing on it. 
We recorded the vocals together, in the same room, facing each other. What that means is, we both had to nail it at the same time because we couldn’t really cut between takes. On the first take, he forgot a line in the second verse and said “ahhhhhh, lyrics” instead. I couldn’t finish the take because I was laughing too hard. Anyway, he practiced singing the correct lyrics but then we decided those lyrics kinda sucked and he should just stick to “ahhhh lyrics” because it’s funny and the song is called Get Dumber.”

And, like all PUP videos, this one is worth the watch.

• Christine
  

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“Take It Easy” by Total Fucking Darkness

Speaking of side projects from members of Stars, Total Fucking Darkness dropped their latest single, a thumping rave anthem antithetically called “Take It Easy”.

And you know what, I love everything about this blurb in the press release, so I want to just copy it verbatim:

Written in real-time, “Take It Easy” was born from pure spite. Torquil Campbell (a man who once played a badger in a cartoon) wrote the lyrics while listening to the track for the first time—a feat that continues to baffle even his bandmates, Stephen Ramsay (tall and just on this side of handsome) and Tom McFall (English studio genius and synthesist whose engineering credits include the likes of REM, Bloc Party, Twin Shadow, Regina Spektor). And then, of course, there are the sheep.

Still no word on an album from the trio, but if you’re in Montreal you can attend the inaugural Total Fucking Darkness party on May 29th at Newspeak.

Kirk

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“Listen2me” by Foxwarren

Having new Foxwarren land in my inbox was unexpected and super exciting!

Foxwarren (which is made up of Andy Shauf, Avery Kissick and Darryl Kissick, Dallas Bryson, and Colin Nealis) announced that their new record, 2, will be released on May 30th!

The first track “Listen2me” had be swaying and bobbing along from the first few notes, and warranted an immediate re-listen (I see the irony with the song title).

In addition to the song, you'll really want to see the video produced for it (created by Winston Hacking) as it involves actual miniature sets and stop-motion animation cut outs!

• Christine

Songs of the Week: February 10 - 16, 2025

“Wire Walks” by Amy Millan

It’s been 15 years(!!) since the last solo release from Amy Millan, but now the Stars co-founder has teased a brand new album with the first single, “Wire Walks”.

Anchored by her unmatched voice, the new song is a beautiful, lilting tune, with Amy explaining: “Getting older is a trip. You assume you’re gonna grow out of feeling like you might fall down a hole any minute, but for me the feeling continues to hover,” continuing to so say, “I reference Stars’ ‘Ageless Beauty’ here with the lyric ‘I lied when I said that time would catch your head.’ I thought when I was younger time would mend all wounds, but I was wrong, it does not. Turns out they stick around! So what I have learned with my sage years is to stop trying to dodge and outrun the hard feelings. Embrace the difficult bits, the footprint that made me what I am. When outrunning isn’t working, I might need to lean into what I’ve always been.”

You can check out the etherial video below — Luca Tarantini — and pick up the new album I Went To Find You when it’s out on May 30, via Last Gang Records.

• Kirk

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“Hallways” by PUP

Toronto’s PUP have announced that their next album, Who Will Look After The Dogs, will be released on May 2nd.

Lead singer Stefan Babcock says the song “Hallways” was the first song he wrote for the new album which has the lyric that ended up being the album title.
“Within days of announcing our last album, coincidentally titled The Unraveling of PUPTHEBAND, my life unexpectedly imploded. I wrote the lyrics for 'Hallways' while all that was going on. It was a weird fucking week," says Babcock. "The title of our new record, Who Will Look After The Dogs?, is what I wrote at the top of the page, the very first thing written for this album. I think it’s devastating, but in a ‘holy shit this is overdramatic’ kinda way. At least in context of the line that comes before it. That’s what makes it funny to us. That overblown stuff we all say in our dark moments can be hilarious once you've cooled off a bit. I don’t know if anyone else thinks it’s funny, but sometimes you gotta laugh at yourself. It's the only way out of the abyss. Trust me.” 

I cannot wait to here more from one of my favourite bands! And you definitely need to watch the accompanying video for “Hallways” below - which sees the band becoming one with furniture and appliances.

• Christine

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“Listening Party” by Odds & Limblifter

Ahead of their co-headlining show at the Commodore this week, Odds and Limblifter have gotten together for a brand new single, “Listening Party”.

It’s exactly what you would hope & expect from the pair of 90s alt-rock powerhouses, who describe the collab as “in the spirit of Max Webster and Rush creating "Battle Scar,” two crack bands are forged into one.” and say the song is “a dedication to the raw symphony of the natural world — a breezy manifestation of friendship, music, and the great outdoors.”

Have a listen below, or pick up the Limited Edition Square Shaped Flexi 7" from Limblifter’s bandcamp, and make sure you’re at the Commodore this Friday night!

• Kirk

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“Oulalala” by Omega Mighty

Ear-worm Alert!

This track landed in my inbox on Valentine’s Day (convenient, as it’s a love song) and I’ve been humming “Oulalala” for the last several days.

Omega Mighty says her new pop track “is for the lovers…the ones who believe in love, or desire to be loved but also want to keep the relationship fun and exciting. It's a cheeky flirtatious bop, but it's also an empowerment song with a reminder to go for what you want!"

Gotta love love!

• Christine

Songs of the Week: March 21 - 27, 2022

“Viral” by Matthew Barber

I was super surprised to get this new song from Matthew Barber in my inbox, as we haven’t had anything from him since 2018!
”Viral” is exactly what you think it is about - “the accelerated world we live in. A world in which technology grapples with nature and ingenuity spawns unintended consequences” (says Barber).

No news in the press release about more music, as Barber has spent the last few years being on the producer side of music, but here’s hoping!

• Christine

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“Patterns” by Stars

We’ve still got a couple months before Stars release their latest album, From Capelton Hill, but the band has given us another pair of new songs to dig into before then!

“Build A Fire” is a thumping, dancey tune that was “written in a fever dream of Covid-19 paranoia and restlessness, somewhere in the middle of last year,” according to Torquill Campbell.

While “Patterns” is a little more atmospheric song about connections. Amy Milan explains “Friendship is the only boat that will float you across the storm. With your friends you create the ethos to shield all that tomorrow will throw at you. Some Patterns can be changed. Some Patterns are sacred geometry and will never change. Only what loves will remain.” And what better way to exemplify that than with an appearance from long-time friend-of-the-band, Murray Lightburn of The Dears!

Listen to “Build A Fire” right here, and check out the video for “Patterns” below!

• Kirk

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“Totally Fine” by Pup

So the new album from PUP (coming out on April 1st) is called THE UNRAVELING OF PUPTHEBAND, and this video for their latest single “Totally Fine” definitely leans into that.

It features the band selling out and entering the corporate world with some evil plans up their sleeves.

And in the video description they say: “ARE YOU CONFUSED BY OUR NEW VIDEO? DO YOU NEED ANSWERS?? DOES YOUR LIFE LACK MEANING??? CALL US 323-570-0388. We have all new menu options.”
Admit it, you’re curious… definitely give it a call.

• Christine

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“Everything Is Fine” by Skye Wallace

Between the title of the new Pup song and the title of the new Skye Wallace song, is… is everyone alright?

For Skye’s answer, you’ll just have to have a peek at the video for “Everything is Fine” below, an oddly heartwarming tale of a swamp creature just trying to get through the day and do their best.

The video matches the song’s raw vulnerability, so have a watch below!

• Kirk

Songs of the Week: February 28 - March 06, 2022

“Reckoning” by Arkells

You thought just because Arkells put out an album six months ago they were going to slow down? Nope. Aside from an extensive tour planned, including playing this year’s Juno Awards, the boys from Hamilton are releasing yet another album, aptly titled Blink Twice.

“Reckoning” is the first taste of the new album that is somewhat of a companion album to Blink Once, with frontman Max Kerman saying “The title of Blink Once was born from the song “Reckoning,” and lyrics “blink twice, there’s gonna be a reckoning. If you listen to the outro track of Blink Once - “Last Night I Heard Em’ Sing” - we hint that there’s more coming. Kind of like a post-credits scene in a movie. “Reckoning” is the beginning of what’s next.”

Crank the volume on this Monday morning (or… whenever you happen to be reading this) and enjoy.

• Kirk

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“To Talk About” by The Weather Station

Speaking of “companion albums” and “quick turnarounds”, last week we got another tease of the newest album from The Weather Station, How Is It That I Should Look At The Stars.

Out this coming Friday, the album is a companion to last year’s Ignorance (which was just nominated for a Juno!) with songs that were written at the same time and deal with a lot of the same emotions and themes: disconnection & conflict, love, birds, and climate feelings.

The latest song is the absolutely gorgeous “To Talk About”, featuring Tamara Lindeman’s incredible vocals tempered by a soft piano, and joined by Ryan Driver.

• Kirk

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“Out of Nowhere” by Anyway Gang

When your super group band has 4 lead singers, it’s always fun to see who is taking the lead next. In the case of Anyway Gang’s new single “Out Of Nowhere”, that’d be the one and only Sam Roberts.

The second most exciting part of the press release was the tease that the band would be announcing tour dates on March 11th - so be on the lookout for those!

By the way, I could only watch the video for about 3 seconds before I immediately got motion sick, so it’s a mystery to me - but hopefully you can enjoy it.

• Christine

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“Matilda” by PUP

I honestly don’t even want to write anything about this track because PUP’s lead singer Stefan did it best:

“Matilda is the name of my favourite guitar. She was a gift from my friend Ryan, after watching me accidentally break the only guitar I owned in the middle of a long tour,” says Backbock. “I had no money to buy a replacement, and Ryan’s act of kindness is up there on my list of ‘nicest things anyone’s ever done for me’. I played Matilda nonstop for 7 years at every PUP show, even when my bandmates started complaining that she sounded like shit. As the band got bigger, the pressure to sound better was building and so I bought a ‘good’ guitar and played Matilda less and less. Before I knew it I hadn’t played her in over a year. I wrote this song based on this intense feeling of guilt and sadness and shame and nostalgia and regret, watching her rot away in a corner. I love this guitar and I love Ryan and wanted to do right by them, and I felt like I’d failed them both. I convinced the band that Matilda deserved one last rip on a PUP record, and I played her during the bridge of this song. It sounds so shitty. But good shitty. Great shitty. For me, it was the most joyful and cathartic moment in the entire making of this record.”

PUP has added new tour dates, but the Vancouver one hasn’t been rescheduled yet - I’m eyeing April 7th as it is right before 2 Victoria shows. Cross your fingers!

• Christine

Songs of the Week: November 08 - 14, 2021

“I Am Water” by July Talk

After weeks of teasing on twitter what their new album would sound like, July Talk has returned with a brand new single, “I Am Water”. The new tune, produced by Graham Walsh, is “ruled by a vast force of emotion, just as the tide is controlled by the moon”, fitting since it features the familiar ebb & flow between Leah and Peter’s vocals.

With the new song, they’ve also partnered with Six Shooter Records and founded Danuta, which is “equal parts independent record label, production company and creative collective, as a new home base for Leah Fay Goldstein and Peter Dreimanis’ many creative pursuits.”

They’re also gearing up for a Canadian tour, which includes a stop right here in Vancouver, at the Queen E Theatre on Dec 22nd, with Kandle supporting them!

• Kirk

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“Waiting” and “Kill Something” by PUP

PUP has this excellent way of making even their heavier songs super sing-a-long-able (is that a word? It is now.). This is exactly what you get from “Waiting”, the first of two new tracks the band released this week.

The second, “Kill Something”, is about lead singer Stefan Babcock’s dog Moose. Apparently he loves to “destroy his favorite things, and then is sad that those things are destroyed” - which is definitely a dog thing.
The band will be touring again starting in February, including a show at the PNE Forum with Billy Talent on Valentine’s Day.

• Christine

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“Look Out!” by Peach Pit

And now to mellow you out, the new song from Vancouver’s Peach Pit.

“Look Out!” has summer-beachy-sounds - which we can definitely all use right now - and comes with a super fun little video that give me serious Wes Anderson vibes. They’re new album, From 2 to 3, is set to be released on March 4th, and they’ll be heading out to tour it shortly after.
Two shows are listed for Vancouver - an all ages afternoon show and a 19+ one, both at the Commodore on April 24th.
Can’t wait for more music to be released between now and then, but in the meantime, watch the new video below.

• Christine

Song(s) of the Day: March 23, 2019 - "Sibling Rivalry" and "Scorpion Hill" by PUP

So much exciting PUP news!

Two more singles, released together, from their upcoming album Morbid Stuff - “Sibling Rivalry” and “Scorpion Hill”. I love this album so much already.

The band is coming to town to play a sold out show at the Wise Hall on the 29th of March - I hope you didn’t sleep on tickets!

The new album is out on April 5th and they just had their late night talk show debut on Seth Meyers.

GO PUP GO!

BONUS! “Kids” on Late Night with Seth Meyers!!!

Song of the Day: March 09, 2019 - "Free At Last" by PUP

PUP …is there anything that they can’t do?

Jam after jam, and amazing music video after amazing music video.

Today’s tune, “Free At Last” comes with an instructional video on how to play along, as well as clips of people from all different genres, and ages, performing their interpretation.
You can actually listen to every single one of them - click here for that.

It’s a marvel to watch, and the actual song is another banger. Their album Morbid Stuff comes out on April 5th, and they’ll make their way to Vancouver at the Wise Hall on the 29th of March!

Song of the Day: January 17, 2019 - "Kids" by PUP

I think one of my favourite things about PUP songs are that so many have a good little bit, be it the chorus or just a line, that you can sing along with, or shout back at the band (or computer screen).

“Kids”, the first single off of their soon to be released new record Morbid Stuff (April 5th) has just that, AND some awesome guitar solos.

I’ve missed their last few appearances in Vancouver, but I’m determined to make it to the next one: March 29th at the Wise Hall!

Check out the new song below: