New Music Friday: 11 new releases for the weekend (05 June 2026)

The evenings are quite long now, which makes sitting outside, listening to tunes, all the nicer. Perhaps something on this week’s New Music Friday list that will make things even better.

Singles

1. Almost Monday, No More Regrets (Hollywood Records)

San Diego quartet Almost Monday has been rising through the ranks this year with four non-album singles that are obviously building toward a fourth album (release date and title still TBA). If you’re in Toronto, you’ll have a chance to see them on June 22 with Young the Giant and Cold War Kids.

2. Billy Idol, John Wayne (Dark Horse/BMG)

This is the latest single from Billy’s 2025 album, Dream Into It. That’s Alison Mosshart from The Kills/The Dead Weather helping him out on this one. The first time the two collaborated on this track in 2023 when Billy played that weird (but cool) show at the Hoover Dam.

3. Jane’s Party, Rest of Our Lives (JP Productions)

I’ve been following Jane’s Party (est. London, Ontario) for years, hoping that they’d finally break through to a wider audience. They might do it with this one, a double single (the other track is entitled Relic) that was originally written for Can-Am, the off-road vehicle company. That description alone should give you an idea what things sound like. The group is also continuing an important partnership with Community Music Schools of Toronto.

4. Mastodon, Your Ghost Again (Loma Visa/Concord)

If you guessed that this song has something to do with the death of ex-member Brent Hinds in a motorcycle crash, you’d be correct. The track was written and recorded during the time the band was grieving Brent along with the passing of drummer Brann Dailor’s mother.

5. Muse, Nightshift Superstar (Warner)

We’re two weeks away from the release of the tenth Muse album, The Wow! Signal As Muse goes, this is pretty funky, with elements of French house. The lyrics are something out of nightclub nightmare: “Kiss that kills the pain, I crave again / Now I can’t stay clean, you’re my darkest dream / I need you one more time / Dancing free, you are, a nightshift superstar.” The summer tour starts July 2 in Milwaukee.

6. Pussy Riot, Candy Dopamine ft. Avenged Sevenfold (Independent)

Pussy Riot is probably the world’s most fearless punk band as they continue to spit on Vladimir Putin despite the constant threat exile, imprisonment, and of course, defenestration, a Putin favourite. You do NOT mess with leader Nadya Tolokonnikova. A new album entitled CYKA will be here on June 12. Big Pharma is on notice with this track.

7. Prince, Stone (Legacy Recordings)

It is said that Prince left behind so much music that there’s enough for a new album a year for the next century. Another compilation of previously unreleased songs entitled Timeless will be here August 28. It will be the first archival release sing 2021’s Welcome 2 America. Most of the music dates back to some sessions in the spring of 2010.

8. Weezer + Wednesday, We Might As Well be Strangers (Universal)

What was Weezer teasing on social media this week? A new record that will be forever known as the “gold” album. It comes with a very Led Zeppelin-esque featuring four mysterious symbols, one for each member of the band. Weezer’s 20th (!!!) album will be out August 21. And beware: The mystery/backstory around this album isn’t over yet.

Albums

1. Death Cab for Cutie, I Built You a Tower (ANTI-Epitaph)

The band’s 11th album arrived today (their first after 22 years with Atlantic Records) and comes with a new single that’s “about trying to convince everyone around you and most importantly, yourself, that you are okay when you definitely are not.” Then again, all DCfC albums are full of these kinds of feels, aren’t they?

2. Evanescence, Sanctuary (BMG Rights Management)

Amy Lee will not be rushed. This is just the sixth Evanescence album in 23 years. Things started taking shape during an Australian tour in 2023 when she and the band were despondent over what Donald Trump was doing to the United States. A lot of rage got channeled into these songs.

3. Modest Mouse, An Eraser and a Maze (Glacial Pace Recordings/Virgin Music Group)

What was supposed to be an Isaac Brock solo album turned into a full-fledged Modest Mouse record, making it their first release in five years and eighth overall. The record was made at Leon Russell’s legendary Church Studio in Tulsa. It’s also the first MM album since founding drummer Jeremiah Green died in 2022. His spot has been taken by newcomer Damon Coax while Simon O’Connor (guitarist) and Keith Karman (keyboards) have also joined up.