After a two-week hiatus–my apologies, but I was out of the country–New Music Friday returns with a few singles and albums that require closer examination.
Singles
1. Tori Amos, Gasoline Girls (Fontana)
There’s the third advance single from In Times of Dragons, Amos’ eighteenth studio album, which arrives on May 1. To recap: This is a concept album that she describes as a a “metaphorical story about the fight for Democracy over Tyranny, reflecting the current abhorrent non accidental burning down of democracy in real time by the ‘Dictator believing Lizard Demons’ in their usurpation of America.” So nothing to do with real life, then.
2. Calling All Captains, Call Me (New Damage Records)
How about some pop-punk/alt-rock/post-hardcore from Edmonton? Calling Call Captains (four guys) has a new single from their debut EP entitled The Things I’ve Lost, which was released back in January. They’ll be on the road post of the summer, so don’t be surprised if you run across them somewhere.
3. Massive Attack and Tom Waits, Boots on the Ground (PIAS)
We haven’t heard anything new from these artists for years now, and it’s pretty cool that the smooth Massive Attack works so well with the gravelly Tom Waits. Is it political? You bet it is. Just check out the video.
4. Lana Del Rey, 007 First Light (Polydor/Interscope)
No, this isn’t the theme for the new James Bond movie–we still don’t know who will succeed Daniel Craig–but is for an upcoming video game entitled 007 First Light. Lana worked with David Arnold, a guy who has been involved with Bond music for years. It’s cinematic (the Bond component) and sad (Lana’s specialty.)
5. Temples, Vendetta (V2 Records/In De Groot)
Temples are a retro-y, psyche-y five-piece band from Northamptonshire in England, who also have a something of a stoner thing going for them. If you like what you heard with this single (the album entitled Bliss will be out June 26), go back and check out their previous four albums and three EP. Rewarding stuff.
Albums
1. Arkells, Between Us (Universal)
If it’s almost summer, then it’s time for another album from Arkells. We’ve already heard quite a few songs from the album and it’s loaded with Portugal. The Man, Grouplove, and Poolside. Singer Max Kerman says this: “Between Us is about connection –– not the hollow online kind we get when we’re scrolling –– but about the feeling we get in a shared space, appreciating the little gifts we offer one another, simply by existing with others. Friends or strangers. A band and an audience. It’s a call to remember that connection.”
2. Nine Inch Nails and Boys Noize, Nine Inch Noize (Null)
If you caught any of the recent NIN Peel It Back tour, Boys Noize (the stage name of German Alex Ridha) opened pretty much every show. But the relationship goes back to 2026 when Ridha did some remixing for Trent and Atticus ross. If you saw any of the first weekend Coachella streams, you might have caught teases of this album. Here’s a sample of what to expect from a record that was made in studios, hotels, and airplanes.
3. Skindred, You Got This (Earache)
From their HQ in Wales, Skindred has forged a mix of metal, reggae, and rap since 1998. You Got This is their ninth album and certainly one of their best. One of the advance singles has been on repeat on my phone since it came out earlier this year. Give it a listen.
4. They Might Be Giants, The World is to Dig (Idlewild Recordings)
Alt-rocks quirky kings haven’t released a new album since BOOK in 2021, a record that got them a Grammy nomination. And like most TMBG albums, they squeeze a lot of songs into one package. This is just one of 18 tracks.
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