“I Know What You're Thinking And It's Awful (Acoustic)” by The Dears

This week, The Dears Return to Lover’s Rock with a brand new acoustic album. To celebrate (finally) being able to play shows, the band is releasing an expanded version of their 2020 album Lover’s Rock, with five new acoustic versions of songs from the album.

Natalia Yanchak says “We originally released Lovers Rock in 2020. It was an album we were, and are still, very proud of. Murray and I recorded an acoustic session just before we released the album. Again, back in 2020 we spent the day at Hotel2Tango studio in Montreal -- we put out the videos of some of these sessions, but now can finally share the audio on this deluxe upgraded version of the album, Return to Lovers Rock. It's kind of like Return to the Planet of the Apes: we can't not go back there. There's unfinished business down on Lovers Rock, so it's time for a spin off!”

The full album is out now, and you can hear the gorgeous “I Know What You’re Thinking and it’s Awful” below.

And as a side note! Check out Riley & Rochelle — a detective game about two musicians in the 90s who fall in love — co-created by Natalia, alongside Tim Sheinman.

Kirk

“I’M GOOD” by Snotty Nose Rez Kids

I don’t know if I’ve ever heard Kenny vs Spenny referenced in a rap before but I absolutely love that Snotty Nose Rez Kids did it in their newest release “I’M GOOD”. (“This ain't David vs Goliath, it's Kenny versus Spenny".)

In their first new music since their Polaris Prize Short Listed album Life After, SNRK gave us a song that is “a call for anyone to focus on themselves rather than others”.

We’ll have to wait another week to find out if the duo claim this year’s Polaris Prize, but in the meantime, check out the new song below.

Christine

“Division 5” and “Leave Me As You Found Me” by Whitehorse

During their set at the Constellation Festival this summer, Whitehorse teased a couple new projects coming down the line, including a full-on country album. Now we’re getting our first look at I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying with not one, but TWO new songs.

“Division 5” features Luke Doucet singing a tale of a sad sack trying to enlist the help of Mounties to reclaim his lost love, and “Leave Me As You Found Me” features Melissa McClelland’s gorgeous voice joined by some pedal-steel.

I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying isn’t out until next year — January 13 — but you might just be able to catch some of the new songs live as the duo is on tour right now, including a show here in Vancouver at the Hollywood Theatre on October 8th.

Kirk

“It’s Not Up To Me” by Hyaenas

Vancouver’s Hyaenas released their latest single last week, the 80s-inspired, synth-rock infused “It’s Not Up To Me”.

Produced by Jesse Gander, the band says the song “alludes to the fight, flight, or freeze stress response and that serving up anger can be warranted (especially when it’s towards a toxic manipulator who is the subject of this track). The choruses support the cathartic healing that anger brings, and the bridge encourages the release of letting it go.”

Check it out below, and catch an acoustic duo set from the band at Westminster Pier Park this Friday as part of the TD Play the Parks Music Series.

Kirk