Single Servings, Jan. 24, 2022
On this week’s Single Servings, Corb Lund pays tribute to his pals, Partner takes a joyride, the reclusive Malcolm Burn returns with a sonic triumph, and much more!
By Jason Schneider
In this week’s Single Servings, Corb Lund pays tribute to his pals, Partner takes a joyride, the reclusive Malcolm Burn returns with a sonic triumph, and much more!
Jully Black – No Relation
Release Date: Jan. 20
Label: Jully Black Entertainment Inc.
Is it possible that Jully Black hasn’t released a full album in 10 years? It’s true that Canada’s Queen of R&B has dabbled in other modes of expression over the past decade, but it seems the time has come for her to get back to doing what she does best. No Relation is the first glimpse of Black’s as-yet-untitled new record, a “sexy, sultry, enough is enough banger,” as she describes it herself.
PUP – Robot Writes A Love Song
Release Date: Jan. 18
Label: Little Dipper/UMC
As Toronto alt-rockers PUP continue to prep their new album The Unravelling Of Puptheband, they’ve offered this latest preview, a high-energy, melodic anthem with strong ‘90s indie rock echoes. Front man Stefan Babcock admits, “Most of the vocals you hear on the song—including the backups—were recorded in 10 minutes in the backseat of my car, using a shitty mic plugged directly into my laptop. Had I known they would make the album version, I probably would’ve tried a little harder.”
The Sadies – Message To Belial
Release Date: Jan. 19
Label: Dine Alone Records
Anticipation is high for The Sadies’ upcoming release this Spring, their first collaboration with Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Perry serving as producer. It now seems clear the record will be the band’s darkest psychedelic journey to date, with second single Message To Belial particularly likely to induce nightmares.
Les Louanges – Crash (feat. Corneille)
Release Date: Jan. 19
Label: Bonsound
Echoing the last three years of Vincent Roberge (aka Les Louanges)’ life—a pivotal period marked by the acclaim of his 2018 debut album La nuit est une panthère—follow up Crash is a collection of harsh but necessary observations about love, friendships, success and all the loss of emotional control that follows. The title track features well-known Quebec R&B star Corneille and is a bright spot of an album rich in emotion and tainted with shadows.
Partner – Time Is A Car
Release Date: Jan. 17
Label: You’ve Changed Records
Josée Caron and Lucy Niles have been a bright spot on the Canadian indie scene since forming Partner in 2014. Their irreverent approach has helped take the alt-rock boys’ club down a few pegs as they’ve consistently demonstrated they can riff with the best of them. Time Is A Car is the pair’s latest effort, although a full follow-up to Partner’s 2020 album Never Give Up has yet to be announced.
Corb Lund – Highway 87
Release Date: Jan. 19
Label: Warner Music Canada
The title of head Hurtin’ Albertan’s upcoming album, Songs My Friends Wrote, pretty much says it all. Its 10 tracks showcase some of the best writers from both sides of the border, including our own Ian Tyson, Fred Eaglesmith, Mike Plume and Geoff Berner, along with U.S. legends Tom Russell, Todd Snider and Hayes Carll, with the last’s bluesy Highway 87 setting the tone.
Brad Barr – Two Hundred And Sixteen
Release Date: Jan. 19
Label: Secret City Records
As half of The Barr Brothers with his sibling Andrew, Brad Barr has been making exhilaratingly challenging roots music for 15 years. His new solo album The Winter Mission is an instrumental affair, simultaneously soothing and surprising in the way Barr is able to conjure organic sounds out of his raft of instruments. In keeping with that sense of alchemy, Two Hundred And Sixteen also represents Barr’s favourite number, which he says functions like a talisman for him.
Tanya Tagaq – Teeth Agape
Release Date: Jan. 20
Label: Six Shooter Records
Originally slated for a Spring release, Tanya Tagaq’s Tongues is available now, described as, “a manual for inner and outer revolution, a victory over those who take without consent.” The pulsating Teeth Agape doesn’t hold back with its message that anyone who messes with Tagaq’s children is in for big trouble. Powerful stuff as always from the past Polaris Prize winner.
Ancient Teeth – Days Away
Release Date: Jan. 18
Label: Undone Creative
This new project led by Montreal scene veteran Adrian Mottram includes members of Moneen, Beams and Projektor coming together (remotely) to craft a sound that straddles the line between dream-pop and indie rock. Mottram’s atmospheric vocals tie it all together, making Days Away a nice soundtrack to hazy winter days when sunlight is at a premium.
Malcolm Burn – The Silence In Your Head
Release Date: Jan. 13
Label: Mayk Music
The renowned producer, and one-time Daniel Lanois right-hand man, has been reclusive in recent years, but he’s made a low-key return to making his own music with The Silence In Your Head, a lush, psychedelic-tinged collection that approaches the towering sonic heights of The Flaming Lips’ The Soft Bulletin and Mercury Rev’s Deserter’s Songs. Hopefully it will reach the ears that will fully appreciate it.
