Friday Playlist

The new music is really starting to stack up, which is nice. Also some stuff going on in the world which inspired the inclusion of several other songs.

“Slumber Party” – Brigitte Calls Me Baby
Pretentious new band alert! A lot going on here. This band gets its name from lead singer Wes Leavins being pen pals with the late Brigitte Bardot (RIP) when he was young and the film legend allegedly addressed him as “Baby.” Then he humbly claims his main vocal influences are Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, along with musical influence from Radiohead, New Order, and the Strokes. It all seems a little curated for me, but that is how you promote a band, or anything, in 2026.

A pretty good song, though. You definitely hear all those influences along with The Smiths. Two decades ago I would say this band is poised to turn into something big. Today? Unless one of their songs gets picked up on Tik Tok it seems like they will toil in semi-obscurity.

“Votive” – The New Pornographers
TNP keeps chugging along. Their 10th studio album will come out in March.

“Queen Of Nothing” – Softcult
A nice, shoegazey track that focuses on the struggles women face in modern society. Their new album is out today.

“2SIDED” – Arlo Parks
After a three-year wait, the phenom’s new album is just two weeks away. Songs like this make me glad I’ve finally started to check out her work.

“I Like You” – Cardinals
A nice change-of-pace from Cardinals’ previous singles.

“Fallen Cloud” – Austra
I’ve played a few Austra tracks for you over the years. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to share this, as it dropped in early November. It is swirly, dance club goodness.

“Lonely Night” – Butler, Blake & Grant
Since I have lived in Indiana longer than any other state, when I saw this track’s title I immediately thought of John Mellencamp’s classic. This is definitely not a cover. Lovely song even if their improper use of commas in their name bugs me.

“Wheel Of Change” – Hand Habits
Meg Duffy said this song is about relationships and not being able to return to a previous state. I know it’s not a perfect match but it feels like we are in desperate need for a wheel of change in this country, because we can’t remain where we are at the moment.

“Streets Of Minneapolis” – Bruce Springsteen
A bit clunky, but that’s to be expected for a song that was written, recorded, and released inside of 36 hours. The sentiment is what is important.

“Fuck I Hate the Cold” – Cowboy Junkies
It might get over freezing next week. Might.

“Know Your Rights” – The Clash

You have the right, not to be killed
Murder is a crime
Unless it was done
By a policeman