Adorable forest critters, including some who were sworn enemies, peacefully gathered together to sing a heartwarming holiday carol of friendship on an iPhone 17 Pro they found on the ground. This charming, handcrafted film created by Apple, titled “A Critter Carol” and shot entirely on the iPhone 17 Pro, showcases a ragtag group of woodland puppets using the lost phone to record a musical surprise for its human owner. The core message of the short film is a simple, beautiful reminder that friendship is a gift.
20 Modern Albums That Could Win Over a Gen X Dad Who Thinks the Best Music Already Happened
Every family has one: the Gen X dad who insists music peaked the moment Kurt Cobain stepped onstage, Stevie Nicks twirled in chiffon, or The Doors opened… well, theirs. He’s not wrong about how great that era was. But he might be missing out on some killer albums that carry the same spark, grit, heart, and craftsmanship he grew up loving. Here are 20 albums you can play for him.
‘Lost in the Dream’ – The War on Drugs (2014)
A warm, guitar-drenched, Springsteen-adjacent ride through nostalgia and open highways.
‘Sound & Fury’ – Sturgill Simpson (2019)
Southern rock, psychedelia, and grit with an animated film to match its swagger.
‘A Black Mile to the Surface’ – Manchester Orchestra (2017)
Cinematic modern rock with the emotional heft of ’90s alt classics.
‘Boarding House Reach’ – Jack White (2018)
A wild, experimental, blues-soaked detour that still delivers the raw guitar grit Gen X rock fans love.
‘Blue Rev’ – Alvvays (2022)
Dreamy guitars and big hooks — like The Cranberries updated for a new era.
‘Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You’ – Big Thief (2022)
Organic, rootsy, poetic — the kind of record that feels instantly timeless.
‘Patience’ – Mannequin Pussy (2019)
Sharp, fiery rock energy that echoes the urgency of ’90s punk and alt.
‘Lush’ – Snail Mail (2018)
Earnest, guitar-driven indie with the spirit of Liz Phair and ’90s DIY charm.
‘I’m In Your Mind Fuzz’ – King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard (2014)
A blast of psychedelic fuzz-rock perfect for classic-rock obsessives.
‘Engine of Hell’ – Emma Ruth Rundle (2021)
A sparse, emotional knockout — raw enough to stop a room cold.
‘Gentle Grip’ – Public Practice (2020)
Post-punk grooves with a Talking Heads pulse and vintage swagger.
‘Good Woman’ – The Staves (2021)
Rich harmonies and emotional storytelling — a modern folk-rock gem.
‘Manning Fireworks’ – MJ Lenderman (2022)
Gritty, loose, guitar-led rock with flashes of Wilco and Dinosaur Jr.
‘Everyone’s Crushed’ – Water From Your Eyes (2023)
Angular, weird, and surprisingly catchy — alt-rock experimentation done right.
‘New Long Leg’ – Dry Cleaning (2021)
Deadpan spoken delivery over wiry guitars — Sonic Youth by way of modern London.
‘Rabbit, Rabbit’ – Speedy Ortiz (2023)
Knotty alt-rock riffs with a fierce, intelligent edge.
‘Flock’ – Jane Weaver (2021)
A lush swirl of psychedelia, glam, and cosmic pop.
‘Foul Form’ – Thee Oh Sees (2012)
Chaotic, loud, and electrifying — tailor-made for rock traditionalists.
‘Night Palace’ – Mount Eerie (2022)
Quiet, atmospheric, and deeply felt — music that rewards patience and stillness.
‘Jubilee’ – Japanese Breakfast (2021)
Bright, uplifting indie pop with rich production and emotional depth.
20 Songs About Trees to Celebrate the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is glowing over Midtown, towering above skaters, tourists, and anyone clutching a hot chocolate for warmth. To celebrate the most iconic tree on Earth, here’s a playlist dedicated entirely to songs about trees — literal trees, metaphorical trees, sad trees, happy trees, indie trees, classic-rock trees. If it has branches, bark, or emotional symbolism, it made the cut.
“A Day in the Life of a Tree” – The Beach Boys
A tender, unexpectedly emotional ballad sung from the point of view of a weary tree. Perfectly on-theme.
“A Forest” – The Cure
Foggy, hypnotic, and perfect for anyone who prefers their holiday soundtrack slightly haunted.
“A Thousand Trees” – Stereophonics
A Brit-rock staple with grit, melody, and enough intensity to shake the needles off any Christmas tree.
“A Tree Too Weak to Stand” – Gordon Lightfoot
Folk warmth with a melancholy edge, proving even trees have rough days.
“Feed the Tree” – Belly
A ’90s alt-rock gem with jangly guitars and cryptic imagery. The Rockefeller spruce would approve.
“Fake Plastic Trees” – Radiohead
Emotion, atmosphere, and existential dread — ideal if the holiday crowds are stressing you out.
“Hickory Wind” – The Byrds
A breezy country-folk drift through memory, longing, and wide-open spaces.
“If a Tree Falls” – Bruce Cockburn
A sharp, urgent environmental anthem — a reminder of the bigger forest beyond Rockefeller Plaza.
“In My Tree” – Pearl Jam
Trippy, rhythmic, and spiritually elevated — the vibe you get when staring up at 80 feet of Christmas lights.
“King of Trees” – Cat Stevens
A soft, philosophical tune that feels like a walk through a quiet winter woodland.
“Old Pine” – Ben Howard
Gentle acoustic waves, soft nostalgia, and earthy warmth — holiday calm in song form.
“Shadows and Tall Trees” – U2
Atmospheric and brooding, perfect for late-night post-lighting reflections.
“Tall, Tall Trees” – Alan Jackson
A lively, country-fun tune that brings dancing energy to your tree playlist.
“The Dreaming Tree” – Dave Matthews Band
A sprawling, poetic track that feels like stepping into an enchanted forest.
“The Hanging Tree” – James Newton Howard
Haunting, cinematic, and instantly transportive — ideal if you want your tree lighting to feel epic.
“The Memory of Trees” – Enya
Ethereal as snowfall. A perfect soundtrack for the moment the lights turn on.
“The Thorn Tree in the Garden” – Derek and the Dominos
A quiet, heartfelt closer to one of rock’s greatest albums, filled with acoustic tenderness.
“Tree by the River” – Iron & Wine
A warm, flowing folk song that pairs beautifully with twinkling lights.
“Treefingers” – Radiohead
Ambient, weightless, and dreamy — imagine floating above the tree, not just looking at it.
“Weeping Willow” – The Verve
Moody, melodic Brit-rock for a winter night stroll past the ice rink.
Spoify Wrapper 2025 Is Here! How To Find Yours
Spotify Wrapped is presented as the platform’s annual thank you to its global community of users, artists, creators, and authors. Each year, Wrapped celebrates the music, podcasts, and audiobooks that served as the world’s soundtrack.
This annual moment includes an interactive experience that reflects a user’s personalized music journey throughout the year. Alongside this experience, Spotify provides editorial and personalized playlists as well as global top lists that celebrate how hundreds of millions of fans worldwide listened throughout the year.
Accessing and Understanding Wrapped
Finding Wrapped Users can locate their Wrapped experience exclusively on the Spotify mobile app (iOS and Android). They should tap Home, then select the Wrapped filter at the top to open the Wrapped feed (scrolling sideways may be required). Users must be on the latest version of the Spotify app to see all features.
Wrapped Eligibility Wrapped and some of its features may not be available to all users, as they are subject to specific eligibility criteria. The 2025 Wrapped personalized experience covers content streamed from January 1st up until a few weeks before the launch on December 3rd, 2025.
Total Play Time Calculation The total play time calculation encompasses music, podcasts, and audiobooks streamed during the covered period. Offline listening counts towards top songs and total minutes listened, but Private Session listening only counts toward the total minutes listened.
Wrapped for Managed Accounts Spotify is now introducing Wrapped for managed accounts, which features a limited selection of music-related stories. These managed accounts will exclude video content and social features like ‘Wrapped Party.’
Sharing Features Users can share their Wrapped stories directly to their favorite social media apps, or copy the link to paste elsewhere. Images can also be downloaded under the share options. The personalized ‘Your Top Songs 2025’ playlist, which is sorted from most to least frequently played songs and displays the number of times each track was streamed, can also be shared from the app by selecting Share from the options menu.
Wrapped Party ‘Wrapped Party’ is a new live shared experience that allows 2 to 10 users to compare their 2025 listening data. To host a party, a user selects Start party from the Wrapped hub, picks a profile picture and name, and shares the unique invite link or party code. To join, a user taps the invite link or enters the party code, selects Join party, and waits for the host to begin the live competition.
Playlist Availability Personalized Wrapped playlists should always be available on the homepage of the Spotify app under Made for You > Uniquely Yours, or by searching for ‘Wrapped’. If another user shares their playlist, a user can select FOLLOW to add it to their Library.
Spotify Wrapped 2025 Reveals Global Top Artist Bad Bunny and Top Song “Die With A Smile”
The 2025 Spotify Wrapped is here, highlighting a year where fandom rose to unprecedented heights across music, podcasts, and audiobooks. Globally, Bad Bunny dethroned Taylor Swift, becoming the Global Top Artist for an incredible fourth time with more than 19.8 billion streams. His album, ‘DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS’, also claimed the Global Top Album spot. The biggest song in the world was the collaboration smash hit “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, which racked up over 1.7 billion streams in 2025 alone.
In Canada, Drake once again secured the top spot as the most streamed artist in the country, followed by Taylor Swift and Morgan Wallen. Drake and The Weeknd also dominated the worldwide stage, taking the third and fourth spots, respectively, on the Global Top Artists list. The top song in Canada was “Ordinary” by Alex Warren, while Morgan Wallen’s ‘I’m The Problem’ was the most streamed album. Quebec saw a significant 20% increase in Francophone music consumption, with Charlotte Cardin’s “Feel Good” and Les Cowboys Fringants’ “L’Amérique pleure” leading the local charts.
Beyond music, The Joe Rogan Experience claimed the title of the Global Top Podcast for the sixth year in a row. In the Audiobooks Premium category, Rebecca Yarros’s ‘Fourth Wing’ was the most listened-to title both in Canada and globally, showcasing the enduring power of fantasy. This year’s personalized experience has expanded dramatically, introducing Fan Leaderboards, Clubs based on listening style, and new features like Top Albums and Top Audiobook Genre, ensuring every user can dig deeper into the stories that defined their year.
TOP LISTS
This year they saw fandom rise like never before across music, podcasts and audiobooks. This was truly a year for fans. Here’s how Canadians listened:
MUSIC (CANADA)
- Top Artists in Canada
- This year, Drake topped the list as the most streamed artist in Canada, followed by Taylor Swift (#2), Morgan Wallen (#3), The Weeknd (#4) and Kendrick Lamar (#5). See the bottom of this email for the full Top 10 List.
- Top Canadian Artists Globally: Toronto’s very own The Weeknd and Drake also took the #3 and #4 spots as the most streamed artists globally. See the bottom of this email for the full Top 10 List.
- Top Songs in Canada
- “Ordinary” byAlex Warren was the top song in Canada.
- “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga andBruno Mars took home the second spot.
“APT.” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars became the third top song in Canada.
- “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone landed the number 4 spot in Canada
- “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey couldn’t get out of our heads and took the number 5 spot. See the bottom of this email for the full Top 10 List.
- Top Albums in Canada
- I guess we’re the problem because we’re the reason“I’m The Problem”byMorgan Wallen landed as Canada’s top album.
- No more hiding, we loved“KPop Demon Hunters”byKPop Demon Hunters Cast,which takes the number 2 spot in Canada.
- Life must be better on Saturn, because “SOS Deluxe: LANA”bySZA made it as the third most streamed album in the country.
- I think you know what this is – “So Close To What” byTate McRae was on repeat at number 4.
- Carrying us home is “You’ll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1)”byAlex Warren, taking the number 5 spot in Canada. See the bottom of this email for the full Top 10 List.
A BIG YEAR FOR QUEBEC
- 2025 has been a major year for Francophone music on Spotify. In fact, we saw a 20% increase of French-Canadian music consumption in Quebec from the previous year, taking the year as a whole, and an 11% increase across Canada. This is represented across some of the amazing Franco-Quebecois music being played in its home province, including:
- Looking for a good time? Quebec was! “Feel Good” by Charlotte Cardin was the top Franco-Quebecois track in the province.
- America may be crying, but Quebec was singing along. “L’Amérique pleure” byLes Cowboys Fringants came in strong at #2.
- Still hanging on every word, “Je te laisserai des mots” by Patrick Watson came in third thanks to a global surge after the season finale of “The Summer I Turned Pretty” featured the track earlier this year.
- Quebec didn’t just wish once… “Les étoiles filantes” by Les Cowboys Fringants secured their second track at fourth place.
- And apparently, Quebec wasn’t ready to move on. “Le stade” by Fredz rounds out the top 5. See the bottom of this email for the full Top 10 List.
MUSIC (GLOBAL)
Top Music (Global)
- Global Top Artist: With more than 19.8 billion streams globally in 2025,Bad Bunny is Spotify’s 2025 Global Top Artist for the fourth time after holding the title in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
- Spotify is celebrating Bunny’s milestone by giving fans multiple ways to engage, including a Global Film Launch, Fan Experiences, On-Platform Easter Egg and more. See all details here.
- Global Top Song: The global top song of 2025 isLady Gaga & Bruno Mars’ smash hit “Die With A Smile,” with more than 1.7 billion streams globally in 2025 alone.
- Global Top Album: The global top album of 2025 is DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS by Bad Bunny.
AUDIOBOOKS IN PREMIUM
- In Canada, “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros took the #1 spot as the most listened to audiobook, followed by “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas (#2), “The Fellowship of the Ring” by J.R.R. Tolkien (#3), “Iron Flame” by Rebecca Yarros (#4), “Lights Out” by Navessa Allen (#5). See the bottom of this email for the full Top 10 List.
- In 2025, Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros took the number one spot as Spotify’s Global Top Audiobook in Premium of the year.
- For the first time ever, we’re also bringing Audiobooks to the personalized user experience, introducing Top Audiobook Genre and Your Author Clips.
PODCASTS
- In Canada, The Joe Rogan Experience alsotook the number one spot as the most listened to podcast in Canada, followed The Mel Robbins Podcast (#2), The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett (#3), Call Her Daddy (#4) andThis Past Weekend w/ Theo Von (#5). See the bottom of this email for the full Top 10 List.
- In 2025, The Joe Rogan Experience took the number one spot as Spotify’s Global Top Podcast of the year – marking the sixth year in a row it’s claimed the title.
For even more on the most-streamed music, podcasts and audiobooks of 2025, head to Spotify’s For the Record blog.
PERSONALIZED USER EXPERIENCE
Eligible users can now access their personalized 2025 Wrapped Experience exclusively in the Spotify mobile app (iOS and Android). Please make sure your Spotify app is updated to the latest version to access. Users can easily access their personalized user experience in the Wrapped feed on Home.
With 2025 Wrapped, we’ve refreshed some of the classics you love while adding nearly a dozen new and updated ways to connect and dig deeper into the stories and moments that defined your year. This year, you can experience your Wrapped, your way – with the ability to control the speed of your experience and revisit specific moments without starting from the beginning.
- Refreshed Classics:
- Top Genres: This fan favorite is back to show you the genres that shaped your sound this year.
- Top Song Quiz: Guess which track soundtracked your year in this interactive quiz.
- Top Artist Sprint: Watch the sprint for your No. 1 spot. This story visualizes how your top five artists shifted in your personal rankings month by month.
- Top Songs and accompanying playlist: See your top five songs of the year and get your personalized Your Top Songs 2025 playlist, which now shows how many times you streamed each of your top 100 tracks this year.
- What’s New:
- Listening Age: This story compares your musical tastes to others’ in your age group, looking at the release years of the tracks you listen to most.
- Top Albums: For the first time, we’re spotlighting the albums you returned to again and again.
- Top Audiobook Genre: This story highlights your top audiobook genre and the book you listened to most from that genre.
- Your Author Clip: This year, we’re also including messages from authors, so you may hear from the writer behind your favorite audiobook. Clips include authors like Dan Brown, James Patterson, Abby Jimenez, and more.
- Your Podcaster Clip: You may also hear from one of your favorite podcast creators, now appearing directly in your Wrapped experience. Clips include hosts from shows like The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett, The Mel Robbins Podcast, and Good Hang with Amy Poehler.
- Fan Leaderboard: Think you’re one of your top artist’s biggest fans? This year, you might see where you rank among their listeners worldwide, based on your total minutes listened.
- Clubs: This story celebrates the streaming habits that defined your year. You’ll be sorted into one of six Clubs – each representing a unique listening style – and see the role you play within that community.
- Listening Archive: Finally, get personalized snapshots of your most memorable streaming days. Powered by AI, this feature delivers up to five unique reports based on your daily listening. Available in English in select markets.
- Wrapped Party: For the first time ever, we’re introducing Wrapped Party – a new interactive feature that turns your listening data into a live competition you can play with friends. It’s the latest way to level up Wrapped, making it more exciting and fun than ever. To join Wrapped Party, visit the Wrapped Hub on the platform, search for ‘Wrapped Party’ in Spotify, or access it at the end of your personalized experience.
2025 SPOTIFY WRAPPED CANADA TOP LISTS
Canada’s Top Artists of 2025
- Drake
- Taylor Swift
- Morgan Wallen
- The Weeknd
- Kendrick Lamar
- Zach Bryan
- Tate McRae
- Travis Scott
- SZA
- Kanye West
Canada’s Top Songs of 2025
- “Ordinary” by Alex Warren
- “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars
- “APT.” by ROSÉ, Bruno Mars
- “Beautiful Things” by Benson Boone
- “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” by Shaboozey
- “Haegeum” by Agust D
- “Golden” by HUNTR/X, REY NUNA, EJAE, KPop Demon Hunters Cast, REI AMI
- “luther (with sza)” by Kendrick Lamar, SZA
- “That’s So True” by Gracie Abrams
- “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan
Canada’s Top Albums of 2025
- “I’m The Problem” by Morgan Wallen
- “KPop Demon Hunters” by KPop Demon Hunters Cast
- “SOS Deluxe: LANA” by SZA
- “So Close To What” by Tate McRae
- “You’ll Be Alright, Kid (Chapter 1)” by Alex Warren
- “Short n’ Sweet” by Sabrina Carpenter
- “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U” by PARTYNEXTDOOR, Drake
- “One Thing At A Time” by Morgan Wallen
- “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan
- “The Life of a Showgirl” by Taylor Swift
Canada’s Top Podcasts of 2025
- The Joe Rogan Experience
- The Mel Robbins Podcast
- The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
- Call Her Daddy
- This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
- Huberman Lab
- Good Hang with Amy Poehler
- Modern Wisdom
- On Purpose with Jay Shetty
- Crime Junkie
Canada’s Top Audiobooks in Premium of 2025
- “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros
- “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas
- “The Fellowship of the Ring” by J.R.R. Tolkien
- “Iron Flame” by Rebecca Yarros
- “Lights Out” by Navessa Allen
- “A Court of Mist and Fury” by Sarah J. Maas
- “Quicksilver” by Callie Hart
- “The House of My Mother” by Shari Franke
- “The Housemaid” by Freida McFadden
- “A Court of Wings and Ruin” by Sarah J. Maas
Quebec’s Top Franco-Quebecois Songs of 2025
- “Feel Good” by Charlotte Cardin
- “L’Amérique pleure” by Les Cowboys Fringants
- “Je te laisserai des mots” by Patrick Watson
- “Les étoiles filantes” by Les Cowboys Fringants
- “Le stade” by Fredz
- “Sur mon épaule” by Les Cowboys Fringants
- “Copilote” by FouKi, Jay Scøtt
- “Ça va” by Émile Bilodeau
- “Toune d’automne” by Les Cowboys Fringants
- “Woodstock” by Jay Scøtt
Quebec’s Top Franco-Quebecois Artists of 2025
- Les Cowboys Fringants
- Souldia
- Jay Scøtt
- Enima
- Fredz
- Les Trois Accords
- Québec Redneck Bluegrass Project
- Lost
- Charlotte Cardin
- FouKi
2025 SPOTIFY WRAPPED GLOBAL TOP LISTS
Global Top Artists of 2025:
- Bad Bunny
- Taylor Swift
- The Weeknd
- Drake
- Billie Eilish
- Kendrick Lamar
- Bruno Mars
- Ariana Grande
- Arijit Singh
- Fuerza Regida
Global Top Songs of 2025:
- “Die With A Smile” by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars
- “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” by Billie Eilish
- “APT.” by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars
- “Ordinary” by Alex Warren
- “DtMF” by Bad Bunny
- “back to friends” by sombr
- “Golden” by HUNTR/X, EJAE, AUDREY NUNA, REI AMI, KPop Demon Hunters Cast
- “luther (with sza)” by Kendrick Lamar
- “That’s So True” by Gracie Abrams
- “WILDFLOWER” by Billie Eilish
Global Top Albums of 2025:
- DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS by Bad Bunny
- KPop Demon Hunters by KPop Demon Hunters Cast, HUNTR/X, Saja Boys
- HIT ME HARD AND SOFT by Billie Eilish
- SOS Deluxe: LANA by SZA
- Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter
- MAYHEM by Lady Gaga
- You’ll Be Alright, Kid by Alex Warren
- I’m The Problem by Morgan Wallen
- GNX by Kendrick Lamar
- Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny
Global Top Podcasts of 2025:
- The Joe Rogan Experience
- The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
- The Mel Robbins Podcast
- Call Her Daddy
- This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
- Huberman Lab
- Crime Junkie
- Modern Wisdom
- On Purpose with Jay Shetty
- The Tucker Carlson Show
Global Top Audiobooks in Premium of 2025:
- Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
- Lights Out: An Into Darkness Novel by Navessa Allen
- Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
- A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas
- The House of My Mother: A Daughter’s Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke
- The Wedding People: A Novel by Alison Espach
- A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas
- Quicksilver: The Fae & Alchemy Series, Book 1 by Callie Hart
- Great Big Beautiful Life: Reese’s Book Club by Emily Henry
Keaton Henson Shares New Album ‘Parader’ And Grunge-Tinged Single “Operator”
Enigmatic polymath Keaton Henson has shared his critically acclaimed ninth studio album, ‘Parader’, his first since 2024’s Somnambulant Cycles. To mark this highly anticipated release, Henson also shared a grunge-tinged, self-reflective new single titled “Operator.” While his previous single, “Lazy Magician,” hinted at him beginning to shed the “quiet boy” persona that has defined much of his career, ‘Parader’ sees Henson fully embracing the heavier, grunge-infused sounds of his youth. This shift was previously evident on his single “Insomnia,” where he entwined aching self-observation with a defiant sound he terms as “musical snark.”
Today’s new single, “Operator,” is a Slow Pulp-esque track that sees Henson grappling with questions of autonomy amidst heavy, soaring guitars as he confronts his relationship with self-loathing. It is arguably one of the album’s most overtly loud tracks, combining thick distortion-led riffs that build into the rhythmic chorus where he sings, “I don’t wanna make do / I don’t wanna hate you / But I do.” Speaking on the single, Henson shared: “It is a song about the id and self-loathing, it is an apology letter to me for how much I hate myself sometimes. The ‘operator’ can be tied to the ‘parader’ of the album title, a part of yourself outside of your control, either the part you wish you could conquer and change, or just a version of yourself that is perceived by others, I wish I wasn’t always this guy basically, but I’m apologising to him for feeling that way.”
To piece ‘Parader’ together, Henson collaborated with a wealth of talent who could harness these heavier influences and bring them into the light. Production duties were split between Luke Sital-Singh, who grew up in a similar area at a similar time as Henson, and Alex Farrar, whom Henson refers to as “the king of that loud, snarky American DIY sound.” The intimately tender track “Furl” also found a first-time co-writer in his wife, artist and musician Danielle Fricke, while the earlier mentioned “Lazy Magician” was co-written with Ratboys’ Julia Steiner. Henson explained that Steiner’s voice is highly evocative of the sound he loved back then, reminding him of Rilo Kiley.
The album finds Henson, now thirty-seven years old, coming somewhat full circle with apparitions of his younger self—the teenager catching American punk bands in the suburbs of London. He explains that the record is definitely pulling from the things he listened to when he was young, but those influences are being spat out through the lens of him and his career now. Under the weight of this poignant introspection, ‘Parader’ has legitimate confidence, with Henson noting, “I think it’s just me accepting that part of me is this. It’s louder and brasher, but not from a performative point of view. Maybe I’m just accepting that that is all part of me as well.”
Robin Ross & The Melodynes Drop Fun-Loving Single “Spill No Mo Wine”
Pennsylvania-based outfit Robin Ross & The Melodynes present the fun-loving single “Spill No Mo Wine,” a track born from a high-spirited gathering on Lake Huron. Straight from the bottle right to your dancing feet, this song captures the energetic atmosphere of friendship and celebration, cleverly using a humorous mishap as a metaphor for resilience when life’s plans briefly spill out of control. Anchoring the band’s sophomore ‘Mind Space’ album, scheduled for release in early 2026 via RPM Entertainment, the band infuses classic rock with modern pop sensibilities in the spirit of The B-52s, with a side of The Pretenders.
Robin Ross & The Melodynes is truly about big fun between like-minded artists, including famed engineer Jonathan Duckett and storied folk-rock artist TW Howell, whose collective good vibes seep into the music. Ross, who produced and engineered the album, recounted the song’s origin on the shores of Lake Huron: “I sat down, put the wine carefully on a rock and began playing, when this riff started. I took one more sip of wine, put it down and it fell off the rock, spilling the wine completely into the soppy sand.” He continued that the song is about grit and how, sometimes, best laid plans can vanish in one quick moment, noting that the glass held firm and did not break. With deep musical roots dating back to 1988, Ross also maintains his progressive rock ties, planning a new Jack’s Maze album in Spring 2026.
Track Listing for ‘Mind Space’
- “Spill No Mo Wine”
- “Echo Of Love”
- “Campfire On The Moon”
- “Mind Space”
- “Shiny Blue Shoes”
- “Come On In”
- “Free The Young”
- “Cause I Do”
- “Sweet Jane”
- “Taking All Of My Heart”
- “Curious Mind”
- “Follow”
TWO TONNE MACHETE Confront Dissent With Urgent New Single “PIGS PIGS”
North West England and North Wales alt-punk force TWO TONNE MACHETE deliver an urgent anthem with their latest single, “PIGS PIGS.” Written during a time of escalating crackdowns, the song confronts the State’s growing use of force and surveillance against peaceful demonstrators. Referencing real police tactics like kettling and tasers, the track is a powerful call for resistance and solidarity.
At its core, “PIGS PIGS” is loud, uncompromising protest music for the present moment. The band, fronted by Emily, infuses full-throttle energy, striking vocals, and razor-sharp guitars with a fierce political ethos confronting misogyny and control. Following a huge 2025 live circuit run, TWO TONNE MACHETE plans a new EP and extensive UK tour in Spring 2026.
Wave Of The Flood Rings In The Season With New Single “The Drunken Bellringers”
Raise a glass to the humorous new single “The Drunken Bellringers” from Scottish folk artist Wave Of The Flood. Inspired by a historical visit to Bath Cathedral, where the bell ringers were once asked to stop for becoming a health and safety hazard due to overindulging in merriment, the song playfully celebrates this lost British tradition with wit and warmth. Lindsay Strachan, the creative force behind Wave Of The The Flood, explained that the long history of bell ringing for community events and holidays struck him, and the comical story of the overly merry ringers who caused their tradition to stop became the inspiration for the track.
Strachan shared: “I visited the belltower on a tour a few years ago and was struck by the beautiful sound of the bells, and the long history that bell ringing has across the land – chiming for weddings, Christmas, and community events. But, they were once a fun regular hobby too, until the bell ringers were asked to stop for being a health and safety hazard The idea really tickled me, so I wrote a comical take on the characters I imagined.” “The Drunken Bell-Ringers” is the seventh in a series of twelve monthly singles released in tribute to the golden era of the forty-five-rpm record and to mark Strachan’s own forty-fifth-birthday year.
The track was produced by acclaimed folk artist Kris Drever of Lau, who lends his signature guitar and rousing vocals to the recording. It also features John McDonald on double bass and Dylan Cairns on fiddle, creating a joyful, toe-tapping slice of festive folk that is the perfect soundtrack to a cheerful Christmas pint.
Confess Unleash “5 Years In A Cave” Single From Reissued ‘In Pursuit Of Dreams’ LP
Iranian-Norwegian metallers Confess have followed up the success of their previous singles with the release of their latest track, “5 Years In A Cave,” unveiled on October 31st. The track arrives ahead of the re-release of their second album, ‘In Pursuit Of Dreams’, available today, November 7th, through their EVIN Productions imprint. This reissue is not just a fresh look at a classic; it comes complete with three previously unheard tracks: “Watch The Decay Of Sun,” “Convention,” and “Face-Off.”
Frontman Nikan Khosravi offered poignant reflection on the featured single. Khosravi stated: ““5 Years…” comes from the darkest days of my youth, a time when depression, anger, and substance abuse were eating me alive. Writing it was like bleeding onto paper, a way to survive when I couldn’t see a way out. Remastering this track now feels like looking my younger self in the eye — not to glorify the pain, but to show that I carried it, and I came through it.” This deeply personal track provides insight into the emotional foundation of an album that quickly became a piece of history.
Khosravi went on to discuss the re-release, marking the 10th anniversary of the album’s initial release while the band was still in Iran. He said, “To mark the 10th anniversary of “In Pursuit of Dreams”, we are proud to announce a reissue of the album, freshly remastered and featuring three previously unreleased songs, finally revealed after a decade.” He emphasized the album’s lasting impact: “This isn’t just an album; it’s a piece of history. The last record we dropped while still in Iran, it became a lightning rod for rebellion, defiance, and unapologetic expression. Just two weeks after its release, the authorities arrested us for its incendiary, protest-fuelled lyrics. This was the spark that ignited a movement and put us on the global map. Widely regarded as one of the most impactful and groundbreaking metal albums in the history of the Middle East, we believe “In Pursuit of Dreams” firmly established our place in the metal world.”
The re-release caps off an incredible year for Confess. Back in January, they released their stunning new album, ‘Destination Addiction’, which earned rave reviews from publications like Metal Hammer and Norway Rock Magazine. The album was produced by Khosravi, mixed and mastered by Grammy-nominated Alberto De Icaza, and featured performances from extreme metal luminaries George Kollias and Marzi Montazeri. The band’s extraordinary story of survival, resistance, and musical defiance, following their arrest and exile, was recently featured in a full feature episode of the HULU show “Into The Void: Life, Death & Heavy Metal,” produced by VICE Studios Canada. Confess stated that this exposure proves “that no system can silence metal. We were once called criminals for playing heavy music, now our story is streaming worldwide. That’s not just a win for us. It’s a victory for the entire global metal scene.”
Track Listing for ‘In Pursuit Of Dreams’ (Reissue)
- “Teh-Hell-Ran”
- “I’m Your God Now!”
- “See You on the Other Side”
- “Thorn Within”
- “5 Years in Cave”
- “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Exhausted!”
- “Tsunami of Hate”
- “New World Order”
- “Aborted Déjà Vu”
- “Dysentery”
- “I Want Nothing More but the Past…”
- “The Alphabet of Power”
- “Did You Get My Last Message?”
- “The Last One Standing”
- “Watch the Decay of Sun” (Bonus Track)
- “Convention” (Bonus Track)
- “Face-Off” (Bonus Track)