In No Particular Order: Must-Hear Albums of the Week (Mar 5, 2021)

Nice of you to drop by.

Welcome to another edition of In No Particular Order, where I break down some of the week’s hottest new releases. This week, I review the new POSTDATA album, the debut release from Toronto trio The Monowhales, the gut-punching pop-punk of A Day To Remember, and the Vancouver collective Rare Americans find their footing on their latest release.

As always, you can find Dusty Organ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify to stay up to date on new releases. Also, you can find tracks from these albums and more on our Monthly Spotify playlist.

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POSTDATA – Twin Flames

Paper Bag Records

Alternative/Indie rock

8.5/10

Paul Murphy, the frontman of acclaimed East Coast indie rock group Wintersleep, has spent the last decade or so creating music on the side as POSTDATA. His third album Twin Flames borrows the talents of Ali Chant, Wintersleep guitarist Tim D’eon and Frightened Rabbit’s Andy Monaghan, and is a familiar dose of Murphy’s charged musicality brought into the comfort of isolation. Written mostly from his home in Halifax, the seclusion helped usher in a more warmhearted and focused record.

It is hard not to compare POSTDATA and Wintersleep; Murphy’s unique vocal style and swelling songwriting is at the forefront of both acts. But the intriguing upper hand of POSTDATA is within the details, like the subtle synthesizers that sneak up throughout the record, or the twinkling guitars that caress the handful of love songs on Twin Flames. Swapping the colossal rock anthems of Wintersleep for more personal-sized, Murphy keeps the articulate and artistic indie rock style that fans have come to admire but readapts it for a more intimate experience.

Notable tracks: “Inside Out” // “Nobody Knows” // “Behind You”

Monowhales – Daytona Bleach

Independent

Alternative pop-rock

8/10

Toronto indie pop rock trio Monowhales have been working towards this moment for since swinging for the fences back in 2017. Their debut LP Daytona Bleach is a collection of catchy, anthemic hits that showcase the group’s tireless tenacity and dedicated search for their true sound. From opener “All Or Nothing”, the Monowhales put their mission statement at the forefront, deliberately pushing their will to give it their all with each release. Having shared a handful of tracks over the last year or so, it is no surprise that Daytona Bleach is an exciting experience from start to finish that is both familiar and refreshingly new.

And while most pop records feel flat and empty on a deeper level, Monowhales push through and dive into topics that are relatable and playful, letting out some frustration in the chaotic world of social media feeds, 24/7 news streams, and young adult relationships.

It would be long before this Toronto gem are cruising at an international level.

Plus, stay tuned for an upcoming interview with the band on the From the Inbox: the Podcast podcast.

Notable tracks: “All Or Nothing” //”Out With the Old” // “RWLYD”

Rare Americans – Rare Americans 2

Independent

Alternative

7/10

Vancouver based collective Rare Americans have created their own universe over the last few years. Their exciting and invigorating blend of storytelling and party-punk spirit have lifted the group into the territory of being one of Canada’s most creative bands.

In a flurry of genre-defying folk-punk, ska, hip-hop, and alternative, Rare Americans 2 is a welcomed continuation to their animated world of Crooked City. Each track on RA2 is a story of its own from Cooked City, some of which are given an animated music video to match, including the two-part tale of Brittle Bones Nicky. The 16 track effort is catchy, fun, and excitingly unpredictable with their universal mantra of “Think for yourself, be yourself, do it yourself”.

Notable tracks: “Brittle Bones Nicky” // “Knives, Guns & Bed” // “Berlin”

A Day To Remember – You’re Welcome

Fueled By Ramen

Pop-punk/Hardcore

5/10

Now onto their seventh album, hardcore pop-punk legends A Day To Remember have collided all of the genres they’ve excelled at over the last decade into one collage on You’re Welcome. Flipping between pop-punk, pop rock, hardcore, and straight up pop, the new collection has an equal amount of faults and peaks. As expected, the Floridian group are at their best when crushing through breakdowns and high octane vocals, like on “Brick Wall”, “Last Chance To Dance” or “Permanent”, but they quickly lose their credibility with weak pop tunes “Looks Like Hell”, “Only Money”, and the Jon Bellion co-write “Everything We Need”, becoming almost a completely different band in the process.

Starting off strong, You’re Welcome quickly takes a down turn as A Day To Remember try to please everybody but miss the target.

Notable tracks: “Brick Wall” // “Last Chance To Dance (Bad Friend)” // “Permanent”