New Music Monday – 5 Songs For A Short Week

New music from Dogstar, Father John Misty, Foo Fighters, Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr, and The Rolling Stones

There is a distinct shift that happens in Muskoka once the threat of the annual spring thaw has completely passed. The rushing water has quieted down to a steady rhythm, the air has warmed up, and the forest canopy is finally on the verge of a brilliant, total breakout. This week’s New Music Monday selection leans directly into that sense of a fresh chapter. We are moving past the muddy, unpredictable mornings of early May and stepping into the confident, sun-drenched groove of true spring. From highly anticipated collaborations by rock royalty to atmospheric psych-rock epics, these five tracks provide the perfect, forward-moving soundtrack for a district that is fully waking up.

Here are five tracks worth your time this week:

Dogstar – "Joy"

Reactivated alternative trio Dogstar—comprising guitarist/vocalist Bret Domrose, drummer Rob Mailhouse, and bassist Keanu Reeves—delivers a beautifully apt track for the season with "Joy". Serving as a preview for their upcoming fourth album All In Now, the track kicks off with an atmospheric, reverb-heavy guitar melody. Domrose utilized a vintage Gibson ES-335 hollow-body guitar to craft a fresh, dreamy palette of tones that gives the song an airy, open-road feel. It is a bright, guitar-driven track that captures the pure pleasure of musicians playing together in a room, offering a breezy, uplifting rhythm perfect for a cruise down the Muskoka coastline.

Father John Misty – "The Payoff"

Josh Tillman returns under his Father John Misty moniker with "The Payoff," a lush psych-rock mammoth that serves as his second major single of the year. Co-produced alongside Drew Erickson, the track features an eerie, all-consuming wall of sound characterized by gravelly guitars and melting string arrangements that echo The White Album era. The song continuously expands and collapses into waves of cavernous reverb. As Tillman repeatedly delivers the unsettling but hypnotic line, "waiting for the payoff / It's coming soon," the track creates a wonderfully dense, dramatic atmosphere that matches the heavy, humid energy of a late-May afternoon.

Foo Fighters – "Window"

Foo Fighters add a sharp jolt of rock energy to the week with "Window," a standout track from their project Your Favorite Toy. Clocking in at a tight three and a half minutes, the song explores themes of weathering emotional storms, with Grohl singing about feeling like a puddle on the ground before a turning point arrives. It balances the band’s signature melodic rock instincts with a driving, propulsive rhythm section that clears away the morning fog. It is an immediate, driving anthem that pushes through internal static, providing a great burst of adrenaline for the early morning commute along Highway 11.

Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr – "Home to Us"

In an extraordinary moment for music fans worldwide, Paul McCartney has joined forces with Ringo Starr for their first-ever official duet, "Home to Us". Culled from McCartney's upcoming album The Boys of Dungeon Lane, the track was built directly around an original drum track that Paul invited Ringo to record with producer Andrew Watt. Backed by the rich harmony vocals of Chrissie Hynde and Sharleen Spiteri, the song acts as a touching, nostalgic look back at their formative years and where they came from. The trading of vocal lines between the two icons gives the track a deeply moving, sentimental warmth that feels like a homecoming of its own.

The Rolling Stones – "In the Stars"

The Rolling Stones prove once again that time is firmly on their side with "In the Stars," the ferocious lead single from their twenty-sixth studio album, *Foreign Tongues*. Under the stellar production of Andrew Watt, the track hits like a lightning bolt right from the opening bars, driven by Mick Jagger’s remarkably high-octane vocals leading a relentless, swaggering blues-rock charge. Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood seamlessly lock horns, trading sharp, signature guitar riffs over Steve Jordan’s iron-clad drumming to deliver a performance that feels incredibly vital and entirely youthful. It is a bold, electrifying burst of pure rock and roll escapism that closes out this week’s playlist with a loud, defiant spark. 

As the leaves on the maples expand to catch the afternoon light, these five tracks mirror the steady growth and vibrant energy of the season. Whether you are seeking the breezy alternative grooves of a vintage hollow-body or the timeless magic of rock history unfolding anew, this week's lineup ensures your transition into the heart of spring is loud, resonant, and full of life.

Sources:

• • Dillon Street Records
  • Sub Pop Records
  • Stereogum
  • Dork - Foo Fighters "Window" Track Profile & Lyrics
  • Universal Music Canada
  • Cult Following
  • Consequence