New Music Monday: 5 songs that deliver the noise in different ways

Releases from the Lumineers, Ax & the Hatchetmen, Big Sugar, Kathleen Edwards and Born Ruffians

Every so often, a new batch of songs lands that’s worth more than a casual scroll. These five new releases cut through the noise in different ways—whether it's a sharp lyric, a surprising sound, or just something that sticks with you longer than expected. From indie experiments to emotional roots-rock, here's a closer listen at what's worth turning up this week.

1. Ax and the Hatchetmen – “Blurry Lights” (feat. Albert Hammond Jr.)

This track bursts with psychedelic indie guitar work, complete with brass accents and a trippy, doughy groove. It’s frontman Axel Ellis’s vivid sonic sketch of a hallucinatory trip through a crowded museum—you can practically feel the lights spinning. The Strokes’ Albert Hammond Jr. adds crisp guitar layers that lift the whole thing into Strokes-meets-museum mania. Lyrically evasive (“My brain… see you in the next life…”), it lands somewhere between existential fog and danceable haze. If you love jangly guitars with a story, give this a spin.

2. Kathleen Edwards – “Save Your Soul”

Kathleen’s back with sharp country-blues songwriting and that familiar no-nonsense edge. It opens her upcoming album Billionaire (out August 22), co-produced with Jason Isbell. The track balances gritty electric solo bursts, thunderous drums, and clever lyrics about redemption and self preservation. It’s a rootsy, soulful banger with emotional punch—your heart and ears will thank you.

3. Born Ruffians – “Supersonic Man”

Canadian indie veterans Born Ruffians launch into sci fi power pop territory with this one. The song follows the album’s sci-fi arc and is built like an anthem—equal parts Oasis style swagger and quirky keyboard flair. Luke Lalonde imagines a Superman style birth (a metaphor for fatherhood) as the hook rips in. It’s the kind of clever, upbeat guitar pop that feels nostalgic and new all at once.

4. The Lumineers – “Asshole”

The title sets your expectations high—and the band delivers a stripped and self aware confession. The acoustic-driven track addresses flaws and failed roles in relationships: “The first time that we met / you thought I was an asshole…” Critics have praised its emotional transparency and piano-powered climaxes. It’s raw, it stings, but it sounds like a moment of honest insight rather than drama. If you're into confessional folk-rock, this is a refreshingly blunt take.

5. Big Wreck – “Believer”

Ian Thornley and crew drop a heavy-hitting anthem that blends technical guitar work with emotional grit. Built around a riff that “just kept going,” it’s a groove-first rocker with lyrical depth. Reviews call it a “sonic shockwave” and a “soul-stirring anthem.” Thornley wanted the guitar to “tell its own story,” and it does—clearly a band hitting their stride again.

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Whether you're looking for something to shake up your playlist or just need a few songs that hit in all the right places, these tracks offer a little bit of everything. Honest lyrics, bold choices, and artists still finding new things to say—it’s all there. Give them a proper listen. You’ll likely find at least one that stays with you.

Sources:

• The Countdown on The Bay 88.7