Arkells’ highly anticipated album, Morning Report, will be released on August 5th, 2016 through Universal Music Canada and Last Gang Records/eOne in the U.S. Produced by Joe Chiccarelli (The Strokes, My Morning Jacket), Tony Hoffer (Beck, M83), Brian West (Sia, AWOLNATION), and Gus van Go (The Stills, Wintersleep), this is the band’s fourth album to date. Morning Report is Arkells’s first record since 2014’sHigh Noon which landed the #1 spot on the Canadian iTunes chart, and earned the band a certified Gold record (Canada) as well as two JUNO Awards for Best Group and Best Rock Album (2015).
“MANY OF THE SONGS ARE INSPIRED BY FRIENDS AND FAMILY. I HAVE A LOT OF INTERESTING CHARACTERS IN MY LIFE AND TAKE A LOT OF JOY IN BEING ABLE TO WRITE ABOUT THEM… A LOT OF SONGS START FROM WHAT HAPPENED THE NIGHT BEFORE; THAT’S WHERE THE TITLE COMES FROM – FRIENDS WHO TEXT THE NEXT DAY AND DEMAND, ‘GIVE ME THE MORNING REPORT!’ THIS IS OUR WEIRDEST, FUNNIEST, SADDEST RECORD YET, AND THEREFORE, OUR MOST HONEST ONE, TOO.”
– Max Kerman
Tracklisting:
- Drake’s Dad
- Private School
- My Heart’s Always Yours
- Savannah
- Passenger Seat
- Making Due
- Round and Round
- Hung Up
- Come Back Home
- A Little Rain (A Song For Pete)
- And Then Some
- Hangs The Moon
We asked a few members of The PSJ team to listen to Arkells’s Morning Report and tell us what they think. Here’s what we got.
JAMES PUNTILLO
It’s easy to see why North America loves Hamilton, Ontario’s Arkells. There’s something so fun, so peace-loving, so unrestrained about their sound. They vibrate with a unique energy that Canadian pop-rock has been lacking for a long time. I’ve always believed that the key to Arkells’s ability to enchant us comes from their sheer exuberance to create music squarely within the modern paradigm. If Jackson Square put them on the map, then it was their sophomore release, Michigan Left, that transformed them into the model pop-rockers that we know and love today. That they’re Canadian and sing about my home town is just a bonus.
With their fourth full release, Morning Report (Universal/Last Gang Records), Arkells have pushed the boundaries of their pop-rock sound and lyrics even deeper into the mainstream, and they do it with an elegance and grace rarely seen before from the five-piece.
As usual, the band pulls no punches when it comes to the “wall of sound” brand of editing that we’ve come to expect. The full experience, from start to finish, no matter which way you listen, is mature and refined. You won’t find any warbling from lead singer Max Kerman, whose ability to best his own vocal performance with each new release is some feat in itself. The rest of the band–Nick Dika, Mike DeAngelis, Tim Oxford, and Anthony Carone–have diversified their sound. While you’ll find Arkell’s hypnotic 4/4 rhythm in spades, there’s an entirely new range of instrumentation that deepens as the album progresses. Compositional opuses include “Passenger”, “Come Back Home”, and “Hangs the Moon” (the last of these is my favourite track on the album). These stand out amongst the sure-to-be singles, “Drake’s Dad”, “A Little Rain (A Song for Pete)” and “Making Due”. They’ll be joining the already oft-played first single, “Private School”.
The album is almost incomprehensibly easy to listen to. Arkells have found the sweet spot. Time and again, I return (almost fetishistically) to that chromatic scale that closes out the chorus in “Private School” just for fun. It’s the kind of hook that modern fans want from the band, and, given the chance to do it, they hit it out of the park. It’s the little things like that that make Morning Report such a success. Without a doubt, Arkells are moving in the right direction.
Look for the album to drop on August 5th, 2016.
GREGORY CAIN
Hamilton’s finest Arkells are a great example of a local band hitting the jackpot. Since their 2008s release, Jackson Square, the band has released three albums full of memorable, contemplative, and unique songs. Many of these seem to tell a story. From drunken McMaster students wandering around Westdale that angered local mother-run organizations in “John Lennon”, the cheap seats of “Kiss Cam”, to the prison sentence of Hugo Chavez, there are always lyrics with substance.
One thing that will be noticed when listening to the Arkells catalogue from beginning to end is a band that has refused to repeat the same formula from album to album. They aren’t an AC/DC; there is a constant striving to try new things. Jackson Square showed a young band that was deeply influenced by The Constantines, The Weakerthans, Sam Roberts, The Band, etc., while Michigan Left, presented a switch to a more poppy, indie rock sound. The band had been listening to Phoenix and other acts popular during 2011 – this directly influenced their sound.
Continuing to grow as musicians and writers, whilst showing an appreciation for new music, is essential to being a good musician striving towards growth. I was always impressed with Arkells’ ability to evolve. Michigan Left and High Noon showed a switch to a more accessible pop-rock sound, while still maintaining that original quality that made you fall in love with the band back in 2008. There are still those great hooks and stories that draw the listener in. With Morning Report, the Arkells are continuing to evolve and try new things. Yes, this can be alienating to some fans, but if the listener is open minded, they will definitely get a kick out of the sorts of new things that the band is trying.
“Private School” is an example of the band heading off into new territory. The kind of rap that Max Kerman utilizes during the verses brings to mind “wooly socks and Birkenstocks” from “Never Thought That This Would Happen”, showcasing a move that not many rock bands could pull off. The song, however, has a big chorus, taking a mild jab at privileged folk for not realizing that “being born on third base” gives one certain advantages, laughing that they thought, “they hit a triple”. “Drake’s Dad” tells a story of travelling to the states for a bachelor party, meeting Drake’s dad, and drinking. Behind this veneer of partying lies a moral tale about growing older and grasping for “some peter pan shit”. “Savannah” and “Making Due” also seem to be some of the bigger, more commercial songs off the album – the former for its big chorus and radio friendly sound, and the latter for it’s unique structure and interesting lyrics. “A Little Rain (A Song For Pete)” too has a huge chorus and positive message. Mixed with the fact that it references Peter Rosenthal – a friend of the singer’s family who is a social justice lawyer in Toronto – it can be seen that Max Kerman’s lyrics continue to focus in on those around him, as well as interesting social topics. In the past, many lyrics have had a political tinge, so it doesn’t feel like a stretch to have a social justice lawyer referenced in a song.
Kerman has stated that the band is rooted in a love for classic artists like The Beatles and Bruce Springsteen, but their current interests are “all very of-the-moment.” This seems precisely what the record delivers – poppy rock songs with big choruses that can be performed live. Although they seem to be dipping further into a pop-friendly sound that will grow their audience in different areas, this may unfortunately alienate those who still long for a return to the Jackson Square sound. I’m happy with the progression that the band continues to make. It is safe to say that I’ve bought into the Morning Report aesthetic and will have this album on repeat for many months.
ERIC TARQUINIO
Arkell’s Morning Report is a crucial release for the band hailing from Hamilton, ON, Canada. By record #4, any band’s future is (usually) determined or etched in stone, if you will. This being said, Arkell’s fourth record, Morning Report, acts as a central determinant for the band. With everything on the line, Arkells have effectively released something which will live on in the minds of Canadian music fans and establish themselves as one-day figureheads of popular Canadian music.
Morning report, in its totality, consequently represents a few central things. First, it is a reaffirmation that the band can indeed maintain an effective balance between artistic expression and creation, and popular appeal. Too often do we hear horror stories of musical artists who cannot straddle music as art, and music as commodity. Morning Report is a substantial release than can be admired and embraced by a wide audience-base and this is definitely commendable. Next, the record displays a strong progression from their previous release, High Noon. The Arkells that we fell in love with from 2008 (Jackson Square) is completely different than the Arkells we have today, and yet, our admiration is still running strong. Morning Report reminds us that the group is not only a band of musicians, but rather, of a band of artists working collectively to perfect their craft. Lastly, the record represents an embrace of “the modern”. Combining classic song structures and instrumentation with some of the sounds pervading the music we are familiar with today, the record, again, finds an effective balance between the two.
Kerman was right. Raw and real, the record is indeed “honest” – it showcases the band’s progression and vulnerability, which is exactly what we wanted from our hometown heroes.
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Like what you’ve heard? Check out Arkells‘ new record, Morning Report, for yourself and review their tour dates to see them live.
Eric Tarquinio, James Puntillo, Gregory Cain,
The PSJ
The Paper Street Journal 