Given that today is Remembrance Day, it’s quite ironic but fitting that the two lead off songs in the Report this week are both about remembering people who have passed away or are no longer in our life. Enjoy them as well as the four other recent releases which I’ve reviewed, and the other regular features in the Report.
In this edition of the Report, you can also check out my new music and retro picks of the week, as well as a record of the week from “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, and “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. This week, “The Musicman” James Rogers’ Classic Five choices include what are bound to be some of your favourites from 1980. Please do check out the playlist for my all-Canadian hour, The MAPL Tapes, with Show #37 and songs by featured artist Charlotte Cardin. You’ll also find out what songs were in the Top 5 of the BILLCS Top 30 5-10-15-20-25 years ago!
Reminder: Click on the photos to listen to the songs on Spotify.
PHOEBE REA, “Meet Me There”
About the artist: Classically trained in piano and violin, Phoebe Rea is a singer/songwriter who hails from Oxfordshire, England. Her style moves seamlessly between pop, jazz, and alternative, and she has released several singles and an EP, Anybody Else?, during the last three years.
About the record: “Meet Me There” is an uplifting musical celebration of people who are no longer with us, in this case Phoebe’s grandfather, with whom she had a close relationship. I picture this song being performed outside on a mild summer’s evening under a sky full of stars. The sound of Phoebe’s voice and instrumentation in this release is pristine. It’s so easy to settle back and soak in the positivity that radiates from “Meet Me There”. A cool mix of pop and jazz, “Meet Me There” can win over even the staunchest of critics and Phoebe is a talent to watch in 2027.
Other comments: “Meet Me There” will be included on Phoebe Rea’s upcoming second EP. She has already performed in concert and at festivals in the UK, and I think live performance is where we will see her bloom.
TARA MACRI, “Grace” (live studio version)
About the artist: Tara Macri is a Toronto-born singer/songwriter who is also a film, television, stage and voice actor. She received North American radio airplay with her release “Prettiest Girl in the Room” and, among her stage credits, has performed with Nick Jonas and John Stamos as Amber in “Hairspray”.
About the record: The original version of “Grace” was released in summer ’26 as an uptempo, upbeat pop/dance anthem about the connection to people and how their importance in our lives stays with us even after they are gone or no longer in it. While that version of “Grace” has done well on streaming platforms, the newly released “live studio version” turns the song on its side in favour of a grand piano melody, which is supported by cello and drums as well as the choir featured on the original. Especially given the time of year, the live version of “Grace” works beautifully as an ode to rembrance. It brings out the emotion in the song more organically than the original version, and also throws a bigger spotlight on Tara’s supurb vocal. Two years ago, Felix Cartal and Lights recorded a live string version of their anthemic dance song which I previously wrote about, and became a huge favourite of mine, “feel less” – the results here are quite similar and impressive.
Other comments: “Grace” includes mix engineering by the esteemed Grammy winner Chris Lord-Alge, who in his long career has worked on albums by Prince, Tina Turner, The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and Green Day.
SPOONS, “Better Late Than Never Did It”
About the artist: Spoons is the veteran Canadian rock quartet led by guitarist/vocalist Gordon Deppe and bassist/vocalist Sandy Horne, which has recently released album #8, Nightlife, their first album in seven years. I wrote about the lead off single “Take the World” a few weeks ago.
About the record: Taking a deeper dive into Nightlife, which was released last week, “Better Late Than Never Did It” is another bright and hopeful track about having no regrets about taking the time to make the right decision about something. It also ruminates on two people learning how to trust each other. The anthemic arrangement is punctuated with some terrific synth work by Scott McDonald, and Gordon’s lead vocal matched with harmonies from Sandy are an anchor to Spoons’ overall sound.
Other comments: “Better Late Than Never Did It” sounds like a great second single choice to me!
JON MULLANE, “Follow Your Own Road”
About the artist: Nova Scotia native Jon Mullane returns with the third single release from his recent EP The Road. Jon recently won a Josie Award for the video of his 2025 single, “Remember in November”, which was presented to him at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.
About the record: Jon has an amiable storytelling style that straddles pop, folk and country, and it’s in full force in “Follow Your Own Road”. It’s written about those times in our lives when we have to consciously carve out a new path. Jon’s semi-spoken, Robbie Robertson-sounding vocal builds into a beautifully sung, sweeping chorus which completely makes the song. You can also check out the video at the following link: Road
Other comments: “Follow Your Own Road”, like “Remember in November”, is co-written by Jon with A-list songwriter Michael Jay, most noted for Martika’s #1 “Toy Soldiers”.
WE ARE FURY, GUTTER KING, “Prisoner”
About the artist: We Are Fury is Canadian electronic producer Joachim Speidel, supported by creative partner and former member Stuart Brookes. We Are Fury is joined on this release by Calgary metalcore trio Gutter King.
About the record: Over the years, the music of We Are Fury has become darker and at times heavier than in the early days of the duo. “Prisoner” contains a lot of well done heavier moments in the last minute of the song, courtesy of the vocalists from Gutter King (Bert and Seth – one of them can scream with the best of ’em!), but I also enjoy the balance with storytelling and taut instrumentation. I would still continue to pitch “Prisoner” to fans of Illenium and Seven Lions and other electronic producers who can savvily merge the sometimes not so dissimilar worlds of EDM and metalcore.
Other comments: “Prisoner” comes from We Are Fury’s second album, and first since 2020, called Begging for a Host. It also includes previous singles from the last two years: “Miracle”, “Monsters”, “Freak” and “Made for This”.
SHEVA ELLIOT, “River Run Dry”
About the artist: Indie pop/rock singer, songwriter and pianist Sheva Elliot hails from Los Angeles and has been releasing music for the last five years. That has included a live album as well as the 2023 album Pay the Priestess.
About the record: “River Run Dry” manages somehow to include so many pop, rock, R&B and blues influences all rolled up into one tight, solid and contemporary package. So many artists don’t know how to do this successfully, with the results terribly bland and sounding like too many other specific performers. Sheva grew up listening to opera, Motown and classic rock, and “River Run Dry” also includes a collective of musicians playing real instruments including organ. So this song, about letting go and finding your own personal freedom, is an upbeat, anthemic rocker than could appeal to fans of any of Fleetwood Mac, Jackson Browne, Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, U2, and Steve Winwood.
Other comments: Coming soon is Sheva Elliot’s second studio album.
Show #37 with songs by featured artist Charlotte Cardin
BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK
It’s British/Canadian dance music duo Collect 200 with “Will Be Stronger”
BILL’S RETRO PICK OF THE WEEK
The retro pick will return next week.
“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK
“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the owner and program director of online station The Elbow (formerly Halton Hills Radio Online)
It’s “I Feel You” (Stonebridge remix) by K.C. & The Sunshine Band
DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK
DJ Hunter is the host of the online radio show “Modern Hype”, which can be heard on several online stations, including Chicago-based Lake Radio Online where you can also hear my New Music Pick of the Week. Hunter is also on air Fridays on “Hot Hits with Hunter” on UK station Dodge Radio, and it too broadcasts the New Music Pick. Check the schedule for my New Music Pick of the Week on the blog home page near the bottom.
It’s “Expectations” by Olivia Rodrigo in its hit remix with Chappell Roan
“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE
“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show (6 – 9pm ET Tuesdays, now repeating Wednesdays at 7pm ET on new Canadian affiliate https://www.retroradio.ca). The Classic Five is “pop music 101” usually of the post-Beatles era – classics you need to know! Each title is linked to a Spotify stream of the song. The 3D Variety Show returns on Tuesday, November 17.
Cliff Richard – Dreaming
David Bowie – Ashes To Ashes
Pointer Sisters – He’s So Shy
Cheap Trick – Stop This Game
Fist – Never Come Back
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