BILLCS New Music Report – June 5/24 with new songs by @TheThe, @RiverTiber & @JustinNozuka, @AndyxSuzuki @AndTheMethod, @bandAutopilot and @RumJungleband

Yep, it’s one of those weeks where a bit of writer’s block sets in and makes it difficult and frustrating to write about just about anything. Anyone who knows it knows you can’t make words appear when they’re not there. But I still wracked my brain to convey my thoughts about six new songs this week to dazzle your ears, and what I’ve come up with I think has turned out well. Fortunately writer’s block is short lived and I should have more for you next week!

In the Report, you can also check out my pick of the week, along with a record of the week from the host of online radio’s “Top 40 Timeline”, “Big Daddy” Russ Horton, plus “Modern Hype” online radio host DJ Hunter’s “Bop of the Week”. “The Musicman” James Rogers from online radio’s “3D Variety Show” has his Classic Five take us back to a handful of hits from 1970. And in case you missed them on Monday, you’ll find out what songs are #1 and the Fastest Riser on the BILLCS Top 30.

The BILLCS New Music Report is always a work-in-progress and I welcome your suggestions so feel free to contact me at through my social media links right here.

Reminder: Click on the photo to watch the video or listen to the song.

THE THE, “Cognitive Dissident”

Back in 2017, the legendary 80’s UK rock group The The – really singer/songwriter Matt Johnson and his collective musicians of the day – released a documentary and a single, “We Can’t Stop What’s Coming”, and toured for the first time in many years. Anything that came next got put quickly on hold due to some life threating health issues that Matt was facing. In the interim, fans got a live album of concert favourites called The Comeback Special, whose title envisioned more to come. A few more years later, Matt has recovered and surfaced with the new single “Cognitive Dissident” along with a series of worldwide concert dates, and with the first new The The album since 2000’s Naked Self called Ensoulment coming in September. It’s a testament to perseverance in the craft you cherish, and “Cognitive Dissident” is classic The The, containing sharply worded lines and verses that want you to question everything, and understand that the decisions being made around us are reminiscent of a “1984” kind of society that we all hoped would never happen. With his deep, memorable voice sounding not too much different from The The’s halcyon years in “Cognitive Dissident”, it’s great to have Matt Johnson back. The The’s unique music has also acquired a number of new fans over the years, which has led to multi-millions of streams, and Ensoulment will be of particular interest to them.

RIVER TIBER, JUSTIN NOZUKA, “Tell Her” and “Stranger”

During the last decade, I was pleased to attend a number of Justin Nozuka shows in Toronto where he was supported on guitar and vocal harmonies by River Tiber, aka Tommy Paxton-Beesley, who was also developing his own following and sound that even got Drake’s attention when the River Tiber track “No Talk” was sampled by the rapper. Some of those were intimate shows at smaller venues, and then there were River Tiber’s own shows too, playing a number of the same venues, with Tommy eventually supporting Justin as part of his band on at least one worldwide tour. The two talents have natural chemistry together in achieving beautiful, sometimes experimental sounds, and a few years later their collaborative work has come full circle on two new songs, “Tell Her” (above) and “Stranger”. Both songs are pretty soulful and mellow, with “Tell Her” pondering life and existence which in the lyrics seems to be weighted on something that is being held back and unsaid, while “Stranger” is two short verses with one word changed in the second verse. Some songs by both artists have often been left vague for the listener to interpret and experience. If this is the start of a new project to follow up River Tiber’s 2022 album Dreaming Eyes and Justin Nozuka’s 2023 album Daydreams & Endless Nights, which were both more artistic departures than previous releases, then these two new songs have sufficiently whet our curiosity for more.

ANDY SUZUKI & THE METHOD, “Hardly Human”

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been writing about the music of NYC’s Andy Suzuki & The Method for more than a decade. Time and time again they deliver great songs which often sound even better in concert. They’ve only released a handful of songs since their last album, 2019’s Alibi, since both Andy and drummer/percussionist Kozza became dads, and the hard-rocking “Hardly Human” kicks off whatever is coming next. Andy Suzuki & The Method have continued performing though, as I witnessed last summer in NYC, which keeps them sounding tight. Andy could be another Dan Reynolds with the power in his eminent vocal on “Hardly Human”, which is full of luminous guitar work and appropriately thunderous beats and percussion by Kozza.

AUTOPILOT, “Yesterday”

Saskatchewan rock trio Autopilot return with another edgy single, “Yesterday”. This one is about embracing some memories, while knowing what ones you need to leave in the past. Autopilot has a solid live-off-the-floor sound led by Marlon Harder’s gritty but friendly vocal. “Yesterday” has enough bounce to pick you up and get you ready for your night out. Autopilot is known for its live shows both at home and in the US, and are playing a few shows during Canadian Music Week in Toronto, including at The Cave on Thursday June 6. Hopefully “Yesterday” is a sign of what’s to come on Autopilot’s next album too.

RUM JUNGLE, “Did The Morning Let You Down”

Australian indie quartet Rum Jungle give us some pause for thought as we begin our days with “Did The Morning Let You Down”. The song’s brimming with a great melody, some ferocious guitar work and a crisp vocal that gets showcased in the way that you would hear Keane’s Tom Chaplin or even fellow Aussie indie band Moonwood’s Jake McCullough. “Did The Morning Let You Down” understands that there are just some mornings that we all look forward to, and the resulting day usually flies by, but that there are also some that we dread, and sometimes the day doesn’t go by too badly anyway. Rum Jungle has recently finished a tour of the UK and Germany to sell out dates, and are about to embark on a winter tour of Australia (i.e. in the western world’s summer). “Did The Morning Let You Down” is the kind of song that would resonate with alternative and college radio stations.

BILL’S NEW MUSIC PICK OF THE WEEK

My New Music Pick of the Week is a 5-7 minute radio segment that airs on several online radio stations around the world, and debuts each Tuesday at 6pm EST on The 3D Variety Show on Xstreamrockradio.

“Myself & I” is by German electronic producer TheFatRat and Canadian singer RIELL

“BIG DADDY” RUSS HORTON’S RECORD OF THE WEEK

“Big Daddy” Russ Horton is the host of the “Top 40 Timeline” radio program and owner of online station Halton Hills Radio Online. You can hear my Retro Pick of the Week every week on the “Top 40 Timeline”. Russ’ record of the week can also be heard each week on “The Big 20”.

The Chainsmokers team up with Canadian singer ELIO for “Bad Advice”

DJ HUNTER’S BOP OF THE WEEK

DJ Hunter is the host of the online radio shows “Modern Hype”, which can be heard on several online stations, and “Pyjama Party”, with both shows anchored at Energy 885. Hunter can also be heard weekdays at 2pm EST on Party Dog Radio. Hunter’s bop of the week can now be heard each week on “The Big 20” and will soon be in sync with these blog posts.

Spain’s The Boy From The South’s latest release is the infectious “Space Party”

“THE MUSICMAN” JAMES ROGERS’ CLASSIC FIVE

“The Musicman” James Rogers is the owner and host of The 3D Variety Show heard Tuesdays at 6pm EST. 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.

Badfinger – Come and Get It
Kenny Rogers & The First Edition – Something’s Burning
Chicago – Make Me Smile
Ray Stevens – Everything Is Beautiful
Diana Ross – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough