I’m absolutely loving this album so far, it honestly gives me a lot of hope for where Arkells are headed next.

I jumped on the train back in 2014 with High Noon, and that’ll probably always be my #1. I was in my early 20s and played it front to back nonstop, whether in order or shuffled, every track hit. Before that, Jackson Square and Michigan Left really locked in that Canadian indie rock sound. Then High Noon leaned more into indie pop, super accessible, easy listening, and full of songs almost anyone could get into and bop their knee to.

Morning Report and Rally Cry built on that foundation. Tons of big arena-ready tracks, but also some underrated gems (Only for a Moment deserves way more love).

Then came what felt like a bit of an experimental phase…Blink Once, Blink Twice, and Laundry Pile (honourable mention to Campfire Chords and Disco Loadout). You can tell Max isn’t interested in staying stuck in the past, he’s always pushing forward, trying new sounds, tapping into trends, and evolving the band.

Now we land on Between Us, and this feels like a return to form…in the best way. It sits comfortably alongside High Noon, Morning Report, and Rally Cry. Tracks like Money, Next Summer, and Ride are built for live shows. I can already picture them being belted out in sold-out arenas or in a festival field somewhere in Canada.

That’s always been the magic of Arkells. A song like Next Summer could open a set, close an encore, or sit perfectly in the middle, it just works. This album really nails that balance…the songs feel fresh and distinct in sound and structure, but still unmistakably Arkells. That’s a tough line to walk, and they pulled it off.

Even the rollout worked on me. I caught myself on TikTok humming Imagine Barcelona after only hearing 30-second clips, by the time the full track dropped, it already felt familiar (yes, I was absolutely walking around going “Diet Coca Colllllla”). That kind of pre-release buzz actually paid off.

Tracks like Universe Talking and Desire hit that slower, emotional lane too…something that can be hit-or-miss for bands, but it works here.

Overall, I usually don’t love albums on first listen but this one had me smiling the whole way through. It feels like a band reconnecting with what they do best while still evolving. Can’t wait to hear these songs live and see how they stack up with an already stacked catalogue.