STACK #262 August 2026

MUSIC FEATURE

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WHAT’S OUT

Whether it’s a voyage of musical discovery or a sonic reacquaintance with a favourite band or artist, check out these fresh releases heading to JB this month.

LAURA VEIRS Temple Songs MGM

For her 14th solo album, Laura Veirs – who has just announced an Australian tour - found herself all alone in her home studio. The

American artist decided that for the first time in her career she didn’t need any outside help. Instead, she played everything herself (aside from the saxophone, which was provided by a “secret special guest”). The result is a record that gently lures you in and then won’t let go. An intimate gem.

EDITOR’S PICK CASEY BARNES Made for This ROCKET Casey Barnes doesn’t muck around. The Aussie country king connects directly with his fans. His songs, like the best country music, are heartfelt and great to have a quiet – or not so quiet - drink to. His eighth studio album has already made an impact, with the title track adopted as a rugby league anthem. And a duet with Pete Murray, Time to Burn , sees Barnes broadening his base, with a moving tale about the advice that fathers give their sons. The hard lessons the artist has learned along the way are all here. “It’s got a few dings,” he sings, “learned a few things, came out better for it, least I think.” Yep, Casey Barnes was made for this.

LUKAS GRAHAM Good Times INERTIA

CINDY BLACKMAN SANTANA Coherence MGM

GETDOWN SERVICES Massive Champion ROCKET

Lukas Graham, the Danish band fronted by Lukas Forchhammer, have dug deep on their fifth album, Good Times , connecting with

Anyone who caught UK duo Getdown Services – Ben Sadler and Josh Law - on their recent tour knows that they’re highly entertaining. Though

American drummer Cindy Blackman married Carlos

Santana in 2010. The guitar great proposed after her drum solo on stage. Carlos pops up on six tracks on Cindy’s new album, which is a thrilling fusion of jazz and rock. And another guitar great, John McLaughlin, also appears.

Forchhammer’s Irish roots. They recorded with “people my dad knew. People who had slept on a couch in my mum and dad’s living room. It was very important to me that we got a hold of some of these musicians and got that cultural connection”.

they playfully abuse the crowd, they deliver a collection of good-time bogan rock and pop. They say their second album is about “self-pity and realising that maybe all of the healing your inner child stuff you hear about isn’t actually total bollocks”. Check out the track I Can’t Die Like That . INTERPOL This Mirror Weighs a Ton INERTIA New York’s Interpol will be celebrating their 30th anniversary next year. This Mirror Weighs a Ton is touring musicians Brad Truax (bass) and Brandon Curtis (keyboards) as permanent members of the band. Singer Paul Banks says he improvised the lyrics to the title track, explaining it “frankly doesn’t make a whole lot of sense and that’s sort of the point”. KEB’ MO’ The Breakdown UNIVERSAL their eighth studio album, and it welcomes longtime

ELECTRIC CALLBOY Tanzneid SONY

MIKE D Thank You UNIVERSAL

Their genre is called “electronicore”, which means it’s heavy electronic music. But Electric Callboy also have a wicked sense of

Michael Diamond, the artist we got to know as Mike D in the Beastie Boys, is finally releasing his first solo album, the first time a Beastie Boy has released

humour – they prefer the descriptor “porno metal”. The German band is yet to crack the Australian Top 40, but that should change with this record – their seventh studio album - which features a collaboration with The Offspring, the aptly titled Let The Good Times Roll .

new music since Adam Yauch’s passing in 2012. The emphasis is on fun. “And I just hope it’s fun for others and not overly serious,” Mike notes, “because let’s be real, I’m releasing this music into a very strange and dark and power-fixated world that really devalues art and feelings and compassion and empathy and equality.”

EVERLAST Embers to Ashes ROCKET

PRINCE Timeless SONY

Embers to Ashes is the first solo album in eight years for America’s Everlast. “I don’t paint when I’m not in the mood to paint,” he

Kevin Moore, the artist we know as Keb’ Mo’, has delivered a powerful and personal record. “It felt like everything in my life was breaking down,”

Prince died a decade ago, less than two months after his final Australian tour. But his music lives on. One of the most prolific artists

points out, explaining the gap between records. “I’m not a machine.” Produced by fellow rapper Yelawolf, the record finds Everlast in fine form, telling some powerful stories.

the bluesman explains. “My health, my relationship, my whole world. The only way I knew how to respond was to break the music down, too.”

in music history, the vaults at Paisley Park have been opened for this archival album, gathering ten tracks that Prince recorded between 1977 and 2016. The aptly titled collection stands as testament to his artistry and genius.

40 AUGUST 2026

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