Motorists - Never Sing Alone (2026)

I like the first two Motorists albums, but the Toronto band aren’t the kind where liking one record automatically translates to liking the others as the band is unafraid to shake things up. The band’s third, Never Sing Alone, continues that trajectory. It’s by far their most pop-oriented record, shedding a lot of their post-punk and power pop feathers to create a guitar pop album with broader appeal and wider ambition.

A song like The Damage is a throwback to Motorists’ sonic style on their debut, showing they can play that sound in their sleep. But clearly, this band’s aims for something bigger. Frogman sounds like Bay Area jangle pop. Scattered White Horses blends classic indie rock with classic pop singing. Diogenes has that quirky, playful indie rock sound that had a moment in the ’00s (think Spinto Band). The Man in The Circular Window has a psych pop vibe. There’s a lot to unpack, but the wrapping is easy on the ears.

Admittedly, I initially dismissed this record because I had so much other stuff piling up. But around my third spin, things started to click. Now, I’m starting to believe this is the band’s best record yet. Spending time with Never Sing Alone pays off. Put this one in the grower bin.