Arkells
Between Us
Album · Alternative · 2026 · Arkells Music ROW
If 2023’s rustic retreat Laundry Pile saw Arkells leaning back into their formative classic-rock influences, Between Us sees the Hamilton, Ontario, heroes resuming their mission to be Canada’s foremost alt-pop alchemists and open-door collaborators.
Produced by indie kingmaker John Congleton, the band’s ninth album presents a full 360-degree view of Arkells’ many modes: the funky, feel-good summertime jams (the GROUPLOVE-assisted “Ride” and Portugal. The Man collab “Money”), the open-road heartland rockers (“Two Hearts”), the disco detours (the Poolside summit “What’s on Your Mind”), the ascendent, Killers-sized anthems (“Next Summer”), the fiddle-kissed Nashville flirtations (“Imagine Barcelona”), and the brash ’n’ brassy soul sprints that nod to their longtime side hustle as a Motown cover band (“What Good?”).
But Arkells’ eclectic aesthetic is ultimately anchored by lead singer Max Kerman’s romantic and relatable slice-of-life songwriting, making Between Us a highly apt title for an album that’s committed to maintaining an intimate connection with listeners even as it’s aiming for the back rows of the arena.
Between Us
Arkells
If 2023’s rustic retreat Laundry Pile saw Arkells leaning back into their formative classic-rock influences, Between Us sees the Hamilton, Ontario, heroes resuming their mission to be Canada’s foremost alt-pop alchemists and open-door collaborators.
Produced by indie kingmaker John Congleton, the band’s ninth album presents a full 360-degree view of Arkells’ many modes: the funky, feel-good summertime jams (the GROUPLOVE-assisted “Ride” and Portugal. The Man collab “Money”), the open-road heartland rockers (“Two Hearts”), the disco detours (the Poolside summit “What’s on Your Mind”), the ascendent, Killers-sized anthems (“Next Summer”), the fiddle-kissed Nashville flirtations (“Imagine Barcelona”), and the brash ’n’ brassy soul sprints that nod to their longtime side hustle as a Motown cover band (“What Good?”).
But Arkells’ eclectic aesthetic is ultimately anchored by lead singer Max Kerman’s romantic and relatable slice-of-life songwriting, making Between Us a highly apt title for an album that’s committed to maintaining an intimate connection with listeners even as it’s aiming for the back rows of the arena.
