Between Us

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.