Friday Favourites: The Best New Tracks of the Week 11/09/26

There's so much new music being released in the world these days that it's hard to keep up. Even if you consider yourself a music nerd, it's impossible to listen to the hundreds of new tracks dropping every week. That's why we're here to help.

The crew at The Note are constantly turning up the volume in the office, checking out all the latest tunes from local emerging artists right through to your favourite global superstars.

We want to make sure you stay ahead of the curve, so every Friday we are bringing you our favourite tracks of the week.

This week’s list features new music from The War on Drugs, The Phenomenal Handclap Band, Kings of Leon, Liars and more.

The War on Drugs – 'Who's That'

The first taste of new music from The War on Drugs in four years is pretty much what you'd expect from Adam Granduciel, who wrote and produced 'Who's That'.

This is five minutes of swirling synths and melodic guitars combined with Granduciel's signature vocals and nods to the '80s.

"'Who's That' was written in 10 minutes somewhere between first coffee and school drop-off," Granduciel said in a statement. "It's a song about trying to love yourself despite things we can't always control, like the anxiety, depression and self-doubt that may stand in the way of living the life."

The Phenomenal Handclap Band – 'Breaking Glass'

I remember seeing The Phenomenal Handclap Band live at The Corner Hotel in Melbourne circa January 2010. They appeared on stage like some kind of '60s hippie cult and proceeded to blow my mind with their psychedelic disco arrangements.

16 years later, the band, who have released music sporadically over the years, return with the sweet and sexy 'Breaking Glass', a song made for the dancefloor. It's taken from their upcoming album, and if the record is half as enjoyable as this, The Phenomenal Handclap Band are onto a winner.

Danielle Ponder – 'God of You'

Just a month out from the release of Danielle Ponder's Everything is Changed, the lawyer-turned-singer has shared her new single 'God of You'.

Inspired in part by Screamin' Jay Hawkins' classic 'I Put a Spell on You', 'God of You' is a powerful ballad exploring how love can often make us blind to red flags.

The song is accompanied by a music video directed by Fede Kortez, shot in Dakar, Senegal, that you can check out below.

Kings of Leon – 'My Whole World'

Kings of Leon trade stadium rock for acoustic Americana on their latest track 'My Whole World'.

The song is from their upcoming tenth studio album, O My Beloved, which the lads have described as a nostalgic journey looking back on the people and places that have shaped the band.

It's not a complete return to their roots, but the Followill family have always had a knack for writing ballads ('Milk' anyone?), so if this is what we can expect from O My Beloved, that's fine by us.

Ricky Albeck – 'Spend the Night'

We're big supporters of Ricky Albeck, so it was a given that he's latest track would wind up in our weekly wrap.

'Spend the Night' is a gorgeous, moody and ultimately sad song about missing your ex – something we can all relate to.

Bonus points for Tom Spall's violin playing and Ella Ion's harmonies.

Two thumbs up.

total tommy – 'Tailgate'

Head back to the '90s with total tommy's (aka Jess Holt) gloomy 'Tailgate', the latest release from her upcoming sophomore album, Trapezoid.

Get lost in the Melbourne-born, Sydney-based singer-songwriter and instrumentalist's sea of crashing guitars and pulverising feedback.

This is the best kind of scuzzy grunge-inspired rock.

Coco Elise – 'Sadie'

Following the release of singles 'Porcelain Tiles', 'Avoid Your Stare' and 'Rest My Tyres', all taken from Coco Elise's upcoming new LP The longest bridge in the world, the Perth product has dropped the nostalgia-driven 'Sadie'.

Written after a breakup, the track features Elise's gentle vocals floating over the light guitar riff as friends Harry, Jacob and Charlotte play soothing horns.

Another winner from Elise.

The Lemonheads – 'Rake'

If you didn't know from his music, The Lemonheads' Evan Dando is a big Townes Van Zandt fan. So big, in fact, that The Lemonheads are releasing a Townes Van Zandt tribute album, with this cover of 'Rake' giving music lovers a small insight into what to expect.

One of Dando's favourite Van Zandt songs, the track has been described as "a timeless reflection on truth and simplicity", with this version featuring the legendary Almir Sater on viola, bringing together American folk and Brazilian rhythms for this match made in heaven.

Andrea Dawson ft. Dave Gleeson – 'Poker Face'

Discovered by UK-based Australian producer and musician Gwyn Ashton, alongside drummer Travis Dragani, South Aussie Andrea Dawson is a throwback to the hearty vocalists of yesteryear, with her latest release, 'Poker Face', a gritty rock and roller.

A song about reclaiming your identity after years of emotional abuse, 'Poker Face' is a powerful tale of survival.

The track also sees Dawson joined by The Screaming Jet's Dave Gleeson, who fits nicely alongside Dawson's compelling vocals.

Slayyyter – 'crank 2'

Following her dynamite 2025 single 'CRANK', Slayyyter returns with the sequel, 'crank 2'.

The throbbing Jersey beat is made for the rave, with Slayyyter using the lyrics to admonish a cheating ex.

"He had the sickest bitch, fucked it up what a sucker / He think he run culture, but bitch, I run it," she reveals on the first verse. Take that!

Rumoured to be taken from her upcoming album Wor$t Man in America, 'crank 2' continues Slayyyter's global reach.

Liars – 'Ice Pick, Kalamazoo'

In the mid-00s, Liars were a big deal. They flew out of the gate with several incredible records before vanishing into the indie wasteland. Kind of.

While they have continued to release records, with the output varying from great to meh, the fanbase just hasn't maintained the rage, but that might change with the new single 'Ice Pick, Kalamazoo'.

A pleasant return to form from Aussie Angus Andrew (the man behind Liars), 'Ice Pick, Kalamazoo' is a probing synth nightmare inspired by the protests he was involved with against a large company dumping dangerous waste while living in Kalamazoo, Michigan (he's now back in Australia).

Taken from the band's upcoming eleventh studio album, A Ban On Plastic Bag Bans, fans can expect a collection of politically charged songs in the same vein as 'Ice Pick, Kalamazoo'.

Slipknot – 'Arsenal'

The new era of Slipknot arrives with 'Arsenal', a big slap to the face of pummeling percussion, DJ scratches and vocalist Corey Taylor's defiant scream, which remains as impactful as ever.

It continues the band's willingness to experiment with their tried-and-tested sound, especially during the first half of the song, which sounds like System of a Down meets Limp Bizkit.

The only question is whether old-school fans of the mask-wearing ensemble dig 'Arsenal'?