If you've ever seen Arkells live in concert, you'll surely know the Ontario outfit do not shy away from putting their spin on some of popular music's most beloved hits. Now, they've collected a few of their favs for a new covers album.
The band will share Disco Loadout on May 17 via Universal Music Canada, and as they explain, the album's title refers to "a very humbling act" in The Biz™ that they and countless other performing artists have experienced.
"Sometimes when you're on tour, you might pull up to a venue to find there is a later show happening the same night," Arkells explain. "The promoter, looking at his spreadsheet, has decided that it makes financial sense to book two separate shows on the same night. Your band is playing the early show, and when you are finished, you must load your gear down the stairs and out the door while a lineup of people [wait] to get into the venue for the next show. The later show is usually a cover band performing songs that everyone knows and likes. We have been humbled by this in the past and instead of living with the embarrassment, we have performed and recorded these songs for you. We're taking the term back."
The 11-song tracklist, which you can find below, features covers of songs by Robyn, the Jackson 5, Hall & Oates, Harry Styles, Peter Gabriel, Dolly Parton, Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen, Huey Lewis and the News and ABBA.
The collection's album art indicates that this is only Volume 1, so we'll be sure to keep our eyes out for Volume 2.
Pre-save and pre-order Disco Loadout.
Disco Loadout:
1. Dancing on My Own (Robyn)
2. I Want You Back (Jackson 5)
3. You Make My Dreams (Hall and Oates)
4. As It Was (Harry Styles)
5. Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel)
6. Gimme Gimme Gimme (ABBA)
7. 9 to 5 (Dolly Parton)
8. I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Whitney Houston)
9. Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen)
10. The Power of Love (Huey Lewis and the News)
11. Dancing Queen (ABBA)