Partisan Records releases Craig Finn’s new album, I Need A New War arriving Friday, April 26. The third album in a trilogy (following 2015’s Faith in the Future and 2017’s We All Want The Same Things), I Need A New War once again sees Finn expertly chronicling our complex, often confusing, modern era, drawing deeply felt character studies about regular people trying to respond to extraordinary times, attempting to find connection whilst wondering how to keep pace with a world moving faster than they are. The LP further finds Finn focusing his lens on New York City – his home for the last 18 years.

“Going in, I saw this record as the third part of a trilogy,” says Finn. “Thematically, this was the third group of songs that I had written about smaller moments - people trying to stay afloat in modern times, attempting to find connection, achieving tiny triumphs and frustrating let downs in their day to day lives.”

Finn’s fourth solo LP was recorded throughout 2018 at The Isokon in Woodstock, NY with producer Josh Kaufman and engineer D. James Goodwin, both of whom teamed with Finn on his widely acclaimed previous solo releases. In addition, the album features musical contributions from many of his regular solo collaborators, including Kaufman, horn master Stuart Bogie (Antibalas), pianist Sam Kassirer, vocalists Annie Nero and Cassandra Jenkins, and drummer extraordinaire Joe Russo.

“Perhaps forward motion is everything,” says Finn. “The characters in the songs on this record, and the last two, are trying to keep up and keep their heads above water. They succeed or they don’t, but their stories are the tales of their attempts at pushing ahead. And so, with my own push forward, I feel lucky and excited to be sharing these songs and stories.”

Perhaps best known as the singer of The Hold Steady, Craig Finn is a Minnesota-bred singer-songwriter and guitarist based in New York City. With his highly descriptive lyrical style and a defining focus on narrative, Finn has crafted whole worlds for the people in his songs to exist within. After five critically acclaimed albums with The Hold Steady, 2012 saw Finn release his first solo album, Clear Heart Full Eyes prompting The AV Club to write, “As a solo artist, Finn has created a new world of characters and songs...working in new sonic territory while still sounding like the same old storyteller obsessed with falls from grace and calls for redemption.”

Finn will support I Need A New War with a North American and European live schedule. He tours the UK in support of Brian Fallon on the following dates.

5 FEB 2019 / UK / Newcastle / Wylam Brewery*

6 FEB 2019 / UK / Edinburgh / The Queen’s Hall*

7 FEB 2019 / UK / Manchester / Albert Hall*

8 FEB 2019 / UK / London / Union Chapel*

9 FEB 2019 / UK / London / Union Chapel*

22 FEB 2019 / UK / Cambridge / The Junction*

23 FEB 2019 / UK / Brighton / St George’s Church*

24 FEB 2019 / UK / Bath / Komedia*

25 FEB 2019 / UK / Cardiff / Tramshed*

26 FEB 2019 / UK / Manchester / Albert Hall*

27 FEB 2019 / IE / Dublin / Academy*

8 MAR 2019 / UK / London / Electric Ballroom / The Weekender^

9 MAR 2019 / UK / London / Electric Ballroom / The Weekender^

10 MAR 2019 / UK / London / Oslo / The Weekender^

* supporting Brian Fallon

^ with The Hold Steady

The Hot Five – My favourite new tracks of the week, usually rounded off with a classic, obscure or alternate track from my music collection.

Track of the week: David Bowie – ‘Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)’

David Bowie premiered new song 'Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)' on BBC Radio 6 show Guy Garvey’s Finest Hour on Sunday. The track, which features on forthcoming compilation Nothing Has Changed, is a heavily jazz-influenced Bowie classic. The first new material since 2013’s comeback album The Next Day was recorded over the summer in New York with producer Tony Visconti and the Maria Schneider Orchestra. 'Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)' is due to be released on 10-inch vinyl and digital download on November 17 alongside Nothing Has Changed.

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – ‘In The Heat Of The Moment’

I can’t say that I’ve ever been a massive fan of Noel Gallagher’s post-Oasis releases. Having said that, the band’s new single ‘In The Heat Of The Moment’ demonstrates that Noel has clearly still got the ability to write a great hook or two. The single was announced this week along with details of a UK tour and new album, and Noel Gallagher also stated in a Facebook Q&A on Monday “I’ll headline Glastonbury if I’m asked”, having previously had a hit-and-miss association with the festival when headlining with Oasis in 1995 and 2004.  The High Flying Birds’ new album, Chasing Yesterday, will be released on March 2 2015.

Sego – ‘Wicket Youth’

Now we’ve got the more obvious tracks of the week out of the way, here’s something rather interesting. Taken from their debut EP of the same name, ‘Wicket Youth’ is a memorable example of intelligent electronic indie-pop from L.A-via-Utah newcomers Sego. Cheeky synth melodies compliment rhythmic interest in guitar parts and a melody that is carried fantastically by a strong vocal performance. The Wicket Youth EP will be released on October 27 via French label Kitsuné

Aubergine MACHINE – ‘Sundown’

Last week we had Bass Drum of Death, now I give you the (also) fantastically named Aubergine MACHINE. This electropop duo hails from Florida, and consists of producer Ian Carey (anyone remember ‘Get Shaky’ from 2008?) and vocalist Shanti Ellis. Here the duo creates a refreshing sound for this genre; this is a song driven by vocal melodies and synth hooks, but with clever rhythms and an evolving arrangement that helps to create a stimulating listening experience.

Hidden track of the week: The Hold Steady – ‘How A Resurrection Really Feels’

Currently powering their way through their latest UK tour in support of their new album Teeth Dreams, any Hold Steady fan will impressed and excited by the band’s recent set lists. Playing a range of material from all six of their albums, you can catch The Hold Steady live in the UK until October 23. ‘How A Resurrection Really Feels’ is the closing track to the band’s second LP, concept album Separation Sunday, and was the final song of their set at Birmingham’s O2 Academy on Monday night.

You can follow Tom on twitter @tom_fake