The Commoners are on track for another banner year with the release of their highly anticipated third studio album, “Restless”. Released by Gypsy Soul Records on July 5th, 2024, the highly anticipated new album features ten tracks that grip your senses and make you groove.
Following their critically acclaimed 2022 sophomore album “Find a Better Way”, the Canadian Roots-Rock quintet continue their dedicated musical journey to provide listeners with a hearty dose of Southern-style swagger accentuated with slide guitar, organ swell, and heartfelt vocals.
“The Way I Am”, the second single taken from the new album, will be released digitally on Friday 26th January 2024. The song is available on all streaming platforms here, with the music video now streaming below.
Kicking through the speaker with high energy and grit, “The Way I Am” bears an unapologetically wild spirit, effectively setting a tone that matches the album’s edgy theme. Chris Medhurst’s lead vocals plead and pry over Ben Spiller’s pulsing bass and Adam Cannon’s rhythmic percussion, steering the verses into a true rock n’ roll chorus supported by rich harmonies and wailing riffs.
Combined with Ross Hayes Citrullo’s infectious guitar riffs, the new single delivers a second helping of anthemic, guitar-driven rock. It’s the perfect follow-up to the previous single, “Devil Teasin’ Me” which proved immensely popular on British classic rock radio including a 10-week run and over 90 spins on Planet Rock.
At just over three and a half minutes long, “The Way I Am” rocks from top to bottom, fueled by a band whose performances. As Devils Gate Music says, “it’s a riotous celebration of life”.
A natural evolution from their 2022 album “Find a Better Way”, “Restless” offers a peek behind the curtain of success, revealing the grueling routines and ragged emotions that hide behind the glamorous aesthetic of a rock band on the rise. With introspective, slower-tempo numbers pocketed amongst rip-roaring anthems, the new album, recorded at RHC Music in Toronto, is a portrait of a hardworking group revitalizing a classic genre.
“As with our previous album, we wanted to marry old and new southern rock together in a way that was unique to the band’s Canadian roots”, says the Commoners guitarist and producer Ross Hayes Citrullo. “By adding the soul and rock elements of The Black Crowes, and the southern blues rock undertones of The Allman Brothers to a production style akin to Blackberry Smoke and Rival Sons, I think we developed an authentic sound that compares sonically to some of our favourite records across all of those music genres”.
With 2023 rounding out a busy year of recording and touring the UK, in support of none other than Grammy-nominated duo Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton, The Commoners are an act to keep tabs on. The release of “Restless” will see the quintet greeting the road once more in 2024, with two UK festivals (Steelhouse and Maid of Stone) already slated for July, and more dates to be announced in the coming weeks. From the speakers to the stage, one thing is certain: The Commoners are ushering in a party rock renaissance, and we’re all invited.
Pre-order “Restless” here.
Tracklist:
1. Devil Teasin’ Me (4.25)
2. Shake You Off (4.00)
3. The Way I Am (3.42)
4. Restless (5.17)
5. Gone Without Warning (7.07)
6. Who Are You (Ain’t Knocked Down) (4.15)
7. Body and Soul (5.34)
8. See You Again (4.42)
9. Too Soon to Know You (5.11)
10. All That We Have (3.20)
Track by Track:
“Devil Teasin’ Me”: A bonafide banger with anthemic group vocals and electric riffs, “Devil Teasin’ Me” captures self-reckoning wrapped up in rock ’n’ roll. Lush background voices lend heat to the chorus, supporting Medhurst through a feverish performance.
“Shake You Off”: Gutsy guitar and driving percussion push “Shake You Off” from the speakers, initiating a gripping track that will have heads bobbing from start to finish. Punchy bass and searing organ pierce the arrangement, rousing listeners to a fever pitch as The Commoners attempt to break loose from restraints.
“The Way I Am”: A rowdy riff catapults The Commoners into “The Way I Am”, joined by kick drum thuds that strike the chest, immersing the listener in a track made for stadiums. Tension builds into an infectious chorus spiked with vocal support by Sandra Bouza. A guaranteed hit, “The Way I Am” sees The Commoners united in conviction, playing with the confidence of a band that knows exactly who they are.
“Restless”: Delicate picks and strums open “Restless”, lending a subtle Celtic feel to the track which evolves into a flourishing arrangement with piano and harmonic guitar accents. Within “Restless”, The Commoners unpack life on the road, folding the struggle and discomfort of pursuing a dream into a show-stopping number.
“Gone Without Warning”: A gritty riff puts fire under “Gone Without Warning”, launching The Commoners into a track that boils over with tension. Featuring a heavy hitting chorus with soulful backing vocals by Chantal Williams, the track is further elevated by the combined voices of bassist Ben Spiller and drummer Adam Cannon.
“Who Are You (Ain’t Knocked Down)”: Crunchy guitar cuts through the speakers, accented by stark percussion, and piano in this true party rock anthem. Certain to raise listeners to their feet, “Who Are You” features peppy organ alongside call and response vocals that kick this confrontational track into overdrive.
“Body and Soul”: Ambient slide guitar and viscous drones set the tone for a smoky and sultry number with a masterful arrangement that goes down smooth. Throbbing with rhythmic bass and percussion, “Body and Soul” traps The Commoners in a tangle of temptation.
“See You Again”: A true roots-rocker, “See You Again” is an ode to love and loss, good times and memories made, featuring a chorus fit for kicking up dust on the backroads with the windows down. Full-bodied acoustic guitar guides this track through contemplation to celebration.
“Too Soon to Know You”: Lively organ and crisp guitar support a soaring top line in this reflective track that wonders what might have been. Stirred by nostalgia, singer Chris Medhurst reminisces about a bond broken by time, offering a listen that will surely inspire a trip down memory lane.
“All That We Have”: Resonant acoustic guitar pairs with an honest vocal performance by Chris Medhurst for a reflective, poignant track. Lyrically centered around acceptance and finding peace through life’s troubles and existential anxieties, “All That We Have” is a tender affirmation of support.
Festivals 2024:
19-21 July 2024 – Maid of Stone Festival – Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent
28 July 2024 – Steelhouse Festival – Ebbw Vale, Gwent, Wales
Line-up:
Chris Medhurst – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Ross Hayes Citrullo – Lead Guitar
Ben Spiller – Bass, Vocals, Piano (“Who Are You”, “Gone Without Warning”)
Adam Cannon – Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Miles Evans-Branagh – Organ, Rhodes, Piano (“See You Again, Restless”, “Too Soon to Know You”)
Chantal Williams, Nicki Lawrence, Sandra Bouza – Backing Vocals
Album credits:
All songs written by The Commoners
Produced by Ross Hayes Citrullo and The Commoners
Executive Producer – Renan Yildizdogan
Recorded at RHC Music, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Album mixed by Ross Hayes Citrullo and Renan Yildizdogan (RYCH)
Engineers – Ross Hayes Citrullo, Ben Spiller, Adam Cannon, Renan Yildizdogan
Assistant Engineers – Adil Batty, Ben Byck, Jon Savard, Dylan Davis, Emily Goguen
Mastered by Pete Lyman at Infrasonic Mastering, Nashville, Tennessee
