New & Upcoming Canadian Albums: Arcade Fire Announce First New Album Since Sexual Misconduct Accusations

This week's album release calendar includes a notable Canadian band attempting a comeback following sexual misconduct allegations.

The big record release news this week is the return of Arcade Fire, after an absence laced with controversy surrounding the alleged sexual abuse behaviour of frontman Win Butler (which he responded to in a statement). The Montreal and New Orleans-based indie rock band will release a new album, Pink Elephant, on May 9, their first in three years. Canadian producing legend Daniel Lanois co-produced with Arcade Fire principals Butler and Regine Chassagne, and they've released the first single "Year of the Snake."

This week, internationally-acclaimed soulful singer-songwriter Cold Specks returns after a long absence with her fourth studio album, Light for the Midnight. Indigenous roots stars Amanda Rheaume, with The Truth We Hold, and Crystal Shawanda, withSing Pretty Blues, also have new albums this week.

Niagara big band dynamo My Son The Hurricane are also back with Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, as are indie rock favourites Casper Skulls, with Kit-Cat, Quebec jazz meets avant-folk quintet l’Oumigmag, with Ce qui tourne dans l’air, and folk-rock veterans Captain Tractor, with an anniversary reissue of East of Edson. A star-studded lineup of guests pay tribute to Maritime star Joel Plaskett on Songs From The Gang - A Celebration of Joel Plaskett.

A handful of other acts have also announced new release dates, including Toronto roots-rock veterans Skydiggers, with Dreams & Second Chances, acclaimed Indigenous artist Celeigh Cardinal, with a deluxe edition of Boundless Possibilities, singer-songwriters Rebekah Hawker (Quit My Habit) and Common Holly, with Anything Glass, and blues star Steve Marriner.

Here is the full list of new and upcoming Canadian album releases.

April

3: Mark Thackway, Twisted

4: Sister Ray, Believer (Royal Mountain Records)

4: young friend, motorcycle sound effects (Nettwerk)

4: Lowest Of The Low, Over Years and Overnight (Sonic Envy)

4: stef.in, Icterus II

4: Melanie Fiona, Say Yes ( (LoveLinc/Public Records/Cadence Music Group)

4: Magi Merlin, Weird Little Dog

4: Kasador, Kasador 1

4: Thais, Personne (Bravo)

4: Dutch Nuggets, Fishbowl'd! (Thousand Islands Records/Bearded Punk Records)

4: Shraddha Pai and the Prismaticks,Into the Moonlight

4: Endray, S/T

8: Terry Gomes, Some Chunes

9: Cold Specks, Light for the Midnight (Secret City Records)

11: Amanda Rheaume, The Truth We Hold (Ishkōdé Records)

11: My Son The Hurricane, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow (Vegas Funeral Records)

11: Various Artists, Songs From The Gang - A Celebration of Joel Plaskett

11: Captain Tractor, East of Edson (Revisited), 30th Anniversary Edition

11: Tom Dunphy, Everything Was New

11: The Last Mile, Holding On To Hope

11:Mona Lissa Chanda, Queen of Games

11: Casper Skulls, Kit-Cat ( Next Door Records)

11: l’Oumigmag, Ce qui tourne dans l’air (Ronin Rhythm Records)

11: Crystal Shawanda, Sing Pretty Blues

11: Ostara, The Roots

17: Harkness , Ciao To The Beauty

18: GMINXR, Hit List (91 North Records)

18: Drew Smith, Leaf by Leaf

25: Digawolf, Trapline

25: Rachella Wred, Leave The Light On

25: Braden Lam, The Cloudmaker's Cry

25: Bells Larsen, Blurring Time (Royal Mountain)

25: Michael Cloud Duguay,Wobbly Yonder (Watch That Ends The Night)

25: Anthony OKS, Make Way

25: Matt Andersen, The Hammer & The Rose (Sonic Records)

25: 1001 Est Crémazie,S/T (We Are Busy Bodies)

25: Raf Reza, Ekbar (Telephone Explosion)

25: The Steve Holt Jazz Impact Quintet, IMPACT

25: Philippe Massé, Le Vent

25: Vivienne Wilder, Terrible Human

25: Richard Moody, Tobacco & Rose

25: LU KALA, No Tears On This Ride

25: Karneef, It’s How You Say It

25: Kyle McKearney, To The River

25: METÒ, Wed To The Moment

25: Heather Ferguson, Found

30: Jolie Laide, Creatures (Victory Pool)

May

1: Hermitess, Death & The Fool

2: Lights, A6

2: Kelly Bado, Belles âmes (Good People) (Odd Doll Records)

2: Lowest Of The Low, Over Years and Over Night (Sonic Envy)

2: PUP, Who Will Look After The Dogs?

2: Reuben and The Bullhorn Singers, All These Roads

9: Kate Maki, Impossible Knot

9: Hanorah, Closer Than Hell (Ensoul Records)

9: Kara-Lis Coverdale, From Where You Came (Envision Records)

9: Robert Thomas & The Sessionmen, The Way We Roll

9: Rube & Rake, Good Times After Bad (LHM Records)

9: Skydiggers, Dreams & Second Chances

9: Bibi Club, FEU DE GARDE (LES BRAISES)- Deluxe edition (Secret City)

15: Wardrobe, Common Touch

16: Ensign Broderick, Come Down and Mirror Ring

16: Alex Henry Foster, A Nightfall Ritual (Hopeful Tragedy)

16: Shawny - Go Go Stop -Music & Movement for Kids

16: Tanika Charles , Reasons To Stay

16: Dan Mangan, Natural Light ( Arts & Crafts)

16: EKKSTACY, forever

20: Gordon Tentrees & Jaxon Haldane, Double Take

23: David Celia , Organica (vinyl edition)

23: New Chance, A Rock Unsteady, (We Are Time)

23: Flara K. ,Seasons

23: Two Hours Traffic, I Never See You Anymore

23: Stephane Archambault, Point

25: Alexander Gallant, Rubber Monster Suit (Tibet Street Records)

27: Opal Dar, Birds Hurting Birds Who Hurt Birds

30: Amy Millan, I Went To Find You (Last Gang Records)

30: SamWoy, Even Sad Boys Like to Have Fun (Hidden Ship)

30: Foxwarren, 2 (Arts & Crafts)

June

6: Born Ruffians, Beauty’s Pride (Wavy Haze Records)

6: Suzie Ungerleider, Among the Evergreens (MVKA)

6: Mother Mother, Nostalgia(Warner Music)

6: Nadah El Shazly, Laini Tani (Backward Music)

6: Ken Yates, Total Cinema

6: The Knocks and Dragonette, Revelation (Neon Gold Records / Futures / Virgin)

6: Steve Marriner, Hear My Heart (Cordova Bay Records)

13:Common Holly, Anything Glass ( Paper Bag Records)

20: Sunshine Makers, The Sun Still Shines (Lovetown Records)

20: Celeigh Cardina, Boundless Possibilities - Deluxe Edition

20: Meggie Lennon, Desire Days ( Mothland)

25: The Souljazz Orchestra, Manifesto (vinyl)

August

29: The Beaches, No Hard Feelings (AWAL)

September

12: Camilla Sparksss, ICU Run (On The Camper Records)