Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Drums Week 25
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Guitar Pedals
  • Guitar Amps
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Artist news
  • Drums
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About Us
More
  • Santana on Beck
  • Friday, I'm in Love
  • Knopfler's 4-note secret
  • 95k+ free music samples
Recommended reading
Clem Burke, Ancienne Belgique (AB), Brussels, Belgium, November 1998
Drummers Clem Burke's 10 essential drum albums
Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson backstage at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 17, 2009 in Palm Desert, California
Recording “They all remind me of certain times in my life”: McCartney names his all time top three albums
Lifeguard's Kai Slater, Isaac Lowenstein and Asher Case
Artists Lifeguard on abstract noise and pop hooks – and the creative epiphanies behind their stellar debut
Exodus Gary Holt
Bands "It might have been like 12 people there”: Exodus’ Gary Holt pulls zero punches in his new autobiography
Brent Smith of Shinedown performs during the US rockers' Dance, Kid, Dance Tour 2025.
Artists Shinedown’s Brent Smith on finding inspiration in a hurricane and why you don’t need to be play guitar to write a great song
James Hetfield
Artists “I spent six months listening only to AC/DC”: How Metallica created their 30 million selling monster hit
Taylor Swift and Max Martin
Artists Taylor Swift on how she threw down the creative gauntlet to Max Martin for new album The Life Of A Showgirl
  1. Artists
  2. Singers & Songwriters

Arkells: The 10 records that blew my mind

News
By Simon Arblaster ( Future Music ) published 16 September 2016

The albums that have floated lead singer Max Kerman's boat

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Max Kerman

Max Kerman

Not to be confused with the UK-based brewery, Canadian alt-rockers Arkells took their name from the street where they originally lived and practised in Hamilton, Ontario.

Fast forward nearly a decade and the band have two EPs and now four albums under their belt. We caught up with lead vocalist Max Kerman to discuss the latest release, Morning Report, and to pick out the singer’s 10 favourite records of all time.

Morning Report has surprised some people with its more intimate vibe. Was that a conscious decision, or something that happened more naturally?

“Let me tell you, making a record is a real pain in the ass. Each part is laboured over: first the lyrics, chords, melody and arrangement. Then you’ve got to figure out how to record it in a way that represents the first part.

“Recording can take a while and be hard. Then you have to mix it and argue about that for a while. But, we had this batch of songs that we were so excited about that we couldn’t deny ourselves. The tunes literally compelled us to dig in and get that work done.

“You go through all of that (sometimes beautiful) agony, so that one day we could hear it back as a finalised work. And when that day comes, it’s just the greatest thing ever.

“My attitude is that you chase down whatever compels you to write a song. If it’s slower and more intimate, so be it. I think there are a good variety of songs on the record, but I’ve definitely grown more comfortable with talking about intimate subjects.”

There's a clear hip-hop influence coming through now, too...

“I like how cheeky hip-hop can be. There’s a sense of humour that hip-hop can get away with that often times rock ‘n’ roll doesn’t even attempt.

“Personally, the ‘white-dude-singing-about-his-sad-problems’ is pretty trite, and I sometimes feel like I’m just a parody of that. That’s where the cheeky stuff comes in - Private School, Hung Up, Drake’s Dad, Round and Round have some of that hip-hop spirit to them.”

Is there any one thing that your 10 records have in common? How directly have they influenced your songwriting and sound?

“With all these records, there are common threads that connect them all. To me, Chance The Rapper fills a very similar place in my head that Bruce Springsteen does. They both talk about community, family. They’re each amazing storytellers and they both have so much soul.

“I love to find similarities between music and embrace those things. Wilco and Kanye both push the walls around their genre. Katy Perry and Motown both write immaculate pop songs that go down so easy.

“These records are part of my musical DNA, and I’ve taken nuggets from all of these acts and injected them into Arkells songs.”

Following a summer of festivals, including making first time appearances at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza and Firefly Music Festival in North America and Highfields in Germany, the band take to the road once again on a European run in November 2016. This comes hot on the heels of the band supporting Frank Turner across the USA.

  • November 23: Molotow - Hamburg, GER
  • November 24: PBHF Club - Berlin, GER
  • November 26: Storm - Munich, GER
  • November 27: Luxor - Cologne, GER
  • November 29: Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen - London, UK
  • November 30: Gullivers - Manchester, UK
  • December 2: Broadcast - Glasgow, UK

For more information, check out the Arkells official website.

Page 1 of 11
Page 1 of 11
1. Bruce Springsteen - Greetings From Asbury Park

1. Bruce Springsteen - Greetings From Asbury Park

“His first! There are many amazing Springsteen records, but I love how raw this one is. The band is already smoking hot, but it feels young and raggedy in a great way.

“Asbury often gets overlooked, which is crazy to me because, firstly, it has Blinded By The Light, which is way better than the Manfred Mann version; secondly, it has the most underrated Boss tune of all time - For You; and thirdly, it features my personal favourite Springsteen tune of all time - Spirit In The Night.

“I know he was compared to Dylan on this record, but I hear a lot more Van Morrison on this record. So much soul.”

Page 2 of 11
Page 2 of 11
2. Kanye West - My Beautiful Twisted Dark Fantasy/Watch The Throne

2. Kanye West - My Beautiful Twisted Dark Fantasy/Watch The Throne

“I’m putting these two together because it’s my favourite creative run an artist has ever had. Kanye is my favourite modern artist. Each record is part of an evolution. Each is unpredictable and exciting.

“These two records are the best combination of arty-Kanye and bangers-Kanye. Otis, No Church In The Wild, All Of The Lights, Power… He combines electronic, soul and hip-hop so effortlessly.”

Page 3 of 11
Page 3 of 11
3. The Best Of Motown 1960s - Volume 1

3. The Best Of Motown 1960s - Volume 1

“Normally greatest hits albums don’t count, but we make a special exception for Motown. Most of these songs were written by the same group of writers in the same house in Detroit.

“My dad went to University there and played all of these songs as a DJ at the college radio station. He kept those crates of LPs with him and, decades later, I would play them on our record player in the kitchen.

“If I can trace my fondness for pop music, it comes back to the songs of Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Supremes etc.”

Page 4 of 11
Page 4 of 11
4. The Beatles - Abbey Road

4. The Beatles - Abbey Road

“I could choose a different Beatles record depending on the day of the week. I literally wrote down Revolver to start this column and then changed my mind.

“They’re divine. Like, literally not from this planet. Between George’s two transcendent tunes (Something, Here Comes The Sun), Paul’s medley and John’s Come Together. You’ve got everything you need in a Beatles LP.”

Page 5 of 11
Page 5 of 11
5. Chance The Rapper - Coloring Book

5. Chance The Rapper - Coloring Book

“Nothing has excited me in music lately in the way Chance has. I am in awe. He embodies what I love about music. He talks about family, his community, relationships, politics. He’s funny.

“The production has so much soul. He’s not using a ton of samples - he’s using hot-shit soul players. There’s not a dud on this record. Top to bottom it’s the most cohesive thing I’ve heard in awhile.”

Page 6 of 11
Page 6 of 11
6. The Band - Rock Of Ages

6. The Band - Rock Of Ages

“I usually don’t like live records, but this album slays. The Last Waltz gets more attention, but I love the quality of these recordings. The horn arrangements give so much life to these songs.

“I love The Band because you get three lead singers, all with totally unique and expressive voices. Also, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down is a top 10 song of all time.”

Page 7 of 11
Page 7 of 11
7. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

7. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

“This record was really formative for me when Arkells formed. It was a record I didn’t understand at first, but had me coming back for more. The music was familiar but also very mysterious. Each time I listened there was something to discover. Very experimental layers on top of very traditional songs.

“I watched the accompanying documentary, I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, and it almost scared me out of being in a band because of how intense Tweedy had become during that time.”

Page 8 of 11
Page 8 of 11
8. Haim - Days Are Gone

8. Haim - Days Are Gone

“This debut is pretty spectacular. The song arrangements are spot on. The lyrics aren’t necessarily at the forefront for me, but the way they sing each syllable is so affecting. So fun!

“It’s as if Fleetwood Mac made a record with the Backstreet Boys and then gave it to Ariel Rechtshaid to produce it.”

Page 9 of 11
Page 9 of 11
9. Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever Amen

9. Ben Folds Five - Whatever and Ever Amen

“There has never been a band before like BFF and there hasn’t been one since. I know piano rock ain’t cool (and they’d be the first to admit it), but these recordings are more punk rock to me than most punk rock I hear today.

“The storytelling in each song is so honest. There are hooks everywhere. The bangers make me rage, and the ballads make me cry.

“Also, can you imagine seeing this band at a 250-capacity club? A dude on a grand piano beating the hell out of the keys. Must’ve been incredible.”

Page 10 of 11
Page 10 of 11
10. Katy Perry - Teenage Dream

10. Katy Perry - Teenage Dream

“The first four tunes on this record - the title track, TGIF, California Gurls and Fireworks - are all pop masterpieces. Lately I haven’t been that impressed with the ‘song of the summer’ - iit’s a tough feat to pull off and Uptown Funk was my last true favourite - but this record has four of them.

“Teenage Dream is the perfect song. Incredible and evocative lyrics, and immaculately produced. I am not above any genre of music.”

Page 11 of 11
Page 11 of 11
Simon Arblaster
Simon Arblaster
Social Links Navigation
Video Producer & Reviews Editor

I take care of the reviews on MusicRadar and Future Music magazine, though can sometimes be spotted in front of a camera talking little sense in the presence of real musicians. For the past 30 years, I have been unable to decide on which instrument to master, so haven't bothered. Currently, a lover of all things high-gain in the guitar stakes and never one to resist churning out sub-standard funky breaks, the likes of which you'll never hear.

All-access artist interviews, in-depth gear reviews, essential production tutorials and much more. image
All-access artist interviews, in-depth gear reviews, essential production tutorials and much more.
Get the latest issue now!
More Info
Read more
Clem Burke, Ancienne Belgique (AB), Brussels, Belgium, November 1998
Clem Burke's 10 essential drum albums
Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson backstage at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 17, 2009 in Palm Desert, California
“They all remind me of certain times in my life”: McCartney names his all time top three albums
Lifeguard's Kai Slater, Isaac Lowenstein and Asher Case
Lifeguard on abstract noise and pop hooks – and the creative epiphanies behind their stellar debut
Exodus Gary Holt
"It might have been like 12 people there”: Exodus’ Gary Holt pulls zero punches in his new autobiography
Brent Smith of Shinedown performs during the US rockers' Dance, Kid, Dance Tour 2025.
Shinedown’s Brent Smith on finding inspiration in a hurricane and why you don’t need to be play guitar to write a great song
James Hetfield
“I spent six months listening only to AC/DC”: How Metallica created their 30 million selling monster hit
Latest in Singers & Songwriters
Bruce Springsteen in 1975
"I wanted to make the greatest rock record that I'd ever heard": How Bruce Springsteen saved his career with Born To Run
Bruce Springsteen
“There’s a lot of good music left”: Springsteen releases Born To Run out-take onto streaming platforms
Pino Palladino and Miley Cyrus
How Pino Palladino turned the demo bassline in Miley Cyrus’s End of the World into something "so much better"
Bowie in 1974
“When Bowie lived with me, he said, 'You gotta keep changing’”: The singer whose band stopped him recording with Bowie
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - MAY 18: Gryffin performs on stage during Preakness LIVE At Preakness 149 hosted by 1/ST in the Infield at Pimlico Race Course on May 18, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images for 1/ST )
EDM DJ Gryffin on the moment he learned he’d been duped into performing with a fake Justin Bieber
Calvin Harris and Miley Cyrus
Calvin Harris shuts down talk of a feud with Miley Cyrus after teasing a new song
Latest in News
Bruce Springsteen
“There’s a lot of good music left”: Springsteen releases Born To Run out-take onto streaming platforms
Beatie Wolfe and Brian Eno
“A strange new land with a human living and feeling its way through its mysterious spaces”: Welcome to Brian Eno and Beatie Wolfe’s new album
Josh Homme
What’s on Josh Homme’s to-do list when Queens Of The Stone Age play Sheffield next week?
Pino Palladino and Miley Cyrus
How Pino Palladino turned the demo bassline in Miley Cyrus’s End of the World into something "so much better"
Paul Mccartney Smoking A Cigarette At London In England On June 19Th 1967
“We decided that our audiences would come along with us”: Paul McCartney on how the avant garde influenced the Beatles
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who perform at Parco Della Musica on July 22, 2025 in Milan, Italy
The Who are forced to postpone Philly date on final US tour due to “illness”

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...