CAUSTIC COMMENTARY: Country Westerns, Feist, Janelle Monáe, Ben Folds, Gabriels & More

Another week goes by and another major cultural event drowns your timeline. If the Super Bowl taking place this past weekend wasn’t enough, a pregnant Rihanna came out to perform the halftime show. Between football fans arguing over that last call and almost every major music publication obsessing over the pop star’s newly announced pregnancy, the new music released this week had almost no chance of reaching your timeline. 

Glide has done the digging for you to yet again hand-select our favorite releases from the past week. Check out our picks below: 

Gabriels – Offering

Single 

For a preview of their highly-anticipated upcoming LP, the soulful trio of Gabriels debuted an unreleased song on the popular COLORS Youtube channel. The single features even more of the group’s harmonious take on modern R&B, a sparse piano melody that carries the instrumental as the vocalist croons with his fluctuating vocal tones. 

Janelle Monáe – Float 

Single

Janelle Monáe – Float (feat. Seun Kuti & Egypt 80) [Official Audio]

In her triumphant return, the multi-faceted talent Janelle Monáe releases her new trap-influenced single “Float”. Featuring Seun Kuti and Egypt 80, the bright, celebratory single has Monáe in a braggadocious mood as she flexes her new sense of self-assuredness and basks in the light of her accomplishments. 

Country Westerns – Speaking Ill of The Blues

Forgive the City

Coming off of the band’s highly anticipated sophomore LP, Country Westerns released the explosive single “Speaking Ill of The Blues”. Their new album, Forgive The City, is set to release on April 28 via Fat Possum Records and if this new single is any hint as to what the album will sound like, fans should be even more excited. 

Maxo – Free!

Even God Has A Sense Of Humor 

Maxo is gearing up to release the highly-anticipated follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2019, Lil Big Man. “Free!” follows up the album’s first single, “48”, released back in August last year. The new single features more of Maxo’s vulnerable songwriting and gruff delivery. 

Max Volante – Lust & Found <3

Single

If you’re unfamiliar with Max Volante, this is the single you need to turn you into a longtime fan. Volante is a multi-disciplined musician creating expansive pop music all on his own. His latest single, “Lust & Found” is his best release yet. The dense textures give way to a beautiful melody anchored by Volante’s poetic songwriting and cartoonish delivery. 

Feist – Hiding Out In The Open

Multitudes 

For her first album since 2017, Canadian crooner Feist is pulling out all the stops. Her new album Multitudes is set to release on April 14 via Polydor Records, the latest single has the artist belting out gentle melodies over an equally-soft chord progression plucked out in an acoustic-folk style. 

Zombie Juice – Hikari

Single

With his fellow Flatbush Zombie member Meechy Darko releasing his solo debut last year, Zombie Juice is also eyeing the solo spotlight. For his first single of 2023, the diverse Zombie Juice delivers a melodic single. Produced by the third Zombie, Erick The Architect, “Hikari” is the sinfully sweet love song has Juice crooning in a falsetto-like delivery. 

Ben Folds – Winslow Gardens 

What Matters Most

For his grand return to the spotlight, the optimistic Ben Folds is back with even more pop-rock anthems. His brand new album, What Matters Most, marks the artist’s first release since 2015 and comes out on June 2 via New West Records. The new single has the piano man banging out light-hearted melodies that are as bright as the sun. 

Bully & Soccer Mommy – Lose You

Single

With the grit of their vocals and the fuzz of their guitar strumming, the duo of Bully and Soccer Mommy captured lighting in a bottle on their new single. “Lose You” is a hard-rock-tinged single that has the two vocalists at their best, the up-tempo arrangement lies under their harsh delivery to create textures beyond convention. 

Omar Apollo – 3 Boys

Single

Following up on the success of his 2022 album, Ivory, Omar Apollo releases his slow-burning new single “3 Boys”. The single features Apollo at his best, his falsetto fills the room as the sparse and muted arrangement adds just enough color to finish the full picture. 

Mike Shabb & Nicholas Craven – Save The Joker

Single

Mike Shabb has been bubbling in the underground for years and 2022 seemed to be the year when his name drew the eyes of all. His highly acclaimed album, Sewaside II, brought a whole new audience to Shabb and this latest single continues his hot streak. Over the consistently-stellar production of Nicholas Craven, who had a hell of a 2022 in his own right, Shabb’s delivery toes the line of energetic and relaxed over a crooning, minimalistic sample. 

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