Another shortened work week somehow feels like the longest week in recent memory. As the days crawled by, the main motivator was to get to this point, another Friday of brand-new albums and singles to explore. While it may have seemed like a slow week for releases, the final day of the typical workweek is here to spread its magic and gift us with a plethora of new music. From some of the brightest young stars like Dominic Fike and Gabriels to living legends like PJ Harvey and Tony Allen, this Friday has a little something for everyone.
Check out Glide’s picks for the best new music released this week;
Florry – “Take My Heart”
The Holy Bible
Philadelphia’s own twangy sensation is back with the second single for their anticipated new LP. “Take My Heart” puts the charm of Florry on full display, an acoustic guitar is plucked gently over the cartoonish and infectious vocals that deliver a mystical melody. Their album, The Holy Bible is set to be released on August 4 via Dear Life Records.
KennyHoopla – “T SHIRT”
BLINK AND YOULL MISS IT – EP
The latest release from pop-punk’s most underappreciated asset has KennyHoopla teaming up with Travis Baker for a quick yet potent three-song EP. “T SHIRT” is the most memorable and ferocious of the batch, an unpredictable tempo keeps the momentum from slowing down while Hoopla’s signature vocals square dance with the sporadic arrangement.
Dominic Fike – “Frisky”
Sunburn
Originally previewed via Dominic Fike’s Instagram over two years ago, “Frisky” is finally ours to put on repeat and scream around the house. Red Hot Chilli Peppers makes an uncredited appearance as Fike’s razor-sharp tongue switches from stadium-sized roars to slick rapping with a sparse yet hard-hitting arrangement driven by bouncy acoustics. Fike’s sophomore album Sunburn has arrived and is better than anyone could have predicted.
Gabriels – “Great Wind”
Angels & Queens
The second half of soul trio Gabriel’s proper debut album is finally here and brought with it more era-blending soul music. “Great Wind” is an intimate journey through the many layers of Gabriels’ talent, a subtle arrangement slowly builds, switching from a gentle piano ballad to a southern fried soul explosion with vocalist Jacob Lusk cutting through it all with their powerful, elastic vocal cords. Angels & Queens is 50 minutes of mind-bending soul you can’t skip over.
PJ Harvey – “Autumn Term”
I Inside The Old Year Dying
For the first time since 2016, the legendary PJ Harvey has returned with a brand new set of songs. After weeks of anticipation and some terrific singles, I Inside The Old Year Dying is here in its full glory with “Autumn Term” standing out amongst the rest. The gently-delivered ballad toys with the tropes of folk to make the arrangement unique to Harvey as she croons her moving poetry over a rolling piano and soft cymbal taps.
Gus Dapperton – “Phases”
Henge
Every time we get a new album from the bedroom-pop-hopeful turned superstar Gus Dapperton, it seems like we’re getting introduced to the artist for the first time. Henge is the lush new LP from Dapperton that finds the artist leaning on plush synth chords and immovable arrangements with “Phases” leading the charge. The song features a wall-of-sound style production with cloud-like chords helping elevate Dapperton’s angelic vocals.
Tony Allen – “Steady Tremble”
Tony Allen JID018
It has been three years since we lost the great Tony Allen yet his music continues to impact new generations and survive the test of time. The latest installment from Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad’s Jazz Is Dead album series features Allen whose historic discography just got a little more colorful. The album centers around Allen’s historic and hypnotic drum patterns with “Steady Tremble” putting a halt on discussions of anything else that was released today. A funky arrangement that finds its sturdiness in the same place it finds its unpredictability, through a series of pounding drum patterns and off-kilter basslines giving “Steady Tremble” its unique tones.
Local Natives – “Featherweight”
Time Will Wait For No One
The time has finally arrived for the new Local Natives album to be released into the wild and its tame nature is ushering us into a relaxing weekend. The 10-track LP has the band dancing while crying through sentimental lyrics that are matched with sparse yet exciting arrangements. “Featherweight” puts the best parts of Time Will Wait For No One on full display, every element melts over each other to create a consistently emotional and lyrical dense track that demands to be put on repeat. Time Will Wait For No One is out now.
Little Dragon – “Glow” (Feat. Damon Albarn)
Slugs of Love
The unpredictable yet wildly entertaining electronic group Little Dragon has released its latest LP in its full beauty. “Glow” is the Damon Albarn-assisted ballad that only Little Dragon could conjure up, a mystical exploration into the relationship between ambiance and intimacy. The vocals lead the charge as the arrangement ever so subtly expands into an entire universe right before our eyes, allowing “Glow” to transform to fit the mood expressed by its vocalist.
ANOHNI – “Rest”
My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross
Thanks to the good people over at Secretly Canadian, the virtuosic ANOHNI is back with their first solo album since 2016. My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross puts their baritone vocals and natural lyrical ability on full display with “Rest” packing such a hard punch with its moving words and slow-burning arrangement. The song explodes into a sleek guitar solo but not before ANOHNI deploys their full personality and expresses themselves through unwavering melodies.
