If last week was the first Friday of the year when the release schedule felt a little slow, today is here to make up for it all. This week’s list is one of the most diverse of 2023 with acts from across genres and eras prepping new albums and releasing singles that sound built to be put on repeat. From homemade jazz anthems to dusty country tunes, the second week of July didn’t promise music fans anything but delivered a plethora of new releases to soundtrack our final push into the weekend.
Check out Glide’s picks for the best new music of the week below:
Slaughter Beach, Dog – “Float Away”
Crying, Laughing, Waving, Smiling
The cousin of pop-punk powerhouse Modern Baseball, Slaughter, Beach Dog allows frontman Jake Ewald to express a more tame side of his songwriting. “Float Away” is the cheery folk tune helping ring in a new era for the band with their new album, Crying, Laughing, Waving, Smiling set to be released on September 22 via Lame-O Records. The album’s latest offering shows Ewald’s country influences while filtering it through the classic Slaughter, Beach Dog formula.
Low Cut Connie – “Whips and Chains”
ART DEALERS
Every day, the anticipation builds for the new Low Cut Connie LP. ART DEALERS is set to be released on September 8, a date that feels decades away after the release of the best single yet. “Whips and Chains” is the sleek new single that plays like the chrome on the side of a motorcycle, it’s an up-tempo nod to the music of Southern honky tonks while still digging its root in stadium-sized rock.
A Savage – “Thanksgiving Prayer”
Single
For his Rough Trade Records debut, A Savage has crafted an intimate single that puts his stirring baritone on full display. The Parquet Courts frontman is stepping on his own for the first time since 2017 and his return to solo work shows the evolution of A Savage since the last time we heard from him. “Thanksgiving Prayer” mixes a cabaret-style melody with a folk-inspired guitar melody while the nuanced elements of the arrangement elevate its stars, leaving enough room for the intimacy of the lyrics to hit even harder.
Kiefer – “Dreamer”
Single
Stones Throw Records’ latest jazz virtuoso has descended from his mountain top to drop off yet another mesmerizing composition. “Dreamer” is the sinfully sweet tune from keyboardist/producer Kiefer, who has been crafting otherworldly fusions of jazz and hip-hop for the label for years. His latest offering picks up right where the artist left off, twinkling piano keys are anchored to earth but subtle yet hard-hitting drums for an arrangement that will be on loop for the foreseeable future.
Bahamas – “Second Time Around”
BOOTCUT
It has been almost three years since we’ve heard from the charming crooner Bahamas, and they are coming back stronger than ever. Along with the announcement of their brand new album BOOTCUT, set to be released on September 15, they have humbly released three singles for the country-inspired LP. “Second Time Around” sets itself apart from the rest due to its sentimental nature and slow-burning melodies that pull from the emotional lyrics.
Night Beats – “Dusty Jungle”
Rajan
The latest offering from the multi-hyphenate Night Beats adds “the fusion of psychedelic rock, jazz, and folk music” to his already impressive resume. Rajan is the latest brainchild from the ever-evolving Night Beats and leans on the many influences that were filtered through the band to land in this cosmic sonic direction. “Dusty Jungle” allows the album to slow down a bit and put its songwriting on full display, creating otherworldly textures for its free-flowing melody to dance with.
JPEGMAFIA & Danny Brown – “Tell Me Where To Go”
Scaring The Hoes: DLC Pack – EP
After releasing what is about to be considered the best collaborative album of the year, Danny Brown and JPEGMAFIA give us four B-sides from their insanely impressive 2023 LP. “Tell Me Where To Go” not only puts JPEGMAFIA’s masterful sampling technique on full display which allows himself and Brown to pen the most vulnerable verses on the EP.
Jamila Woods – “Tiny Garden” (Feat. duendita)
Water Made Us
It has felt like a lifetime since we heard from the great Jamila Woods and she is not wasting a second of her triumphant return. The soulful vocalist is prepping her first album since 2019 and its lead single is everything you need for the weekend and more. On “Tiny Garden”, Woods’ vocals take on a simple yet moving arrangement that allows her freely explore a more mature side of her songwriting. The deep grooves of the song are just the start of the Water Made Us rollout which will come to an exciting close when the LP is released on October 13.
Grandaddy – “The Town where I’m Livin Now”
Sumday: Excess Baggage
The ever-impressive and always generous Grandaddy is gearing up to gift us a collection of rarities. Following up on the May release of Sumday: The Cassette Demos, the band is back with another collection of cutting-room-floor-goodies in the form of Sumday: Excess Baggage. The rarities collection will be available on August 25 but before then we have the emotionally potent single “The Town where I’m Livin’ Now”. The lead single puts the band’s storytelling abilities in a new light, penning a vague poem of a lost soul that delivers with a soaring arrangement and heartfelt vocals.
Colter Wall – “The Coyote & The Cowboy”
Little Songs
The day has finally arrived for the new Colter Wall album and the future country legend delivered some of his music to date. Little Songs is a quick trip through Wall’s songwriting prowess as he spins enticing tales of life as a nomad. “The Coyote & The Cowboy” blurs the lines between man and beast in the most charming way possible with lyrics that transport you right into the shoes of “The Cowboy” while the twangy arrangement harkens back to the genre’s past.
Cherry Glazerr – “Soft Like a Flower”
I Don’t Want You Anymore
Another band the world has been waiting to hear from for years, Cherry Glazerr has crash-landed right back into our hearts. Their new album, I Don’t Want You Anymore, will be released on September 29 and will follow up the band’s impressive 2019 outing. “Soft Like a Flower” acts as our lead single and a commanding one at that, the whispered vocals switch to a searing screech to keep up with the distorted wall of sound that soundtracks the rainbow of emotions expressed in the lyrics.
