We have an electric list for our frequent flyers and newcomers here at Caustic this week. After weathering the harsh storms and extreme heat of our last push through summer, we emerge from the work week with an appreciation for downtime under the sun. Festival season is winding down and artists are coming off the road with ambitions to snag your ears and soundtrack your autumn equinox. There are few things that pair better with a relaxing weekend than a list of brand-new albums and singles from across the musical spectrum.
Sit back, finish out the week strong, and check out Glide’s picks for the best new music released this week:
Blonde Redhead – “Before”
Sit Down for Dinner
So far, every single from Blonde Redhead’s upcoming LP has shown a different side of the band’s songwriting. Their latest offering, the gentle yet passionate, “Before”, is a hazy look into a more sentimental side of the band’s work while continuing to build the consistent dream-like textures the other singles have started. Sit Down for Dinner is set to be released on September 29 and is promised to be a fantastic addition to Blonde Redhead’s discography.
The Struts – “Too Good At Raising Hell”
Pretty Vicious
For their debut album for Big Machine/John Varvatos Records, the iconic Struts are coming out swinging. Along with the announcement that their new LP, Pretty Vicious, will be released on November 3, the band has also released the lead single “Too Good At Raising Hell”. The guitar-driven chaos of the arrangement backs the outwardly confident lyrics for a nod to the rock of the past while still staying true to The Struts’ classic sound.
Teenage Fanclub – “Back to the Light”
Nothing Lasts Forever
The latest single for Teenage Fanclub’s upcoming LP is the best one yet and more than enough reason to run and listen to the full album. Although Nothing Lasts Forever doesn’t come out until September 22, “Back to the Light” will be in your head until then. The new single is an acoustic beauty that allows the band to croon about feeling lost in a beautiful way. There is just something so innocent and sentimental about this single compared to the others we’ve received from Nothing Lasts Forever.
Courtney Barnett – “Different Now”
Single
Lifted from a soon-to-be-released double single, Courtney Barnett covers Chastity Belt’s “Different Now”. Her lush take on the classic track will be paired with a Kurt Vile cover on a 7” vinyl pressing in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Barnett’s debut album. Her unique take on “Different Now” not only proves the diversity of her vocals but puts this timeless song in a new light through soaring guitar sections with cloud-like textures.
Les Imprimés – “Thousand Clouds”
Rêverie
The anticipation we had going into Les Imprimés’ Big Crown Records debut was unimaginable and couldn’t begin to describe the joy we have listening to the final product. Rêverie is a breath of fresh air, a gorgeous take on modern soul with the perfect amount of nostalgia, all wrapped up in gently delivered falsettos and poetic songwriting. “Thousand Clouds” is a stand-out from this stellar LP, it is a love song for the ages with angel-like harmonies over a flowerbed of an arrangement, a criminally pretty and sentimental tune.
Elmiene – “Mama”
Single
The current talk of the R&B/Soul genre, Elmiene, has returned with a sinfully beautiful single produced by the elusive yet ever-impressive Sampha. The two soulful juggernauts teamed up for “Mama”, a free-falling track with a bending and twisting arrangement that adds a bit of an edge to the pillow-like textures of Elmiene’s vocals. The artist is high on our list of “Artists to watch”, so be on the lookout for what Elmiene may do next because we guarantee you it will be legendary and purposeful.
Turnstile & BADBADNOTGOOD – “Alien Love Call”
New Heat Designs – EP
In a surprise turn of events, Turnstile has gone jazz. The heartfelt hardcore band that saw a spike in success after their tremendous Glow On LP from 2021 has teamed up with Canada’s jazz pioneers BADBADNOTGOOD for a remix EP of some select cuts from said album. The Blood Orange-assisted “Alien Love Call” gets a funky facelift with the passionate vocals of the original sounding better than ever over a collage of jazz stylings that swell with the grace of a galloping pony.
Noname – “balloons” (Feat. Jay Electronica & Eryn Allen Kane)
Sundial
The fact that we were given a brand new Noname LP is enough of a celebration, the fact it sounds this beautiful is a bonus. Sundial is the emcee’s first album since 2018 and captures the artist at her best. Over jazzy production, “balloons” shows the prowess of her songwriting and instant chemistry with whoever Noname decides to let into her world. She trades verses with the elusive Jay Electronica for an onslaught of slick rhyme schemes that play like well-written novels.
Bonnie “Prince” Billy – “Like It or Not”
Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You
For his most personal album to date, Will Oldham taps his most prolific alias for a minimal outing of beautiful songwriting. Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You has Oldham penning introspective explorations into every corner of the human psyche with the album’s intro, “Like It or Not” leading the charge in sentimentality. The acoustic guitar pairs beautifully with Oldham’s gruff vocals that deliver heartwrenching lyrics.
Jungle – “Every Night”
Volcano
The day has finally arrived and Jungle has released their up-tempo whirlwind of a new LP. Volcano is everything we hoped for and more, bouncy electro-pop gets a psychedelic makeover at the hands of Jungle. “Every Night” is a dance track with dense textures that explode in a colorful burst of melody and fuzz, a perfect amount of low-pressure fun to add to your weekend playlist.
PJ Western – “Vast Sea”
Here I Go
Following the immense praise of his Long Time Coming EP, PJ Western finally gifts us with his proper debut LP. Here I Go features the six previously released tracks from the EP along with moments of pure troubadour bliss like the terrific track “Vast Sea”. The stand-out track shines a light on Western’s versatile songwriting for a stunning nod to enjoy the feeling of getting lost in the world around you.
Mikaela Davis – “Cinderella”
And Southern Star
In a stunning display of harp-driven folk, Mikaela Davis releases her sophomore LP. And Southern Star is the 9-track outing that puts Davis’ unique take on modern folk on full display in a flurry of gentle melodies and harp plucking so masterful and beautiful it’s hard to put the emotions evoked into words. “Cinderella” welcomes you to the album, an intimate portrait of Davis’ artistry that is so enticingly extraordinary it already feels like a timeless classic.
