Another month enters the history books as 2023 crawls by, leaving a trail of unforgettable music in its wake. We’re entering September in a big way as the first day of the month lands on a Friday of exciting releases. To help usher in the final stretch of the year we have a plethora of brand-new sounds that range from thrashing punk to cosmic prog-rock, and every corner of music is attempting to leave their mark of the fleeting year.
There is never a need to over-explain great music, so sit back, scroll, and press play on Glide’s picks for the best new music of the week below;
Slowdive – “andalucia plays”
everything is alive
There is a reason Slowdive stylized their newest LP title in all lowercase. The band’s latest offering, everything is alive, is out today and brings with it a collection of slow-burning indie rock that leans on dense synths and whispering vocals, “andalucia plays” is a prime example of this. A gentle arrangement guides you on a nearly seven-minute odyssey of heaven-sent vocals, the perfect track to enter a relaxing weekend.
Ty Segall – “Void”
Single
The ever-eccentric and fearless Ty Segall is heading out on the road at the top of 2024 and is bringing his fantastic new single with him. Following up on the acoustically sparse 2022 LP, Hello, Hi, Segall flips the script with a chaotic yet stunningly smooth 7-minute anthem, “Void”. His ode to prog-rock arrives in a flurry of changing sonics that go from off-kilter rock to acoustic bliss.
Jeff Rosenstock – “Future Is Dumb”
Hellmode
The godfather of melodic punk dropped off one of the best albums in his historic and highly entertaining career. Jeff Rosenstock’s new album, Hellmode, is brimming with angst set to varying arrangements that span from acoustic strumming to distorted walls of sound, “Future Is Dumb” favors the latter. Delivering what feels like some of his most personal lyrics, Rosenstock traverses a hectic arrangement in a valiant effort to sum up the stress of worrying about the unknown future.
Grimson – “Never Dealt (With Anything This Hard)”
Climbing Up the Chimney
In a gentle explosion of vulnerable folk, Grimson arrives with a debut album you can’t miss. Climbing Up the Chimney is a 14-track exploration into Grimson’s most personal thoughts set to masterful guitar playing with “Never Dealt” feeling the most visceral. The artist’s gentle vocals deliver a moving poem set to twinkling acoustics in just over two minutes.
The Kills – “103”
God Games
The Kills have been silent over the past few years but a new album is on the horizon and it’s promising to be something special. Their new album, God Games, arrives on October 27 and the latest single leaves very little to be desired. “103” arrives in a distorted hurricane lined with passionate vocals and an arrangement that refuses complacency.
Frankie and the Witch Fingers – “Burn Me Down”
Data Doom
With a pyrotechnic-level arrival enters Frankie and the Witch Fingers’ latest creation. Data Doom is out today and features nine songs filled with cosmic punk with “Burn Me Down” being an early stand-out. A wall of distortion welcomes you to the second track of this heavy-hitting album, elastic vocals sit atop simmering guitars in a blind rage of punk bliss.
Woods – “Day Moving On”
Perennial
Woods have been teasing their new album Perennial for what feels like forever but in the coming weeks, the full LP will finally arrive. The album is set to be released on September 15 and the band dropped two terrific singles with “Day Moving On” leading the charge. The sentimental tune is laced with a cloud-like arrangement that creates a canvas for the track’s lush vocals.
Will Bernard & Beth Custer – “Not Too Fancy”
Sky
Let us take a break from all of this thrashing punk and varying vocals for a moment of jazz. Guitarist Will Bernard is back with Sky, his collaborative effort with clarinetist/vocalist Beth Custer. The album has the duo crafting heartfelt instrumentals driven by their natural chemistry with “Not Too Fancy” being particularly breathtaking. A soft acoustic section morphs into a clarinet solo for the ages as Custer and Bernard craft an unforgettable moment of pure jazz.
Skam – “No Name”
No Name
The title track from the upcoming, long-lost punk LP of Skam proves exactly why Drag City felt the need to reissue this classic. No Name will arrive in full at the end of this month on September 29 and the second single marks a highlight of this week’s new releases. A melodic exploration into classic punk tropes with a chanting hook and infectious arrangement.
Ghost of Vroom – “Let Up”
Ghost of Vroom 3
The third offering from Mike Doughty and Andrew Livingston’s project Ghost of Vroom is here and it is a release you can’t miss. In just 12 songs the duo traverses their influences and filters them through their limitless creativity with “Let Up” borrowing from punk. The frantic nature of this track gives the whole album some edge with Doughty’s vocals sitting behind a bouncing instrumental.
Roc Marciano & The Alchemist – “DNA”
The Elephant Man’s Bones (The ALC Edition)
Last year, Roc Marciano and The Alchemist released their long-awaited collaborative LP and it was everything we could hope for and more. Today, they drop off two bonus tracks and a new artwork for the deluxe version of 2022’s The Elephant Man’s Bones with DNA being the clear stand-out of the two added songs. Over dusty minimalism, Marciano shows exactly why he has achieved longevity in hip-hop with nuanced lyricism laced with hard-hitting rhymes.
