After what always feels like the longest week of the year, we have finally arrived at our beloved new music Friday. This week continues 2023’s hot streak of Fridays brimming with fantastic releases from all over the world, all uniquely exquisite. Shifting through this week’s releases felt like walking through a museum of fine art, with every corner boasting an artwork you couldn’t comprehend but now realizing you can’t live without. Everything from the most off-kilter Hip-hop to unearthed punk from the 80s is featured on this week’s list, a sonic trot around the globe as the weather gets gloomier and keeps us inside.
Check out Glide’s picks for the best new music released this week:
Blonde Redhead – “Kiss Her Kiss Her”
Sit Down for Dinner
In a hurricane of technicolored melodies and lush textures, the iconic Blonde Redhead just released a dreamscape of an LP. Sit Down for Dinner is the band’s first album since 2014 and has the band traversing otherworldly arrangements to express their experiences with grief and loss. “Kiss Her Kiss Her” is an early favorite with the heaven-sent vocals slicing through a dense arrangement that swells into a synth-pop-style anthem.
Wilco – “Sunlight Ends”
Cousin
Wilco’s latest studio release has the band capturing what feels like a creative turning point for the veteran band. With the help of producer Cate Le Bon, Cousin is Wilco’s most daring album in years and has the band working with their musicianship in a more subtle manner resulting in almost psychedelic proportions. “Sunlight Ends” is a moody example of the band’s experimentation, an electronic drum pattern sets the tone for dancing guitar strings and sinfully sweet vocals.
Skam – “Leave Me Alone”
No Name
Originally recorded between 1980 and 1983, Washington D.C. punk band Skam are finally getting the spotlight they deserve. Skam was only active for the aforementioned years but the music they left behind has been dug up and pieced together for No Name, a youthful onslaught of melodic punk. “Leave Me Alone” shows how Skam was ahead of their time, the harmonic hook breaks down for razor-sharp verses all set to a wall of distortion.
Say She She – “Passing Time”
Silver
Following up on their fantastic 2022 LP, Say She She returns with something even better. Silver has the trio crafting otherworldly harmonies over jazz-influenced R&B arrangements for yet another fantastic soul release in 2023. “Passing Time” is an early favorite on Silver, the trio’s chemistry hits a fever pitch as they weave their nuanced talents to form a moody masterpiece.
Jerry Joseph – “20 20 Moons”
Baby, You’re The Man Who Would Be King
Dropping off a quick yet potent new LP brimming with examples of how he achieved his longevity, Jerry Joseph returns with a new album. Baby, You’re The Man Who Would Be King is a stunning display of Joseph’s many talents with “20 20 Moons” sticking out on the tracklist. Joseph’s low, gravelly voice compliments this acrobatic arrangement with just enough twang and the perfect amount of passion.
Animal Collective – “Broke Zodiac”
Isn’t It Now?
Animal Collective is full of sonic tricks that they can tap into at any time, Isn’t It Now finds the band touching every corner of their limitless creativity. The iconic alt-pop band has been at it for over two decades and still finds ways to surprise us, “Broke Zodiac” feels like the most potent of these surprises. A gentle yet demanding arrangement acts as a blank canvas for the vocals to toy with, painting vivid imagery and delivering it with the smoothest delivery you’ll hear this week.
Steven Wilson – “Actual Brutal Facts”
The Harmony Codex
Buckle up, Steven Wilson just released another solo release and it is better than we could’ve ever dreamed of. The Harmony Codex has Wilson penning direct yet moving poetry over an onslaught of high-flying guitars and neck-breaking drum patterns. “Actual Brutal Facts” is one of the darker records on the album but packs so much personality in its sparse yet dense arrangement while Wilson’s vocals reach a baritone as he delivers hauntingly beautiful melodies.
Slow Pulp – “Worm”
Yard
The highly-anticipated new LP from Slow Pulp has finally arrived in all its glory and it hits just the right spot heading into the weekend. Distorted arrangements featuring twists and turns are juxtaposed by a glittery falsetto for an album worth all of the hype that surrounds it. “Worm” features a wall-of-sound style arrangement with crashing drums as the vocals cut through the dense textures for a hard-hitting tune.
Armand Hammer – “I Keep A Mirror In My Pocket” (Feat. Cavalier)
We Buy Diabetic Test Strips
The duo of Billy Woods and E L U C I D return with another beautifully done LP built on the back of their love for pushing the genre of Hip-hop to its furthest extent. We Buy Diabetic Test Strips has the duo bringing along a plethora of friends for an album dripping with high-level lyricism and sparse yet heartfelt arrangements. “I Keep A Mirror In My Pocket” features a syncopated drum pattern with hints of jazz as Woods and E L U C I D verbally dance with Cavalier for a pure example of the duo’s natural chemistry and talents.
Maxo – “Another. LAnd”
Debbie’s Son
For his second release of the year, Maxo captured a special moment in his artistic journey. The emcee’s newest LP, Debbie’s Son, follows up on Even God Has A Sense Of Humor, the latter being one of the best releases of the year and Debbie’s Son makes its own very strong case. “Another. LAnd” showcases Maxo’s acrobatic vocal delivery over a whimsical instrumental with the perfect drum roll to give it just enough edge.
Robert Finley – “Nobody Wants To Be Lonely”
Black Bayou
The latest single from veteran soul artist Robert Finely might be the best we’ve heard yet. “Nobody Wants To Be Lonely” is a touching ballad that features a lively arrangement for Finley’s signature gravelly melodies to croon over. This track will land on Finley’s upcoming Black Bayou LP set to be released on October 27.
Jaime Wyatt – “Althea”
Feel Good
The latest single from Jaime Wyatt’s upcoming LP is a moving cover of Grateful Dead’s “Althea”. Wyatt chose to cover this song due to her father’s love for the band, a means of reconnecting with those childhood memories of attending Dead shows with her dad. Her cover is a soulful rendition that reimagines the sentimental poetry of the track. Feel Good, Wyatt’s upcoming LP is set to be released on November 3 via New West Records.
John Moreland – “Dim Little Light (Live)”
Live at Third Man Records
Last year saw John Moreland release Birds in the Ceiling and 2023 sees the artist reimagining some of those tracks in an intimate live setting. Live at Third Man Records is the self-explanatory live LP from Moreland and its first single brings a new life to a stand-out from his aforementioned 2022 LP. “Dim Little Light” feels even more gentle and warm in this live version as Moreland’s voice carries a kaleidoscope of emotions for a moving performance. John Moreland’s live LP is set to be released on November 10.
