Each Friday of 2023 has provided us with a charcuterie of fine selections and while the volume of new music has slowed down in the past few weeks, some artists refuse to leave the year without one more bang. These artists are keeping new music Fridays alive with stellar singles that hint at upcoming releases, giving us a sneak peek into 2024. This little trailer for the next year of music already has us over the moon about what is to come with some veterans continuing to toil with their creativity while refreshing faces establish themselves.
Check out Glide’s picks for the best new music of the week below:
J Mascis – “Set Me Down”
What Do We Do Now
J Mascis has a legacy that can’t be duplicated and a uniquely fresh vision for an artist this deep into their career. The Dinosaur Jr. frontman is set to release his brand new solo album What Do We Do Now on February 2 and its second single is a jangly ballad you won’t be forgetting anytime soon. Mascis’s weathered vocals glide over dense textures lined with sinfully sweet melodies that soar.
Sum 41 – “Rise Up”
Heaven :x: Hell
In a fiery explosion of complex harmonies and blistering tempos, Sum 41 has returned with an expansive new LP. Heaven :x: Hell is set to be released on March 29 and its latest single shows the iconic band is far from finished evolving. “Rise Up” is the stadium-sized anthem with blazing guitars and neck-breaking vocals that echo a message of self-preservation and rebellion.
Cigarettes After Sex – “Motion Picture Soundtrack”
Single
It is rare when the dreamlike indie rock of Cigarettes After Sex rears its head but when it does, we are always thankful. This time the iconic band dropped off a cover of Radiohead’s “Motion Picture Soundtrack” for a unique interpretation that evokes the feeling of free falling. The plush guitars guide the music as the heaven-sent vocals round out the track for pure dream-pop bliss.
Brother Dege – “Where the Black Flowers Grow”
Aurora
Waking up to new music from Brother Dege is already a treat but when the music sounds this potent, it feels too good to be true. The legendary psychedelic folk artist is returning with Aurora on March 15 and the album’s lead single is nothing short of jaw-dropping. “Where the Black Flowers Grow” puts the artist’s diverse guitar talents on full display as he croons over an off-kilter arrangement.
Kitchen Dwellers – “Pendulum (V)”
Seven Devils
Kitchen Dwellers are creating some of the purest country music in the modern scene and their new album is shaping up to be another feather in their cowboy hat. Seven Devils will be released on March 1 and the album’s latest single is as infectious as it gets. “Pendulum (V)” is the poetic new track that combines country tropes with Kitchen Dwellers’ unique approach to the genre’s legacy, a one-of-a-kind honky tonk track made for your holiday travels.
Joy Again – “Shoobie”
Single
The elusive yet endlessly entertaining Philadelphia-based band Joy Again has returned with one of the best singles of the year. The light-hearted nature of “Shoobie” is juxtaposed by its dark lyrics, combining for an unforgettable pop-rock outing. The song’s unique structure allows it to play like a short film soundtracked by one of the most exciting bands in Philly’s vibrant scene.
Jahari Massamba Unit – “Stomping Gamay”
YHWH is LOVE
The duo of super-producer Madlib and legendary drummer/producer Karriem Riggins first debuted back in 2020. Their debut fused jazz and hip-hop like never before while implementing polyrhythmic techniques to separate itself from anything that came before it. The pair look to capture the same magic on their new album YHWH is LOVE which is set to be released on March 1. Our first look at the album is “Stomping Gamay”, a more conventional fusion of jazz and hip-hop as the pair create a loop-worthy single brimming with colorful melodies.
Hermanos Gutiérrez – “Blood Milk Moon”
Single
The latest release from brother-duo Hermanos Gutiérrez is the exact relaxed feeling you need to wrap up the work week. The pair crafted a spaced-out track that implements ambiance as much as it does its funky bassline and sporadic melodies. “Blood Milk Moon” is lined with psychedelic tendencies that allow the duo’s criminally infectious musicianship to shine in a new light.
BADBADNOTGOOD & Westside Gunn – “MiNt cHoCoLaTe” (Feat. Conway The Machine)
Single
Thanks to the good people over at 88Rising and their new 1999 WRITE THE FUTURE project, this dream collab is finally ours. The jazz trio BADBADNOTGOOD crafts a nature-influenced arrangement with gentle tones as the Griselda rappers glide over the soft melodies. Gunn and Conway effortlessly navigate the jazz arrangement, continuing their dominance of hip-hop as they yet again find a new way to deliver their complex and potent verses.
Eyedress – “A Room Up In The Sky” (Feat. The Marías)
Single
This week is boasting with a plethora of lush tracks but Eyedress’s latest single might be the only cloud-like track you need this week. The prolific everyman combined his diverse style with The Marías for one of the best singles he has released all year. They take a somber approach to this dreamscape style of indie rock, combining lovely melodies with slow tempos to evoke the feeling of crawling into the dense imagination of Eyedress.
