June is officially underway, and another door is opened with nothing but enticing and captivating releases behind it. This New Music Friday was a bountiful one brimming with everything from touching balladry to danceable grooves. Icons make their long-awaited return, younger acts look to make a name for themselves, and music fans enjoy a plethora of brand-new releases just itching to become your favorite of the year. Grab your morning cup of coffee and dive into some new music before wrapping up another successful week.
Check out Glide’s picks for the best new music of the week below:
Bonny Light Horseman – “The Clover”
Keep Me On Your Mind/See You Free
For their third act, folk trio Bonny Light Horseman emerged with a sprawling LP filled with soaring harmonies and vividly detailed storytelling. Keep Me On Your Mind/See You Free is 20 tracks of folksy balladry, with the band stretching the limits of folk to reach a refreshing middle ground between traditional and modern tropes. “The Clover” explores the heavy emotions that accompany the aging process. At the same time, warm and energetic acoustics create a lush canvas for the band’s captivating vocal performance.
Eels – “LAY WITH THE LAMBS”
EELS TIME!
Celebrated alt-rockers Eels return with a new album that plays in the gray area between danceable synth pop and ambient crooning. EELS TIME is 12 tracks that showcase the band’s effortless ability to anchor a multitude of styles down to earth with relatable songwriting and infectious melodies. “LAY WITH THE LAMBS” features a swaying vocal performance with lyrics exploring the pitfalls of navigating modern life.
Jesse Daniel – “Restless”
Countin’ the Miles
Leaning on traditional country arrangements while employing blues-style storytelling, Jesse Daniel practices vulnerability on Countin’ the Miles. The artist’s fourth outing is penned from a refreshing perspective in the modern country scene as Daniel uses the album as a confessional booth. His honesty is set to a wide range of tempos and twangy stylings, with “Restless” being an early stand-out. The bluesy storytelling track dives into the feeling of being left behind as a simplistic yet potent arrangement harkens back to the traditions of the genre.
Joey Valence & Brae – “OK”
NO HANDS
The sophomore album from the punk-rap duo of Joey Valence & Brae shows a deep appreciation for dance music while still keeping a foot in their roots. NO HANDS proves the duo is more than the Beastie Boys’ comparisons will tell you. Their hectic vocals and braggadocious lyrics sound just as comfortable over up-tempo, disco-style instrumentals as looping guitar riffs. “OK” marries these two worlds via neck-breaking drums that transition to New Jersey club-style tempos before you can find the time to think of another band to compare Valence and Brae to.
Man Man – “Cryptoad”
Carrot On Strings
The eccentric and unpredictable Man Man, led by Ryan Kattner, returns with another ambitious album to add to their ever-growing collage of a discography. Carrot On Strings has Kattner unleashing a world of heavy emotions over more traditional styles than fans might be used to, but don’t let that distract you from the magic of this LP. Man Man pieced together a kaleidoscope of an album Kattner uses to address seemingly every thought that crossed their mind. “Cryptoad” features sliding guitars that accent songwriting of not fitting in and never wanting to in the first place. It is about finding solace in being anti-social and growing tired of pretending.
Goat Girl – “Words Fell Out”
Below the Waste
The highly anticipated album from the alt trio Goat Girl has finally arrived, and it is already feeling like a landmark release for the young band. Below the Waste has the band creating dense synth-pop while intertwining it with hypnotic tempos and touching string sections. “Words Fell Out” employs just enough ambiance to evoke the sensation of levitation. At the same time, electronic drum patterns and moving lyrics act as rocks in your shoes to keep you within Earth’s atmosphere.
Kaytranada – “Seemingly”
TIMELESS
The funky house music maestro Kaytranada returns with an expansive LP with familiar features and otherworldly bass lines. TIMELESS is a bold name for an album, but once you dive into this 21-song odyssey of danceable grooves and the producer’s signature bubbly drum patterns and unique sample stylings. “Seemingly” doesn’t need much theatrics around it. The stand-out has distant vocal samples cutting in between the mesmerizing funk of Katranada’s party-ready production style.
The Jesus Lizard – “Hide & Seek”
Rack
The Jesus Lizard is back with new music for the first time in over two decades. Like the religious figure named in the band, the noise-punk icons have come back with rapture-style theatrics on the lead single for their new album Rack. “Hide & Seek” has the band picking up right where they left off. The frantic tempos create a head-spinning atmosphere while rugged vocals cascade down a wall of distortion. Rack is set to be released on September 13.
Fat Dog – “I am the King”
WOOF.
The highly anticipated debut album from a refreshing face in the post-punk scene, Fat Dog, is getting ready to drop WOOF on September 6. While the release date feels out of reach in the warmth of the summer, the singles from the album evoke the timid coldness of autumn. “I am The King” is an off-kilter motivational track with meditative mantras going over an unpredictable arrangement with no genre inclusive enough to pigeonhole this psychedelic single.
Pixies – “You’re So Impatient”
Single
Just before heading out on their co-headlining tour with Modest Mouse, the forward-thinking and influential rock of the Pixies returns on “You’re So Impatient.” The surf-rock-tinged single features warping vocals coiling around the classic alt-rock style Pixies helped create in the 90s.
Staples Jr. Singers – “I’ve Got A Feeling”
Searching
Marking their first album in 50 years, soul icons Staples Jr. Singers are making a triumphant and welcomed return. Their new album, Searching, is set to be released on June 14, and “I’ve Got A Feeling” is our latest peek at the project. The bluesy soul track nods to the history of Southern music with dusty guitars and uplifting lyrics.
Aaron Frazer & Cancamusa – “Dime”
Into The Blue
The long-awaited sophomore release from soulful jazz act Aaron Frazer is within reaching distance, with a release date set to June 28. Into The Blue is already promising to be a landmark release in 2024, and the stunning duet “Dime” inches us closer to that sentiment. Along with Cancamusa, Frazer creates a breezy ballad with relaxed tones and heartfelt vocal performances.
Mercury Rev – “Patterns”
Born Horses
The influential and revered alt-rock band Mercury Rev looks to add to their storied legacy with a brand new LP. Born Horses will be released on September 6, and our first look at the album is a psychedelic spoken word track. “Patterns” is a psychedelic chamber-pop-style single with an arrangement that would make Mort Garson proud. The band uses this as a platform to deliver a stirring spoken word poem that explores the repetitiveness of nature and the beauty of it all.
Denzel Curry – “HOT ONE” (Feat. Tiacorine & A$AP Ferg)
King Of The Mischievous South Vol. 2
Following up on his artistic landmark and critically acclaimed 2022 LP, Denzel Curry is back with a new album that promises something different. King Of The Mischievous South Vol. 2 is set to be released on July 19, and the collaborative lead single finds Curry returning to the Southern-style rap he started with. The dark vocal samples cut through visions of grandeur as Curry, A$AP Ferg, and Tiacorine combine forces for a bar-heavy single.
Your Old Droog – “I Think I Love Her”
Movie
Yet another future release that has everyone talking. Your Old Droog is preparing to release his latest pure piece of art. Movie will be released on June 21, and “I Think I Love Her” is our latest single from the upcoming album. Over the gentle soul of the instrumental, courtesy of Ohbliv, Droog pines for the love of his life with imaginative storytelling and laidback flows.
