Another week of blistering heat means another crop of new music to help ease the stress of walking into 90-degree weather. This week, imagine the selection of new music, ranging from career-defining final albums to refreshing starts from exciting debuts, as a menu at an ice cream parlor. Each track contains different flavor profiles, but all are meant to be a delicious treat that makes excessive heat bearable. We have instrumental tracks that are beach day-ready alongside complex records with neck-breaking textures, a little bit of everything for everyone, as we like to say in the metaphorical ice cream music business.
Check out Glide’s picks for the week’s best new music below.
Melissa Carper – “There’ll Be Another One”
Borned In Ya
The ever-expanding Western-fusion work of Melissa Carper has the artist blending Americana, blues, and subtle notes of jazz. Her new album, Borned In Ya, is a hazy lo-fi folk outing with sentimental songwriting delivered with a quaint charm over the dusty twang of the arrangements. “There’ll Be Another One” sounds like a ballad straight out of an old Cowboy film. Carper’s signature vocal tones evoke pure nostalgia as an ever-growing arrangement gives “There’ll Be Another One” a modern twist.
GUM & Ambrose Kenny-Smith – “Powertrippn’”
Ill Times
Pond & Tame Impala percussionist Jay Watson started his solo project GUM in 2014, and the prolific artist has not slowed down since. The latest chapter of GUM has Watson teaming up with The Murlocs and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s Ambrose Kenny-Smith on their collaborative album Ill Times. The 10-track album has the duo creating off-kilter pop that caters to their psychedelic tendencies while showcasing their ability to make infectious and honed melodies. “Powertrippn’” is an early stand-out on this must-listen project. The cascading synths add groovy textures to the power-pop ballad with head-spinning sonics.
Dr. Dog – “Fat Dog”
Dr. Dog
After a six-year hiatus, Philadelphia’s Dr. Dog has returned with a self-titled effort that blends their expansive sound into a tight 11-tracks. Dr. Dog finds the band continuing to explore psychedelic pop-tinged indie rock while penning moving poems that showcase their growth as songwriters. “Fat Dog” is an up-tempo cut with cascading melodies that coil around the subtle lushness of the arrangement.
Parlor Greens – “The Ripper”
In Green We Dream
The debut album from jazzy instrumental trio Parlor Greens is finally here. The quick yet potent In Green We Dream has the lineup of Jimmy James, Adam Scone, and Tim Carman parading around their talents via 11 elastic instrumentals with rolling organ melodies spinning around toe-tapping tempos. “The Ripper” is a bright light on this glimmering tracklist. Parlor Greens found the middle ground between bebop jazz and honky tonk tempos as the guitars evoke a Western feel while the keys add a soulful flair.
Childish Gambino – “Survive” (Feat. Chlöe)
Bando Stone & The New World
What is being touted as the final Childish Gambino album is a pop-leaning wonderland with Gambino’s songwriting prowess being tested on a wide array of electro-pop arrangements with unpredictable structures. Band Stone & The New World has Gambino bouncing between acoustic crooning, nimble yet colorful pop, and the energetic hip-hop that caught everyone’s attention at the beginning of Gambino’s journey. The artist left no stone unturned on his final release, and the Chlöe-assisted “Survive” has Gambino toying with the intersection of his creative Venn diagram. The artist spends the verses painting vivid imagery while the sinfully sweet hook adds lush textures to the piece.
Beachwood Sparks – “Faded Glory”
Across The River of Stars
For the first time in 12 years, we are gifted with new music from Beachwood Sparks. Across The River of Stars has the trio creating plush country ballads with cloud-like arrangements that elevate the gentle tones of the vocal performances. “Faded Glory” is an ironic name for a band whose star has only gotten brighter in their decades-long career. The swaying vocals give this song subtle movement as the stunning keys and quaint drum patterns add a layer of earthly intimacy to this otherworldly outing.
JPEGMAFIA – “SIN MIEDO”
Single
JPEGMAFIA creates industrial textures with howling vocal samples and nimble flows on his latest single, “SIN MIEDO.” This marks JPEG’s second single of the year after last month’s “Don’t Rely On Other Men,” both of which come after the artist’s MVP year in 2023 with the release of SCARING THE HOES, his collaborative album with Danny Brown. The way JPEG is able to create hectic instrumentals and deliver infectious melodies is only the start of what makes “SIN MIEDO” such a mesmerizing single.
The Linda Lindas – “All In My Head”
No Obligation
We finally have a release date for the highly anticipated sophomore release from the punk-tinged rock outfit The Linda Lindas. No Obligation is set to be released on October 11, and their explosively catchy new single “All In My Head” accompanies the announcement. The single has The Linda Lindas combining their guitar prowess with a natural knack for writing unforgettable hooks as the young band captures a palpable youthful energy.
Los Bitchos – “Kiki, You Complete Me”
Talkie Talkie
The instrumental powerhouse Los Bitchos is preparing to release their sophomore album, Talkie Talkie, on August 30. This week, the band released two new singles from the album, “1K” and “Kiki, You Complete Me.” The latter is a hypnotic guitar-driven tune with whimsical melodies that brighten the room as the band creates a warping single that adds more fuel to the fire of excitement around Talkie Talkie.
Pale Jay – “The Garden”
Low End Love Songs
After shaking the foundation of the soul world with last year’s Bewilderment LP, singer/songwriter/producer Pale Jay is wasting no time getting back to work. The artist’s new album, Low End Love Songs, is set to be released on September 6, and “The Garden” is our latest sneak preview of the anticipated release. The new single has Jay crooning over hard-hitting drums that still evoke nostalgic soul as the artist puts on a stunning performance.
Japandroids – “Chicago”
Fate & Alcohol
The Vancouver-bred rock duo Japandroids has announced their final album. On October 18, the band will release Fate & Alcohol, their fourth album and the final chapter in their journey as a band. “Chicago” is our lead single from the album, a thumbing rock track with dense textures provided by distorted guitar work and explosive crescendos.
Dawes – “House Parties”
Oh Brother
Veteran alt-country darlings Dawes are set to have a busy 2024. The band has announced an extensive touring schedule that bleeds into next year, along with the news of new music coming around the corner. Oh Brother is set to be released on October 11, and “House Parties” is our lead single from the album. Twangy guitars and subtle drums drive the minimalistic single, as the lyrics paint vivid images of seeing the world from the comfort of your home.
A Place To Bury Strangers – “Disgust”
Synthesizer
Hardcore veterans A Place To Bury Strangers are back with a brand new album and a lead single that is more akin to a blast from a shotgun than a punk record. Synthesizer will be released on October 4, and with the announcement comes “Disgust,” a neck-breaking single. “Disgust” features searing guitar work that accents the hectic drum patterns beautifully, as A Place To Bury Strangers creates an environment-altering single with plenty of aggression and prowess.
Chuck Prophet & Qiensave – “Wake the Dead”
Wake the Dead
Legendary Americana artist Chuck Prophet is teaming up with Qiensave for a collaborative album that is already sounding like a landmark release for both parties. Wake the Dead is set to be released on October 25, and the title track is our first taste of the project. “Wake the Dead” is a Latin-tinged waltz with Prophet delivering a soulful performance over the arrangement’s infectious guitars and danceable grooves.
Hippo Campus – “Paranoid”
Flood
The refreshing indie-pop outfit Hippo Campus has officially announced their fourth studio album, Flood, which will be released on September 20. The album will include the new surf rock-tinged single “Paranoid” along with previously released singles “Everything At Once” and “Tooth Fairy.” The latest single is a minimal yet impactful tune, with a passionate vocal performance rounding out the quick drum patterns and sun-drenched guitar tones.
