As the summer slowly ends, it is time to break out the hoodies and update those playlists to match the autumn aesthetic. Whether you dive into acoustic folk that matches the chameleon-like tendencies of leaves or search for warmth in lo-fi fuzz, this week’s list of new music has something to get the ball rolling on your new soundtrack. 2024 has given us plenty of unforgettable music, and this Friday, while a touch slower than the past, is far from disappointing. Veteran musicians return in all glory, and modern heroes change sonic direction for daring and enticing albums. There is never a dull moment at the old Caustic factory, so clock in, kick back, and discover a new and exciting sonic realm.
Check out Glide’s picks for the week’s best new music below.
Fontaines D.C. – “Bug”
Romance
In a dramatic change of sound, post-punk golden children Fontaines D.C. release their tame and pop-leaning new LP, Romance. The 11-song album has the band leaning on gentle acoustics and catchy melodies for their bright fourth LP, which introduces a new, more digestible side of the Ireland-bred band. “Bug” is an early stand-out with toe-tapping tempos and plush, punk-tinged vocals that deliver imaginative poetry.
The Harlem Gospel Travelers – “Somebody’s Watching You”
Rhapsody
On their third album, the soulful blues-influenced Rhapsody, The Harlem Gospel Travelers continue their exploration into dusty tones and acrobatic harmonies. The band’s natural knack for crafting nostalgic soul is elevated as they navigate influences from different eras of the genre while delivering spiritual songwriting. “Somebody’s Watching You” has The Harlem Gospel Travelers crooning over dusty guitars for a meaningful track that reminds us to put kindness before everything.
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – “North Country”
Woodland
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings have been releasing music together since the mid-90s, and on their 2024 LP, Woodland, the duo dives head first into simplistic yet powerful folk. The veteran duo has nothing to prove to anyone, which might be why their latest album is brimming with vivid storytelling that fills the sonic void left by the sparse acoustics of Rawlings’s guitar. “North Country” takes you on a twangy trip through the south as Welch’s storytelling abilities take center stage, while the warmth of the arrangement creates a hazy fog of folksy tropes.
Andrew Combs – “Table for Blue”
Dream Pictures
Andrew Combs has been honing his songwriting since his studio debut was released in 2012, and his new album has the artist conquering the lo-fi pop aesthetic. Dream Pictures is a downtrodden outing with sentimental songwriting that explores the ever-present possibility of heartbreak and instrumentation that requires no frill to get its point across. “Table for Blue” contains cloud-like textures that rely on tropes from bedroom pop for a bluesy storytelling track with a relatable and captivating narrative.
Illuminati Hotties – “Rot”
Power
Following up on the critical acclaim of their 2021 LP, Sarah Tudzin-led Illuminati Hotties released the pop-oriented and infectious Power. The 13-song effort has the band leaning into their pop tendencies while penning some of their most vulnerable and poetic lyrics to date. “Rot” is the sentimental stand-out with a slow-burning arrangement that is the ideal canvas for Tudzin’s sentimental songwriting and moving melodies.
Chuck Prophet & ¿Qiensave? – “Sugar Into Water”
Wake The Dead
A few weeks ago, veteran singer/songwriter Chuck Prophet announced a collaborative album with Qiensave, and the newly formed creative force just released the next two singles from the project. Wake The Dead is set to be released on October 25, and “In The Shadows (For Elon)” and “Sugar Into Water” are our next two singles from the project. The latter is a lively outing with twangy keys that accent Prophet’s voice beautifully for a groovy single from a highly anticipated project.
Joanna Sternberg – A Country Dance
Single
Singer/songwriter Joanna Sternberg releases their first new music of 2024 with the single “A Country Dance.” The sentimental, acoustic tune is simplistic and moving as Sternberg’s wistful vocals cascade around whimsical guitars for a folksy single. The song is for the upcoming film Between The Temples, which is out today (August 23).
Geordie Greep – “Holy, Holy”
The New Sound
Black Midi announced their hiatus earlier this year, but frontman Geordie Greep wasted no time stepping back into the release cycle. This week, Greep announced his debut solo album, The New Sound, which will be released on October 4. The six-minute odyssey is a refreshing take on modern post-punk, as Greep’s storytelling abilities are on full display over off-kilter backing vocals and infectious drums.
Jonah Yano – “Someone Asked Me How I’ve Been”
Jonah Yano & The Heavy Loop
After collaborating with BADBADNOTGOOD on his phenomenal Portrait Of A Dog LP, singer/songwriter Jonah Yano assembled his own jazz band for his upcoming LP, Jonah Yano & The Heavy Loop. The promising new album will be released on October 4, and “Someone Asked Me How I’ve Been” is our latest single. The jazzy ballad emphasizes the chemistry between Yano and his new band as they create a lush ballad with poetic songwriting and smooth musicianship.
The Hard Quartet – “Rio’s Song”
The Hard Quartet
Emmett Kelly, Stephen Malkmus, Matt Sweeney, and Jim White are The Hatd Quartet, and their debut album together is shaping up to be a statement piece for the four veterans. The self-titled album will be released on October 4, and the lo-fi classic rock stylings of “Rio’s Song” is our second and latest single. The single features masterful guitar work that accents the ballad-style vocal performance in a grandiose manner, furthering the newly formed band’s natural chemistry.
Amyl & The Sniffers – “Chewing Gum”
Cartoon Darkness
Amyl & The Sniffers are arguably one of the most exciting things to happen to the punk world since the distortion pedal, and they’re just getting started. The Australian-bred band has announced their third LP, Cartoon Darkness, will be released on October 25, and the new single continues to separate Amyl & The Sniffers from their peers. “Chewing Gum” is a cartoonish performance with frantic vocals and chugging guitars that shine a new light on the band’s songwriting prowess.
Alan Sparhawk – “Get Still”
White Roses, My God
Low Shares’ frontman Alan Sparhawk is gearing up for a solo debut, White Roses, My God, on September 27. Sparhawk’s solo material dives into left-field pop with experimentation galore as manipulated vocals skate over muted drums and wonky synths on the album’s latest single, “Get Still.” The second single from the project features head-spinning electronics and high-pitched crooning as backing vocals creep in and add a layer of golden grandeur to Sparhawk’s newest release.
William Harries Graham – “Ohio State”
Annie’s House
Austin-based singer/songwriter brings his Western fusion work to 10 new songs on his freshly announced Annie’s House LP. The album is set to be released on October 25, and the indie rock twang of “Ohio State” is our lead single. The first preview of the album sets Graham’s ghostly vocals against ever-evolving guitar melodies that employ conflicting tones to create infatuating textures. If the rest of Annie’s House is anywhere near “Ohio State,” we should all be very excited for Graham’s upcoming album.
Dawes – “Still Strangers Sometimes”
Oh Brother
Dawes is all set to release their ninth studio album, Oh Brother, on October 11. The nine-track LP promises to be a vulnerable and intimate outing, and the latest single is proof of this sentiment. “Still Strangers Sometimes” places the listener in the shoes of Dawes as they nimbly dance around pop-leaning instrumentation and cascading vocals to deliver the harsh truths of a relationship nearing its final days.
The Bad Plus – “French Horns”
Complex Emotions
The Bad Plus has been manipulating the jazz world to fit their lofty visions since the early 2000s, and they have just announced the next chapter of this journey. Complex Emotions is set to be released on November 8, and “French Horns” is the electrifying lead single for the upcoming release. The Bad Plus live up to the name of their new album as blaring horns battle syncopated drums on this spiritual jazz-leaning single with head-spinning melodies.
