With the weather outside beginning to change, many people see this transitional period of the year as a time to reflect and approach the upcoming months with a new lease on life. As the warmth of Spring slowly trickles into our everyday lives, the world seems more alive, as if it has regained its lust for life and experiences. The air seems fresher, the colors are brighter, and the music sounds even better. It is time to start crafting your Springtime playlist, and Glide has just the Caustic to get you started. This week, we have a plethora of releases that range from modern jazz mastery to fresh country LPs steeped in tradition. No matter how you want to enter the next chapter of 2025, this week’s Caustic has something to soundtrack this transition.
Check out Glide’s picks for the week’s best new releases, and follow our Caustic Spotify playlist to stay updated on the latest releases.
Yukimi – “Elinam”
For You
On her solo debut, Little Dragon’s Yukimi dives into jazzy pop balladry with a unique touch and soulful melodies. For You is 13 spellbinding pieces of the artist’s vocal range, as her signature, nimble vocals navigate sophisticated minimalism for an early contender for album of the year. “Elinam only begins to detail the mesmerizing journey of Yukimi’s solo debut. The sparse yet moving arrangement beautifully emphasizes the infectious melodies for a modern jazz ballad that will have you sprinting to hear the rest of the LP.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra – “Earth 3”
IC-02 Bogotá
The second installment of Unknown Mortal Orcheestra’s instrumental album series is finally available after the band started the series in 2018. IC-02 Bogotá is a dense yet freeing LP with eight freewheeling instrumentals that range from left-field electronics to new-age spiritual jazz, showcasing UMO’s growth since their last entirely instrumental effort. “Earth 3” is a nearly nine-minute jazz number that features warm horn melodies, bouncy loops, and splashes of experimentation to help it stand out on this captivating and ambient tracklist.
Cactus Lee – “Twenty Dollars”
Cactus Lee
Cactus Lee’s mysterious, prolific, and consistently evolving work takes the form of low-pressure acoustic country in his new self-titled effort. The artist’s second self-titled LP of his career is a honed and twangy effort that airs on the side of folksy storytelling, with the warmth of a bonfire and the imaginative spirit of an artist with a deep love for tradition. “Twenty Dollars” closes the set with sentimental songwriting delivered via swaying melodies and twangy minimalism.
Destroyer – “Dan’s Boogie”
Dan’s Boogie
Dan Bejar returns to his Destroyer moniker and continues his experimentation with the limits of indie rock and pop. Dan’s Boogie is a quick yet potent outing from a veteran whose restless creativity refuses him to repeat himself sonically, lending to the otherworldly balladry of Bejar’s first Destroyer album since 2022. The title track is a cabaret-style ballad with jazzy undertones that deliver sweeping melodies and poetic songwriting, hinting at the freewheeling arrangements that make Dan’s Boogie such an exciting addition to the Destroyer catalog.
Lucy Dacus – “Come Out”
Forever Is A Feeling
The highly anticipated solo album from singer/songwriter Lucy Dacus arrives in a blaze of vulnerable songwriting and sprawling instrumentation. Forever Is A Feeling captures a special moment for Dacus as the artist grapples with success and fame while penning brutally honest songs that employ folksy storytelling just as much as pieces of the artist’s autobiography. “Come Out” finds Dacus powering through a label meeting to return to more important things, like the love of your life and creating memories with them.
The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble – “Makin’ Moves”
Gemini
The Sure Fire Soul Ensemble returns with their first new LP in nearly three years, and the groove-filled effort was well worth the wait. Gemini is an expansive effort from the jazzy instrumental group, balancing nostalgia and modern soul while exploring the deepest corners of jazz. “Makin’ Moves” welcomes us to Gemini with soaring wind instruments whose whimsical melodies navigate infectious percussion with gentle grace and fusion prowess.
Hannah Cohen – “Summer Sweat”
Earthstar Mountain
It has been six years since we last heard from Hannah Cohen, and this week, the artist returns, sounding better than ever. Earthstar Mountain takes the shine from modern pop and the rawness of folk traditions and blends them into 10 mind-melting ballads that touch on psychedelia. “Summer Sweat” is an early favorite from the fantastic effort, featuring Cohen’s soaring vocals bleeding over a dense yet whimsical arrangement that previews the artist’s evolved, nuanced approach.
Deafheaven – “The Garden Route”
Lonely People With Power
Heavy metal’s left-field golden child, Deafheaven, returns for the genre’s throne with an expansive effort that changes the room’s atmosphere. Lonely People With Power features 12 passionate performances, with the band employing lush shoegaze juxtaposed with the throat-scratching vocals of frontman George Clarke. “The Garden Route” showcases how much Deafheaven has grown since its last LP. A dense wall of metal influences is cut into two thanks to the booming vocals that creep out just enough to provide a dynamically captivating performance.
Alison Krauss & Union Station – “Richmond On The James”
Arcadia
The legendary team of Alison Krauss and her and Union Station are back with their first album in over a decade. Arcadia is a traditional folksy roots effort that showcases the band’s natural chemistry and how time has only forced an evolution for the band. “Richmond On The James” is rich in tradition and hints at the raw folk that built Arcadia. The stand-out track is steeped in Americana tropes that Krauss and the band twisted into an infectious, toe-tapping storytelling track.
Ministry – “Same Old Madness”
The Squirrely Years Revisited
For their next trick, the Al Jourgensen-led industrial rockers, Ministry, revisit and reimagine their earlier efforts. The Squirrely Years Revisited has the band looking back on their earlier synth-pop efforts and approaching them with a new sense of creative freedom. “Same Old Madness” sounds even more lively than you could remember, with the bouncy synth keys colliding with cinematic guitars, crunchy tones, and lo-fi warmth.
Cat Ridgeway – “Go Long (So Long)”
Sprinter
The day has finally arrived for the new Cat Ridgeway LP to make its way into your digital library, and if you weren’t anticipating this release, now is the time to get on board the Ridgeway Express. Sprinter is a sprawling effort with the singer/songwriter crafting moments of pop-punk explosiveness while giving equal attention to more tame balladry. “Go Long (So Long)” is an early favorite with plush harmonies that slide over glistening instrumentation.
The Bug Club – “Jealous Boy”
Very Human Features
The prolific and angular artsy punks The Bug Club return with the announcement of a new album and its lead single. Very Human Features will be released on June 13 via Sub Pop, and the distorted “Jealous Boy” is our first preview of the 13-song LP. The lead single is an anthem with a chorus built for chanting, cutting through the hectic guitar melodies with infectious energy and relatable lyrics.
Late night drive home – “Terabyte”
As I watch my life online
After capturing the heart of the indie-pop community with unforgettable singles and EPs, Late night drive home finally announced their debut album. As I watch my life online is set to be released on June 27, and the groovy “Terabyte” is our lead single from the anticipated project. The pop-leaning single is an infectiously bright tune that introduces the band as a refreshing addition to the ever-evolving genre and prepares listeners for what is already shaping up to be a daring and rewarding LP.
PUP – “Get Dumber” (Feat. Jeff Rosenstock)
Who Will Look After The Dogs?
We are slowly inching closer to the anticipated new LP from modern punk legends PUP, and if the rest of the album is half as good as this most recent single, we’re in for a real treat. Who Will Look After The Dogs? is set to be released on May 2, and the Jeff Rosenstock-assisted “Get Dumber” is the latest single from the album. The heavily distorted single features throat-scratching vocals and face-melting instrumental sections for an unforgettable look at the next installment of PUP’s career, and it is sure to be a landmark release for young punks.
James Krivchenia, Sam Wilkes, & Joshua Abrams – “Bracelets For Unicorns”
Performing Belief
Big Thief’s James Krivchenia is gearing up to release his first solo album in five years, Performing Belief, on May 2. While we wait for the full release, Krivchenia releases the second, “Bracelets For Unicorns.” The latest single features off-kilter grooves from the spacious percussion rhythms, while wonky bass lines give the song a spiritual jazz undertone, allowing the lofty single to land between complex and digestible.
