It is time for the first extended weekend of Summer, and the relaxed energy is palpable as soon as you step outside. As the treacherous storms that rolled through the States slowly dissolve into the past, we here at the Caustic team look to the future, and it is looking bright. As we enter the long weekend and as we inch toward Summer, it is time to revitalize your playlist, and this New Music Friday might have precisely what you’re looking for. We have a healthy dose of refreshing indie rock, splashes of electrifying off-kitler pop, and freeing spiritual jazz. However you plan to spend your weekend, a soundtrack is a must. Allow ol’ Team Caustic to help you find your starting point on this hectic New Music Friday.
Check out Glide’s picks for the week’s best new music, and be sure to check out our Caustic Spotify playlist to stay current on the latest releases.
Sports Team – “Moving Together”
Boys These Days
On their third LP, the acclaimed indie rockers Sports Team showcase their expansive prowess with a subtly experimental effort brimming with infectious melodies, sprawling arrangements, and thought-provoking lyrics. Boys These Days marks the band’s most ambitious album of their career as they replace their guitar-driven indie rock with pop-leaning tendencies that manifest into 10 moving pieces of modern rock. “Moving Together” is an explosive highlight with swaying harmonies that navigate a hectic yet honed arrangement, creating a head-spinning performance that gets better with each listen.
Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’ – “Blues’ll Give You Back Your Soul”
Room On The Porch
Two eras of blues collide once again as Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’ team up for a sentimental LP brimming with slow-burning blues bliss. Room On The Porch continues the Grammy-winning duo’s dominance of modern blues with 10 examples of their natural chemistry, ranging from traditional blues balladry to modern, more soulful takes. “Blues’ll Give You Back Your Soul” is a swaying preview of the moving collaborative project with soulful vocals that cascade around acoustic plucking and hints of jazz from the infectious drum patterns.
Sparks – “Don’t Dog It”
MAD!
The legendary, unpredictable, and prolific Sparks return for their 28th studio album. MAD! is an urgent reminder of the band’s endearing legacy as they craft an off-kilter tracklist with awkward anthems and synth-driven danceability. “Don’t Dog It” is an early favorite from the outing, keeping steady, murky tempos that anchor the acrobatic vocal performance to earth.
Stereolab – “Flashes From Everywhere”
Instant Holograms On Metal Film
For the first time in 15 years, we have new music from Stereolab, and this new LP is proving to be well worth the wait. Instant Holograms On Metal Film is a welcome home parade of epic proportions for the forward-thinking electro-pop pioneers as they assemble a warping, psychedelic tracklist that instantly encapsulates the listener in waterfall-style synths and nimble vocals. “Flashes From Everywhere” features hushed vocals sliding over an arrangement that never ceases to evolve and mesmerize.
Marshall Allen’s Ghost Horizons – “Space Ghost” (Feat. Chad Taylor, DM Hotep, Luke Stewart & Michael Ray)
Live in Philadelphia
After finally stepping into the solo spotlight on his acclaimed 2025 LP, New Dawn, spiritual jazz veteran and Sun Ra collaborator Marshall Allen follows the album up with a live outing. Live in Philadelphia finds the icon putting on a free-wheeling jazz clinic with a band that colors in the pictures painted by Allen. “Space Ghost” is a family affair with blazing brass melodies that slow-dance with space-aged drums to create a field of syncopated solace.
Matching Outfits – “Cold Sea”
Ditch Me
Matching Outfits is an indie pop outfit with a rawness that makes their simplistic yet potent approach palpable with emotional songwriting and hauntingly beautiful vocals. This week, the trio announced Ditch Me, their second full-length set to be released on July 25. Along with the exciting news, Matching Outfits released “Cold Sea,” a slow-burning single with the warmth of lo-fi and swelling strings that hint at an ambitious sophomore effort from the promising young band.
Frankie & The Witch Fingers – “Gutter Priestess”
Trash Classic
The anticipated new LP from Frankie & The Witch Fingers is slowly approaching, and with every new single, the album becomes even more enticing. Trash Classic is set to be released on June 6, and the chaotic distortion of “Gutter Priestess” is our latest preview of the album. The new single crashes through your speakers like a rock through glass with infectious, dense guitar riffs that beautifully accent the throat-scratching vocal performance for a murky, head-spinning peek at the band’s upcoming release.
Smut – “Touch & Go”
Tomorrow Comes Crashing
Smut is facing a lot of pressure heading into their new LP, but based on the singles, the dark alt-rockers seem unfazed by the hype. Tomorrow Comes Crashing will be released on June 27, marking the band’s first LP since their critically acclaimed 2022 LP, How The Light Felt. Our latest single, “Touch & Go,” is a chugging anthem highlighting the band’s acrobatic vocals, as they release yet another phenomenal example of why the excitement around Tomorrow Comes Crashing is well-deserved.
Anand Wilder – “Appointment in Samarra”
Single
On his first solo release since his 2023 ambient LP, Yeasayer’s Anand Wilder pieces together an awkward yet touching ballad. “Appointment in Samarra” is a wonderfully off-kilter release with nimble and unpredictable musicianship that acts as an abstract canvas for Wilder’s gentle vocals. Wilder is preparing for a solo gig in New York City’s Sultan Room Rooftop, where the artist will perform two nights on June 25 & 26.
Turnstile – “LOOK OUT FOR ME”
NEVER ENOUGH
The gifts from Turnstile just keep on coming as the band releases the fourth single from their upcoming LP. “LOOK OUT FOR ME” features whirling synths and lush vocals, landing somewhere between the band’s hardcore roots and their soulful indie rock tendencies, blurring genre norms into a face-melting single. Turnstile’s NEVER ENOUGH arrives on June 6 with a visual album to accompany the release, set to debut at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival.
Maxo – “Donahoo’s Chicken”
MARS IS ELECTRIC
Maxo has been one of the more exciting voices to emerge from Hip-hop in the past few years, and it is time for his star to rise a bit higher. The artist’s first LP since 2023, MARS IS ELECTRIC, arrives on June 20, and the grimey “Donahoo’s Chicken” is our latest single. The new single features a sample of sizzling oil that Maxo uses as a backdrop to his fiery, braggadocious lyrics for a confidence-boosting single that hints at an ambitious tracklist.
Natalie Bergman – “Dance”
My Home Is Not In This World
Natalie Bergman’s sophomore effort is still far away, but the latest single is another reason to mark the July release on your calendar. My Home Is Not In This World will be released by Third Man Records on July 18, and “Dance” is our second and newest single from the project. The simplistic grooves highlight the noir-style vocals from Bergman as the artist longs for just one visit to an open dancefloor.
Hotline TNT – “Break Right”
Raspberry Moon
Hotline TNT looks to continue the buzz they built on 2023’s Cartwheel, and if the rest of Raspberry Moon comes anywhere close to the latest single, the young band is well on their way to their goal. Raspberry Moon will be released on June 20, and the newest single is a dark, crunchy pop-leaning anthem. “Break Right” is a sugar-coated single with soft-spoken vocal melodies that slow-dance with the swirling guitar work for a radio-ready look into the anticipated LP.
