It’s an interesting time of year as summer gets underway, and we all drop our shoulders in the heat for a moment of well-deserved relaxation. While summer is a time of anticipation, with vacations and holidays lining up over the next few months, the start of July also marks the halfway point of the year, and what a year of music it has been. As we all prepare to ship off for the long weekend, the time has come to decide on some of the best Caustic tunes of the year so far. This week’s list is filled with our favorite singles and albums for the first half of 2025, and it was not easy deciding which Caustic alumni to feature. We have carefully selected 15 of the most memorable, infectious, and colorful examples of our weekly round-up, and even with stiff competition, these songs stood out amongst a hectic and lovely year of new music.
Check out Glide’s picks for the Best of Caustic 2025 (so far) below, and be sure to head over to our Spotify for a playlist of the songs. We hope you all have a safe and fun holiday!
The Tubs – “Fair Enough”
Cotton Crown
The Tubs’ 2025 LP is a landmark release for the jangly garage rockers and continues to be one of the most impressive albums of the year. Cotton Crown is a punk-tinted, twangy LP with heartfelt, poetic songwriting that brings the listener even deeper into the band’s sonic universe. “Fair Enough” is a standout track from Cotton Crown, featuring ripping guitars, toe-tapping tempos, and explosive emotions.
Mac Miller – “5 Dollar Pony Rides”
Balloonerism
“5 Dollar Pony Rides” was the first single from the second posthumous Mac Miller album. The jazzy single introduced the world to Balloonerism, the psychedelic, warping, and dark LP that Miller completed a few years before his passing. The lead single finds Miller employing a sinfully sweet singing voice that skates over twinkling keys and thick basslines.
$ilkmoney – “THE JURY DUTY SEAFOOD BOIL BAG FROM THE LYFE JENNINGS PAPERWORK PARTY”
WHO WATERS THE WILTING GIVING TREE ONCE THE LEAVES DRY UP AND THE FRUITS NO LONGER BEAR?
The upcoming $ilkmoney album, WHO WATERS THE WILTING GIVING TREE ONCE THE LEAVES DRY UP AND THE FRUITS NO LONGER BEAR?, is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated Hip-hop releases of the year, and this single is just one of the reasons. The LP is set to be released on July 18, and the pure aggression and prowess of “THE JURY DUTY SEAFOOD BOIL BAG FROM THE LYFE JENNINGS PAPERWORK PARTY” should have everyone excited for the full release. The latest single is a hypnotic look into $ilkmoney’s raw talent as his words and flows fill out the space left by the simplistic, mesmerizing instrumental.
Tunde Adebimpe – “God Knows”
Thee Black Boltz
There was a lot of anticipation heading into Tunde Adebimpe’s debut solo album, and the 11-song LP did not disappoint. Thee Black Boltz recontextualizes Adebimpe’s signature songwriting and acrobatic vocals into something entirely new with a tracklist that ranges from electro-pop to soulful balladry. “God Knows” leans to the latter as the artist pens a moving and heartbreaking story of love and just how fickle it can be.
Squid – “Showtime!”
Cowards
The highly anticipated third album from post-punk darlings was released to critical acclaim across the board, allowing the band to score yet another modern hit in the busy post-punk scene. Cowards found the accomplished band honing their lofty visions into tight anthems, resulting in a sprawling yet concentrated effort. “Showtime!” is the twisted standout with sleek guitars that juxtapose the crawling vocal performance, creating a twisted vision of modern post-punk.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – “Panpsych”
Phantom Island
The ever-evolving Australian psych-rock monsters returned with a sweeping LP that included swelling strings, cinematic orchestrations, and otherworldly storytelling. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s Phantom Island is an immersive listen, featuring soaring arrangements that combine the drama of opera with the freewheeling experimentation that the band has built its undeniable legacy on. “Panpsych” is brimming with pop whimsy and funky grooves that create a danceable atmosphere, featuring splashes of jazzy undertones and an abundance of expressive horn melodies.
Marshall Allen – “Sonny’s Dance”
New Dawn
In 2025, Marshall Allen became the oldest man to release a solo debut album with the release of New Dawn. At 100 years old, the former Sun Ra band member pieced together a delicate and expansive LP that is both weird and off-kilter yet warm and welcoming. “Sonny’s Dance” begins to hint at the complexities of New Dawn as hollow horns welcome you to a stirring journey through left-field tempos.
Sunny War – “No One Calls Me Baby”
Armageddon In A Summer Dress
Sunny War has proven time and time again to be one of the most exciting and refreshing blues revivalists in the modern scene, and her 2025 LP continues her dominance. Armageddon In A Summer Dress is a raw, daring, and honest LP featuring heartbreaking and touching songwriting delivered with raw emotion. “No One Calls Me Baby” features palpable longing that swims through a sea of punch-drunk guitars with a slow-burn that emphasizes the song’s sentiment.
Deep Sea Diver – “Always Waving Goodbye”
Billboard Heart
The Jessica Dobson-led Deep Sea Diver returned in 2025 with Billboard Heart, their first LP in five years. The 11-song effort is highlighted by its ability to blend muted colors with bright pop tendencies as the band pieces together an intricate portrait of pulsating drums and stadium-sized vocal performances. “Always Waving Goodbye” leans to the heavier side of the album as Dobson’s lyrics explore the complexities of walking away from something you thought you would hold close for the rest of your life.
Yukimi – “Elinam”
For You
Little Dragon’s Yukimi took time this year to release her gorgeous solo debut, and the jazzy pop effort continues to be one of the most memorable releases in 2025. There is a simplicity to For You that is oddly reassuring and wholeheartedly relatable, as the artist uses the natural warmth of her vocals to create a lighthearted atmosphere around these 13 songs. “Elinam” is a sincere and radiant standout that sways like a child’s mobile yet carries the emotional weight of a lifetime.
Σtella – “Can I Say”
Adagio
Σtella’s Adagio stands strong as one of the most touching and beautiful pieces of alt-folk to be released in 2025, and one listen will show you exactly why. The quick yet potent 9-song album achieves so much with so little, all in such a short amount of time, creating an album that combines pop sensibilities with raw acoustics and subtle nods to jazz, serving as a canvas for the artist’s poetry. “Can I Say” is a sweetly sung love ballad built upon blinks of synths that dance across blinks of acoustic bliss.
Bon Iver – “I’ll Be There”
SABLE, fABLE
It is almost miraculous that Justin Vernon continues to find new ways to surprise with his growing Bon Iver project, but in 2025, he might have released his most serene, meditative, and awe-inspiring album yet. SABLE, fABLE is an ambitious project from Vernon that captures the essence of his signature electro-folk sound and stretches it to its furthest limits, creating an expansive and consistent effort. “I’ll Be There” is an ode to sticking true to your word, especially when it is a promise to someone you love. Vernon explores this message over a wash of sonics that complement the vocal performance in a way that is both personal and relatable.
Viagra Boys – “You N33d Me”
Viagr aboys
Of all the fantastic albums released in 2025, Viagra Boys are well ahead of the pack for Album of the Year with the phenomenally twisted and observant, subtly self-titled effort. Viagr aboys finds the punk golden children taking in the world around them, soaking in the cultural and social modern norms, and spitting them back out at the listener with their unique perspective and cartoonish punk prowess. “You N33d Me” takes the emotions of an introvert and displays them for all to see, as the lyrics detail the ups and downs of a man with diverse tastes and no social battery.
Natalie Bergman – “Dance”
My Home Is Not In This World
The upcoming album from Natalie Bergman, scheduled for release on July 18, is poised to be a watershed moment for the artist. My Home Is Not In This World is Bergman’s second LP for Third Man Records, and it’s because of singles like “Dance” that this has been one of the most anticipated albums of the year. The latest single features a moody groove that maintains the dark undertones, as Bergman’s ghostly vocals add a lush layer, creating an enticing sonic conflict and all the reasons you need to be excited about My Home Is Not In This World.
Gina Birch – “Doom Monger”
Trouble
After finally entering the world as a solo artist in 2023, legendary Raincoats member Gina Birch sets her sights on a sophomore effort in 2025. Trouble is set to be released on July 11, and the warm electronic melodies and sleek funk of “Doom Monger” are our latest preview of the album. Birch’s vocals take a mesmerizing approach, dipping from low grumbles to high-flying falsettos, all while a bouncy arrangement adds a flair of modern dance.
