It is hard to believe this is the last Caustic of September; it feels like it all just started yesterday. As we wave goodbye to an exhilarating month of new releases, the month isn’t going out on a soft note, quite the opposite, actually. This week’s New Music Friday is an action-packed summer blockbuster where the stars align perfectly to balance out each release. For every gentle venture into folk, there is experimental Hip-hop, and for every pop-tinted moment, a raw rock sound emerges to juxtapose. With veterans finding new ways to present themselves, and young bands finding their footing, this week’s Caustic is nothing short of cinema.
Check out Glide’s selections for the week’s best new music, and be sure to visit our Caustic Spotify playlist for September to catch up on any releases you might’ve missed.
Jeff Tweedy – “Betrayed”
Twilight Override
The legendary frontman of Wilco and multifaceted modern icon, Jeff Tweedy, returns to the solo spotlight with a three-album release that delicately explores where the artist stands in life. Twilight Override is thirty songs of Tweedy toying with his prowess to reveal new sights, sounds, and emotions—a proper thirty-song set that touches on sonic experimentation just as much as nostalgia, the regret that often accompanies it. “Betrayed” is an early favorite from disc one, with Tweedy creating an infectious swing to croon out stunning harmonies.
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – “Clearly”
Hard Road
One of blues’ brightest modern stars and dedicated revivalist, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, emerges with his first album since 2021. Hard Road finds Ingram continuing his traditional blues sound while adding his own unique colors to the genre, creating a revealing, refreshing, yet familiar outing. “Clearly” is an autobiographical cut that finds the artist struggling to trust as stardom inches closer, losing faith in those around him, and using a minimal yet potent arrangement to express these complex feelings.
Cate Le Bon – “Mothers of Riches”
Michelangelo Dying
The anticipated LP from Cate Le Bon has finally arrived in all its expert, off-kilter glory. Michelangelo Dying is a moving, synth-drenched piece of indie rock that stretches across 10 songs, leaving Le Bon feeling both imaginative and heartbroken. “Mothers of Riches” is a melting highlight with a lively arrangement that captures the artist’s vocals and wraps them in a lo-fi warmth, creating a dense, poetic highlight from a triumphant return.
Neko Case – “Match – Lit”
Neon Grey Midnight Green
With an eerie whimsy that only emphasizes the haunting beauty of her vague yet emotionally dense poetry, Neko Case gifts us Neon Grey Midnight Green. The artist’s latest LP is 12 head-spinning examples of the veteran’s command of her artistry, bending and twisting her self-appointed tropes into stunning simplicity that echoes throughout the room. “Match – Lit” closes out the LP with a cinematic arrangement and passionate vocal performance.
Geese – “Half Real”
Getting Killed
The third instalment of Geese’s growing discography has arrived, and to say it isn’t a disappointment would do a disservice to how fully the band lived up to the expectations. Getting Killed solidifies the band as fearless, malleable, able to morph into whichever sonic terrain fits their message, even if that means forging an entirely new side of their artistry. “Half Real” features a hypnotic vocal performance stumbling over whimsical melodies and twinkling acoustics.
Sir Richard Bishop – “Rhythm Methodist”
Hillbilly Ragas
Sun City Girls’ guitarist Sir Richard Bishop forges forward with his guitar experimentations on his new solo album, Hillbilly Ragas. The nine-song album marks Bishop’s first in five years, and showcases that the veteran string manipulator still has a few tricks up his sleeve. One of those tricks is “Rhythm Methodist,” a mesmerizing display of the raw power of Bishop’s instrument and his ability to bring its nuances to life.
The Marcus King Band – “Blue Ridge Mountain Moon”
Darling Blue
After pouring his heart out and bringing himself to harsh realizations on his 2024 solo effort, Marcus King gets back to full-band-backed, traditional blues on Darling Blue. The rocking set allows the bandleader to flex the new perspective he brings to his songwriting, as evident in 14 spellbinding examples of King’s love for his genre’s history and his significant contributions to it. “Blue Ridge Mountain Moon” is a passionate performance, with King’s vocals cascading around sleek, minimalist twang.
Robert Plant – “Soul Of A Man
Saving Grace
Named after the band that has been backing him since 2019, Saving Grace marks yet another exhilarating chapter in the long history of Robert Plant. The classic rock icon-turned-folksy Americana star opens the door to collaboration with his band as they sketch out 10 detailed drawings of the world around them. “Soul of A Man” finds Plant searching for meaning over the soft-spoken arrangement.
Sam Prekop – “Font”
Open Close
Sam Prekop has done a terrific job of keeping listeners on their toes throughout his illustrious career, constantly experimenting with new sounds to capture the state of his artistry accurately. On Open Close, Prekop continues to redefine ambient music with a waterfall of electronic instrumental tracks, each painstakingly crafted to come together in beautiful flourishes. “Font” is an early favorite, characterized by restless energy that creates a nimble piece of electronica that dances on its tiptoes with grace and care.
Geckøs – “Wedding Waltz”
Geckøs
M. Ward, Howe Gelb, and McKowski are Geckøs, and their moody self-titled debut is an intoxicating, slow-burning effort. The trio put together an album that begs to be explored, but in no particular rush, as Geckøs shed light on the beauty of feeling a little blue. “Wedding Waltz” welcomes us to the self-titled album with a breezy horn performance and swaying yet blunt acoustics that seamlessly transition into a layered vocal performance.
Rainbow Kitten Surprise – “King”
bones
The pop-tinted alt-rockers Rainbow Kitten Surprise unleash an album that is more of a cathartic emotional release than an LP, but that is not to take away from the excitement of new RKS. The band’s latest album, bones, blends punchy melodies with emotions that feel far too real for the band, almost as if they’re trying to explain their headspace before it’s fully processed, leading to a 10-song onslaught of heartbreak and the anger that comes from it. “King” is a bubbly highlight with thudding tempos that hit you in the chest, leaving a hole there for the lyrics to have a direct line to your spirit and heart.
Danny Brown – “Stardust”
Stardust
Your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper is back with an anthem and a new album. Danny Brown, coming off the release of his revealing Quaranta, readies Stardust, a 14-song album set to be released on November 7. The title track is our lead single and hints at an experimental effort from Brown. This is the type of song that showcases why Brown is one of the most imaginative rappers today, as the artist’s acrobatic vocals dance with warping synths and harsh textures.
Daniel Caesar – “Moon” (Feat. Bon Iver)
Songs Of Spergy
After releasing a string of impressive singles, including the one we have here today, R&B’s most forward-thinking act prepares fans for a new LP. Songs Of Spergy is set to be released on October 24, and the Bon Iver-assisted “Moon” is our latest single. The atmospheric tune moves as one living being, with Caesar’s heavenly vocals camouflaging with streaks of percussion and ambient textures.
Todd Snider – “HIGH, LONESOME AND THEN SOME.”
HIGH, LONESOME AND THEN SOME.
Prolific post-troubador Todd Snider announces his new album and releases the title track. HIGH, LONESOME AND THEN SOME. will hit your local streaming service on October 17, and while we wait, the downtrodden title track can soundtrack your life. This is a moving Americana tune that paints a vivid picture of a smoking man contemplating the state of his life.
Ratboys – “Light Night Mountains All That”
Single
Ratboys return with their first single in two years with “Light Night Mountains All That.” The pounding drum pattern does a terrific job of juxtaposing the vocals, crafting a busy atmosphere that never feels overwhelming; a perfect balance of maximalist rock and folksy charm. The single arrives with news of a North American tour from Ratboys, which is set to kick off in February 2026.
