It is another bright, sunny, beautiful day down here on Caustic Avenue, the home of the Old Caustic Factory. Located just outside of the city limits, the Old Caustic Factory has never operated at this level, as we continue to revamp our machinery to keep up with the busy year we’ve been facing. Busy, in the best sense possible, as we have another grand list of fresh releases for you to explore. This week, we have fresh albums from alt-country heroes, contemporary jazz greats, and refreshing explorations on the limits of shoegaze. You can also find some new singles from modern soul heavyweights and Hip-hop genre-pushers.
You can check out Glide’s picks for this week’s best new releases below, and be sure to follow our Caustic Spotify playlist to keep updated during busy weeks like this one.
Genesis Owusu – “The Worldwide Scourge”
REDSTAR & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE
The incomparable multi-faceted Genesis Owusu emerges with the anticipated follow-up to 2023’s STRUGGLER, and he isn’t going to waste a second of your attention. REDSTAR & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE is a sprawling LP that finds Owusu delivering harsh truths bluntly over hard-hitting, glitchy percussion, leading to his most honed project to date. The half-title track is an example of the artist’s Hip-hop prowess, as he delivers head-spinning, thought-provoking rhymes over haunting tones.
Shakey Graves – “Don’t Change a Thing”
Fondness, Etc.
Beloved folk genre-bender Shakey Graves returns with Fondness, Etc., his home-recorded fifth LP. The DIY giant strips down to a lo-fi folk aesthetic for a quick yet intoxicating set of warm, soft, self-analytical tunes that dazzle with their vulnerability, bathed in a warm glow. “Don’t Change a Thing,” the album’s opening track, is a moving introduction to the album’s sonic terrain, an ode to accepting your circumstances without succumbing to them.
49 Winchester – “Bluebird”
Change Of Plans
Celebrated Americana outfit 49 Winchester return to their gritty storytelling and anthemic country-rock on Change Of Plans. Ironically, the title of the band’s sixth studio album couldn’t be further from the truth, as they string 10 heart-pumping tunes together through rollicking guitars and soaring melodies. “Bluebird” finds the band wondering what could have been in the form of an endearing ballad.
Kevin Morby – “I Ride Passenger”
Little Wide Open
Singer/songwriter Kevin Morby’s latest LP, the acoustically blissful and poetic Little Wide Open, finds the artist tantalizing with stories of sacrifice and pain over ethereal, rootsy production. The 13-song outing finds Morby anchoring his poems to earth via organic guitar riffs and subtle hints of ambiance, offering an intimate look into the artist’s mindset. “I Ride Passenger” is an eerie highlight from the project that finds Morby employing bleak imagery to detail his dedication to love and life.
Jeff Parker – “Happy Today”
Happy Today
One of the more forward-thinking players in contemporary jazz returns with an all-star band for his latest outing, Happy Today. Split between two twenty-minute tracks, and featuring the likes of Anna Butterss, Jay Bellerose, and Josh Johnson, Happy Today is a meditation on patience dedicated to the present moment. The slow-burning title track starts with electronic ambiance, only to slide into unpredictable jazz solace without warning, lending to an immersive listen.
Mrs. Magician – “Pill”
Spiritual Hangover
The long-awaited return of the mysterious pop-punk band Mrs. Magician is even sweeter than we could’ve imagined, as they mark their reemergence with a return to form. Spiritual Hangover, the band’s first album in a decade, is brimming with punchy punk anthems that darkly confront mental health, as the band pens harrowing imagery over bright tempos. “Pill” is a stunning example of the album’s aesthetic, as the band floats through life numb over colorful guitar riffs.
Reckoners – “We Saw It All”
Where The Hell Am I?
Wasting no time capitalizing on the explosive response to their 2024 debut, soulful rock-funk fusion experts Reckoners unleash their anticipated sophomore album, Where The Hell Am I? The pleasantly apocalyptic LP of relentless fusion cloaked in a nostalgic haze of gritty lo-fi, proving that Reckoners are just getting started on their creative journey. “We Saw It All” paints vivid imagery over unassuming grooves for a radio-ready ballad to the end times.
Tank and the Bangas – “Is It Over?”
The Last Balloon
One of the more inventive and acclaimed soul groups in the burgeoning contemporary scene, Tank and the Bangas continue their exploration of the limits of their sound on the R&B-tinted The Last Balloon. Leaning into a more contemporary feel without sacrificing the emotional depth of their writing, the 13-song album is an intoxicating continuation of the band’s individuality. “Is It Over?” finds the band at a crossroads of love, searching for any sign that could point to the right direction.
Ryan Bingham – “Relevance”
They Call Us The Lucky Ones
Together with the Texas Gentleman, singer/songwriter Ryan Bingham dives headfirst into extravagant country rock on They Call Us The Lucky Ones. The heartbeat of this project is Bingham’s gravely vocals sliding over instrumentation that ranges from stripped-down acoustics to firework-style honky tonk cacophonies, each one challenging the songwriter to match the mood. “Relevance” leans toward the latter, a barn-burning two-step centered around the idea of doing it all for yourself.
Mad Honey – “Somehow”
Bridge Over Cumberland
On their third album, shoegaze band Mad Honey finds individuality through raw vulnerability, exploring the holes left in the spirit when someone dear to us decides to exit and the pursuit of filling that space. Bridge Over Cumberland is the band’s most focused work to date, a daring exploration of emotions most run away from, while diving deep into a sound they can call their own. “Somehow,” details attempting to escape these emotions, but always seeing them over your shoulder, as they plead for a sense of peace.
Kenny Mason – “Find God” (Feat. Dominic Fike)
BULLDAWG
Acrobatic vocalist Kenny Mason flexes his range across an expansive tracklist on his surprise LP, BULLDAWG. The 15-song album explores punk, pop, and Hip-hop alike, exploring just as many topics, with all of these varying moods and tempos coming together under the watchful eye of Mason. The Dominic Fike-assisted “Find God” leans toward the pop side, a groovy, melodic tune that finds the duo searching for solace.
Fat Dog – “Go F**k Urself”
Single
After establishing dominance with their 2024 debut, WOOF, electro-punk band Fat Dog returns with a pulsating new single. “Go F**k Urself” is a synth-drenched middle finger that is self-aware of its own role in the annoying world around it, declaring that something needs to change drastically. This release marks Fat Dog’s first piece of new music in 2026.
Thee Sinseers – “Did Ya Know?”
Love Stories
Soul revivalist Thee Sinseers have finally announced their long-awaited sophomore effort, and the lead single is hinting at yet another landmark release for the band. Love Stories is set to arrive on September 18 via Colemine Records, and if that release date seems a world away, “Did Ya Know?” has plenty to offer to make the time fly by. The lead single is a harmony-driven preview of the band’s maturity, with glistening vocals that cascade around funky percussion and silk-lined horns.
Chuck Strangers – “Everyday” (Feat. Obii Say)
Glory of the King’s Hand
Producer/vocalist Chuck Strangers set the tone for his solo discography with the release of his stellar A Forsaken Lover’s Plea, and the time has arrived for a follow-up. Glory of the King’s Hand will be released on July 10 through Lex Records, and the jazzy soul of the lead single is a heartfelt welcoming gift. Strangers’ vocals hide underneath fuzzy textures and searing strings, as he evokes nostalgic Hip-hop spirits without detracting from his established contemporary aesthetic.
The Garden – “5 Mile Ponytail”
Bootleg
Genre-blurring rock duo The Garden announce their first album since 2022 and release an atmospheric lead single that emphasizes their nuanced fusion work. Bootleg is set to be released on July 10, and the hypnotic “5 Mile Ponytail” is our first preview of the project. Combining ambient psychedelia with down-to-earth garage rock, “5 Mile Ponytail” showcases an even more experimental side of The Garden, pointing their new album in a daring direction.
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