It’s time to shake the sleep out of our eyes and strap up those work boots; there is a welcoming chaos to the lineup of new releases this week. As we wave goodbye to May, the month that was already prolific, we find that we were left with a few presents before it all wraps up next week. Our final New Music Friday of the month explodes with welcomed, exhilarating returns from long-standing legends and future heroes of their respective scenes, along with a collection of innovative LPs that are sure to stick to the sides of your brain. From nostalgic outlaw country from one of its founders, to refreshing contemporary alt-rock, and hints of experimentation, this might be one of the busiest weeks The Old Caustic Factory has seen, but we’re up to the task. If not now, then when; if not us, then who?
Check out Glide’s picks for the week’s best new music, and be sure to hit play on May’s Caustic Spotify playlist to catch up before June kicks off.
All Them Witches – “Aethernet”
House of Mirrors
The long-awaited seventh studio album from psychedelic hard rock mainstays All Them Witches is every bit as detailed and spellbinding as we all hoped, and then some. House Of Mirrors is an enticing display of balance, as the Nashville-based outfit pieces together space-aged textures and gritty, fuzzed-out rock to create a collage of individuality. “Aethernet” is an early highlight tinted with garage rock and drenched in distortion, creating a dense yet dynamic canvas for the rolling vocals.
The Bug Club – “Full Range of Motion”
Every Single Muscle
The punk-tinted antics of The Bug Club are on full display and as palpable as ever on Every Single Muscle. The title of the band’s second album in less than a year is more than something catchy, as the band pours every lofty vision and left-field thought into these eighteen songs of explosive, infectious energy. “Full Range of Motion” crashes through the speakers with subtle hints of lo-fi delivered via chantable lyrics and soaring harmonies.
Dogstar – “Siren”
All In Now
After their initial breakup in 2002 and reemergence in 2020, Dogstar unleashes an atmospheric yet riff-heavy follow-up to their 2023 return album. All In Now proves to be the prevailing sentiment throughout these 12 post-punk-influenced tracks, as psych-rock meets emo-tinted croons, all in the pursuit of something the band can call their own. “Siren,” an early favorite from the album, bends its space-aged guitar tones around emotionally dense yet airy vocals.
Francis of Delirium – “Aliens”
Run, Run Pure Beauty
Jana Bahrich’s work under the Francis of Delirium moniker has always been cathartic and refreshing, but every nuance that sets the artist apart from her indie rock peers is emphasized throughout the stunning Run, Run Pure Beauty. The 11-song outing is brimming with daring acts of sonic manipulation paired with digestible vocals that deliver pure, raw poetry. “Aliens,” the album’s opening number, hints at the epic swells and complex emotions that dot this tracklist, as Bahrich croons of paranoia and a lack of trust.
Devin Townsend – “Covered By Causes”
The Moth (Deluxe Edition)
The prolific and ever-inventive metal singer/guitarist Devin Townsend marks his return with an ambitious and beautifully executed concept album as cinematic and heavy as Townsend’s mind could conjure. The Moth (Deluxe Edition) is a double-sided opus from the metal genre-bender, as he takes us on a rock opera for the ages through soaring, string-fueled swells that are reimagined on the B-side as even more dramatic tunes. “Covered By Causes” is a face-melting rock ballad with Townsend and the angelic backing vocals intertwining over a twisted orchestration.
SUSTO & Susto Stringband – “County Line”
Susto Stringband (Volume 2)
SUSTO, the project of multi-hyphenate Justin Osborne, continues to evolve on the second volume of his Susto Stringband album series. The addition of the droning, heavy strings elevates Osborne’s vibrant storytelling while adding even more depth to the characters and places depicted in these 11 songs. “County Line” brings a slow burn to bluegrass, as Osborne’s vocals skate over acoustic simplicity built out of finger-picking and cinematic strings.
Emmet Cohen – “Gingerbread Boy”
Universal Truth
Piano virtuoso and contemporary jazz giant Emmet Cohen employs a refreshing bop-style swing on his new 8-song outing, Universal Truth. If there was ever an example of what the title of the album suggests, a love for Cohen’s compositions should be one of them, as the artist toys with expectations and eases the mind via mesmerizing compositions. “Gingerbread Boy” is a jovial, light-hearted highlight with Cohen’s piano dancing with soft cymbal taps and whirling brass.
Paul McCartney – “Never Know”
The Boys of Dungeon Lane
No need to adjust your screens: one of the most beloved, celebrated, and recognizable voices in all of music once again pushes his legacy even further into a new generation as the great Paul McCartney releases The Boys of Dungeon Lane. Inspired by his childhood, and more specifically by the time two boys robbed him in his neighborhood, McCartney delivers a late-career autobiography that proves his creativity is still finding new ways to reach our ears. “Never Know” is a heartbreaking ode to miscommunication, as the legendary musician navigates cascading backing vocals and desolate textures.
Kurt Vile – “You don’t know cuz it’s my life”
Philadelphia’s been good to me
On his fresh, autobiographical ode to the city that made him and the memories he made in its streets, Kurt Vile unleashes some of his most experimental, enthralling music to date. Philadelphia’s been good to me is an unfiltered look into the life and creative process of an artist whose voice has rung throughout contemporary music for years, but never this vulnerable and personal. “You don’t know cuz it’s my life” only scratches the surface of the personal truths Vile belts out on his latest, as he proudly parades the nuances of his beloved city over sharp guitar riffs.
Iceage – “Salve for Every Sore”
For Love of Grace & the Hereafter
The ever-evolving punk outfit Iceage continues to expand their sonic universe into new directions on their sixth album, For Love of Grace & the Hereafter. The warping 12-song set finds the band experimenting even more with their limitations, piecing together a sprawling tracklist that maintains consistency via tight riffs and acrobatic vocals. “Salve for Every Sore” arrives with breakneck speed that balances the conventional with the daring, all twisted into anthemic indie rock.
Boards of Canada – “Blood In The Labyrinth”
Inferno
The incomparable Boards of Canada have returned with their first full-length album in almost 13 years, and the daring, biblical 18-song pick-up right where the electronic duo left off. Inferno toys with eternal damnation with lush, blissful, ambient instrumentals that somehow feel both ethereal and terrifyingly real all at once. “Blood In The Labyrinth” slowly builds itself into a highlight with alien tones mounting into a meditative, dystopian cut.
Willie Nelson – “Wonder What I’m Gonna Do”
Dream Chaser
A founder of outlaw country who has transcended the genre to become one of the most cherished figures in American Music, Willie Nelson celebrates his 93rd year on earth with the release of Dream Chaser. Ever as prolific and immersive, Nelson’s songs here are sparse and driven by emotion, showcasing how the artist is still a master of his craft. “Wonder What I’m Gonna Do” could’ve fit on a 70s Nelson LP, as the downtrodden acoustics complement the icon’s pleading vocals with grace and care.
Joey Quiñones – “In My Arms”
Inna Soul Steady Situation
On his proper solo debut, Thee Sinseers’ Joey Quiñones establishes his singular, inventive voice in contemporary soul through a welcoming, refreshing fusion work and angelic vocals. Inna Soul Steady Situation is an imaginative take on the modern scene, as the artist nods to his peers with stunning balladry, while ensuring his individuality via hints of bright, island-flavored tones. “In My Arms” balances these two worlds beautifully, with Quiñones’ vocals driven by longing yet softened by the arrangement’s subtle bounce.
Turnover – “Off Into the Lonesome Sky”
Down On Earth
The wait is finally over. After over a decade of questions and deluxe editions of previous LPs, the undefinable alt-rock outfit Turnover return with Down On Earth, a hazy trip through the many shades the band uses to color their songs, as they manipulate tropes from a plethora of subgenres into a triumphant return. “Off Into the Lonesome Sky” feels like reaching out to someone who left long ago, a shoegaze-tinted plea to stay that maintains tight riffs and warm textures.
Violet Grohl – “Mobile Star”
Be Sweet To Me
Sometimes ambient and lush, other times gritty and urgent, but always wholeheartedly and poetically put, the debut album from Violet Grohl is an exercise in the young artist’s range. Be Sweet To Me is an impressive debut that carries on the Grohl legacy without directly taking from it, establishing the Foo Fighters’ frontman’s daughter as a pure artist in her own right. “Mobile Star” leans toward the dream pop side of the LP, as Grohl’s vocals coil around twinkling keys and dense synths.
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