Another first of the month has come and gone since the last time we opened the doors to the Old Caustic Factory, but put your anxieties at ease: June is starting just as fiery as its predecessors. The prolific year of new music only becomes more alluring on weeks like this, as we have an extensive, sprawling set of fresh releases for your weekend relaxation. However, some of these albums are far from a place of solace. This week, we have refreshing Hip-hop rooted in urgency, refreshing rock built on experimental tendencies, and fresh starts from some familiar faces. Just as always, there is something for everyone on yet another exciting edition of Caustic Commentary.
You can check out Glide’s picks for this week’s best new music, and head over to our Caustic Spotify playlist so you don’t miss a release.
Deer Tick – “Candy Cigarettes”
Coin-O-Matic
The rootsy road-test rock of Deer Tick sounds as lively and accessible as ever on the band’s new album, Coin-O-Matic. Marking their first studio release in two years, the 11-song outing is built on ambitious arrangements that emphasize the subtle poetry of it all, creating another anthemic album for the Deer Tick discography. “Candy Cigarettes,” the album closer, is a six-minute epic with a swelling arrangement that crashes into distorted bliss.
Jalen Ngonda – “Love is Gone”
Doctrine of Love
On his highly anticipated sophomore effort, contemporary soul musician Jalen Ngonda showcases exactly why his star has been steadily rising for years now. The 10-song Doctrine of Love showcases Ngonda’s acrobatic vocal range as the artist pens tales of heartbreak and longing, landing on a tracklist that is equal parts refreshing and nostalgic. “Love is Gone” is a simple yet potent highlight, with soaring vocals and lyrics that attempt to heal emotional wounds.
Of Montreal – “Having a Moment”
Aethermead
The ever-evolving alt-pop of Kevin Barnes’s Of Montreal unleashes a return to form on their first album in two years. Aethermead finds Barnes employing the emotionally complex and abstract poetry of his earlier work, while pushing his sound into a blissful lo-fi atmosphere. “Having a Moment,” one of the livelier cuts on the fresh LP, features eerie yet stunning vocals that navigate twisting distortion.
Death Cab for Cutie – “How Heavenly A State”
I Built You a Tower
The legendary Death Cab for Cutie yet again emerges with another collection of reasons they are one of the few bands from their era enjoying the type of longevity they have. I Built You a Tower is another emotionally dense addition to the DCFC legacy, with 11 face-melting tunes that shred riffs and shed tears with equal fervor. “How Heavenly A State” battles mortality over dense distortion, creating a chugging anthem for bleak times.
The Red Clay Strays – “Walking Away”
Grateful
After establishing themselves as one of the more exhilarating voices in contemporary Southern rock, The Red Clay Strays dive deeper into their roots on their third LP. Grateful is both reflective and urgent, as the band implements gospel and soul nuances into their infectious twang, creating an homage to the sound that shaped their hometown. “Walking Away” sounds straight off of a dusty 7” record you found in a garage, as crackling lo-fi warmth collides with floating vocals.
Futurebirds – “Fly On”
Far Out Country I
In the first half of their ambitious double-disc, Futurebirds deliver vivid imagery through bright psychedelia. Far Out Country I is nine spellbinding performances that employ detailed storytelling with charming narratives, while the band hones their unique blend of bold psych-Americana. “Fly On” is one of the more daring tunes on the LP, as the vocals bleed into a cacophony of bright tones.
Modest Mouse – “I Can’t Talk Right Now”
An Eraser And A Maze
The iconic Modest Mouse is ushering in a new era on their eighth studio effort, An Erase And A Maze. Throughout this 15-song tracklist, the Isaac Brock-led outfit returns with lineup changes and mental check-ins, as they pen autobiographical numbers for some of the band’s most vulnerable work to date. “I Can’t Talk Right Now” blends isolation with dancing synths for a swaying stand-out performance on yet another undeniable piece of work from Modest Mouse.
Thomas Bangalter – “Mirage: Part VI”
Thomas Bangalter: Mirage – Ballet for 16 Dancers
One half of Daft Punk saw the end of the duo as a chance to throw themselves into the solo material they have been quietly crafting over the past few years, as Thomas Bangalter fearlessly dives into cinematic ambiance on Thomas Bangalter: Mirage – Ballet for 16 Dancers. The 8-song orchestration plays as a droning reminder to keep patient, as Bangalter takes us on a fantastical journey of subdued swells and electro-melodies. “Mirage: Part VI” is only a slice of the magic contained on this tracklist, but this is an album to sit back and hear from beginning to end.
Vince Staples – “Only In America”
Cry Baby
Built around live instrumentation and a palpable urgency, visionary artist Vince Staples returns with a poetic statement meant to remind us of the pitfalls of modern times while providing an outlet for the anger. Cry Baby is Staples unfiltered, as his cartoonish vocals and thought-provoking writing navigate searing guitars and groovy funk alike. “Only In America” begins to sum up the sentiments on this album, as Staples delivers heartbreaking imagery over sturdy percussion and ripping guitars.
The Huntress and Holder of Hands – “Doctrine”
Babylon
In an era when rock music feels lacking in innovation, The Huntress and Holder of Hands audaciously unleash Babylon, a dark and much-needed experiment with the genre’s limits. These 10 mesmerizing performances shock with their haunting beauty while displaying an individuality that quickly sets this band apart from their peers. “Doctrine” is a slow-burn with thick basslines that cascade around the heart-pounding, ethereal vocals.
Zoh Amba – “Blueberry Thorn”
Eyes Full
Fresh off her foray into her jazz roots as a bandleader and saxophonist on 2025’s Sun, the multi-hyphenate Zoh Amba steps into a singer/songwriter role on her latest album. Eyes Full introduces the raw sketches of Amba’s scratchy vocals and risky production tactics, making her debut full-length as a singer/songwriter have an immediate impact on the genre. “Blueberry Thorn” is an early favorite that employs intricate imagery to show that beauty is as capable of pain as anything else.
Bedouine – “Na Na Na”
Neon Summer Skin
Under the Bedouine moniker, singer/songwriter Azniv Korkejian’s music has always dabbled in the dream realm, but on her first LP in five years, all of those sentiments are elevated. Neon Summer Skin finds the artist putting her own twist on psych-folk through delicate experimentation, creating an immersive tracklist. “Na Na Na,” despite the simple song title, is anything but that, as a growing arrangement adds splashes of color to Korkejian’s gentle vocals.
Blood Incantation – “Dawn”
All Gates Open (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
The prog-metal outfit Blood Incantation was the subject of a documentary surrounding their 2024 LP, Absolute Elsewhere, and the ambient synth soundtrack is now a stand-alone release. All Gates Open is four improvised compositions featuring playful ambiance that dances with demons, as the band miraculously maintains an edge during the hour-long instrumental project. “Dawn” bends the mind and soothes the soul with nimble keystrokes.
Navy Blue – “Baron”
Sir Render
Less than a calendar year after the release of his last album, the meditative Navy Blue returns with Sir Render, a continuation of his explorations for solace. The 15-song project arrived with almost no warning and features the likes of Earl Sweatshirt, Armand Hammer, and KA, showcasing just how flexible Blue’s writing can be. “Baron,” produced by the great The Alchemist, features rolling piano melodies that act as the perfect canvas for the artist’s thoughtful rhymes.
Frances Chang – “is affect real?
been thinking bout confession
Brooklyn-based multi-hyphenate Frances Chang has announced her latest album and delivered a mesmerizing preview of the anticipated LP. The artist’s first release since 2024, been thinking bout confession, is set to arrive on August 21, and “is affect real?” is our latest preview of the project. With subtle, stirring strings and fragile vocals, the artist crafts a whimsical sonic universe for the listener to get lost in.
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