These weeks fly by as we have already landed on yet another adrenaline-filled New Music Friday. No need to book a skydiving adventure or hike a volcano to get that rush that eases over the stress and humdrum of the work week; we have a Caustic that is crawling with exciting new releases. Everything from experimental Hip-hop to daring prog-rock is represented here, but the underlying theme seems to be pushing against the grain. In an era where conformity can make you a millionaire with a few viral videos, this week’s Caustic is a refreshing departure from it all as imaginative artists look to break the mold with lofty visions of the future.
Check out Glide’s selections for the week’s best new music, and follow our new Spotify account to stay updated on the latest releases.
Charley Crockett – “This Crazy Life”
Lonesome Drifter
One decade and fourteen albums in, Charley Crockett has cemented himself in the modern country pantheon as a pure revivalist with a modern drifter spirit. On his fifteenth studio effort, Lonesome Drifter, Crockett pens vulnerable imagery that immerses the listener in the artist’s journey as a musician, detailing the road that led to this latest release. “This Crazy Life” lands right in the middle of Crockett’s new record, and it begins to touch on the storytelling prowess of Lonesome Drifter. The heartfelt ballad has Crockett’s vocals dropping low as they navigate soaring strings and twangy minimalism. It’s also one of the most memorable songs on the LP.
Neal Francis – “Dance Through Life”
Return To Zero
Singer/songwriter/pianist Neal Francis strikes a delicate balance between nostalgia, his tendencies, and visions of the future on the groovy new album Return To Zero. The 11-song LP sees Francis blend funk influences with his natural knack for pop balladry as the danceable tracklist introduces synths, thick basslines, and hooky anthems to the artist’s signature sound. “Dance Through Life” glows like a neon sign at a diner with smooth guitar melodies and twinkling keys that dance with Francis’s vocals to create stunning psychedelic pop.
Coheed and Cambria – “Play the Poet”
The Father of Make Believe
One of the past twenty years’ most successful and acclaimed progressive rock bands returns with a sprawling new effort for fans to immerse themselves in. The Father of Make Believe is a 14-song effort in which the band pushes the boundaries of their mold to create a tracklist that jumps from acoustic balladry to industrial punk. “Play the Poet” touches on the latter in grandiose fashion. Throat-scratching vocals attempt to keep up with the dense distortion of the arrangement on this highlight from an expansive album by studio veterans.
Jason Boland & The Stragglers – “Irish Goodbye”
The Last Kings of Babylon
On their eleventh album together, Jason Boland and The Stragglers stick to tradition while blissfully ignoring current genre trends. The Last Kings of Babylon is a heartfelt ode to classic American music, with Boland’s rugged vocals twirling around explosive and sentimental country rock. “Irish Goodbye is dedicated to the unexpected departure from a party you didn’t want to be involved in in the first place. Boland’s writing is vulnerable, personal, and relatable, and swinging twang accents his vocals beautifully.
ZZ Ward – “Clairvoyant”
Liberation
Every time we receive new music from singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist ZZ Ward, it feels like a celebration the whole world should be involved in. This week, the artist released Liberation, a 14-song effort and her first album since 2023. The album has Ward’s bluesy rock growing into stadium-sized anthems, with “Clairvoyant” and its soulful, jazzy undertones helping it stick out as an early favorite. Ward’s crisp yet nostalgic vocals take over the fuzzy horns and dusty drums on this high-flying ballad that introduces us to the pure passion employed on Liberation.
Steven Wilson – “The Overview: Infinity Measured in Moments”
The Overview
Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson returns to the solo spotlight with a daring effort that continues the artist’s trend of reimagining modern prog-rock. The Overview is split between two extended tracks, “Objects Outlive Us” and “The Overview.” The album was rolled out at nationwide screenings, accompanied by a film by Miles Skain. Thankfully, the official release gifts the listener with individual streaming capabilities of the moments captured on these two long cuts. “Infinity Measured In Moments” is from “The Overview” and features head-spinning solos, pop melodies, and experimental rock tones for a quick look into the mystifying world of Wilson’s latest creation.
The Loft – “Somersaults”
Everything Changes Everything Stays The Same
The long-awaited official debut from 80s jangle-pop outfit The Loft has finally arrived, and it was worth every second of the decades-long wait. Everything Changes Everything Stays The Same is an appropriate title for the band’s debut, as they mix their loose melodies with the urgency of the modern landscape. “Somersaults” is the breezy highlight, with glistening guitars juxtaposing the dense vocal performance with captivating dynamics and nuanced personality.
Ty Segall – “Fantastic Tomb”
Possession
After exploring instrumental, drum-driven jazz on his last release, psych-garage rocker Ty Segall is returning to form. This week, the artist announced Possession, his new album, which is set to be released on May 30. “Fantastic Tomb” is our lead single that bends and twists around Segall’s nimble vocals with a contradicting arrangement that jumps from horn-drenched solace to stirring psychedelia before your ears.
The Thing – “Above Snakes”
Single
After crashing into the rock scene with their stellar 2024 debut, New York’s The Thing is already back with new music. This week, the band released two rocking singles with “Dave’s TV” and “Above Snakes.” The latter is a chaotic journey through fuzzed-out melodies that create an enticing wall of sound that continually evolves throughout the track.
Feeble Little Horse – “This Is Real”
Single
It is not every day we hear from Feeble Little Horse, Pittsburgh’s daring shoegaze outfit. For their first piece of new music since their 2023 LP, the band dives into the complexity of modern music with a toothy grin and a head full of lofty visions. “This Is Real” is just as metal as shoegaze, with a face-melting hook that easily transitions into sugary verses.
Billy Woods – “Misery”
GOLLIWOG
Billy Woods has been one of the most prolific and daring artists underground Hip-hop has seen in a long time, although calling Woods underground would be doing a disservice to the years of tireless work that got him here. Coming off the immense praise for his 2023 LP Maps, Woods sets his sights on GOLLIWOG, the concept album based on a horror story Woods wrote as a child. The album will be released on May 9, and the Kenny Segal-produced “Misery” is our lead single. The droning samples from Segal accent Woods’s imaginative writing and intimidating flows, eerie yet warm, showcase a new side of the duo’s chemistry that wasn’t present in their previous collaborations.
Fly Anakin – “The Times”
(The) Forever Dream
As the world awaits the latest installment of Fly Anakin’s exhilarating discography, the Virginia-raised rapper releases yet another exciting single. (The) Forever Dream is set to be released on April 25, and the latest single is a cinematic masterpiece. “The Times” is a melodically soulful and thought-provoking single with Anakin’s strep-throat flows pushing through beautifully chopped vocal samples and smooth melodies.
Lucy Dacus – “Talk”
Forever Is A Feeling
The long-awaited solo effort from Lucy Dacus is just around the corner, and if the excitement wasn’t already palpable, this new single will have everyone sprinting for more. “Talk” features filthy drum patterns and distorted guitars that poetically juxtapose Dacus’s hauntingly beautiful vocal performance. Dacus’s new album, Forever Is A Feeling, is set to be released on March 28.
Night Beats – “Behind the Green Door”
Single
Danny Lee Blackwell returns under his Night Beats moniker with a synth-heavy horror ballad, “Behind the Green Door.” The song is a part of a two-song 7” vinyl release on April 11. The down-tempo anthem feels like it belongs in a Halloween movie with its dark vocal tones that warp around the unpredictable arrangement.
Kendra Morris – “In My House”
Single
After releasing a show-stopping LP in 2023, funk-inspired soul vocalist Kendra Morris triumphantly returns with an infectious new single. “In My House” employs spoken-word-style vocal phrasing as hypnotic drums build the arrangement. Lyrically, Morris explores the freedom of occupying a space you can call your own, giving “In My House” another layer of masterful soul.
