It is reaching a blistering heat here at the Ye Ol’ Caustic Saloon, and we are welcoming everyone in for a tall, cold glass of fresh new releases. As we enter what feels like an apocalyptic heatwave, with torrential storms erupting out of the bright blue summer sky, the outside world pushes and pulls us closer and further away. It is New Music Fridays like this that tether us to reality while giving us the illusion of escaping into serenity. An illusion, though, is better than nothing, and this week’s set of releases feels like one for the books. We have poignant folk that immerses us in its stories, lo-fi bliss from Hip-hop mainstays and art-pop experts, and a few splashes of experimental punk to round it all out. Allow Mother Nature to do her bidding; there is simply too much music to be caught up in the things we can’t control.
Check out Glide’s picks for the week’s best new music, and if you feel like you’re falling behind on new music, be sure to follow Glide’s Spotify page to stay updated on all the latest releases.
S.G. Goodman – “I Can See the Devil”
Planting by the Signs
S.G. Goodman isn’t the most prolific artist in comparison to her alt-country counterparts, which is part of what makes a new album from the artist so exciting; the other part is her undeniably potent songwriting and imaginative imagery. Painting by the Signs is the new 11-song LP from Goodman, marking her first LP since 2022. The poignant LP shifts from downtrodden love ballads to emotional alt-country anthems, all tied together by Goodman’s vulnerability and fearless writing. “I Can See the Devil” is a modern alt-country gem with toe-tapping drums that add an eerie depth to the haunting imagery employed by Goodman in her harmonies and lyrics.
Willie Nile – “Fall On Me”
The Great Yellow Light
The legendary rock mainstay Willie Nile returns with yet another sprawling effort that continues the artist’s decades-long, boundary-pushing career. The Great Yellow Light is a victory lap from the veteran that proves his ability to craft radio-ready hits, like on the moving ballad “Fall On Me.” The highlight from Nile’s latest is as warm and cordial as it gets, with Nile bellowing meaningful sentiments that ensure no one is alone in a time of difficulty.
James McMurtry – “Pinocchio in Vegas”
The Black Dog and the Wandering Boy
One of the most alluring storytellers country music has seen in the last few decades returns with another LP that plays like a collection of short stories. James McMurtry’s The Black Dog and the Wander Boy is brimming with mystifying tales that somehow are still tethered to a bit of reality, creating an illusion of paradise as the artist brings you into these emotional stories through rugged vocals and soft acoustics. “Pinocchio in Vegas” dives into the loss of innocence through the perspective of a beloved childhood figure as the real world hardens him and ultimately strips him of the nuances that made him an individual.
Tropical F*ck Storm – “Stepping On a Rake”
Fairyland Codex
On their fourth studio album, Australian art-rock band Tropical F*ck Storm injects a slow-burn into their off-kilter approach to modern rock. Fairyland Codex finds the band toying with their established experimental sound and stretching their lofty visions to reach sentimental balladry, glitchy dance music, and even more imaginative songwriting. “Stepping On a Rake” hints at this new, downplayed side of TFS’s artistry. A subtle twang in the guitar is warped and twisted around noir-style vocals, creating a hauntingly beautiful highlight from a jaw-dropping sonic leap by a young yet veteran band.
Elijah Johnston – “Instant Replay”
Stupid Soul
Elijah Johnston has been slowly carving out his own lane in modern indie rock, and his latest release is already shaping up to be a landmark for the tireless artist. Stupid Soul is Johnston’s daring new LP, which moves and grooves to Johnston’s soul, creating a diverse tracklist that showcases his years of experimentation with his sound. “Instant Replay” features intoxicating, jangly guitars that create a hectic bed of pop-leaning melodies for Johnston’s plush vocals to lay upon.
U.S. Girls – “Firefly on the 4th of July”
Scratch It
The lo-fi electro-pop bliss of Meghan Remy returns in the form of Scratch It, the latest outing from the experimental singer/songwriter. The short yet dense 9-song LP finds Remy continuing to explore the outskirts of pop music via infectious melodies that deliver quaint stories over a bed of synths and woozy guitars. “Firefly on the 4th of July” is a nimble highlight that proves Remy’s songwriting and stunning vocals can carry a tune, with the arrangement of the song featuring simplistic, hazy guitars and cloud-like synth work.
Hotline TNT – “Lawnmower”
Raspberry Moon
After exploding onto the shoegaze scene with their impressive 2023 LP, Hotline TNT proves to be a far cry from a one-trick pony on their dense yet expansive new album, Raspberry Moon. The band’s latest LP is exploding with a distorted solace that seamlessly transitions into more slow-burning tunes as Hotline TNT dive deeper into their unique shoegaze sound. “Lawnmower” is one of the more gentle tunes on the album, with jangly acoustics that add a flavor of nostalgic psychedelia to the band’s modern urgency.
Lukas Nelson – “All God Did”
American Romance
Lukas Nelson looks to make a name for himself in the modern country pantheon with an impressive solo debut that touches on the genre’s history as much as it explores its current landscape. American Romance finds Nelson living up to expectations with a 12-song album that finds the artist making the tropes of the genre his own through all-too-real stories of relatable characters. “All God Did” finds a person at their wits ‘ end as they navigate modern trappings and the Southern lifestyle in an attempt to find a sense of self.
Maxo – “Matt’s Studio”
MARS IS ELECTRIC
The acrobatic artistry of Maxo returns in the form of subdued psychedelia as the artist pieces together another ambitious and rewarding addition to his impressive catalog. MARS IS ELECTRIC arrives in a glorious flourish of mystique as Maxo’s soft-spoken flows and melodies are manipulated around a plethora of electro-Hip-hop minimalism, creating enticing and immersive textures across these 10 songs. “Matt’s Studio” is just a hint of what to expect from Maxo’s latest. The stand-out song features Maxo’s cartoonish vocals marching over staggering drums and nuanced electronic elements for a bubbly example of the sonic universe the artist created on MARS IS ELECTRIC.
$ilkmoney – “THE JURY DUTY SEAFOOD BOIL BAG FROM THE LYFE JENNINGS PAPERWORK PARTY”
WHO WATERS THE WILTING GIVING TREE ONCE THE LEAVES DRY UP AND THE FRUITS NO LONGER BEAR?
It has been three years since we received a proper full-length from Virginia’s $ilkmoney, making every release from the thought-provoking wordsmith that much more energetically palpable. This week, the artist announced his new album, WHO WATERS THE WILTING GIVING TREE ONCE THE LEAVES DRY UP AND THE FRUITS NO LONGER BEAR?, will arrive on July 18. Along with the news of the anticipated release, the rapper also released the album’s second single, “THE JURY DUTY SEAFOOD BOIL BAG FROM THE LYFE JENNINGS PAPERWORK PARTY.” The head-spinning single showcases $ilkmoney’s intricate wordplay and his ability to craft his heady rhyme schemes into menacing, yet almost jazzy, flows.
Cass McCombs – “Peace”
Interior Live Oak
Iconic and ever-evolving singer/songwriter Cass McCombs looks to grow his already-stunning catalog with the announcement of a new album and the release of its latest single. Interior Live Oak arrives on August 15 via Domino Recording Co., and, along with the previously released “Priestess,” “Peace” serves as a preview of the anticipated release. “Peace” is a jangly, acoustic tune that captures the bittersweet innocence of a goodbye and transforms it into a poignant ballad.
Anna Tivel – “Animal Poem”
Animal Poem
After releasing her album, Living Thing, in 2024, the terrifically refreshing folk music of Anna Tivel arrives in the form of Animal Poem. Tivel’s new album, Animal Poem, arrives on August 29, only a year and some change after her previous album. The lead single, also the title track of Animal Poem, is a nimble, subtly psychedelic, and minimalist outing that features glistening acoustics, emphasizing Tivel’s dark yet glittery vocals.
Public Enemy – “MARCH MADNESS”
Single
Just when the world needed them most, Hip-hop icons Public Enemy emerge with an anthem that could only come from an anti-authority forefather. “MARCH MADNESS” encourages the listener to be active in the changes they want to see, both locally and globally, creating a stirring, chanting single that has Flavor Flav sounding urgent and rejuvenated by his mission. “MARCH MADNESS” marks the first release under the Public Enemy banner since 2015’s What You Gonna Do When The Grid Goes Down?
Lola Young – “Not Like That Anymore”
I’m Only F**king Myself
Lola Young is quickly becoming one of the most exciting additions to the modern pop pantheon, and she looks to solidify that status with the announcement of her latest LP. I’m Only F**cking Myself is set to be released on September 19, and the raw vulnerability of “Not Like That Anymore” is our latest preview of the project. The latest single takes us through the turbulence that led her to the public eye and the aftermath of the global acclaim.
