October is officially underway, and the air is already starting to crystallize with the brisk breezes of Autumn. Just like an old car, we need to keep the machines at the Old Caustic Factory turning to keep the engines alive. Thankfully, we have a plethora of new music for our machines to sift through and find the brightest and most memorable. October is starting with a bang, as we have a colorful collection of fresh releases, ranging from innovations to pop-punk to emotionally charged indie rock, crafted by veterans of the genre.
Check out Glide’s selections for the week’s best new music, and be sure to follow our Caustic October playlist to stay updated on the month’s latest releases.
Snooper – “Company Car”
Worldwide
The highly anticipated sophomore effort from Nashville’s next DIY stars, Snooper, has finally arrived to prove that all that excitement wasn’t for no reason. Worldwide solidifies Snooper’s mission of rearranging pop punk to reach more experimental and complex boundaries, leaving behind 12 punchy punk anthems that color in the singularity of this band. “Company Car” is just one example of how Snooper plans to reinvent infectiousness. The band cuts the brakes to unleash some blistering tempos that bubble underneath sugary vocals.
Waylon Jennings – “Brand New Tennessee Waltz”
Songbird
The late Waylon Jennings embodied the spirit of outlaw country, and the newest collection of songs continues the artist’s timeless legacy. Songbird is a collection of songs recorded between 1973 and 1984, allowing long-time fans to relive this era of the artist, and a new generation gets to experience the release of fresh Jennings. “Brand New Tennessee Waltz” is a slow-burning, emotional highlight with raw twang that is placed neatly under Jennings’s longing.
Carter Faith – “Burn My Memory”
Cherry Valley
The widely anticipated arrival of Carter Faith’s debut album has been on the back of country fans’ minds for months now, and all the waiting paid off beautifully. Cherry Valley feels like the boost the sugary pop side of the genre needs, as she blends her natural knack for infectious melodies with toe-tapping twang and raw poetry that evolves into anthems before your very eyes. “Burn My Memory” feels like a hit waiting to happen. With an intro that delicately dances around emotions, only for a punch chorus to come in and pick things up, “Burn My Memory” is just the start of the prowess on display on Cherry Valley.
Nicki Bluhm – “Bay Laurel Leaves”
Rancho Deluxe
One of Americana’s brightest modern stars emerges with her first set of new material since 2022. After the release of Nicki Bluhm’s Cher cover album in 2023, Rancho Deluxe marks a return to form for the veteran, as she explores the human experience through a sprawling 10 songs. “Bay Laurel Leaves” welcomes us to Bluhm’s new album with a lo-fi twang that evokes the warmth of entering home after a long vacation.
Idlewild – “Permanent Colours”
Idlewild
For the first time in six years, we have new Idlewild music to explore, and the veteran indie rockers gave us plenty to sift through. The band’s self-titled LP is ten mesmerizing anthems that convey complex emotions over punchy tempos and cascading synths. “Permanent Colours” finds the band pleading for something bigger than themselves, as Idlewild blends their roots with newfound curiosities.
HAERTS – “Brighter Day”
Laguna Road
It is not every day that HAERTS, the atmospheric pop duo, releases music, making the arrival of Laguna Road all the more special. The band’s first album since 2021 is lined with ambient bliss that goes on to emphasize the heartfelt longing that has been injected into these lyrics. “Brighter Day” is an early highlight, featuring a palpably moving vocal performance that evokes the sensation of a waterfall flowing over a bed of gentle electronic solace.
Arthur Buck – “Muscle Shoals”
Arthur Buck 2
Singer/songwriter Joseph Arthur and former R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck returned to their duo project for the first time since 2018 on their long-awaited Arthur Buck 2. The marriage of these two sounds always promises an expansive release, but the duo held nothing back on their latest. These 11 songs pull you in with gritty textures and ease the tension with sweet melodies and vivid imagery. “Muscle Shoals” is a psychedelic highlight with a folksy narrative that the duo transforms into an experimental rock tune, featuring soaring vocals.
Kashena Sampson – “Awakening”
Ghost Of Me
With an air of nostalgia and a story of heartbreak to tell, Kashena Sampson returns with her long-awaited third album, Ghost Of Me. The more you listen to this album, the more the title makes sense. Sampson is dealing with a guttural pain that can only be remedied by belting these emotions out over atmospheric folk reminiscent of the ‘70s psych-folk, and she does precisely that. “Awakening” features droning croons that carry the weight of heartbreak over a warped ambiance that is inviting yet eerie.
Thrice – “Distant Suns”
Horizons / West
The ever-unpredictable rock of Thrice cycles through subgenres and eras on Horizons / West, the follow-up release to their 2021 LP, Horizons / East. The veteran band sounds rejuvenated on this new album, as they miraculously find new ways to showcase their prowess across 11 songs. “Distant Suns” carries a touch of psychedelia that is juxtaposed by moody vocal tones, creating a sonic conflict that is immersive.
Social Cinema – “Antidote”
Don’t Get Lost
The glittery, guitar-driven alt-pop of Social Cinema has been bubbling underneath the genre’s surface for years now, and their debut album looks to cement their place in the modern pantheon. Don’t Get Lost is a lovely, bright look at the intricacies this band brings to the table, with deeply personal songwriting being packaged with confetti pops of colorful guitars. “Antidote” is an early highlight, featuring subtle grooves that manage to infuse the dense guitar work with a swing.
Droogie Otis (Your Old Droog & Madlib) – “Woodstock 2029” (Feat. Jay Electronica & Wiz Khalifa)
Single
The Hip-hop world has been on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the Droogie Otis album, the collaborative project between prolific and iconic producer Madlib and modern mastermind Your Old Droog, and the latest single brings us one step closer to this LP. Jay Electronica and Wiz Khalifa join the duo on “Woodstock 2029,” a posse cut that finds the vocalists trading verses over distant vocal samples and whirling melodies. There is still no release date for the Droogie Otis album, but the duo has mentioned that it is expected to arrive before the end of the year.
Butcher Brown – “HOURS:AFTER”
Single
Coming off the release of their soulful, jazzy LP Letters From The Atlantic, Virginia’s Butcher Brown decides to unleash a groove-laced, velvet-lined single. “HOURS:AFTER” delivers an infectious bounce that leaps around the room like a stray projectile, forcing the listener to be enamored by every brass melody and every tempo shift.
Sylvan Esso – “WDID”
Single
The latest single from psych-electro-folk duo Sylvan Esso is more akin to a strange, primordial elephant stomping through your town than a return from the genre-bender. “WDID” booms out of the speakers with subdued violence, as neck-breaking drums present themselves as larger-than-life, and grainy vocals add palpable sonic textures. “WDID” marks the duo’s first single in more than three years. Sylvan Esso has opted to pull their catalog from Spotify, so please enjoy their new single here.
Hit-Boy & The Alchemist – “Business Merger”
Single
West Coast producer Hit-Boy has been on a prolific run over the last few months, and he looks to keep the momentum going with another collaboration with fellow super producer The Alchemist. “Business Merger” comes a year after the duo teamed up on 2024’s Black & Whites with Big Hit. The chemistry is as strong as ever between the two producers/vocalists as they trade verses over celebratory horns.
Chanel Beads – “The Coward Forgets His Nightmare”
Single
Coming off the release of their 2024 debut album, Chanel Beads drops off a nimble single with a world of emotions. “The Coward Forgets His Nightmare” is a busy yet gentle take on modern balladry, with electronic vocals colliding with swaying guitar riffs, resulting in a touching performance from a rising star.
