While most of the world has mentally checked out of work for the year, with the long holiday vacations creeping from around the corner, we continue to fire on all cylinders here at the Old Caustic Factory. We greased our machines in preparation for what turned out to be another thrilling edition of New Music Friday, and we couldn’t be happier to indulge in all these colors, from traditional country that strikes the soul, to triumphant returns, and all the way to the depths of modern jazz fusion. There is a little slice of different worlds held within this week’s Caustic, and we invite everyone to explore some unfamiliar terrain along with us.
Check out Glide’s picks for the week’s best new music, and head over to Spotify to check out our Caustic playlist for November to stay updated on the latest releases.
The Avett Brothers & Mike Patton – “Disappearing”
AVTT/PTTN
Together, The Avett Brothers and Mike Patton are AVTT/PTTN, and their self-titled debut is a collaboration of monumental proportions that plays like it isn’t. The unassuming, reflective nine songs that make up the first album from this unlikely collaboration lean toward simplicity, allowing the natural chemistry between the two timeless entities to be as palpable as possible. “Disappearing” is a slow-burning, heartbreaking record with murky melodies and downtrodden acoustics that deliver a sentiment that feels both inviting and horrifying.
Cheap Trick – “Bet It All”
All Washed Up
All Washed Up is a misleading name for the legendary Cheap Trick’s latest LP, as this tracklist proves everything other than the idea that the rock icons are slowing down. The band’s first album since 2021, and 21st addition to their discography, finds Cheap Trick exploring a plethora of nuanced corners of rock music. The results are expansive and proud, with the eerie yet explosive “Bet It All” being an early favorite. Soaring, technicolored guitars emphasize the acrobatic vocal performance, creating an immersive tune that showcases how Cheap Trick still has a few up their sleeve.
Wale – “Fly Away”
everything is a lot.
Self-analyzing and as sonically diverse as ever, Wale emerges with everything is a lot. The 18-song album, marking the artist’s first LP since 2021, explores all of the pitfalls and triumphs that have occurred since the last time Wale checked in with us, and it was worth every second of the wait. “Fly Away” blends Wale’s hit-making tendencies with this refreshing, profound level of vulnerability, as the artist delivers raw emotions with sleek melodies.
FKA Twigs – “Slushy”
EUSEXUA Afterglow
It was only January when FKA Twigs released EUSEXUA, a daring LP that proved the avant-garde electro-pop of the artist still has plenty of room for experimentation. Little did we know that the companion album, EUSEXUA Afterglow, would push those boundaries even further. These 11 tunes are unadulterated, unapologetic pieces of Twigs’s natural knack for combining the complex with the infectious. “Slushy,” an early favorite, maintains a low profile while containing a world of colors, with distant vocals dancing with nimble electronics for a blissful listen.
Navy Blue – “Sunlight of the Spirit”
The Sword & The Soaring
One of the most thought-provoking and soulful Hip-hop artists in the contemporary scene is back with another introspective album. Navy Blue’s The Sword & The Soaring embodies the meditative mindstate the world needs more of, as the artist protects and selectively distributes his singular energy across the many sides of the human condition. “Sunlight of the Spirit” is an uplifting moment on this tracklist, as a whimsical instrumental provides the perfect canvas for Blue to paint his emotions.
Colter Wall – “It’s Getting So (That a Man Can’t Go into Town Just to Have Him a Drink)”
Memories and Empties
In an era where chart-topping country music is seemingly void of all tradition, Colter Wall is the answer to this pop-country-fusion craze. Memories and Empties, the anticipated follow-up to 2023’s Little Songs, finds Wall diving deeper into his extensive knowledge of traditional country, as the artist’s prowess is stretched across 10 spellbinding, twangy tunes. “It’s Getting So (That a Man Can’t Go into Town Just to Have Him a Drink)” is a toe-tapping favorite that details a changing world, as Wall comes to the heartbreaking realization that his town is changing before his eyes.
Bill Callahan – “The Man I’m Supposed to Be”
My Days of 58
The prolific and ever-evolving Bill Callahan returns with his new album, My Days of 58, on February 27, and the single is hinting at another reintroduction to his artistry. While the album feels worlds away, the heady yet emotional “The Man I’m Supposed to Be” should make the wait feel a bit shorter. The lead single finds Callahan pining for personal growth over jagged guitar melodies.
Dry Cleaning – “Cruise Ship Designer”
Secret Love
The highly anticipated follow-up to Dry Cleaning’s breakthrough 2022 LP is inching closer and closer, and the latest single only adds more coal to the furnace of excitement. Secret Love is set to be released on January 9, and “Cruise Ship Designer” is our latest preview. The new single pairs spoken-word-style melodies with punchy guitar work, creating an enticing sonic conflict that is simply moving.
Benny Sings – “Castle”
Single
Benny Sings, the pop-trope-breaking singer/songwriter/producer, is hitting a prolific streak. Only a few weeks after the release of his Beat Tape III project, Sings returned with the jazzy “Castle.” The latest single features sugary lo-fi warmth blended with nuanced ambiance, creating a hypnotic piece of pop from one of the genre’s most forward-thinking players.
Mikaela Davis – “11:11”
Single
After teaming up with Circles Around The Sun for a psychedelic EP, Mikaela Davis emerges with a return to form on “11:11.” The artist’s first solo release since 2023 is a sweeping piece of folksy indie rock with smooth guitar melodies that push forth the nuances of Davis’s soulful vocals.
mercury – “Heaven”
Single
One of the more promising shoegaze-tinted indie rock outfits, mercury, returns with a cinematic new single, “Heaven.” The dense yet emotionally dynamic single explores the pain of leaving the past where it belongs, even when holding on to it feels like the right thing to do. The stunning new song comes with the announcement of a 2026 tour from mercury supporting Colony House, starting in February.
GENA (Liv.e & Karriem Riggins) – “Circlez”
Single
One of the most daring R&B/soul voices, Liv.e, is teaming up with jazz/Hip-hop super producer Karriem Riggins for GENA, their new collaborative group. Together, the duo is already shaping otherworldly R&B that stands in contrast to the tight, conventional sound of the contemporary scene. “Circlez,” the duo’s debut single, is a shining, jazz-tinted outing that showcases a natural chemistry between the two, sure to make for much more exciting music from GENA.
Son Little – “In Orbit”
Single
For the first time since 2022, we are proud to present new music from Son Little. The artist’s triumphant return is marked by “In Orbit,” a heartfelt ballad that sways to the winds of the longing it evokes. While the artist spent 2025 releasing the collaborative Roll Mega LP with Eric Krasno, “In Orbit” is Son Little’s first proper solo release in three years.
De La Soul – “Day In The Sun (Gettin’ wit U)” (Feat. Q-Tip & Yummy Bingham)
Cabin In The Sky
De La Soul’s first album in nine years is slowly approaching, with the release date for Cabin In The Sky set for November 21. The album, released by Mass Appeal, comes in the middle of a resurgence for the Hip-hop pioneers, and this LP is already shaping up to be a special addition to De La’s legacy. The Q-Tip-assisted, soulful “Day In The Sun (Gettin’ wit U)” is a jovial preview of Cabin In The Sky, with bright melodies that groove with thudding drums.
Dominic Fike – “White Keys”
Single
After releasing his quick yet unforgettable mixtape, Rocket, earlier this year, Dominic Fike is back with another terrific single to close out 2025. “White Keys” is a shining example of Fike’s vocal range, as he blends his love for indie rock textures with his natural knack for pop-tinted melodies.
