As the sun sets later in the day, the world seems to come back to life. As we finally shake off any leftover holiday residue, we are heading into 2026 with a full head of steam and a revamped playlist thanks to this stacked New Music Friday. From innovative jazz giants returning to the solo spotlight, to long-awaited returns from Hip-hop’s finest, and emotionally palpable indie pop, our second Caustic of the year is not one to miss.
Check out Glide’s selections for this week’s best new releases, and be sure to follow our Spotify account throughout the year to stay updated on the freshest releases.
Courtney Marie Andrews – “Only the Best for Baby”
Valentine
For the first time since 2022, singer/songwriter Courtney Marie Andrews has released an album of new material. Valentine is ten emotionally heavy tunes that find warmth in sparse, almost ambient arrangements, giving Andrews’ vulnerable poetry and cinematic vocals a refreshing feeling. “Only the Best for Baby” is a palpable highlight in which the artist gives her all to someone, not knowing whether that person will do the same for her.
Sleaford Mods – “Don Draper”
The Demise of Planet X
Sleaford Mods continue to prove why their singular, minimalistic sound rises above the noise from their peers and the world to land directly in your heart on their new LP, The Demise of Planet X. The fearless, ever-evolving duo emerge for the first time in three years with a twisted, psychedelic LP that juxtaposes its experimental instrumentation with choppy, blunt vocals. “Don Draper” features a Sleaford Mods version of a jazzy swing led by twinkling keys, as sleek yet punchy vocal melodies deliver vivid imagery.
Cavetown – “Straight Through My Head”
Running With Scissors
For those who have been following Cavetown, the indie pop project of Robin Skinner, his latest LP will feel like a significant moment for the artist and his loyal fanbase alike. Running With Scissors finds Skinner toying with the outskirts of the genre he has been dominating for years, employing distortion and deeper levels of brutally honest songwriting to create his most honed project to date. “Straight Through My Head” is an early favorite that highlights the subtle shoegaze influences of Skinner’s latest while emphasizing the maturity he has grown into over the years.
Oxis – “Dogfish”
Oxis 8
The eighth installment of multi-hyphenate Oxis’ self-titled series has finally arrived, and it is the pop-tinted, electronic, psychedelic, vulnerable journey you were hoping it would be. The quick yet potent eight-song LP finds the artist diving deeper into her singular sound, while unearthing new levels of brutally honest songwriting. “Dogfish” is the poetically glitchy highlight, with Oxis’s breathy vocals falling over nimble yet spacious electronic textures.
Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore – “Haze With No Haze”
Tragic Magic
Two experimental composers find themselves in a place of solace on Tragic Magic, the beautifully crafted collaborative LP from Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore. The seven-song outing finds the two toying with the limits of their left-field tendencies, resulting in a sweeping album brimming with immersive ambiance and soaring melodies. “Haze With No Haze” is an ethereal highlight with hauntingly beautiful vocals that dance gently with twinkling strings in a bright ambiance.
Mike Mattison & Trash Magic – “Traveler”
Turn a Midnight Corner
Mike Mattison is a busy man who just can’t seem to keep himself from recording, and his latest release finds the artist settling into a new groove. Along with his band Trash Magic, Mattison releases Turn a Midnight Corner, a nostalgic yet stubbornly present blues album that toes the line between nostalgia and modern times. “Traveler” is a rambling ballad with bouncy melodies that dance with Mattison’s rugged vocals and storytelling.
Langhorne Slim – “Rickety Ol’ Bridge”
The Dreamin’ Kind
For his first solo album in five years, Langhorne Slim picks up an electric guitar for a rocking, sentimental LP. The Dreamin’ Kind is a warping 12-song album that balances Slim’s newfound left-field tendencies with blissful acoustics, creating a sprawling tracklist that is worth multiple listens. “Rickety Ol’ Bridge” features an eerie vocal performance that coils around a space-aged twang, exploring the idea that purgatory is right before our eyes.
The James Hunter Six – “Gun Shy”
Off The Fence
The James Hunter Six have been successfully turning the soul revival scene into something they can call their own, a funky mixture of bluesy songwriting delivered with a signature empathy and swing. For their first album in six years, Off The Fence, the band created a 12-song tracklist that bounces from sentimental balladry to pure soul anthems with grace. “Gun Shy” leans to the lively side of the LP, with animated keys and soaring brass that act as a canvas for Hunter’s imaginative lyrics.
A$AP Rocky – “NO TRESPASSING”
Don’t Be Dumb
After rumoured release dates, teasers from the artist himself, and a total of eight years, A$AP Rocky has finally released his highly anticipated fourth studio album, Don’t Be Dumb. The extensive tracklist finds Rocky picking up right where he left off, implementing off-kilter flows and alien-like textures into contemporary Hip-hop, challenging his peers to attempt to be as daring and innovative. “NO TRESPASSING” is a glistening example of Rocky’s effortless flows and well-deserved braggadocious songwriting, but Don’t Be Dumb is much more than a Hip-hop album if you take a closer look.
Cut Worms – “Windows on the World”
Transmitter
Singer/songwriter Max Clarke, better known as Cut Worms, has announced his first album since 2023. The Jeff Tweedy-produced Transmitter is set to be released on March 13, and the acoustic bliss that is the latest single should have Cut Worms fans and those unfamiliar with the artist incredibly excited about this release. “Windows on the World” is a subtly twangy tune with jangly guitars that emphasize Clarke’s gentle vocal tones.
Nothing – “toothless coal”
a short history of decay
Philadelphia’s beloved shoegaze golden children, Nothing, are preparing to release one of the most anticipated albums of the year, and this next single is only adding more coal to the furnace of excitement (no pun intended). Their new single, “toothless coal,” highlights the innovation this band brings to contemporary shoegaze, blending breathy vocals with dense distortion and hypnotic percussion. Nothing’s new album, a short history of decay, is set to be released on February 27.
Luke Winslow-King – “Dangerous Blues”
Coast of Light
Contemporary everyman Luke Winslow-King makes his triumphant return on Coast of Light. The artist’s first album since 2024 is set for release on March 27 via Bloodshot Records, and the greasy yet crisp lead single is proving to be an immersive listen. “Dangerous Blues” showcases the nuanced fusion work that separates Winslow-King from his peers, as the musician maintains a steady, dusty groove for his vocals to dance over.
Arlo Parks – “2SIDED”
Ambiguous Desire
Arlo Parks has been one of the brightest stars in modern R&B since her debut album, and she looks to continue that legacy in 2026. Her new album, Ambiguous Desire, will arrive on April 3, and “2SIDED” is our first preview of the album. “2SIDED” is a hazy, pop-tinted single with neon-lined instrumentation that illuminates Parks’s mesmerizing vocals.
Shabaka – “A Future Untold”
Of The Earth
One of the most exhilarating and forward-thinking players in modern jazz is the incomparable Shabaka, and the fearless frontman returns to expand his solo catalog. Of The Earth finds the multi-instrumentalist returning to his roots after exploring the flute in 2024. The artist released two singles from the LP, with “A Future Untold” leaning toward the conventional side compared to the syncopated “Marwa The Mountain,” both hinting at an album that will be borderless. Of The Earth is set to arrive on March 6.
Flea – “Traffic Lights” (Feat. Thom Yorke)
Honora
Legendary bassist and Red Hot Chili Pepper, Flea, is entering the solo realm for the first time in his storied career, and it might not be the album you thought it would be. The artist’s debut solo LP, Honora, is set to be released on March 27, and the latest single points to a more jazzy outing. The Thom Yorke-assisted “Traffic Lights” displays Flea’s diverse bass stylings as he slides satiny melodies under hushed vocals and nimble percussion. “Traffic Lights” will be joined by Flea’s previously released protest single, “A Plea,” on the 10-song tracklist.
