A large majority of the States are preparing for snow-in conditions this weekend. While impending inclement weather is a scary sight, the universe has an odd way of giving you exactly what you need when you need it. As we prepare for a few days indoors, a busy New Music Friday arrives right on time, bursting with exhilarating releases meant to fill the anxious space in the room. With innovative jazz from genre forerunners, to Hip-hop legends climbing down from the mountaintop with reminders of how they got there, and contemporary soul meant to reach your heart with care and ease, this is not the Caustic to miss.
Check out Glide’s picks for the week’s best new music, and check out our Spotify playlist to stay updated on the month’s freshest releases.
Julian Lage – “Ocala”
Scenes From Above
Guitarist/composer Julian Lage has become one of the more exciting and must-hear musicians in contemporary jazz, using the space in between sounds to paint his stunning portraits. On his latest LP, the nine-song Scenes From Above, Lage puts together a quartet that explores otherworldly ambiance through subtle prowess and unassuming tones. “Ocala” is on the gentler side of the album, as Lage’s guitars nimbly dance with soft percussion.
The Format – “No You Don’t”
Boycott Heaven
The duo of Nate Ruess and Sam Means, better known as The Format, have returned from their hiatus with their first new album in twenty years. Boycott Heaven, the 11-song comeback LP, picks up where the band left off, but their maturity shines through in the dark undertones, vulnerable lyrics, and sprawling sonic terrain. “No You Don’t” is a heartbreaking anthem with palpable emotions, as the raw, passionate vocals deliver an unforgettable performance over explosive instrumentation.
Roc Marciano – “Vanity”
656
Rapper/producer Roc Marciano has long cemented his legacy in the Hip-hop pantheon, yet the artist continues to explore new sonic means to impress and delight. On his latest LP, 656, Marciano dons a grainy, lo-fi soulful aesthetic that emphasizes the glamor of his flows and braggadocious lyrics. “Vanity” is an early highlight from the self-produced surprise drop from Marciano, as the artist basks in a self-appointed spotlight to deliver head-spinning rhyme schemes.
DJ Harrison – “Beginning Again” (Feat. Kiefer)
Electrosoul
Virginia-native and Butcher Brown-member DJ Harrison unleashes the latest chapter of his solo discography with the release of his sprawling and beautiful Electrosoul album. The 18-song LP recontextualizes Harrison’s talents, forcing the listener to feel every airy vocal run and infectious arrangement from the innovative musician. “Beginning Again,” featuring the great Kiefer on keys, is a funky preview of what is already sounding like Harrison’s most impressive work to date.
The Lowest Pair – “Diamonds”
Always as Young as We’ll Ever Be
The Lowest Pair have been quietly putting their singular twist on the middle ground between nostalgic folk and the modern indie scene, thriving in the scene’s corners and crafting left-field examples of successful experimentation. On their new album, Always as Young as We’ll Ever Be, the duo immerse the listener in a psychedelic journey through the many shapes their sound can take, ranging from sentimental balladry to epic storytelling. “Diamonds” highlights the LP’s psychedelia through hazy guitar melodies that unapologetically stumble into soaring harmonies.
Sammy Brue – “Promise To Keep”
The Journals
An Americana traditionalist with unmistakable singularity forged through raw emotions and vivid imagery, Sammy Brue is the kind of artist who does all the emotional heavy lifting for you. On his latest LP, The Journals, Brue takes you through an average day of experiencing human emotions. However, when filtered through his sparse acoustics and poetry, these feelings become a universe to explore. “Promise To Keep” features warm acoustics that slowly dance with the heartbreaking lyrics, creating an airy yet emotionally dense stand-out from a terrific album.
Ari Lennox – “Horoscope”
Vacancy
One of contemporary R&B’s most beloved songwriters has arrived with her third LP of genre-pushing, sultry anthems for lovers. Vacancy finds Lennox at her most free, roaming between big-band sounds and moody modern tropes with grace as she leaves no corner unexplored in her quest to make sense of love. “Horoscope” has Lennox crooning over a blaring brass as she picks apart her past to discover where it all went wrong.
Megadeth – “Made to Kill”
Megadeth
Today is a sad yet celebratory day for Megadeth fans and the metal world alike, as the icons release their fresh and final album together. The self-titled effort from the metal giants acts as their swan song, closing the curtains on an unforgettable career with an album that makes their timeless legacy proud. “Made to Kill” is a chugging, chaotic slice of this self-titled effort that encourages everyone to give the entire album a listen, while nodding to those who have supported Megadeath throughout their illustrious career.
Lucinda Williams – “Low Life”
World’s Gone Wrong
We should all be incredibly grateful to still be receiving music from legends like Lucinda Williams, and today marks an exciting moment for the artist and for folk-rock alike. The artist’s latest album, World’s Gone Wrong, is a ten-song snapshot into the mind of one of the genre’s most esteemed songwriters, as the world around her changes drastically with each passing day. “Low Life” is a moving ballad with a dusty twang that colors the images painted by Williams’s rootsy vocals.
Durand Jones & The Indications & Aaron Frazer – “Let’s Take Our Time”
Single
Right on the heels of the release of their 2025 Flowers LP, Durand Jones & The Indications return to Colemine Records for a 7’ single release. Along with “Flower Moon,” a fan-favorite from the band’s most recent album, the band releases the brand-new tune, “Let’s Take Our Time,” a slow-burning piece of soul, smoldering with falsettos and the soft taps of jazzy percussion.
The New Pornographers – “Votive”
The Former Site Of
Acclaimed supergroup The New Pronographers have returned with the announcement of a new LP and its lead single. The Former Site Of, the group’s first album since 2023, is set to be released on March 27 via Mege Records, and the off-kilter riffs and anthemic tendencies of “Votive” act as our first preview of the project. What starts as a spacious ballad with quaint acoustics eventually bleeds into larger tempos and harsher tones, giving the song the palpable sense of unpredictability.
Sugar – “Long Live Love”
Single
Following up on their loose single from 2025, “House of Dead Memories,” the Bob Mould-led Sugar unveiled another uniquely immersive single. “Long Live Love” is a disorienting listen as distant vocals collide with dense distortion, creating textures that pour from the speakers and spill onto the floor. “Long Live Love” continues what seems to be an exciting comeback for Sugar.
James Blake – “Death of Love”
Trying Times
James Blake has become one of the most undeniable innovators across several genres in modern music, and the artist looks to prove further that sentiment with a new addition to his solo discography. Trying Times is set to be released on March 13, arriving three years after Blake’s experimental 2023 album. “Death of Love,” our lead single, hints at a return to form, as the artist employs dark, subdued electronics and belts out long runs that detail eerie times.
White Denim – “(God Created) Lock and Key”
13
The ever-evolving, cartoonish rock fusion of White Denim prepares fans for their thirteenth LP with an unforgettably frantic lead single. The aptly-titled 13 is set to arrive in its entirety on April 24, and the carnival ride that is “(God Created) Lock and Key” is our first preview of the anticipated release. The cacophony that kicks off the song is immediately whittled down to a colorful, electro-funk instrumental that, miraculously, seems controlled compared to the acrobatic vocal performance.
Brother Wallace – “Electric Love”
Electric Love
Brother Wallace is finally ready to properly induct himself into the modern soul revival scene with a statement piece of a debut album. Electric Love is set to arrive on May 8, marking the debut album from the promising vocalist. The toe-tapping title track is our latest single from the LP, and it is a proper introduction to Brother Wallace’s catchy, soulful presence.
