It is hard to believe we have reached the final New Music Friday of the first month of 2026, and what a start it has been. So far this year, music fans have been hit with an overabundance of terrific releases from across the genre spectrum, and the month isn’t going out without one last reminder of how epic it truly has been. This week, we have debut albums that put artists on a path to undeniable success, jazz releases that stretch the imagination, and experimentation that recontextualizes genre tropes into something entirely new. There is a little something for everyone here, and in a time when weather reports are just as terrifying to check as the national news, we could all use a mini mental vacation.
Check out Glide’s picks for the week’s best new releases, and be sure to check out our Caustic January Spotify playlist to catch up on this fantastic month of music.
Thundercat – “I Did This to Myself” (Feat. Lil Yachty)
Distracted
Innovative bassist and beloved jazz savant Thundercat has descended from the mountain tops to deliver news of a new album and drop off an initial preview. Distracted, the artist’s first album in six years, is set to be released on April 3, and the Lil Yachty-assisted “I Did This To Myself” is our lead single. The disco-tinted dance number features Thundercat returning to his beloved falsetto and cheeky songwriting over funky basslines and wonky textures. At the same time, Yachty delivers an impressive performance with sleek flows and cartoonish vocals.
Joyce Manor – “Well, Don’t It Seem Like You’ve Been Here Before?”
I Used to Go to This Bar
The incomparable Joyce Manor has unleashed I Used to Go to This Bar, the hardcore pop-punk icons’ first album since 2022. The quick yet chaotic nine-song LP packs a whirlwind of in-your-face punk that arrives at blistering speed but lingers in the room for much longer, making this twenty-minute runtime feel like a cathartic sprint. “Well, Don’t It Seem Like You’ve Been Here Before?” is a catchy stand-out that explores déjà vu through an anxious lens, providing vivid imagery over chugging melodies.
Geologist – “Compact Mirror / Last Names”
Can I Get a Pack of Camel Lights?
Animal Collective’s Brian Weitz can now be referred to as Geologist, as the artist ventures off into a solo discography with the release of his proper debut, Can I Get a Pack of Camel Lights? The 10-song instrumental journey finds Weitz exploring this new sonic territory, resulting in a sprawling tracklist that ranges from industrial post-punk to subtly jazzy bliss. The two-part “Compact Mirror / Last Time” beautifully juxtaposes elements on this album, as an ambient, bass-heavy delight slowly transitions into searing, distorted melodies.
Softcult – “Not Sorry”
When A Flower Doesn’t Grow
The time has finally arrived for the proper debut album from admired shoegaze hopefuls Softcult, and the duo of twin sisters is not taking the public’s attention lightly. When A Flower Doesn’t Grow is a wildly impressive debut from a young band that has already carved out a lane for themselves in a burgeoning shoegaze scene, with 11 songs that tug at the soul and immerse the listener in every emotion felt by Softcult. “Not Sorry” finds the duo fed up with apologizing for things they don’t have to, belting out their frustration with a delicate grace, while the arrangement dramatically swells.
Tyler Ballgame – “Sing How I Feel”
For The First Time, Again
Tyler Ballgame is a name we should all get used to seeing, as the singer/songwriter sets forth on a promising career with the release of his debut album, For The First Time, Again. The sprawling, vulnerable effort introduces Ballgame as a forward-thinking, empathetic songwriter, a guiding light for the lonely. These 12 songs showcase an innate prowess that refuses to be denied, and “Sing How I Feel” is only a fraction of the magic on this album. Ballgame’s acrobatic vocals dance with a simplistic, jazz-tinted arrangement to deliver an important message: This is an artist who can’t help but pour himself into every note.
Steve Poltz – “Brand New Liver”
JoyRide
Long-standing alt-folk artist Steve Poltz ushers in a new era of his fruitful career with the release of JoyRide, a 10-song reminder of the artist’s natural storytelling ability. Poltz’s ability to draw you into the worlds he creates is singular, with its psychedelic undertones and affinity for dark themes, so this tracklist plays like stories from a fractured memory without sacrificing the gritty, nuanced details. “Brand New Liver” finds a character wasting away opportunities, yet the person in the song seems ignorant of these woes, as Poltz sings of these pitfalls from the other side of them.
Joel Ross – “Repentance”
Gospel Music
Joel Ross is slowly becoming an unavoidable force of nature in contemporary jazz, and this monstrous LP has solidified that sentiment. The vibraphonist’s Gospel Music is an ambitious 17-song outing that stretches the imagination to colorful, wondrous places via compositions that balance Ross’s lofty vision and traditional jazz. “Repentance” is a mesmerizing display of the chemistry between Ross and the players on this album, as they trade solos for nearly seven minutes of jazzy paradise.
Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon – “Tia Mowry (The Rich TT)”
As of Now
Lord Jah-Monte Mote Ogbon has been one of the most consistent and prolific artists in the underground Hip-hop scene, but the beloved artist looks to new heights on his debut album for Lex Records. As of Now is a stunningly smooth 17-song album that finds Ogbon’s cartoonish vocals subdued to match the unassuming, jazzy instrumentals, while his songwriting remains just as animated. “Tia Mowry (The Rich TT)” features plush percussion that emphasizes every word Ogbon delivers, creating palpable textures that dance around your head for days after the song ends.
Trembler – “Total Sorry”
Total Sorry – EP
Texas-based shoegaze innovators Trembler have unleashed a quick yet potent EP that is going to be hard to ignore. Total Sorry is a five-song collection that reimagines the band’s already forward-thinking approach to intimate yet unpredictable rock music, crafting a sonic universe foggy with emotion that encourages listeners to get lost in it all. The title track features soaring, poetic falsettos that cascade around an arrangement that leans equally on ambiance and experimentation.
Terrace Martin – “Once I Say” (Feat. Blxst)
PASSION
Terrace Martin has been pushing the jazz world forward through enticing releases that redefine the middle ground between the genre and Hip-hop. Still, we’re hearing a different version of this genius on PASSION. The 12-song album arrives as a surprise, and what’s inside is even more surprising. Martin is exploring more electronic terrain throughout this album, creating space-age soundscapes that proved the perfect fit for R&B star Blxst. The two combine forces on “Once I Say,” an intoxicating track that places modern R&B alongside nostalgic bounces and futuristic jazz, creating a cacophony of ecstasy.
Ty Segall & The Muggers – “Breakfast Eggs (Live)”
“Live” “At” “The” “BBC” – EP
Back in 2016, Ty Segall and The Muggers recorded a BBC session with Mark Riley; that indoor firework show is now yours to take on the road. “Live” “At” “The” “BBC” finds the supergroup ripping through some Segall classics, including “Breakfast Eggs.” This live version emphasizes all that is memorable and otherworldly about this song, with Segall’s haunting vocals tip-toeing around psychedelic guitars that snarl and drums that thud with calculated ignorance.
Yot Club – “Projecting”
Simpleton
The celebrated indie pop project of singer/songwriter/producer Ryan Kaiser has returned with news of a fresh LP and its lead single. The self-produced Simpleton is set to arrive on April 17, and the technicolored “Projecting” is our first preview of the LP. The catchy rock-pop tune features an infectious vocal performance that dances with punchy percussion and glistening melodies.
The Black Crowes – “It’s Like That”
A Pound of Feathers
The Black Crowes’ cult-like fanbase is having an exhilarating 2026, and it’s only getting better. With the band’s new album, A Pound of Feathers, set to be released on March 13, the icons have also announced a massive co-headlining tour with Whiskey Myers that will take them across North America throughout 2026. Along with the tour announcement, the band also released the ripping anthem, “It’s Like That,” the third single from their anticipated new LP.
My Morning Jacket – “I’m Amazed”
Peacelands
As the world continues to spin and while its occupants seem hellbent on destroying the cohesive beauty of community, the legendary My Morning Jacket is looking to provide a place of mental solace while actively putting their money where their mouth is. Peacelands is a 14-song acoustic LP available exclusively on Bandcamp, with proceeds benefiting organizations such as the ACLU and Doctors Without Borders. The album is a mix of originals that depict the urgency of modern times and covers of fellow socially aware songwriters like Bob Dylan. “I’m Amazed” is a Jim James original that aims at the insanity of the news and the shock of how they frame detrimental situations.
The Alchemist & Budgie – “Lord Protect Me” (Feat. Roc Marciano)
The Good Book III
Frequent collaborators and two of the most innovative Hip-hop producers of their time, The Alchemist and Budgie, are back together for the third installment of their The Good Book album series. The monstrous release stretches two discs, each producer getting their own side of the LP to shine on. For Alc’s side, and a lead single, the producer employs Roc Marciano for a hauntingly hypnotic, braggadocious preview of an ambitious LP. As of now, The Good Book III is available exclusively through alcrecords.com.
