Time flies when you’re having fun, or more so, we’re just too busy to keep track of the preverbal river that rushes us from one moment of life to the next. Either way, it’s hard to believe February is coming to a close. The month was already packed with exhilarating releases that continued to prove that 2026 is a special year in music, and the final New Music Friday of February is no different. This week was nothing short of extraordinary in the world of music. The Caustic red carpet is being rolled out for the return of beloved acts, refreshing additions to neo-soul, and fan favorites experimenting with their singular sound. Whether time is flying by or crawling in your world, this is your sign to put your feet up and dive into something new.
Check out Glide’s picks for this week’s best new music, and be sure to give February’s Caustic Spotify playlist a spin before we enter a new month of releases.
Bill Callahan – “Highway Born”
My Days of 58
On his latest album, the stripped-down, confessional My Days of 58, Bill Callahan takes the blunt and makes it imaginative. The twelve-song LP finds Callahan in a troubadour mindset, traversing simplistic yet potent acoustic arrangements with a subdued vocal delivery that is juxtaposed by the complex emotions and vivid imagery of the lyrics. “Highway Born” is an early favorite from the album, in which the artist yearns to return to the road, finding inspiration in his destinations and the trips in between.
Voxtrot – “Quiet Noise”
Dreamers in Exile
For the first time in over two decades, beloved indie pop heroes Voxtrot released a studio LP. Dreamers in Exile, the band’s proper sophomore effort, is the culmination of a long hiatus and their triumphant return that began in 2022. The bubbly, dynamic 11-song outing showcases an undeniable maturity that boosts the intricacies that made Voxtrot such a memorable act to begin with. “Quiet Noise” is one of the more emotional moments on this LP, with a palpable longing delivered via poetic lyrics and moving melodies.
Crooked Fingers – “Steady Now”
Swet Deth
It has been 15 years since Eric Bachmann has touched his beloved Crooked Fingers alias, but that all changes with the release of Swet Deth. The 10-song LP is dense with collaboration, Bachmann’s sleek guitar stylings, and emotions delivered through a poetic lens, culminating in a return to form for the veteran folk musician. “Steady Now” closes the album with Bachmann battling with mortality over rolling pianos and twangy guitars.
Nothing – “Ballet of a Traitor”
a short history of decay
Back with a reimagined lineup and approach to their beloved shoegaze genre, Philadelphia’s Nothing emerges with their most daring and sprawling effort to date. The nine-song a short history of decay finds the Domenic Palermo-led band pushing the limits of shoegaze with a vulnerable, poetic addition to their already magical discography. “Ballet of a Traitor” is a deeply personal and relatable highlight that centers on betrayal, detailing the long-term effects of apathy.
GENA – “Dream a Twinkle”
The Pleasure is Yours
The newly minted duo of R&B vocal acrobat Liv.e and producer extraordinaire Karriem Riggins have released their debut album under GENA, and it is the neo-soul fusion LP we all need in our lives. The Pleasure is Yours is not just a catchy album title; it’s a manifestation of the feeling the listener gets after hearing these 16 riveting, jazzy looks into natural musical chemistry. “Dream a Twinkle” between nostalgic neo-soul and organic R&B, with a toe-tapping bassline that sits under Liv.e’s silk-lined vocal approach.
Lala Lala – “Car Anymore”
Heaven 2
Singer/songwriter Lillie West, otherwise known by her creative moniker Lala Lala, returns with Heaven 2, the follow-up to her 2024 LP and debut for Sub Pop Records. The 10-song electro-pop outing is crawling with slow-burning ambiance and nimble, lively balladry alike, creating an unpredictable tracklist brimming with raw emotions. “Car Anymore” welcomes us to Heaven 2 with nimble percussion that elevates the soaring vocals to heavenly heights, setting the tone for this stellar album.
Iron & Wine – “Singing Saw”
Hen’s Teeth
With a discography that touches on the artist’s wildest fascinations, Sam Beam’s latest album as Iron & Wine is both a return to folksy roots while manipulating the same concept into something refreshing. Hen’s Teeth, the sibling LP to 2024’s Light Verse, finds Beam searching for the limitations of folk-rock, only to push them even further through 10 acoustically pleasing and inventive songs. “Singing Saw” finds Beam’s life slipping through his fingers as he attempts to balance his creative pursuits with reality on this outstanding highlight from the latest immersive addition to the Iron & Wine catalog.
Buck Meek – “Soul Feeling”
The Mirror
On his latest solo album, the experimental The Mirror, Big Thief’s Buck Meek expands his artistry via unapologetic honesty and sprawling sonic terrains. These 11 songs redefine Meek as a songwriter, with the artist digging deeper than ever before while employing nuanced sonic maneuvers that help emphasize this new era. “Soul Feeling” is folk-rock bliss steeped in swaying melodies and vivid imagery, bringing the listener into Meek’s world with a warm welcome.
Mitski – “Rules”
Nothing’s About to Happen to Me
The anticipated eighth studio album from singer/songwriter Mitski has arrived in all its glory, and it is more cinematic than anyone could ask for. Slipping between indie rock anthems and jazzy orchestrations, all being strung together by the artist’s sincere interpretations of the human experience, Nothing’s About to Happen to Me is brimming with risks that yield great rewards. “Rules” leans to the jazzy side of this LP, with blaring brass that culminates in dramatic swells, all while Mitski attempts to set boundaries.
Ritt Momney – “LIGHTSHOW”
BASE
It’s not every day, or year for that matter, that we receive new music from Ritt Momney, the solo pop project of Jack Rutter. 2026, though, is the year that changes everything for the mysterious project, as Rutter dives into electronic tendencies with subdued psychedelia on BASE, the first Ritt Momney album since 2021. The 12-song LP is a reinvention happening before our very eyes, as Rutter sheds himself of the bright acoustics in favor of darker experimentation driven by crackling textures. “LIGHTSHOW” is drenched in this new aesthetic, as Rutter’s vocals crawl over wonky distortion.
Gorillaz – “The Empty Dream Machine” (Feat. Black Thought, Johnny Marr, and Anoushka Shankar)
The Mountain
Since returning from hiatus in 2017, Gorillaz have yet to repeat themselves. Not that the band seemed comfortable in one sound before their seven-year break, but there is something otherworldly to these new Gorillaz albums, and The Mountain is no different. The 15-song psychedelic journey brings back a familiar structure for the band (an extensive tracklist with plenty of guest appearances) but in a completely new light, employing sitars and flutes to tie this expansive outing together. “The Empty Dream Machine” is a hypnotic highlight featuring a well-crafted verse from Hip-hop legend Black Thought that floats alongside Damon Albarn’s seasoned vocals, all while the arrangement leaves the listener in a trance.
Gnarls Barkley – “Pictures”
Atlanta
The duo of CeeLo Green and Danger Mouse, better known as Gnarls Barkley, shocked the music world with their return this week. “Pictures,” their first piece of new music in 18 years, marks the duo’s welcome home parade, as Green’s gospel-tinted vocals skate over Danger Mouse’s signature, spellbinding percussion. The single finds Green in a reflective state, flipping through his life like a photo album. “Pictures” is the lead single from the duo’s long-awaited third and final album, Atlanta, an ode to the city that raised both members of Gnarls Barkley. Atlanta is set to be released on March 6.
American Football – “Bad Moons”
American Football (LP4)
The agonizing wait for new music from Midwest indie rock icons American Football has finally come to a close. The beloved band is set to release their highly anticipated LP, American Football (LP4), on May 1, and the lead single is an enchanting yet emotionally charged storytelling tune. “Bad Moons” features a twinkling harp loop that anchors this transcendental single, as the band wrestles with the complexity of the human experience.
Shabaka – “Dance in Praise”
Of The Earth
World-renowned jazz innovator and band leader Shabaka is gearing up for the release of his latest solo LP, Of The Earth, with one last preview before its March 6 release date. “Dance in Praise” is a hectic, breathing look into this album, which is already shaping up to be something special for Shabaka and for jazz as a genre. The fourth single is the culmination of Shabaka’s musical studies, featuring bouncing flutes that dance alongside cascading drum patterns.
Okonski – “Easy”
Single
The improvisational jazz trio Okonski emerges with their first new music since their 2025 LP, Entrance Music. “Easy” is a Hip-hop-inspired number with living piano melodies that sit atop unassuming percussion, creating a song you can get lost in. The subtle waltz of “Easy” lingers in the room long after the song wraps, proving yet again the importance of Okonski in contemporary jazz.
