The old Caustic Factory is fired up and ready to go for another exhilarating edition of New Music Friday. Our conveyor belts have been cranked up, and our fine machinery has been tweaked in order to keep up with the prolificness of 2026, but just like always, we’re more than happy and prepared to deliver you the goods. This week, we have icons continuing late-career runs, familiar faces exploring new terrains, and Hip-hop titans combining forces for a jazzy effort. The Caustic Factory is working overtime to ensure we bring in the best of the best for everyone, and we’re glad you trust us to do so.
Check out Glide’s picks for the week’s best new music, and head over to our Caustic Spotify playlists to keep up with this busy year of music.
Kim Gordon – “BUSY BEE”
PLAY ME
Natural-born innovator and former Sonic Youth member Kim Gordon adds another mesmerizing art-rock outing to her solo discography with the release of PLAY ME. The 12-song LP features Gordon combining her colorful, heady melodies with contemporary drum patterns, creating something both familiar and alien, but unmistakably Gordon. “BUSY BEE” is a vibrating highlight with dirty drum tones that clash with the rawness of Gordon’s vocals.
Sweet Pill – “Tough Love”
Still There’s A Glow
On their long-awaited sophomore effort, the cathartic and moving Still There’s A Glow, Sweet Pill unleash 13 songs that double as windows into the band’s journey to this point. This is a reflective, vulnerable LP that allows one of the more exciting young bands to shed some of the mystique while demonstrating a new, mature, poetic songwriting. “Tough Love” is the slow-burning ballad of the outing, with a stunning vocal performance that bleeds over twinkling guitars, only for everything to swell into a dramatic, palpable crescendo.
Morgan Nagler – “Ball and Chain”
I’ve Got Nothing to Lose, and I’m Losing It
Morgan Nagler has spent the majority of her life writing songs, which led her to write with some of the most celebrated musicians of the time, which has now led her to I’ve Got Nothing to Lose, and I’m Losing It, her proper studio debut. The 11-song, twangy, psych-pop outing is a rare case of an artist already settling into their own sound on their first album, as Nagler’s distinct vocals deliver her head-spinning, heart-melting writing over subtle psychedelia. “Ball and Chain” is an early favorite from this stellar LP, with Nagler’s vocals cascading around glistening twang and jangly melodies.
Cut Worms – “Barfly”
Transmitter
On his latest album as Cut Worms, Max Clarke strips his sound to its bare essentials for his most vulnerable work to date. The Jeff Tweedy-produced Transmitter is a touching outing, filled with spacious arrangements that emphasize the raw storytelling and heartfelt honesty of Clarke’s songwriting, creating a touching addition to the Cut Worms story. “Barfly” finds Clarke crooning out lo-fi textures over catchy guitar melodies, as he grapples with complex questions.
James Blake – “Make Something Up”
Trying Times
The incomparable James Blake returns with his seventh studio album, and first as an independent artist, and that new sense of freedom can be felt throughout Trying Times. The sonically expansive and poignant 13-song outing finds Blake attempting to hold on to love during turbulent times, throwing his emotions over a range of cinematic ambiance and swaying indie rock. “Make Something Up” leans toward the latter, an electro-rock ballad with undisguised feelings painted with vivid imagery.
Tinariwen – “Khay Erilan”
Hoggar
The longevity of the desert-blues collective Tinariwen is well-earned, and their latest LP further proves this sentiment while also expanding the nuances of their well-established sound. Hoggar offers a stripped-down look at the band’s all-encompassing, worldwide folk rock, reminding everyone of the prowess that has sustained the band’s decades-long career. “Khay Erilan” is an early favorite with vocals that coil around psychedelic undertones and playful acoustic plucking, creating a captivating atmosphere that is as detailed as it is relaxing.
Jason P. Woodbury & The Night Bird Singing Quartet – “Calling From Somewhere”
Jason P. Woodbury & The Night Bird Singing Quartet
The ever-evolving prowess of Jason P. Woodbury just got a bit bigger with the release of Jason P. Woodbury & The Night Bird Singing Quartet, the new 11-song LP from the renowned musician/writer/producer. The experimental and enthralling new album ranges from psychedelic instrumentals to futuristic, dirt-road balladry, all combining for an unforgettable listen. “Calling From Somewhere” features slow-burning tempos that let the vocals flourish to epic proportions, creating an otherworldly tune that remains relatable.
Cashier – “Same Mistakes”
The Weight – EP
On their debut EP, hardcore shoegaze golden children Cashier lived up to the hype while properly introducing the singularity they’re bringing to the genre. The Weight is a quick yet potent look into a youthful band finding its individuality as it pieces together six brutally honest, melodic slices of shoegaze that touch the heart just as much as they melt the mind. “Same Mistakes” blends all that is special about this band into one volatile anthem, with their innate sense of melody pushing through the dense arrangement.
The Black Crowes – “Do The Parasite!”
A Pound of Feathers
A purveyor of nostalgic rock in contemporary times, The Black Crowes have built a career out of being first to whatever sonic terrain they decide to conquer, but their latest LP finds the Robinson brothers returning to form. A Pound of Feathers is a collection of head-nodding, face-melting examples of how important The Black Crowes are to rock music, as they string together heavy, Southern distortion with lively melodies. “Do The Parasite!” is the band’s take on a honky tonk record, being driven by vibrant lyrical images and searing guitar riffs.
ELUCID & Sebb Bash – “Equiano” (Feat. Shabaka Hutchings)
I Guess U Had To Be There
Two of the most underappreciated and daring members of Hip-hop have combined forces for an acid-drenched, jazzy LP called I Guess U Had To Be There. Vocalist and wordsmith ELUCID navigates Sebb Bash’s intoxicating instrumentals with poise and grace, two future legends combining forces for one of the more impressive Hip-hop albums of 2026. The Shabaka Hutchings-assisted “Equiano” features rolling pianos and delicate undertones that allow ELUCID to deliver his striking imagery.
All Them Witches – “Starting Line”
House of Mirrors
The time has finally arrived for new music from All Them Witches, and the lead single is the bluesy, emotional release we’ve all been praying for. House of Mirrors, the band’s first album since 2020, is set to be released on May 29, and “Starting Line” is the aptly-named lead single. What starts as a soft acoustic ballad quickly spins into a dusty rock anthem with sleek melodies.
Croz Boyce (Avey Tare & Geologist) – “Hanging Out with a Blueberry Pop”
Croz Boyce
Two members of the beloved alt-pop outfit Animal Collective have come together to form Croz Boyce, the new instrumental duo from Avey Tare & Geologist. Their self-titled debut album is set to arrive on May 8 via Domino Recording, and the ethereal “Hanging out with a Blueberry Pop” is our first preview of the project. The lead single is a hypnotic, guitar-driven ambient piece that hides its dramatic romance underneath its warping guitars.
Earl Sweatshirt & SURF GANG – “Earth”
POMPEII // UTILITY
It is always exciting when artists like Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE announce new music, but their latest projects are gearing up to be a landmark release for Hip-hop. POMPEII // UTILITY is set to be a double album, one side from MIKE, the other from Sweatshirt, and all entirely produced by the budding production collective SURF GANG. The 33-song double disc is set to arrive on April 3, with MIKE releasing the bouncy “Minty” as the lead single from his side, while Sweatshirt leans to the meditative side on his contribution, “Earth.”
Parlor Greens – “Emeralds”
Emeralds
The highly anticipated album from the soulful instrumental powerhouse Parlor Greens is right around the corner, and the band decided to spend this week releasing the latest preview. Emeralds, the band’s sophomore album, is set to arrive on April 10 via the illustrious Colemine Records, and the title track is our third and latest single from the 11-song LP. “Emeralds” is an evocative performance that ebbs and flows with the jazzy undertones.
Thundercat & Willow – “ThunderWave”
Distracted
As we all anxiously await the release of the latest Thundercat record, Distracted, on April 3, the celebrated jazz & neo-soul innovator has been feeding fans with fantastic singles, and the latest one is no different. “ThunderWave” balances a space-aged atmosphere with worldly percussion to create the type of song you get lost in, only for Willow and Thundercat’s harmonies to reach out a helping hand. “ThunderWave” marks the fifth single from Distracted.
