It is hard to believe we are already a week away from the official start of the holiday season, but 2025 isn’t going out without squeezing every drop of new music from this storied year. We have another jam-packed list of imaginative releases from across music, including refreshing Hip-hop, big band jazz from veterans of the genre, and heartfelt folk balladry tinted with pure poetry. While it may seem like the world is slowing down, we here at the Caustic Factory are delighted to present you with another complete list of exhilarating listens to sink your teeth into.
Check out Glide’s picks for this week’s best new releases, and head over to Spotify to catch up on previous Fridays from November.
Twin Shadow – “The Seams”
Cadet
The seventh studio album, and second full-length of 2025, from the ever-evolving project Twin Shadow, marks a return to form for the artist. Cadet is a glitchy, punchy, 11-song LP that balances electronic experimentation with infectious indie rock melodies, creating an inviting atmosphere drenched in warm synths and subtle grooves. “The Seams” is an unassuming yet colorful highlight from Cadet, with neon-lit keys that dance with sleek vocal melodies.
De La Soul – “Good Health”
Cabin In The Sky
The legendary, forward-thinking, mind-melting Hip-hop icons De La Soul have returned with their first album since 2016, and it is a joyous, well-deserved victory lap. Cabin In The Sky arrives after the passing of De La’s co-founder, Dave Jolicoeur, in 2023, and in the middle of a resurgence for the group, following the release of their early catalog on streaming after a years-long legal battle. These 20 songs, though, do not dwell on the heartbreaks but celebrate the legacy of Jolicoeur and De La’s contributions to Hip-hop, as they sound as lively as ever. “Good Health” is a nostalgic cut with modern tendencies, as De La delivers soulful flows over off-kilter drum patterns.
R.A.P. Ferreira & Kenny Segal – “dazzle on the casual”
The Night Green Side Of It
Originally released a few weeks back on Bandcamp, the collaborative album between thought-provoking Hip-hop pioneer R.A.P. Ferreira and left-field electro-Hip-Hop producer Kenny Segal has made its way to your local streaming service. The Night Green Side of It is a minimalist, psychedelic LP driven by the innate chemistry between these two genre-benders, creating an enticing, almost jazzy atmosphere for Ferreira’s complex yet blunt rhymes.
Snarky Puppy, Metropole Orkest, & Jules Buckley – “Between Worlds”
Somni
The genre-fluid Snarky Puppy is back with the Metropole Orkest, and under the watchful eye of conductor Juls Buckley, the cinematic LP is an immersive listen. Somni is eight spell-binding orchestrations that straddle the line between unencumbered jazz and dramatic theatrics, creating a tiny universe for the listener to escape to. “Between Worlds” is a warping highlight, driven by a subtle ambiance that is at once striking and calming, with cascading melodies and soaring strings.
This House is Creaking – “Something Else”
Single
Coming off the release of their I Want to Feel at Home Here LP from July. With ambitious touring plans for 2026, the up-and-coming and exhilarating This House is Creaking returns with a chaotically blissful new single. “Something Else” swells with distorted solace that hides infectious melodies, only to be broken down into punchy indie rock. The single continues to establish this band as young, daring musicians inching closer to a singular sound.
Robber Robber – “Talkback”
Single
Robber Robber established themselves as a unique force of nature on their acclaimed 2024 LP, Wild Guess, and by the looks of it, the band is not slowing down for a second. After releasing the remix EP Wild Guest in April, the Vermont quartet emerges with “Talkback,” an electronic indie-rock tune bursting with personality. Robber Robber’s new single captures the energy of experimentation and molds it to fit their bouncy approach.
David Byrne – “T Shirt”
Single
The restless veteran David Byrne is back with a new Brian Eno-assisted single that shows love to graphic tees and the messages they deliver. “T Shirt” arrives on a cloud of passionate crooning, as Byrne navigates lively drums and dancing synths to deliver an impassioned performance. The new single arrives only months after Byrne teamed up with Ghost Train Orchestra for his Who Is The Sky? LP back in September.
William Clark Green – “Watterson Hall (Me & You)”
Watterson Hall
Soulful country musician William Clark Green has announced his first album since 2022, and delivered an emotional title track to accompany the exciting news. Watterson Hall is set to be released on March 6, and along with the string of singles that Green has released throughout 2025, the title track joins the fray. “Watterson Hall” is brimming with poetic imagery that Green delivers with an open heart.
Conway the Machine – “Diamonds” (Feat. Roc Marciano)
You Can’t Kill God with Bullets
Buffalo, New York’s Conway the Machine is a large part of the reason his hometown is discussed in the modern Hip-hop scene, and the consistently impressive rapper has announced the latest addition to his legacy. You Can’t Kill God with Bullets is set to be released on December 12, and along with the previously released “Se7enteen5ive,” the Roc Marciano-assisted “Diamonds” is a preview of the project. The latest single features hazy horns and quaint drums that juxtapose the vivid, violent imagery delivered by these two emcees.
Gogol Bordello – “Hater Liquidator”
We Mean It, Man!
It is not very often we hear from Gogol Bordello, which makes the news of their upcoming LP all the more electrifying. The veteran band has announced We Mean It, Man!, a 12-song LP that will be released on February 13. “Hater Liquidator,” the latest single, examines the world around us with a riot-fueled mind, as they scoff at the powers-that-be for allowing things to slip this far down.
Drugdealer – “The News”
Single
After returning in May with a Weyes Blood-assisted single, Drugdealer, the psychedelic project of Michael Collins, is back with a jangly new tune. “The News” harkens back to simplistic pop while maintaining a stern foot in the present with analytical lyrics. This urgent yet reassuring tune marks the second single from Drugdealer since 2023.
Squirrel Flower & Babehoven – “My Life in Art”
Single
The return of Squirrel Flower is marked by a moving duet with Babehoven, as the duo trade verses over a waterfall of gentle acoustics. “My Life in Art” is the first we’ve heard from Squirrel Flower since her 2023 album (excluding the artist’s remix of Bad Bad Hats’ “All-Nighter”), and it is a downtrodden welcome home parade. Along with Babehoven, the duo put together a folksy ballad centered around raw emotions.
Young Fresh Fellows – “I’m a Prison”
Loft
The unsung heroes of Seattle rock music, Young Fresh Fellows, are primed to release their album Loft on November 28, but the band has decided to give us one last ripping preview of the anticipated project. “I’m a Prison” is a rowdy outing with searing guitar riffs that clash with crashing drums and cartoonish vocals, showcasing how this established band still contains the energy of youth. Loft will be available for Record Store Day Black Friday and marks the band’s first new studio album since 2020.
Fly Anakin – “Socks Over the Smoke Detector” (Feat. Quelle Chris, $ilkmoney, & Fatima)
Single
Fly Anakin already has one of the most memorable Hip-hop albums of 2025 with (The) Forever Dream, but that’s not stopping this prolific emcee. The new pose-cut, “Socks Over the Smoke Detector,” features a cast of equally impressive, contemporary rap heroes, like Quelle Chris and $ilkmoney. The nearly seven-minute single features lush keys that allow the artist’s flows and rhymes to be wholeheartedly felt in the soul, the way these writers’ words should be digested.
Crooked Fingers – “Cold Waves” (Feat. Mac McCaughan)
Swet Deth
It has been over a decade since acclaimed artist Eric Bachmann released music under his beloved moniker, Crooked Fingers, but thankfully, the hiatus has come to a close. Bachmann has announced Swet Deth, the first Crooked Fingers album since 2011, and delivered its lead single. The Mac McCaughan-assisted “Cold Waves” plays just as the title suggests, with crescendoes that billow from behind lyrics that explore the harsh realities of a love coming to a close.
One Response
What a stacked week of releases. It feels like every genre is having a moment at once, from De La Soul’s triumphant return to Snarky Puppy’s cinematic world building. Love seeing newer acts like This House is Creaking share space with legends like David Byrne. 2025 really refuses to slow down. Great roundup, now my weekend playlist is overflowing.