Happy Fresh Friday! This week we feature the sophomore full length album “Theft World” by New York dance punks- Lip Critic- a band we highlighted as one to watch in 2026. As we trudge deeper into unfamiliar territory in our society, it’s important to have something consistent in our lives. For Janky Smooth and most of our readers that consistency comes from new music.
related: Top 10 Artists To Watch in 2026
This week also sees new music from Broken Social Scene, Frozen Soul and Koyo. But let’s start with Lip Critic
Lip Critic- Theft World (May 1st 2026) Partisan Records
There is something that made me feel warm inside when I saw there was a machine behind Lip Critic that’s been warming up the human race for their new album- Theft World. A concerted effort of eye catching promo and staggered singles released throughout the year that all led up to the May 1st, 2026 release on Partisan Records. Because you have to make people understand what this is to sell it and that’s no easy task.
If you listen to any Lip Critic recording, they could be a divisive band to normies- that Lip Critic may seem to lack the components of music that has mass appeal. But if you’ve ever seen Lip Critic live you already know that nothing else matters but, THIS. Seeing how this music is played is key to understanding. But maybe more people will have the same question I had when I heard the song Milky Max of Lip Critic’s first full length album, 2024’s Hex Dealer- what is this and where can I get more?
It came from New York in a similar manner as LCD Soundsystem in that Lip Critic are a force spreading their spores through the New York club scene. Front man and sample master, Bret Kaser performs in a fever dream that comes off like a rabid faith healer and when I saw them open for MSPAINT at the Lodge Room last year it made me want to wash away all my genre biased original sin.
related: Disturbing the Peace- MSPAINT and Lip Critc at The Lodge Room
Lip Critic functions almost as two separate projects- the live band and the studio band- with songs getting fully reimagined in both settings, entire sections created or re-arranged, and wildly different versions in live performance than what was recorded in the studio- whatever is best to dance to in that moment. But make no mistake, this is a band and this band is also made up of producer and master sonic router, Connor Kleitz from Rockland County and drummer Danny Eberle by way of Staten Island.
Together, Lip Critic are a bi-polar ride into rhythm, rhyme and melody. From total delight into a flimsy denial that explodes into rage within ridiculous song structures and sampled textures- it’s the structure of emotions that spark the chaos into combusting.
Theft World is a solid and cohesive body of work from start to finish.
“Legs in a Snare” was the first release teased by the band at the beginning of the year and it’s also the perfect place to start because this is a perfect example of Lip Critic music and the perfect example of a perfect song. It’s got the recurring Lip Critic themes of merriment and mania, of misadventure, misunderstanding and a very deep awareness of how clueless we all seem to be.
If you listen to the opening track off Theft World, “Two Lucks” you’d swear the band was playing their sounds through traditional instruments and who knows, maybe they are. That’s the fun of this. “Two Lucks” is a dissonant and discordant opening track that’s sure to appeal to the oddball hardcore crowd that discovered Lip Critic supporting oddball hardcore dance band, MSPAINT.
“Debt Forest” is a percussive swim through late stage capitalism- replete with the extreme changes that always seem to occur at every intro, bridge or outro- the fun part is those aren’t always where they are supposed to be.
“Drumming with Izzy” is a minimal, yet all out assault of drum and bass- both in genre and practical execution.
Standout tracks like “Talon” come in less hot with a drum beat that breathes with spatial yet pulverized synth in half time head bobs- but the rage always comes at some point and in this case the tension builds in the anxious climax to the double time hook.
“Theft World” is the kind of album I’ve been waiting for- a biting and clever social and political commentary that stands on a soap box made of materials of unknown origin. Sounds hacked from songs and neatly wrapped into one shot samples that are easily pounded out by fat fingers smashing in buttons on a console. If you get to see them live, you. might get to see two drummers. Or drummer Danny Eberle singing and singer Bret Kaser drumming. Somehow, wherever you put the pieces, they fit.
Broken Social Scene “Remember The Humans” (May 8th, 2026) Arts & Crafts
Broken Social Scene dominated the indie rock scene throughout the early 00’s, but almost disappeared without notice only releasing one album in the past 16 years. They’ve finally come back to claim their spot on the throne with “Remember The Humans”, and the newest album is a return to form for the band in every way. You aren’t going to be hit by any surprises here, but raw indie rock music has been sorely missed in the 2020’s and there are few bands that can still deliver it as genuinely as Broken Social Scene.
Frozen Soul “No Place of Warmth” (May 8th, 2026) Century Media Records
Texas death metal juggernauts Frozen Soul have found time in their overwhelmingly dedicated touring schedule to bring us “No Place Of Warmth”. The album oddly features a guest feature from My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way, as well as collaborations with Sanguisugabogg and Machine Head. Don’t let the star power and flashy names fool you however – this is still the massive sounding Frozen Soul that has always stood out with how epic and intense their compositions are. While they’re usually brought into conversation as one of the heaviest bands to see live, they manage to melt your face even more in the studio here.
Koyo “Barely Here” (May 8th 2026) Pure Noise Records
Emo pop-punk group Koyo is back with “Barely Here”, a 28-minute punch to the gut of emotion with all of the sing-along moments and melodies we’ve come to love from the group. While the album will appeal to fans of classic emo of the 90’s and 00’s, Koyo manages to make pop-punk that still feels fresh in the modern landscape that is usually so dependent on nostalgia. It’s heavy, raw, sincere, and an absolute must-listen for any fans of the more emotional side of hardcore music.
We hope you enjoy this buffet of audio and we hope you find a soundtrack to the next couple days, couple months or couple years this Fresh Friday.
