Glyders: Forever [Album Review]

Glyders
Forever
Drag City Records [2025]

“A wide open groove trip where classic roots meet modern psych.”

Album Overview: Glyders formed in Chicago in 2014 when guitarist and vocalist Joshua Condon teamed up with bassist and vocalist Eliza Weber. After cycling through a long list of drummers, they eventually found the right fit in Joe Seger, whose arrival helped shape the trio into what they are today. The three have spent years touring across the United States and Europe, building chemistry through constant shows and long nights in their home studio. Forever is their most unified work so far, created through that shared history. Recorded in their Chicago space with Condon running the sessions and finished with a trusted outside mix, the record captures a band hitting stride. It blends classic rock, jam corner looseness, and light psychedelic swing, with several tracks shifting gears mid song in a way that feels effortless and alive.

Musical Style: The album leans into roots rock while pulling in touches of blues, classic rock grit, and a warm psychedelic glow. The guitar and bass carry the groove while Seger’s drumming adds steady lift. The playing feels relaxed but always stays centered on strong melodies. And with “RTZ” running just twenty one seconds, the remaining seven songs average more than five minutes each, showing how comfortable Glyders are stretching out on a wide open musical canvas.

Evolution of Sound: Earlier Glyders releases had a rotating cast, but Forever benefits from a steady lineup working as one. Time spent touring sharpened their instincts, and these songs show the confidence that comes from years of shared stages and late nights shaping ideas together. What began as a loose project now feels like a fully realized band stepping into its own lane.

Artists with Similar Fire: Fans of Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Band, JJ Cale, T. Rex, and Leon Russell will find plenty to connect with here. Listeners who enjoy newer artists like Rose City Band, Garcia Peoples, Allah-Las, Cut Worms, Mystery Lights and Golden Daze will also like this album’s vibe. The album carries earthy grooves, easy swagger, and a sense of character rooted in tradition but still ready to wander.

Pivotal Tracks: “Super Glyde” opens the record with a bold statement and sets the tone for the album’s shifting energy. “Hard Ride” settles into a hypnotic, cooler flow that shows off the trio’s more exploratory side. “New Realm” pushes their rhythmic pulse further, while “Tell Me About the Rabbit,” one of the first songs written with this lineup, highlights how naturally their parts fit together. The closer, “Thousand Miles,” lands with a relaxed indie twang that makes it an easy replay.

Lyrical Strength: The writing draws from day to day struggle, long stretches on the road, and the steady bond that builds when you make music with people you trust. Themes of endurance, connection, and taking life as it comes rise through the imagery. The lyrics balance grounded humor with small flashes of reflection, giving each song character without slipping into sentimentality.

Final Groove: Forever feels like the moment Glyders fully step into who they are. It is confident, unhurried, and full of small sparks that shine brighter with every listen. The trio sounds locked in and ready for bigger attention, and if this record is any sign, their next chapter will be even wider, wilder, and more open sky than what came before.

GLYDERS LINKS
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