Dozens of albums are released every month, but this month is winding up to be full of absolute art! I’m just going to be talking about a few that either I’m very excited for, or that I know will get fans’ mouths foaming. Warning: opinions ahead *wink*
Free Spirit (Khalid), 4/5
Khalid is continuing to rise in fame, and is preparing to release his Sophomore album Free Spirit on the 5th. His first album, American Teen, was received fairly well. However, the lead single, Location, was the reason that people knew his name. He has performed with very well known stars, such as Billie Eilish and Halsey, and has been featured on soundtracks for multiple movies, including Black Panther and Love, Simon. All in all, I am very excited to see how his new album fairs, and I’m interested to see the course of his career.
Amidst the Chaos (Sara Bareilles), 4/5
Despite many only vaguely recognizing her name, Sara Bareilles has been played on the radio regularly since 2007. Her breakout hit, Love Song, is likely where you know her from. However, I have never heard anyone else talk about her, even though she’s been releasing albums every few years. Amidst the Chaos has had a few songs released from it so far, all of which are incredible. It seems that this album may have a slightly different sound than much of her previous work. Songs like Fire are much more suited to radio play, having a faster pace than a lot of her past songs. Diehard fans will be delighted that she still holds a lot of her usual sound, which can be heard in songs like Saint Honesty. I believe this is going to be Sara’s biggest album yet, and I’m ready to see her get some recognition other than for Love Song.
Map of the Soul: Persona (BTS), 4/12
I must admit that I’ve never had any particular interest in BTS (I much prefer some “older” KPOP groups, like Block B and BIGBANG), however, it’s hard to deny that they are one of the biggest music groups in the world right now. It appears that the love for the boy band only grows as they release each new song. If you’re pumped for the album, then get ready to scream in Korean. If you’re not a fan of them, be prepared for social media to blow up on the 12th.
LSD (Labrinth, Sia, and Diplo), 4/12
Heavyweights Labrinth, Sia, and Diplo have come together to form LSD. Thunderclouds, the second single from the self-titled album, charted globally. Each member of the group has had their own massive successes, so it going to be interesting to see how the album is received. I expect it to be huge, but the other two singles that have been released so far only charted in a few countries, so it’s up in the air. Either way, it’s definitely going to be worth the listen time.
Cuz I Love You (Lizzo), 4/19
Lizzo released her first album, Lizzobangers, in 2013, but you’ve probably never heard of her. Her Sophomore album, released in 2015, received just as little attention as her first. However, it appears that her third album, Cuz I Love You, is ramping up to be her breakout success. Her first single, Juice, from the album blew up, leading to her performing on Ellen and The Tonight Show. The fresh R&B sound sets it apart from the rest of the radio music playing today. I’m very happy that Lizzo has started to receive recognition for her art, and I’m ready to see where the rest of this album takes her.
Hurts 2B Human (P!nk), 4/26
I think it’s safe to say that everyone knows Pink. She’s a global superstar that’s been praised in the spotlight since her second album, Missundaztood, and has only risen in fame since. She has a sound that is hard to replicate, making her unique and pleasant to listen to. Her music regularly combines elements of Rock and Pop (and R&B, most noticeable in her earlier works), fitting her perfectly into popular music. In my opinion, her most recent album, Beautiful Trauma, was a nearly flawless record. So far, it seems that her upcoming album, Hurts 2B Human, is going to continue her incredible success as an artist. With absolute bangers like Walk Me Home and Hustle, it looks like this album is going to be a massive hit.
Love + Fear (Marina), 4/26
Love + Fear (pronounced as Love and Fear) is the upcoming senior (4th) album from Marina, who is formerly known as Marina and the Diamonds. Marina is hands down my favorite artist, and I and so many other diehard fans have been waiting ever so impatiently since her last album, Froot, was released in 2015. Marina is known for her psychological viewpoint in songs, focusing on things like mental illness, loneliness, and jealousy in her earlier works. She became semi-well known with her second album, Electra Heart, in 2012. The singles Primadonna and How to be a Heartbreaker garnered the most fame, but besides that, she hasn’t really been in the spotlight much. This album is being split into two separate albums, Love and Fear (duh). While every song she has released so far has been great, they have all been from the Love album. She has stated that the Fear album is “full of bangers,” so hopefully she has some incredible songs up her sleeves to help her break into the mainstream audience.
While you wait for these albums to come out, you should check out some of the incredible albums that were released last month! Some of my favorites include Sucker Punch by Sigrid, Girl by Maren Morris, Sing to me Instead by Ben Platt, and When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? by Billie Eilish!