Top new albums released on June 27
It’s Friday, and for fans of Bruce Springsteen, today might feel like Christmas morning with the release of a 7-disc (or 9-LP) box set titled Tracks II: The Lost Albums. This compilation features unreleased tracks recorded from 1983 to 2018. To help navigate through the extensive collection of 83 songs, we’ve put together a guide to highlight some of the tracks you might want to explore before hitting play.
For those seeking new music, this week’s most highly anticipated album is Lorde’s fourth studio effort, Virgin. While it may not be at the top of our list, NPR Music’s Hazel Cills describes it as a humanizing album by a pop star coming to terms with not having everything figured out just yet. You can read Cills’ review of Virgin for a closer look at what this release has to offer.
Delving into the albums that truly resonated with us this week, Wonway Posibul from NPR station KALW in the Bay Area, along with NPR Music’s Stephen Thompson, sifted through a plethora of new releases to select five standout albums worth discussing. Because understanding the backstory can add depth to the listening experience, our hosts have curated this list of albums to check out.
These albums include Laura Stevenson’s “Late Great,” which has garnered comparisons to boygenius and Sharon Van Etten. Adrian Quesada’s “Boleros Psicodélicos II” offers a blend of sounds reminiscent of Hermanos Gutiérrez and Khruangbin, while Madison McFerrin’s “Scorpio” draws parallels to Hiatus Kaiyote and Little Dragon. “Flowers” by Durand Jones & The Indications shares vibes with Thee Sacred Souls and William DeVaughn, and “Clay” by Herbert & Momoko echoes influences from Tirzah and Four Tet. These recommendations provide a snapshot of the diverse offerings within the music landscape this week.
If you’re eager to explore more, our NPR All Songs Considered podcast features New Music Friday, providing an in-depth discussion of these latest releases. You can tune in on the NPR App, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any platform where you listen to podcasts.
In addition to these selections, there are six other albums that piqued our interest this week, but due to time constraints, we couldn’t delve into them further on the podcast. These albums include Bruce Springsteen’s “Tracks II: The Lost Albums,” Frankie Cosmos’ “Different Talking,” Dana and Alden’s “Speedo,” Brighde Chaimbeul’s “Sunwise,” Mocky’s “Music Will Explain (Choir Music Vol. 1),” and Tim Barnes’ “Lost Words / Noumena.” For a taste of each album’s standout tracks, you can find them on our New Music Friday playlists on popular streaming platforms.
For those looking to dive even deeper into this week’s music offerings, we’ve compiled a list of new albums categorized by genre. From pop to country/folk/Americana to electronic and beyond, there’s a diverse array of music waiting to be explored. So whether you’re a die-hard fan of Springsteen, eager to hear Lorde’s latest release, or simply seeking new musical discoveries, this week’s album releases offer something for everyone to enjoy.