Beyoncé served us all her Lemonade. Rihanna finally released an album for the first time in over three years. Kanye West couldn’t stop making changes to The Life of Pablo, and Frank Ocean dropped not one, but two albums within a day. So what else is there to look forward to this year? Here’s your answer.
Lady Gaga – TBA
All we know about this highly anticipated album from a sure favorite (top photo) is that the lead single, “Perfect Illusion,” drops Friday, Sept. 9. That it’s an upbeat dance song with a collaborative production effort by Mark Ronson (Uptown Funk and Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black), Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker and BloodPop is enough to pique our interest.
Full Album Release date TBA
Against Me! – Shape Shift with Me
With their last album, Transgender Dysphoria Blues, Against Me! provided a landmark moment for trans visibility. Frontwoman Laura Jane Grace’s gender identity remains at the center of the follow-up.
Available Sept. 16
Childish Gambino – PHAROS
There’s no official release date for Childish Gambino’s official follow-up to Because the Internet, but that’s not stopped the release from turning into an event. The new album will unveil as part of a three-day multimedia event with its own app, art installations and performances.
Release date TBA
Green Day – Revolution Radio
Lead single “Bang Bang,” written from the point of view of a mass shooter, promises that the band is returning to the political area they previously explored all the way back on American Idiot.
Available Oct. 7
Idina Menzel – Idina. / Kristin Chenoweth – The Art of Elegance
Both Wicked co-stars release new albums the same day. It’s not the collaboration that fans who wore out that soundtrack wants, but you know both artists will provide plenty of high points.
Available Sept. 23
JoJo – Mad Love
After nearly a decade of issues with her former label, the 25-year-old singer behind mid-2000s hits “Leave (Get Out)” and “Too Little Too Late” finally drops her third solo album. The lead single “Fuck Apologies,” featuring Wiz Khalifa, is already out.
Available Oct. 14
M.I.A. – A.I.M.
Eight years after “Paper Planes” dominated radio, she’s back with what she claims is her last album. It includes collaborations with Skrillex and ex-boyfriend/former frequent collaborator Diplo.
Available Sept. 16
Mykki Blanco – Mykki
Rapper. Poet. Performance artist. Activist. The thought-provoking hip-hop artist frequently noted as a queer pioneer in Hip Hop follows a series of mixtapes and singles with this full-length solo debut.
Available Sept. 18
Regina Spektor – Remember Us to Life
In the years since 2012’s What We Saw from the Cheap Seats, she’s largely known as the Orange is the New Black theme song singer. As the first samples from the album show, though, there’s a lot more to this eccentric artist than that one song.
Available Sept. 30
Tove Lo – Lady Wood
She broke through with Queen of the Clouds and hits like “Habits (Stay High)” and “Talking Body.” This album is led by single “Cool Girl,” which draws inspiration from the infamous monologue from the book and film Gone Girl.
Release date TBA