The industry is struggling right now, but despite release delays, gig cancellations and other difficulties, there are a lot of artists putting out really exciting music in the midst of the chaos. With the first half of the year already over (somehow) there are six months of releases ahead of us, including some pretty exciting teases from Cardi B and SZA.
Here are 10 of the album releases with confirmed details that we’re most excited about:
Alanis Morissette – ‘Such Pretty Forks in the Road’
What we know: It’s been eight years since Alanis Morissette’s last studio album, ‘Havoc and Bright Lights’. Morissette was set to tour in celebration of debut ‘Jagged Little Pill’s 25th birthday this year but had to cancel, also postponing the release of ‘Such Pretty Forks in the Road’. Still, if the deeply personal lead single ‘Reasons to Drink’ is anything to go by, the album, which Morissette has been working on since mid-2017, will be worth the wait.
What we’ve heard:
Release date: July 31
Katy Perry – ‘Smile’
What we know: Katy Perry released ‘Never Really Over’, her first single since 2017’s ‘Witness’ in May 2019, later announcing that it and another standalone, ‘Harleys in Hawaii’ would be on an upcoming album. ‘Smile’ was announced in May 2020, and Perry said that the album was about “finding the light at the end of the tunnel” and full of “stories of resilience, hope, and love”. Its lead single, ‘Smile’, is an uplifting summery song about learning to feel good.
What we’ve heard:
Release Date: August 14
Bright Eyes – ‘Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was’
What we know: Earlier this year, Bright Eyes announced their reunion and a string of (now-cancelled) tour dates. They then released their first song together in nine years, ‘Persona Non Grata’, in March, with tracks ‘Forced Convalescence’, ‘One and Done’ and ‘Mariana Trench’ following. In June, they shared details of their full album, ‘Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was’ which will be released on Dead Oceans.
What we’ve heard:
Release date: August 21
The Killers – ‘Imploding the Mirage’
What we know: The release of The Killers’ sixth studio album has been pushed back due to the pandemic, but it’s set for August 21. The band announced the record on November 15, 2019, releasing lead single ‘Caution’ in March and ‘My Own Soul’s Warning’ in June. Flowers told Rolling Stone that he was inspired by Vampire Weekend’s 2019 album ‘Father of the Bride’.
Release date: August 21
Lana Del Rey – ‘Chemtrails Over the Country Club’
What we know: Not content with the overwhelmingly positive reception of last year’s ‘Norman Fucking Rockwell’, Lana Del Rey took to Instagram amidst a huge controversy to announce album ‘Chemtrails Over the Country Club’. She’ll also be releasing an album of spoken word poetry, ‘behind the iron gates – insights from an institution’.
What we’ve heard:
Nothing just yet.
Release date: September 5
Sufjan Stevens – ‘The Ascension’
What we know: It’s been five years since Sufjan Stevens’ last record, ‘Carrie & Lowell’. He announced his eighth album, ‘The Ascension’, at the end of June, dropping a 12-minute long lead single called ‘America’ in very Sufjan style.
What we’ve heard:
Release date: September 25
Alicia Keys – ‘ALICIA’
What we know: Alicia Keys, who is currently writing a memoir, last released an album in 2016 with ‘Here’. ‘ALICIA’ was scheduled to be released in March, and then May, but is currently being delayed – it should, however, be out this year. Singles ‘Show Me Love’, ‘Time Machine’, ‘Underdog’, ‘Good Job’ and ‘Perfect Way to Die’ will all be on the record. She’s called recording it, “the best therapy I ever had”.
What we’ve heard:
Release date: TBA (delayed)
Evanescence – ‘The Bitter Truth’
What we know: Evanescence haven’t released a new album in nine years, and honestly, maybe what we need right now is Amy Lee’s thoroughly impressive voice to guide us through. The band announced ‘The Bitter Truth’ in April, dropping a single, the emotional, dramatic ‘Wasted on You’ with an accompanying home-shot video.
Release date: TBA
Madison Beer – ‘Life Support’
What we know: Madison Beer was brought to the public’s attention aged 13 when Justin Bieber shouted her out. Now 21, she released an EP ‘As She Pleases’ in early 2018 and started working on a new album the same year. She dropped a single, ‘Hurts Like Hell’, in late 2018 with a Jennifer’s Body-inspired video. After the name of the album was leaked in August 2019, she announced the album officially early this year.
What we’ve heard:
Release date: TBA (summer)
beabadoobee – ‘Fake It Flowers‘
What we know: With a number of EP releases on label Dirty Hit, beabadoobee (real name Beatrice Kristi Laus’) debut album is highly anticipated. She announced in July that her first full-length record, ‘Fake it Flowers’, will be released later this year, also dropping new single ‘Care’, a 90s rock girl-esque song with an accompanying bedroom video.
Release date: TBA (later this year)
Bookmark our album release calendar to keep up to date with 2020’s changing album release schedule.
