With a constant stream of new music hitting platforms, navigating the landscape of significant releases can be a daunting task. Each week, our editors curate a selection of the most compelling albums, EPs, and projects to help you prioritize your listening. This week’s roundup features highly anticipated returns and bold new statements from a diverse array of artists.
American Football: LP4
Decades into their career, American Football continue to evolve. The veteran Midwest emo group’s fourth record ventures into fresh post-rock, shoegaze, and math-rock territory. Despite the sonic shift, tracks like the lead single “Bad Moons” retain the band’s signature emotional resonance, with Mike Kinsella’s understated vocals grounding the complex arrangements.
Tori Amos: In Times of Dragons
On her 18th studio album, Tori Amos confronts the intersection of human morality and modern greed. Across 17 tracks, she explores the impact of tech feudalism and societal individualism. Notably, the record marks her first use of the harpsichord since 1996’s Boys for Pele, adding a distinct texture to her heavy, thematic exploration.
Hekt: Forever
Hekt’s debut album serves as a bridge between the Copenhagen left-field pop scene and the influential Glasgow label Numbers. Featuring collaborations with fellow Danish composers Smerz and Fine, Forever is a future-pop manifesto that captures the duality of the dancefloor experience—both the communal euphoria and the solitary moments that follow.
Ana Roxanne: Poem 1
Ana Roxanne’s latest work is her most lucid and arresting to date. By channeling her mastery of ambient and drone textures into disarming balladry, she creates a soundscape that feels both ancient and futuristic. Poem 1 follows her 2023 collaboration with DJ Python as Natural Wonder Beauty Concept, further cementing her unique sonic identity.
Zara Larsson: Midnight Sun: Girls Trip
Following a massive breakout year, Zara Larsson leans into the remix album trend. Girls Trip reimagines her 2025 record with new arrangements and a star-studded features list, including Robyn, Shakira, Tyla, and JT, positioning the Swedish pop star for continued global dominance.
Isaiah Rashad: It’s Been Awful
Five years after his last LP, Isaiah Rashad returns with a project that documents significant internal shifts. While It’s Been Awful is more selective with its guest features than 2021’s The House Is Burning, it remains a powerful event album that balances new creative risks with the rapper’s established roots.
Kacey Musgraves: Middle of Nowhere
Kacey Musgraves moves away from the introspection of Deeper Well toward classic folk and country instrumentation. Inspired by her hometown of Golden, Texas, the album features collaborations with Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert, Billy Strings, and Gregory Alan Isakov, resulting in a collection that feels both arch and timeless.
