Although it’s not as packed as last month, July still has a promising set of new music premieres in store. Some artists couldn’t wait for the new month to hit and made surprise releases earlier in the week, but those drops are equally worth a listen. (We’re talking Blood Orange’s Freetown Sound, which poetically calls out racial injustice, and Desiigner’s debut mixtape New English, which follows the success of “Panda.”) Here are the best new albums coming out today, and the rest of this month.
Available 7/1:
The Bride by Bat for Lashes
Bat for Lashes, whose real name is Natasha Khan, has her album theme down to a T. She sings from the point of view of a woman whose fiancée dies just before their anticipated wedding. Her airy vocals float over melancholy tunes throughout the musical narrative—it’s a full-blown production.
Waking at Dawn by Roy Wood$
One of Drake’s OVO signees, Wood$ follows up his much buzzed-about Exis EP with a debut full-length nearly one year later. Dawn boasts the modern R&B smoothness fans fell in love with in songs like “How I Feel,” plus a hint of dancehall, taking a note from his boss’ Views.
California by Blink-182
Your favorite punk band is back with their first album in five years. Following their 2011 release of Neighborhoods comes California, named after their home state. Though the follow-up has been long due, the songs make it seem as if no time has passed. Their sound has grown with them, but that doesn’t mean a good listen won’t yield any high school nostalgia.
GØGGS by GØGGS
The multi-talented Ty Segall brings forth his next ambitious project with a self-titled LP. The band—which consists of Segall, Chris Saw of Ex-Cult and Chalres Moothart of Fuzz—only started officially writing together last year. The result is a grunge-punk, 10-track album that’s anything but delicate. It’s not for the faint of heart—or ear.
blackSUMMERS’night by Maxwell
Seven years after his Grammy-winning BLACKsummers’night comes Maxwell’s similarly named follow-up. As the titles hint, the new album is the second of a trilogy that’s yet to be completed. The modern day soul icon lives up to his title, with silky smooth melodies and an incomparable falsetto.
Available 7/8:
IV by BadBadNotGood
Don’t let their name mislead you—this Toronto-based jazz group is anything but bad. After feats like backing Frank Ocean and producing for Danny Brown and Earl Sweatshirt, the quartet is on to its fifth studio album. Standout singles like “Time Moves Slow” with Sam Herring and “Lavender” with Kaytranada only make the new release look even better.
Wildflower by The Avalanches
If you want to talk long-awaited sequels, talk to this Aussie group—they’ve gone 15 years without releasing a follow-up to their debut record. The sophomore LP waves in samples from multiple genres and time periods, and features collaborations with a number of acts like Toro y Moi, Father John Misty and Mercury Rev. You’ve probably already heard and got addicted to its leading single, “Frankie Sinatra,” featuring Danny Brown an MF Doom.
Blank Face LP by ScHoolboy Q
“This album, I got everything I wanted, worked with exactly who I wanted and did the best of my ability on this album with the street shit, getting back to my old roots,” the rapper told Billboard. And it seems true, considering what we’ve heard of the new record so far. Q has been heavily teasing his upcoming release, especially with singles like “That Part,” his famed collaboration with Kanye which is on the tracklist, and a multi-part short film now on YouTube.
Available 7/15:
Reverie EP by Tom Misch
The 20-year-old Londoner got his start at an even younger age, uploading his original mixes to Soundcloud and rightfully getting discovered. But he probably garnered the most attention with his previous EP, Out to Sea, which was done in collaboration with soul singer Carmody. He adds a fresh spin to soulful vocals and plays around with jazzy, guitar-led chords that’ll keep you hitting the repeat button.
Available 7/22:
The Absolutely Fabulous Soundtrack by Various Artists
This compilation is as extravagant and over the top as the fashionable movie it soundtracks. The tracklist is also equally star-studded as the film, with a leading song by Kylie Minogue and others by Jason Derulo, Paloma Faith and La Roux. Minogue’s single “This Wheel’s on Fire” is a remake of the Bob Dylan-penned song into a sassy girls’ anthem.
Available 7/29:
For All We Know by NAO
The breezy-voiced singer is releasing her debut album at the end of the month. For All We Know is slated to include her already standout singles “Bad Blood,” “Girlfriend,” “Fool to Love” and “Inhale Exhale.” For those yet unfamiliar with the newcomer, consider her a funkier FKA Twigs with stronger bass lines (and better hair).
Major Key by DJ Khaled
Before he became the reigning king of Snapchat, people hardly gave notice to DJ Khaled’s music, save the 2010 boast track “All I Do Is Win.” Now, thanks to his social media success, his music now has a huge audience that’s ready to listen. Khaled promises a star-studded new record, name-dropping Jay Z, Future, Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Travis Scott and possibly even Kanye. “For Free,” his single featuring Drake, is just one example. Let’s have another one.
