Music
Preview
22 new album releases to listen out for in October
Including new records from Taylor Swift, Drake, The Rolling Stones, Holly Humberstone, Sampha and more
It’s spooky season, so this month we’re mostly listening to church organs, creaky doors and the Ghostbusters soundtrack. When that gets old we’ll move onto Jolie Holland’s Haunted Mountain, Duran Duran’s Danse Macabre and Holly Humberstone’s freshly painted black bedroom. And Taylor Swift, of course…
October sees a flurry of big-name album releases shaking out of the crispy trees of summer 2023, with a busy month of new music arriving just as the weather gets chilly. Here are our picks of the records you won’t want to miss over the next few weeks.
6 October
Drake – For All The Dogs
“‘October’s all about me ‘cause your turn should’ve been over…’ Ever polarising but always popular, Drake is back with his eighth solo studio album. His 2022 projects, Honestly, Nevermind and Her Loss – the latter being a joint album with 21 Savage – saw the rapper expanding his sonic reach yet again, experimenting with more electronic and TikTok-ready Jersey club sounds (even if the subject matters of relationship woes and defending his ego remained the same). And if lead single ‘Slime You Out’ with fellow emotive Scorpio alt R&B singer SZA is anything to go by, we can expect Drake’s signature dancefloor-ready heartbreak anthems, with buzzworthy features, on For All The Dogs.” Maxine
Heatmiser – The Music Of Heatmiser
“Before becoming patron saint of sensitive songwriters, Elliott Smith fronted the surprisingly loud grunge/post-hardcore quartet Heatmiser. It’s a prologue that has remained strangely unexplored for the most part, until now, with Third Man’s compilation of demos, rarities and live tracks. Later albums would move closer to the music that made Smith famous, but these raw early recordings are primal, aggressive and utterly magnetic.” Mark
Claire Rosinkranz – Just Because
“The TikTok sensation writing endlessly quotable lyrics in a home studio with her dad is finally bringing us a debut album, and it’s set to be bedroom pop perfection. Lead single ‘Never Goes Away’ is a “kill ‘em with kindness” mantra reminiscent of Rex Orange County and Chloe Moriondo, Rosinkranz’s playful vocal delivery shining over a lo-fi accompaniment. More, please.” Caitlin
Sufjan Stevens – Javelin
“The indie singer-songwriter has a way of cutting to the bone with his confessional lyrics, so an upcoming album titled Javelin seems apt. Asking listeners ‘Will Anybody Ever Love Me’, the name of his recent single, Sufjan Stevens is ushering in the colder months with vulnerability and a “burning heart”. His first solo project since 2021’s instrumental project Convocations, Javelin is a return to his original singer-songwriter roots, with collaborations including The National’s Bryce Dessner and fellow indie vocalist Catskills. Plus, Stevens promises an accompanying book of art and essays for the project – a holistic experience from a holistic artist.” Maxine
A. Savage – Several Songs About Fire
“A. Savage swaps the rest of Parquet Courts for collaborations with Cate Le Bon, Modern Nature and John Parish for his second solo outing. Where 2017’s Thawing Dawn tested a dozen different directions at once (Pavement meets Leonard Cohen meets House Of The Rising Sun…), and where PC’s last album started dancing harder towards Talking Heads, Savage’s long-coming follow-up already sounds like it’s found more focus.” Paul
Adeline Hotel – Hot Fruit
“Be it on the piano or his guitar, as Adeline Hotel Dan Knishkowy is a master of wooden-floor creaks and dust-floating-in-sunbeam ambience. His new album, Hot Fruit, is just as wholesome, but elevated with a gust with jazzy swirls and dynamism.” John
Jolie Holland – Haunted Mountain
“Never leave Buck Meek alone in a room with your new album. When Jolie Holland asked the Big Thief guitarist to contribute a verse to her new record, he ended up stealing the title and releasing his own Haunted Mountain a few months before she got hers out. “I was extremely pleased at the weirdness… we decided it was bizarre and wonderful.” says Holland (probably through gritted teeth). If it’s any consolation, the two tracks we’ve heard so far sound impossibly beautiful – already giving Meek’s own brilliant record a run for its money.” Paul
Arlissa – The Open-Hearted
“It’s been two years since her excellent debut EP, The Lovers, and now the singer-songwriter is returning with her first full-length record of thoughtful, R&B-influenced pop. From club banger lead single ‘Games’ to ethereal break-up track ‘Hard To Be’, Arlissa is covering her bases on The Open-Hearted, ready to conquer the pop world from every angle. Bring it on.” Caitlin
13 October
Holly Humberstone – Paint My Bedroom Black
“Three years on from Holly Humberstone’s debut EP she continues to build on her confessional angst, seemingly taking on a grittier sound with every single dropping from the upcoming Paint My Bedroom Black. From acoustic tales of quiet love (‘Room Service’) to vocoder infused self-questioning (‘Antichrist’), Holly dips her toes in alternative, indie and rock waters with her first record.” Savannah
The Feelies – Some Kinda Love
“The Feelies rule. The Velvet Underground also rule. Ergo, The Feelies covering The Velvet Underground rules doubly. A live recording of the New Jersey janglers’ 2018 Webster Hall show, Some Kinda Love is scruffy, energetic and bags of fun. In short, it rules.” Mark
CMAT – Crazymad, For Me
“CMAT’s unique brand of musical tragicomedy made her debut album, If My Wife New I’d Be Dead, one of the best releases of last year. The Irish singer-songwriter hasn’t wasted time assembling her follow-up, and Crazymad, For Me promises to take it all to higher heights and lower lows. With a voice like that, we’ll follow her anywhere.” Caitlin
A Beacon School – yoyo
“Patrick J. Smith resurrects his jangly dream pop project A Beacon School five years after the release of his debut, Cola. Singles such as ‘KITM’ prove that he’s lost none of cathartically-charged power, as atmospheric electronica and live instrumentation combine seamlessly.” John
20 October
The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds
“Any new Stones record is a big deal – but this is the band’s first album of new material in 18 years, and their first without Charlie, which makes Hackney Diamonds feel bigger than big. As if Mick, Keith and Ronnie weren’t already enough, the new album also deputises Elton John, Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Bill Wyman and even Sydney Sweeney in a convertible. Early reviews are strong (“best album since 1978…” kind of strong), keeping expectations about as high as they get.” Paul
Sampha – Lahai
“It’s been five years since Sampha released his Mercury Prize-winning debut, Process, a deeply emotional, timeless and moving record that placed the genre-bending artist among peers such as James Blake, Laurie Anderson, Prince and Solange. Following his releases earlier this year, including solo single ‘Spirit 2.0’ and Travis Scott collab ‘My Eyes’ with Bon Iver, Sampha treated fans to a series of successful experimental shows at Hackney Church in the summer. Workshopping new material in front of a live audience, we were all excited to hear the emotional range of the electro-soul artist’s skilful pen. And with the days getting darker and the temperature dropping, nothing warms me more than the thought of being taken on a journey by one of music’s most trusted contemporary voices.” Maxine
Maddie Zahm – Now That I’ve Been Honest
“After releasing her debut album in the midst of the pandemic, Zahm watched her star rise steadily thanks to the success of singles ‘Blind Spot’, ‘You Might Not Like Her’ and ‘Fat Funny Friend’. All showcased Zahm’s ability to hit the nail on the head with searing, painful precision, as does lead single ‘Where Do All The Good Kids Go?’ But you won’t be sobbing all the way through Zahm’s sophomore record, with subsequent single ‘Eightball Girl’ promising a fun, uplifting side to the album as well.” Caitlin
27 October
Duran Duran – Danse Macabre
“Things are getting dark on the dancefloor for Duran Duran, who are set to release their 16th studio album just in time for Halloween. If its title track ‘Danse Macabre’ is a touch too ominous, give ‘Black Moonlight’ a spin for a classic 80s disco boogie.” John
Superchunk – Misfits & Mistakes: Singles, B-Sides & Strays, 2007–2023
“I maintain that it’s impossible to listen to Superchunk and not form a band. The North Carolinians make music that just sounds like pure exhilaration. Their third collection of non-album tracks covers their post-hiatus return and a 16-year period where they’ve been ridiculously, consistently brilliant. Even their cast-offs are pure gold.” Mark
The Gaslight Anthem – History Books
“It might sound bold titling your sixth album, History Books, but The Gaslight Anthem aren’t playing around. For its title track they enlisted their biggest hero of all time, The Boss himself…” John
The Kills – God Games
“Summer’s over, so it’s okay to listen to The Kills again. However, dark and moody the New York indie scene was back in the 00s, Alison Mosshart and Jamie Hince always found a darker and moodier corner to sit in. Back again after seven years away, The Kills return with another slice of scuzzy, swaggering, lo-fi garage rock, and with a song about how the sun is going to destroy us all. Damn straight.” Paul
The Mountain Goats – Jenny From Thebes
“One of my most influential live experiences was standing in Bush Hall with a crowd of like-minded indie kids screaming ‘Hail Satan!’ back at John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats. That chant comes from the stunning centrepiece of their masterly All Hail West Texas, an album that is getting a long-overdue sequel in Jenny From Thebes. But where AHWT was a scratchy, home-recorded affair, Thebes sees Darnielle and band throwing the kitchen sink at it. All hail The Mountain Goats.” Mark
Golden Apples – bananasugarfire
“You know you’ve gone too far into the music thing when you’ve got merch from your favourite record labels. Philly’s Lame-O Records (Hurry, Mo Troper, US Highball) are on a relentless quest to fill the world with infectious indie pop records and Golden Apples fit that bill perfectly. bananasugarfire is an unfettered delight: noisy, slightly askew and as catchy as a stickleback. ‘Little Bronco’ is going to be in my head for the rest of time.” Mark
Taylor Swift – 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
“Get ready to relive Swift’s official entry into pop. Announced on the last night of the US Eras tour in LA, 1989 (Taylor’s Version) will deliver hits like ‘Shake It Off’, ‘Blank Space’ and ‘Out Of The Woods’ back into the hands of Swift and her devoted fanbase. And, as is now tradition with Swift’s rereleases, we’ll get to hear five brand new tracks as well. Has she slept in the last two years? It’s doubtful.” Caitlin
Tickets are on sale now or soon for many of the names on this month’s list at ticketmaster.co.uk, with a lot of major tours and dates still to be announced this year.
