The days are getting shorter, but fear not — fall is coming with a ton of new music perfect for soundtracking the cooler nights.
The marquee release this season is unquestionably Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl, due out Friday, October 3. The pop star, 35, announced her 12th studio album during an August appearance on now-fiancé Travis Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast.
“This album is about what was going on behind the scenes in my inner life during [The Eras Tour], which was so exuberant and electric and vibrant,” she explained, adding that she tried to create “melodies that were so infectious that you’re almost angry at it, and lyrics that are just as vivid but crisp and focused and completely intentional.”
Keep scrolling for a complete guide to the new releases we’re most excited to hear this season:
Mariah Carey, ‘Here for It All’
The elusive chanteuse returns for her first album in seven years (and the Lambily is ready). Early singles like “Type Dangerous” hint she’s perfected the blend of R&B, pop and hip-hop sounds that made her a ’90s icon. (September 26)
Jeff Tweedy, ‘Twilight Override’
The Wilco frontman’s latest release is technically a solo album, but it’s really a family affair — his sons, Spencer and Sammy, feature heavily. The 30 tracks run the gamut from folky introspection (“Feel Free”) to raucous rock (“Lou Reed Was My Babysitter”). (September 26)
Doja Cat, ‘Vie’
The Grammy winner is gearing up for another round of radio domination with her fifth album. If smash hit “Jealous Type” is any indication, prepare for ’80s-inspired synths layered under Doja’s airy vocals and brassy raps. (September 26)
Amanda Shires, ‘Nobody’s Girl’
The Highwomen singer is back with her first album since her divorce from fellow Americana superstar Jason Isbell. While she’s not the type to spill specific tea, there’s no question Nobody’s Girl will still excavate the deep emotions of going through a split on a public stage. (September 26)
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Karley Scott Collins, ‘Flight Risk’
On her debut album, Collins — with a “pistol in the glove box” pitches herself as an heir to fellow fiery blondes like Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood. (September 26)
Taylor Swift, ‘The Life of a Showgirl’
It’s been less than a year since the newly engaged megastar wrapped her Eras Tour, but Swifties know that their queen never stays quiet for long. Swift reteamed with “I Knew You Were Trouble” producers Max Martin and Shellback for Showgirl, so expect an album full of arena-ready pop bangers. (October 3)
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Carter Faith, ‘Cherry Valley’
Faith — who’s opened for Noah Cyrus and Kelsea Ballerini — channels ’90s country queens like Shania Twain with her cheeky lyrics and flirtatious attitude. (October 3)
Khalid, ‘After the Sun Goes Down’
Nearly a year after he was forced to come out, the R&B crooner puts his feelings into song on a record that he describes as “bold, upbeat and celebratory.” Lead single “In Plain Sight” sounds like proof he’s feeling freer than ever — it’s a disco-inflected bop made for dancing. (October 10)
Madi Diaz, ‘Fatal Optimist’
Diaz’s seventh album ought to help raise her profile with fans of gorgeous, understated folk — especially after recent collabs with the likes of Kacey Musgraves and Lizzy McAlpine. (October 10)
Princess Nokia, ‘Girls’
Girlhood is a spectrum,” the NYC-born Nokia raps on Girls single “Blue Velvet,” which references David Lynch, Greek mythology and Mary Magdalene in the span of four minutes. That line could be the M.O. for the whole album, which is dark and hilarious at once. (October 10)
Bruce Springsteen, ‘Nebraska ’82’
The Boss is back with a massive boxed set that includes the fabled “Electric Nebraska” recordings — many never heard before — from the scrapped sessions for what became his mostly acoustic 1982 album, Nebraska. (October 17)
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Sudan Archives, ‘The BPM’
It’s hard to classify a violinist who sings over R&B-inflected dance beats, but that’s exactly the point for Sudan Archives (real name Brittney Denise Parks), one of the few artists working today who’s truly a jill of all trades. (October 17)
The Last Dinner Party, ‘From the Pyre’
The witchy, British indie rockers haven’t quite blown up yet in the U.S., but expect the cinematic sweep of their emotional tunes to push them over the top this time around. (October 17)
Tame Impala, ‘Deadbeat’
Fans of Kevin Parker’s kaleidoscopic soundscapes have had to wait five years for new music, but the break seems to have been worth it. Early Deadbeat tracks prove that the multi-instrumentalist (who writes and records everything himself) still has that futuristic, psychedelic sauce. (October 17)
Brandi Carlile, ‘Returning to Myself ‘
After recording an album with Elton John and spearheading Joni Mitchell’s return to the stage, Carlile is focused on herself again for her eighth LP, which she says is about “learning to stand alone” (with help from friends like Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and The National’s Aaron Dessner). (October 24)
Florence + the Machine, ‘Everybody Scream’
Never has a release date more perfectly matched an artist’s vibe. Frontwoman Florence Welch was inspired by wanting to scream internally all day long — and wants the new album to give her fans the freedom to yell along out loud. (October 31)
Mavis Staples, ‘Sad and Beautiful World’
The 86-year-old soul icon and national treasure dives into the American songbook for her latest project, which includes guest appearances from fellow legends Buddy Guy and Bonnie Raitt as well as younger artists like MJ Lenderman and Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield. (November 7)
Austra, ‘Chin Up Buttercup’
After dabbling in film soundtracks, Canadian electropop maven Katie Stelmanis returns with her fifth album as Austra, layering her opera-trained vocals over gothic synths and spooky melodies. (November 14)
