ALBUMS: 30 records coming your way this spring/summer
The next few months will bring blockbuster albums from Kendrick Lamar, Harry Styles, Lizzo and Post Malone, along with plenty of indie gems.
MAY 12
Kendrick Lamar, “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers”: The Compton, Calif., hiphop star’s fifth album is the much-anticipated follow-up to 2017’s Grammy- and Pulitzer Prize-winning “Damn.”
The Black Keys, “Dropout Boogie”: Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney wrote all of the material for this 11th album from the blues-rock band that formed in Akron, Ohio. It features one song with Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.
The Smile, “A Light for Attracting
Attention”: Debut album from the side project composed of Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood and Sons of Kemet’s Tom Skinner.
Florence + the Machine, “Dance Fever”: The fifth album from the British indie-rock band was produced along with Jack
Antonoff and Dave Bayley (Glass Animals) with “nods to dance, folk, ’70s Iggy Pop.”
Mandy Moore, “In Real Life”: The seventh album from the singer-songwriter and “This Is Us” star promises everything from “jangly college-rock to cinematic synth-pop to classic singer/songwriter simplicity.”
MAY 20
Harry Styles, “Harry’s House”: The third solo album from the former One Direction star, advanced by the single “As It Was,” was written with frequent collaborators Kid Harpoon, Tyler Johnson and Mitch Rowland and recorded in the UK, LA and Tokyo.
Train, “AM Gold”: The Bay Area poprock band seeks to capture the magic of ’60s and ’70s AM pop on its 11th album.
MAY 27
Wilco, “Cruel Country”: The indierock icons dig back into their country roots on this 21-song 12th album.
Def Leppard, “Diamond Star Halos”: The pop-metal band’s first album in seven years leans on such influences as David Bowie, T. Rex and Mott the Hoople.
Coheed and Cambria, “Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind”: The New York prog-metal band returns to “The Amory Wars” in this sequel to 2018’s “Vaxis I.”
JUNE 3
Post Malone, “Twelve Carat Toothache”: Fourth album from the pop/hiphop star is the follow-up to 2019’s chart-topping “Hollywood’s Bleeding.”
GWAR, “The New Dark Ages”: “This is the greatest rock record of all time,” singer Blothar declares of the metal band’s 15th album, which is a companion to the graphic novel “GWAR In the Duoverse of Absurdity.”
Drive-By Truckers, “Welcome 2 Club XIII”: The 14th album from the Athens, Ga., Southern-rock band features background vocals from Margo Price, Schaefer Llana and R.E.M.’s Mike Mills.
Angel Olsen, “Big Time”: Sixth album from the North Carolina indie/folk/rock artist arrives in the aftermath of her coming out as gay and losing both of her parents.
JUNE 10
Carrie Underwood, “Denim & Rhinestones”: The pop-country star promises songs with a “throwback feel” on her ninth album.
Motionless in White, “Scoring the End of the World”: Sixth album from the Scranton metalcore band recently on Trinity of Terror tour.
JUNE 17
Perfume Genius, “Ugly Season”: Indie-pop artist Mike Hadreas’ sixth album was written as the accompaniment to Perfume Genius and choreographer Kate Wallich’s immersive dance piece “The Sun Still Burns Here.”
JUNE 24
Luke Combs, “Growin’ Up”: The third album from the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year is led by the single “Doin’ This.”
Soccer Mommy, “Sometimes, Forever”: Indie-rocker Sophie Allison’s third album was produced by Daniel Lopatin, aka Oneohtrix Point Never (The Weeknd) and, according to a release, is “packed with clever nods to synth-filled subgenres like new wave and goth.”
Madonna, “Finally Enough Love”: A 50-track collection that includes her favorite remixes of chart-topping dance hits and an abridged 16-track version.
Regina Spektor, “Home, Before and After”: First album in six years from the Russian-born New York-based singersongwriter-pianist acclaimed for her unorthodox style.
Goose, “Dripfield”: Third album from the indie-rock band recently on tour with Jack White.
Jack Johnson, “Meet the Moonlight”: The eighth album and first in five years from the easy-rocking singer-songwriter was produced by Blake Mills (Alabama Shakes, Perfume Genius, Jim James) in Los Angeles and Hawaii.
JULY 8
Journey, “Freedom”: The classic-rock band’s 15th album is its first since 2011’s “Eclipse.”
JULY 15
Interpol, “The Other Side of MakeBelieve”: Seventh album from the New York post-punk revival band is its first with veteran producer Flood.
Lizzo, “Special”: Third album from the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter-rapper is the follow-up to 2019’s “Cuz I Love You.”
Beabadoobee, “Beatopia”: Sophomore album from the Filipino-British indie-rocker promises “fuzzy rock, classic singer-songwriter, psychedelia, Midwest emo and outright pop.”
JULY 22
Jack White, “Entering Heaven Alive”: The second 2022 album from the Nashvillebased rocker will explore his folkier side.
JULY 29
Maggie Rogers, “Surrender”: Sophomore album from the indie-pop singersongwriter whose 2019 debut earned her a Grammy nomination for best new artist.
AUG. 26
Muse, “Will of the People”: Ninth album by the British alt-rock band “is influenced by the increasing uncertainty and instability in the world,” according to frontman Matt Bellamy.