New albums from Blackpink, Springsteen, more on way
October’s music calendar features plenty of offerings from some big names.
After a name change and a six-month delay, get ready to finally hear Sam Smith’s latest album, “Love Goes.”
Smith, who started using genderneutral “they/them” pronouns last year, had initially planned to put out an album called “To Die For” on May 1, but told fans on Instagram it didn’t seem appropriate during a “weird, upsetting and unprecedented time” brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
“I have done a lot of thinking the last few weeks and feel that the title of my album and imminent release doesn’t feel right,” they wrote in March.
Aside from Smith, others with new albums out in October include Mariah Carey, Elvis Costello and Blackpink.
Here are eight albums to look forward to this month:
Blackpink, ‘The Album’ (Oct. 2)
The K-pop girl group – the highestcharting female Korean group on the Billboard Hot 100 – is out Friday with a much-anticipated studio album that includes “Ice Cream,” a collaboration with Selena Gomez.
There’s also a collaboration with Cardi B, “Bet You Wanna.” Close to 1 million
copies of the eight-track album were presold, according to YG Entertainment, the group’s record label.
Bon Jovi, ‘2020’ (Oct. 2)
The group set out to produce a socially conscious 15th album – and succeeded, recording powerful songs such as “Do What You Can,” “Unbroken” and “Limitless” that touch on current events including coronavirus, the presidential election (Jon Bon Jovi backs Joe Biden) and the death of George Floyd.
The singer/songwriter told USA TODAY he realizes some fans may not like what he has to say.
“I used this as a moment in my own journey to bear witness to history,” he said.
Mariah Carey, ‘The Rarities’ (Oct. 2)
This album, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of Carey’s self-titled debut, features 13 tracks from the past that were either never released or were B-sides, plus two new ones: “Save the Day” and “Close My Eyes.” Her new memoir, “The Meaning of Mariah Carey,” hit bookstores Tuesday.
Dolly Parton, ‘A Holly Dolly Christmas’ (Oct. 2)
This is Parton’s third Christmas album, following “Once Upon a Christmas” (1984) with Kenny Rogers and “Home for Christmas” (1990). It features guests aplenty, including Billy Ray Cyrus and daughter Miley Cyrus, late-night host Jimmy Fallon and Willie Nelson. Special editions released on eight-track and cassette will feature a bonus track.
The Struts, ‘Strange Days’ (Oct. 16)
Robbie Williams collaborated with The Struts for “Strange Days,” the title track from the English rock group’s third studio album. The Struts wrote 10 songs for the album in 10 days. To do that, each member was tested for COVID-19 before temporarily camping out at producer Jon Levine’s house.
Bruce Springsteen, ‘Letter to You’ (Oct. 23)
For his 20th studio album, Springsteen reunites in the recording studio with the E Street Band for the first time since 2014. A movie will document the recording of the album, accomplished in just four days.
Elvis Costello, ‘Hey Clockface’ (Oct. 30)
Recorded in different three cities – Helsinki, New York and Paris – the album features an appearance by longtime Costello bandmate Steve Nieve. “I sang live on the studio floor, directing from the vocal booth,” Costello said in a news release. “We cut nine songs in two days. We spoke very little. Almost everything the musicians played was a spontaneous response to the song I was singing.”
Sam Smith, ‘Love Goes’ (Oct. 30)
Smith said in an interview with the “Zach Sang Show” that their third studio album would feature “fewer ballads and plenty of poppier tracks.” Singles that have already been released back up that claim, including “Promises,” “Dancing With a Stranger” and “Diamonds.”