What We Think Will Be Big
The Highwomen, The Highwomen
(Elektra Records; 9/6)
As a spiritual revisionist sequel to the Highwaymen (which consisted of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson), country staples Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby, and Amanda Shires have formed an all-female supergroup that’s just daring country radio to shut it out.
Charli XCX, Charli
(Atlantic Records; 9/13)
Though the standard album format once seemed a dead art to pop’s foremost futurist, Charli XCX returns this fall with her third full-length, a self-titled collection of jams that aims to be a crystal ball for what the next five years of music might look and sound like.
The Lumineers, III
(Dualtone; 9/13)
The biggest folk-rock band on the planet (sorry, Mumford & Sons) is back to cozy up to in these autumn months with this aptly titled third album. Sway and swoon accordingly.
Sturgill Simpson, Sound & Fury
(Elektra Records; 9/27)
The alt-country renegade is venturing further into new terrain with this follow-up to 2016’s Grammywinning A Sailor’s Guide to Earth. It’s an unexpected psychedelic-rock-leaning companion album to a Netflix anime film (!) based on Simpson’s original story.
Angel Olsen, All Mirrors
(Jagjaguwar; 10/4)
After a two-album run of rising to the indie upper echelon (see especially 2014’s Burn Your Fire for No
Witness), the magnetic singer-songwriter is looking to three-peat with this ambitious, shockingly electric statement album.
FKA Twigs
(Release date TBA)
The reclusive singer, celebrated for her striking visual artistry and brooding, aching experimental ballads, makes a long-awaited return with her sophomore album following health issues and a public breakup with Robert Pattinson. Catch her also as “Shy Girl” in Shia LaBeouf ’s upcoming autobiographical film, Honey Boy.
Rihanna
(Release date TBA)
Only Rihanna knows when “#R9,” i.e., her ninth album, will arrive. (She has only vaguely promised it will do so before 2019 ends.) What we think we know: It will be her first full-length reggae record, and we definitely can’t wait to rock steady to it.