This year has given us a lot of excellent releases from different genres of music including breakthrough debuts from Olivia Rodrigo, Arlo Park and other upcoming artists. Also, new works from our famous stars such as Lana Dey Rey, Eric Church and The Too Fighters.

Olivia Rodrigo, Sour: 

The series romantic catastrophe fuels the 18 years old artist’s new album, Olivia Rodrigo with her popular song ‘Driver License’, which tackles heartbreak with grace, ‘Deja Vu and ‘Good 4 U proved Rodrigo is going to be much more than one done phenomena song. Sour confirms this as just the start of her story and career.

Lana Del Rey, Chemtrails Over the Country Club:

Lana Del Rey’s sixth album dials back the grandiosity in favour of smaller, more intimate moments. It carries a roaming spirit of folk and Americana without losing the romantic melodrama of her best work.

Dawn Richard, Second Line:

R&B artist Dawn Richard has taken a winding path through her nearly 20-year career. Now, she finds herself on the North Carolina indie-rock label Merge with her sixth LP, Second Line. It may be an unexpected place for her, but the record feels like a culmination of all her experience, suffused into an album that threads decades of music and heritage into a thrilling, organic whole. The decision by Richard to anchor much of Second Line in-house and other forms of electronic club music has poignant energy all its own. Just as the early pioneers of the Chicago house created a futurist sense of musical and sexual identity, there’s a feeling here of following any impulse you want, no matter where it takes you. J.D.

Eric Church, Heart & Soul:

Underwood’s first gospel album was a passion project for the singer, who has long been known for her faith. She deserves credit for approaching it with such conviction, not watering it down with secular “inspirational” songs or overdoing it with guest stars. (The tracklist includes just one: gospel great CeCe Winans on “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”) Underwood, who co-produced the album with David Garcia.

Carrie Underwood, My Saviour:

The North Carolina native dives into a surprisingly dark abyss with this triple record released in three parts as Heart, & and Soul — which has him constantly fleeing pain (often literally in a car or pickup truck), only finding clarity while pushing listeners to the breaking point.

Published on HOLR Magazine.