The 13 Most Exciting Albums Coming out This Fall
1/14Miley Cyrus, <em>Bangerz</em>
America’s met a whole new Miley these last few months, and her next release is sure to further her eventual world takeover (or, at the very least, her "Miley Movement," to quote the upcoming MTV documentary about the former Disney princess).
2/14Fall hasn’t officially started, but some of the season’s new music is already making waves. Ariana Grande’s debut has topped the charts since its September 3 release, Avicii’s sophomore record propelled him from underground clubs to radio charts, and The 1975’s rock n’ rolling first effort wooed critics—and Harry Styles.
But the months ahead are about to bring a whole slew of exciting new stuff to have on your radar, so listen up! From the angsty-folk melodies of Lorde to the soulful slow jams of Drake, these are the 13 records worth keeping an ear to the ground for this fall.
3/14Haim, <em>Days Are Gone</em>
This folk-rock trio’s debut EP was released last fall, but favorites like "Falling" and "Forever" turned the guitar-playing, hair-flipping sisters into industry darlings ages ago. They’re (finally!) gearing up to release their first-ever album, and though it contains lots of familiar favorites, loads of fresh stuff, including brand-new single "The Wire," make it one of the most promising records of the year.
4/14Katy Perry, <em>Prism</em>
We’ve already heard (and loved!) "Roar" and "Dark Horse," and if the rest of the disc is anything like these first two singles—and it will be, because duh!—it’ll be lots of anthemic dance-pop goodness.
5/14The Head and The Heart, <em>Let's Be Still</em>
If you dig folksy hand-clapping, toe-tapping bands like The Lumineers and Mumford & Sons, you'll love this Seattle-based indie collective—and their sophomore record. It's the kind of brooding music that's destined for a contemplative scene on Awkward.
6/14Lorde, <em>Pure Heroine</em>
The 15-year-old songstress became mega-famous over the summer, with the teen angst anthem "Royals" ruling the radio. Her entire Love Club EP is golden, and the full-length follow-up is destined to be entirely replay-worthy too—especially judging from the just-dropped single "Team."
7/14One Direction, <em>Midnight Memories</em>
Word on the street—or, more accurately, the red carpet, where we ran into the boy banders at their movie premiere—is that their Take Me Home follow-up is going to be really different and "super retro." We like both of those things, and we also like "Best Song Ever," so hopes are high.
8/14Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., <em>The Speed of Things</em>
Weird band names (and music videos!) aside, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. makes straightforward, infectious indie-pop that you’ll listen to again and again. Though they’ve released an album and a handful of EPs before, this second full-length effort is a great entry point.
9/14Icona Pop, <em>This Is...Icona Pop</em>
It's sort of incredible that Icona Pop hasn't released an album, when you consider every single person under the age of 30 knows every single word to their smash debut single, "I Love It." Their forthcoming first effort is a proper—and awesome—introduction to the Swedish duo.
10/14St. Lucia, <em>When the Night</em>
Though you'd never guess it's a solo project, this South-African-born, Brooklyn-based musician makes addictive '80s-inspired synth pop with complex arrangements and multi-layered vocals that sounds like nothing else on the radio right now.
11/14Lily & Madeleine, <em>Lily & Madeleine</em>
We first introduced you to these wise-beyond-their-years songstress sisters when they released their debut EP earlier this summer, and now the talented teens are back with a full-length album that sounds like Rilo Kiley meets First Aid Kit.
REX USA12/14Lady Gaga, <em>Artpop</em>
It’s been two long years since Gaga unveiled the disco-heavy dance-pop gem Born This Way, so the release of this new record—and the corresponding iPhone app, because why not?—will give Little Monsters reason to, well, applaud.
13/14Drake, <em>Nothing Was the Same</em>
If you’re a Drake fan, you’ve been listening to his highly-anticipated third album on repeat since it leaked last weekend and we don’t need to tell you just how awesome it’s going to be. And if you haven’t streamed it yet, well, it’s going to be awesome.
14/14Papa, <em>Tender Madness</em>
It only takes one spin of Papa's sunny dream-pop to know this duo hails from Los Angeles. The glistening debut is full of lighthearted tunes that were made to soundtrack a warm late-autumn afternoon spent outside with your friends. So grab you pals and a boombox, and listen to the album from start to finish.
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