It’s a busy week of new music, following surprise releases from Wiz Khalifa, Robbie Williams and Al Green, joined by scheduled titles from One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, punk icons the Damned, K-pop’s XG, Lucinda Williams and a new project from members of Refused (all subject to change)…
Album of the Week: Louis Tomlinson, “How Did I Get Here?” (BMG): The One Direction member is in an upbeat mood on his third solo album, which Tomlinson co-produced and recorded in Costa Rica, Los Angeles and his native England. He wrote with producing partner Nico Rebscher and Hurts singer Theo Hutchcraft and counters groupmate Harry Styles’ “Watermelon Sugar” with his own single “Lemonade.” Tomlinson will play songs from the album on July 20, when his world tour comes to Jacobs Pavilion.
Backengrillen, “Backengrillen” (Svart): Sweden’s Refused may have packed it in last year, but three of hardcore group’s four members — all but guitarist Mattias Barjed– have stayed together to launch this new band, adding saxophonist Mats Gustafsson to the noisy mix on this debut five-song set.
Sammy Brue, “The Journals” (Bloodshot): The Utah troubadour pays tribute to his mentor, the late Justin Townes Earle, with this collection of songs from the notebooks Earle left behind — with his widow’s blessing — along with “For Justin,” which Brue composed especially for this.
Dames Brown, “Take Me As I Am” (Defected): The final project from the late funk/techno hero Amp Fiddler is this Detroit vocal trio who collaborated with Eddie Fowlkes, Andres, Waajeed, Paul Randolph, Will Sessions and others to finish what it started with its mentor.
The Damned, “Not Like Everybody Else” (earMUSIC): The groundbreaking British punk group pays tribute to its late founder and guitarist, Brian James, with a covers set featuring some of his favorites from Pink Floyd, the Kinks, the Animals, the Rolling Stones, Iggy and the Stooges and others. It’s also original drummer Rat Scabies’ first record with the group in nearly 30 years.
Few of a Kind, “Few of a Kind” (Adhyaropa): The first outing from an ear-catching classical/chamber/folk crossover project that features singer-songwriter-pianist Vienna Teng with Members of Canadian Brass and Brass Against and some of Philip Glass’ and Max Richter’s collaborators.
Wiz Khalifa, “Khaotic” (Taylor Gang Entertainment): After spending 2025 celebrating the anniversary of his “Kush & Orange Juice” (including a sequel mixtape), the Pittsburgh rapper surprise-released his eighth album on Jan. 16, its 11 tracks featuring guest appearances by 2 Chainz, Skilla Baby, Juicy Jay, RMR and others.
Al Green, “To Love Somebody” (Fat Possum): The soul icon’s first new release since 2008 is a four-song EP led by a version of the Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody” and filled out with covers of the Velvet Underground’s “I Found a Reason” and R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts,” plus an alternate version of his 2023 single “Perfect Day” featuring British singer Raye.
Megadeth, “Megadeth” (Tradecraft/BLKIIBLK/Frontiers Music srl): Founder Dave Mustaine says this 17th album will be the thrash group’s last — also its first with guitarist Teemu Mantysaari along with the return of bassist James LoMenzo after nearly 16 years away.
Lucinda Williams, “World’s Gone Wrong” (Highway 20): The Americana veteran is joined by friends on her 16th studio album, including Mavis Staples, Norah Jones and, on its first two tracks, Brittney Spencer.
Robbie Williams, “Britpop” (Columbia): Another surprise release from last week, it’s the British singer’s first all-new album in nearly a decade on Jan. 16 (physical format still coming Feb. 6) and a mostly slamming set that lives up to its title. His official FIFA World Cup anthem “Desire” is included on the deluxe edition.
XG, “The Core” (XGALX): The South Korean sextet’s debut album follows two overseas hit EPs and singles that have put the troupe high on the K-pop and X-pop radars.
Album Title of the Week: Van Morrison, “Somebody Tried to Sell Me a Bridge” (Orangefield)
More new releases out Jan. 23…
Alkaloid, “Bach Out of Bounds — Live in the Netherlands” (Season of Mist)
Agnes, “Beautiful Madness” (Universal)
arms around the world, “arms around the world” (self-released)
Delaney Bailey, “Concave” (AWAL)
Callum Beattie, “INDI” (Cooking Vinyl)
Corbyn Besson, “Why Don’t We” (BMG)
Martin Bonventre, “Swingin’ In a New Dimension” (Splendido Productions)
Cat Power, “Redux” (Domino)
Catherine Britt, “The Hardest Thing” (Red Rebel Music)
Marc Broussard, “S.O.S. V: Songs of the ’50s” (Artist Tone)
Crystal Lake, “The Weight of Sound” (Century Media)
Kashus Culpepper, “Act I” (Big Loud)
Dead Dads Club, “Dead Dads club” (Fiction)
Death Dealer, “Reign of Steel” (Massacre)
Della Mae, “Magic Accident” (Compass)
DJ Harrison, “ElectoSoul” (Stones Throw)
DRAAG, “Miracle Drug” (Smoking Room)
Eep-Oop, “Sorry” (Mom’s Basement)
Elwood Stray, “Descending” (Out of Line Music)
Empire of the Sun, “Alive (Reimagined)” (EMI Music Australia)
The Format, “Boycott Heaven” (The Vanity Label)
Elvis Francois, “Realignment” (self-released)
Sophie Gault, “Unhinged” (Torrez Music Group)
Gavial, “Thanks, I Hate It” (Exile on Mainstream)
Kezia Gill, “All On Red” (Snakefarm)
T. Gold, “Life is a Wonder and It’s Cruel” (Sleep Cat)
Goldfinger, “Nine Lives” (Big Noise)
Melody Guy, “Train to Dreamland” (self-released)
Erik Hall, “Solo Three” (Western Vinyl)
Tom Hamilton, “I’m Your Vampire” (AWAL/Relix)
Hammers, “DeathWobbles” (Summerland)
Becca Hannah, “Tonight in My Dreams” (self-released)
The Hara, “The Fallout (Mascot)
Kin Solomon Hicks, “How Did I Ever Get This Blue?” (Provogue/Mascot)
Hunny, “Spirit!” (Epitaph)
.idk., “E.T.D.S. (Even The Devil Smiles)” (self-released)
The Infamous Stringdusters, “20/20” (Americana Vibes)
The Jack Rubies, “Visions in the Bowling Alley” (Big Stir)
Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps, “Bad at Being Good” (Momojo)
Cam Kahin, “Chug” (Dine Alone)
Jada Kingdom, “Just a Girl in a Money Man’s World” (self-released)
Julian Lage, “Scenes From Above” (Blue Note)
Ari Lennox, “Vacancy” (Interscope)
The Lowest Pair, “Always As Young As We’ll Ever Be” ((self-released)
Jamie MacDonald, “Jamie MacDonald” (CapitolCMG)
Bjorn Meyer, “Convergence” (ECM)
Mika, “Hyperlove” (Republic)
Dave Miller, “Party in the Pines” (Howlin’ Dog)
Dee Mula, “Suffering From Success” (NLess Entertainment/Island)
New Miserable Experience, “Payback From God” (Pelagic)
Jamie O’Neal, “Gypsum” (BFD/Audium Nashville)
The Paper Kites, “If You Go There, I Hope You Find It” (Nettwerk)
Jo Passed, “Away” (Youth Riot)
Peekaboo, “Are We Dreaming?” (Major Recordings/Warner Records)
Poppy, “Empty Hands” Sumerian)
PVA, “No More Like It” (It’s All For Fun/Secretly Distribution)
Red Reign, “Live at Ardmore Music Hall” (self-released)
reggie, “Undra” (RCA)
Searows, “Death in the Business of Wailing” (Last Recordings on Earth)
Shintaro Sakamoto, “Yoo0Hoo” (Zelone/Secretly Distribution)
Tim Skelly, “Meet Me In Nowhere Land” (Live2/Neon Gold)
Ski Team, “Burnout/Boys” (self-released)
Michael W. Smith, “House of Worship” (The Fuel Music)
Hayato Sumino, “Becreuse” (Sony Masterworks)
Textures, “Genotype” (Kscope)
They Might Be Giants, “Eyeball” (Idlewild Recordings)
Katie Tupper, “Greyhound” (Arts & Crafts)
Vanishment, “And Now We Die” (M-Theory Audio)
Various Artists, “Keep Me In Your Heart: The Songs of Warren Zevon” (Paradiddle)
Vitamin String Quartet, “VSQ Performs the Weeknd” (CMH Label Group/Vitamin)
Jordan Ward, “Backward” (ARTium Recordings/Interscope)
Greg Weeks, “If the Sun Dies”(self-released)
Jack West, “Guitars On Life” (Ota)
Hudson Westbrook, “Exclusive” (River House Artists/Warner Records Nashville)
Willis, “Locals 5” (self-released)
From The Vaults:
Erykah Badu, “Mama’s Gun(25th Anniversary Edition)” (UMe)
David Bowie, “Station to Station (Half-Speed Mastered)” (Rhino)
California Chocolate Drops, “Genuine Negro Jig) (15th Anniversary Edition)” (Warner)
Dave Clark Five, “All the Hits” (BMG)
Michael de Albuquerque, “Stalking The Sleeper” (Think Like a Key Music)
Mike Delveante, “September Days” (New Shot/Redeye)
Fire In the Radio, “Red Static Action” (Wednesday)
David Forman, “Who You Been Talking To” (High Moon)
Green On Red, “Gas Food Lodging”/“Green On Red” (Music on CD)
Reba McEntire, “Starting Over (30th Anniversary Edition)” (MCA Nashville)
The Members, “at the Chelsea Nightclub”/“1980 — The Choice is Yours (Expanded Edition)” (Captain Oi!/Cherry Red)
The Necessaries, “Completely Necessary (Anthology 1978-1982)” (Omnivore Recordings)
Panic! At the Disco, “A Fever You Can’t Seat Out (20th Anniversary Edition)” (Fueled By Ramen)
The Power Station, “The Power Station DLX (40th Anniversary Edition)” (Rhino/Parlophone)
Rocketship, “A Certain Smile, A Certain Sadness (30th Anniversary)” (Slumberland)
Sigh, “Ghastly Funeral” (Peaceville)
Squeeze, “Play” (Rhino/Warner)
Various Artists, “Musik Music Musique 1979: The Roots of Synth Pop” (Cherry Red)
Various Artists, “Steppin’ Out: The Roots of Garage Rock 1963-1965” (Strawberry/Cherry Red)
Alan Vega, “Alan Vega,” “Alan Vega (Deluxe Edition),” and “Collision Drive” (Sacred Bones)
The Warning, “Error (404) (Deluxe Edition)” (Lava/Republic)
Jack West, “Essential Curvature” (Ota)
Yes, “Yes Symphonic Live” (Mercury Studios)
Soundtracks:
“Cat Kid Comic Club: The Musical — Original Cast Recording” (Center Stage)
“Landman — Songs From and Inspired by the Paramount+ Original Series (Volume III)” (MCA)
“Ponies — Original Series Soundtrack” (Lakeshore)
“Power Book IV: Force Best of Score, Seasons 1-3” (Lakeshore)
“Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1 — Original Series Soundtrack” (Lakeshore)