Happy Monday (And September)! Kickstart your week ahead -- and Pumpkin season -- by checking out all of the new music that has just been released in this roundup of new music that you need to be listening to. From new albums from The Script and LCD Soundsystem, to new songs from Jason Derulo and Frank Ocean, to new collaborations from Maroon 5 & SZA and Ty Dolla $ign, Damian Marley & Skrillex, to our expert picks, take a look at this week's New Releases.
Taylor Swift - "...Ready For It?"
Ready for it? Why, yes Taylor Swift ... MY BODY IS VERY READY FOR MORE NEW MUSIC. Over the weekend, Taylor Swift dropped another new song from her upcoming sixth studio album Reputation (while we're still trying to recover from "Look What You Made Me Do"), and it's called "... Ready For It?" This is a new era of Taylor, and this song showcases exactly that, and it's a different, edgier sound for Tay. The song was previewed over the weekend during the Alabama vs. Florida State college football game, but now, the full song is officially here, and Reputation will soon be here too! And we're ... ready for it!
The Script - Freedom Child
The Script has returned with a brand new full-length album, Freedom Child, their fifth LP and the followup to 2014's No Sound Without Silence. Freedom Child, which features 14 new songs, kicked off with their lead single "Rain," and most recently, the band shared another new song from the record "Written in the Scars." As fans have heard with these previous two songs, Freedom Child is very EDM-influenced, and The Script's Mark Sheehan said of the more upbeat sound, "It's a car crash of ska meets reggae meets dance. It was nice to throw something new at ourselves that felt fresh and new. Making people dance isn't something The Script normally do, and we thought it would be fun."
Maroon 5 featuring SZA - "What Lovers Do"
What do lovers do? Just ask Maroon 5. Or better yet, listen to their new song "What Lovers Do," which features one of music most buzzed about artists right now: SZA. "What Lovers Do" is another dance-worthy tune from the guys, and is all about that point in a relationship where you're deciding what both parties want Adam and SZA sing in the bridge, "Are we too grown for games?/Are we too grown to play around?/Young enough to chase/But old enough to know better." And in the chorus, Levine croons (and sings his best "Oooohs"), "Been wishin' for you/Ooh, ooh/Try to do what lovers do."
"What Lovers Do" follows Maroon 5's previous two singles "Don't Wanna Know" featuring Kendrick Lamar and "Cold" featuring Future. The track was written by Starrah, and produced by Jason Evigan, whose production credits include Demi Lovato ("Heart Attack"), Jason Derulo ("Talk Dirty"), Fifth Harmony ("Miss Movin' On"), and more.
LCD Soundsystem – American Dream
Deemed as "the rebirth of LCD Soundsystem" by Pitchfork, the rock staple returns with their fourth studio album after disbandment lasting nearly five years. For the comeback record, the 10 track collection has overwhelming positive critical reception, with many complimenting James Murphy's unified statement. After releasing "Call the Police"/"American Dream" in May and following that up with "Tonite" in August, the set arrived in full at the top of September. See: "chanhe yr mind" and "emotional haircut"
PARTYNEXTDOOR featuring Ty Dolla $ign “Put It On Silent”
PARTYNEXTDOOR and Ty Dolla $ign joined forces for an alternative version of PND’s track “Put It On Silent.” On the catchy song, they both sing about not stopping during the heat of the moment when they’re with their significant others. “Why you always this, why you always that?” $ign croons. “When we getting you and Dolla on a track? / I’m the one she wanna be with / I’m the one she wanna sleep with.” PND previously released a number of other songs in the past few weeks. Here’s to many more new smashes coming soon!
Frank Ocean - "Provider"
Frank Ocean had a major treat for his fans on Sunday (Aug. 27). While many people were fixated on watching either the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards or the season finale of “Game of Thrones,” the singer/songwriter decided to release his new song “Provider.” Soon after Ocean did this, the famed crooner also uploaded the track’s lyric video on his website, blonded.co. In true Ocean fashion, “Provider” takes you on a journey that you didn’t know you wanted to go on, until the star’s voice pulls you in. Listen to it ASAP.
Jason Derulo - "If I'm Lucky"
Jason Derulo has kept us on the dancefloor in recent years, but for his latest offering, "If I'm Lucky," the pop star gets a little more vulnerable. Co-written with Justin Tranter, the pop-charged cut hears Derulo singing about a failed relationship and we appreciate the emotions. "If I'm lucky I'll meet ya/ Flipside of the graveyard/ 'Cause things didn't work out in this life but someday," Derulo sings during the hook.
"It comes from past relationships that you think most things are good, but for some reason or another, things just don’t work out," Derulo told Billboard of the inspiration. "They’re someone who are really compatible for you but for some reason it just doesn’t work. Hopefully that situation can pan out in the next life."
Fabolous featuring Chris Brown and Velous – “Flipmode (Remix)”
Last year, Velous’ “Flipmode” was one of the biggest songs out. Now, Fabolous has decided to add his personal touch to the track and deliver a remix featuring Chris Brown. “I’ve been juggin’ since flip phones,” Velous starts things off. “Bed rockin’ like Flintstones / Doin’ numbers in my zip code / Squad with it, I’m Flipmode / Shawty ’bout to let a clip go / Bussa, bussa, bussa, bus’ that / A big butt and a smile, I know they told me never trust that.” Brown soon comes in, “Flipmode/ I got a new b**ch / Flipmode, all the money I get / Flipmode, you don’t ball like this / Hell no, my whole team lit.”
The National - "Day I Die"
We are a week away from the release of The National's seventh studio album Sleep Well Beast, and the band has shared their newest single from the LP, "Day I Die." The song is the fourth single from the album, and during an interview with iHeartRadio, The National's lead singer Matt Berninger describes the track as "a combination of immature, petulant, sophomoric verses of just a crabby attitude in an argument or something, then followed by the choruses are just this big existential question."
Kodak Black - "1000"
Kodak Black isn’t slowing down the momentous, since his recent prison release. After dropping his latest mixtape, Project Baby 2, just a couple of weeks ago, the recording artist is now giving us a new single entitled “1000.” Throughout it, Black raps about stacks of money and now living that good life. “I’m on fire, got the game in a headlock,” he raps. “Home run, money major like the Red Sox / I run plays, got connections like an Xbox / VVS diamonds sparkling on my damn watch/ You can call me Flintstone, I make her bed rock.”
Don Diablo featuring Holly Winter - "Don't Let Go"
If you're looking for something to shimmer the summer away, look no further than Don Diablo's new song "Don't Let Go." With vocalist Holly Winter on the track, the producer forges a bombastic house track, which is the perfect number to keep the party going in the middle of his sets. "Don't Let Go" was released via the Dutch DJ's very own label Hexagon.
U2 - "The Blackout"
Ladies and gentlemen, we've arrived at the next era of U2's career. After sharing a new song called "The Blackout" on their Facebook, the song sees a live music video release, following the release of their 2014 LP, Songs of Innocence. "When the lights go out, throw yourself about/ In the darkness where we learn to see/ When the lights go out, don’t you ever doubt/ The light that we can really be," Bono sings on the anthemic sounding cut's hook.
"The Blackout" is the group's first offering from the LP. If you want more on U2's new album, mark your calendars for September 6th when the band will unleash the album's first single, "You're The Best Thing About Me."
DJ Kay Slay featuring Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, Kevin Gates & Rell - "Cold Summer”
DJ Kay Slay blessed us with a new banger called "Cold Summer" featuring Kendrick Lamar, Kevin Gates, Mac Miller and R&B singer Rell. The smooth track is sure to get you to vibe out to it, as soon Slay's beat drops. K. Dot starts things off before Miller comes in to spit his bars. Gates comes in at the end to deliver a crisp finish. "Cold Summer" will be featured on Slay's upcoming 22-track album, The Big Brother, which is scheduled to be released on Sept. 22 via Empire Records.
Matoma & The Vamps - "Staying Up"
The Vamps and Matoma are back at it for another sugary sweet collab called "Staying Up." "I'm staying up for love, love, love, love, love/ I can't get enough, enough, enough, enough, enough/ Waiting for the moment we can touch," Brad Simpson sings during the hook. "One of the best things to come from the release of 'All Night' was getting to meet and know The Vamps – seriously some of the nicest guys Ive met in the music business and also the most talented and hard-working people!” Matoma recently said of the guys.
Thomas Rhett - "Life Changes"
Thomas Rhett put his past at the forefront of things with his new track, "Life Changes," and the title track off his forthcoming album. Not only does he reflect on romance, but he also gets honest about he and his wife Lauren's adopted daughter Willa Grey. "I remember the day/ I told my daddy and mamma/ You're gonna have a grandkid, yup/ From Uganda/ That's right, we're adopting/ And she is the cutest little girl/ That you ever seen," he sings during the bridge.
Why Don't We - "These Girls"
Why Don't We has been inspired ... by all of their fans out there. The guys have been on the road on their "Something Different" tour, and apparently, all the ladies out there are the inspiration behind their latest single "These Girls." On Instagram, the guys wrote about their new song, "We’ve been all through the country and were inspired by you."
In the chorus of the danceable pop song, the guys sing, "Ooh, I want 'em all (These girls)/The ones that you bring home to momma (These girls)/And the ones who love all of the drama (These girls)/I swear there's way too many, tryna fall for one/But I can't help it, I just wanna love all."
DJDS featuring Khalid & Empress Of - "Why Don't You Come On"
Khalid is easily of the best new artists to release music this year, hands down. Recently, the 19-year-old dipped his toe into the dance music world teaming up with Marshmello on "Silence," and now, he's featured on another new dance track called "Why Don't You Come On." For this new collab, Khalid teams up with LA production duo DJDS (which stands for DJ Dodger Stadium) and LA-based singer/songwriter Empress Of. The result? An awesome, uplifting tune to blast out of your speakers in these last few weeks of summer.
Ty Dolla $ign featuring Damian Marley & Skrillex – “So Am I”
Ty Dolla $ign recruited Damian Marley and Skrillex for his latest song “So Am I.” Throughout the Caribbean-flavored song, you hear $ign and Marley sing about finding a real person that they can build a future with. “So Am I” will be on $ign much-anticipated project Beach House 3, which fans have been waiting for since he began teasing it in 2016. Though we still don’t know the release date yet, hearing this new track and knowing $ign, we know that it’s going to be fire. Listen to the hot, feel-good song below.