4 albums you need to hear this week
With music from Charli XCX (and friends), The Blessed Madonna, Paul Heaton and The Linda Lindas.
In the age of streaming, it’s never been easier to listen to new music — but with over 60,000 new songs added to Spotify every day, it’s also never been harder to know what to put on. Every week, the team at Rolling Stone UK will run down some of the best new releases that have been added to streaming services.
This week, we’ve highlighted records by Charli XCX (and friends), The Blessed Madonna, Paul Heaton and The Linda Lindas.
Charli XCX – Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat
Brat summer might be over, but with new full remix album remix album, Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat, Charli XCX is ensuring that this remains the defining album of 2024. On this guest-packed special edition of the album, she enters plenty of different moods.
Alongside the previously released remix of ‘Talk Talk’, featuring Troye Sivan and Dua Lipa, alongside ‘The girl, so confusing version with lorde’, a new version of ‘Guess’ featuring Billie Eilish and the viral A. G. Cook remix of ‘Von Dutch’ featuring Addison Rae, she welcomes The 1975, Bon Iver, Ariana Grande, The Strokes‘ Julian Casablancas, The Japanese House, Shygirl, Robyn, Yung Lean, BB Trickz, Caroline Polachek, Bladee and Tinashe to create a varied and brash addition to 2024’s most important musical artefact.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music
The Blessed Madonna – Godspeed
Nearly three decades into her career, The Blessed Madonna has finally landed with a debut album. Godspeed is a 24-track behemoth that features Kylie Minogue and more, and serves as a tribute to the DJ’s late father. “Godspeed: the word marks the beginning of a journey and sometimes the end of one”, she said, and the mammoth album is a comprehensive trip through all the styles, sounds and moods of The Blessed Madonna’s career, as well as clearly showing her huge influence on the culture over this time.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music
Paul Heaton – The Mighty Several
Over the past decade, Paul Heaton has established himself as one of the most likeable and consistent songwriters in the UK in his own right, having already become a cult hero with The Housemartins and The Beautiful South. This, teamed with his iron-clad politics and commitment to low ticket prices, makes him a refreshing anomaly in the modern music world. All of these morals, as well as his unwavering ear for a beautiful melody, makes new album The Mighty Several another total delight.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music
The Linda Lindas – No Obligation
With their early gigs and 2022 debut album Growing Up, The Linda Lindas fast became your favourite band’s favourite band, landing on bills with Green Day, Paramore, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and more. Follow-up record No Obligation shows just why – this is an album packed with jubilant melodies, affecting lyrics and an irreplaceable energy.
Listen on: Spotify | Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music