As the crisp autumn air blows, the releases of the returning titans warm listeners’ ears.
Whether they are indie icons or pop legends, the artists are back for the start of the school year with new albums. With inventive mixes and uplifting instrumentals, the musicians turn inward as they seek to address themes of loneliness, grief and existentialism.
Keep reading for The Daily Bruin’s recommendations on introspective musical additions suitable for fall.
“Being Funny in a Foreign Language” by The 1975
The new 1975 album is all we need to hear.
After taking a two-year hiatus from releasing music, the English alternative band are back with four new singles ahead of their 11-track fifth studio album, ‘Being Funny in a Foreign Language,’ which is slated for release. October 14. The album’s first single, “Part of the Band”, is a lyrically dense track accompanied by the band’s signature synth sounds. Continuing his tradition of self-aware lyricism, frontman Matthew Healy comments on his earlier struggles with addiction, as well as the internet and its effects on society.
In “Happiness” and “I’m in Love With You”, the band adopts a more upbeat tone with groovy sounds. However, as is typical for The 1975 discography, the upbeat melodies of the tracks contrast with the overall depressing themes expressed in the lyrics. Speaking in absolutes, Healy broods that he’s “never gonna love again” in “Happiness.” Returning to a more mournful sound in the final single, “All I Need To Hear”, a despairing Healy sings a tragic romance over melancholy piano. These songs feature themes characteristic of the band’s past work such as love, heartbreak and failed relationships – all wrapped up in lyrically intricate songwriting.
Following his hiatus, these new singles prove that The 1975 still find happiness in being part of the group.
– Jessica Gonzalez
[Related: Music preview: Summer music releases suggest promising mix of themes from older, newer piece]
Taylor Swift’s “Midnights”
Taylor Swift’s 10th studio album will keep everyone up until midnight.
After winning Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards, Swift stunned fans by announcing that her upcoming 13-track album “Midnights” will be released on October 21. Although the pop star released two re-recorded albums in 2021 — ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ and ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ — ‘Midnights’ marks the artist’s first album entirely of new music in two years. In an Instagram post, Swift revealed that the album would be a collection of music written about 13 sleepless nights throughout her life.
The official “Midnights” album cover features Swift lighting her lighter, and she also debuted three alternate ’70s-inspired vinyl covers. The artist, who is widely known for dropping mysterious eggs from Easter on His Music also unexpectedly announced that the vinyls can be put together to form a clock with the needle striking midnight.
In another stunning reveal a month before the album’s release date, Swift debuted a social media segment titled “Midnights Mayhem With Me,” in which she reveals a random song title from the track listing at midnights. random. “Brain”, “Question…? and “Vigilante Shit” – tracks 13, seven and eight, respectively – are the only titles leaked so far.
With surprise announcements and cryptic clues, Swift has proven she’s always been a mastermind – and it’ll be exciting to see what other tricks she has up her sleeve.
– Lex Wang
“The Loneliest Time” by Carly Rae Jepsen
It was a lonely time without Carly Rae Jepsen.
The pop singer’s fifth studio album is set to be released on October 21, three years after the release of her latest album “Dedicated.” Described by Jepsen as an album about loneliness, “The Loneliest Time” is likely to be an introspective project that delves into the different facets and beauties of human emotion. On August 22, Jepsen revealed the tracklist, teasing 12 songs with titles evoking images of nature and getting outdoors, like “Beach House” and “Talking to Yourself.”
The album cover shows Jepsen looking over his shoulder at the viewer beside what appear to be ornamental fruit, flowers, and pearls. The composition and coloring of the cover recall oil paintings of centuries past, alluding to themes of memory and historicity within the album. Released in May, the first single, “Western Wind,” features lyrics that capture that blend of melancholy and isolation through which the speaker looks back on a first love, likening it to a beautiful westerly wind.
As Jepsen explores themes of loneliness, his listeners will feel anything but.
–Ashley Kim
[Related: Rising Artists: New musicians to keep summer playlists hot]
“And in the Darkness Hearts Ablaze” by Weyes Blood
Weyes Blood’s new album will ignite hearts this fall.
Artist Natalie Mering, who goes through variations of Weyes Blood, will release her fifth studio album on November 18. The LP, titled “And In The Darkness, Hearts Aglow,” will be the second album in a trilogy that kicked off with “Titanic Rising,” which was released in 2019. The album cover features Weyes Blood who has the looking serene in a hazy cloud of blue light as her heart seems to glow from within. The cool colors and hazy atmosphere reminiscent of underwater photography parallel her memorable 2019 album cover.
Along with the album announcement, Mering released a letter explaining that while the first installment of the trilogy was a foreshadowing of doomed events, the second dwells in said seemingly inescapable fate. The lead single, “It’s Not Just Me, It’s Everyone”, has been described by Mering as a song that bemoans contemporary individualistic culture for fostering isolation in an increasingly technological world. These themes, along with others such as narcissism and disillusionment, reveal Mering’s cultural and social acuity in addition to his musical ability.
After three years of darkness, Weyes Blood will illuminate an imperfect world.
–Ashley Kim