From our favorite artists who have been delivering killer albums for years to the rising musicians just starting to break through, these are the ten albums to look forward to in September 2023.
The Coral image credit via Jack Finnigan
The Coral: Sea Of Mirrors
Release Date: September 8
The Coral is poised to release their 11th studio album, Sea of Mirrors, on September 8th, 2023, following their acclaimed 2021 double album, Coral Island. This new album conjures up images of a Spaghetti Western soundtrack with nods to Ennio Morricone and features contributions from actors Cillian Murphy and John Simm as well as Love guitarist Johnny Echols and former Coral member Bill Ryder-Jones. Co-produced by Sean O’Hagan, the album’s lead single, ‘Wild Bird,’ showcases both cinematic elements and The Coral’s signature storytelling.
James Blake image via Steve Jennings/Getty
James Blake: Playing Robots Into Heaven
Release Date: September 8
Playing Robots Into Heaven emerges as the forthcoming sixth studio album from accomplished English singer-songwriter and producer James Blake. The album’s unveiling is set for September 8, 2023, under the banners of Republic and Polydor. This musical odyssey witnesses Blake’s reconnection and “return to the electronic roots of his Hessle, Hemlock and R&S records days.” Unlike prior releases, this album proudly stands without any guest contributions. To bolster this release, Blake is charting a course for an expansive 14-stop global tour spanning Europe and North America.
Olivia Rodrigo image not cited on original
Olivia Rodrigo: GUTS
Release Date: September 8
Guts marks the upcoming second studio album from American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo, set for release on September 8, 2023, under Geffen Records. The lead single, ‘Vampire,’ released on June 30, 2023, swiftly secured the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Rodrigo’s third number-one single in the US. Guts will be available through CD, cassette, and streaming platforms along with three exclusive box set editions. Created at the age of 19, Rodrigo describes the album as a “time capsule,” capturing a range of emotions from “wrenching, cinematic” ballads to more “playful and insouciant” tracks, reflecting a period of “confusion, mistakes, awkwardness & good old fashioned teen angst.”
Kid Cudi image via Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Kid Cudi: INSANO
Release Date: September 15
INSANO (stylized in all caps) is the ninth studio album by American rapper Kid Cudi, set to release on September 15, 2023, through Wicked Awesome Records and Republic Records. Notably, this marks Cudi’s final contractual album with Republic, echoing the date of his debut commercial album Man on the Moon: The End of Day, released exactly fourteen years prior. Following 2022’s Entergalactic accompanied by an award-winning TV special, INSANO features guest appearances from prominent rappers like Travis Scott, Lil Yachty, Wiz Khalifa, Pharrell Williams, King Chip, and ASAP Rocky. Production involves talents such as Plain Pat, Dot da Genius, BNYX, Keyon Christ, Mike Zombie, and Kid Cudi himself, among others.
Mitski image via Taylor Hill/Getty Images
Mitski: The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We
Release Date: September 15
The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We looms as the forthcoming seventh studio album from acclaimed American singer-songwriter Mitski. Poised for release on September 15, 2023, under the imprint of Dead Oceans the collection was crafted under the expert guidance of producer Patrick Hyland. Mitski paints it as her “most American album,” with the core lyrical essence hinging on the theme of love. The album draws inspiration from spaghetti Western soundtracks and the creative oeuvres of Arthur Russell, Igor Stravinsky, Scott Walker, Caetano Veloso, and Faron Young. Recorded in locales like Bomb Shelter in Nashville and Sunset Sound in Los Angeles, the production journey involved the collaboration with a 17-person choir arranged by Mitski and an orchestra under the baton of Drew Erickson, both adorning various tracks.
CHAI image via Photo Yoshio Nakais
CHAI: CHAI
Release Date: September 22
Dropping on September 22 under Sub Pop’s banner, CHAI is poised to launch their new self-titled album. This time, the band composed the album while on the road, capturing their experiences as Japanese women in the lyrics. Recording sessions occurred between shows at studios in L.A., Mexico City, and New York City. Vocalist/keyboardist MANA noted that this album reflects their journey, and producer Ryu Takahashi emphasized their aspiration to explore their Japanese identity through a Western lens, fostering a unique fusion.
Das Koolies image via Dah Dit Dit
Das Koolies: DK.01
Release Date: September 22
From the core of their Super Furry Animals history, Das Koolies have announced their debut album, DK.01, set for release on September 22, 2023. DK.01 merges diverse influences, including MC Killa Kela, 17th-century composer Henry Purcell, and their Super Furry Animals journey, offering an electronic and experimental exploration. ‘Best Mind F*ck Yet’, the album’s lead track featuring vocals by Rhys Ifans, bridges their past and future. The album reflects their camaraderie from the early-1990s illicit rave scene in Wales and encompasses fifteen tracks. Das Koolies anticipate its release, saying, “The return has been welcomed. Unanimously. Dissent, however, will be tolerated. An abundance of ideas, new inventions, and old friendships percolate, produce, and persist. Come this way as a dead end is circumvented to show an open road.” Notable guests like MC Killa Kela and percussive sounds from Cardiff’s metallic structures contribute to DK.01‘s diverse soundscape.
Soccer Mommy image via NPR/YOUTUBE
Soccer Mommy: Karaoke Night
Release Date: September 22
Scheduled for release on September 22 through Loma Vista, Sophie Allison’s upcoming EP will not only introduce new tracks but also offer renditions of songs by Slowdive, R.E.M., and Pavement, complemented by her recent cover of Sheryl Crow’s ‘Soak Up The Sun.’ Marking the announcement of the EP, Soccer Mommy’s rendition of Taylor Swift’s ‘I’m Only Me When I’m With You’ emphasizes, “I really wanted to cover this song because it’s one of my favorites from Taylor’s first album. I listened to that record so much when I was a kid and I think it had a lot of influence on me then.” This EP follows Allison’s last studio album, Sometimes, Forever, released last summer.
La Force image credit not cited on original
La Force: XO SKELETON
Release Date: September 29
XO Skeleton stands as La Force’s 2023 album, a haunting blend of pop and R&B that delves into the crossroads of life, death, and love. Set for release on September 29, 2023, via Secret City, the album was co-produced by La Force and Warren Spicer (Plants and Animals). Reflecting on the album’s theme, she recounts how it emerged during its creation, with the title track originating from a conversation with her life insurance broker. The banal yet profound words, “God forbid you should die,” sparked the album’s essence. She shares her response: “‘Well, there’s one thing guaranteed: no god or goddess is going to keep me alive.'”
Wilco image via Annabel Mehran
Wilco: Cousin
Release Date: September 29
Cousin marks the anticipated thirteenth studio album by American indie rock ensemble Wilco, set for release on September 29 via dBpm Records. Produced by Cate Le Bon, this album signifies the band’s first collaboration with an external producer in over a decade, and is heralded by the preceding single ‘Evicted.’ Crafted over two years at their renowned Chicago studio, The Loft, the album’s ten tracks bear the creative imprint of band leader Jeff Tweedy. Musical contributions from the longstanding lineup, including Nels Cline, Mikael Jorgensen, Glenn Kotche, John Stirratt, Pat Sansone, and Tweedy as lead vocalist, shape this musical journey.
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