August's new music came in four heavy Fridays. Aug. 7 brought Karol G, Ravyn Lenae and Role Model; Aug. 14 belonged to Phoebe Bridgers; Aug. 21 had Sam Smith, Stella Lefty and Weezer; and Aug. 28 closed the month with Erykah Badu and The Alchemist, Interpol and Alabama Shakes. These are 10 releases from those drops that earned a spot in this month's rotation, with a few rising names mixed in among the headliners. Each entry comes with something to press play on.
Phoebe Bridgers, Lost Weekend
Her first solo album in six years is a long, quiet, strange record about going missing, grief and a new love. Pitchfork calls it “the quietest, most cohesive album in Bridgers' discography,” and the credits run from Chris Thile's mandolin to boygenius bandmates Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker on “Haunted.” Rolling Stone ends its review with the plainest verdict: “It's great to have her back.” (Full explainer here.)
Lost WeekendPhoebe BridgersListen on Apple Music
Erykah Badu & The Alchemist, Before the World Blows
A year of false starts ended on Aug. 28 with a 16-track collaboration that began with Badu wanting to sing over The Alchemist's “The Realest” beat. Pitchfork hears “a hallucinatory house party that never quite spins out of control,” with Earl Sweatshirt, Westside Gunn and Steve Lacy dropping in and Kamasi Washington on the closer. (The whole story.)
Before the World BlowsErykah Badu & The AlchemistListen on Apple Music
Karol G, No Me Arrepiento de Sentir Tanto
The showgirl goes home. Karol G's heartbreak record was written in solitude, with Drake on “Ahí,” Bruno Mars on her first all-English song, “Still,” and a ballad with Cigarettes After Sex's Greg Gonzalez. Billboard says its lead single, “Matadora,” debuted at No. 3 on Hot Latin Songs. (Explained here.)
No Me Arrepiento de Sentir TantoKarol GListen on Apple Music
Ravyn Lenae, Blue Island
The singer behind “Love Me Not” refuses to be filed under one genre. Her third album uses DJ Dahi's ’80s-leaning arrangements, a Fugees-flavored duet with Doechii and a Dariacore detour on “Potential.” Pitchfork has reservations about the writing, but concedes that “it's a good Ravyn Lenae song.” (More here.)
Blue IslandRavyn LenaeListen on Apple Music
Busta Rhymes & J Dilla, Dillagence II
Nearly 20 years after the first one, Busta finished a sequel built from J Dilla beats, with Lil Wayne, Common, Big Sean and Anderson .Paak aboard. The record everyone is circling is “This Woman,” which uses an unfinished D'Angelo vocal from a session more than 20 years old. (The story.)
Dillagence IIBusta Rhymes & J DillaListen on Apple Music
Sam Smith, Hazel Eyes
The hit-factory era is over. Pitchfork says Smith swerved into “sophisticated, romantic songs” rooted in jazz, blues and soul, with production that is “fluid and sensual,” and credits them as a co-producer for the first time, alongside songwriter Simon Aldred. It is a love story told start to finish, with Feist as a surprise co-writer and a gospel-choir showstopper in “Oh Mother.” Billboard lists “To Be Free,” “My Guy” and “When He's Gone” among its singles.
Hazel EyesSam SmithListen on Apple Music
Role Model, Chuck Timely & The Hourglass
Tucker Pillsbury wants to bring back heartland rock, and he's brought a time-traveling alter ego to do it. Pitchfork finds the concept self-conscious but the songs fun, and picks “Service Receipt” as perfect. Producers Mason Stoops and Taylor Mackall give it an antique honky-tonk glow. (Interview and review here.)
Chuck Timely & The HourglassRole ModelListen on Apple Music
Stella Lefty, Long Way Home
A rising name worth hearing in full. The 24-year-old country-pop singer behind the Hot 100 hit “Boston” co-wrote all 14 songs here, produced by Joe Reeves. Billboard's review calls it “a solid introduction to a formidable, developing talent.” (More here.)
Long Way HomeStella LeftyListen on Apple Music
Interpol, This Mirror Weighs a Ton
The tailored-suit band from the East Village has aged into moneyed New York, and Pitchfork says they sound “more like the National than ever.” The cover shows a Whitney Museum artwork, and producer Andrew Wyatt has credits on Charli xcx's Crash and Rosalía's Lux. Paranoia, as ever, lurks on every corner.
This Mirror Weighs a TonInterpolListen on Apple Music
Alabama Shakes, I Must Be Dreaming
The comeback record, 11 years after Sound & Color. Brittany Howard looks around and sees a world that is crazy and beautiful at once, which is the double meaning in the title: Pitchfork points to her soulful screams on “Another Life” and the protest song “American Dream.” A reunion that arrives right where they left off, in a very different country.
I Must Be DreamingAlabama ShakesListen on Apple Music
Also on our radar
Turnstile's Never Enough: Versions, a “reimagined album” of last year's Grammy-winning record with more collaborators than songs, among them Elton John, Alex G, Slayyyter and Hayley Williams; Mike D's Thank You, his first album since the Beastie Boys' 2011 LP; Billy Strings' So Much for Goodbyes, made in tribute to his mother; Young Thug and YSL's 41-track double album Slime Language 3, which arrived late on Aug. 28 with Future, Travis Scott and Yeat; and Weezer's self-titled 20th album, Aug. 21.
Sources
Added to the High Grailed archive on October 12, 2026.
