7 albums you need to hear this week

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 Foo Fighters, Noah Kahan, Ringo Starr, Kehlani, Julia Cumming, Tsatsamis and Gia Margaret.

Foo Fighters – My Favourite Toy

On their 12th album, Foo Fighters prove they’ve still got something to say on a record which proves to be their most brilliantly explosive effort in years. The thunderous opener ‘Caught in the Echo’ feels like a forgotten Fugazi cut, while the poignant ‘Of All People’ sees Dave Grohl coming to terms with meeting a drug dealer who used to sell to the rock & roll elite way back in the day. Why is it, he wonders, that this individual is still here when those who brought his questionable wares very much aren’t? The result is one of the most profound songs the band have ever made.

Listen on: Spotify | ‎Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music

Kehlani – Kehlani
Self-titling an album five records into your career normally signals a new era of self-confidence and assurance, and that’s exactly the case with Kehlani’s new record. Kehlani sees the singer baring herself like never before, stripping away the layers that have existed before. Fresh from Grammy wins in Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance for ‘Folded’, the new record sees her blossoming further. After those two wins in the R&B category, she is leading a reappraisal of the genre. She told VIBE : “I want people to take away that good quality R&B is actually genius. It deserves to be respected at its core without having to be changed or modified.”

Listen on: Spotify | ‎Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music

Noah Kahan – The Great Divide

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Noah Kahan seemingly knows that more than most. His last album, 2022’s Stick Season catapulted him to global fame and saw him become of the one biggest singer-songwriters on the planet. It’s understandable then, that his fourth album largely leans into the same formula. ‘End of August’ is anthemic stomp/clap heartland rock, while the soaring ‘American Cars’ shows off a rockier edge. It’s all propelled by production from Aaron Dessner, who pushes the sonics to the next level. This record will keep Kahan in a very lofty position.

Listen on: Spotify | ‎Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music

Julia Cumming – Julia
As the vocalist of Sunflower Bean over the last decade, Julia Cumming has continued New York’s tradition of producing the coolest rock bands on the planet. There always felt like there was more to come from the magnetic frontwoman though, and that’s realised on her debut solo album. Julia sees her recording mainly at the piano and drawing from the greats of American songwriting, most notably Joni Mitchell, to uncover new and more intimate layers to an ever-intriguing voice in modern indie.

Listen on: Spotify | ‎Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music

Ringo Starr – Long Long Road

We’re a long, long road from Liverpool now. Of his latest album Ringo explains that “I’ve been on a long, long road,” and that goes some way in explaining the charming country-tinged sound he lands on here. There’s a Carl Perkins cover (‘I Don’t See Me In Your Eyes Anymore’) a heart-rending ballad (‘She’s Gone’) and much more besides. It’s a million miles away from the Beatles but, as the man himself says, he’s been on a long, long road.

Listen on: Spotify | ‎Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music

Gia Margaret – Singing
Singing is named so because it’s the first album from Gia Margaret since literally regaining her voice. Her last two albums – Mia Gargaret and Romantic Piano – have been almost entirely instrumental due to her voice loss. Echoes of these ambient detours remain on Singing, but it’s the return of her buttery voice that defines the album, a collection of singer-songwriter tunes that sound like gorgeous self-discovery. On highlight ‘Good Friend’, she writes her poppiest song yet and revels in her new era.

Listen on: Spotify | ‎Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music

Tsatsamis – Tsycophant
The ups, downs, blinding lights and dark corners of the queer experience are contained in Tsycophant, the unrelenting new mixtape from Tsatsamis. Leading the project is the single ‘Recreational’, which feels emblematic of the project at large. “’Recreational’ is about giving myself the hedonism I so desperately desire but struggle to give myself, and envy other people who can give it to themselves so freely,” he says. He adds that this new era is “inspired by performance – on and off the stage,” and is a divine exploration of stepping into yourself.

Listen on: Spotify | ‎Apple Music | TIDAL | Amazon Music