Billboard's Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday's most essential releases — the essential music everyone will be talking about today and that will dominate playlists this weekend and beyond.
This week, Lady Gaga provides an antidote for hungry fans, Halsey channels the bigs, and Megan Thee Stallion unveils another act. Check out all of this week's picks below:
Lady Gaga, “Disease”
Lady Gaga's new single was produced and written with Andrew Watt, a guitar virtuoso turned guru to rock veterans, as well as Cirkut, one of pop's most prolific studio musicians. that pedigree informs a new track that balances the arena with nimble melodies, as Gaga sings, “Screamin' for me, baby / Like you're gonna die / Poison in the inside, I could be your antidote from tonight!” between the undulating vocal choruses and booming percussion.
halsey, The Great Imitator
Most new albums are knowingly influenced by the artists who preceded them, but few of them present themselves as deliberate homages like Halsey's The Great Imitatorfeaturing personal heroes ranging from Dolly Parton to David Bowie and Britney Spears. the tracklist can be a guessing game of who-inspired-what, but more often than not, Halsey's own composition and perspective empower the brightest spots.
Megan Thee Stallion, Megan: Act II
After the June album Megan with a lavish 13-track release, Megan Thee Stallion gave fans an embarrassment of riches to close out a wildly successful year: “Bigger in Texas” kicks off with Meg's trash-talking classic, and “Mamushi” gets a giddy remix with TWICE , but “Roc Steady,” a take on Ciara's “Goodies” featuring Flo Milli, is the clear highlight.
Summer Walker, “Heart of a Woman”
Although Summer Walker's upcoming album will be called Ultimately beyond that, but the R&B star still isn't on “Heart of a Woman,” a sumptuous showcase for her complicated emotions as she acknowledges a relationship she can't let go of: “I'm trying to be strong,” Walker sings, “but how can take;”
Addison Rae, “Aquamarine”
As Addison Rae continues to make the transition from TikTok superstar to aspiring music A-lister, her pop aesthetic takes center stage, with “Aquamarine” extracting the breathy flirtations from previous single “Diet Pepsi” and applies them to a sleek, futuristic dance-pop sheen.
Kelsea Ballerini, Patterns
Meditation on Personal Power and Divorce Transition, Patterns may be Kelsea Ballerini's most moving collection of songs to date, as the country-pop star sharpens her pen by examining her regrets and hopes. the opening series of songs on Patternsincluding the heartwarming “Sorry Mom” and the rousing “Baggage”, it demonstrates why Ballerini remains such a captivating presence in the genre.
Gigi Perez, “Fable”
With “Sailor Song” a viral smash and a deal with Island Records, Gigi Perez quickly returned with “Fable,” an answer-seeking acoustic song that echoes the rawness of her single and sounds like it could be another success. for the singer-songwriter.
Jin, “I'll be there”
Jin's upcoming album is titled Happyand pre-release track “I'll Be There” certainly lives up to that epithet: here, the BTS member smiles while enjoying pop-rock bliss, developing a uh-oh-oh after the chorus that sticks in your brain before your first listen is even over.
Linkin Park, “Over Each Other”
On “The Emptiness Machine” and “Heavy is the Crown,” the first two songs released from Linkin Park's upcoming album From scratchMike Shinoda is the first voice heard, a steady force before new singer Emily Armstrong arrives. on “Over Each Other,” however, Armstrong delivers an impressive vocal showcase, venting her frustration at miscommunication as the production flashes and shudders.
Editor's Pick: Soccer Mommy, Evergreen
On Soccer Mommy's fourth album, Sophie Allison deftly strikes a middle ground between the lo-fi production of her early work and the lush, pop-neighborhood rock of her most recent output. with a central focus on personal loss, Evergreen feels like Alison's most complete record to date and stands out during a busy season for indie releases.
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