Here are the biggest albums released this month

Are you bored with your current playlists? Looking for something new to check out this month? We’re here to help. 

Below, you’ll find five of the biggest albums set for release in May.

DUA LIPA - ‘Radical Optimism’ [May 3rd]

One of the biggest pop stars on the planet right now, Dua Lipa has a lot to live up to after the success of her superb second album ‘Future Nostalgia’. Luckily, thanks to recent hits like ‘Dance the Night’ from ‘Barbie’, it’s safe to say that she didn’t just hit a lucky streak with that record. This, her third album, is one of the most anticipated pop releases of the year and saw her work with the likes of Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker and indie songwriter Tobias Jesso Jr., while it’s said to be inspired by ‘the energy of London and the freedom of ‘90s Britpop’. We’re sold.

*

SIA - ‘Reasonable Woman’ [May 3rd]

It’s been quite a while since we’ve had a straightforward studio album from Sia, as the Aussie pop artist has been busy in recent years with her supergroup LSD, and her soundtrack to the film ‘Music’ amongst other projects. For her tenth album, however, she’s pulling out all the stops: this collection features collaborations with Kylie Minogue, Chaka Khan, Missy Elliott, and even Paris Hilton, for goodness’ sake.

*

KINGS OF LEON - ‘Can We Please Have Fun’ [May 10th]

Now, 25 years into their career, Kings of Leon are back with album #9 - and the title suggests that they weren’t having fun for a while. Ttheir last album, 2022’s ‘When You See Yourself’, was accused by some journalists of rehashing the same old country-rock pastiche; did they take any notice of those reviews? This time around, they’ve worked with English producer Kid Harpoon (Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus, Maggie Rogers) for the first time - has he breathed new life into the Tennessee rockers?

*

BILLIE EILISH - ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ [May 17th]

It’s fair to say that Billie Eilish has not set a foot wrong since she released her debut album in 2019. Will her third album continue that trend? This record was once again co-written and recorded with her brother Finneas, but little else is actually known about the tracklist, other than a few cryptic clues and snippets of lyrics - including those of ‘Lunch’, which she recently debuted at Coachella and are said to explore her bisexuality and realisation that she “wanted [her] face in a vagina”.

*

RICHARD HAWLEY - ‘In This City They Call You Love’ [May 31st]

A musician who has been consistently brilliant over the last 15 years or so, this is Richard Hawley’s 10th studio album - which by all accounts is 'vintage Hawley', and as always, has songs that pay tribute to his beloved Sheffield. Perhaps buoyed by the creation of the stage musical based around his songs (‘Standing at the Sky’s Edge’), lead single ‘People’ sets the tone as a “ sparse, atmospheric and cinematic song about a deal that goes wrong.”