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 April.

THE BLACK KEYS - ‘Ohio Players’ [April 5th]

Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney return with their most ‘fun’ album to date, according to reports. ‘Ohio Players’ was inspired by the ‘Record Hang’ vinyl parties that the duo have been hosting over the last few years, and saw them fling open their doors to a multitude of collaborators - from Beck to Noel Gallagher and rapper Juicy J.

*

VAMPIRE WEEKEND - ‘Only God Was Above Us’ [April 5th]

It’s been five long years since the last Vampire Weekend album - a lifetime, if you’re a fan of the New Yorkers - but Ezra Koenig and co. are back with their fifth studio record this month. The ‘and co.’ part is important; 2019’s ‘Father of the Bride’ was essentially a solo record by Koenig, so it’ll be interesting to see what the trio concoct together - especially since it’s their first collaborative album without founding member Rostam Batmanglij. According to reports, Indian classical music raga was influential on this album.

*

PEARL JAM - ‘Dark Matter’ [April 19th]

They may not have the firepower they once harnessed in their ‘90s heyday, but Pearl Jam are still one of the biggest rock bands in the world. Eddie Vedder and his bandmates return with their 12th album - and according to guitarist Mike McCready, it’s a “lot heavier” than fans might expect. With producer Andrew Watt - who has worked with everyone from Iggy Pop and The Rolling Stones to Justin Bieber - at the helm, you can certainly expect something different.

*

TAYLOR SWIFT - ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ [April 19th]

It’s almost here - one of the most anticipated pop albums of the year. With its title apparently taken from an in-joke related to her ex-boyfriend, actor Joe Alwyn, can we expect to hear that relationship exorcised in these songs? Swift has called it a “lifeline” album, saying “I have never had an album where I needed songwriting more than I needed it on Tortured Poets”; you can also expect collaborations with Post Malone and Florence + the Machine.

*

PET SHOP BOYS - ‘Nonetheless’ [April 26th]

One of the greatest pop acts of all time are still going strong after over four decades in the business - although it’s been four years since their last record, marking the longest period between albums of their career. Nevertheless, it sounds as if ‘Nonetheless’, the follow-up to 2020’s ‘Hotspot’, will be worth waiting for. With producer James Ford behind the desk, it’ll be interesting to see what direction Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe’s 15th studio album will take; Tennant has said that there will be orchestral elements to every track, to give you a taster.