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The Best New Albums Out July 11: Clipse, The Swell Season, Wet Leg & More Drop Fire This Friday
It’s Friday — and not just any Friday. July 11 marks a monumental moment in the music world. After 16 long years, legendary rap duo Clipse is finally back. That’s right — Malice and Pusha T have reunited for their thunderous new album Let God Sort Em Out, and it’s already one of the most talked-about hip-hop comebacks in years.
But they’re not the only ones staging a powerful return. The Swell Season, the beloved folk duo of Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, best known for their Oscar-winning song “Falling Slowly” from the 2007 indie classic Once, have also resurfaced with their first album in over a decade: Forward.
And just when you think this New Music Friday couldn’t get better, British alt-rockers Wet Leg dropped their much-anticipated sophomore album moisturizer, proving their viral debut was no fluke.
Let’s dive into the standout releases that are setting today’s music scene ablaze.
🎧 1. Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Key Tracks: “Blood Moon,” “Crucifix Chains,” “We Got God”
This is more than a reunion — it’s a resurrection. After years of solo success and spiritual divergence, brothers Malice (now No Malice) and Pusha T sound united, defiant, and absolutely relentless. Let God Sort Em Out blends fiery gospel undertones with brutalist beats, showcasing the raw lyricism and chemistry that once made Clipse the torchbearers of coke rap.
From the heavy bass of “Blood Moon” to the spiritual struggle pulsing through “We Got God,” this is a masterclass in hip-hop revival.
🎶 2. The Swell Season – Forward
Genre: Folk/Indie
Key Tracks: “Even Now,” “Falling Again,” “Old Roads”
There’s something timeless about Hansard and Irglová’s musical alchemy, and Forward proves that lightning can strike twice. This album is tender, melancholic, and full of poetic grace. Tracks like “Old Roads” and “Even Now” feel like late-night conversations with an old friend, wrapped in soft harmonies and acoustic warmth.
It’s not just nostalgia — it’s evolution.
🌀 3. Wet Leg – moisturizer
Genre: Indie Rock/Alt
Key Tracks: “Shave Club,” “Lotion Emotion,” “Pillow Fight”
The Isle of Wight duo returns with an album that’s cheeky, chaotic, and utterly captivating. moisturizer builds on Wet Leg’s viral roots with more polished production but keeps the razor-sharp humor and slacker-pop energy fans fell in love with.
“Lotion Emotion” is a synth-heavy bop, “Pillow Fight” delivers distorted chaos, and “Shave Club” is already turning heads as the album’s breakout anthem. Wet Leg proves they’re more than a flash-in-the-pan — they’re indie icons in the making.
🌟 4. Burna Boy – No Sign of Weakness
Genre: Afro-Fusion
Key Tracks: “Heatwave,” “Giants Fall,” “Timeless Heart”
Africa’s global music king returns with No Sign of Weakness, a record that blends his signature Afrobeat swagger with political urgency and emotional depth. Whether he’s flexing over amapiano-inspired beats or crooning over mellow instrumentals, Burna Boy reasserts his dominance as an international powerhouse.
🌟 5. Allo Darlin’ – Bright Nights
Genre: Indie Pop
Key Tracks: “Bright Nights,” “Evergreen,” “Little Maps”
Their first album since 2014, Bright Nights is the sound of a band growing up — but not growing cold. It’s joyful, sincere, and packed with jangly guitars and wistful storytelling. Fans of Belle & Sebastian, Camera Obscura, or even early Taylor Swift will find a lot to love here.
⚡ Lightning Round: 5 More You Can’t Miss
Don’t skip these gems — they may not be headlining, but they’re still album-of-the-year contenders:
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Ólafur Arnalds & Talos – A Dawning (Post-classical dreamscape with ethereal beauty)
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Open Mike Eagle – Neighborhood Gods Unlimited (Sharp, brainy rap full of dark humor and deep truths)
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Petey USA – The Yips (Lo-fi pop with big feelings and bigger hooks)
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Tony Njoku – All Our Knives Are Always Sharp (Experimental R&B that cuts deep)
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Martha – Standing Where It All Began (A treasure trove of singles and B-sides from the punk-pop favorites)
🔥 The Long List: Best of the Rest by Genre
Whether you're a jazz head or an alt-rock purist, this week’s New Music Friday has something for everyone:
Rap/Hip-Hop:
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81355 – Bad Dogs
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Loe Shimmy – Rockstar Junkie
Electronic/Experimental:
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Charlotte De Witte – Charlotte De Witte
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Barry Can’t Swim – Loner
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Patricia Wolf – Hrafnamynd
Global:
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Paloma Mami – CODiGOS DE MUNEKA
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Africa Express – Bahidorá
Jazz:
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Dom Salvador – DOM SALVADOR JID024
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Kokoroko – Tuff Times Never Last
Pop:
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Dean Lewis – The Epilogue (Deluxe)
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Jessica Winter – My First Album
Folk/Country/Americana:
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Noah Cyrus – I Want My Loved Ones To Go With Me
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Tami Neilson – Neon Cowgirl
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Winterpills – 20th Anniversary Edition
Rock/Indie:
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Cosmorat – POOSHKA
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The Kinks – The Journey Part 3
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Gina Birch – Trouble
🎧 Where to Listen
Want to sample all of these standout tracks in one go? Check out NPR’s New Music Friday playlists on Spotify and Apple Music, or listen to the full discussion with hosts Stephen Thompson and Celia Gregory on NPR’s All Songs Considered podcast.
Final Thoughts:
July 11 may just be the strongest New Music Friday of the year — delivering reunions we thought we’d never get and bold new sounds from tomorrow’s icons. Whether you’re spinning Clipse on repeat or getting lost in Forward’s harmonies, today’s releases prove that 2025’s musical landscape is alive, kicking, and constantly evolving.Which album are you vibing with today? Let us know in the comments or hit us up with your picks on social using #NewMusicFriday!
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