Best New Albums Streaming on Spotify Right Now

20 years ago, a music junkie couldn't even comprehend what Spotify offers. We complain about the modern day struggles that come with streaming services and unlimited access to music, but at the end of the day, you have to realize how ridiculous it is. We can pay $10 a month and get more music than we know what to do with. And that's the main problem—you sign into Spotify and it's almost overwhelming. Most people end up going back to the things they already know or falling into black holes of lost R&B slow jams and weird Kidz Bop covers, so we decided to help out with some recommendations.

We'll be updating this post every month with a new batch of fresh albums that you can stream on Spotify. If you're more about that singles life, you can check out our playlist that's updated regularly here, but every now and then it's still nice to sit down with a record tape CD full album of MP3s.

Here are the best new albums streaming on Spotify right now, in our opinion. If you've got recommendations, feel free to leave them in the comments section.

Release date: September 30

Essential tracks: "Cranes in the Sky," "Mad," "Where Do We Go," "Junie"

You're going to see this album all over next month's year-end lists. It's a foregone conclusion—albums this meticulous, creative, and rich with ideas are a rare thing. From the unleashed, beautiful frustration of "Cranes In The Sky" to the instant R&B classic "Don't Touch My Hair," Solange has finally laid out her artistic vision.

It's politically charged poetry that tackles an entire spectrum of discrimination in America, and she pulled from all over the musical spectrum, too—Sampha, Lil Wayne, Raphael Saadiq, Q-Tip, and many more lend a hand, as did Solange's family members: they recount definitive moments of their black experience in the album's interludes, providing a human touch to a grandiose album. This is an album we'll remember for years, and deserves to be bought on wax wherever possible.

Release date: September 27

Essential tracks: "Pneumonia," "Really Doe," "Tell Me What I Don't Know"

For years, Danny Brown has been putting on for the left-field lyricists, but with every new release he's further blurred the line between traditional hip-hop and experimental electronic music. It's a unique quality, being able to consistently write lyrics with substance over increasingly challenging sonic palettes.

More conventional rappers often try to take on unorthodox production, and usually they're unable to adapt to their surroundings. They sound out of place. But Danny? Time after time, he works out where his voice can fit and he chisels out his nook. On Atrocity Exhibition, Danny takes this ability to a new level.

Read our review of Atrocity Exhibiton here. 

Release date: October 21

Essential tracks: "Livin'," "Scared Money," "Lyk Dis"

Songs like "Suede" hinted at it, but we couldn't have imagined just how perfect Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge would be together across a whole album. Yes Lawd! is like a mix or a mixtape at times, gliding from track to track, from one dusty drum fill to the next funky bassline. Knxwledge provides production filled with vinyl crackle and warm samples, and .Paak does the damn thing, dancing between singing and rapping, and sounding like he's having fun doing it.

When it's cold out, when your sad, wrap this album around yourself like a warm blanket and feel just a little bit better. 

Release date: August 20

Essential tracks: "Nikes," "Pink + White," "Solo," "Nights," "Self Control"

After four long years, Frank Ocean fans were finally rewarded with not one, but two albums from the reclusive genius. Endless is still living exclusively on Apple Music as an unbroken half-hour video, but Blonde is now everywhere.

At its core, Blonde is an album of modern romance, love in the age of technology. It’s a free-floating project, the sound of your head after a handful of painkillers. Ocean spends half of the songs playing with vocal distortion, putting a little distance between himself and his personal lyrics. It’s easy to imagine the distorted moments representing something like a text message, a far more common mode of communication nowadays where the phone and people’s real voices seem so intimidating.

Read our review here.

Release date: September 16

Essential tracks:  "goosebumps," "through the late night," "way back"

After the successful release of Rodeo in September of 2015, Travis Scott assumed his preordained role as a superstar. But Travis didn't go pop on the follow-up, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight. It's an album full of crazy energy, Auto-Tune harmonies, and incredible Mike Dean production.

Travis has created a massive, dedicated following, and he's knows exactly what they want. He's taking a deep dive into a very specific sound on BITTSM. That ambition, coupled with a number of notable features, makes this project his most focused work to date.

André 3000 shows up for a gruesome verse on album opener "the ends." Young Thug co-murders "pick up the phone." Kid Cudi goes dumb with the hums on "through the late night," which led to this—the album is stacked with memorable moments, and they all happen over dark, lustrous beats provided by Dean and a rotating cast that includes Cashmere Cat, TM88, and Boi 1-da. Travis did not disappoint old fans with this release, and he definitely got some new ones. Next up: Astroworld.

Release date: October 21

Essential tracks: "Cash Machine," "Broccoli," "Misunderstood"

D.R.A.M. makes us happy. He has an infectious, positive energy (just look at that album cover and try not to smile) and songs like "Cash Machine," "Broccoli," and "Cute" are catchy missiles aimed straight for the charts. That's only one side of D.R.A.M.'s sound though, and he flexes his range on the smooth R&B of "WiFi" and the soulful and self-affirming "Change My #."

Big Baby D.R.A.M. has everything from rap bangers to dance-pop, and it's an impressive debut record from a true talent who is set to be around for years. 

Release date: October 28

Essential tracks: "Good Drank," "Diamonds Talkin' Back," "Countin"

2 Chainz is killing it in 2016. After a quieter couple of years, he's back to 2012/2013 levels, delivering memorable guest features and songs filled with personality, punchlines, and that ATL swagger. Hibachi For Lunch is his fourth project in 2016, and at a lean seven songs, it's also his best.

Quavo, Gucci Mane, Future, and Ty Dolla Sign all appear, while production comes from Mike Dean, Mike Will Made It, DJ Paul, and FKi. From the guest features to the producers to the rapping, this is certainly no throwaway project. 2 Chainz is a national treasure, and we hope this run carries on into next year.

Release date: June 28

Essential tracks: "Best To You," "Thank You," "Desirée"

Devonté Hynes' long-awaited album as Blood Orange is 17 tracks long, and he uses every second. Freetown Sound is packed with ideas—musical, political, and personal—without sacrificing the melodic accessibility that has made Hynes a go-to writing partner for some of pop music's biggest names.

The hooks are much more subdued here, however. Hynes mostly sings in hushed, sensual tones, leaving the fortissimo moments to a bevy of female collaborators. Empress Of takes lead on "Best To You," Debbie Harry shows out on "E.V.P.," and Nelly Furtado delivers on "Hadron Collider."

Hynes' usual staple of dreamy synths are back, complemented by an orchestral selection of strings, mallets, and arpeggiated synths. It's a huge step forward for the artist in terms of scope, subject matter, and execution. Given its massive ambitions, it would have been very easy for Freetown Sound to collapse under its own weight. It does not, and we have one of 2016's most beautiful albums as a result.

Release date: September 2 

Essential tracks: "Wat's Wrong," "AA," "4r da squaw," "Silkk da Shocka"

Isaiah Rashad is a project artist. His work is best viewed as a whole—2014's Cilvia Demo had its moments of brilliance (the SZA collab "Heavenly Father," "R.I.P. Kevin Miller"), but it was how the 14 songs flowed together that set it apart. Rashad growled through those songs hoarse, hurt, and vulnerable, but did it with endlessly catchy hooks and a chip on his shoulder.

The Sun's Tirade is an even better album. The production isn't too far off from what we heard on Cilvia, but Rashad bulked up the sound—organs, guitars, and the occasional horn give the album a live, one-sitting vibe that creates a complete world (with a couple of exceptions, like the Mike Will-produced sleeper hit "A lot").

But the same questions from Cilvia remain—how much should we celebrate an obviously volatile relationship with drugs and depression? Rashad was almost dropped from TDE between albums thanks to an appetite for addiction and despondency, and it's on full display again throughout The Sun's Tirade. Rashad shares some harsh truths about fatherhood, consumerism, and mortality, but they're still truths. 

And the songs themselves are incredible. Isaiah Rashad is incapable of boring flows, and most of his guests (especially Kendrick Lamar on "Wat's Wrong" and Syd's subtle adds on "Silkk da Shocka") are blessed with the same gift. Rashad's voice is an incredible instrument, and he makes full use of it throughout his second masterpiece. 

Read our interview with Isaiah Rashad here.

Release date: September 30

Essential tracks: "This Is Not About Us," "Fuck With Myself"

Banks infiltrated the world of indietronica  and trip-hop with her studio album Goddess back in 2014. She brought some old friends along—most notably Sohn—for the follow-up, The Altar. She also added some new ones, most notably DJ Dahi. Banks has impeccable taste, and she's able to mold her sound to a number of different styles on The Altar. 

More than anything, though, the album is intense, angry, and unapologetic. ""I had to learn how not to care about hearing that I’m a bitch," Banks told TIME on the album's release. It's the result of learning how to stand your ground in the music industry—"I felt disrespected when I was trying to say what I wanted," she said. "That if I were a man certain situations wouldn’t have happened."

Release date: August 12

Essential tracks: "Diddy Bop," "Sunny Duet," "Shadow Man," "Yesterday"

Upon its release, Noname's Telefone album was quickly heralded (by us) as one of the summer's best. Her music has that quality—you feel as though you're catching up with a friend on tracks like "Yesterday" and "Sunny Duet," thanks to Noname's matter-of-fact delivery and the warm, euphoric production.

The Midwest came out in style for this one—Noname is joined by theMIND, Smino, Eryn Allen Kane, Saba, and host of other guests that help contribute to the chilled-out party atmosphere that the album cultivates. That's true even when Noname brings up shootings, brutality, and their inevitable eulogies. This is a fully-formed album, with no tracks wasted. 

Release date: July 29

Essential tracks: "Get To Know Ya," "Girlfriend," "Inhale Exhale"

We've been insisting that NAO is even better than all the hype suggests for some time, and thankfully, she didn't have us eating words when For All We Know finally dropped. The debut album includes old favorites like "Fool To Love" and "Bad Blood" alongside new, vibrant tracks like "Inhale Exhale" and "Get To Know Ya." It also has deep cuts—venture deep into the 18-song tracklist to find new favorites like "DYWM" or the deceptively weighty change of pace on "Blue Wine" and "Feels Like (Perfume)." 

NAO and her razor-edged falsetto lead the way throughout, floating over growling bass slaps and swirling, atmospheric synths with a cool, calm delivery. And while there are plenty of electronic soul tracks to throw on your party playlists, NAO reveals a range of talents on For All We Know. She might even be best at these Fiona Apple-tinged love songs, but whatever's next, we'll be listening. 

Read our interview with NAO here.

Release date: September 30

Essential tracks: "715 - CR∑∑KS," "29 #Strafford APTS," "22 (OVER S∞∞N)​"

On Bon Iver’s first album in five years, 22, A Million, the atmosphere is dark and removed, with familiar guitar and brass sounds mixing with fuzz and glitches. He veils his well-known falsetto in filters, putting distance between himself and the listener. Vernon has played with electronics and vocal effects before, but this is by far his most experimental record, and therefore might be his most off-putting. For a guy who broke out with the instrumentally sparse and vulnerable “Skinny Love,” his words and melodies in plain sight, he now feels so far away.

But this is still a Bon Iver record, and despite the push back against that more acoustic sound, Vernon retains his trademarks: the falsetto, the poetry that flips between oblique references and direct communications, and the gray day music. He might erase some of his earthy image with this project, but really he is just trading one isolated persona for another. In today’s world, the techie with a homemade computer is the new deep forest recluse. Vernon is certainly challenging listeners with the electronic additions of 22, A Million, but he is not abandoning all he’s been and done before.

Read our review here.

Release date: October 14

Essential tracks: "Knotty Head," "ULT," "Good Night"

Denzel Curry is only 21 years old and still evolving, and that evolution is put on full display with Imperial. While much of his earlier work was loose and trippy, Imperial is sharp, with Denzel rapping like his life depends on it. There's an aggressive, almost militaristic tone that runs throughout, but it's balanced with deceptively catchy hooks ("ULT," "Knotty Head") and substance in every line. There's an independent, underground spirit that runs through the punk-leaning soundscape of Imperial, but with Denzel upping the intensity and going all-in with every verse, his latest work demands widespread attention.

Release date: July 20

Essential tracks: "King Of Teens," "DipSet," "So Many People"

Love him or hate him, Lil Yachty is shining bright (red) right now. The self-proclaimed King of the Teens (and really, few others can challenge him for that crown right now) came through with a ready made summer playlist in Summer Songs 2. There’s lots of variety on the tape, from the bubblegum pop of “So Many People” and “Life Goes On” to the turned up “Shoot Out The Roof” and “Dipset” with Migos’ Offset.

Yachty continues to carve his own lane across the modern rap landscape, and his positive outlook and fun personality certainly doesn't hurt when it comes to building an army of devoted fans. Lil Boat is already a star, but he’s just getting started.

Read our interview with Lil Yachty and Burberry Perry here.

Release date: July 16

Essential tracks: "Ride Out," "Groovy Tony," "JoHn Muir," "Neva CHange"

In what unfortunately feels familiar for ScHoolboy Q, one of the best albums of the year was acknowledged, reviewed, and quickly left in the rearview. He's been subtle with his star power, and isn't the type to thirst after magazine covers, but do yourself a favor and keep listening to his Blank Face LP—it is incredible. Maybe it's because Q doesn't make music that aims for radio or panders to blogs, but every song hits hard.

Blank Face is a huge undertaking, full of blood-curdling beats from the industry's upper echelon—DJ Dahi, Southside, Alchemist, and Swizz Beatz appear alongside TDE regulars Sounwave and Cardo, and we haven't even started in on the guest features yet. Vince Staples and Kanye West deserve high praise, but it's Anderson .Paak and SZA that really make their presence felt on the title track and "Neva CHange," respectively. 

Still, this is ScHoolboy's album, and it's the one he needed to release after 2014's sprawling Oxymoron. Blank Face is urgent, human, and cuts like a knife. It might not make you feel particularly cheerful, but it'll make you feel. 

Release date: August 26

Essential tracks: "Harambe," "Kanye West," "Pick Up The Phone"

Young Thug doesn't need to make albums. He'd probably be just fine dropping mixtapes sporadically, delivering show-stealing guest verses, and continuing the barrage of new songs on a weekly basis. But lately, he's more focused, more polished, and it sounds like he's been taking the advice of Lyor Cohen and giving each song the attention it deserves. This shows on Jeffery—it's Thug's most cohesive work yet, and while it lacks the flashes of unhinged brilliance that so often come up in Thug's catalog, it hints at a more accessible Young Thug. Songs like "Wylcef Jean," "Kanye West," and "Pick Up The Phone" are signs that Young Thug could be on his way to becoming the pop star that he strives to be.

Release date: September 16

Essential tracks: "Dang!," "Stay," "God is Fair, Sexy Nasty"

Mac Miller's evolution has been fascinating. From college rap favorite to druggy philosopher, and now to enlightened, R&B-influenced loverman. Talking about the album, he told us:

"Love is just so much more complicated than a love song. How that aspect of love mirrors my relationship with the universe and with myself is really fascinating to me. Loving my life is really powerful. I just wanted to dig deeper into that. It just started as a little EP, but I realized that there’s a lot here that I’ve been suppressing. You focus so much on making sure the raps are on point, but I also wanted to make sure people know I can kinda sing…"

He goes on to say, "Getting into this was really refreshing because I was writing about something bigger than myself for a change," and the breadth and scope of The Divine Feminine is one of its most enduring features. 

Read our interview with Mac Miller here.

Release date: May 6 

Essential tracks:  “Radio Silence,” “I Need a Forest Fire,” “Meet You In The Maze”

After the three-year hiatus following 2013’s Overgrown, James Blake surprised fans in May with The Colour In Anything, a fresh album that put him smack back on the industry radar—not that he ever really left. It’s a hero's return for the London-based artist, who has built an international reputation for his goosebump-inducing vocals, haunting melodies, and melancholy mood.

The album is predictably gorgeous: hazy piano chords accompany breathy howls and sparse electronics, weaving in and out of verses that loop hypnotically into themselves. While the mammoth album chooses its lyrics carefully, the verses that do make an appearance are the kind of poetry that only Blake could pull off: “It's sad that you're no longer her,” or “while you were away, I started loving you,” he despairs.

There's pointed influence from Bon Iver and Frank Ocean throughout, and the resultant album feels like it’s wrapped in a thin mist, both in the way it sounds and the way you quickly lose yourself in its folds.

Release date: June 17 

Essential tracks: “Twist My Fingaz,” “Why You Always Hatin?,” “FDT”

YG’s follow-up to his 2014 West Coast blassic My Krazy Life is finally here. Still Brazy is a fun, aggressive record that does justice to the legacy that YG has already built for himself in his short career. Though this album is missing the unique flavor that DJ Mustard lent to My Krazy Life, it hardly suffers in the grand scheme of things; in fact, YG’s style really shines as a result.

The rapper has refined his storytelling considerably, specifically his internal monologue, and though the album may feel a bit more paranoid as a result, it’s incredibly rewarding to get such an honest look into YG’s head. He's more political than ever before, too. Songs like “FDT” and “Police Get Away Wit Murder” demonstrate YG’s keen ability to speak for those whose voices are not heard in the mainstream. As long as artists like YG keep their ears to the streets and report their findings, records like this will have an audience.

It’s a joy to bear witness to YG’s emotional growth and musical development—but don’t worry, he’s still as brazy as he’s always been.