Friday, July 21, 2017 is one of the biggest music release dates of 2017.  New releases hail from Lana Del Rey, Meek Miler, Tyler the Creator & more.

July 2017 was looking suspect for a while.  The potential blockbuster new releases were few and far between. Then came a blessing – Friday, July 21, 2017.  That’s when everybody decided to release a new album. Now, the wallet is about to lose lots of money – or there’ll be lots of streaming, etc.  July 21, 2017 welcomes new albums courtesy of Lana Del Rey, Meek Mill, Tyler, the Creator, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Romeo Santos, In This Moment, Declan McKenna, Foster the People, and Sara Evans among others.

1. Lana Del Rey, Lust for Life

Interscope

The promo campaign for Lust for Life, the fifth project by Lana Del Rey, has been interesting.  Five singles arrived ahead of the project – “Love,” “Lust for Life,” “Summer Bummer,” “Groupie Love,” and “Coachella – Woodstock in my Mind.” Even so, the quick release of the album comes as somewhat of a surprise.  Lust for Life follows Del Rey’s 2015 effort, Hollywood.  It is comprised of 16 songs and features guest appearances by The Weeknd, A$AP Rocky, Playboi Carti, Stevie Nicks, and Sean Ono Lennon.

2. Meek Mill, Wins & Losses

Atlantic

Meek Mill, like Lana Del Rey, joins a week of new releases that’s absolutely stacked.  Wins & Losses is the third studio album by Maybach Music rapper.  Wins & Losses serves as the follow-up to his 2015 effort, Dreams Worth More Than Money.  In between albums, he dropped mixtape DC4 in 2016.  Comprised of 17 songs, four singles arrived ahead of the album: “Whatever You Need” featuring Chris Brown & Ty Dolla $ign, “Issues,” “Glow Up,” and “Young Black America” featuring The-Dream.  Featured guests, beyond those appearing on the aforementioned singles, include Future, Rick Ross, Quavo, Yo Gotti, Lil Uzi Vert, and Young Thug among others.

3. Tyler, the Creator, Flower Boy

Columbia 

Blunt underground rapper Tyler, the Creator returns with Flower Boy, following a two-year hiatus.  Flower Boy serves as the follow up to CHERRY BOMB, which arrived in 2015.  Comprised of 14 songs, three singles were issued ahead of Flower Boy: “Who Dat Boy,” “Boredom,” and “911/Mr. Lonely.”

4. Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley, Stony Hill

Republic 

Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley returns with his first solo album in 12 years, Stony Hills.  Stony Hills is the proper follow up to Marley’s critically acclaimed album, Welcome to Jamrock, released in 2005.  Marley hasn’t been absent since ’05 – He released a joint album with Nas in 2010 (Distant Relatives).  Comprised of 18 songs, six singles arrived ahead of the album: “Nail Pon Cross,” “R.O.A.R.,” “Medication” (featuring Stephen Marley), “Living it Up,” “Everybody Wants to Be Somebody,” and “Caution.”

5. Romeo Santo, Golden

Sony Latin

Romeo Santos gives himself (and fans) a great 36^th birthday present – his new studio album, Golden.  Golden serves as the follow-up to Formula, Vol. 2, released in 2014.  Comprised of 18 songs overall, two singles were issued ahead of the album: “Héroe Favorito” and “Imitadora.” Featured guests on Golden include Swizz Beatz, Juan Luis Guerra, Ozuna, Nicky Jam, Daddy Yankee, Julio Iglesias, and Jessie Reyez.

6. In This Moment, Ritual

Atlantic 

Metal band In This Moment returns with Ritual, its first album in nearly three years.  Ritual follows up Black Widow, which arrived in November 2014 and debuted at no. 8 on the Billboard 200. Ritual is comprised of 12 songs, including pre-release singles “Oh Lord,” “In the Air Tonight,” and “Roots.”

7. Declan McKenna, What Do You Think About the Car?

Columbia

Up-and-coming, British teen singer/songwriter Declan McKenna releases his full-length debut, What Do You Think About the Car?  What Do You Think About the Car? follows EP, Liar, which arrived in 2016.  Interestingly, three songs from that EP reappear on Car – “Brazil,” “Bethlehem,” and “Paracetamol.” Additionally, “Isombard” (released in 2016) along with “Humongous” were issued in advance of the album.

8. Foster the People, Sacred Hearts Club

Columbia

Foster the People is known for one particular song, “Pumped Up Kicks,” from their 2011 debut album, Torches.  The alternative collective returns with Sacred Hearts Club, their third studio album, following 2014 LP, Supermodel.  Comprised of 12 songs, five singles arrived prior to the album: “Pay the Man,” “Doing it for the Money,” “Sit Next to Me,” “SHC,” and “Loyal Like Sid & Nancy.”

9. Sara Evans, Words

Born to Fly 

Country veteran Sara Evans returns with Words, her first studio album in three years.  Words follows Slow Me Down, which was released in March 2014.  One notable difference about Words compared to Evans’ previous releases is the fact that it appears on an independent label, Born to Fly. Comprised of 14 songs, four singles arrived prior to Words: “Marquee Sign,” “Diving in Deep,” “I Don’t Trust Myself,” and “Words.”

Other New Releases:

Various Artists, Descendants 2 (Original TV Movie Soundtrack); Steve Aoki, Steve Aoki Presents Kolony; DED, Mis-An-Thrope; Le’Andria Johnson, Bigger Than Me; Parmalee, 27861

Photo Credits: Interscope, Atlantic, Columbia, Republic, Sony Latin, Born to Fly