50 Albums From 2022 That Are Guaranteed to Be on Our Spotify Wrapped

After waiting patiently for three years to hear new music from Megan Thee Stallion, 2022 was finally our year. Following Stallion's "Something For Thee Hotties" mixtape, which was released on Oct. 29, 2021, the rapper hinted that her new album wasn't far behind. "I felt like I was rushing trying to put out projects because I feel like I always got to feed the Hotties," she told Apple Music 1's Zane Lowe that same day. "So right now how I'm writing, I'm really taking my time. This is the most songs that I've ever recorded . . . y'all should be prepared for next year."

On March 11, Stallion released "Sweetest Pie," featuring Dua Lipa — the lead single from her upcoming album. As a follow-up to the collaboration, Stallion debuted her new song "To Whom It May The F*ck Concern," a celebration of female empowerment, during her set at Coachella on April 17.

Just a few months later, on Aug. 12, Stallion came through with her full "Traumazine" album, which she named in reference to the chemical released by the brain in response to traumatic events. The album includes hits like "Her," "Pressurelicious," and "Plan B."

On Nov. 2, 2021, Rosalía shared an 18-second YouTube clip teasing "Motomami," her third studio album's title track. A week later, on Nov. 11, 2021, she posted the official video for "La Fama," featuring The Weeknd, and followed up on Feb. 3 with the official video for her new song "Saoko." The full album, which dropped on March 18, also features guest appearances from Tokischa, Frank Ocean, and Playboi Carti. Ahead of the album release, Rosalía made her "Saturday Night Live" debut with "Chicken Teriyaki" and "La Fama."

During a performance in California at the 2021 Rolling Loud festival, Kid Cudi revealed his plans to release two albums in 2022, beginning with "Entergalactic," the soundtrack to his animated Netflix show. "I have 'Entergalactic' coming in the summer, but I wanna drop another album before that," he told the audience. "And I got some tasty surprises, and I'm really excited about all this new sh*t, all this new music, to give to you guys."

On April 9, Cudi performed with Jack Harlow at the Kids' Choice Awards. During his set, the rapper performed his new single "Stars in the Sky" from "Sonic the Hedgehog 2." Several months later, on Sept. 30, the artist dropped his full "Entergalactic" album, which includes songs like "Willing to Trust" with Ty Dolla Sign, "Can't Believe It," featuring 2 Chainz, "Somewhere to Fly" with Don Toliver, and more.

SZA fans are hungry for a follow-up album after her 2017 release, "Ctrl," and she's been hard at work — clocking 12-hour days in the studio — to give fans what they've been asking for. "I'm different, so how could [my music] not be different?" she told POPSUGAR in March 2021. "So much of me is in my music — it's literally verbatim whatever's on my mind, and I see the world way differently than I did [before] . . . I'm just trying to have fun and really let my heart speak and get out of my head."

In Sept. 2020, SZA released her first lead single since 2017, "Hits Different," featuring Ty Dolla Sign. A few months later, she released her song "Good Days" on Christmas Day. She then went on to be featured on Doja Cat's "Kiss Me More."

On Dec. 21, 2021, SZA released her breakup track, "I Hate U," followed by a music video featuring LaKeith Stanfield on Jan. 7. After winning her first Grammy for best pop duo/group performance for her collaboration with Doja Cat on "Kiss Me More," SZA confirmed that the new album is done and awaiting a release date. "I just actually finished it up in Hawaii recently, so just turning it in," she told Variety at the Grammys. "It's probably my most unisex project yet. It's definitely for everybody in a different way."

She has since released her highly anticipated singles "Good Days" and "Shirt," much to the excitement of fans. In an interview with Billboard on Nov. 16, SZA revealed that the new album is titled "S.O.S." and shared a projected release date of December 2022, a deadline that has her feeling "stressed." "I hate the red tape analytics of dropping anything — it's so stressful," she said. She added that the pressure to release new music has intensified, but she only plans to put out the finished album when she's ready.

On Nov. 30, she shared the album cover on Twitter, a photo of herself sitting on the end of a diving board over the ocean. SZA's sophomore album will make its debut on Dec. 9.

Originally scheduled to drop in fall 2021, Khalid's third studio album, "Everything Is Changing," is taking longer than expected to arrive — but good things take time. On July 21, 2021, he dropped "New Normal," his first single from the album, which was inspired by "the pandemic and the emotional toll that quarantine took on me and my friends," according to Billboard.

"'Everything Is Changing' as an album really takes that a step further, with all of the songs centering around trying to find a purpose and a sense of self in a world where everything is digitally connected but emotionally disconnected," he said. "As we all come out of quarantine and venture more into the world and try to reconnect with people we haven't seen in over a year, I hope the messages explored within the album open up conversations and allow people to access their feelings in a new way."

At the 2021 Soul Train Awards on Nov. 28, Normani hinted that her debut album as a solo artist is on the way and that she might even accompany the release with a tour. "I wanna tell you that summer is gonna be lit," she said. "I'm ready to perform, I miss performing."

On March 21, Normani premiered her heartbreak song, "Fair," her first solo track since her Fifth Harmony days and the lead single off her upcoming album. "When you go through heartbreak and adversity, that often creates the best record," she told Today. "And for me, this was really just an opportunity to showcase my vulnerability. I think that I've never really been comfortable with being vulnerable in front of people. So, for me, this was really a breakthrough and really just shattering the idea of perfection."

Inspired by some of her favorite '90s musicians, such as Brandy, Monica, Toni Braxton, and Destiny's Child, the new album will be a mashup of genres that serves as an "introduction to who I really am." "I think that's one thing that, in the beginning of the process, was limiting to me creatively, because I'm like, 'OK, is this pop enough? Is this urban enough?' Like, I was really, really putting myself through it and not enjoying and just making good-ass music, which for me is the most important."

In an April interview with BET, the singer said the album is a representation of her growth as an artist. "You can expect a range — me being my most vocal and [more] authentic than ever before from start to finish," she said. "There's a range from what you can hear from the records I've already put out along with the next record I'll be putting out — there's so much dimension to me as a person so I really wanted my artistry to reflect that. Sonically, I was able to experiment. I love being in the studio as my playground, and production value, to me, is super important. As a songwriter, I've grown tremendously. With me trusting myself, you'll hear that confidence for sure."

It's been four years since Cardi B released her debut album, "Invasion of Privacy," but new music is definitely in the works. On Oct. 28, 2021, a Cardi B fan account shared a soundless video that featured several music executives giving the "WAP" singer's new music a listen.

On Dec. 13, 2021, the rapper posted an Instagram video updating her fans on the status of the new album. "I'm in a lot of positions that require a lot of my time, and on top of that, I gotta put out this album next year," the mom of two said. "Not only do I got to put out an album, but I gotta record a movie. I've got to do so much sh*t, y'all." In January, Cardi B also shared a glimpse of her new at-home recording studio. We're definitely keeping our eyes open for any album hints or single releases.

Taylor Swift's highly anticipated "Midnights" album dropped at midnight on Oct. 21. Just a few hours after the album's debut, Swift also shared the music video for her hit song "Anti-Hero." Later, the "Lavender Haze" singer released the Easter-egg-packed music video for "Bejeweled," which features famous faces like Laura Dern, the HAIM sisters, and more.

Swift also announced seven additional tracks, compiled under the title "Midnights (3am Edition)," including "The Great War," "Would've, Could've, Should've," and "Hits Different."

Since the album release, Swift's song "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" has resonated heavily with people who have experienced miscarriages. The album as a whole has also proven to be highly relatable to people with insomnia.

After announcing her The Eras Tour on Nov. 1, Swift caused a stir among fans who attempted to use Ticketmaster's "Verified Fans" system to obtain tickets. Due to an influx of ticket buyers on the site, Ticketmaster canceled public ticket sales for the tour on Nov. 17.

Four long years after the release of his second studio album, "Blonde," Frank Ocean is returning in 2023 to headline at Coachella, which might mean there's new music in store ahead of the performance. Given the "Pink + White" singer's unpredictability when it comes to album releases, we can't be sure he plans to release new music in 2022, but he sparked a frenzy among fans in September when he wiped his Instagram account of all posts. While he hasn't made any posts since clearing his page, fans are hopeful that the cleanse is a sign of new music on the horizon.

In July, Ocean also teased fans with an instrumental release on the first episode of "Blonded Radio" on Apple Music during which he discussed psychedelics and working late nights in the studio.

Two years after releasing his sophomore album, "Fine Line," Harry Styles returned with a long-anticipated new album. On April 1, Styles dropped the first single from his album "Harry's House." The track, "As It Was," included a snippet of his goddaughter's voice in the intro, and the music video featured dancer and model Mathilde Lin as Styles's love interest.

The album features 13 tracks, some of which fans theorize are about Olivia Wilde, including "Late Night Talking," "Matilda," "Satellite," "Love of My Life," and more.

Three years after they released "Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino," the Arctic Monkeys dropped their seventh album, "The Car," on Oct. 21.

During an interview on the UK's "5 Live Breakfast" on Nov. 12, 2021, drummer Matt Helders confirmed that the album was "pretty much" done. "It was a bit disjointed how we had to do it, and there are bits to finish off, but yeah, it's all in the works," he explained, referring to complications caused by the pandemic. "[Our albums] always kind of pick up where the other one left off in a way. [The new sound] makes sense when you think about it in the context of the last record. But we always do try and do something a bit different."

The new album includes songs like "There'd Better Be a Mirrorball," "I Ain't Quite Where I Think I Am," and "Hello You."

Blink-182 has been rocking for decades, and they returned with their ninth studio album, "Sunny Days," on June 30 — not to be confused with their eighth album, "Nine," released in 2019. The new release brought back the band's gritty punk-rock sound with songs like "Let's Party," "Monster in My Head," "MTV's Dead," and more.

Notably, this was the band's first release following frontman Mark Hoppus's battle with stage four diffuse large B cell lymphoma. On Sept. 29, 2021, the singer shared an Instagram post announcing that he's cancer free.

Since the band's latest album release, drummer Travis Barker has married Kourtney Kardashian, taking part in three wedding ceremonies — though one was unofficial — with the Poosh founder.

Bad Bunny released his fourth solo studio album, "Un Verano Sin Ti," which translates to "a summer without you," on May 6 to the excitement of millions of fans around the world. The release is a follow-up to his 2020 album, "El Último Tour Del Mundo."

Featuring songs like "Después de la Playa," "Un Ratito," and Ojitos Lindos" with Bomba Estéreo, the album is a combination of reggaeton, cumbia, and indie pop with elements of dancehall, merengue, bachata, and techno. "Un Verano Sin Ti" also features guest artists including the Marías, Buscabulla, Chencho Corleone, Rauw Alejandro, Jhay Cortez, and Tony Dize.

Three years after the release of his debut album, "Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent," Lewis Capaldi shared what he's been working on in the interim. After pushing back his tour to focus more on writing a follow-up album, Capaldi wrote a letter to fans in March, explaining what to expect from him in 2022.

"I'd be lying if I said I haven't been terrified about making my next album since the moment I finished 'Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent,'" he wrote. "I've been writing loads of tunes I'm really excited about and I can't wait for you to hear them. I really want to make sure whatever I put out next is the absolute best it can be, partly for my own sanity, ['cause] I'm going to have to sing these songs every night for the next few years on tour, but ultimately for all of you who made the first album everything it was."

On Feb. 25, the singer released his EP, "Cry Yourself to Sleep," which featured songs like "Someone You Loved," "Hold Me While You Wait," "Bruises," and "Lost on You."

During the last show of their Las Vegas residency, BTS teased their new album with a montage of black-and-white clips of Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. The video was captioned "We Are Bulletproof" and ended with the date "2022.06.10."

A few days later, the K-pop group — who performed at the Grammys on April 3 — shared the same clip with fans on social media. "This is Big Hit Music. BTS will be back with another new album on June 10, 2022," the label wrote on Weverse. "Details on the new album will be provided in a separate notice at a later date."

On June 10, the band dropped the anthology album, which features the group's biggest hits over the course of their nine-year career, as well as four new songs: "Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)," "Run BTS," "For Youth," and "Quotation Mark." In November, Jimin also confirmed that he's releasing a solo album in 2023.

Lizzo left the self-loathing at the door in her "About Damn Time" video. On April 14, the "Good as Hell" singer dropped the first single off her new album, "Special." Three years after releasing her last studio album, "Cuz I Love You," she pulled double duty on "Saturday Night Live," acting as both host and musical guest to promote her latest release.

During the show, Lizzo performed "About Damn Time" and the album's title track, "Special." The full album includes hits like "2 Be Loved (Am I Ready)," "Grrrls," and "I Love You B*tch."

In August, Kendrick Lamar announced that he would be leaving his longtime record label, Top Dawn Entertainment. He also hinted that a new project was in the works. "As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years," he wrote on a new website called oklama.com. "The Struggles. The Success. And most importantly, the Brotherhood. May the Most High continue to use Top Dawg as a vessel for candid creators. As I continue to pursue my life's calling."

Responding to a tweet that read "Kendrick Lamar is officially retired" on April 18, Lamar shared a link to the oklama.com website, where he announced that his fifth album, "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers," would be released on May 13. "The following statement was released today by oklama, through his company pgLang at 11:00 a.m. PT in Los Angeles, CA:
"Album: 'Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers'
"Release date: 5/13/2022
"All factual information for this release will come directly from this source only."

The rapper's new album is a reflection on his last 17 years in the music business. "I spend most of my days with fleeting thoughts. Writing. Listening. And collecting old Beach cruisers," he wrote ahead of the album's debut. "The morning rides keep me on a hill of silence. I go months without a phone. Love, loss, and grief have disturbed my comfort zone, but the glimmers of God speak through my music and family. While the world around me evolves, I reflect on what matters the most. The life in which my words will land next."

Conan Gray released his debut album, "Kid Krow," in March 2020, pulling in millions of fans with songs like "Heather," "Astronomy," and "Maniac." After two years of working on new music, Gray announced his sophomore album, "Superache," on Twitter on April 11. "Superache / My sophomore album / Coming June 24th," Gray captioned the album cover, which features a photo of himself dressed in a black suit and reclining on a heart-shaped patch of red roses.

Gray didn't divulge too many details about the album ahead of its release, but speaking with People, he explained that "Superache" is a more intimate follow-up to his debut album. "There are moments where I had to really think, 'What are the things that I don't want to say?' And in the end, the answer ended up being 'Nothing,'" he said. "[The album is] just about that ache of being young and sometimes dramatic about the way that you deal with pain and heartbreak and mourning."

On April 15, the singer–songwriter released "Memories," the lead single off his new album — a song he was inspired to write after having dinner with a friend who was thinking about texting their ex. "I was like, 'Well, you broke up with him, so maybe you shouldn't text him. Maybe you should actually just leave him alone and let him rest and let him get over you.' It just had me thinking about all the times that people texted me that I wished they wouldn't have."

A few months later, on June 24, Gray shared the full album, including songs like "Disaster," "Astronomy," and "People Watching."

Almost three years after the release of his debut album, "The Lost Boy," Cordae came back with a whole new track list. According to a press release, "From a Birds Eye View" was inspired by a life-changing trip to Africa, Cordae's experience enduring the loss of a friend and his evolving journey "as an artist and a man."

The rapper released his sophomore album on Jan. 14, requesting that fans "listen to songs 1-12 (Shilohs Intro-Westlake High) from top to bottom with no pauses, skips or interruptions." Cordae accompanied the album with a nationwide tour that began Feb. 3 at the House of Blues in Dallas and extended through March.

Beyoncé kept fans on their toes for years following the release of "Lemonade" in 2016, and our patience was finally rewarded. After releasing her song "Be Alive" for the "King Richard" soundtrack, Beyoncé released her seventh studio album, Renaissance on July 29.

"With all the isolation and injustice over the past year, I think we are all ready to escape, travel, love, and laugh again," she told Harper's Bazaar on Aug. 10, 2021, as fans patiently awaited the new album. "I feel a renaissance emerging, and I want to be part of nurturing that escape in any way possible. I've been in the studio for a year and a half."

At the 2022 Oscars, Beyoncé performed "Be Alive" with Blue Ivy by her side on the same tennis court that Serena Williams and Venus Williams trained at in their youth.

The album includes hits like "Break My Soul," "I'm That Girl," and "Cuff It." In an Instagram post revealing the album art on June 30, Beyoncé explained that the album was a deeply personal project that she's proud to share with her fans.

"Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world. It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving," she wrote. "My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration. I hope you find joy in this music. I hope it inspires you to release the wiggle. Ha! And to feel as unique, strong, and sexy as you are."

"Pretty B*tch Music" is Saweetie's upcoming studio album about the importance of showing women "being about their business," exuding confidence, being sexy, and having fun. The album will feature tracks like "Tap In," "Back to the Streets" featuring Jhené Aiko, "Best Friend" featuring Doja Cat, and "Fast (Motion)."

After teasing that the album would be coming in 2021 and 2022, Saweetie pushed the album's projected publication date back to 2023. With the year quickly coming to a close, we can only hope that "Pretty B*tch Music" and Saweetie's upcoming project about being a bachelorette, "The Single Life," will be unveiled soon.

During an episode of Apple Music's "Memento Mori" on Oct. 4, 2021, The Weeknd revealed that his new album, "Dawn FM," is complete. "Only thing missing is a couple of characters that are key to the narrative," he said. "Some people that are near and dear to me, some people that inspired my life as a child . . . and some that inspire me now." The "Save Your Tears" singer added that fans can expect new music videos and "exciting features" related to the album in the months leading up to its release.

On Jan. 3, the singer announced on Instagram that his new album was on the way, sharing a video clip that teased future guest appearances from stars like Jim Carrey, Quincy Jones, Tyler, The Creator, Lil Wayne, and Oneohtrix Point Never. A few days later, on Jan. 7, The Weeknd officially released the full "Dawn FM" album, along with a music video for his song "Sacrifice."

The full album includes tracks like "How Do I Make You Love Me?" "Don't Break My Heart," and "Out of Time." Since debuting "Dawn FM," The Weeknd has also been working on his latest project, "The Idol," a star-studded series about the relationship between a rising pop star and a cult leader, which is set to premiere in 2023.

Seventeen fans were ready to declare March 17 an unofficial holiday after the group's label, Pledis Entertainment, confirmed the band's newest album in a statement shared with South Korean publication Top Star News. "SEVENTEEN are preparing to make a comeback with a full-length studio album in May," the label wrote. "The forthcoming record will notably mark the 13-piece group's first domestic comeback of 2022, and will arrive seven months after their October 2021 mini-album, 'Attacca.'"

On April 14, the band released the music video for "Dar+ling," their first single off the new album, which featured members dancing their way through a surreal daydream. "Face the Sun" finally dropped on May 27, marking the group's first album release since "An Ode" in September 2019.

Famous for her role in the "Descendants" films on Disney Channel, Dove Cameron has taken her singing career to the next level. Since 2019, Cameron has release almost an entire album-worth of singles, including "Bloodshot," "LazyBaby," and "Boyfriend." While Cameron has not announced her debut album, she has since released two new singles, "Breakfast" and "Bad Idea." With so many tracks in her musical arsenal, we wouldn't be surprised if she compiled them all into an album sometime soon.

On October 25, 2021, Cameron shared footage from the recording studio, adding fuel to the album fire. "i started writing my debut EP this week and i have cried every day . alone and in front of people," she captioned the Instagram post. Cameron hasn't provided any substantial updates on the upcoming EP since, but we'll be the first in line to pre-order when she does.

On Nov. 10, Avril Lavigne released her new single, "Bite Me," which fueled fan theories that a new album was in the works. On Feb. 25, the "Complicated" singer dropped her seventh studio album, "Love Sux," featuring songs like "Avalanche," "Dare to Love Me," "Cannonball," and "Love It When You Hate Me."

Ari Lennox released her debut album, "Shea Butter Baby," in 2019, leaving fans eager for a new release. But, in a series of since-deleted tweets, the "Up Late" singer explained that she wouldn't be releasing any new projects until it "feels right."

On March 4, Lennox shared a tweet teasing her sophomore album, which was only three songs away from being complete at the time. "So proud of my future sophomore album," she wrote. "Still seeking 3 more songs and then issa wrap ❤️ It will be here this year."

Fulfilling fans' dreams, the "Pressure" singer released her second studio album, "Age/Sex/Location," on Sept. 9. In a since-deleted post on Instagram, Lennox explained what the album title means to her. "Transitional space. Very vulnerable codependent and validation seeking part of my life," she wrote. "I remember the countless times I was kicked out of dating apps because they didn't think I was really myself, it reminded me of those age/sex/location days where I actually wasn't being myself in those chat rooms."

On Nov. 18, Lennox also added new tour dates to her 2023 "Age/Sex/Location" North American tour, which kicks off in Las Vegas on Jan. 26 and ends in Washington DC on March 29. "Y'all have been showing out since I announced the Age / Sex / Location tour and I want to say THANK YOU ❤️❤️😘😘 Just added a few more dates!!!" she captioned a post on Instagram.

Brockhampton fans were overwhelmed with a mix of emotions when singer Kevin Abstract revealed in a tweet on March 31 that the band would be releasing their final two albums in 2022. Following the release of their penultimate album, "Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine," on April 9, Abstract explained that the band's final project is delayed until sometime in 2022. "Pushing the album back to see how these new members we're scouting make it thru tryouts," he wrote.

At a Coachella performance in April, the group teased the album "The Family" after their final set. Since the performance, the band has been on an indefinite hiatus but released the first part of their final project on Nov. 17. The album features songs like "Take It Back," "Gold Teeth," "(Back From the) Road," and "Good Time." The band dropped their final album, "TM," the same day.

Two years after the release of "Tickets to My Downfall," Machine Gun Kelly followed up with his sixth studio album, "Mainstream Sellout," formerly called "Born With Horns." The album was made in collaboration with Blink-182's Travis Barker. Packed with songs like "Papercuts," the new album is "darker" and "more heavy" than Kelly's previous work and addresses his struggles with fame over the years, according to Billboard.

On Feb. 9, MGK and Willow released a music video for their new pop–punk track, "Emo Girl," the eighth track on the album. Additional songs on "Mainsteram Sellout" include "Maybe," featuring "Bring Me the Horizon," "Drug Dealer" and "Ay!" featuring Lil Wayne, "Make Up Sex" featuring Blackbear, and "Wall of Fame (Interlude)" featuring Pete Davidson.

Breaking her three-year hiatus, Mitski returned with a new album, titled "Laurel Hell," accompanied by a North American tour that kicked off at the Orange Peel in Asheville, NC, on Feb. 17 and wraps in Mexico City on Nov. 20. In addition to her single "The Only Heartbreaker," the album features tracks like "Love Me More," "That's Our Lamp," and "Working For the Knife."

In a tweet posted on Dec. 3, 2021, alternative rock band Wallows, fronted by "13 Reasons Why" star Dylan Minnette, announced that they would be releasing their sophomore album, "Tell Me That It's Over," on March 25. The band also created a new interactive website where they teased snippets of four songs from the album, including "Especially You."

On March 25, the band came through and released the full album, which features songs like "Hard to Believe," "Missing Out," and "I Don't Want to Talk."

K-pop group iKon is currently on a break following the band's appearance on South Korea's "Kingdom: Legendary War" music competition, but the six-piece hip-hop group is already planning to release their next album, according to singer Jinhwan Kim. "[I want] to make good music that meets fans' expectations," he said in an interview with Marie Claire Korea. "I feel impatient because I don't want them to wait too long."

On April 11, the band dropped a teaser poster for their upcoming album, "Flashback!" A few days later, on April 14, they announced that the mini album, their first physical album since "i Decide," would be released on May 3. The finished album includes songs like "But You," "For Real?" and "At Ease."

Made up of four middle school and high school–age friends, the Linda Lindas are slowly taking over the punk-rock scene. In 2020, the band dropped a self-titled EP, giving fans a taste of what to expect from their debut album, "Growing Up," which dropped on April 8.

Speaking to Elle on April 18, Lucia de la Garza said she hopes the album helps people understand "they can do whatever they want at any age." "This is only our first album," she added. "We wanna keep making music, we wanna keep writing and releasing songs, but we're still really proud of this."

In July 2020, Post Malone confirmed that new music was on the way, but whether the album was dropping in 2022 was up for debate. "I'm working on an album now," he told WSJ Magazine. "As crazy as the world is and as strong as everybody needs to be, being able to be in my house by myself and just vibe out and see where my brain takes me — this has been a perfect time to make music and to write songs about what's going on currently."

On Jan. 26, Malone announced that his new album would be called "Twelve Carat Toothache" and that it would be approximately 45-minutes long. The "Circles" singer also hinted that there might be two albums on the way.

"I want to make an album that will uplift and show that people are not alone in their times of loneliness and worry, and that, at the end of the day, we all just need to show love to everyone on the planet and figure things out," he said. "I think we're making some incredible stuff."

On June 3, the rapper — who welcomed his first baby girl that same month — released the full album to positive reviews from critics and fans. The track list includes songs like "Cooped Up" featuring Roddy Ricch, "I Like You (A Happier Song)" featuring Doja Cat, "I Cannot Be (A Sadder Song)" featuring Gunna, and more. Other guest artists on the album include Fleet Foxes, Kid Laroi, and The Weeknd.

Described as a "cinematic sci-fi saga," Bastille's fourth studio album, "Give Me the Future," pays tribute to the tech age that humanity is currently experiencing and reflects on "the strangeness of living through times that can feel like science fiction." The track list for the album, which dropped on Feb. 4, includes singles like "No Bad Days," "Distorted Light Beam," "Thelma + Louise," the title song, and even a spoken word track featuring Riz Ahmed.

In September 2021, the Lumineers announced that they would be releasing their fourth studio album, "Brightside," on Jan. 14. "It's like a 15-year-old's fever dream, an American love story in all its glory and heartbreak. The last couple left, on the run from something and all alone," singer-guitarist Wesley Schultz said of the album's title track. According to Spin, it will be the band's "most joyous and spontaneous piece of work thus far."

On Jan. 14, the band came through with the completed album, which includes tracks like "Birthday," "Big Shot," and "A.M. Radio." Less than a month later, on Feb. 9, the Lumineers also announced North American dates for their "Brightside" world tour.

Dolly Parton — who was nominated to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year — has been in the business of delivering incredible music for decades, and her latest release, "Run, Rose, Run," is no exception. The album, which became available on March 7, accompanies the release of the "Jolene" singer's first novel, cowritten with author James Patterson. The novel includes "heart-wrenching" lyrics from the songs on Parton's new album, which are "essential to the story," according to her website.

Set in Nashville, the book tells the story of a young woman with a brutal secret who has set out to turn her music-making dreams into a reality. "I cannot be more excited about the release of my very first novel," Parton said. "I hope you enjoy the book and the songs as much as we've enjoyed putting it together."

Jack Harlow's sophomore album dropped on May 6. Just a few months earlier, on Feb. 18, the "Way Out" singer released his first single off the new album: "Nail Tech." Compared to his previous album, Harlow says his newest work, titled "Come Home the Kids Miss You," will be more serious and might even feature a collaboration with Dolly Parton.

"My songs are very intimate, and a lot of my fans say they feel like they're having a conversation with me," Harlow told Variety in November 2021. "I love that and don't ever want to lose it, but there's a certain feeling, when I'm performing, that some songs are hitting the back wall of the room instead of the first five rows, and I'm excited to have more of that. Before, I wanted to show off my subtlety, but now I feel like my tone is more commanding — there's more presence, more personality. This [album] has a lot more of my DNA all over it: I'm acting as a producer for the first time. I know my venues are about to get bigger, and I want my music to connect out there. I wanna turn up!"

Following the album release, Harlow performed his hit single, "First Class," which samples Fergie's "Glamorous," alongside the iconic singer herself at the 2022 MTV VMAs.

Kehlani came in hot this year with a new album titled "Blue Water Road." In September 2021, they teased the album by dropping the lead single, "Altar," followed by "Little Story" in February and "Up at Night," featuring Justin Bieber, on March 30. "Blue water road is a destination in my mind," Kehlani said in a press release, according to Pitchfork."

The album includes songs like "Any Given Sunday," "Wondering/Wandering," and "Up at Night." The album cover, shot by Brianna Alysse, also features Kehlani standing in front of the rocky ocean tide with her wet hair swinging around her face in all directions.

Angel Olsen, most well known for her songs "Shut Up Kiss Me" and "Unf*cktheworld," announced her sixth studio album, "Big Time," on March 29. The album, which dropped on June 3, is inspired by Olsen's experience coming out as queer and the effects of her parents' recent deaths on her mental and emotional state.

"Some experiences just make you feel as though you're 5 years old, no matter how wise or adult you think you are," she said, according to Pitchfork. "Finally, at the ripe age of 34, I was free to be me."

Preceded by her single "All the Good Times," Olsen's new album also features songs like "Ghost On," "Through the Fires," and "Chasing the Sun."

Noah Cyrus's fourth studio album, "The Hardest Part," became available to stream on July 15. Ahead of the new release, the "July" singer — who performed an electrifying "Jolene" cover with Miley Cyrus in January — dropped the album's lead single, "I Burned LA Down," which featured Cyrus riding a white horse through a blazing field. The full album includes songs like "Mr. Percocet," "Ready to Go," and "Every Beginning Ends," featuring Death Cab For Cutie's lead singer Benjamin Gibbard.

FKA Twigs dropped new music in 2022, and the track list is wild. On Jan. 14, the "Jealousy" singer released her new mixtape, "Caprisongs" — a play on the word Capricorn, her star sign — which includes the lead single "Tears in the Club," featuring The Weeknd. The Afrobeats-infused album also includes songs like "Ride the Dragon" and "Careless" and features artists like British rapper Pa Salieu, London-based DJ and artist Shygirl, Dystopia, Jorja Smith, and more.

Around the time of the album drop, Twigs also teased a collaboration called with Dua Lipa on a song titled "Why Don't You Love Me," so we're definitely keeping our ears open for updates.

Maggie Rogers's newest album, "Surrender," was released on July 29. The artist's sophomore album follows her 2019 studio album, "Heard It in a Past Life." In a tweet posted on Jan. 21, Rogers described the new album as the embodiment of "feral joy." A few months later, on March 30, she debuted the album trailer, followed by the lead single, "That's Where I Am," on April 8. "Surrender" showcases Rogers's voice on songs like "Shatter," "Overdrive," and "Anywhere With You."

Just days after the release of The Weeknd's song "Moth to a Flame" in October 2021, Swedish House Mafia announced that their next album was "close."

On April 15, the group released their debut studio album, "Paradise Again," which features guest appearances from artists like The Weeknd, A$AP Rocky, Connie Constance, 070 Shake, Jacob Mühlrad, Mapei, Seinabo Sey, Sting, and Ty Dolla Sign. "Paradise Again" is the group's first release in nine years, which they accompanied with their 2022 "Paradise Again" tour.

On Jan. 22, Bleachers lead singer Jack Antanoff announced in a tweet that he plans to release a new album in 2022. "i am going to put out a bleachers album this year," he wrote, much to the excitement of longtime fans. The news comes shortly after the group's most recent album release, "Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night," which debuted in July 2021, and their most recent EP release for "Live at Electric Lady" in November 2021. Antanoff has yet to provide any updates on the forthcoming album.

Florence + the Machine made a comeback with their first album in four years on May 13. The new release, titled "Dance Fever," featured the singles "King," "Heaven Is Here," and "My Love." The album cover, shot by photographer and film director Autumn de Wilde, features Florence Welch standing in a robe with flowers in her hair in front of a full moon and elements of nature carefully arranged to mimic a shadow box.

Recording for the album was originally set to begin in March 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic. Taking inspiration from '70s pop culture, the Middle Ages, pre-Raphaelite art, and ancient folklore, Welch pieced together a 14-track album that includes songs like "Girl Against God," "Restraint," and "Morning Elvis."

Christina Aguilera's ninth studio album is composed of three chapters released as individual EPs. The first chapter from her Spanish-language release, "La Fuerza," debuted on Jan. 21. The six-track EP features songs like "Pa' Mis Muchachas," "Somos Nada," and "La Reina." Becky G, Nicki Nicole, and Nathy Peluso are also featured on the EP's lead single, "Ya Llegué."

Aguilera released the second EP, "La Tormenta," on May 30. The EP's track list includes "Suéltame," featuring Tini, "Brujería," and "Cuando Me Dé la Gana," featuring Christian Nodal. The third and final EP, "La Luz," has yet to be released, but Aguilera did tease the EP intro on her YouTube channel on Sept. 29.

"My point and my purpose is to tell a story that others can relate to and feel empowered by and find forgiveness for themselves and those that have hurt us," Aguilera said in an interview with "Billboard" in September. "I think that's a really important thing we all have to go through. This was my effort in putting the puzzle together."

Camila Cabello released her junior album, "Familia," on April 8. Cabello wrote the album during the pandemic, taking inspiration from the time she spent with her family and how the experience brought her joy.

She teased the 2022 release with two singles, including "Don't Go Yet" and "Bam Bam," which featured vocals from Ed Sheeran. The album also features a collaboration between Cabello and Willow on the song "Psychofreak," which came out on April 8 and was accompanied by a trippy, upside-down music video.

On April 22, Irish rock band Fontaines D.C. released their third studio album, "Skinty Fia." The title translates to "the damnation of the deer," a reference to the extinct Irish elk, according to Rolling Stone. The band released the first album single, "Jackie Down the Line," on Jan. 21, followed by "I Love You" on Feb. 17. "Skinty Fia" includes tracks like "How Cold Love Is," "Bloomsday," and "In ár gCroíthe go deo," which translates to "in our hearts forever."

Carly Rae Jepsen — who guest-starred on Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby's "LOL Cody" series in November — followed up her 2015 album, "Emotion," with her sixth studio album, "The Loneliest Time," on Oct. 21. The new album — worlds away from her "Call Me Maybe" days — includes songs like "Beach House," "Western Wind," and "Go Find Yourself or Whatever," which features musician and Vampire Weekend founding member Rostam Batmanglij. The album's title track also features Rufus Wainwright.

Maren Morris's "Humble Quest" was released on March 25, following her sophomore album, "Girl," in 2019. On Jan. 7, she dropped the album's lead single, "Circles Around This Town," followed several months later by "I Can't Love You Anymore." In April, the singer also performed a moving duet of "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room" with John Mayer during the Nashville stop of Mayer's 2022 tour.

In an interview with NPR in March, Morris opened up about writing the album during the COVID-19 pandemic. "I feel like the making of this album, not that I would classify it as a pandemic record, but it was certainly created during one," she said. "I feel like I went through a ton of changes and deterioration and growth, and I had my son at the beginning of COVID. And so right after that, like, all touring got blown out for two years. It was sort of like me discovering this new part of myself as a mom – and at the same time losing a little bit of my identity as an artist, because I wasn't able to work."

Morris also recalled losing her friend and producer Michael James Ryan, aka Busbee, to cancer and reflected on the way the meaning of the word "humble" had changed for her over the past two years. "I think it means you're the closest to your compass that you've ever been. It's not for public consumption of how relatable you are. It's: How in touch are you with yourself and your loved ones? Like, the people that know you the closest? . . . We're all just awkwardly feeling our way through this weird world."