Don’t Miss New Albums From Mac DeMarco, Daniel Donato, Hand Habits, Jon Batiste & More

Mac DeMarco shared his new album, Guitar, through his Mac’s Record Label. The 12-song collection follows DeMarco’s 2023 instrumental album, Five Easy Hot Dogs, and the sprawling 199-track, One Wayne G. DeMarco wrote and recorded Guitar in November 2024 at his home in Los Angeles. He mixed the album in his native Canada and created the album’s artwork and music videos. DeMarco turned mastering duties over to David Ives.

“I think Guitar is as close to a true representation of where I’m at in my life today as I can manage to put to paper,” DeMarco stated. “I’m happy to share this music, and look forward to playing these songs in as many places as I’m able.”

Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country issued their third album, Horizons, through Retrace Music. Like guitarist Daniel Donato’s previous album, 2023’s Reflector, he again worked with producer Vance Powell on Horizons. The LP comprises 15 tracks recorded by Donato, keyboardist Nathan “Sugar Legg” Aronowitz, bassist Will “Mustang” McGee and drummer William “Bronco” Clark at Nashville’s Sputnik Sound studio. Guests parts were played by fiddler Lillie Mae Rische and pedal steel guitarist Brett Resnick.

“Our community really changes the songs, just by us playing them and (the fans) being able to partake in the same room as us as when we’re playing the song,” Donato explained “We’ve played every song on this record live dozens upon dozens, sometimes 50 times live, before we recorded them… in rooms filled with humans… so they can feel human before we bring them into the studio. When you bring it to people, it changes. It truly does. They help us provide a curvature for the song and really influence how they go before we ever hit the red light in the studio.”

Hand Habits (multi-instrumentalist-songwriter Meg Duffy) released a new album entitled Blue Reminder via Fat Possum Records. Duffy assembled a talented core of musicians for the follow-up to the 2021 LP Fun House and their 2023 EP Sugar The Bruise. Recording sessions took place in Los Angeles with co-producer Joseph Lorge. The album was mostly tracked live with contributions from Blake Mills, Olivia Kaplan, Daniel Aged, Tim Carr, Gregory Uhlmann, Alan Wyffels, and Joshua Johnson and Anna Butters of SML. Speaking about the new album, Duffy explained:

“For this record, I set out to no longer shapeshift when it came to the person I become in the face of love. “Of course the weight of the past is always in the room with me when I sit down to write. It is filtered through my way of making even the most precious moments imbued with something blue — the constant reminder is there — but I have spent so much time writing as a means to work through pain, or place blame on myself or others, and I am at a point in my life where I’m more interested in acceptance, forgiveness, and exploring what it means to need and be needed.

“I think it’s so corny to write love songs. I can’t deny that a lot of these are ostensibly love songs, but they are also love songs through my very specific kind of lens. It is about how falling in love does feel both terrifying and exciting, but this record is about commitment in a lot of ways. Committing to a person, to an idea, to being a more honest version of yourself.

“When I reflect on how society can punish or cruelly imply a brokenness to anyone who lives in the margins of a limited range of what they consider normal, or imply they are the way they are because of a defect or illness, it’s hard not to internalize some of this way of thinking. I’ve done a lot of work to accept myself for who I am, and that I deserve to live as the truest version of myself, and that my mistakes and shortcomings are human, not as a result of my identity.

“That it is possible for queer/trans people to have healthy, loving, passionate, and functional lives and relationships. That we can be in and contribute to the community. That we can be loved for, not in spite of who we are. Even though we are living a nightmare right now in a lot of ways, this record is about living the dream. It’s a reminder that the dream is possible.”

Jon Batiste shared a new album, Big Money, today through Verve/Interscope. The New Orleans native co-produced Big Money with frequent collaborator Dion “No ID” Wilson. The album was tracked mostly live over the course of two weeks. Additional contributors to the follow-up to Batiste’s 2024 album, Beethoven Blues, included Randy Newman, Andra Day, Nick Waterhouse and The Womack Sisters, among others.

“However you interpret the songs, you can’t help feeling them,” Batiste said. “You can’t help accepting an invitation into the tent. Come in and have fun… some deeply serious fun. This is the circus of love,” said Batiste. “Under our tent there is revival and joy. You don’t lose your soul — you gain it. When mama says, ‘Don’t be a dummy, everybody chasing that big money,’ mama is pushing you — while warning you. It cuts both ways.”

A Matter Of Time is the new studio album from Laufey, available now through Vingolf Recordings/AWAL. The Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist recorded the follow-up to 2023’s Bewitched with co-producers Spencer Stewart (who she worked with on her first two albums) and newcomer Aaron Dessner of The National.

“Every new album for me is a blank book of stories to write,” Laufey said. “I’m constantly thinking about classical and jazz, how to properly preserve them and pay homage. For this album. I just wanted to let my heart wander.”

Crossover rapper BigXthaPlug leans into his country side with the newly released album, I Hope You’re Happy. The Dallas native is joined by an array of special guests across the 11-track LP. Darius Rucker, Jelly Roll, Bailey Zimmerman, Luke Combs, Shaboozey, Ella Langley, Ink, Tucker Wetmore and Thomas Rhett make appearances on I Hope You’re Happy.

Superchunk return with their new album, Songs In The Key Of Yikes, released today by Merge Records. Superchunk’s current lineup is made up of co-founders, guitarist Mac McCaughan and bassist Laura Ballance, alongside Jim Wilbur on guitar and Laura King, who has spent two years as a touring member of the band, on drums. The album was recorded with engineers Paul Voran and Eli Webb, and mixed by Mike Montgomery. Other contributing musicians included touring bassist Betsy Wright, as well as Rosali and Quivers’ Bella Quinlan and Holly Thomas.

“It’s always been the case that everyone is going through something that you may not be aware of,” Mac McCaughan stated. “This is currently more true than ever — but also the case that we are all going through some things together. In the face of that, what good is art and where is happiness found? (Spoiler alert: I don’t know.)”

Kathleen Edwards put out her new album, Billionaire, today through Dualtone Records. The Canadian singer-songwriter’s 10-song collection was co-produced by Jason Isbell and Gena Johnson. The album also finds Edwards (vocals, acoustic guitar), Isbell (electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keys, synth, background vocals) and Johnson (engineer, piano, background vocals) joined by Anna Butterss (bass), Annie Clements (bass), Chad Gamble (drums and percussion), Jen Gunderman (piano, celeste, Hammond B3 organ, Wurlitzer) and Shelby Lynne and Allison Moorer (background vocals).

“I decided to call the record Billionaire because the word is used in such a caustic way these days. But we should all want to be billionaires in life, to be rich in experience, friendship, purpose, and the pursuit of the things that bring us joy,” shared Edwards.

Prolific singer-songwriter Jesse Welles released his fifth album, Devil’s Den, today, weeks after issuing his full length Pilgrim. The new record joins additional 2025 releases, Middle and a 63-song collection of recent field and live recordings Under the Powerlines (April 24 – September 24). Produced by Welles, Devil’s Den was recorded entirely by the guitarist in a cabin in the Ozarks over a five day period.

Newcomer sombr released his debut album, I Barely Know Her, today via Warner Records. sombr is the moniker of 19-year-old New York Native Shane Boose, who began releasing music he recorded in his bedroom while attending LaGuardia High School. Along with issuing a string of successful singles, his debut EP, In Another Life, arrived in 2023. The highly-anticipated full length I Barely Know Her was co-produced by sombr and accomplished producer Tony Berg.

Kid Cudi shared a new album, Free, which arrived today through Wicked Awesome Records/Reprise Records. The 13-track effort follows the 41-year-old Cleveland native’s pair of 2024 albums, INSANO and INSANO (NITRO MEGA).

“I just felt like I needed to drastically make a creative leap in my career,” Cudi told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe. “I mean, people know that I’m a risk-taker, and I felt like the last five years, I hadn’t really been pushing myself.”

Deftones released their 10th studio album, private music, today via Reprise/Warner Records. The band recorded and co-produced private music in California locations including Malibu and Joshua Tree, as well as Nashville, with Grammy Award-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz. This marks Deftones’ third collaboration with Raskulinecz, who previously worked on their albums Diamond Eyes and Koi No Yokan.

Earl Sweatshirt’s new album Live Laugh Love dropped today, just days after the rapper revealed the project. The follow-up to 2023’s Voir Dire includes production by Earl Sweatshirt, along with Theravada, Navy Blue, Black Noi$e and Child Actor.

East Nash Grass issued a new album, All God’s Children, today through Mountain Fever Records. The 2024 IBMA New Artist of the Year-winning quintet consists of mandolinist Harry Clark, banjoist Cory Walker (banjo), guitarist James Kee, fiddler Maddie Denton and bassist/dobro player Jeff Partin. The 10-track LP consists of “five new originals, two deep-cut covers, two tunes from friends, and a string-band reimagining of a traditional Liberian chant.”

Keep on Keepin’ On features the final recordings of renowned bluegrass musician Bobby Osborne, who died in 2023 at age 91. The album was completed by The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys’ mandolinist C.J. Lewandowski and features Osborne on half of the tracks. Several special guests joined Lewandowski as he completed the album after Osborne’s death. Participants include Del McCoury, Ronnie McCoury, Rob McCoury, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Sam Bush and Vince Gill, among others.