The Lead Sheet ~ 9/8/2026

The Lead Sheet is your guide to this week’s new music - taking a look at newly released albums, who made them, and how listeners are responding 

Rebecca Black has come a long way since 2011’s tragically generic single, “Friday”, which became an overnight sensation for its cringe-inducing music video and annoying lyrics. Only thirteen years old at the time, Black would become the subject of intense online bullying, and didn’t expect or deserve the backlash. In 2021, she launched her debut LP Let Her Burn, and was able to reinvent and reclaim her identity as a musician in indie hyperpop. Many were surprised to see the album actually had teeth, and this week her sophomore record, Age of the Exhibitionist released to even higher acclaim, getting well-earned nods of approval from listeners and critics. Exhibitionist sees Black confidently embrace her queer identity and relationship with publicity- her vocals are completely unrecognizable from her early days, now a powerful mezzo-soprano. Exhibitionist weaves through genres like electroclash, hyperpop, and trip-hop, with standout tracks “Hot Wet Delirious” and “Speakerphone” getting the bulk of appreciation from listeners. Black will kick off a supporting North American tour on September 23, through mid-November.

Oklahoma City’s breakout metal band Chat Pile has struck gold again with their fourth full album, Who Loves the Sun, which has received an outpouring of positive reception since its release. Who Loves the Sun is about desensitization to modern horrors, exploring the erosion of self under capitalism, the impending doom of climate change, and the ever-more pervasive personal invasions from big tech. The band makes a pivot to 90s grunge, incorporating elements of jangle, acoustic, and new wave, while maintaining a firm foothold in sludge metal. Their songwriting approach has also shifted to pursue catchier hooks and a more melodic structure. Chat Pile’s 2025 collaborative album In the Earth Again saw a dip in ratings due to an ambient, subdued atmosphere, but Who Loves the Sun is largely seen as a homerun, earning copious praise from major publications and fans. Chat Pile will hit the road for their fall headline U.S. tour on September 12th, along with Soul Glo, Virga, and Shallowater. 

Electropop darling Ellie Goulding’s sixth LP I Know Too Much launched this weekend, but early reception is somewhat lukewarm. Her previous 2023 album Higher Than Heaven enjoyed a lot of commercial success for its high-degree of polish and dance-heavy tracks, leaning into a confident, EDM sound. I Know Too Much makes a major shift towards raw minimalism and introspection. Songs like “4 Seasons” and “Loser” are driven by acoustic folk guitar, while “Black Prada Dress” incorporates gospel structure, and as is often the case with Goulding projects, there are no featured artists on Too Much’s ten tracks. Goulding’s career is split into different eras, this acts as a blessing and curse depending on any given album’s release; fans of her early indie sound like the vulnerability but those who discovered her more recent discography prefer the EDM bangers Higher Than Heaven provides. Still, the album is tight and doesn’t overstay its welcome with bloat. Goulding has not announced an album tour, but continues a series of intimate one-off concerts throughout the UK. 

Southern California based alt-emo group Movements are officially back with their fourth studio album, Happier Now. Known for their tension-and-release dynamics, Movements first came onto the scene in 2015, and have established themselves as modern staples in alternative music. Produced with Grammy winner Will Yip, Happier Now bridges Movements’ early work with the present, playing with contrast between aggressive, raw emo and polished contemporary rock. The album reveals its title to be an ironic play on the long and painful journey towards healing, and itself is thematically centered around emotional burnout. Overall reception has been mostly positive, with many seeing it as both a “hard reset” and return to form for the band, recapturing the magic of their debut album, Feel Something. However, a small number feel that in trying to recreate an early period, the group has taken a step back and hasn’t broken new ground musically. Movements will play a headlining “Happier Now Tour” in the U.S. throughout October and November of this year. 

22-year-old Slovaian singer ADÉLA made her studio album debut on Friday with the release of Prima, an electronic and hyperpop project inspired by early 2000s R&B. The eleven track record serves as a journal on ADÉLA’s path from classical ballet dancer, to studying American pop music in Slovakia, to emerging as a global star. Prima explores themes of surveillance and isolation in the life of a pop musician, and offers a surprising degree of vulnerability for the star power persona. Most major critics have embraced ADÉLA praising her infectious charm, commanding stage presence, and disarming honesty, but some others have notes. One point of major critique for Prima is its somewhat rushed quality, which has some speculating the album was pushed out quickly to get ahead of ADÉLA’s upcoming tour with Demi Lovato. Some also comment that some tracks come off as formulaic, or a bit too similar to some of ADÉLA’s peers like Ariana Grande or Tate McRae. Despite these nitpicks, Prima is a fantastic premiere album. ADÉLA will tour the new album for a North American leg this fall, and then move on to Europe in early 2027, with stops in Ireland, The UK, Poland, Germany, and Czech Republic. 

Rebecca Black - Age of the Exhibitionist

Released Sep 4, 2026

Self Published

Chat Pile - Who Loves the Sun

Released Sep 4, 2026

The Flenser

Ellie Goulding - I Know Too Much

Released Sep 4, 2026

Universal UK, Polydor Records

Movements - Happier Now

Released Sep 4, 2026

Fearless Records

ADÉLA - Prima

Released Sep 4, 2026

Capitol, Universal