After a long and harsh winter, I’ve spent the last few weeks soaking in the short glimpses of sunshine. Being from the mid-Atlantic where people's personalities change with the seasons, springtime doesn’t just bring flowers and warm weather, it acts as a gateway to finally feel like we’re back in a real community. Neighbors are outside, laughter can be heard from the streets (interwoven with occasional sneezes, of course), and every report of a 70-degree day is a mandate to get outside and touch grass.
Whether it’s on a train heading into the big city, driving with the windows down on a country road, or strolling along the breezy shore, each spring invites us to get out and experience life, and nothing’s better than pairing it with some great music. Now that the holiday slump is over, artists are starting to finally come out and announce albums, tours, and collaborations. Think of it like spring cleaning: in this new chapter of life and opportunity, you can start fresh with releases from artists you know and love, or find someone new to explore.
At Music Scene Media, we’ve collected some of the newest and most exciting releases for this spring to get you pumped for the warmer weather as we finally inch closer to summer. And this year, it's comeback season!
“Almost There” - The Academy Is... (March 27)
If you never grew out of your emo phase, The Academy Is... is the one for you! The pop-punk band from Chicago, Illinois, is set to release their fourth studio album after nearly 18 years, titled “Almost There.” After disbanding in 2011, the band sparsely released a few singles at the end of the 2010s and gradually crept their way back into the spotlight, but their 2025 20th anniversary tour was a sold-out success, proving the scene wasn’t ready to let go of The Academy Is..., even after almost 20 years. A mirror to their 2005 debut album “Almost Here,” the album is set to explore the themes of life, the definition of home, and uncovering dreams left in the past. Tracks like “2005” act as a time machine, hitting us with instant nostalgia for an era of the scene that has been lost to time. With this new record, expect a sound that takes us back to those classic pop-punk roots while shining a light on a newer, more mature retrospective we haven’t seen before.
“Distracted” - Thundercat (April 3)
The greatest thing about Thundercat is that he’s a little bit of everything. I like to describe it as space-funk, but others may define it as R&B, psychedelic, soul, or electronica. Never mind whatever you want to call it, it's universally addictive. With groovy, intricate bass lines paired with funky drum beats, Thundercat transports you to different dimensions. “Distracted” is the fifth album in his stacked discography, including prominent features from artists like Tame Impala, Lil Yachty, WILLOW, A$AP Rocky, and the late Mac Miller. “She Knows Too Much,” a song that will make you laugh and cry all at once, is one of the many works Miller and Thundercat did before Miller’s sudden death in 2018. Years later, the song was completed with the help of producer Greg Kurstin. The album soars through hilarious one-liners, vibrant trumpet solos, cinematic soundscapes, and tender explorations of self-doubt in a world that profits from keeping us distracted.
“Can We Hang Out Sometime?” - Good Kid (April 3)
Good Kid describes themselves as “five computer boys,” and boy, do they know it. Their bubbly, guitar-driven melodies are paired with the fact that all of their music is DMCA- and Content-ID-free, meaning that anyone can use their music copyright free — perfect for YouTubers and Twitch streamers looking to serve content with some banging indie rock and a side of surfer punk. Some may recognize them from their viral cover of Laufey’s “From The Start,” which, fun fact, I heard and loved long before I even knew who Laufey was. Good Kid acts as an instant mood booster to help you out of any winter funk you might have been in, and soon will be releasing their first full-length LP, “Can we Hang Out Sometime?” Exploring themes of anger, friendship, and forgiveness, Good Kid dives into a world of chaos and comes out with a determination to maintain what’s most important — a community who cares about you. With an emphasis on hand-drawn covers and computer animation in their music videos (with a surprising amount of lore), Good Kid doesn’t just care about the music, they care about highlighting and promoting the entire artist community. In a world insistent on AI, it’s a breath of fresh air.
“The Great Divide” - Noah Kahan (April 24)
Noah Kahan has a lot to look forward to as he dips his toes into the highly anticipated follow-up to “Stick Season,” the wildly successful 2022 album that skyrocketed Noah Kahan into the spotlight at speeds most only dream of. The 2026 Great Divide Tour sold out in minutes, proving the people are ready to hear more. Kahan’s tales recount feelings of homesickness, heartbreak, childhood trauma, and the feeling us northerners know far too well: the isolation and dread that comes with the winter months (with this winter being particularly ghastly). But it’s his simple, yet emotional, Americana songwriting that grounds us, reminding us we are not alone in these battles. Many of us are experiencing a great shift in our own lives, realizing the life, dreams, and friends we have now are turning out to be completely different from the ones we had in our youth. The title track, “The Great Divide,” perfectly explores these themes and is already gearing up to be one of my top songs of the year. I anticipate the album will be a great one for those early summer road trips through the pines or along the shoreline. Ohhhh Lord!
“LP4” - American Football (May 1)
There are many who say American Football helped to define the “Midwest emo” genre, but no one knew it until 20 years later. The band has been through some tough times in the last few years since their 2019 “LP3,” describing their newest album in a lengthy GQ article as their “most audacious and potentially most polarizing album.” American Football has been like a ghost over the last 27 years: breaking up, reappearing, then vanishing again. But “LP4” is the band’s attempt to finally come clean, both literally and figuratively. It’s set to explore the band’s struggles with alcoholism, failed marriages, and midlife crises. The album’s debut track, “Bad Moons,” is as haunting as it is vulnerable. This album is the band’s attempt at finally taking the music-making process seriously, after decades of uncertainty matched with unexpected success. If you’re in the mood for a “sad boy summer,” or need some more divorced-dad music, this may just be the album for you.
“Maitreya Corso” - Maya Hawke (May 1)
For those who don’t know, Maya Hawke is not just an actress. In fact, she’s en route to her fourth album, named after the “magical misfit" Maitreya Corso, a character inspired by the prophesied “future Buddha” in Buddhist tradition. In this album, we follow the heroine Maitreya as she aspires toward joy, comfort, and building a home she can be proud of. In a world of constant terror, selfishness, and disconnect, Maya Hawke aspires to build something different and inspire listeners to take a deeper look inward at their dreams and aspirations. The opening track, “The Devil You Know,” takes influence from pop icons like Imogen Heap and explores spoken-word verses that prepare the listener for a transformational journey. She’s experimenting with a new sound, unafraid to take risks and try genres that may be a little stranger. This new album may be the zen you’ve been looking for.
“Born to Kill” - Social Distortion (May 8)
Southern California-based punk band Social Distortion is back after a 15-year hiatus. Described as “pure, unadulterated rock 'n' roll fury,” fans were ecstatic to hear the band was finally back after lead singer Mike Ness beat tonsil cancer. Social Distortion has been a pillar of the punk rock scene since 1978 and is still considered one of the most influential punk bands of all time. With a blend of modern and classic riffs, “Born to Kill” pays homage to the last five decades and recognizes the similarities generations cycle through when it comes to the power of rebellious music. The title track, “Born to Kill,” is just that. With lines like “Revolution can sure be fun,” it’s classic rock 'n' roll for all ages.
Untitled - No Pressure (TBD)
Bonus round! No Pressure is a side project from The Story So Far’s Parker Cannon that blossomed during COVID, but don’t get it twisted: No Pressure is still punchier and more high-energy than The Story So Far, making their sound, as one MSM contributor calls it, “an instant shot of dopamine to my brain.” Last November, they released two new songs, “Good Enough” and "Wearing Thin,” as LP promos for a currently untitled album rollout, set to release sometime this year. With heavily pounded drums, exciting guitar riffs, and a high-spirited vocal track, this is quintessential pop-punk. It makes me want nothing more than to jump in a pit with 100 sweaty dudes, 10 people flying above me, and one missing shoe. Plus, thanks to this article, you can say, “I found No Pressure before they even named their album!”
