New Music October 2023: Local Boston Concerts, New Album Releases | BU Today

Beloved country music icon Reba McEntire has an exciting double feature arriving October 6: her new book Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots, plus a new companion album. McEntire’s book is photo-driven, the country superstar sharing some of the guiding principles and behind-the-scenes moments from her life, as well as some of her favorite comfort food recipes. The album, simply titled Not That Fancy, features stripped-down arrangements of some of McEntire’s career hits, like “If You See Him, If You See Her,” featuring Brooks & Dunn, “Fancy,” and “Does He Love You,” featuring the incomparable Dolly Parton. The album also contains one new song and three previously unreleased acoustic tracks.

Though he rose to stardom as one third of the rap group Migos, Offset has made a name for himself as a solo artist after his 2019 debut album Father of 4 landed on Billboard 200’s top 10. On October 13, he’ll return with his sophomore project, Set It Off, featuring hip-hop heavyweights like Travis Scott, Chloe Bailey, and Future. The first single, a duet with his wife, Cardi B, called “Jealousy,” features an introduction by the one and only Jamie Lee Curtis, who won an Academy Award this year for her work in Everything, Everywhere, All at Once. IThe album is sure to deliver the hits fans know and love from the Georgia rapper.

It’s been 18 long years since we’ve gotten a new original album from these rock and roll legends, but that wait comes to an end October 20. Hackney Diamonds is also the first album from the band since the death of drummer Charlie Watts two years ago. The project has been in progress since 2020, with work on the album delayed because of the pandemic. The single “Angry” shows that the rockers haven’t lost their gift for making stellar music. Will Hodgkinson, the pop music editor of England’s The Times, proclaims Hackney Diamonds the “best Rolling Stones album since 1978.” The band marked their 60th anniversary last year, and this album is proof they’ve still got it.

After their critically acclaimed 2019 debut album, psychedelic soul duo Black Pumas proved they’re ones to watch. Chronicles of a Diamond is their highly anticipated sophomore album, and going into the recording process, singer-songwriter Eric Burton and guitarist-producer Adrian Quesada were heavily influenced by their live shows, which Burton has referred to as “electric church.” The gospel-esque harmonies and catchy guitar riffs on the album’s first single, “More Than a Love Song,” beautifully complement Burton’s vocals. Burton says the song was also inspired by his Uncle Steve’s advice: “Life is more than a love song, it’s more than a fantasy.” The album, which drops October 27, is sure to be a new modern classic.

Record-breaking superstar Taylor Swift is back with another rerecorded album. This time, it’s her 2014 classic 1989, which won three Grammy awards at the 2015 ceremony, including the big one, Album of the Year. The “Taylor’s Version” of this album features all 16 tracks from the original album, plus 5 previously unreleased tracks Swift unlocked from her “vault.” Fans will have a chance to experience the updated production and vocals of classic hits like “Shake It Off,” “Style,” “Blank Space,” and many more. 1989 (Taylor’s Version), named after the megastar’s birth year, lands October 27, just a couple of weeks after her Taylor Swift The Eras Tour film hits theaters for one weekend only. Swift has a big month ahead of her, and we’re here for it.