5 New Albums To Check Out On January 23, 2026

Tacos may rule Tuesdays, but Fridays are all about new albums. This week’s list of new releases features new material from Megadeth, Ari Lennox, Louis Tomlinson, and more. Whether you favor CDs, vinyl, or digital downloads, it is time to start making your shopping list. Here is a look at this week’s new music and five new albums that you definitely need to check out this Friday.

Megadeth—Megadeth (Tradecraft/BLKIIBLK)

In August of last year, Megadeth vocalist Dave Mustaine announced that their upcoming seventeenth album would be their final one as a band, and that the accompanying tour would be the band’s last as well (although the plan is for it to be a 3-5 years long). The self-titled final album from the thrash metal legends dips into each era of the band’s more than 40-year history, covering their thrash, punk, and more radio-friendly melodic periods.

The 10-track album ends with a bonus track, one that, as you might expect, takes a shot at Mustaine’s former bandmates, Metallica. That’s right, Mustaine chose to end the album with a song he co-wrote during his brief Metallica days, “Ride the Lightning.” There will also be a second bonus track available exclusively for albums purchased at Target, called “Bloodlust.” The first four singles from the album have already been released, so you can listen to a good portion of the album on YouTube before you buy.

Ari Lennox— Vacancy (Interscope)

Soulful R&B singer Ari Lennox is back with her third studio album, Vacancy. The new album, her first away from Dreamville Records, sees Lennox back with producers Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox, the duo that worked with her on her #1 single “Pressure.” A lot of the album feels like an ultimatum to a lover, kind of a “bring it strong, or I’m moving on” vibe. As with Megadeth, Lennox has already released four songs off the record, so you can get a good feel for the album before you buy.

Van Morrison—Somebody Tried to Sell Me a Bridge (Orangefield Records)

At 80 years old, Van Morrison is still going stronger than ever. On Friday, “the Belfast Cowboy” will release his seventh album in the past five years. His new album, Somebody Tried to Sell Me a Bridge, contains four new original songs interspersed in a sea of 16 blues covers. The “Brown Eyed Girl” singer enlisted the likes of Elvin Bishop, Taj Mahal, and Buddy Guy to join him on the album as he takes listeners on a tour of the blues that traverses Chicago, Memphis, and Texas songwriters. If you are a blues fan, you are bound to love this one.

Louis Tomlinson—How Did I Get Here? (BMG)

One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson releases his third solo album this week. Entitled How Did I Get Here?, the sunny, more light-hearted, new album got its inspiration from the “X-Factor” alum’s trip to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. The first two singles, the funky “Lemonade” and the punchy and anthemic “Palaces,” are out now. The album, as a whole, feels like Tomlinson has finally found a happy medium between his indie guitar sound and his boy band pop pedigree.

Lucinda Williams—World’s Gone Wrong (Highway 20 Records)

Alt-country singer-songwriter Lucinda Williams releases her 16th album on Friday. The new album, World’s Gone Wrong, features nine original songs composed by Williams plus a duet with Mavis Staples on a cover of Bob Marley and the Wailers’ “So Much Trouble in the World.” The record also offers guest appearances by Grammy-winning jazz artist Norah Jones and country singer Brittney Spencer. The title track, featuring Spencer, was released in late October.

The Best of the Rest

If none of the above releases fit your musical tastes, here are some of the other new albums and re-releases due out on January 23:

Agnes – Beautiful Madness
Becca Hannah – Tonight In My Dreams
Callum Beattie – Indi
Cam Kahin – CHUG
Cat Power – Redux EP
Crystal Lake – The Weight of Sound
David Forman – Who You Been Talking To
Death Dealer – Reign Of Steel
The Damned – Not Like Everybody Else
Ella Red – It’s Not Real
The Format – Boycott Heaven
Goldfinger – Nine Lives
The Hara – The Fallout
Helix – Scrap Metal
Hot Face – Automated Response
Immaterialize – Perfect
Isobel Waller-Bridge – Objects
Jamie MacDonald – Jamie MacDonald
Jamie O’Neal – Gypsum
Julian Lage – Scenes from Above
Kyle Gass Band – Live In Palmdale
Mika – Hyperlove
Nija – What I Didn’t Say
The Paper Kites – If You Go There, I Hope You Find It
Poppy – Empty Hands
The Power Station – The Power Station: 40th Anniversary Edition**
Reba McEntire – Starting Over: 30th Anniversary Edition**
Ritual Arcana – Ritual Arcana
Searows – Death in the Business of Whaling
Sky Valley Mistress – Luna Mausoleum
Tom Hamilton – I’m Your Vampire
Victoryland – My Heart Is A Room With No Cameras In It
XG – THE CORE – 核
YES – Symphonic Live**

**Re-release/Re-issue