While March 2019 has been a mess of uncertainty and political irresponsibility and self-interest that’s both frightening and boring in equal measure, it’s been a bumper month for music. Over the last five release dates, we’ve reviewed a dozen albums that have been given the Best New Music ranking, from newcomers like Stella Donnelly and Little Simz to more experienced hands such as Amanda Palmer and Solange, not to mention the Karen O / Danger Mouse collaboration.

So it was too with some of the brand new music we got during March, teasing albums coming throughout the rest of 2019. Following up their previous chart-topping effort Sleep Well Beast less than two years after its release, the ever-industrious The National revealed their eighth album, titled I Am Easy To Find, will be out on May 17^th, unveiling an excellent new single ‘You Had Your Soul With You’ in the process. Also on the 4AD label, songwriter Pixx gave notice of a new album, while eternally sunny yet melancholy indie act Local Natives announced their fourth record.

While there’s no details of a full album, The Black Keys released their first single in half a decade, called ‘Lo/Hi’, this month, and indie mainstays Modest Mouse suggested we wouldn’t have to wait another eight years between albums, with a new track ‘Poison The Well’. The elusive Sky Ferreira suggested once again that a follow-up to her debut album, released way back in 2013, might finally drop with a new track ‘Downhill Lullaby’, and British R&B/rap star Loyle Carner revealed a much-anticipated second album Not Waving, But Drowning. Lizzo’s first album was announced a few months back, of course, but she grabbed headlines in March with an absolute banger titled ‘Tempo’ with none other than Missy Elliott. There were also awesome new tracks from Squid, WIVES, Fontaines D.C., Drahla, Deafheaven… and a certain Tame Impala.

On the old bastards front, American indie veterans Sebadoh, fronted by Dinosaur Jr. bassist Lou Barlow, announced their first album in six years, while all-female punk legends L7 revealed they had crowdfunded the resources to unleash their first record in an incredible 20 years. After their seemingly one-off collaboration EP from 14 years ago, Calexico and Iron & Wine unveiled details of a full album in 2019, and Sheffield legend Richard Hawley announced his eighth studio album Further, coming in June! That will make the editor happy…

Check out our playlist over at Spotify of all the best new music released throughout March 2019!

Happy listening!