Welcome (back) to uni everybody! Another academic year began this September, as the afternoons draw in and the air gets colder, and The Student Playlist has got another ton of local gigs to preview, playlists to curate, albums to review and stone-cold classics to revisit.

During September, the music gods have been very kind – not one, but two incontrovertible masterpieces that are sure to be high up on our Albums of the Year list. Firstly, IDLES’ long-awaited second album Joy As An Act Of Resistance, which is simply one of the most important and life-affirming British guitar-based records in recent memory.

Which would have been a sure-fire for Album of the Month in any other four-week period but for Double Negative, the astonishing 12^th album from American slowcore veterans Low. If you’ve not heard it, check out our review, which registered a rare 10/10 score!

READ MORE: A Fresher’s Guide to Independent Record Stores in Leeds

On the new album announcements front, there’s been confirmations of upcoming releases from The Twilight Sad, Julia Holter, Kurt Vile, White Lies and Action Bronson. Estrons are finally about ready to drop their debut album after what feels like an eternity, The Hold Steady teased the potential for a new album with new song ‘Confusion In The Marketplace’, and Lana Del Rey has dropped two new singles ahead of a prospective fifth album, with the fantastic title Norman Fucking Rockwell, rumoured to be released in early 2019.

Marie Davidson’s latest single ‘Work It’ has been phenomenal, as has Yaeji’s ‘One More’ and The Japanese House’s ‘Lilo’. At the other end of the age scale, two legends in the form of Marianne Faithfull and Nick Cave got together for a new song, ‘The Gypsy Fairie Queen’.

Catch up on all the best new music released during September 2018 with our monthly Spotify playlist here!

Happy listening!