September Sounds
1
B’DAY – 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
Available now
Beyoncé’s second solo album gets the 20th-anniversary treatment: Four LPs, unreleased B-sides, a 60-page booklet and two art prints. B’DAY was the record where she stopped hedging and started building the machine. The reissue adds first-time features with Maluma and Selena, and rebuilds the era’s videos from 35mm into 4K. This album might be a bit steep for casual listeners, but it’s right for the shelf of true fans.
2
Bass Persuades
Available September 18
The artist formerly known as Miley Cyrus follows Something Beautiful, her glam-rock visual album, with Bass Persuades. Miley’s spent the last five years converting stunt casting into actual craft—Plastic Hearts and Endless Summer Vacation both held up. On Instagram she remarked on the new album: “Music takes hold of us. We feel it, sing it, sometimes dance to it, let it out and carry on. It is powerful, vulnerable, sweet and strong.”
3
Mule
Available September 18
Orville Peck’s fourth record, and the first since a covers-and-duets detour that put him next to Willie Nelson and Elton John. The fringe mask might be a bit, but the baritone and the songwriting certainly aren’t—Pony and Bronco both earned their reviews.