Summer Music Preview: 37 Key Albums

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – May 25, 2017

While there's still no official word on whether the summer will bring long-in-the-works new albums from Arcade Fire, Beck, LCD Soundsystem, or Queens of the Stone Age, the coming months will definitely see new releases from Lorde, Broken Social Scene, Katy Perry, Big Boi, Lana Del Rey, Phoenix, Ride, and more.

Browse our collection of the summer's most notable new albums—as well as several noteworthy re-releases and compilations—below, where you can also listen to songs from each release.

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BONUS: REISSUE

Purple Rain

by Prince

June 23 (Warner Bros.)

The second of what will no doubt be a torrent of posthumous releases from the late rock icon, this expanded reissue of 1984's Purple Rain was actually in the works prior to his death last year. In fact, disc one of this 3xCD+DVD set features a remaster of the album dating back to 2015. Another disc includes singles and B-sides, while the DVD includes a 1985 concert. But it is the remaining CD that provides the most interest for fans: a collection of 11 previously unreleased tracks.

LISTEN:	"Electric Intercourse" (previously unreleased)
LISTEN:	"Our Destiny/Roadhouse Garden" (previously unreleased)

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