The Lead Sheet ~1/20/2026
The Lead Sheet is your guide to this week’s new music - taking a look at newly released albums, who made them, and how listeners are responding.
This week American popstar Madison Beer released her third album, Locket. The twice Grammy nominated artist’s new work is being called her best yet, with critics and fans pointing out the LP’s refined orchestration and mature outlook. Locket is a concept album, the title is a reference to how each track represents a past hardship, and Beer’s vulnerability allows her to move forward with closure. On “bittersweet”, The singer opens up about her recent break-up with blunt, but unpetty poise. Musically, Locket dips into many genres, (EDM, R&B, Neo-Soul) but is mainly a pop album. Her work is often compared to artists like Gwen Stefani, Billie Eilish and Arctic Monkeys and Beer admits she finds inspiration from these bands as well. Madison Beer will kick off The Locket Tour in May of 2026, starting in Europe and The UK, and finishing with a United States tour and final concert in New York City.
A$AP Rocky released his first album since 2018, Don’t Be Dumb to positive but somewhat tepid reception. Don’t Be Dumb has some bold collabs: Tim Burton, whose influence can be seen in the music and album art’s character design, but more so legendary composer Danny Elfman, who scored several tracks, and played the drums for Rocky during his musical performance on Saturday Night Live. However, critics feel the extent of the collaboration is surface level, with some of the album’s tracks simply donning a “Burtonesque” aesthetic without much deeper meaning. Despite this, Rocky is commended for the creative leap and bold direction. While Don’t Be Dumb may not have been quite as triumphant a return as fans had hoped, the album has a solid foothold in the rapper’s discography.
British pop legend Robbie Williams dropped his new work, BRITPOP on Friday to highly polarized reviews. Williams has a devout core of megafans, and is a massive music icon in his home country of the UK, but it seems he also has a fair share of haters, who have notably review bombed the album on public forums. BRITPOP is Williams’ thirteenth album to date, and re-focuses on Williams’ strengths after recent ventures into rap and electronic sounds. Williams’ powerful vocals are supported with nostalgic backing, summoning the sound of groups like Oasis and The Verve. For many, the favorite track is opener “Rocket” which features Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi, and kicks the record off with high-octane guitar riffs and punk energy. The album closes with “Pocket Rocket”, a dreamy, ballad-like version of the earlier heart-pounding rock anthem. Williams has two upcoming tours, The Long 90’s Tour, which is a series of intimate UK shows set for February, and The BRITPOP Tour, which will cover Europe into fall of 2026.
For Juliana Barwick and Mary Lattimore, their first collaborative album, Tragic Magic is lightning in a bottle, scoring high marks and excellent reception in its first few days. Barwick is known for her ethereal compositions, and Lattimore is a renowned harpist, specializing in psychedelic music. Both musicians hail from Los Angeles, and are long-time friends, and tourmates, giving them a shorthand communication described by the two as “musical telepathy”. The result is a stunning folk album, evoking a forest of fairy-like, witchy soundscapes and esoteric melodies. The album is relaxing and hypnotic, and fans find the work meditative as well as healing. Tragic Magic’s signature sound was made possible thanks to the Musée de la Musique, which allowed use of vintage synthesizers for Barwick, and rare, 18th century harps for Lattimore. The duo will tour Tragic Magic beginning in New York, January 19th, and throughout the rest of the United States through spring.
Cavetown, A.K.A Robin Skinner, released their sixth full album, Running with Scissors, to mostly positive reviews. For Cavetown, Running with Scissors is a departure from the artist’s foundation in bedroom pop, incorporating more complex sounds like glitch and 8-bit, crunchy guitars, and even some screamo elements, demonstrating Skinner’s wide vocal range. Running with Scissors also explores themes of adulthood and responsibility, partly inspired by the recent birth of Skinner’s much younger sibling. The album’s standout tracks are “NPC” which balances dreamy vocals and electronic melodies before diving into a heavy, overdriven outro, and “Cryptid”, in which Skinner shares thoughts about their own journey as a transgender man. While these two songs are instant hits, some feel the album is unfortunately watered down with a few bland tracks, like “No Bark, No Bite” and “First Time”. Cavetown will tour the new album in the UK starting in February, and finish in the US this fall.
Madison Beer - Locket
Released Jan 16, 2026
Epic, Sing It Loud Records
A$AP Rocky - Don’t Be Dumb
Released Jan 16, 2026
A$AP Records
Robbie Williams - BRITPOP
Released Jan 16, 2026
Sony Music UK
Juliana Barwick & Mary Lattimore - Tragic Magic
Released Jan 16, 2026
Cavetown - Running with Scissors
Released Jan 16, 2026
WhoRepresents.com is safe & secure