The Lead Sheet ~ 9/2/25

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. 

Sabrina Carpenter’s highly anticipated Man’s Best Friend released this week, and is her seventh studio album to date. The cover art was a brief subject of controversy, but has since quelled and been recognized as satirical commentary on the male gaze. Reviews are mostly positive, but not raving. Critics and fans feel the album is not a standout in Carpenter’s discography. Man’s Best Friend was produced in collaboration with musician Jack Antonoff, and mainly features a pop sound, but also some disco, R&B, rock and funk. 

Hayley Williams, founder and lead singer of pop-punk band Paramore, has a new album out this week as part of her solo career, titled Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party. Reviews so far are phenomenal, with many in agreement that Ego Death is her strongest solo work ever. Williams explores new territory, utilizing trip-hop and shoegaze demonstrating emotional vulnerability around topics like inherited trauma, the pressure of fame, and the commercialization of contemporary music. 

New Zealand based indie-rock band The Beths’ new album, The Straight Line Was a Lie released last Friday. Straight Line follows a lot of the same formula that has given the group its momentum - catchy choruses, tight vocal harmonies (from all four members of the band), and thought-provoking lyrics are all present and in top form. Consensus amongst fans and critics is that Straight Line continues the band's discography wonderfully, but doesn’t break new ground in terms of style. The Beths “stay safe” in the musical territory they are most familiar and successful with. But if the formula has gotten them this far and the fans are enjoying it, there may not be much upside to venturing outside the comfort zone.

Devonté Hynes, AKA Blood Orange, released his fifth studio album, Essex Honey this week, to positive reviews. Essex Honey is his debut album under new label RCA Records, and is receiving praise for its interesting melodies, danceable tracks and introspective lyrics. The album also features Lorde and Mustafa appearing on a few tracks. Hynes, who grew up in Essex, England, wrote Essex Honey to explore feelings of grief, the melancholy of returning home, and the ability of music to heal and process difficult emotions. 

This week, The Hives released their seventh album, The Hives Forever Forever the Hives. The legendary Swedish garage-rock band is known for their hard hitting choruses, distorted vocals and overdriven electric guitar power chords. The Hives Forever, however, is getting somewhat lukewarm reviews. Listeners feel the album is a little bland, and ends up feeling monotonous when listened to in its entirety. Despite this, The Hives Forever is high energy, and is on brand for the group, who has always had a habit of bucking expectations and rejecting the need to create mass appeal. The Hives aren’t for everyone, and they’re happy about it. 

Sabrina Carpenter - Man’s Best Friend 

Released August 29, 2025

Island Records

Hayley Williams - Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party

Released August 28, 2025

Self-Produced 

The Beths- The Straight Line Was a Lie 

Released August 29, 2025

Anti Records

Blood Orange - Essex Honey

Released August 29, 2025

RCA Records

The Hives- The Hives Forever Forever the Hives 

Released August 29, 2025

[PIAS]