The Lead Sheet ~ 3/17/2026

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 marks a milestone for R&B musician James Blake, releasing his seventh album Trying Times as the first LP for his new independent label, Good Boy Records. Trying Times showcases many of Blake’s bread and butter trademarks; vulnerable vocals, tasteful piano chords, and prominent sub-bass. However, critics are praising the album for its deeper-delving lyricism, which explores adult conflicts like family-life balance, and the erosion of online empathy. Trying Times also has a couple notable features, including rapper Dave, who collaborates on “Doesn’t Just Happen” and Monica Martin, who contributes lush vocals on the electronic forward “Didn’t Come to Argue”. Mirroring Blake’s new independence with his own label, listeners note that Trying Times feels like a liberation, displaying Blake’s many strengths with unfettered boldness. James Blake will launch an album tour in the U.S. and UK beginning in May of this year. 

Groove-Metal pioneers Lamb of God released their tenth studio album, Into Oblivion to strong scores and positive reception. Into Oblivion comes after a four year break in album releases, following 2022’s anger-laden Omens. Critics view Into Oblivion as a new renaissance for the group, highlighting the record’s refined aggression, with many in agreement that it’s some of the best music from Lamb of God in over a decade. Vocalist Randy Blythe provides his signature howls and wails as the album’s spine, and there’s no shortage of face-melting guitar riffs, thrashing drums and sludgy basslines. Into Oblivion also hearkens back to the band’s early days in Richmond Virginia, with hints of twang and southern blues. Lamb of God just kicked off a massive North American tour to support the album, wrapping up at the end of April. 

Also releasing their tenth album this week is southern blues-rock band The Black Crowes. The group had been somewhat inactive in terms of new record releases since 2009’s Until the Freeze, but launched a comeback album, Happiness Bastards in 2024, which got a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album. Their new work, A Pound of Feathers continues that momentum; founding members Chris and Rich Robinson recorded the whole LP in just two weeks, with intent on spontaneity and impulsive inspiration. Listeners love Pound of Feathers’ raw energy, and critics appreciate the many ideas present. Zeppelin-esque riffs, gospel-like backup vocals and even some grungy stoner rock are all present on the album, all centering around a retro hard-rock throughline. The quick production doesn’t come without a few tradeoffs; critics bemoan a muddier mix that sometimes causes Chris Robinson’s vocals to get buried, and heavy compression makes a slight but noticeable dip in audio fidelity, particularly in the drum section, but all in all, A Pound of Feathers is well received and the Black Crowes were not about polish to begin with. 

Philadelphia-based emo math-rock group Sweet Pill released their second album this week, titled Still There’s a Glow. Often compared to acts like Paramore and Circa Survive, Sweet Pill found a strong foothold with their 2022 debut album Where the Heart Is, even earning a shoutout from Hayley Williams on her podcast Everything is Emo. Following three years of near constant touring, Still There’s a Glow challenged the band in new ways. While previous songs were written in small groups, Glow sees all band members giving input, leading to a fulfilling but arduous process where many demos were scrapped before making the final cut. Additionally, the group sought deeper emotional meaning and vulnerability, with vocalist Zayna Youssef incorporating journal-entries and therapy sessions as direct lyrical inspiration. Across the board, critics and listeners view Still There’s a Glow as a successful follow-up, noting an immediate jump in musical maturity and production quality. Sweet Pill will tour their new music in March and April, with a few one-off festivals in the UK later in June. 

Hip-hop musician and rapper Jack Harlow released his fourth album, Monica on Friday, coinciding with his 28th birthday. The stripped-back new album sees Harlow establish a few creative restrictions: No rapping, no cursing, no digital instruments, and no ego. These challenges allowed Harlow to explore new territory, particularly in R&B, of which the album is mostly comprised. Harlow exchanges his rap vocals for hushed, melodic jazzy delivery, and the live instrumentation beautifully compliments with organic authenticity. Critics are somewhat split- many love the new direction, finding it to be a true reinvention, while others feel the album lacks big hits, and is more suitable for coffeeshop playlists and background listening. Additionally, Harlowe’s vocal range lacks the width normally seen by more rehearsed R&B artists, leading to some repetitiveness. To make up for this, Monica features some great featured vocalists, like Omar Apollo and Ravyn Lenae, and legendary jazz pianist Robert Glasper provides excellent arrangements and nuanced chord composition. As of right now, Harlow has not announced an album tour. 

James Blake - Trying Times

Released March 13, 2026

Good Boy Records

Lamb of God - Into Oblivion

Released March 13, 2026

Epic Records

The Black Crowes - A Pound of Feathers

Released March 13, 2026

Silver Arrow Records

Sweet Pill - Still There’s a Glow

Released March 13, 2026

Hopeless Records

Jack Harlow - Monica

Released March 13, 2026

Atlantic Records