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As the franchise tag deadline loomed, Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens were unable to reach an agreement on a long-term deal to keep the former MVP in Baltimore.

The result was the Ravens putting the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson, which has a price tag of $32.4 million for next season, while allowing Jackson to negotiate freely with other teams.

However, while Jackson can negotiate any deal he wants elsewhere, the Ravens can match any offer sheet Jackson signs or, if they let him walk, will receive two first-round picks. The two first-round picks would not be a massive return for Jackson by any stretch, particularly given what Russell Wilson and other stars have gone for recently. That said, it does mitigate the damage a bit for the Ravens should Jackson find a team willing to give him what he wants.

Mostly, though, this seems to be the Ravens wanting to prove to Jackson that there is not another team in the league willing to give him the guaranteed money he is demanding, and will let the market show him what is actually out there for his (tremendous) services. For teams pursuing Jackson, this makes the upcoming negotiations very tricky. As to what teams will get involved, that remains to be seen but one of the expected top suitors is apparently not going to be in the mix, as Dianna Russini reports the Falcons will not make an offer to Jackson.

Those teams will have to figure out what they’re willing to offer Jackson (who is negotiating the deal himself as he doesn’t have an agent) and what will be enough to make sure the Ravens don’t simply match the offer sheet. Baltimore seems fairly convinced there’s not a fully guaranteed deal out there — as Jackson has reportedly asked for like what Deshaun Watson got from Cleveland — but what we don’t know is what number they’re willing to go up to in order to keep their star in town. A team like the Raiders, which is desperate for a star QB and doesn’t have a draft pick this year that is likely to get them one of the top QBs in this year’s Draft, could choose to accept the risk and pay Jackson the guaranteed figure he wants, hoping that he stays healthy long enough to make it all worthwhile.

This all could pay dividends for Jackson, provided teams think he is actually attainable on the market and are willing to try and throw him an offer that would make Baltimore balk. Whether that market presents itself or not will, if nothing else, tell us where the rest of the league stands on Lamar’s value long-term.

Not too long ago, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy made the highly controversial decision to give Tucker Carlson access to January 6 footage. Last night, the Fox News personality attempted to use the tapes to downplay the attack on the Capitol building as just a couple of “sightseers.” Who could have seen that coming?

“The footage does not show an insurrection or a riot in progress,” Carlson said of the edited footage that he aired Monday night. “Taken as a whole, the video record does not support the claim that Jan. 6 was an insurrection. In fact, it demolishes that claim. And that’s exactly why the Democratic Party and its allies in the media prevented you from seeing it.”

Hmm. Interesting. Let’s see what Republicans in the senate who lived through the little sightseeing tour thought of the report. Via Mediaite:

“I think it’s bullsh*t,” [North Carolina Senator Thom] Tillis told reporters.

“I was here. I was down there and I saw maybe a few tourists, a few people who got caught up in things. But when you see police barricades breached, when you see police officers assaulted, all of that … if you were just a tourist you should’ve probably lined up at the visitors’ center and came in on an orderly basis,” Tillis added.

Senator Mike Rounds from South Dakota also had words for Carlson. “I thought it was an insurrection at that time. I still think it was an insurrection today,” Rounds told reporters.

Mitt Romney was not a fan either and called out Carlson’s blatant selective editing of the attack footage.

“The American people saw what happened on Jan. 6,” Romney said. “They’ve seen the people that got injured, they saw the damage to the building. You can’t hide the truth by selectively picking a few minutes out of tapes and saying this is what went on. It’s so absurd. It’s nonsense.”

Senate Minority Whip John Thune and Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley were also among the growing chorus of Republicans who were not thrilled with Carlson’s shenanigans. So… whoops?

(Via Mediaite)

Tom Brady retired (again) earlier this offseason, and now, there are rumors that he may unretire and play another NFL season (again). Brady announced his second retirement on a beach back in February, saying that unlike the departure from football that he announced last year, this one would be “for good.”

Despite that, Rich Eisen of NFL Network shared an apparent rumor that made its way around at the NFL Draft Combine: Brady has some interest in playing during the 2023 season. According to Eisen, the belief in Indianapolis was that the Miami Dolphins are a team to watch in Brady’s alleged interest in never living anywhere other than Florida ever again.

Brady is apparently not joining Fox as its lead NFL broadcaster until 2024, so he does have some time to kill before he gets into the television game. There was a rumor that he’s considering getting into stand-up comedy, but despite the Tampa Bay Buccaneers struggling last season, it does seem like he still has some gas in the tank if he decides to play football again.

On Tuesday, Brady addressed Eisen’s report on his Twitter account and indicated that he’s a little too busy after getting his daughter a kitten.

There is nothing stopping Brady from spending the next three months taking care of his new cat and then signing a deal with an NFL team. We’ll keep you updated on any additional relevant updates regarding the kitten as they become available.

A few years ago (after mass shootings had really cranked up again, and “bad apple” law enforcement members kept misappropriating a certain logo), I made the argument that Marvel should put The Punisher to sleep. And I still think that should be the case as Castle was interpreted by the aforementioned parties. As well, the second season of the Netflix series lost its way when Castle took on a surrogate father role of sorts and softened up in the most awkward manner. Over all, this felt like an unintentionally coordinated existential crisis for the character as originally intended, and maybe things are about to get more confusing. Or maybe they’ll get better. Who knows!

Whatever the case, Jon Bernthal is making a Frank Castle comeback in a 2024 Marvel Studio series, Daredevil: Born Again. As already noted, Charlie Cox is on the roster to lead as Matt Murdock/Daredevil (with Vincent D’Onofrio returning as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin), and the show was described by Cox as something of a “reincarnation” and definitely “different” than what materialized on Netflix. Now, The Punisher is joining the mix for this show that’s slated for Disney+, which means that the semi-automatic-wielding Frank Freaking Castle is also going to, you know, apparently be on Disney+.

How different will Castle really be on a new streaming service? No insight has formally arrived as of yet, and The Hollywood Reporter doesn’t have many details (other than an 18-episode season will arrive in 2024), yet also notably, The Punisher will be an addition to the source material:

Born Again takes its title from a landmark Daredevil storyline published in 1986, written by Frank Miller and drawn by David Mazzuchelli. The show is deviating from that plot, although by how much is unclear. The Punisher, for example, made no appearance in the comic story. Daredevil versus Wilson Fisk, aka the Kingpin, remains the focal point.

Hmm. Marvel didn’t respond yet to this report when contacted by The Hollywood Reporter, so there’s no telling what the real (and certainly tweaked) plans are for Castle. The world could always use more onscreen Jon Bernthal (he even somehow made The Bear a better show than it already was in a small yet pivotal role), so I’m willing to give this move the benefit of the doubt. I cannot envision Frank Castle arriving as-is on this reinvention of a series, but we shall see, sometime in 2024.

(Via The Hollywood Reporter)

Musicians often use their art as a release of their most intimate thoughts. Alternative musician Indigo De Souza is no exception. With songs like “Real Pain,” “Kill Me,” and her new single “Smog,” you couldn’t think otherwise.

“Smog” follows up “Younger & Dumber,” both off of her forthcoming album All Of This Will End, due out next month. Never afraid to put her emotions on forefront, “Smog” provides an honest detailing of what it’s like to battle with high-level anxiety when in the public eye as she sings, “I talk too much when I’m nervous / I give too much away / And you might think I’m trying to f*ck, but I’m really just trying to bang / I don’t think I deserve it / I don’t think anything / I just sit down and shut up /And hope they don’t notice me.”

In the self-directed video, the musician demonstrates just how that entanglement of feelings presents itself in public places and with those she comes in contact with in these shared spaces.

In a statement, De Souza shared “Smog” in her words is “about that strange time and how it felt in my house, alone. When the neighborhood was asleep, and all the lawnmowers stopped, I felt free to make anything and sing anything I wanted. It was my first time ever living alone. It brought me a lot closer to myself.”

The singer contained, “I was living alone on a dead-end street surrounded by neighbors who were seemingly always mowing their lawns. I remember having a lot of anxiety during the day, navigating the newly awkward and uncertain experience of doing anything mid-world freak-out. I was in an emotional state that felt like a cross between delirious joy and a real tired hopelessness. Everything felt unknown and distant.”

Watch the video above.

All Of This Will End is out 4/28 via Saddle Creek. Find more information here.

It’s not a secret that servers are typically underpaid and make most of their money from tips, which means if people don’t tip, the server is losing money on that table. That may sound confusing if you’ve never waited tables, so I’ll try to explain since waiting tables helped put me through college. The federal minimum wage for tipped workers is $2.13 an hour. If you have to Uber to work, you’re starting your shift in the hole.

So when customers don’t tip, it’s even harder to recoup that money lost just getting to work. A table being occupied by non-tippers takes away the opportunity for the server to earn a tip from a different customer who could be seated at that table. Working as a server is a constant numbers game to make sure you leave your shift with enough money to meet your needs for the day.

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So when a large party is seated in your section, you’re hoping the gratuity will offset the amount of attention the table will take. But sometimes large parties don’t tip or don’t tip well, and that’s exactly what happened to a TikTok creator who goes by Spotlight Shanell.

Shanell was serving tables one day when a party of 21 sat in her section. After waiting an extended amount of time for the remainder of the party to arrive, they were served their food and paid the bill, which ended up being $351.11. At a standard 18% gratuity, the tip should’ve equaled $63.20, which is clearly printed on the receipt the customer signed, but the tip Shanell received was $10. Out of frustration, she took to TikTok to complain, but what happened next was an act of true community.

Jolly Good Ginger, who has over 4 million followers, shared Shanell’s story to his page and asked his followers to donate $1 each to make up for the small tip Shanell received. His followers really showed up, because in just a few hours the short-changed server was nearly $4,000 richer.

Watch her reaction below, but be warned there’s some…colorful language.

@jolly_good_ginger

I LOVE IT!!!!

During last night’s (March 6) Indiana Pacers game against the Philadelphia 76ers, 50 Cent was having a blast with Will Ferrell. Before the game, 50 wheeled Ferrell onto the court in a go-kart.

“Big round of applause for Will Ferrell,” the announcer booms in the video, which the rapper uploaded to social media.

However, it seems that the kart was quite heavy, as 50 struggled to push it more than a little bit at a time. To borrow one of the post’s top comments, “If 50 can’t do it, then it can’t be done.”

“Ran into one of my favorite actors Will Ferrell at the game #bransoncognac #lecheminduroi,” Fif wrote in his Instagram caption. “Indiana Pacers vs 76ers first the eagles now this I’m done #bransoncognac #lecheminduroi.”

In the second clip of 50 Cent’s slideshow, he approached Ferrell and the two shared a handshake and a hug — and fans are loving it. “Will is just so damn cool,” one commented on 50’s Instagram post.

“That was so genuine. Will grabbed Fif hand like he was ready to go tell everyone “Hey everyone meet my friend Curtis!” He was too excited. Made me smile,” another added.

Ferrell had already been in Indianapolis to film a documentary, according to HipHopDX. Meanwhile, 50 Cent has a partnership with the Pacers for his alcohol company, Sire Spirits.

Outside Lands festival is set to return for its 15th iteration this August at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. For this special anniversary, the lineup is promising.

Taking the stages over the span of three days, August 11 to 13, are Kendrick Lamar, Lana Del Rey, Foo Fighters, Megan Thee Stallion, Janelle Monáe, Maggie Rogers, and more. Cigarettes After Sex, Lil Yachty, JID, Willow, and Orville Peck are also on the roster.

With acts this exciting, tickets are bound to sell out quickly.

When do Outside Lands 2023 tickets go on sale?

Fans can begin to buy tickets as early as Wednesday, March 8, at 10 PST. Festivalgoers will be able to purchase three-day general admission tickets, GA+ tickets, and VIP tickets.

Three-day GA tickets ($499) will allow fans entry into Golden Gate Park for the festival, as well as access to food and beverage vendors.

GA+ ticketholders ($674) will be able to enter the festival expedited, and have access to flushable bathrooms, refillable water stations, and complimentary soft drinks. They will also be able to purchase alcoholic beverages at a full-service bar.

Those with VIP tickets ($1,029) will be able to enter the park through special entrances and have access to viewing areas at the Lands End, Sutro, and Twin Peaks stages. They will also be able to rent special VIP lockers during the festival days, and they will receive a special commemorative poster.

Outside Lands is also allowing fans to set up payment plans to pay for their tickets and passes. Tickets will be available for purchase here.

You can view the full Outside Lands 2023 lineup below.

Some of the artists mentioned here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary or Warner Music Group.

What I like about the show Shrinking is that it’s almost exactly as good as it should be. There’s a high bar here with the talent involved. It’s led by the team behind Ted Lasso (Brett Goldstein and Bill Lawrence), it’s got a cast filled with comedy veterans (Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Ted McGinley, Christa Miller, etc.), and it’s got an interesting premise (therapists whose personal lives are a huge mess). It looks good on paper and it is good in practice, which is not nothing from a creative standpoint. It’s not taking the easy route, either. The show does a little two-step over and around the line between comedy and drama that can be tough to cross without tripping and wiping out in front of everyone. Check it out if you haven’t yet. I think you might dig it.

And when you check it out, you will probably notice something else that I probably should have mentioned in the first paragraph: Harrison Ford is on the show. Like, the Harrison Ford. Indiana Jones. Han Solo. The fugitive from The Fugitive. He plays a cranky older therapist named Paul and he is an absolute delight. There was one episode where he and Jessica Williams sang along to “Every Morning” by Sugar Ray in a car, which you need to see. (Click here, scroll down.) One time his character got very high on edibles and went to a party. That was also just about exactly as good as you would expect it to be, which is to say “very.” It’s a good time.

And that is the end of the part of our discussion where we cover trivial things like the quality of the show and how wild it is that Harrison Ford is absolutely killing it on a television series in 2023. We have important things to get to. I do, at least. There is one particular aspect of the show that is driving me crazy. I need to know how Harrison Ford’s glasses stay on his face like this…

and like this…

I have worn glasses my entire adult life. I understand the physics of resting them on top of your head, where your hair is. I get sliding them down your nose to look over the top of them. But I have tried to do this — resting them in the dead center of my forehead — a dozen times in the last few days, including once again just now, and gravity simply will not allow them to stay there. They donk back onto my nose immediately. One time they fell off my face entirely.

“But Brian,” you say, with condescension dripping off of all three of those syllables. “He’s leaning back in both of those screencaps. Maybe that’s the reason they stay in place.”

Okay, smart guy. Explain this…

… and this.

No leaning there. Sitting pretty straight up. Glasses still locked into place in the center of his forehead.

“Okay, Brian,” you say again, like a snot. “But he is raising his eyebrows a little in both of these. He’s scrunching up his face, creating a ledge for them to rest on. It’s not that outlandish, really.”

Oh yeah?

WELL HOW ABOUT THIS?

HE IS LEANING OVER.

HE IS BENDING FORWARD TO POUR COFFEE.

THOSE THINGS REMAIN LOCKED IN PLACE IN DEFIANCE OF REASON AND SCIENCE.

AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN.

Pretty quiet now, Mr. Glasses Expert. Not hearing a lot out of you after two screencaps of screen legend Harrison Ford hunched over tables and counters with his glasses resting on his forehead despite biology and physics both telling us they should have slid right off his face and splashed into his jet-black coffee. Nothing to say?

“Well, it’s hard to tell from the still images,” you mutter, flailing. “Maybe he just limits his head movement when they’re up there and h-…”

Oh, buddy. Did you really think I would come into this without GIFs? Like this hasn’t been eating at me to the degree I have an entire folder full of images on my computer? Oh, I have GIFs. Two of them. Look at this guy doing rapid movements side-to-side in a way that should easily dislodge those spectacles.

“Yeah, but side-to-side wouldn’t affect gravity. That would be more of a rapid movement up or d-“

RAPID MOVEMENT UP OR DOWN, YOU SAY?

It does not make sense to me. It’s to the point now where it almost takes me out of the show. Two characters will be having a nice little conversation in the break room about something in their personal lives and Harrison Ford will walk in with his glasses magically hovering mid-brow and I’ll start scribbling equations on the window like an unwell mathematician in a movie about my personal struggles. People are starting to worry about me.

Anyway, after a lot of thought (too much, probably) (definitely), I have come up with three potential explanations for how Harrison Ford’s glasses stay on his forehead like this:

• He has something sticky or tacky on the nose pads that grips whatever skin it touches
• Shrinking takes place on the moon and they haven’t told us yet, which would negate the gravity issue, even if it would be weird that his glasses are the only thing affected
• Harrison Ford has furrowed his brow so much throughout his life that the muscles in his forehead are extremely strong and can hold light- to medium-weight objects in place for a limited amount of time

I’m leaning toward the last one. For now. I will continue to monitor this situation.

We’re only a few months into 2022, yet we’ve had an influx of amazing indie albums already. Paramore’s long-awaited This Is Why exceeded expectations; Black Belt Eagle Scout’s The Land, The Water, The Sky was a whirlwind of sprawling emotion and visceral instrumentation; Andy Shauf’s Norm served as a compelling portrait of a complex character. More highlights include Yo La Tengo’s This Stupid World, Mac DeMarco’s Five Easy Hot Dogs, and Samia’s Honey.

Luckily, there’s more records to come. Some, fans have been anticipating for years; others come from emerging artists who are getting ready to prove themselves and hopefully break out. Either way, spring is a great time to release a record — it’s time to blast CDs on long drives with the windows down.

Meet Me @ The Altar — Past // Present // Future

Release Date: March 10

A debut album is overdue for the invigorating Fueled By Ramen trio. Past // Present // Future follows a string of EPs and singles that pulled a massive fan base in, and it’ll definitely bring more music lovers into their grip. They already brought the catchy anthem “Say It (To My Face)” to late-night television; it represents their energetic, exuberant brand of pop punk. “This album pays homage to the music we loved growing up while reflecting our modern-day lives, sounds, and experiences,” they said upon the announcement of the LP.

100 Gecs — 10,000 Gecs

Release Date: March 17

Before the enigmatic 100 Gecs head out on tour in April, they’re gonna drop 10,000 Gecs, the duo’s second album that arrives nearly four years after 2019’s 1000 Gecs. Gecs can embody completely different genres in different songs. On “Hollywood Baby,” for example, they go in a pop-punk-leaning direction, but they could do just about anything else on the rest of the album. – Derrick Rossignol

Yves Tumor — Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)

Release Date: March 17

Lana Del Rey nearly had the long album title throne for spring before Yves Tumor came through. Tumor, of course, has been one of the most fascinating musical innovators for years now because, like they do on recent single “Heaven Surrounds Us Like A Hood,” they don’t let the need for stylistic experimentation get in the way of just plain old good songcraft. – D.R.

Caroline Rose — The Art Of Forgetting

Release Date: March 24

The Art Of Forgetting is an interesting name of an album, considering a lot of making art requires recollection. Caroline Rose’s songs are hazy, almost seeing the world through a kaleidoscopic lens. On the sprawling, sparkling “The Doldrums,” she tries to reconcile with her unwanted memories: “I can’t erase the past and I won’t close my eyes / All I ask is silence from the noise inside my mind.” The lyricism in the singles is consistently striking; on the soft but profound “Love / Lover / Friend,” she lists what she is not: “I’m not your keeper / Your debt collector / I am not a puppeteer pulling strings / I’m not a rag doll / With which you can always play,” she croons.

Fall Out Boy — So Much (For) Stardust

Release Date: March 24

We’ve had Fall Out Boy in our lives for over two decades at this point, and in case you haven’t been paying attention, they haven’t stopped pumping out No. 1 albums. Their past three LPs have all topped the charts and it’s clear Patrick Stump, Pete Wentz, and company are still having a lot of fun doing it, like with their Easter-egg-packed “Love From The Other Side” video. – D.R.

Softcult — See You In The Dark

Release Date: March 24

A press release says Softcult is recommended if you like Nirvana, Soccer Mommy, Alvvays, or Slowdive. Does it get any better than that? The music warrants this as well; Softcult’s previous EPs and singles have been dreamy feminist explorations, and they’re overdue for a debut full-length. See You In The Dark sounds bewitching so far from the single “Dress,” which the duo explained is about consent. Even when reckoning with heavy topics, the track itself feels light and delicate, floating with mesmeric guitars and pleasant vocals.

Yours Are The Only Ears — We Know The Sky

Release Date: March 24

“‘Dreamer’ is about waking up to the realization that you need to move on from a painful relationship,” Susannah Cutler, who plays as Yours Are The Only Ears, said about the We Know The Sky lead single. “Dreamer” makes her sound wise beyond her years as she reflects on a doomed romance: “When you talk I close my eyes / Imagine all the ways I lie / Just to keep this alive,” she sings, her breathy vocals poignant and heartfelt. The title track, released after, is as stunning, leaning into a more sparse sound that shows how she can use quietness to her advantage.

Boygenius — The Record

Release Date: March 31

Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker are three of the most respected artists in their field, so it’s naturally always exciting when they find time to revive their collaborative project, Boygenius. Reviving it they are: Their 2018 self-titled EP caused a frenzy, so their upcoming full-length record is sure to draw even more enthusiastic support. – D.R.

The New Pornographers — Continue As A Guest

Release Date: March 31

The singles for Continue As A Guest, the new album by The New Pornographers, have been promising. It’s the follow-up to their 2019 record In The Morse Code Of Brake Lights. “Really Really Light” was an immediately endearing introduction to Continue As A Guest; the guitars are breezy and exuberant, reminiscent of The Smiths, and the harmonies are hypnotic. “Angelcover” had more of a groove to it, echoing more of a gothic sound.

Blondshell — Blondshell

Release Date: April 7

More than half of Blondshell’s debut is out after she scattered the release of singles over 2022 and 2023. Sabrina Teitelbaum gets away with this because the songs kept getting better every time, from the gloomy, enticing “Olympus” that grapples with love and addiction to the explosive “Veronica Mars” with stunning guitar work and jaded vocals. For a first album, it’s already looking remarkably unique and immersive, like it plunges the listener into a dark, intense world.

Scowl — Psychic Dance Routine EP

Release Date: April 7

Scowl are undoubtedly one of the most exciting hardcore bands right now after the release of their ruthless 2021 album How Flowers Grow. They’re following that up with the Psychic Dance Routine EP. The lead single “Opening Night” drew comparisons to Hole and L7, bursting with grungy guitars and Kat Moss’ unafraid vocals. Though she’s known for brutal growls, she sings mischeviously until the very end when the track explodes and she unleashes her familiar howls. It’s hard to predict what Psychic Dance Routine will be like, but it’ll definitely be a riot.

Wednesday — Rat Saw God

Release Date: April 7

Wednesday made a major move last year by signing with Dead Oceans after earning acclaim with the first four albums. The group hasn’t given themselves much time to rest — Rat Saw God will be their fourth album since 2020 — but they don’t sound tired on songs like the shoegaze-y recent single “Bath County.” – D.R.

Worriers — Warm Blanket

Release Date: April 7

Worriers’ 2020 album You Or Someone You Know came out right before the pandemic hit, yet the opening track was fittingly titled “End Of The World.” Though the album was overshadowed by the panic and the quarantine, it was a good soundtrack to chaos. Now they’re preparing for the follow-up, Warm Blanket, and the lead single “Pollen In The Air” signifies a new beginning: “Quiet in the ever after / In our supplemental chapter / This could be a cool disaster / We didn’t care.” Lauren Denitzio sounds reflective but hopeful. The following single “Prepared To Forget” is a moody ballad: “I’m heading out, prepared to forget / All the memories I haven’t even made yet.” Warm Blanket will definitely be an emotional ride.

Feist — Multitudes

Release Date: April 14

“The last few years were such a period of confrontation for me, and it feels like it was at least to some degree for everyone,” Feist said in a statement. The hallucinogenic single “In Lightning” is the first taste of Multitudes, and it’s a memorable experience. Shimmering vocals strike the listener from all angles, creating a kaleidoscopic landscape. It’s the opener to the album, so it’s safe to expect that the album will only get more immersive and hypnotic from there.

Fenne Lily — Big Picture

Release Date: April 14

When releasing the Big Picture lead single “Lights Light Up,” Fenne Lily said she’d “never really written about love in the present tense before this.” You wouldn’t be able to tell. The track buzzes with gentle affection, moving slowly yet excitedly. “You came to me at the speed of a bad decision / Just the speed, the bad not so much,” she sings candidly and smoothly, sounding like she’s done this a million times. The following single “Dawncolored Horse,” which showcases her knack for storytelling even more, also comes across as natural and endearing; the singer-songwriter feels like a dear friend the second she begins singing. Big Picture will likely hit home.

Jesus Piece — …So Unknown

Release Date: April 14

There’s no limit to the ruthlessness of Jesus Piece. The Philly-based hardcore band are following up 2018’s Only Self with the fiery …So Unknown, whose singles have been nothing short of ferocious. “Gates Of Horn” abides by no rules, endlessly exploding with intense breakdowns and noisy growls. Other singles “An Offering To The Night” and “Tunnel Vision” are as brutal, rooted in metallic riffs and corrosive vocals. …So Unknown will be a cathartic world of pure rage.

Metallica — 72 Seasons

Release Date: April 14

A fortuitous Stranger Things placement has helped put the long-running metal group back in the pop culture spotlight, and now they’re ready to capitalize on it with a new album. On lead single “Lux Æterna,” James Hetfield and company proved that despite how long they’ve been in the game, they’re far from ready to start phoning it in and just collecting paychecks with pedestrian material. – D.R.

The Smashing Pumpkins — Atum: A Rock Opera In Three Acts

Release Date: April 21

Speaking of tenured groups, Smashing Pumpkins is another one that hasn’t stopped adventuring. Atum will be their twelfth album and its release is actually already in progress: The first act dropped in November 2022, the second arrived in January, and the project-completing third will be here in April. Bands less seasoned than Smashing Pumpkins lose their creativity all the time, so power to Billy Corgan and company for keeping their imaginations alive. – D.R.

Beach House — Become EP

Release Date: April 22

Beach House just unveiled the sprawling album Once Twice Melody last year, which contained some of their best tracks yet, like the stunning “Superstar”: “I see it now in this photograph / Something good never meant to last,” Victoria Legrand sings emptily against an ethereal sonic background. Now they’re gearing up to release the Become EP, which is a collection of five songs that didn’t make the cut for Once Twice Melody. Because of the pair’s chemistry, it’s likely that they can do no wrong, so these songs are sure to be transcendent.

Indigo De Souza — All Of This Will End

Release Date: April 28

De Souza’s Saddle Creek debut Any Shape You Take was an Uproxx favorite in 2021, and while it’s a tough act to follow, it appears All Of This Will End is up to the task. “Younger & Dumber” was certainly a prime choice for a lead single, as the evocative song is a lovely and thoughtful reflection on youth that sets the table for more greatness to come. – D.R.

The National — First Two Pages Of Frankenstein

Release Date: April 28

Aaron Dessner apparently devoted a pocket of time to take a break from becoming one of pop’s newest go-to collaborators: The National have a new album ready to go. First Two Pages Of Frankenstein will be the band’s first since 2019 and Dessner’s connections actually helped here, too, as Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers (and Sufjan Stevens) make appearances. – D.R.

Arlo Parks — My Soft Machine

Release Date: May 26

In 2021, Collapsed In Sunbeams made Arlo Parks a star in her native UK and a Grammy-nominated critical favorite in the US. Part of Parks’ appeal is her vulnerability and it appears there’s plenty of that on the new LP: She previously described the project as confronting “the mid-20s anxiety, the substance abuse of friends around me, the viscera of being in love for the first time, navigating PTSD and grief and self-sabotage and joy, moving through worlds with wonder and sensitivity.” – D.R.

Miya Folick — Roach

Release Date: May 26

What’s a better way to introduce a new album than with a self-empowering anthem called “Get Out Of My House“? Miya Folick’s Roach lead single is “about a person, but it’s also about a certain bad habit and a certain bad feeling.” It palpably feels like she’s shaking off both that person and feeling — quite literally — as the dancey track jitters enthusiastically while she sings of preparing for a better, more positive life. With that kind of kickoff, Roach should be an inspiring album that watches Folick being the best version of herself.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.