Tune Talk: Weekly Music News

## Weekly Music News: October 27 – November 2, 2025

### Major Album Releases (October 31, 2025)
A surge of highly anticipated albums dropped on October 31, spanning genres from indie rock to hip-hop and archival folk. Florence + the Machine released their sixth studio album, *Everybody Scream*, via Polydor and Republic Records, marking their first new LP since 2022’s *Dance Fever*. The album features production contributions from Dave Bayley, Mark Bowen, Aaron Dessner, James Ford, Danny L. Harle, and Florence Welch herself, and includes deluxe “chamber versions” for vinyl collectors ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everybody_Scream?utm_source=openai)). Guided by Voices unveiled *Thick Rich and Delicious*, their 42nd studio effort, backed by GBV Inc. and produced by long-time collaborator Travis Harrison; the album blends new compositions with unrecorded gems and was highlighted for its lead single “(You Can’t Go Back To) Oxford Talawanda” ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thick_Rich_and_Delicious?utm_source=openai)).

Posthumously, Big L’s estate issued *Harlem’s Finest: Return of the King*, assembling unreleased Big L vocals recorded in the 1990s alongside new production and guest spots under Mass Appeal’s Legend Has It… series ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem%27s_Finest%3A_Return_of_the_King?utm_source=openai)). On the experimental end, Canadian-American composer Claire Rousay offered *A Little Death* on Thrill Jockey, a field-recording-driven minimalism project she announced in August and previewed via the single “Just (feat. M Sage)” ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Little_Death_%28album%29?utm_source=openai)). Swedish artist Anna von Hausswolff released *Iconoclasts* through Year0001, her sixth studio album recorded across multiple churches and studios in Sweden and featuring guests like Ethel Cain and Iggy Pop ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iconoclasts_%28album%29?utm_source=openai)).

Indie supergroup Snocaps—a collaboration between Katie and Allison Crutchfield, MJ Lenderman, and Brad Cook—dropped a surprise debut also on October 31. *Snocaps* was issued without prior notice on Anti- label and immediately earned critical praise, with Pitchfork naming it among the “11 New Albums You Should Listen To Now” ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snocaps_%28album%29?utm_source=openai)). Meanwhile, Bob Dylan’s archival series continued with *The Bootleg Series Vol. 18: Through the Open Window 1956–1963*, an extensive 8-CD/4-LP box set chronicling his earliest recordings, released via Columbia and Legacy Recordings ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bootleg_Series_Vol._18%3A_Through_the_Open_Window_1956%E2%80%931963?utm_source=openai)).

### Notable Singles and EPs (October 27, 2025)
October 27 saw several rising and established artists release new shorter-form projects to set the tone for the season. Megan Moroney, fresh off her sold-out AM I OKAY? tour dates, debuted “Beautiful Things” as a standalone single under Sony Music Nashville/Columbia Records; the track is slated for inclusion on her forthcoming third studio album and has already become a fan favorite in live performances ([davidsoncountysource.com](https://davidsoncountysource.com/new-music-this-week-october-27-2025/?utm_source=openai)). Country newcomer Remy Garrison issued her bold EP *S.H.H.* via independent channels on the same day, a seven-track diary of post-relationship liberation including the lead single “Icebreaker,” which she co-wrote with Shane Yoder and producer Mark Seigle ([entertainment-focus.com](https://entertainment-focus.com/2025/09/26/newcomer-remy-garrison-channels-country-carpenter-on-new-song-icebreaker/?utm_source=openai)).

Also on October 27, multi-platinum hitmaker Billy Currington released his seventh LP *King of the World* through MCA Records. Produced by Carson Chamberlain, the ten-track album reunites Currington with songwriting legends like Dean Dillon and Scotty Emerick, featuring highlights such as “Run For My Whiskey,” “One Thing I Ain’t Been,” and the title track. Currington emphasized that the album marks a return to his signature coastal-country sound and cited the reunion with Chamberlain—his collaborator on the first five albums—as the spark for the project ([mca.com](https://www.mca.com/billy-currington-drops-new-album-king-of-the-world-via-mca/?utm_source=openai)).

### Industry and Label News
The week’s shake-ups extended beyond releases into corporate and label maneuvers. TikTok’s music division announced significant layoffs across its U.S. and Latin American teams on October 27, the first major cuts since 2023, as the platform restructures to focus on other entertainment verticals; further reductions in the U.K. were also forecast ([hq.rostr.cc](https://hq.rostr.cc/insider/news/remy-bond-signs-with-warner?utm_source=openai)). In artist services and publishing, songwriter Daecolm inked a new deal with Sony Music Publishing, while Buffalo Traffic Jam partnered with PLAYDATE MGMT for management, and Telescreens signed to indie label +1 Records, each announcement dropping October 27 as part of a busy signing day ([hq.rostr.cc](https://hq.rostr.cc/insider/news/remy-bond-signs-with-warner?utm_source=openai)).

In a significant media consolidation, Rolling Stone merged with Vibe in late October, integrating Vibe’s deep rap and R&B expertise into Rolling Stone’s broader coverage. The merger, under parent Penske Media Group, resulted in several Vibe staff departures but also brought Datwon Thomas on board as strategic advisor to expand the brand into video, podcasts, and live experiences ([pitchfork.com](https://pitchfork.com/news/rolling-stone-merges-with-vibe?utm_source=openai)).

### Upcoming and Ongoing Trends
Beyond immediate releases, the music world looks ahead to looming projects and tours. Oneohtrix Point Never previewed tracks from *Tranquilizer*—the electronic composer’s upcoming Warp Records album—via early singles “Lifeworld” and “Measuring Ruins” on October 20 and 27, respectively, setting the stage for a Europe tour in November ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tranquilizer_%28album%29?utm_source=openai)). Meanwhile, UK rapper Dave disclosed details of his upcoming album *The Boy Who Played the Harp* alongside a 2026 arena tour across Europe, confirming guest spots from Tems and James Blake and special Corteiz merchandise bundles ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_Who_Played_the_Harp?utm_source=openai)). With the spooky season now past, the industry gears up for holiday-period releases, year-end retrospectives, and the cascading impact of streaming algorithms on chart dynamics.