The Rolling Stones’ ‘Hackney Diamonds’ and 10 More Fall Albums We Can’t Wait to Hear

Kylie Minogue, Tension

When: Sept. 22

What to expect: After dabbling in country pop on 2018’s Golden and dance on 2020’s Disco, Kylie Minogue, 55, delivers a broad, eclectic set of joyful electropop. “Unlike my last two albums, there wasn’t a theme,” she said in May. “It was about finding the heart or the fun or the fantasy of that moment. I would say it’s a blend of personal reflection, club abandon and melancholic high.” Seven of the 11 tracks were produced and written with her longtime collaborators, Biff Stannard and Duck Blackwell.

Wilco, Cousin

When: Sept. 29

What to expect: The indie rock band takes a decidedly modern turn, thanks in part to Welsh artist Cate Le Bon, who encouraged Wilco to take risks. She brought in saxophone, drum machines and budget-brand Japanese guitars, lending a fresh sound to a band already known for stretching boundaries. It’s the first time Wilco has enlisted an outside producer since 2007’s Sky Blue Sky. Le Bon said, “They’re so mercurial, and there’s this thread of authenticity that flows through everything they do.”

Catch Wilco on tour: Sept. 25-Oct. 27

Darius Rucker, Carolyn’s Boy

When: Oct. 6

What to expect: Rucker’s first solo album in six years is named after his late mother, a nurse who died before he rose to fame in country music. On the Today show, the singer, 57, called Carolyn’s Boy an “homage to the greatest woman I’ve ever known.” The 14 tracks include his chart-topping “Beers and Sunshine,” current single “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” and “Ol’ Church Hymn,” a collaboration with Chapel Hart. Ed Sheeran is a cowriter on the song “Sara.”

Catch Rucker’s Starting Fires Tour: through Oct. 14

Rick Astley, Are We There Yet?

When: Oct. 6

What to expect: The veteran British singer, 57, inescapably bound to 1987 megahit and 21st-century meme video “Never Gonna Give You Up,” releases the third album that he’s written, recorded, performed and produced in his London home studio. As for the album’s title, “that phrase has multiple meanings,” he’s explained. “Are we there yet in my musical ambitions? Am I done with my career? Have we arrived? Or are we still traveling?” This collection of blue-eyed soul was inspired by his devotion to such greats as Bill Withers, Al Green and Marvin Gaye. The 12 tracks include upbeat single “Dippin My Feet” and stark piano ballad “Blue Sky,” a reflection on the stillness brought by the lockdown.

Dogstar, Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees

When: Oct. 6

What to expect: After a long hiatus, the Los Angeles indie rock band returns with its first album in two decades, introduced by the single “Everything Turns Around,” a buoyant slice of midtempo power pop. The trio, boosted by the celebrity profile of its singer-bassist, actor Keanu Reeves, 58, released debut Our Little Visionary in 1996 and sophomore album Happy Ending in 2000, and disbanded in 2002.

Reba McEntire, Not That Fancy

When: Oct. 6

What to expect: McEntire, 68, serves up stripped-down, acoustic versions of several big country hits, including “Somebody Should Leave,” “How Blue,” “One Promise Too Late” and “The Last One to Know.” She teams with Dolly Parton, 77, on “Does He Love You” and Brooks & Dunn on “If You See Him, If You See Her.” The 14-track compilation also boasts a new song, “Seven Minutes in Heaven.” The album is a companion to her book Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots, also out Oct. 6.

Dolly Parton, Rockstar

When: Nov. 17

What to expect: Stunned at her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year, the country superstar initially declined the honor, then decided to record her first rock album to justify the award. The 30-track Rockstar finds Parton collaborating with a host of rock luminaries, including John Fogerty, 78, Ann Wilson, 73, Sheryl Crow, 61, Pink, Stevie Nicks, 75, and goddaughter Miley Cyrus. Paul McCartney, 81, and Ringo Starr, 83, join her on the Beatles’ “Let It Be.” She and Sting, 71, duet on the Police classic “Every Breath You Take.” Debbie Harry, 78, joins her to revive Blondie’s “Heart of Glass.” Elton John, 76, lends his vocals to “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” And Parton goes it alone on Prince’s “Purple Rain” and her own “World on Fire.”