From Taylor Swift to Blur: The albums to look out for in July 2023

Virgin Radio

28 Jun 2023, 14:32

July 2023 has plenty of new music to enjoy. 

From the likes of Taylor Swift to Blur, some new tracks and some classics get a good go at the charts this month. 

Here are the albums you need to know about in July 2023: 

Taylor Swift - Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) (7th July)

As Taylor Swift fans furiously prepare for their chance to see her European Eras tour, the pop megastar is back without another re-release from her back catalogue, her 2010 album Speak Now. 

Containing the hit singles Mine, Back to December and Sparks Fly, the Grammy-nominated record originally hit number six in the UK charts, so Taylor will no doubt hope to reach for the top spot this time around. 

Featuring six new tracks ‘From The Vault’, Speak Now will also include unheard tracks featuring the likes of Fall Out Boy and Hayley Williams of Paramore.  

Bastille - Bad Blood X (10th Anniversary Edition) (14th July)

Bastille are celebrating 10 years of their debut studio album Bad Blood, with the aptly titled Bad Blood X. 

The 2013 record, which debuted at number one in the UK album charts, was certified triple platinum and became the biggest-selling digital album of that year. 

The double CD album includes three never-before-heard demos, three fan-favourite covers as well as some live tracks. The special release vinyl will have a 16-page 12x12 book featuring new artwork, notes from each member of the band and unseen images. 

Blur - The Ballad of Darren (21st July)

The Ballad of Darren is the upcoming ninth album by rockers Blur, who have returned after an eight-year hiatus.

After their 2015 record The Magic Whip, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, Alex James and Dave Rowntree came back together after working on separate projects. 

Blur bassist Alex recently opened up about getting back together with his bandmates. Speaking to Mariella Frostrup on Times Radio the musician gave an insight to the creation of The Ballad of Darren, and explained that they wanted to keep it secret “until we'd done it, just in case it was rubbish. Because you never know!”

He added: “I guess it's quite a daunting prospect, making a record at this stage of your career, because, you know, what if it is rubbish?”

Cian Ducrot - Victory (21st July)

Soulful Irish singer Cian Ducrot will hope for some first-time success on the charts with his debut album, Victory. 

After gaining a massive fanbase on TikTok with his huge track All for You in 2022, the Cork native is now releasing his first record, and recently explained how his personal experiences, including his childhood trauma, shaped the music within the album. 

He shared: “To begin to understand the album there's some things you need to know about my life, where I came from, how I was raised, and the kind of kid I was. A broken home at an early age is where the story really began, my mom, my brother and I became a team and music was our saviour.

“This album represents that victory, the victory of self-belief, the victory of everyone around me who I love and who loved me back, the story of my brother, of my mother, of my grandparents, of my friends, and everyone who fought by our side every step of the way.”