Before moving on to their next musical chapter, it’s practically a rite of passage for a singer to release a deluxe edition of their latest album. But often, these projects feel like last-minute cash grabs rather than true artistic expansions. From soulless remixes to recent trends of sped-up and slowed-down songs to appeal to TikTok users, it can be difficult to find an album truly worthy of its extended edition. But all hope is not lost, as a handful of artists, past and present, maintain their artistic integrity through true creative pursuits. The deluxe albums below not only match the expectations of the standard edition, but advance the material with undeniable hits, nuanced recollections and complete reimaginings.

“Kansas Anymore (The Longest Goodbye)” by Role Model

As if Role Model’s 2024 no-skip country-pop album wasn’t enough, the singer-songwriter graced listeners with four new songs as a Valentine’s Day gift last year. Each new track rounds out the original album, expanding on the romantic arc that the artist takes listeners on. While the original closing track, “Something, Somehow, Someday,” left listeners at a point of uncertainty, “The Longest Goodbye” provides closure: “I don’t think you love me anymore / And I don’t think I love you anymore.” It’s hard to even imagine that some of these tracks weren’t on the original album, with the indie pop hit “Sally, When the Wine Runs Out” becoming the singer’s mainstream breakout moment with celebrity concert appearances. Plus, the TikTok edits of “Normal People” and “The Summer I Turned Pretty” backtracked by Role Model’s yearning, gritty “Some Protector” will go down in the history books.

— Skylar Boilard, Arts Editor

“Dear Evan Hansen (Deluxe Album)” by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul

Make fun of “Dear Evan Hansen’s” cringey and questionable plotline all you want, but it’s undeniable that Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s pop-rock score is full of bangers that subsequent composers could only dream of replicating. The deluxe version of its original Broadway cast recording, released in 2018, gave us six more of these bangers. In fact, the two “Dear Evan Hansen” songs I listen to the most appear on this expansion as cut songs: “Part of Me,” a dark, explosive ensemble number, and the two mothers’ grief-filled duet “In the Bedroom Down the Hall.” And if that wasn’t enough, Katy Perry’s cover of “Waving Through A Window” closes the album, with Perry’s cursive pop singing providing a strangely iconic take on teenage anxiety.

— Ethan Li, Copy Chief

“Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat” by Charli xcx

While the usual deluxe album consists of a few outtakes and maybe another featured artist, Charli xcx flipped that idea on its head with “Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat.” Here, she transforms each song on “BRAT” by adding an artist who felt integral to reimagining the song’s themes. “Sympathy is a knife featuring ariana grande” turns a song about one-sided jealousy into a nuanced look at being misunderstood by Hollywood. The Japanese House brought solemn synths and longing to “Apple,” and who could forget when Charli and Lorde worked it out on the remix on the new version of “Girl, so confusing”? It’s a rare moment when the deluxe album surpasses its original in many ways, and a defiant moment of creativity from Charli, who managed to take complete control of the “BRAT” narrative without running it dry.

— Amelia Knust, Music Editor

“Older (and Wiser)” by Lizzy McAlpine

Lizzy McAlpine has soundtracked my life for upwards of five years now, and I’ve begrudgingly watched her explode into TikTok stardom with her hit “Ceilings.” However, it’s undeniable she reached a career high with the release of her deluxe record “Older (And Wiser).” Released six months after the standard issue “Older,” the new tracks are not just cash-grabbing fillers, but add new emotional depth to the album’s storyline about regret, self-reflection and letting go. The quiet guitar-focused demo of “Method Acting” is a personal standout. It encapsulates everything McAlpine’s artistry is built on: lyrical precision and emotional nuance. Her most recent hits from the deluxe, “Pushing It Down and Praying” and “Spring Into Summer” expand her masterful world-building, sticking the landing on a transformative record.

— Ellie Miller, Staff Writer

“Adventure (Deluxe)” by Madeon

Deluxe albums can feel disjointed and forced, especially in a genre as dynamic as edm, but Madeon’s vibrant debut album still sounds timeless. Six new tracks continue to cement the French producer’s penchant for infectious songwriting, ranging from anthemic vocal melodies on “Finale” to propulsive and snappy hooks on “The City.” His maximalist yet pristine production shines in the hectic electro instrumentals of “Icarus” and the 6-minute “Technicolor” outdoes the other songs’ atmospheric grandeur. There’s never a dull moment on “Adventure (Deluxe),” and its additional songs wholeheartedly sell its promise to dance like there’s no tomorrow.

— Kaleo Zhu, Staff Writer

“Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever)” by Noah Kahan

If Noah Kahan’s 2022 album “Stick Season” did not emotionally shatter fans enough with its intimate songs about heartbreak and mental health, the album’s 2023 deluxe version, “Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever),” offers a more mature exploration on the topics. Here, Kahan gives his stories a nuanced frame without letting go of the emotional ideas that shaped the original album. While “Your Needs, My Needs” demonstrates Kahan’s signature cathartic buildup representing growing frustration, “Dial Drunk” captures the feelings of post break-up chaos and desperation with its fast-paced, banjo-led production. It is hard to fathom that “Dial Drunk” was not a part of Kahan’s original album, as it led to his first No. 1 on Billboard. And of course, no one can mention the deluxe album without acknowledging the bittersweetly heartbreaking “You’re Gonna Go Far,” which has turned into a classic for college students to reminisce on while away from home. Each new track expands upon what Kahan does best in “Stick Season,” creating a complete anthology of yearning, introspective folk-pop.

— Lucy Farringer, Contributing Writer

“Grace (Legacy Edition)” by Jeff Buckley

Jeff Buckley’s discography is the gift that keeps on giving, but at what cost? Columbia Records released “Grace (Legacy Edition)” on the tenth anniversary of “Grace” to commemorate Buckley’s unexpected passing. The new disc showcases the musician’s stylistic range, featuring famous covers including Jessie Mae Robinson’s “The Other Woman.” This album’s three variations of “Dream Brother” progressively strip the song to its bones, revealing the influence of Pakistani Qawwali singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on Buckley’s sound. Notably, the album includes “Forget Her,” an intimate song about heartbreak which Buckley originally thought was too personal for the original tracklist. Though accessing “Forget Her” can feel like a betrayal to Buckley’s intentions, “Grace (Legacy Edition)” still serves as a beautiful expansion of his exemplary, crushing discography.

— Emily Colette Love, Contributing Writer

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