And voila it’s 2013.
It seems like only yesterday Cloud Nothings’ then new album Attack on Memory was fueling my jog through the cold, wintry streets of Chicago, yet today it’s time to look ahead to another year brimming with anticipated releases. So, what does 2013 have in store? In the pages that follow, we’ve highlighted the 60 albums worthy of your excitement. Not all of them are a sure bet — ahem, Daft Punk, The Avalanches — but with names like Arcade Fire, Pearl Jam, Atoms For Peace, Earl Sweatshirt, Nick Cave, and The Knife, even if only 58 of these albums actually come out, 2013 will be just fine. -Alex Young
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FIDLAR – FIDLAR
January 22nd via Mom + Pop
FIDLAR has the soundtrack for the other side of the fiscal cliff, and it boils blood in the same vein as The Germs, Suicidal Tendencies, and Descendants. The Los Angeles punk outfit prefaced its debut full-length with a pair of sloppy, snarling tunes, “Cheep Beer” and “White On White”, and spent the last part of November on a PBR-drenched mini-tour of the Northeast with JEFF The Brotherhood and Delta Spirit to further hint at what’s to come. FIDLAR could let the band quit their day jobs to do what they do best: make music for people without day jobs. -Chris Rotolo
Listen: “Cheap Beer”
Buy: Amazon | Insound
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Foxygen – We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
January 22nd via Jagjaguwar
Foxygen is Sam France and Jonathan Rado, a couple of goofballs who look and sound like misplaced time-travelers from the 1960s. On last year’s bedroom-recorded debut album, Take the Kids Off Broadway, the duo mimed Mick Jagger’s vocals, sang about getting stoned, and delivered a multitude of delectable melodies. They’re cleaning up the lo-fi fuzz on We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic, but if the lead single “Shuggie” is any indication, they’ve lost none of their psych-pop charm. –Jon Hadusek
Listen: “Shuggie”
Buy: Amazon | Insound
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The Joy Formidable – Wolf’s Law
January 22nd via Canvasback/Atlantic
Lead singer Ritzy Bryan stated in an interview with UK DJ Zane Lowe that “nature for us is a huge inspiration, an important metaphor for all different types of life in general.” An intimate connection with the natural world harnessed throughout her childhood has reached its conclusion with Wolf’s Law. The record strays from the distortion-heavy wall of sound found on their debut, The Big Roar, marrying moments of delicate introspection on tracks such as “Silent Treatment”, with the abrasive pop-punk of “This Ladder Is Ours” and a fuzz-riff infused “Cholla”. Self-imposed isolation saw the album crafted in early 2012 in a snow-covered studio near Portland, Maine, resulting in a crystallization of a band in tune with their surroundings away from the commotion of modern living. –Jamie Boyd
Listen: “The Ladder Is Ours”
Buy: Amazon | Insound
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Toro Y Moi – Anything In Return
January 22nd via Carpark
Chaz Bundick, aka Toro Y Moi, has come a long way since 2010, when he dropped his debut Causers of This, an album that helped spearhead the so-called “chillwave movement.” We saw a little bit of evolution with his sophomore record Underneath The Pine, but it’s his third effort, Anything In Return, that shows the most promise in terms of total genre reinvention (or destruction?). The chill element is alive and well, but Bundick makes sure to dabble in everything from dizzying disco-studded dance tracks (“Say That”) to syrupy, electro/R&B numbers (“So Many Details”). As he explained, “I’m just trying to make sincere pop music that’s not all processed and bubblegum. Underground isn’t always relevant; I want to see what’s popular, then put my own spin on it.” –Michelle Geslani
Listen: “So Many Details”
Buy: Amazon | Insound
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Local Natives – Hummingbird
January 29th via Frenchkiss
Local Natives have moved out of Gorilla Manor They recorded and mixed the album in Montreal and Brooklyn instead of their L.A. home and, figuratively, they seek to work “beyond what was familiar for them.” Most of Hummingbird’s 11 tracks have already been premiered live, including the lead single “Breakers”, all indicating that co-producer Aaron Dessner of The National has retained the band’s layers of Afropop and complex harmonies while naturally elevating the moments of drama. –Ben Kaye
Listen: “Breakers”
Buy: Amazon | Insound
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My Bloody Valentine – TBD
January via TBA
The idea of listening, holding, or even discussing a new album from My Bloody Valentine is such a fantastical concept that it’s almost too alien for words. For over two decades, frontman Kevin Shields has teased of the long-awaited follow-up to 1991’s Loveless and it’s looking like his tomfoolery has come to an end. This past Christmas eve, Shields confirmed that the album was finished (even calling it “100 percent necessary” to MBV’s catalogue), and since then, we’ve, uh, continued waiting. Still, there’s a reason I’ve been glued to my cell phone anytime something flashes. Kevin, are you there? -Michael Roffman
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Frightened Rabbit – Pedestrian Verse
February 5th via Canvasback/Atlantic Records
Here comes a regular, the perpetually soused Scott Hutchinson, narrating his fourth attempt to climb out of the bottom of a bottle of Lowland Scotch. His familiar brogue cum masochism on ”Dead Now” suggests that he may still be the same modern leper that he was slurring about at the corner of the pub four years ago. Frightened Rabbit’s pathos is firmly embedded in their acerbic struggle, but their dampened, to-the-rafters choruses and dark humor is what saves them from being pathetic. Here’s hoping Hutchinson finds a reason to be happy but also here’s hoping that he never does. -Jeremy D. Larson
Listen: “Dead Now”
Buy: Amazon
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Jim James – Regions of Light and Sound of God
February 5th via ATO
Envisioned partially as a soundtrack to Lynd Ward’s 1929 graphic novel God’s Man, Regions of Light and Sound of God marks the first solo release bearing Jim James’ own name. Blending influences of soul, funk, and folk, he sought to create a sound “from a different place in time. Perhaps sounding as if it were the past of the future, if that makes any sense.” Having heard the album, the description makes perfect sense. Regions of Light and Sound of God merges My Morning Jacket’s more psych-folk moments and James’ personal proclivities sure to attract old fans and new. –Ben Kaye
Listen: “Know Till Now”
Buy: Amazon
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Unknown Mortal Orchestra – II
February 5th via Jagjaguwar
Since their fuzzy and mysterious self-titled debut in mid-2011, Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s popularity and almost non-stop touring schedule (not to mention a fairly entertaining Twitter) have made it nearly impossible to remain unknown. Rather than fight people’s interests, the band’s sophomore record, promises to be an open book, documenting the “emotional turmoil of life on the road, painting surrealist, cartoonish portraits of loneliness, love and despair.” While the thrill of secrecy is gone, in its place are tunes like lead single “Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)”, which demonstrates a more fragile, emotional element that’s just as groovy and infectious as when Nielson and co. were total puzzles. –Chris Coplan
Listen: “Swim and Sleep (Like a Shark)”
Buy: Amazon
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Azealia Banks – Broke With Expensive Taste
February 12th via Universal
Harlem’s 2012 breakout rapper Azealia Banks is bounding into the new year with her debut album, Broke With Expensive Taste. The first single and B side are already slated as “Miss Amor” and “Miss Cameraderie”, respectively. Those tracks haven’t leaked, but Ms. Banks dropped a teaser track, “BBD” – short for “Bad Bitches Do” – on New Year’s Eve. If the saucy hedonism and filthy rhymes are any indication, 2013 is shaping up to be an interesting year for the compelling 21-year-old. –Sarah Grant
Listen: “BBD”
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Iceage – You’re Nothing
February 19th via Matador
The first couple months of any new year is filled with the promise of improvement, a sense that we can all undergo change and growth for the positive. While Copenhagen punk outfit Iceage expressed a similar hope for development when they announced You’re Nothing, their sophomore LP and debut for Matador, don’t expect sunshine and smiles. Instead, their aim is to expand on 2011’s New Brigade, fine-tuning their minimalist aggression to newer, more visceral heights, as evidenced by live videos of the especially angsty title track. Even if you can’t stop smoking or don’t lose any weight, at least you’ll have the perfect soundtrack to rage with. –Chris Coplan
Buy: Amazon
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Jamie Lidell – Jamie Lidell
February 19th via Warp
Jamie Lidell cobbled together his entire dayglo past and whipped it into a maximalist EDM-soul banger with the first single from his fifth album for Warp Records. It’s now the quintessential Lidell track, a mosaic of an elder IDM statesman, an R&B showman, and a pop craftsman. If the Jamie Lidell is as definitive as “What A Shame”, then it’s good he saved the self-titled album for when he’s most assuredly himself. –Jeremy D. Larson
Listen: “What A Shame”
Buy: Amazon
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Lady Lamb the Beekeeper – Ripely Pine
February 19th via Ba Da Bing Records
After releasing a number of promising bedroom recordings in her hometown of Portland, ME, the now Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Aly Spaltro, aka Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, is prepped to release her proper debut full-length. Written during her stint as a secondhand DVD store clerk, her folk-tinged indie rock songs are, at their core, built on simple, modest melodies. But it’s Spaltro’s skill not only as a multi-instrumentalist, but as a fierce and surprising songwriter that makes her songs raw, energetic, and richly unpredictable. One moment on “Rooftop” she’s crooning pure affection in front of some sweet strings, and the next, she’s exploding with total raucousness behind some mean guitar licks. –Michelle Geslani
Listen: “Rooftop”
Buy: Amazon | Insound
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Major Lazer – Free the Universe
February 19th via Mad Decent/Downtown
When famed DJ/producer Diplo isn’t making Blackberry commercials, managing his label Mad Decent, or working with bigwigs like Kid Cudi and Robyn, he’s manning his electronic-meets-dancehall project Major Lazer. Although the group, which also includes Walshy Fire and Jillionaire, hasn’t released a full-length since 2009’s Guns Don’t Kill People…Lazers Do, they’ve hardly stayed out of the limelight, remixing everyone from Snoop Lion to No Doubt. Take one look at the list of Free The Universe’s collaborators (Flux Pavilion, Santigold, Ezra Koenig, Bruno Mars, etc.), and it’s hard not to be excited for this epic, guest-heavy, and genre-spanning record. –Michelle Geslani
Listen: “Get Free” feat. Amber Coffman
Buy: Amazon
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Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Push the Sky Away
February 19th via ANTI-
Push the Sky Away is the 15th (!) studio album for the Aussie outfit, and crucially, the first LP without founding member and multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey. The record has large boots to fill, also coming after 2008’s critically-acclaimed Dig!!!, Lazarus, Dig!!!, a powerhouse record notable for its overt biblical overtones and Nick Cave’s penchant for the darker side of life. Early observations indicate that Push The Sky Away – which was recorded in a 19th Century mansion in the South of France – might stand in contrast as a subtle, reflective record as Cave contemplates an internet age that revels in absurdity and trivialities. But with the return of longtime producer Nick Launay, it’ll take more than a little Boatman’s Call to push the whole damn sky away, right? –Jamie Boyd
Listen: “We No Who U R”
Buy: Amazon
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Atoms For Peace – Amok
February 26th via XL
Thom Yorke has long teased of a debut record from his “open-ended” side-project, Atoms for Peace — now it’s a reality. Featuring Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, session drummer Joey Waronker, and Brazilian percussionist Mauro Refosco, the nine-track Amok was recorded following the band’s 2010 tour and comes charging into 2013 with apocalyptic artwork and one of the most chilling websites in years. Current single “Default” finds Yorke tottering over balmy, shrink-wrapped beats no doubt scripted by Godrich, whose work continues to inspire following last year’s UltraÃsta. The other eight should be just as adventurous. –Michael Roffman
Listen: “Default”
Buy: Amazon
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Dave Grohl – Sound City – Real to Reel
March 12th via Roswell Recordings
When Dave Grohl makes a documentary about the legendary Sound City Studios, you have to expect a stellar soundtrack, and the tracklist seems like it’ll deliver. The album features collaborations with Grohl and a who’s-who of artists that recorded at Sound City before its closure, including Stevie Nicks, Paul McCartney, Corey Taylor, and even Rick Springfield. There’s a track with the surviving members of Nirvana alongside Paul McCartney, and one with Grohl, Josh Homme, and Trent Reznor. It’s like the Cruel Summer of rock, and it can’t come out soon enough. -Ben Kaye
Listen: “Cut Me Some Slack” feat. Dave Grohl, Paul McCartney, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear
Buy: Amazon
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Wavves – TBD
March 26th via Mom + Pop
While his Instagram proves otherwise, Wavves mastermind Nathan Williams has grown up a lot since the outfit’s early self-titled efforts composed solely of unceasing dissonance and nihilistic immaturity. He’s poised to reach an all-time –ahem– high with his as-yet-titled debut on Mom & Pop, a 13-track effort produced by John Hill (M.I.A., Santigold) that Williams created sans oversight, which let him explore everything from hip-hop (as influenced by his Sweet Valley side project) to “acoustic meditations, complete with cello and glockenspiel accompaniment.” On the surface, lead-off single “Sail to the Sun” sounds like another Wavves sugar-high, but its nuance proves Williams has so much more going on than weed innuendos and being really into The Price Is Right. –Chris Coplan
Listen: “Sail to the Sun”
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Depeche Mode – TBD
March via Columbia
While 2009’s Sounds of the Universe was far from being lyrically inspired, it remains an album that featured some fascinating music from a band recording their twelfth studio album. And when one’s 30 years into their career, two decades removed from their best record, any new experimentation deserves celebration. “It definitely has a soulful vibe,” noted Martin Gore. ”During the recording process we really tried to get the elements of performing and the live show into the album.” It might be a long shot, but there’s a decent chance Depeche Mode could entice in 2013. –Erik Burg
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HAIM – TBD
May/June via Columbia
HAIM (pronounced like “lime”) are the three Haim sisters from L.A. who cut their teeth in the aughts playing with their family band, awesomely named Rockinhaim. The Sisters Haim have already made a splash in the UK, having just landed on the cover of NME, but their Fleetwood Mac by way of Gloria Estefan via ABBA via 21st century electro pop is pure sunshine and will most assuredly blow up in US, as well. Think a more organic pop on the brighter side of the spectrum than the digital pop of Charli XCX and Grimes. Think rollerskates and pool parties with frozen rum drinks. -Jeremy D. Larson
Listen: “Don’t Save Me”
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Wild Belle – Isles
March via Columbia
Towards the end of 2012, Wild Belle, the brother-sister duo made up of Chicago’s Elliot and Natalie Bergman, teased listeners with their It’s Too Late EP, a collection of stylish, island-ready rhythms. The four tracks, which essentially serve as a preview of their debut full-length, show much potential. “Keep You” is dreamy, flushed with deep reggae grooves and sunny, pop flair, and it bounces with a swaying, yet sultry swagger. –Michelle Geslani
Listen: “Keep You”
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The Knife – Shaking The Habitual
April 9th via Mute
It took six years for the music world to catch up with The Knife’s prescient Silent Shout, but 2012 saw that record’s influence lacquered over the dark, twisted electronic beats of the likes of Purity Ring and Grimes. The mysteriously masked Swedish siblings have taken their time crafting the follow-up, so who knows how far into the future their music will lead. As might be expected, details have been scarce, but an appearance from Light Asylum’s Shannon Funchess marks the first outsider on a Knife record. Judging from the David Lynch-ian backwards music in the teaser video and the message that the album required the duo “to find lust,” we’re in for another Willy Wonka boat ride of an album. –Adam Kivel
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Phoenix – TBD
April via Glassnote
It was just about a month ago that Phoenix announced that their fifth record would see release in April 2013, a follow-up to the enormous success of 2009’s Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. That record put them in car commercials and across late night TV shows, but in 2011 the band said they wanted to move in a different direction for their fifth record, and hoped it would be the aural equivalent of France’s high-speed rail system, whatever that may mean. Nothing from the record, which has been described by adjectives like “nostalgic”, “futuristic”, “experimental” and “minimal,” has been heard yet; the band has done well in keeping it under wraps. But if it carries over even half of the kinetics and vitality of its predecessor, 2013 will mark another successful year for Thomas Mars and company. –Chris Bosman
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Tyler, the Creator – Wolf
May via Odd Future Records
Tyler, the Creator and Odd Future have been busy in 2012, from facing lawsuits to having a Cartoon Network TV show. Through it all, Tyler has been working on his long-awaited third album Wolf, which is expected sometime in early 2013. The third in a series of records loosely tied together as therapy sessions Tyler is having with a school counselor, Tyler has said that Wolf will feature less rapping, a greater emphasis on production, and less of the shock-tactic ultra-violence that colored Bastard and Goblin and caused consternation in listeners. While it’s hard to believe anything will grab our attention as suddenly and unequivocally as “Yonkers” (or its accompanying video) did, the discussion around Wolf positions it as an album that holds that attention over a longer period of time. Also: this picture. -Chris Bosman
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Cold Cave – TBD
Spring
The constant of Cold Cave’s rotating lineup is Wesley Eisold, and his aggro-croon has kept the dark new wave band going since their 2009 debut Love Comes Close. Prurient noise-maker Dominick Fernow, who made 2011’s wonderful Cherish The Light Years especially skronky, is out of the group and London May (Samhain), Hunter Burgan (AFI), David Scott Stone (LCD Soundsystem, Melvins), and Cody Votolato (Blood Brothers, Jaguar Love) are in. You’ve never … seen anyone … quite like them before. -Jeremy D. Larson
Listen: “A Little Death to Laugh”
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Kurt Vile – Wakin On A Pretty Daze
Spring via Matador
With little information outside of the album’s title, Kurt Vile’s iterative catalogue to date should provide reason enough to get excited. “You turn it on and it sounds like me,” Vile noted in a recent interview with SPIN, “just rock.” It’s a simple, commendable approach, and a singular vision that has allowed Vile to become a bright beacon for honest to goodness rock & roll. –Erik Burg
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Queens of the Stone Age – TBD
Spring via Rekords Rekords
The forthcoming Queens of the Stone Age LP will see the return of guitarist/songwriter Nick Oliveri and Dave Grohl (who’s playing drums). Perhaps frontman Josh Homme is hoping to replicate the creative environment of 2002’s Songs for the Deaf, which was the only other time the trio have shared the studio together. We haven’t heard any music off the new record, but one can reasonably expect — if Homme and Oliveri are sharing songwriting duties like they used to — the return of a more aggressive QotSA –Jon Hadusek
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Yeah Yeah Yeahs – TBD
Spring via Interscope
Hard to believe it’s been a whole decade since Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ rapturous debut, Fever to Tell, which yielded some top gems like “Tick”, “Date With The Night”, and “Maps”. Recently, Karen O, Nick Zinner, and Brian Chase reunited in their Brooklyn home-base for a Hurricane Sandy benefit concert, where they revealed “Despair”, one of the new tracks that has remained elusive on the Internet. The rest? Those shall come, too. –Sarah Grant
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AlunaGeorge – Body Music
June via Island
Due in no small part to the elegant 2012 output of AlunaGeorge with “Your Drums, Your Love”, “Watching Over You”, and their collaboration with Rustie, Aluna Francis and George Reid claimed second place in the prestigious BBC Sound of 2013 poll. Body Music may keep some of these tracks, but the UK duo’s love for dropped R&B and future pop has never sounded more in step than in the brand new track “Diver”. -Jeremy D. Larson
Listen: “Diver”
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Against Me! – Transgender Dysphoria Blues
TBD
Laura Jane Grace (fka Tom Gabel) is sharing her rebirth with the entire world in the form of a concept album about a transgender prostitute. Against Me! revealed that Transgender Dysphoria Blues is more than just an evocative tale mirroring one woman’s internal struggle and eventual personal triumph; it’s a raw, unfiltered effort with a devastating capacity for much more personal songwriting than the “crowd-pleasing power-pop” of 2010’s White Crosses. And while song titles like “Drinking With the Jocks” and “Black Me Out” further remind us of a return to the days of Against Me! as the Eternal Cowboy, Grace’s journey of self-discovery will be a new outlook on the band’s future. –Chris Coplan
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Danny Brown – Old
TBD via Fool’s Gold
Possibly some disappointing news for fans of Danny Brown who are interested in hearing what Danny Brown thinks pussy smells like (we may have to live with just “Cool Ranch Doritos” and “penguins”), because a recent interview with the base Detroit rapper revealed, “If people are just looking for dick-sucking jokes, there isn’t too many of them this time.” Guests, however, are not in short supply, as the album is slated to feature production from Rustie and Purity Ring, as well as guest spots from A$AP Rocky, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, and Megan James (of Purity Ring). –Jeremy D. Larson
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Also…
Vampire Weekend (Spring) – The only real whispers of a new record from our academic, white-collared indie stalwarts have been a few festival appearances featuring new material and the on-screen debut of new song. That new song “Unbelievers” is classic VW, more than enough to whet the palette for more blue-blooded polo rock. —Chris Bosman Update: According to a small spread in this month’s Q Magazine, the third, “darker” and “organic” and Vampire Weekend album will be out this spring. The band spent time recording in LA and New York, with co-production from Ariel Rechtshaid (Usher, Major Lazer, Charli XCX) and VW keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij. “It really does feel like the third chapter of a book,” explained Koenig. Yeah, because VW need more literary imagery. -JL
Goldfrapp (Fall) – After being largely dissatisfied with 2010’s Head First , Allison Goldfrapp and her bandmate Will Gregory finished their contract obligations with EMI by putting out a singles collection, and have taken their unhurried time writing their next record, which looks to be released late next year. –Ben Kaye
The Men (Fall) - Songs from their as-yet-yet followup to one of the best albums of 2012, Open Your Heart, have already been previewed live, and you can expect to hear studio versions sometime in the not too distant future. –Ben Kaye
Arcade Fire (Late 2013) – While the collapse of a roof in their studio temporarily halted production, it’s been confirmed that come late 2013 Canadian indie rockers and past Album of the Year Grammy winners Arcade Fire have been busy recording their latest epic, and former LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy is involved. No word yet on whether the band is dancing itself clean, or if they have lost their edge. -Chris Bosman
Cloud Nothings (Late 2013) - Frontman Dylan Baldi says he wants to do one thing a year so he doesn’t feel lazy, so he’s already written most of the “noisier and less straightforward” followup to Cloud Nothings’ breakthrough Attack on Memory, with plans to record in April for a late 2013 release. –Ben Kaye
The Avalanches – We’ve been conditioned never to get too excited, but there’s been increasing chatter about The Avalanches’ long-desired sophomore LP. Could this be the year? Probably not — but fingers crossed. -Alex Young
Beck – Following the release of his innovative Song Reader, Beck has plans for one, maybe two albums of actual recorded music, one of which was recorded in Nashville and hopefully involves Jack White. -Alex Young
Beyoncé -Busy being the most diva-licious mom in the Universe, Beyoncé has left all discussion of her follow-up to the spellbinding 4 to long-time collaborator The-Dream. With promises of new music in time for her Super Bowl XLVII performance and an HBO documentary debuting the same month, it seems likely that Mama Bey could be dropping her next bundle of joy sometime this spring. -Chris Coplan
The Black Keys – The Akron duo seek to continue their album-a-year pace when they hit the studio in January – hopefully with longtime producer Danger Mouse behind the boards – to record the followup to the Grammy Award-nominated El Camino, aiming for a drop date in fall. –Ben Kaye
Black Sabbath – Following Tony Ioomi’s cancer scare, the reunited Black Sabbath (sans Bill Ward) are back in the studio, working with producer Rick Rubin on their first album in 34 years. With dates scheduled in Australia for early spring, and more tour dates still forthcoming, a formal album announcement appears imminent. -Alex Young
Daft Punk – Word has slipped of collaborations with disco legend Giorgio Moroder, Chic frontman Nile Rodgers, songwriter Paul Williams, Animal Collective’s Panda Bear, and Chilly Gonzales; this year could really, honestly, truly, finally be the year. Maybe. –Ben Kaye
Death From Above 1979 – There was a distinct possibility that Death From Above 1979 would become one of the ’00s best one-and-done bands, as both band members quickly moved on from the project and started others, but the duo reunited in 2012, playing new songs that were just as startlingly aggressive as the old material which they first captured our attention. Hopefully 2013 marks another classic banger from DFA. –Chris Bosman
Deerhunter - The Atlanta group with a penchant for low-fi haze pop are set to curate and play at this summer’s All Tomorrow’s Parties festival in the UK, penciled in alongside a headline performance at Austin Psych Fest in April, leading to speculation of further live dates and possible new material. –Jamie Boyd
The Dismemberment Plan – When seminal D.C. indie rockers the Dismemberment Plan reunited in 2011, they were noncommittal with the possibility of new material, but 2012 saw both the debut of seven new D-Plan songs and the official announcement from frontman Travis Morrison that a new album was forthcoming. And those new tracks confirm something that the Plan has said all along: “We don’t want no standing still.” –Chris Bosman
Earl Sweatshirt – Doris – The prodigal son of Odd Future’s return in 2012 was the rap equivalent of J.D. Salinger coming out of seclusion. His hyper-lyrical style will be paired with a whole grip of guests, including the Neptunes, Pharrell Williams, Thundercat, and all of the OF crew. He said in a (since deleted) tweet, ”I hope i lose you as a fan if you only fuck with me because i rapped about raping girls when i was 15,” which might be the only press release he’ll need. –Jeremy D. Larson
Eminem – The Detroit legend confirmed his eighth album’s 2013 release on a baseball cap. Unfortunately, he couldn’t find room for a title or a tracklist. -Alex Young
How to Destroy Angels – After signing to Columbia Records and releasing their An omen_ EP, Trent Reznor and his wife Mariqueen Maandig will seek to give their four-piece joint venture a core with this full-length LP. -Ben Kaye
James Blake - He’s been previewing a selection of new songs live, and our own Chris Barth described his new songs as “massive”. Soon enough, the doe-eyed, dub-step twentysomething from the U.K. will rattle our spines with bass and squeeze our hearts with his glassy croon. –Jeremy D. Larson
Jay-Z – Hov has kept mum on his first solo album since 2009’s The Blueprint 3, but we do know he’s already hit the studio with Frank Ocean and Pharrell Wiliams, and of course, Kanye will be involved, too. -Alex Young
Jay Electronica – Act II: Patents of Nobility (The Turn) – If Jay’s major label debut doesn’t drop by year’s end, it could suffer the same fate of disinterest that has already succumbed Dre’s Detox. -Alex Young
Lady Gaga – ARTPOP - The name of Gaga’s new record is tattooed on her body, a bellwether of how seriously she’s taking her new record, which Gaga has recently claimed will be “very risky,” “weed-free,” and “a multimedia experience.” While Born This Way didn’t reach the same critical acceptance as her earlier, more trendsetting work, could Gaga’s less provactive on-stage and in-public looks indicate a scaled back response to the maximalist pop that she helped make en vogue? Her 33 million Twitter fans alone assure us that no matter what she does, it will be goddamn spectacle. –Chris Bosman
Kanye West – This past summer the Louis Vuitton Don announced that he had started work on his follow-up to his seminal 2010 record My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. We’re hopeful that the work won’t be delayed by his forthcoming child. We’re also hopeful the new record sounds something like West’s new on-stage fashion sense. –Chris Bosman
MGMT – TBD - The psychedelic rockers have been working for the past year on a self-titled third album and follow-up to 2010’s Congratulations, and with mixing completed at the back-end of last year, an early to mid 2013 release looks likely. –Jamie Boyd
Mikal Cronin – He’s the McCartney to Ty Segall’s Lennon. “Well, this is going to be just excellent,” I said after having heard just one song through a phone. –Jeremy D. Larson
Missy Elliott – Block Party - It keeps getting delayed, but all signs point to the party going down in summer of 2013. “Triple Threat”, one of two singles she released in September, hardly lives up to the title. Elliott doesn’t come for a whole minute, which may not seem long in comparison to the eight years since The Cookbook. But it’s long enough. For her seventh hip-hop album, and seventh time collaborating with hip-hop producer Timbaland, let’s just hope that most of the hips are hers. –Sarah Grant
No Age – Since releasing Everything in Between in September 2010, Los Angeles noise-punks No Age have gone a different route with subsequent releases. Whether it’s the soundtrack/installation piece for Hedi Slimane’s “California Song” exhibit or the experimental, borderline literary “Collage Culture” single, the duo seem intent on perpetually blurring the line between the visual arts and music. Should make for some heady material *hopefully* hitting shelves later this year. –Chris Coplan
Pearl Jam – TBD - Eddie Vedder’s solo tours (and guest appearances with, like, everyone), Matt Cameron’s return to Soundgarden, and Jeff Ament’s RNDM kept the band from completing their 10th studio album this year, but with seven or eight tracks apparently canned and completed, word that’s it’s “halfway” done, and plans to reconvene early in 2013, we may finally see that Backspacer follow-up. -Ben Kaye
Pusha T – My Name Is My Name – The Clipse member turned Kanye hypeman is finally ready to branch out on his own with his debut solo album. Hopefully its title isn’t the album’s only reference to Marlo Stanfield. -Alex Young
Solange - Following the success of last year’s single “Losing You” and the accompanying True EP, Solange has plans for a full-length of her restrained R&B. No complaints here: True was both danceable and gorgeous. Give us more, Solange. –Jon Hadusek
