A whole lot of music happened in 2011. Like a whole lot. Virtually every artist on our collective radar seemed to release and album or a mixtape or five mixtapes or a cassette-only EP that, if you wanted it, you had to rob somebody at knifepoint outside Other Music. Music in general could be excused for taking a breather in 2012, especially with the Mayan apocalypse looming and all. But no, that’s not happening. Already, we’re excited to hear a whole ton of music that’s slated to arrive over the next 12 months.
The year ahead of us raises a whole ton of questions. Can James Mercer’s reconstituted Shins recapture their once-dominant indie majesty? Do Sleigh Bells have anywhere left to go after their face-rupturing first album? Can the xx possibly follow up that first album? Is Nicki Minaj, a certified pop star at this point, really going back to her jackhammer demon-rap roots? What are Best Coast and Jon Brion cooking up together? Will the return of Leonard Cohen leave a smoking hole at the center of all of our hearts? And will Lana Del Rey still be worth arguing about a couple of months from now? We don’t know, and we can’t wait to find out, but the period of speculation is, in its way, just as fun.
Below, you’ll find our alphabetical list of fiftysomething albums that we can’t wait to hear. We’ve limited our scope to albums that are definitely (or, at the very least, almost definitely) coming out during the next calendar year, which means the Detoxes and Aphex Twin comebacks will have to find spots on someone else’s list. (For real though, can those please come out finally?) And even without the hypotheticals, we’re left with a deeply interesting list of new records. And if the world does crumble next December, at least we’ll have fun batting these records around between now and then.
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01 Air – Le Voyage Dans La Lune (2/7, via Astralwerks)
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02 Animal Collective – TBA
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03 Bear In Heaven – I Love You, It’s Cool (April, via Hometapes/Dead Oceans)
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04 Best Coast – TBA
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05 The Big Pink – Future This (1/16, via 4AD)
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06 Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself (3/6, via Mom + Pop)
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07 Blondes – Blondes (2/7, via RVNG Intl.)
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08 Cat Power – TBA
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09 Ceremony – TBA (via Matador)
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10 Chairlift – Something (1/24, via Columbia)
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11 Cloud Nothings – Attack On Memory (1/24, via Carpark)
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12 Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas (1/31, via Columbia)
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13 Matthew Dear – Headcage (1/17, via Ghostly)
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14 Lana Del Rey – Born To Die (1/30, via Interscope)
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15 Dirty Projectors – TBA
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16 The-Dream – Love IV: Diary Of A Madman (3/20, via Def Jam)
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17 The Evens – TBA (via Dischord)
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18 Field Music – Plumb (2/14, via Memphis Industries)
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19 Craig Finn – Clear Heart Full Eyes (1/24, via Vagrant)
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20 Fleetwood Mac – TBA
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21 Garbage – TBA
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22 Grimes – Visions (1/31, via Arbutus)
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23 Grizzly Bear – TBA
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24 Heartless Bastards – Arrow (2/14, via Partisan)
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25 Islands – A Sleep & A Forgetting (2/14, via Anti-)
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26 Mark Lanegan Band – Blues Funeral (2/6, via 4AD)
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27 Light Asylum – TBA (via Mexican Summer)
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28 Lindstrøm – Six Cups Of Rebel (2/6, via Smalltown Supersound)
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29 Lower Dens – TBA
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30 Madlib & Freddie Gibbs – TBA
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31 Madonna – TBA (March, via Interscope)
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32 The Magnetic Fields – Love At The Bottom Of The Sea (3/6, via Merge)
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33 Mazzy Star – TBA
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34 The Men – Open Your Heart (3/6, via Sacred Bones)
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35 Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2/14, via Young Money)
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36 Janelle Monáe – TBA
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37 Morrissey – TBA
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38 No Doubt – TBA
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39 Oberhofer – TBA (via Glassnote)
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40 of Montreal – Paralytic Stalks (2/7, via Polyvinyl)
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41 Porcelain Raft – Strange Weekend (1/24, via Secretly Canadian)
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42 Rancid – TBA
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43 Rick Ross – God Forgives, I Don’t (TBA, via Def Jam)
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44 Santigold – Master Of My Make Believe (TBA)
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45 School Of Seven Bells – Ghoststory (TBA, via Vagrant)
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46 The Shins – Port Of Morrow (March, via Columbia/Aural Apothecary)
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47 Sleigh Bells – Reign Of Terror (2/14, via Mom + Pop)
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48 Spiritualized – Sweet Heart Sweet Light (3/19, via Double Six)
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49 Soundgarden – TBA
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50 T.I. – Trouble Man (TBA, via Grand Hustle/Atlantic)
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51 Trailer Trash Tracys – Ester (1/17, via Double Six)
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52 Trust – TBA (via Arts & Crafts)
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53 The Twilight Sad – No One Can Ever Know (2/7, via FatCat)
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54 Rufus Wainwright – Out Of The Game (TBA)
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55 The Walkmen – TBA
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56 The xx – TBA
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57 Yeasayer – TBA
So that’s our list. But what are we missing? What are you guys looking forward to hearing next year? Let’s keep this conversation going in the comments section, and we’ll update as we get more confirmations…
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I can’t believe Sigur Ros isn’t on this list. This list is dead to me without them
Sharon Van Etten and Fanfarlo! I hope Girls releases an EP or something too!! Cant wait for 2012.
Guess nobody’s going to read this now, but…
Payback by Danny! just got a release date set for January 17th. The title track was just released as a single/music video and is so good. Also, the features he has for the album are insane. 2012 will hopefully be the year where he finally gets the recognition he deserves.
Aside from there, I’m still hoping a new So Many Dynamos album will come out this year. Maybe in the fall.
the routine year to year album that Portugal. The Man makes.
Dirty Projectors YEEES!!
cat power?!? OMG!
Walk the Moon, via RCA
and The Morning Benders
POLICA – GIVE YOU THE GHOST!!!!!!! LOOK THIS BAND UP..HONESTLY…http://thisispolica.com/
You need to add the new Promise Ring record, as well as the Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie Deluxe Edition.
Dead Can Dance have announced a new album for 2012!
Unforgivably omitted: Frank Ocean, The Avalanches, and (let’s hope) Ariel Pink.
Baroness might be up to something for 2012 as well.
I’m not sure anyone cares, but the new Aimee Mann is gonna be great.
Future of the Left – The War on Common Sense. Can’t freakin’ wait.
Uhhhh……Deltron 3030 the Event II?????
Really? No one, NO ONE cares about deerhunter? or anything related to the band?
Bradford said they were already writing the new album; not counting a possibly lotus plaza or atlas sound album.
Noel Gallagher.
Where’s the Mars Volta
I’ll just reiterate what some of you guys have said…I’m pretty excited for the new Pumpkins album. I didn’t think the day would come where I could say that again.
If this album is crap then I’m giving up for good. This is your last chance, Billy.
Big KRIT
the knife have a new one coming out next year.
Radiohead?
i think jens lekman is planning to put an album out this year. i certainly hope he does anyway!
and by this year i mean 2012 !
Miike Snow!
Mumford and Sons, The Lumineers, Pickwick!!
Amongst many others already listed.
Really hoping Portishead come out with volume 4. Third was astonishing and well worth an epic wait. I know its not official, but maybe you should create a “hope” wishlist of albums :p
REGINA SPEKTORRRR!
http://www.artistdirect.com/entertainment-news/article/regina-spektor-to-release-what-we-saw-from-the-cheap-seats/9801630
What We Saw From the Cheap Seats
dirty three, sufjan hopefully
oh ya just dying for new best coast..puke
Hanson? Amy Winehouse?
I think the Weeknd is releasing his debut next year at some point.
MGMT?
theee satisfaction
Flood produced Orbital album….(“never” is great)….New Radiohead. Don’t be surprised if a new Daft Punk album hits you over the head. I’m throwing a new GYBE! album for no apparent reason. New Olivia Tremor Control. New Spoon (Just cause it’s likely). New Portishead. New Sage Francis. New Bill Callahan (this guy releases an amazing album every year).
CHRISTINA AGUILERA’s new album you forgot! 1st single next month probably, album in March(?)! Rumored title of the single- (Love) Your Body!
Cant Wait!!
D’angelo!
Stereogum sure loves to stroke its ego with this masturbatory useless bullshit. This is really reaching, reaching HARD. STOP WITH ALL THE GODDAMN LISTS! They’re not cool or hip in any kind of way. One end of the year Best of Music list is enough. I don’t get the list-orgy thing. Why so obsessed with lists?
And most importantly of all- (Just to show how out of the loop Eurocentric hipsters really are with quality progressive music- although they pretend to be in the know of the cutting edge…) you forget to include the only relevant anticipated album coming out next year: D’ANGELO- JAMES RIVER (an album that people have been on their toes anticipating for 11 years- and the guy is the second coming of Prince- his music is not to be overlooked.
I don’t know if you weren’t busy kissing the ass of talentless hackjobs like Rihanna and Lana maybe you wouldn’t forget to include artists like D’Angelo and Raphael Saadiq on your lists, who were ahead of the game in creating authentic progressive quality music long before you nerds even brought your first Mac Book.
You’re not as hip as you think you are. Trust me.
Rawr, angry voices. I think this is my favorite Stereogum end of year list, I get to find out what’s coming up without doing all the footwork. Keep up doing my work for me, guys.
Keep the lists coming, guys!
You forgot at least four Robert Pollard albums.
Mumford and Sons upcoming album for this year??
Dead Can Dance
The Knife!
No Aphex Twin or Boards of Canada???
Looks like a sad year indeed.
I have heard rumors of a new Aphex Twin album being imminent for over a year now. I reeeaaaallllyyy hope it finally happens this year.
According to their website The Knife is coming out with a new album in 2012
Frightened Rabbit? They’ve been working on one, probably coming out this year, right?
http://www.1001albums.com/2011/12/mega-mix-is-upppppp.html
mouse on mars!
Uhhh, no Olivia Tremor Control? That makes this list automatically horrible.
You forgot 311.
Regina Spektor
MGMT
Japandroids was saying on tour they are going to release the follow-up to Post Nothing next year.
Seriously, the site and all of its readers have already forgotten about the Ting Tings? Jesus, sorry they’re not Lana del Fucking Rey.
http://altmusic.about.com/od/reviews/tp/upcoming-release-dates.htm
also…
http://keepaway.bandcamp.com/
converge, a wilhelm scream
Flying Lotus stated on his twitter account that LP4 should be out sometime this spring, so that automatically tops my list.
also, propagandhi :)
So are people really anticipating an album from Garbage, Soundgarden or Fleetwood Mac more than Dr. Dog’s next album.
Feel like you guys really ignored that one
the bird and the bee are confirmed for 2012.
Can’t wait for the new The xx & The Shins albums to release. You forgot the as-of-yet untitled albums of Yeah Yeah Yeahs & Franz Ferdinand, though.
SMASHING PUMPKINS!!! Their new album “Oceania” will be out in the Spring.
AND WHAT BOUT AEROSMITH????
And what about Atoms for Peace, they’re releasing a debut album next year, right?
Steven Wilson & Michael Ackerfeldt – Storm Corrosion
Paul Cusick – P’dice. Independent artist releasing 2nd album. Needs and deserves more following and support http://www.pdice.co.uk
Lo-Fi Resistance – Chalk Lines. Funded through kickstarter.
I’m stoked for new Shins and Modest Mouse, maybe even more so for Nick Zammuto of The Books’ self-titled solo album.
http://zammutosound.com/home.cfm
Can we add my main man ‘D’Angelo, since ?uestlove said the record is 97% done?
this will probably get a lot of downvotes but I 2009 reunion is greatly welcome (as long as we add Beach House a la 2010)….haven’t had a solid year of music like 2009, since well, 2009…..
:)
Phoenix! Grizzly Bear! XX! Animal Collective! Dirty Projectors!
So excited if these are all really coming out this upcoming year. Particularly for Grizzly Bear and Beach House
Worried the XX might just be more of the same
I can’t believe you still haven’t added Sigur Ros. Enlighten me as to why they aren’t on the list.
http://pitchfork.com/news/44589-sigur-ros-at-work-on-floaty-new-lp/
Wait… Nobody mentioned
Breton – other people’s problem (4/2 via Fat Cat) !?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_tFjQIC63Q
(not many british bands over here ^_^)
FANFARLO!!!!Can’t wait!
Metric is a must add to this list!
Also – Rilo Kiley, and Foxy Shazam
oh how about Damon Albarn’s super group’s Rocket Juice and the Moon? :)
No love for el bosso? New Springsteen (supposedly, a dark, politically-charged rocker of an LP) in late Feb/early March. Yes, I’m old.
Also, Nada Surf on 1/24.
No love for el bosso? New Springsteen (supposedly a dark, politically-charged rocker of an LP) in late Feb/early March. I’m old.
Also, Nada Surf on 1/24.
the rick rubin produced zz top… not sure when but hopefully soon…
Garbage
Metric
Ladyhawke
Orbital
School of Seven Bells
Air
The Cranberries
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Shiny Toy Guns
No Doubt
La Roux
Probably:
The Stone Roses
MBV
Boards of Canada
Tennis on V-Day…
The year starts the the Mark Lanegan album in February (which you listed, kudos)…
and ends whenever the new WovenHand comes out.
Sorry for the late addition, but seriously, how can you forget the new Godspeed! You Black Emperor??.. I guess they’ve been out of it for sooo long. Proof as req’d:
http://voir.ca/musique/2011/06/02/esmerine-vol-plane-2/
and if you’d french ain’t up to scratch: http://hour.ca/2011/05/27/godspeed-you-black-emperor-working-on-new-album/
further confirmation is I live a block from Hotel2Tango and see band members going in and out all the time recently..
D’Angelo.
Mewithoutyou. John K Samson.
I thought I heard Portishead was back in the studio
Nevermind…
‘We’ll release it when it feels like we’ve got something to say,’ says Geoff Barrow
Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/portishead-to-start-work-on-new-album-in-january-20110920#ixzz1hkif3SkG
Alabama Shakes debut! Can’t wait!!
Oh and hopefully some new Snowden!
Sinead O’Connor ‘How About I Be Me (and You Be You)’ 20/02/2012 (one little indian)
The new John Cale album which is due pretty early in the year hopefully.
Sol Cat coming out with an E.P. Teaser looks promising.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8Qg-ANXvmY&context=C36f3700ADOEgsToPDskJJMNaTrU6Jx7dQH0LVF0XP
Where the fuck is Tyler, the Creator??
His upcoming album “Wolf” should really be on that list and high placed there too!
What a completely different group of artists. Haha No Doubt and Madonna? And then you throw in there Cat Power and Fleetwood Mac, so interesting!
Dr. Dre guys! If Detox is ever released that is…
Is Dr. Dre no longer a standard placement on these lists for “Detox”? Have we no more patience?
No Mumford & Sons then, awfully long to be riding on one album (2009)
I think this list is missing the Mumford & Sons and The Tindersticks albums
Ani DiFranco. I may be the only one, but I’m pretty damn excited for that one.
First Aid Kit’s new album drops in a few weeks, lead off single ‘the lion’s roar’ is haunting.
THE MARS VOLTA!!!
More Diamond Rug? Middle Brother? Deer Tick?
Avett Brothers!
Saint Etienne – recording, first release since ’07
Little Boots – released a teaser “Shake” recently