While Beck was doing interviews for Morning Phase, he mentioned a few times that he hoped to have a second album out before the end of 2014. While that didn’t happen, it looks like it may out “before the summer,” if an artist bio on Norway’s Øyafestivalen site is to be believed. As The Future Heart points out, Beck has said that the Morning Phase follow-up would be “a lot more up, and energetic, and melodic,” and that he wants a live show with more energy. Last year’s Billboard cover story said that the album was made “with a series of high-profile collaborators, including Pharrell Williams.” The last time Beck mentioned the album to the press was last April during a session for KCRW when he said, “I’ve been working on and off on a different set of songs — they’re more boisterous. You’re screwed with any kind of adjective, but hopefully we’ll get it out this year.”

Beck is booked as the headliner for Hangout Fest and Boston Calling this year, and appers on a bunch of other lineups. If he really does want to liven up his set with some newer upbeat music, it could make sense that another album is on its way. But it also wouldn’t be the first time that Beck has shelved an album because he wasn’t happy with how it turned out — for example, take the 2009 Modern Guilt follow-up that was completed but never released and that ended up being the source of 2013 singles like “Gimme” and “I Won’t Be Long.” So keep your expectations tempered! But a new, more upbeat Beck album sounds like it could be a lot of fun… 2015 is so cool, guys!