21 Albums To Get Excited About In 2016

1
 

Kanye West
‘Swish’
Kanye’s teased various tracks over the last 12 months, including the belligerent ‘All Day’ and the moody, house-inspired ‘Fade’, while working with everyone from Vic Mensa and Ty Dolla $ign to Sia and Sir Paul McCartney. Will ‘Swish’ be as dazzling and epochal as its creator obviously hopes? Probably.
RELEASE DATE: February 11

2
 

Skepta
‘Konnichiwa’
Despite only releasing one single last year – the mighty ‘Shutdown’ – Skepta was one of 2015’s prime movers. Perhaps it’s no surprise that follow-up album ‘Konnichiwa’ has been so long in coming; Skepta now finds himself in the position of representing not just himself, but an entire culture. Yet if anyone can carry that weight, it’s him.
RELEASE DATE: TBC

3
 

The Last Shadow Puppets
Title: ‘Everything You’ve Come To Expect’
Turner and Kane’s 2007 debut, ‘The Age Of The Understatement’, inspired a resurgence in classic ‘60s pop with its fresh slant on the era of Scott Walker and Burt Bacharach. With Arctic Monkeys still out of action, its follow-up is avidly anticipated by the retro-futurist pop tarts among us.
RELEASE DATE: April

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4
 

Red Hot Chili Peppers
Title: TBC
The LA funk-rock legends have shed their old-school and longtime producer, Rick Rubin, in favour of the more versatile Danger Mouse for album number 11. Anthony Kiedis has said they’ve got a whopping 30 songs to whittle down. Twenty-two years into the Chilis’ career, change could be afoot.
RELEASE DATE: Spring 2016

5
 

Run The Jewels
Title: Run The Jewels 3
Killer Mike and El-P announced plans for their third collaboration last summer. “Every chance we get we are working hard on it,” wrote El-P on Twitter and it seems like all their efforts will pay off later this year. Prepare yourself for some bombastic, politically turned on rap genius.
RELEASE DATE: TBC

6
 

Ariana Grande
‘Moonlight’
Pop pickers are in for a treat in 2016, as vocalist Ariana Grande will be putting out her third album. She’s confirmed two tracks via Snapchat – ‘Be Alright’ and ‘Moonlight’ – while previously released single ‘Focus’ has also made the cut.
RELEASE DATE: TBC

7
 

DIIV
‘Is The Is Are’
The album will be the follow up to the Brooklyn band’s 2012 debut ‘Oshin’, with the group previously describing their new material as “darker” than their first full-length. Blimey.
RELEASE DATE: February 5

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8
 

PJ Harvey
Title: ‘The Hope Six Demolition Project’
The album was conceived during PJ Harvey and filmmaker Seamus Murphy’s travels between 2011-2014 to destinations including Kosovo, Afghanistan and Washington, DC and was recorded during public sessions at London’s Somerset House last year.
RELEASE DATE: April 15

9
 

Drake
‘Views From The 6’
It’s rumoured that Drake could be releasing his new LP, like, any second now. The Canadian worked with Noah “40” Shebib on the album, and Tinashe, Willow Smith and Beyoncé are all said to be turning in guest appearances.
RELEASE DATE: TBC

10
Sky Ferreura

Sky Ferreura

Sky Ferreira
‘Masochism’
The alt.pop star has long said she’s working with Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie and Andrew Innes on her new album, with desk wizardry from Haim producer Ariel Rechtshaid.
RELEASE DATE: TBC

11
 

Primal Scream
‘Chaosmosis’
The band’s 11th album, ‘Chaosmosis’ was recorded in Sweden and London. Primal Scream have announced four headline shows to accompany it, playing Aberdeen’s Beach Ballroom on March 29 before taking in Glasgow’s ABC, London’s Palladium and Manchester’s Albert Hall.
RELEASE DATE: March 18

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12
 

Metronomy
Title: TBC
Last year frontman Joe Mount told fans that a new album from the seaside electronica heads would be coming in 2016 and it would be inspired by Beck and Bryan Ferry. “This new one will be very direct and big and poppy,” he commented. Sold.
RELEASE DATE: TBC

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