It’s impossible to deny 2016 saw the release of some excellent albums. But 2017 looks promising as well. Here are 10 albums expected to be released that will be worth a listen.
The xx - I See You (release date: Jan. 13)
The third album by British indietronica group The xx comes out Friday. The early reviews are heralding the band’s return with I See You, their first record since 2012’s Coexist.
I See You appears (so far) to be a much more joyful-sounding record than The xx’s previous work, featuring bouncy melodies and sampling galore.
Migos - C U L T U R E (release date: Jan. 27)
Migos is on top of the rap game right now. “Bad and Boujee,” their most recent single, has become both an internet meme and the number one song on the Billboard Hot 100. Oh, and Donald Glover referred to “Bad and Boujee” as “the best song ever” during his acceptance speech at Sunday night’s Golden Globes.
C U L T U R E, the hip-hop trio's second album, has been delayed since October due to conflict with their label, 300 Entertainment. It’ll probably be a good idea to put C U L T U R E in your music rotation when it debuts — after all, Migos is headlining OU’s Sibs Weekend concert Feb. 4.
Various artists - Cruel Winter (release date: February)
The follow-up to 2012’s Cruel Summer is primed to be another all-star affair. The album will comprise songs by various artists signed to the Kanye West-founded GOOD Music record label.
The first single from Cruel Winter, “Champions,” features the talents of Kanye himself, as well as Gucci Mane, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott, Yo Gotti, Quavo and Desiigner. The rest of the album promises to include more of the above artists, and possibly Tyga, John Legend and — you guessed it — Migos.
The Shins - Heartworms (release date: March 10)
Veteran indie rock band The Shins are set to return in 2017 with the release of their fifth studio album, Heartworms.
The Shins achieved mainstream success in 2004 when their song “New Slang” was featured in the film Garden State — at one point, Natalie Portman’s character says, “You’ve got to hear this one song, it’ll change your life.” Since then, The Shins have been chart-toppers, even after a hiatus and a major shift in lineup.
Heartworms will be The Shins’ first album in five years, and it’s been hyped up since October, when the band revealed a Halloween-themed video for one song, “Dead Alive.” The Shins released the first true single from the album, “Name for You,” on Jan. 4.
Charli XCX - TBA (release date: May)
British electropop singer Charli XCX plans to release her third studio album, the title of which has not been revealed, in May. Charli XCX revealed the May 2017 release in October while speaking to BANG Showbiz, a British celebrity news website, but did not confirm an exact date.
Charli XCX is best known in the U.S. for “Boom Clap,” an electropop ballad from the 2014 film The Fault in Our Stars that reached the top spot on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40.
Charli XCX has described her upcoming album as more progressive than her previous work, but has said the album will maintain her “club party” style.
Coldplay - Kaleidoscope (release date: TBA)
Although 2015’s A Head Full of Dreams was speculated to have been Coldplay’s last release, the band announced an EP titled Kaleidoscope, set to be released some time this year.
It should be interesting to see if Kaleidoscope will contain similar music to A Head Full of Dreams. After all, Coldplay seem to have a different sound with each release — their first records were guitar-heavy, and have been since followed by the art rock of Viva la Vida, Mylo Xyloto’s electronic influences and the borderline-depressing breakup album Ghost Stories. Perhaps Kaleidoscope will feature a return to the stripped-down acoustic style of their early work, or maybe the record will be a joyous extension of A Head Full of Dreams.
Fleetwood Mac - TBA (release date: TBA)
Not a great deal is known about the upcoming album from one of the most iconic bands of the 1970s, Fleetwood Mac, but the album is planned to be unveiled in 2017.
Keyboardist and vocalist Christie McVie, who rejoined the band in 2014, told The Arts Desk the record is planned for a release this summer to coincide with both the band’s world tour and their 50th anniversary.
Vocalist Stevie Nicks confirmed her involvement with the album’s production in December 2015. In August, however, drummer Mick Fleetwood told Rolling Stone “very little” of the music recorded featured Nicks.
Lil Wayne - either Tha Carter V or Funeral (release date: TBA)
The saga of Lil Wayne and his album Tha Carter V since 2012 has been sinuous, drawn-out and — for both Wayne and his fans — downright painful. In 2012, the rapper announced Tha Carter V would be his final album. Since then, he has released two albums, a mixtape and a collaborative project with 2 Chainz.
Tha Carter V has been pushed back numerous times, having been scheduled for release first on May 5, 2014 and then on Dec. 9, 2014. Due to the dispute between Wayne and his label, Cash Money Records; however, Tha Carter V has yet to be released over two years after its completion.
Another variable surrounding the possible release of Tha Carter V is Wayne’s announcement of a project titled Funeral. Regardless of which project is unveiled first, new Lil Wayne music seems likely to come sometime in the coming year, with the rapper saying in November, “I know we’ve been going through a lot of tough times right now, but if you are a Wayne fan, we’re about to hold our heads high.”
Logic - AfricAryaN (release date: TBA)
This Maryland-born rapper has proven himself time and time again as one of the most talented rappers and songwriters in hip-hop. Logic’s first two albums, Under Pressure and The Incredible True Story, were both concept albums and were well-received by critics and fans alike. He is now coming off the success of his trap-influenced mixtape Bobby Tarantino, which was released last summer and teased his third full-length record.
AfricAryaN — the name of which refers to Logic’s biracial heritage — is expected to be another concept album. On “The Jam,” the third track from Bobby Tarantino, Logic calls AfricAryaN “music on another level” and compares the album to Kanye West’s industry-shaping Graduation.
Lorde - TBA (release date: TBA)
The sophomore release from dream pop singer Lorde has been highly anticipated ever since 2013’s Pure Heroine — and “Royals,” its lead single — topped charts in her native New Zealand, Australia and here in the U.S.
Several times in the past months, the 20-year-old has implied the as-of-yet-untitled album’s completion is near: In August, she said that production was well underway, and in November, she tweeted a photo of her earbuds, saying she listens to the album with them daily.
The wait appears to be drawing to a close, especially with Lorde set to return to the festival stage this summer, performing at both Coachella and The Governors Ball.
