Confirmed Albums
Albums that have been confirmed to be at or near completion, without a set release date, but should see release early in 2012.
Big K.R.I.T. – Live From The Underground
Expected early 2012
In hip hop in particular, the meaning of a debut is befuddling. In the brutal hype machine that makes or breaks careers, an MC typically releases a multitude of projects prior to their first true album. Sometimes these are afterthoughts, but Big K.R.I.T. has already put out two highly acclaimed mixtapes, with a third stated to follow prior to Live from the Underground. You’ve heard Returnof4eva, and chances are, you’ve heard KRIT wuz Here, too. That’s a lot pressure on poor Justin Scott, but if anyone’s proven they’ll top expectations, it’s him. Chances are, with any luck, that he’ll handle the majority of his own production, and expect guests fitting of a K.R.I.T. album, not forced star studded tracks. Truth is, not much is known about the album, aside from the 8Ball & MJG and 2Chainz sporting single that’s unlikely to make the final tracklist. One thing is certain: in a game that tends to scrutinize and jostle its newcomers, K.R.I.T. receives nothing but support and hope. Freddie Gibbs put it best: the kid is a one man OutKast. Whenever it does drop, this one’s sure to be noteworthy.
– Chase McMullen
Conveyor – TBA
Brooklyn’s Conveyor are growing in confidence with every new release. 2011’s Sun Ray showed the band soaking up the summer vibes and producing a four track collection that traversed styles from straightforward bliss-rock to more experimental styles that incorporated world-music vibes. “Mukraker,” the first taste of their next step, tells us that they’re taking even more steps into more exciting territories, while staying firmly grounded with pop sensibilities. We’ve been told that the as-yet-untitled album feels “more natural” than Sun Ray, and while the EP had an “orange sound,” the album will be more “green.” Many talented friends have been brought in to help out, which just adds to the possibility that this could be one of the biggest breakout debut albums of 2012.
– Rob Hakimian
Dan Deacon – TBA
Expected first half of 2012 on Domino
Baltimore’s Dan Deacon recently confirmed that the conception of his latest album is well underway (“about halfway though mixing the next full length” was posted to his social media pages), so it seems likely that the long-awaited follow-up to 2009’s Bromst could land sometime in the first two quarters of 2012. Known for his experimental tendencies, his last album was much quicker to embrace pop standards than any of his previously compilations. “Snookered,” for instance, ranks not just at the very top of Deacon’s own catalog, but still stands as one of 2009’s best. It remains to be seen exactly what route his new material will take, but surely the mad scientist of electronic indie rock has enough tricks up his sleeve to warrant heavy anticipation.
– Andrew Bailey
Dirty Projectors – TBA
Though the upcoming release from this Dave Longstreth driven art-rock project has yet to receive a title or release date (early rumblings suggest the nebulous time frame of “spring”) we’re hotly anticipating a follow up to 2009’s outstanding Bitte Orca. At that stage, Bitte Orca seemed the perfect summation of everything that Dirty Projectors had attempted to that point, and in an incredibly digestible form no less. It’s no wonder that Longstreth took to a remote house to record the new album. While that may be a part of his writing process in general, I can imagine that it takes a certain type of emotional and physical removal from your surroundings in order to attempt to follow up an album as stunning and technically demanding as Bitte Orca. And, hey, apparently the sessions have produced a ““Thriller” style song” that deals with “the looming specter of meaninglessness and existential nausea.” So there’s that to look forward to.
– Colin Joyce
Electric Guest – Radical Miracle
Expected spring 2012 on Downtown Records
Electric Guest is probably a band you’ve never heard of, but you definitely should in 2012. Comprised of duo Asa Taccone (brother of The Lonely Island’s Jorma Taccone) and Matthew Compton, they’ve generated quite the buzz in their hometown of Los Angeles with the help of local radio station KCRW. The only release they have out right now is their EP Mondo, which includes the great eight-minute epic “Troubleman.” They’ll have a chance to showcase their soul-tinged neo-psychedelic pop (think Broken Bells) on their debut Radical Miracle, produced by Grammy-award winner Danger Mouse.
– Ace Ubas
The Fresh & Onlys – TBA
Expected spring 2012 on Mexican Summer
In a convoluted garage-rock scene, you’d think it’s seemingly hard for bands such as The Fresh & Onlys to stand out amongst the rest. But, in the past couple of years, there has been a rising garage-rock movement coming out of San Francisco. Along with Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees, and Sic Alps, The Fresh & Onlys are taking their place at the top of the heap. Their last album, Play It Strange, received a lot of praise and put themselves out on the spotlight by playing a ton of shows and made their way through the festival circuit. The upcoming album has yet to be titled, but regardless, you know it’s going to be a record full of feel-good tunes and psychedelic nostalgia.
– Ace Ubas
G.O.O.D. Music – TBA
Kanye West has always shared the spotlight with his fellow peers. On My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, the multiple Grammy winner featured a plethora of guest-artists to accommodate his varied production — resulting in the most collaborative hip-hop record of 2010. And his recent collaboration with Jay-Z demonstrated an equally impressive balancing act between hip-hop’s most gargantuan and heavy-hitting celebrities. So when Kanye West announced a G.O.O.D. Music compilation back in October, expectations were reasonably high. According to a recent interview with MTV and G.O.O.D. Music’s Big Sean, the record is in its “final stages” of recording. Sean also mentioned that John Legend, Pusha-T, Mr. Hudson, Da Prynce, Kid Cudi, and Common are all associated with the project one way or another. It’s certainly a star-studded list, but if it’s anything like Kanye’s most prosperous collaborations, it should be a welcome treat.
– Ryan Studer
Idiot Wind – TBA
Expected first half of 2012 on Häst
Idiot Wind, aka Amanda Bergman, has been performing as both Hajen and Jaw Lesson before settling with Idiot Wind and if you’re not a hardcore fan of Swedish music you’ve probably not heard of her, unless you’ve been seeing The Tallest Man on Earth live and wondered who he’s been dueting with. Idiot Wind’s been opening for The Tallest Man on Earth as well as guesting during his shows, and in late 2010 she released her debut EP, which has so far only been available via her website and at the shows, but the five tracks included shows great promise and with the release of her upcoming debut LP her piano-based folk is surely going to be receiving more attention, as it should.
– Johan Alm
How To Destroy Angels – TBA
Expected first quarter of 2012
Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor has been busy this past year. In addition to working on The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo soundtrack, he’s been putting the finishing touches on How To Destroy Angels’ debut album. The group, comprised of Reznor, his wife Mariqueen Maandig and soundtrack compadre Atticus Ross, released a self-titled EP last year that garnered favorable reviews. Although the EP is a great listen, it carries with it a familiar style and sound that any Nine Inch Nails fan can recognize.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, Reznor said “When we did the first EP, it was the result of six weeks in the studio, just kind of seeing what happened. We didn’t have a lot of time to explore that much and figure out what our sound is.” He went on to say that the band had found its own sound since the EP was released. If Reznor’s success with Nine Inch Nails is any indication of what to expect, we’ll all be amazed when How To Destroy Angels’ debut drops.
– Nicholas Preciado
Metric – TBA
Expected out spring 2012
Since the 2009 release of Fantasies, four-piece Metric has been keeping busy. They’ve come out with an iTunes exclusive EP and provided tracks for several films, including Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and an installment of the Twilight Saga. Despite this craziness, the Canadian indie popsters are slated to release their fifth studio album in spring 2012. Straddled between Toronto’s Giant Studios (co-owned by lead guitarist Jimmy Shaw) and New York’s Electric Ladyland, the recording process will hopefully capture some of the bursting, burnt sugary goodness we’ve become accustomed to over the last decade. We can only wait and see.
– Corinne Bagish
Mount Eerie – TBA
We’ve always been fans of Phil Elverum projects here, so news of a new Mount Eerie album naturally excites us. Elverum announced as much on his website a while ago, as wel as a 7” that will see release in February on K Records. “Distorted Cymbals” has already seen the internet through K Records’ Tumblr and, well, it seems like pretty classic Elverum. It definitely has more of a swinging feel than any of his material has had before, but it doesn’t feel too out of the ordinary. If this is typical of what his next album is, I’d be entirely surprised. I had the pleasure of seeing him in September with Nicholas Krgovich and many of the songs he played live were synthesizer driven. I was, and still am really, expecting a drastic tonal change on the new album, but “Distorted Cymbals” doesn’t seem to suggest the same kind of change. Whatever sound we get, it’ll certainly be backed by Elverum’s outstanding songwriting and I guess that’s all that really matters in the end right?
– Colin Joyce
Mount Eerie – “Distorted Cymbals”
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
Nas – Life Is Good
Expected early 2012 on Rocafella
2011 should have been Nas’ year. With the release of “Nasty” he leaped from a string of relative losses, back towards the glory his fans once expected. Yet, the album didn’t follow the single. Little does it matter; ’12 can be the year. Producers confirmed, or heavily-rumored to be involved, include DJ Premier, Kanye, Dr. Dre, RZA, Pete Rock, and Statik Selektah. On the hipper side, Swizz Beatz, Bangladesh, and Odd Future are also said to be contributing. For a guy whose biggest problem post-Illmatic always seems to be his taste in beats, this is one promising list. It goes on: Frank Ocean and Tyler, The Creator are both featured, AZ is (finally) back in the mix, Jay Electronica is dropping in, and even Scarface is intended to stop by. Nas previously declared Life is Good to be only a working title: whatever this thing ends up being called, expect hip hop to quiver in fear at the potential of this album. 2012 looks forward to the major label debuts of some extremely promising newcomers, but whippersnappers beware: this is the bar, good luck surpassing it.
– Chase McMullen
Niki & The Dove – TBA
Expected Spring 2012 on Sub Pop
Niki & The Dove’s upcoming debut LP will only be their fourth release following their 12” debut single “DJ, Ease My Mind” from 2010, this year’s “The Fox” 12” and The Drummer EP, the latter two being released on the legendary Seattle-based indie label Sub Pop. Niki & The Dove, aka Malin Dahlström and Gustaf Karlöf from Stockholm, Sweden, have so far been releasing some of the freshest and most captivating pop music I’ve heard lately and they’ve been receiving lots of attention in the UK (making appearances on almost every “Ones to Watch” list for 2012 that you can think of). The LP hasn’t been announced yet but it’s scheduled for release some time during the Spring and we should see an announcement and sounds soon enough.
– Johan Alm
Niki & the Dove – “The Drummer”
Rush – Clockwork Angels
Expected first half of 2012 on Roadrunner Records
As I’m writing this I’m just hearing that Rush have wrapped up recording of forthcoming album Clockwork Angels, and that it is ready for mixing, and I’m getting even more excited. In an odd move for the band, two songs were premiered way ahead of the album on the Time Machine tour (“Caravan” and “BU2B”) and did more than whet the appetite; the two songs saw Rush in full-on rock mode, and although the band insist that writing became more melodic after these two were recorded, the general gist from interviews is that Clockwork Angels is going to rock, hard. It’s also going to be concept album (YUUUAAA!).
Given the exposure and critical acclaim that bands like Mastodon, Biffy Clyro, Foo Fighters, Porcupine Tree and Muse are getting/have got, and with most of the aforementioned bands giving Rush their due whenever they can, Clockwork Angels is going to fit in to the rock zeitgeist perfectly in 2012.
– Daniel Griffiths
Rush – “Caravan”
Sigur Rós – TBA
Expected Spring 2012 on XL
Anyone who ever listened to Ágætis byrjun would be fast to point out how unique and utterly mind-melting of an experience it can be. The moment that “Svefn-g-englar” drips into the speakers, it triggers an emotional resonance that few can rival, especially as the unique wall of sound behind Sigur Rós’ orgasmic music begins to swell. And although () and subsequent albums may not have been quite as trend-setting, the jovial beauty of Sigur Rós’ art has never been brought into question. Their last album arrived in 2008 to relatively warm reception, although its more flamboyant and accessible nature seemed more akin to Jonsi’s later release, Go, than it did to old-style Sigur Rós. Divided as fans may have been over this album, it is fantastic news that the band are back together and ready to record another series of enchanting songs in the wake of their recent live release, Inni. Sigur Rós have the potential to take their music in so many new and exciting directions that predicting how this new record will sound is difficult. Nevertheless, they have never failed to make beautiful records that swell with orchestrated brilliance that has become the quintessential benchmark of post-rock to many; as a result, their new record will undoubtedly be just as mysterious, sensual and overtly wondrous as anything they have released in the past.
– Alex Phillimore
The So So Glos – Blowout
Expected late-Spring on Shea Stadium Records
One of 2012’s most anticipated releases is from The So So Glos, a band that has managed to stay pretty well under the radar until recently. However, Blowout will be the inaugural release for Shea Stadium Records, named after the NYC all-ages space that the band helped create, and after supporting acts like Titus Andronicus (with whom the band also share a passion for #OWS) and Matt & Kim, the band seems primed to step it up with their Spring release. Don’t believe me? Give tune “Lost Weekend” a spin and see if you don’t become a believer.
– Philip Cosores
The Tarantula Waltz – TBA
Markus Svensson, aka The Tarantula Waltz, is a Swedish singer-songwriter and he’ll be releasing his third full-length sometime in spring. And, while he’s been opening for renowned acts such as Iron & Wine, Justin Townes Earle and Mark Lanegan in Sweden, he’s largely unknown in the rest of the world. Both the previous Tarantula Waltz records have been very good; especially 2010’s cumbersomely titled Did Not Leave To Find But To Forget, To Leave Behind, but judging by live performances of the new tracks LP3 is going to be his strongest release yet.
– Johan Alm
Tyler, the Creator – Wolf
Expected May on Odd Future Records
Sometimes it really seems like Tyler, the Creator is living the kind of overnight celebrity, rise-and-fall-from-stardom life that we’ve seen over and over, fictionalized in film, or brought up a year later preceded by caveat: “remember when?” It couldn’t really be a surprise last week when a meltdown in LA resulted in the Odd Future apparent Commander in Chief’s arrest. But even as the pranks grow tiresome, Tyler is still at large, voicing cartoon characters, accompanying Pusha-T on a track for Clipse’s “Play Cothes,” running a store, and prepping the slated-for-May record Wolf, which he promises won’t be about raping and murdering women. Despite his still-considerable personal brand, this feels like an important year for Tyler’s longevity. But don’t write him off. His hinting at assembling a band, paired with a recent friendship/collaborative relationship with Trash Talk, more than being intriguing, indicates the Tyler is still capable of intrigue. Now it’s just time to step up.
– FM Stringer
The Weeknd – Mixtape trio
Sure, we’ve already been given The Weeknd’s three-mixtape, 27-song haul for free in 2011, but by now the man has surely earned some loyalty from his swathes of fans all over the globe. Tesfaye has announced that he plans to release the trilogy in physical form in 2012, and if the appeal of being able to hold a re-mastered House of Balloons and co. in your hands isn’t enough, then the promise of “bonus features” hopefully will be. Whether these will be additional songs, alternate takes, or more insane videos, we’ll be eager to check it out. But, hopefully it won’t be too long before we get some entirely new material too.
– Rob Hakimian
Xiu Xiu – TBA
Expected early 2012 on Polyvinyl/Bella Union
Every year since he began Xiu Xiu in 2002, Jamie Stewart has always released new material – whether it’s in the form of an album, EP, or a split – with Dear God, I Hate Myself being the latest album in 2010. In a sense, you kind of take Xiu Xiu for granted because you just expect an album to come out sooner rather than later. This year however, Stewart and Angela Seo spent the year writing and recording a new album to be released by two new labels, Polyvinyl (US) and Bella Union (UK). But that’s not all that’s new: Stewart brought in Sam Mickens of Dead Sciences, Zac Pennington of Parenthetical Girls as members to write the new album as a collective. Deerhoof’s Greg Saunier and John Dieterich even contributed to the album. That’s a mélange of talented musicians with backgrounds in the most eclectic forms of music. How can you not be excited for this?
– Ace Ubas
