While 2014 was a decent year for music, it was always doomed to come in second following the massive year that was 2013.
Fortunately, 2015 is shaping up to be an incredible one. There are already several prominent and A-list artists promising new full-lengths over the next 12 months, while a number of acts spent last year in the studio quietly gearing up to do the same.
It's worth noting that given the speed at which the music industry moves today, almost anyone could literally drop an album at any time. It would usually be safe to cross off anyone who released an album in 2014, but J. Cole bucked that trend last year and released a outstanding new LP only 18 months after his last one.
Nonetheless, here are 65 acts (in no particular order) whose new albums could—or will—release before 23:59 on Dec. 31.
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Kendrick Lamar
He’s already shared a pair of tracks which might appear on his next full-length. It is apparently complete and several people close to him have heard it. It’d be difficult to see this one arriving before spring, but the Compton rapper could very well use a Grammy performance to launch a single.
Kanye West
Ye probably won’t be seen in the flesh anywhere near a Grammy stage, but he doesn’t need all that. While he reserved his skills to featured spots on others’ 2014 tracks, he’ll have all of 2015 to do whatever he wants. We already know an album is coming (and so is a tour, according to Rihanna), so Yeezy Season is definitely approaching.
Adele
She previously hinted she’d release her followup to 2011’s mammoth 21 sometime last year, but that didn’t happen. There’s been some speculation the “Rolling in the Deep” singer could drop the new set without notice, like her Columbia label mate Beyoncé, but that could be a stretch, considering the latter probably has a more diehard fan base.
Frank Ocean
He has definitely been in the studio a lot over the past two years. When we caught him at Bonnaroo last summer, his set was laser-focused on fan favorites. But since then, he’s shared a snippet of a new track. Perhaps another summer release is in his future?
Aqualung
He took several years off, but he’s making quite the comeback with his new album, 10 Futures, which is due Jan. 27 in the States. It features SOHN, Lianne La Havas, Disclosure, Josef Salvat and more.
Modest Mouse
After eight years, the Isaac Brock-led rockers are set to release Strangers to Ourselves on March 3. Expectations are high for this record, especially because of the long wait. So far, the band has shared a studio version of "Lampshades on Fire,” a track they’ve previously performed live.
Twin Shadow
Come springtime, you’ll be hearing a lot from George Lewis, Jr. (aka Twin Shadow). His new LP, Eclipse, is due March 17 on Warner Bros. Records. He’s already slated to perform at SXSW and he’ll be touring North America through at least April.
James Bay
The British singer-songwriter will follow a handful of EPs from the past year with his debut album, Chaos and the Calm, which will arrive on March 23. Be prepared to watch this guy skyrocket.
fun.
The Nate Ruess-led trio has definitely been working on new music. Guitarist Jack Antonoff has been focused on his solo project Bleachers, but he told us as of this past fall, a new fun. album was in the works but not finished. The band performed new song “Harsh Lights” last summer on The Tonight Show, but they’ve laid low since then.
A$AP Rocky
Although many signs pointed to a new album coming last year, there have clearly been some delays. As of November, he says his sophomore album will arrive this year, followed by an A$AP Mob mixtape and a new A$AP Ferg album. If that is still the plan, Rocky’s album would hypothetically need to drop in the first half of the year so as not to overshadow his peers.
Brandon Flowers
The Killers frontman said last summer he is working on a followup to his 2010 debut solo album, Flamingo. He has been in the studio with producer Ariel Rechtshaid (Vampire Weekend, Charli XCX). Of the untitled project, Flowers said "there’s only a little bit of Vegas” in it.
Sleater-Kinney
The trio is back together after a decade of silence, with new album No Cities to Love set to release on Jan. 20. Some fans have already heard the album because the band’s label, Sub Pop Records, accidentally leaked an advance stream in late December.
Raury
The Atlanta hip-hop up-and-comer is one to watch, with his major label debut likely releasing this year. He hasn’t shared much material, but he already has the blessing of the likes of Kanye West, Lorde and OutKast.
Band of Horses
This summer will mark three years since the band’s release of Mirage Rock. But the band revealed in mid-December that they’re finally back in the studio, with Granddaddy’s Jason Lytle—who’s previously worked with M. Ward and Danger Mouse—serving as producer.
Ryn Weaver
She was one of the surprise new vocalists of 2014 and thanks to her breakout single “OctaHate,” she could very well be following in the footsteps of Charli XCX, who co-wrote the track. We’re eager to hear Weaver’s full-length.
Run the Jewels
Their 2014 LP, Run the Jewels 2, was our Album of the Year. But they’re hardly settling down this year, with plans for Run the Jewels 3 and their curious parody project, Meow the Jewels, currently in the works. They’ve already raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the latter.
Mark Ronson
Five years after his last full-length, the musician-producer has made quite the splash with his massive, Bruno Mars-assisted hit “Uptown Funk.” But with the likes of Stevie Wonder and Tame Impala contributing to the full album, Uptown Special (due Jan. 13) is going to be incredible.
Chance the Rapper
He teased us for most of last year, with only a handful of new material and his headlining spot at Lollapalooza. But it appears this year he’ll finally deliver his long-awaited full-length, Surf.
Death Cab for Cutie
This much-anticipated album is expected in the first half of the year and it’ll mark guitarist and producer Chris Walla’s last with the band. Produced by Rich Costey (Frank Turner, Muse), it is a "much better record than Codes And Keys,” according to frontman Ben Gibbard, who has said he thinks this LP will win back old fans.
James Blake
His 2013 LP, Overgrown, was our Album of the Year, and this new record is shaping up to be a good one. He’s been dropping some new productions over the past year, but it’s likely the record will be comprised of entirely new material. He’s also said he hopes a Kanye West collaboration will be finished in time to make the cut.
Miguel
He’s finally due to release the followup to 2012’s Grammy-winning Kaleidoscope Dream, which is easily one of the year’s most necessary albums. We already know he spent much of last year in the studio, but details are slim regarding the finished product. He released a trio of songs at the end of 2014, but it’s unknown whether any of them will be on the LP.
Pusha T
Previously expected to arrive sometime last year, the rapper’s new album, King Push, is promised by spring. Calling the record “amazing,” Pusha said in December the sound "will be second to none” and "the raps will be smacking people all left and right.” If single “Lunch Money” is any indication, expect him to keep his word.
Radiohead
Thom Yorke may have released his own solo album last fall, but the rest of the band was back in the studio shortly afterward. Producer Nigel Godrich shared a photo in December of Yorke and Johnny Greenwood adjusting modular synthesizers, likely a signal of the sound for the band’s ninth studio record.
Drake
The Toronto MC maintained a hefty profile throughout 2014 without even releasing an album. But with his Views from the 6 record aiming to arrive early this year (according to Drizzy himself), expectations are certainly high.
Grimes
Claire Boucher (aka Grimes) had a full album pretty much ready to go last year but she scrapped it because it "sucked, so I threw it out and started again,” she said back in September. Nonetheless, it’s been three years this month since her last album, so we’d be surprised if a new LP doesn’t surface in the next 12 months.
Ellie Goulding
Like Grimes, Ms. Goulding’s last full-length, Halcyon, also arrived back in 2012. Although she released a number of tracks since, she suggested last summer she wouldn’t be performing for a while as she finishes her new LP.
Passion Pit
Frontman Michael Angelakos hinted last summer that new material was in the works, but he made it official in December by sharing an image of what appears to be a list of song titles. The band is already on the schedule for some spring festivals, so it’s likely we’ll be getting new music sooner rather than later.
Fleetwood Mac
Having reunited with Christine McVie, the band has reportedly cut 10-11 new songs for what both Mick Fleetwood and Lindsey Buckingham have called their final album together. The band also has a massive arena tour kicking off Jan. 16 in St. Paul, Minn.
Purity Ring
The Canadian duo appears ready to follow up their 2012 debut, Shrines. They shared a wonderful new single “push pull” in early December, the first glimpse of their sophomore album.
Gwen Stefani
The No Doubt singer has used her coaching spot on NBC’s The Voice to launch a promo campaign for a new album. Although her first two singles “Baby Don’t Lie” and Pharrell-produced “Spark the Fire” received mixed reaction, this will be first solo record in nine years, so hopes are high.
Meek Mill
The Maybach rapper has been teasing his new album, Dreams Worth More Than Money, for some time now, but it was delayed after he spent the last half of 2014 in jail. Expected collaborators include Big Sean, A$AP Ferg and French Montana, while JAY Z, Drake and Macklemore are among those rumored to appear.
The Decemberists
Colin Meloy and Co. are releasing their first album in four years on Jan. 20. What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World will be one of the first major releases of the new year and you can surely expect nothing but greatness this time around.
Joey Bada$$
His long-awaited debut album, B4.Da.$$, is due Jan. 20 (his 20th birthday). The LP includes production from DJ Premier, J Dilla, Hit-Boy, The Roots and more, with guest spots from Raury, Action Bronson and Chronixx, among others.
Björk
The Icelandic songstress has been working with acclaimed producer Arca on her first full-length in four years. Details remain slim but she promised in October the album would arrive this year.
Madonna
She responded to a late-December leak of 13 demos by confirming her new album, Rebel Heart, will be released on March 20. To appease fans, she’s already shared six tracks, which are enough to get even non-diehard supporters excited. Nicki Minaj is featured on one track, while Kanye West, Diplo, Avicii, Blood Diamonds and others offer production.
Mikky Ekko
Two years after performing “Stay” with Rihanna at the Grammys, the singer-songwriter is releasing his own full-length, Time, which is due Jan. 20 on RCA Records. This may be an early arrival this year, but it’ll likely have long legs.
Lupe Fiasco
He’s been teasing this album for two full years, but Tetsuo & Youth is finally expected to be released on Jan. 20. It features vocal contributions from the likes of Ty Dolla $ign and Ab-Soul.
Imagine Dragons
After taking some time off following their massive 2012 debut, the Las Vegas rockers have tons of momentum leading up to Smoke + Mirrors, which is due Feb. 17. While the band was busy touring into last year, frontman Dan Reynolds said they were always writing on the road. He also suggested the album would be more rock-leaning.
Smallpools
It’s hard to believe that after a handful of infectious tracks, the Los Angeles-based outfit has yet to release their debut LP. That’ll soon change, as LOVETAP! is expected early this year.
Rihanna
Last year marked the first since 2005 without new music from the singer. But word is her new LP, which could be titled R8, is mostly done and might arrive at any moment. She’s worked with the likes of DJ Mustard, David Guetta, Kiesza and even recorded with Kanye West, although it’s unknown what will actually appear on the album.
Marina and the Diamonds
Marina Diamandis is following up 2012’s Electra Heart with Froot, which is coming April 6. There’s a lot of buzz for this record and everything we’ve already heard is fantastic. Additionally, Diamandis is sharing one song a month (the “Froot of the Month”) up until the album’s arrival.
Phoenix
Although nothing is set in stone, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a new album from the French outfit later this year. They may have taken four years to release 2013’s Bankrupt!, but the band’s Laurent Brancowitz told us in October 2013 the wait for their next record would be much shorter. They sat most of 2014 out and have hinted that they’ve been in the studio as well.
Muse
The band has been working on their seventh studio record since at least last April. They confirmed in October they had hit the studio to begin recording over a span of seven days, working with producer Robert John "Mutt” Lange (AC/DC, Lady Gaga).
Bruno Mars
While the superstar hasn’t given direct confirmation of a new album, we know he’s been in the studio. His last album, Unorthodox Jukebox, arrived in December 2012, which allowed him to tour into last year. Thanks to his recent hit with Mark Ronson “Uptown Funk,” it seems Mars has a clear path to follow it up with a new solo project in the second half of 2015.
Zhu
We listened to the mysterious producer's The Nightday EP on repeat last year. Not only was he one of 2014’s biggest breakout acts, but his standout single “Faded” earned him a Grammy nod. He’s going into this new year with a lot of energy and it wouldn’t be unlikely to see a summer full-length to really launch him into stardom.
JoJo
The 24-year-old singer’s third album has been a long time coming (nine years!) after her well-documented label dispute and subsequent breakup. Outside of a cover EP and appearance last spring at SXSW, she’s been fairly quiet since signing with Atlantic Records. She said in November she was putting the finishing touches on the album and the first single will be out early this year.
Wale
The rapper’s Jerry Seinfeld collaboration, The Album About Nothing, has been teased for a while. And although it doesn’t have an official release date, Wale told a fan on Twitter last month he expects it to be released on March 31.
The Weeknd
Abel Tesfaye (aka The Weeknd) released a handful of tracks last year, including the sultry “Often” and his steamy Ariana Grande collaboration “Love Me Harder.” We’ve been told to expect much more material from Tesfaye in the coming months, so don’t be surprised if we get an album before the end of the year.
Miley Cyrus
Sure, her Bangerz album released in 2013, but this June will mark two years since “We Can’t Stop” arrived. Other than her collaborations with The Flaming Lips, she didn’t share new material last year. But she confirmed in August she had already begun work on her next LP.
Action Bronson
His highly anticipated Mr. Wonderful previously seemed like a go for 2014, but the rapper has since suggested the LP will arrive early this year. He tweeted in November that the album is now complete. Although much about it is still unknown, Bronson’s “Easy Rider” was a phenomenal first sample, should it appear on the final record.
Mumford & Sons
The Marcus Mumford-led outfit began working on their third album last February. Ben Lovett confirmed over the summer they had begun recording the new record, reportedly in the same studio where they recorded their debut album, Sigh No More. Expect to see this one at earliest in the second half of the year.
HAIM
The trio’s followup to 2013’s excellent Days Are Gone should see a release this year. The band spent last year collaborating with the likes of Bastille, Calvin Harris, Lorde and Pusha T, but they revealed in October they had started recording their sophomore set after writing much of it on tour the previous year. They’re up for Best New Artist at this year’s Grammys, so that could serve as a nice segue into their next chapter.
Best Coast
Even before their 2013 Fade Away EP released, Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno revealed they would begin recording their third album by year’s end. The band confirmed last April the album was finished but have been mostly quiet since. If an album doesn’t surface this year, the riots will likely commence.
JD McPherson
The Oklahoma retro-rocker’s career has been simmering for some time now (he’s opened for Dave Matthews Band and Eric Church), but 2015 appears to be his year. Due Feb. 10, his sophomore album, Let the Good Times Roll, includes a track co-written by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, which is only one of many reasons this record will be a must-hear.
Florence + the Machine
This past October marked three years since the release of Ceremonials, but here’s what we know about their third record: First of all, it’s mostly done. It was apparently recorded between last summer and fall, and we’re told it’s aiming for an early summer release. We’re expecting a new single very soon.
Joy Williams
One-half of defunct duo The Civil Wars, she spent most of 2014 crafting her return to her solo career. Not much is known about the record, but we do know it’s finished. Williams also spent time over the past year with a handful of other songwriters, including Jack Antonoff (fun., Bleachers), although their role on the album has yet to be revealed.
M83
Four years seems like far too long since Anthony Gonzalez last graced us with a new album, but we’re approaching that point. Other than some soundtrack contributions and his 2013 collaboration with The Killers (“Shot at the Night”), Gonazlez has kept fans waiting. The good news is we know he’s been working on new material, so the timing is right.
Miike Snow
The Swedish trio is gearing up to release their followup to 2012’s Happy to You. Little is known about their third studio album, but according to the band, it could be finished as soon as this month. The band also has plans to tour this year, which suggests they likely have a timetable in mind for a release.
Big Sean
The Detroit rapper’s new album has supposedly be in the works since mid-2013, shortly before the arrival of his sophomore record, Hall of Fame. Following the release of his fiery single "I Don't Fuck with You” back in September, he has plenty of momentum going into this new record. Hopefully this one receives the attention it deserves.
Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
More than two years after their breakout hit album, The Heist, Ben Haggerty (aka Macklemore) and Ryan Lewis have confirmed their new album will arrive in the second half of this year. They had hinted in 2013 that the album could take up to three years to complete, but that plan clearly seems to have changed.
Sky Ferreira
The singer seems eager to move on from the headlines surrounding her first album, Night Time, My Time. Although it was critically acclaimed, it wasn’t exactly her best “time.” She’s been performing new single “Guardian” over the past few months and she’s promised a video and proper release early this year as the lead-in to the new LP.
Poliça
The Minneapolis-based outfit began working on the followup to 2013’s Shulamith early last year. And although a release date for their new album has yet to be revealed, they have started including new material in their sets.
Regina Spektor
Approaching three years since 2013’s What We Saw from the Cheap Seats, it’s very possible a new album is in the cards for this year. Her last three records have arrived three years apart, each in the second quarter of the year. She’s a new mom, but that hasn’t kept her from songwriting, because she performed several new songs back in November.
The xx
The British outfit confirmed last spring they had begun working on their third studio effort. They’ve apparently been working with producer Rodaidh McDonald (Adele, Vampire Weekend). As of October, frontman Jamie xx said they still had a number of incomplete tracks to finish, but he said it "feels a lot more free than when we were making the last record."
Jai Paul
Following his confusing-but-incredible album leak in 2013, the British singer-songwriter all but disappeared. Over the past few months, several music figures close to him have confirmed he’s been in the studio and even finished some new material. Miguel in November posted a photo of himself with Jai Paul, which would normally mean nothing. But given the latter’s elusiveness over the past two years, we’re crossing our fingers and hoping for new material.