The past year saw several memorable fiftieth anniversaries, topped off by Sargeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band by The Beatles in June and the Monterey Music Festival in July. Perhaps in 2067 music fans will be celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of some of the records released last year, such as Colors by Beck or War and Leisure by Miguel.
This coming year also has some anniversaries to look forward to, especially of another great record by The Beatles. There will also undoubtedly be some great records to come out in 2018, and here are ten of the most anticipated artists scheduled to release new albums within the next 52 weeks.
Franz Ferdinand
Always Ascending is the title to the follow up to 2014’s Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Actions, and it is due to hit record stores on February 9. The title track, as the first single, has already been available since December.
MGMT
“When You Die” has already been released as a single, and the album titled Little Dark Age is set for a February debut.
Brian Fallon
After much success fronting the Gaslight Anthem, Fallon delivers the follow up to his first solo album Painkillers. The sophomore effort, called Sleepwalkers, is set for a February 9 release.
Belle and Sebastian
Stuart Murdoch and his indie rock outfit plan to make their next album a trilogy of EPs, the first of which came out in late November with the catchy single “We Were Beautiful.” The second of the series will be released January 9, and the final EP will appear on February 16 along with a two-disc vinyl edition. In the meantime a second single, “I’ll Be Your Pilot”, has been receiving airplay on college rock stations.
Brandi Carlile
After spending much of 2017 appearing with other artists like the Old 97s on Graveyard Whistling, the indie sensation will deliver her next solo disc, titled By the Way, I Forgive You, on February 16.
Owl City
After a somewhat disappointing Mobile Orchestra in 2015, Adam Young hopes to recover some of the success he enjoyed with early hits like Ocean Eyes and The Midsummer Station. His fans will find out if the old magic is there when Cinematic arrives on record shelves on June 1.
Jack White
Now a well-revered veteran of indie rock, the fabulous guitar-playing innovator has scheduled his Boarding House Breach for a release in the spring.
Loretta Lynn
Just two years ago the queen of classic country made Full Circle, a near masterpiece that featured the likes of Elvis Costello and John Carter Cash. She is back again with Wouldn’t It Be Great, a question that fans will most assuredly answer in the affirmative.
Arctic Monkeys
The British alt-rockers have not been heard of since their last tour and album way back in 2014, but they have announced that their so far untitled sixth record will appear at some point in 2018.
The Fratellis
Costello Music introduced the British indie group, and they have done nothing but produce gem after gem since that debut album. Now over a decade and a half dozen records later, they will launch In Your Own Sweet Time on March 9.