Anticipated Albums 2018
The top 16 most anticipated albums of 2018
2018 promises to 1-up 2017 with a full arsenal of juicy releases due up. Welcoming returns from several music heavyweights after an extended absence, 2018 has high hopes and higher expectations.
By: Exile Staff
MGMT – Little Dark Age
Release Date: February 9th
MGMT has been on its own journey since blowing up the world up in 2007 with its synth-powered classics, “Kids”, “Electric Feel” and “Time to Pretend” off of Oracular Spectacular. Tired of conventions, the pressure of the music industry and conforming to catchy singles, MGMT set out to do things their own way. In 2010, Congratulations was a confusing, long, unfocused sophomore effort. In 2013, they split the difference with a self-titled album. Slowly finding the balance between their innate and undeniable creative abilities, with making music fans want to hear, Little Dark Age will be an exciting offering for the music world to devour.
Moby - Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt
Release Date: March 2
Legendary electronic master Moby has put out 14 albums since 1992 but isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. In fact, he’s speeding up. Putting out 3 records in the last 2 years, Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt will be the fourth. According to the press release, the album "finds him returning to his orchestral, soul, trip-hop and gospel roots," which is where he truly thrives. We can expect nothing short of beautiful, soulful pads and profound lyrical work that will hypnotize and relax us.
Born Ruffians - Uncle, Duke & the Chief
Release Date: February 16
Ontario natives will release their 5th studio album and first since 2015’s Ruff on February 16th. With a few songs having already been released, including “Miss You” and “Forget Me”, the album seems to be taking a step away from high-energy indie-rock and into a more mature sound, while maintaining their signature backup vocal chants and yelps. A press release cites a deeper idea how the album will feel sonically saying that it’s "less concerned with what sounds hip than what feels good."
Earl Sweatshirt – TBA
Release Date: TBA
True to his mysterious and close-to-the-vest demeanor, we don’t know much about what’s coming out of the Sweatshirt camp. But we have some teasers. There’s been nothing official out except a few Tweets from Earl including “new chunes 2018, don’t think I wasn’t at work”. In 2015, I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside was a raw, risky and vulnerable introspective look at his depression. One of the most consistent rappers over the last decade, whatever Earl puts out this year will promise to be worthy.
Vampire Weekend – Mitsubishi Macchiato
Release Date: TBA
A full five years since “Modern Vampires of the City” Ezra Koenig and crew will look to release their first album sans Rostam Batmanglij. Teased last March, the placeholder title “Mitsubishi Macchiato” will have sky-high expectations after each Vampire Weekend release took significant steps forward in the way of songwriting and craftsmanship. The band has come a long way since the days of “A-Punk”, and hearing what they churn out with their fourth full-length will be highly anticipated.
Jack White – Boarding House Reach
Release Date: March 23rd
After putting out two songs, “Connected by Love” and “Respect Commander”, White has announced his new album will be out in March. Following on the heels of “Lazaretto”, Boarding House Reach expects to be fast, loud, crunchy and feature elements of “electro, hard funk, proto-punk, hip-hop, gospel blues, and country.” Always pushing the limits of the guitar and the conventions of recording, Boarding House Reach promises to be at the least, a very interesting listen.
Interpol – TBA
Release Date: TBA
An incredible 16 years have gone by since Interpol released their landmark Turn On The Bright Lights in 2002. After becoming one of the most influential albums and bands of the next decade, Interpol pushed forward, putting out 4 more albums of aesthetically distinct rock, complete with its signature guitar tremolo work and Paul Banks blunt, dry lyrics. The new release will mark the first album since 2014’s El Pintor and the second without original bassist Carlos D. It will be interesting to see if Interpol is able to recapture the creative heights that put them in a class of their own, or if they will continue their signature sound with subtler deviations.
Frank Ocean – TBA
Release Date: TBA
Is Frank Ocean 100% going to release a new album in 2018? Well…no. But, if we are reading the mysterious and cryptic Ocean signs correctly, all signs point to yes. Ocean is always capable of releasing a single or an album at any moment. In 2016, Ocean put out not 1 but 2 albums, proving that if anything he is unconventional with releases. In November, he took to his Tumblr to proclaim, “WELL I MADE THE ALBUM BEFORE 30. I JUST AINT PUT THAT BITCH OUT!” Does this prove anything? Maybe not. But it a premeditated message that leaves us cautiously optimistic about new material in 2018.
David Byrne – American Utopia
Release Date: March 9th
Explosively creative and unfathomably talented, David Byrne returns to the solo arena with his first solo album since 2004. American Utopia will undoubtedly take a hard look at the world as we know it, and beg the question, “Can we do better?” Either way, Byrne released the first single off the album, and if “Everybody’s Coming to My House” is any indication of the sound of the forthcoming album, it will be a helluva lot of fun.
Gorillaz – TBA
Release Date: TBA
After a long 7 year wait in between Plastic Beach and Humanz in 2017, Jamie Hewlett has confirmed that Gorillaz will be back again with a full album in 2018. The art-pop-trip-hop wheezing synths group that revolves around Damon Albam is quickly reloading a year after Humanz. Not wasting any time, the album expects to be packed with energy, spontaneity and new visuals. Chatting with the TASCHEN podcast's Julius Wiedemann, Hewlett said, "“I’m inventing a new [visual] style for the next album, so that in itself is exciting for me, because you say, ‘Alright, I’ve done that. How do I do it next time and how do I make it different?”. Be ready.
Spiritualized – TBA
Release Date: TBA
Jason Pierce is a painstakingly methodical musician, and his upcoming album is no exception. Expected to have been released in 2017, Pierce is still working away on the finishing touches. Focused on making an album that has a purpose to exist, the new album should cover a ton of ground, and be complete with soul, gospel, rock and orchestral elements. Now over 20 years since the landmark Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space record dropped, we patiently wait for the next Spiritualized album that is ahead of its time.
Arctic Monkeys – TBA
Release Date: TBA
Bassist Nick O’Malley dropped a snippet of hope when he said in late 2017 to The Ride Magazine that the album should be out next year and that “if it isn’t, we’ve got problems”. With 2018 tour dates filling up, there must be some truth to the quote. The word hiatus may be a little extreme, but the Arctic Monkeys have essentially disappeared since Alex Turner and company crooned and rocked their way to the top of the charts in 2013. AM skyrocketed the band to new territory, so perhaps the time off was well needed to regroup.
Tool
Release Date: TBA
Rumors have been swirling for…years, about a new Tool album coming out and any momentum about a 2018 release has been repeatedly squashed by Frontman Maynard James Keenan. On Twitter, Maynard has said the album will NOT be out by Summer and that “Nothing. Is. Tracked”. Excitement initially went up a notch with Tom Morello claiming he’s heard the album and saying, “Still just instrumentals but sounded epic, majestic, symphonic, brutal, beautiful, tribal, mysterious, deep, sexy and VERY Tool,” While the tea leaves show that music has been recorded and that the album is happening, you can never be certain with Tool. 12 year since 10,000 Days, whatever Tool puts out this year will be welcome with open arms.
Schoolboy Q – TBA
Release Date: TBA
Back in September 2017, Schoolboy Q proclaimed his new album is “90% done”. With latest release Blank Faces only a little over a year old, Q is feeling the creative juices. This is good news for fans of the energetic rapper. His fifth album might take a different approach, however, as he recently said, "I never gave you the other side – the father, the dude that's actually happy, the dude that doesn't be in the hood just hanging out." Whether that means a more positive, upbeat album, only time will tell.
The Offspring
Release Date: TBA
The last peep we’ve heard from the Offspring their 2002 release Days Go By, but it appears the punk rock heavyweights are putting out an album in 2018. After relentless touring, Dexter Holland and Noodles let it slip to fans that, “We've got a few songs already done. We want to do a couple more and we definitely wanna get something out soon. Our fans have waited long enough, I think, so we want to get something in their hands that they can listen to and hold and put in their ears." Holland went on to add, “2018, for sure”.
Franz Ferdinand – Always Ascending
Release Date: February 9th
Much like other bands on the list, Franz Ferdinand has covered a lot of ground since “Take Me Out” dominated airwaves 14 years ago. Founding member Nick McCarthy is out and Julian Corrie and Dino Bardot are in, creating a new look and opportunity for a new sound for Franz Ferdinand. Their classic disco-punk meets indie-rock signature sound and a new rule against focusing on a single song, Always Ascending should be an album’s album of fresh Franz.
