USA TODAY International Edition
But now we want even more
This year has already been one big surprise party when it comes to music releases. From Beyoncé’s Lemonade to Radiohead’s A Moon Shaped Pool and Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo, stars are releasing their music on their own terms. Assuming that trend contin
PUSHA T
The veteran Virginia rapper and Clipse alum ( as well as the president of Kanye West’s G. O. O. D. music label) dropped the hip- hop record of 2015 last December with Darkest before Dawn: The Prelude, and its sequel — there’s speculation we’ll see a holiday release — should be an equally strong candidate for rap album of the year. — Mehr
LCD SOUNDSYSTEM
Against all odds, LCD Soundsystem’s livewire Lollapalooza set eclipsed my warm, fuzzy memories of shows from back in the day. Word is a new album is coming from the recently reunited hipster- loving dance band, and if the Lolla set is any indication, it’s going to be a blast. — Levy
THE NATIONAL
Cincinnati- bred and Brooklynbased The National have reportedly recorded 15 new tracks for a much- anticipated follow- up to 2013’ s Trouble Will Find Me. Bryce Dessner, a Cincinnati native and guitarist for the band, has described the new work “a bit razory” and “brighter,” according to a Pitchfork report in 2015. The group hasn’t revealed a release date yet. But it won’t come soon enough. — The Cincinnati Enquirer staff
A TRIBE CALLED QUEST
L. A. Reid revealed that A Tribe Called Quest recorded an album, in secret, before Phife Dawg, the witty foil to Q- Tip’s abstract rhymes, died this year. It will be the pioneering rap group’s first album since it broke up 18 years ago after the release of its fifth album, The Love Movement. In a year when artists’ deaths have rocked music fans, a final victory lap by Phife, Tip, Ali Muhammad and Jarobi will be a welcome reprise and farewell. — Acosta
ROLLING STONES
Call me an optimist, but Desert Trip has ignited Rolling Stones fever in this desert, and I’d love to see them follow their set in Indio with the blues album Keith Richards has been talking about all year. Eric Clapton reportedly appears on the album. If he’d also sit in with the Stones at Desert Trip to play his track from the album, I’d be giddy. I always loved the Stones’ collaboration with Clapton on Little Red Rooster. — Fessier
JAPANDROIDS
Well … Frank Ocean may have already stolen everyone’s thunder on this one, but I’m pretty much always waiting for a new Japandroids record. — Leimkuehler
GORILLAZ
Damon Albarn’s partner, Jamie Hewlett, is now saying this asyet- untitled album won’t be out until next year because it “can’t be rushed.” But it has been five years since The Fall, and they recorded that one on an iPad on a tour bus and it sounded great, so what’s the problem? And Albarn is fresh off a brilliant Blur reunion album, so let’s keep it going, shall we? — Masley
TAYLOR SWIFT
Pop culture as a whole may be feeling Taylor Swift fatigue, but as history shows, she’s due for a new release — she has put out albums every other fall since her 2006 self- titled debut. And if that schedule holds up, this October or November should see some new music, especially since the ubiquity of Swift’s 1989 tracks is just starting to fade. — McDermott
KANYE WEST AND DRAKE
Lorde is seemingly in no rush to finish her long- overdue follow- up to 2013’ s Pure Heroine, so I’ll instead channel that excitement into Kanye West and Drake’s joint project, which they’ve been trumpeting during live shows. Who knows if — or when — the fruits of their studio labors actually will see the light of day, but their competing styles and egos will surely make it one of the most polarizing releases of their respective careers. — Ryan
DAN AUERBACH AND DUANE EDDY
In the wee hours of one morning in mid- June, Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach was joined on stage at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium by guitar hero Duane Eddy. If these two aren’t already, they need to get into the studio and re- create some of the magic witnessed by those of us lucky enough to be in the room. — Goad
BOOGARINS
Boogarins is a psychedelia band from Brazil ( named for a jasmine flower, for reasons best known to the musicians). They’ve been dropping interesting music since 2013; rumor is they’ll have more in the pipeline soon, maybe this fall. Hope so. — Beckerman
FRANK OCEAN
Well, Frank Ocean has released two albums already. Why not a third? He sure took enough time to still have a stockpile of new material ready to roll. — Cormier
RYAN ADAMS
After the straightforward rock heard on his self- titled release of 2014, Adams may have a country- leaning project to share? — Lindquist