The Most Anticipated Albums of 2017
It is fair to say 2016 has been quite a year for music. Alongside the pleasure given to by albums such as Chance the Rapper’s Coloring Book or Frank Ocean’s Blonde, the music industry has also had to cope with the passing of some of its most decorated icons. Shortly after gifting the world their final pieces of art, both David Bowie and Leonard Cohen bowed out from the world in 2016 alongside musical titans Prince, Phife Dawg and Glenn Frey.
With the year coming to a close, we are beginning to wonder what 2017 will have in store for the music world. Between albums already announced as forthcoming for 2017 to the big names dominating the rumour mill, Coggles presents our list of the albums we are most looking forward to this year.
The XX – I See You (Young Turks)
Set for release on just the second week of the year, I See You is described as hailing “a new era for the London trio” both “sonically and in terms of process” according to the group’s record label. Recorded between March 2014 and August 2016, the album’s first single, “On Hold”, was released in November this year and sampled Hall & Oates’ 1981 classic “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do”—surely a foreboding of good things to come.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_oA9UmRd4I
Foxygen – Hang (Jagjaguwar)
Foxygen’s fifth studio album looks to have all the elements of a career changing record. The new LP is rumoured to include contributions from the Flaming Lips’ Steven Drozd, Matthew E. White, the Lemon Twigs, plus a 40-piece symphony orchestra. The album’s debut single, “Follow the Leader”, was released in November and features a dancing and ever-eccentric Sam France looking and sounding in fine fettle (despite the T-shirt).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-tZ1gbc2pQ
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – Flying Microtonal Banana (Heavenly Records)
Famed for their prolific output, Australian psychedelic rock seven-piece King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard return with their ninth full-length album in just five years. With most of their 10th album already recorded, we are most likely to be treated to at least two King Gizzard albums in 2017 although the band have announced plans to release no less than five. Arguably one of the most exciting experimental rock bands currently working in the industry, the group’s latest single “Rattlesnake” signals a strong 2017 for King Gizzard.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-i1XZc8ZwA
Temples – Volcano (Heavenly Records)
Declared as “the best new band in Britain” by former Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher following their debut album Sun Structures, Temples return in 2017 with their sophomore effort entitled Volcano. Recorded during the first half of 2016 before the band embarked on a tour of Europe’s festival circuit, Volcano is set to be released on 3rd March.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6zdVaAe0OE
Laura Marling – Semper Femina (More Alarming Records)
Due to be released in March 2017, Laura Marling’s sixth studio album takes its title from the Latin phrase meaning ‘Always a Woman’. Her follow-up to 2015’s Short Movie was announced last November and the first single from the album also saw Marling make her directorial debut. The album will coincide with UK and US tours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCS4OTgaHeM
The Jesus and Mary Chain – Damage and Joy (EK OK Records)
Manager Alan McGee claimed The Jesus and Mary Chain had been recording their first album in 18 years back in November, but Damage and Joy wasn’t officially announced until a month later. The first single from the album, “Amputation”, was unveiled on Steve Lemacq’s BBC6 Music show earlier this month and suggests the band will be back with a bang this year.
Arcade Fire – TBC (Merge)
Will Butler suggested Arcade Fire’s latest unnamed album would probably be released in spring 2017 during a Reddit AMA earlier in 2016 and Tim Kingsbury reaffirmed this theory in an interview in July. Tracks from the band’s first album since 2013’s Reflektor were premiered at an impromptu gig in Paris this summer and there is widespread expectation for this to be one of the finest albums of 2017.
Gorillaz – TBC (Parlophone)
Probably the most hyped album to be released in 2017, co-creator of the band Jamie Hewlett has already described Gorillaz’s new work as ‘really special’. While the initial plan for the group’s fifth album was for a 2016 launch, the band felt that this album shouldn’t be rushed and won’t be ready until 2017. The six year wait for the album looks set to end this summer.
LCD Soundsystem – TBC (DFA)
After reuniting to play their first gigs in five years in 2016, LCD Soundsystem reportedly cancelled their Asian tour to work on the band’s new album late last year. Currently unnamed, the album was confirmed by frontman James Murphy in a lengthy statement to fans published back in May and this will be LCD Soundsystem’s first LP in seven years following 2010’s This is Happening.
The War on Drugs – TBC (Atlantic)
Although it might just be wishful thinking, the rumour mill suggests The War on Drugs will be returning in 2017 with a new album. Averaging an album every three years throughout their career, 2017 could well be the year for the band’s first album from their two-album deal with Atlantic Records that was signed in 2015.
