January has – let’s face it – a habit of being a long month. The decorations come down, Christmas trees are flung out on to the pavement, and the hard job of working off those mince pies begins.
Music, though, remains a constant. If 2023 was shaped by flux, by a deluge of new music, then the coming 12 months could bear witness to the return of a few icons. Looking at the release schedule, we can already anticipate some massive releases, alongside some much-hyped introductions.
The Clash team got together to pick out 20 albums that are already attracting attention.
—
Skepta
2023 marked a turning point for Skepta, venturing into the spheres of tech-house with the formation of Más Tiempo alongside frequent collaborator, Jammer. Hitting up worldwide superclubs, announcing his very own day festival ‘Big Smoke’ and beyond, the icon now returns to his rap legacy, hinting towards the release of his upcoming studio album ‘Knife and Fork.’ Although the release date is yet to be confirmed, Skepta opens up his new chapter with a brand new single ‘#GasMeUp (Diligent)’, due to drop on January 26th. A true innovator, a master of varying styles and finesse, it’s time for Skepta to hit refresh once more. (Ana Lamond)
The Smile
Amidst the myriad of Radiohead side hustles, The Smile glimmer brightly. Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood mingle with Tom Skinner – drummer with Sons Of Kemet, amongst others – with debut album ‘A Light For Attracting Attention’ attracting justifiable praise on its release in 2022.
Since then, though, the trio have scarcely stopped. Dropping new material into their live shows, they’ve even released entire concerts as creative documents in their own right. Using Instagram to drop hints about their next studio venture, new album ‘Wall of Eyes’ lands later this month – we anticipate greatness.
—
—
The Last Dinner Party
Following their triumphant debut to music in 2023, the all-female, rock, five-piece seek to further back up their hype through the release of their debut album ‘Prelude To Ecstasy’ (releasing February 2nd). Singles such as ‘Sinner’ and, the song that plummeted the band to the forefront of the 2023 indie scene, ‘Nothing Matters’ made the cut for the track list amongst fan favourite from the band’s run of live performances ‘The Feminine Urge.’
‘Prelude To Ecstasy’s release anticipates a continuation of juxtaposing enchanting elements paired with heavier-rock components, which the band have already established as their signature sound, as well as an adaption to the ethereal world with constant references to religious imagery which has become the brand of The Last Dinner Party. (Lauren Hague)
Green Day
Arguably the biggest punk band on the planet, Green Day’s return is going to be one of 2024’s biggest events. A group who think subtlety is just a word in the dictionary, new album ‘Saviors’ – how’s that for a title? – will be promoted via 200 listening stations, parked across the North American continent.
For long-time fans, though, there’s a simple selling factor: the return of Rob Cavallo on production. The studio figure helmed 1994’s ‘Dookie’ and 2004’s ‘American Idiot’ – both career-high albums – so his presence on ‘Saviors’ indicates a return to basics, a desire to tap back into core values. (Robin Murray)
IDLES
Bristol’s finest show no signs of slowing down with their fifth album, ‘TANGK’, ready to land just six weeks into the new year. Teaming up with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich, Kenny Beats, and LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, this latest eleven-track LP will see the band once more morph their righteous rage and passion in unexpected new directions. (Sam Walker-Smart)
MGMT
For those old enough to remember, MGMT’s debut album hit the music scene like a magic bullet. Bewitching psychedelia melted down with electro flavours, it became a perfect pop elixir. Subsequent releases took MGMT to the left-field, and their wilful abstractions became – if we’re honest – difficult to follow.
New record ‘Loss Of Life’ however, finds the group recapturing that initial glow. Fresh from becoming TikTok famous with ‘Little Dark Age’, the material re-engages with their thirst for connection, but from a different, more aged angle. Time to get excited, all over again. (Robin Murray)
—
—
Liam Gallagher + John Squire
Two titans of the music industry, one highly-anticipated album, if the first single ‘Just Another Rainbow’ is anything to go by, 2024 is shaping up to be a sonic celebration of BIBLICAL proportions thanks to the new Gallagher / Squire collaboration.
Encompassing blues, garage and psych-rock amongst others, the album showcases Liam’s impassioned vocals and John’s distinctive guitar riffs in what is set to be an album chock-full of ‘mega melodies’ that will blow our minds. (Emma Harrison)
The Cure
Despite repeated promises of the album being ready, Cure fans are still awaiting the long-gestating follow-up to 2008’s ‘4:13 Dream’. Making the situation odder is the fact that the band has essentially been touring the album these past fourteen months, debuting five majestic new tracks that echo the intensity of the band’s ‘Disintegration’ era. Fingers crossed, we hear something soon. (Sam Walker-Smart)
Dua Lipa
After the monumental success of Dua Lipa’s second album ‘Future Nostalgia’ cemented her as a global pop star, the anticipation for her third album has been continually building. Excited whispers of Lipa working with Tame Impala and experimenting with a more psychedelic route on the upcoming record were confirmed with its first single release, ‘Houdini’. Met with immediate praise, the groove laden club banger gives a taste of what’s to come. From what we’ve heard so far, the as-yet-untitled record seems primed to live up to the hype of ‘Future Nostalgia’. (Aimee Phillips)
—
—
Lorde
Following an almost three-year hiatus, Lorde breaks her infamous cycle of taking long breaks between eras, teasing the release of her fourth studio album through a series of Instagram posts towards the latter half of 2023. This comes shortly after the songstress previewed two newly written synth-pop meets alt-dance anthems at Newquay’s Boardmasters music festival last year.
Everyone’s favourite alt-pop star has seemingly shed the precedent put forward on her previous album ‘Solar Power’ opting to neglect social media slightly less whilst trading in the album’s sound of upbeat acoustic strings, in exchange for the synths and snare drum that fans got to know and love Lorde for. (Lauren Hague)
Kali Uchis
Ten months on from her lustrous, celestial third album ‘Red Moon In Venus’, Kali Uchis is opting to strike while the iron is still steaming. ‘ORQUÍDEAS’ marks the Columbian-American songstress’ second Spanish-language album, and whilst January is typically void of much excitement, be that in music or life itself, Kali might just cure our wintery blues with sun-soaked reggaeton and blistering Latin pop. She’s yet to miss, and something tells us this record will be no exception. (Jay Fullarton)
—
—
Usher
The stars are aligned for one of the comebacks of the year. Usher’s long-gestating ninth album ‘Coming Home’ – his first original project since 2018 – arrives two days after his Superbowl halftime show performance next month – a showcase building on the success of wildly-successful Vegas and Paris residencies.
There’s a nostalgic hankering for a superstar, and showman, of Usher’s calibre to deliver a romantic R&B reprieve. Details are scarce but what we do know is Usher’s singles with Jungkook, Summer Walker, H.E.R. and 21 Savage will be featured on a sprawling 20-track interlude-heavy album, and that ‘Coming Home’ is “a love letter to legacy” through songs that “connect, elevate, rise and inspire”. (Shahzaib Hussain)
Miguel
Miguel is one of American R&B’s defining modern figures, an icon who bridges the old with the new, the left-field with the mainstream. Deeply influential, his last album ‘War & Leisure’ landed a whopping seven years ago.
Time for something new then, right? His album ‘Viscera’ was first mooted for a 2023 release, before being pushed back. Ever the perfectionist, Miguel is overhauling his sound, and working with fresh collaborators. With R&B enjoying something of a purple patch in North America, the time is right for his heavyweight comeback. (Robin Murray)
Jennifer Lopez
Marking a decade since her full-length debut, Jennifer Lopez is looking back on her career with her upcoming album ‘This Is Me…Now’. Set to release on February 16th, the project will land alongside a new short film directed by Dave Meyers, handing its production duties to Rogét Chayed, Angel Lopez, HitBoy, Tay Keith and more. Drenched in noughties glitz and stardom, ‘This Is Me…Now’ welcomes a new era for the R&B gamechanger. (Ana Lamond)
—
—
Flo Milli
One of the most adaptable rappers in the game returns with her second studio album ‘Fine Ho, Stay’, a sonic rejoinder and sequel of sorts to 2022 debut ‘You Still Here, Ho?’. Teased with the Bollywood-inflected ‘Chocolate Rain’, the 80s roller rink-inspired ‘BGC’ and Billboard Hot 100 hit (Flo’s first!) ‘Never Lose Me’, ‘Fine Ho’ promises to be a wild, rambunctious escapade through styles and eras. (Shahzaib Hussain)
Cardi B
2018’s ‘Invasion of Privacy’ set the standards for Cardi B, a quadruple-platinum debut that demanded global recognition amongst four Grammy Award nominations and record-breaking chart success. Since then, the Manhattan rhymer has expanded her reach into fashion, beauty and film, whilst drip-feeding smash hits from the likes of ‘Up’ to ‘WAP’ and more recently ‘Bongos’ featuring Megan Thee Stallion. In 2024, Cardi B steps up to the challenge of her sophomore album, taking the time to thoroughly comb through concepts, artwork and touring. With a title and release date yet to be announced, the rap icon keeps her cards close to her chest, dropping subtle hints towards yet another milestone in her career. (Ana Lamond)
—
—
Tems
Steaming ahead with a string of spotlight collaborations ranging between Future to Beyoncé, Drake and WizKid, there is little that can stand in Tems’ path. A familiar voice that speaks to the soul, the singer-songwriter is yet to land her debut full-length project since making her entrance. Rumours have travelled across the internet, yet it’s the recently dropped ‘Me & U’ that confirms the artist’s return after two years. Rounding off 2023 with the introspective ‘Not An Angel’ and photographed in Burberry’s SS24 campaign, the Nigerian star is picking up the momentum for her next chapter. (Ana Lamond)
J Balvin
J Balvin’s 2021 album ‘Jose’ took him to stratospheric levels, becoming one of the biggest artists on the planet. Work on a follow-up has been so darn intense, seemingly, that he’s got not one but two different albums on the slate for 2024.
Firstly, he’s leaning on his passion for electronics on a solo release. Think EDM meets pilita – a Dominican club sound – and you’d be close, with tonnes of afrobeats and latin culture aspects, too. Speaking to Nylon, he termed it an “updated” sound, which parses with his previous evolutionary leaps.
But wait! He’s also got a proposed album with Ed Sheeran in the pipeline, too. Looks like J Balvin is going to be colossal this year. (Robin Murray)
Fontaines D.C.
Fontaines D.C. are potentially poised to release album No. 4 in 2024. It will be intriguing to see which direction the Irish five-piece will take. Since the release of 2022’s ‘Skinty Fia’, they have supported Arctic Monkeys across North America, lead singer Grian Chatten released his debut solo album ‘Chaos For The Fly’ – and collaborated with Kneecap – and guitarist Carlos O’Connell became a dad. Just how these events will impact on their creativity is keeping fans on tenterhooks. (Julia Mason)
—
—
The Strokes
Few indie rock bands generate passionate conversation quite like The Strokes. Everything is driven by curiosity. They remain a hot ticket, and it’s impossible to imagine that ever changing.
For every speculation that surrounds the band, there’s a contradictory rumour. Topics of conversation easily range from the idea of them stopping altogether, new material in the making, to running commentary on the sound at a recent show.
Continuing the work with producer legend Rick Rubin, recordings for their seventh studio album took place in Costa Rica. Details are few, but if ‘The New Abnormal’ from 2020 is anything to go by we are in for a zesty, illustrious treat. (Susan Hansen)
—
