The holiday decorations are stowed away, the cold weather is permeating, and the New Year’s resolutions are all but broken at this point. That means it’s time for us to look ahead to all the great new music in 2017. We’re already into February, and the list of upcoming releases continues to grow. It’s hard to remember a year this stacked with releases from well-known artists, whether it’s contemporary emo acts, longtime indie rock legends, or anyone from the never-ending list of bands making comebacks. Before our gushing excitement overhypes it all (honestly, it would be extremely hard to do), here’s a list of our 25 most anticipated albums of 2017.
Acceptance – Colliding by Design
Acceptance is one of the rare bands that made an undeniable splash in the music scene with a very brief career that yielded just one full-length record. The praise that Phantoms has garnered over the years will make it tough for its delayed follow-up to live up to the hype, but the return of Acceptance’s infectious sound will surely be a welcome addition to 2017. –Nick Niedzielski
At the Drive-In – TBA
The massively influential post-hardcore quintet reunited last year without original guitarist Jim Ward, igniting skepticism among fans as to how good any new material could possibly be. After signing to Rise Records and releasing the single “Governed By Contagions” in December, the skeptics seemed to have gotten their “I told you so” moment. To many, including this writer, the track lacked a certain lyrical and compositional grace that listeners had come to expect over the years. No record can be wholly judged by the quality of a lead single, however, and many are still anticipating that the follow-up to the classic Relationship of Command could live up to their lofty expectations. Let’s hope, for ATDI’s legacy’s sake, it does. –Eli Shively
Being As An Ocean – Waiting for Morning to Come
Since their breakthrough in 2012, Being As An Ocean hasn’t gone a single year without releasing music of some sort. Following 2015’s self-titled effort, they hit their devoted fanbase with two powerful singles in 2016 that offset their rigid hardcore sound with post-rock ambience and squeaky clean choruses. If the singles are any sign of the direction the group is heading in with third album Waiting for Morning to Come, scheduled for a June release, then the deep connection they make with listeners will surely grow even deeper. –Tim Dodderidge
Brand New – TBA
Perennially finding a spot on every Most Anticipated list for nearly a decade, 2016 truly looked like the year we finally got a new record from Brand New. From regular touring to new singles to a vague-but-real album announcement, all signs pointed to Daisy’s follow up…until time ran out and we were told next year. Thus, our hopes move to 2017. With the band’s not-so-subtly foreshadowed end coming soon, our fingers are crossed that Brand New delivers us one more dark masterpiece before they go. –Nick Niedzielski
Broken Social Scene – TBA
When longtime member Leslie Feist posted an early Broken Social Scene photo to Instagram saying she was back with the band for their new record, fans of indie rock rejoiced. The band released their last new music in 2010 with Forgiveness Rock Record, and to think that Feist, Kevin Drew, Brendan Canning, and the rest of the gang are rekindling their orchestral music magic is beyond exciting. –Zach Silva
Fleet Foxes – TBA
Robin Pecknold has shared as much as he can about the highly-anticipated new Fleet Foxes album. What we know is this: it’s either called Ylajali or The Crack-Up, it’s the first for the band without drummer Father John Misty (who releases his own solo record this year titled Pure Comedy), and Fleet Foxes will be touring extensively behind the record, and the music itself will be “folk-soul”. Hopefully live up to the incredibly high expectations of fans who have been waiting more than half a decade for a follow-up. –Zach Silva
Gerard Way – TBA
Former My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way is a Britpop junkie who’s always had a flair for ‘90s shoegaze and rock. Listen to the opening of Lush’s “Hypocrite” and MCR’s “Give ‘Em Hell, Kid” and you’ll realize how far back his addiction goes. Way’s 2014 solo endeavor, Hesitant Alien, brought the poppy sounds of the aforementioned style back to life in a modern form. While also creating comics in the meantime, he’s looking forward to making what he calls “really weird stuff” when it comes to the next record. –Tim Dodderidge
HAIM – TBA
Days Are Gone was straight-up the album of the summer in 2013. If you disagree, you clearly did not attend enough festivals or listen any music whatsoever, as it seemed like HAIM was everywhere for a hot minute. Things have calmed down since their meteoric debut, but now fans are hungry for their sophomore album, due out sometime in 2017. –Christina Troitino
Japandroids – Near to the Wild Heart of Life
Following up 2012 garage-punk opus Celebration Rock has surely been a pressure-filled affair for Japandroids, but after several years out of the spotlight they’ve deemed 2017 an appropriate time to release their third LP, Near to The Wild Heart of Life. Amidst all the political and social turmoil this year’s brought us so far, it may be just the right time for the kings of whiskey-fueled fuzz to make a comeback. Perhaps it’s just what we need to remind us that there is some good left in this cruel, cold world of ours. –Eli Shively
Kanye West – Turbo Grafx 16
It’s no secret that The Life of Pablo was a divisive record (which is a nice way to say it is trash), and the rapper’s increasingly problematic behavior raises several red flags on both his well-being and his moral compass. But if there’s one thing Kanye can do, it’s surprise us. There is truly no way to tell where his next project will take him, but as is the case with all of his work, there is always the chance of musical genius from Kanye. –Nick Niedzielski
LCD Soundsystem – TBA
LCD Soundsystem formally reformed in 2016, just five years after their “farewell” show at Madison Square Garden. But knowing James Murphy, the band wouldn’t have gotten back together had he not had new music that he believes only this group can deliver. They played festivals all last year, then cancelled some of their final dates to finish work on the new record — and it will come out via Columbia Records, their major label debut after spending so many years on Murphy’s own DFA. Ten years after their landmark sophomore album Sound of Silver, new dance jams from this titan of indie rock are much needed. –Zach Silva
Lorde – TBA
Mainstream pop music is arguably in one of the most interesting stretches it has ever been in, with dark stylings gaining increasing respect and popularity. This landscape marks the perfect setting for Lorde to make her long-awaited return. Things are bound to have changed in the four years since the release of Pure Heroine, but the 20-year-old’s brooding sense of pop will always set her head and shoulders above her contemporaries. –Nick Niedzielski
Mansions – TBA
The fact that Mansions still flies under the radar is baffling, given that the band has one of the best albums from this corner of the music scene in the past decade with Dig Up the Dead. Even their most recent effort, the supremely underrated Doom Loop, showed a band unafraid to branch out musically while retaining their gut-wrenching brand of songwriting. With new music finally back on the horizon, here’s to hoping people start paying attention. –Nick Niedzielski
The Menzingers – After the Party
Listen, no one is as pumped about Epitaph releases in the year 2017 as we are. That especially includes punk bands that are still kicking out the tunes, of which The Menzingers are at the top of the game. Their February 2017 release, After the Party, will be accompanied by a tour with Bayside because nostalgia. –Christina Troitino
Modest Mouse – TBA
It was a difficult wait for Modest Mouse’s previous effort, which came out eight years after 2007’s We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank. But Strangers to Ourselves showcased a band who hadn’t missed a beat, and the follow-up has been said to be a continuation of the 2015 full-length. It’s also been hyped up a lot since frontman Isaac Brock mentioned that former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic was featured in at least one track. Beyond all that, the biggest positive, as long as it does hit stores in 2017, is the short turnaround — surprising for an indie rock act known to patiently let their creative juices flow. –Tim Dodderidge
The National – TBA
As a follow-up to 2013’s Trouble Will Find Me, everyone’s favorite low-key-depression-hole band The National will be releasing what singer Matt Berninger described as the saddest sounding record ever when. On the upcoming album, he said: “People have always described our music as dark and say it goes very melancholy, somber places. They haven’t heard anything yet! This next thing is crazy.” Bring on the feels, dudes. –Christina Troitino
Phoenix – TBA
After 2013’s slightly disappointing Bankrupt!, France’s own savants of pop Phoenix may or may not be looking to make a return to the brilliance of their earlier years in 2017. After a prolonged silence following their previous album cycle, they updated their social media with some mysterious images last November. Let’s hope the new stuff, if indeed out there, echoes the sparkling genius of It’s Never Been Like That and Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix rather than the tired predictability of their more recent work. –Eli Shively
PWR BTTM – TBA
Having PWR BTTM in the music scene is a positive in and of itself, with the duo helping bring everyone together with a powerful message of inclusivity and acceptance. Add to that the fact that the band has one of the most intriguing sounds we’ve heard in years and it’s a win-win situation. 2017 is the year PWR BTTM takes over the world. Hope you’re ready. –Nick Niedzielski
The Shins – Heartworms
James Mercer, the mastermind behind The Shins, has built an impressive resume thus far in his musical career. Apart from providing his creative hand in all four of his band’s albums, he has joined forces with Danger Mouse for two Broken Bells albums and has even acted in a film. Recently, as well, been hard at work on The Shins’ fifth full-length, Heartworms, due out in March. Mercer says it’s closer to the group’s earlier material than that off Port of Morrow, which is sure to heighten the anticipation for it over the next few months. –Tim Dodderidge
St. Vincent – TBA
Coming off her most successful album to date and her first short film (The Birthday Party), Annie Clark has promised “the deepest, boldest work [she’s] ever done” inspired by the current geopolitical environment with her new record due out sometime this spring. Her last live performances were in Los Angeles in October and New York in June, and for a new song she donned a toilet costume and sang, “If I saw you on First Avenue, you’re the only motherfucker in the city who can stand me.” If this is any indication of what to expect, St. Vincent’s new record will be personal and will continue to push artistic boundaries. –Zach Silva
Sorority Noise – You’re Not As ___ As You Think
Sorority Noise’s next album, You’re Not As ____ As You Think, was recorded in 10 days, which is three times as long as it took to record their 2015 album Joy, Departed. I am no mathematician, but I am pretty sure we’ll be getting three times as much excellent emo revival goodness that previously was unknown to the world. –Christina Troitino
System of a Down – TBA
Everyone’s favorite Armenian-American rockers are back in action, and they’ve got a new album tentatively scheduled for a 2017 release. To put it in perspective, it’s been nearly 12 years since “B.Y.O.B.” and 16 years since “Chop Suey!”, and it doesn’t make you feel old until you realize they went after a presidential administration that took office five elections ago. System of a Down’s unique brand of metallic rock, complete with progressive metal and Middle Eastern sounds, helped them age better than most other bands from their era. Hopefully their eclectic style returns in full force on album six — with some political trimmings to complete the package, of course. –Tim Dodderidge
Tool – TBA
A lot of circumstances have delayed Tool in releasing new material, but the wait is close to over. The rockers — who haven’t put out a full-length album since 2006 — were consumed by family commitments and a lawsuit that recently came out in their favor. With their musical careers no longer on the back burner, they’ve been back in business, spending recent years touring the world and crafting what will be their fifth record in over 20 years. –Tim Dodderidge
Vampire Weekend – TBA
After the departure of songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Rostam Batmanglij and following solo albums from Chris Baio (BAIO), Chris Tomson (Dams of the West), and Rostam, Vampire Weekend is in somewhat of a precarious situation. Modern Vampires of the City was their best album to date, and while all the songwriters will be back (Rostam says he will still be involved), the band has given itself high expectations in what could be an important moment for the band’s future. –Zach Silva
The Wonder Years – TBA
Every two-so-odd years, pop-punk fans unite over a new Wonder Years album, and it’s getting to be that time again. 2015’s No Closer to Heaven was a major step forward in the band’s career, bringing a darker alt-rock vibe as it detailed the loss of a loved one over the course of its runtime. With the members currently writing the follow-up, a 2017 release appears to be in order. –Tim Dodderidge
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