The Weekend Series: the most-anticipated albums of 2016
Love him or hate him, Kanye West knows how to court discussion. While the jury is still out on whether or not The Life of Pablo is one of Kanye’s best offerings, one thing everyone agrees on is that it was one of the most anticipated records of the year. We’d like to remind everyone that it is still only February, and there are more albums that could overshadow Kanye’s effort – here are five artists that we think are going to drop massive records this year.
Drake: Drizzy is coming off a huge year in 2015, having released a free solo mixtape called If you are reading this it’s too late and teaming up with Future for What A Time To Be Alive – but everything he has done recently has been leading up to the release of Views From The 6. Drake has been drip-feeding us morsels of information and tastes of what is to come, and is poised to be the biggest threat to Kanye’s 2016 throne.
LCD Soundsystem: We had only just accepted the fact that LCD Soundsystem was no more when James Murphy shocked us all by announcing that the band was reforming. Not only is the electro-pop outfit playing shows again, but word on the street is that there will be new material out sometime this year. Consider the entire office frothing at the thought of new tunes from LCD Soundsystem.
Missy Elliot: In late 2015, Missy Elliot dropped the surprise single, ‘WTF (Where They From)’ to rapturous praise. In February Missy E followed it up with ‘Pep Rally’, sparking extreme levels of excitement for the artist’s first album in 10 years. Will we get to hear it this year? We still don’t have confirmation, but you can bet we’ll be the first ones to listen once it drops.
Frank Ocean: Let’s be real – we don’t know for sure that Frank is going to bless us with a follow up to Channel Orange (tentatively titled Boys Don’t Cry) this year, but we can hope. Asking when we will get new Frank Ocean is like asking where in the world is Carmen Sandiego – we won’t know until the release is imminent. Here’s hoping that whatever Frank deigns to give us is half as good as his previous work.
Radiohead: Rumours are flying across Facebook of a possible Radiohead appearance at Splendour In The Grass this year, which would be a blessing from the heavens if true! The band have been busy recently, releasing a track written as a possible theme song for Spectre. When Radiohead were announced to play Primavera Sound this coming June, it was also rumoured that they would also perform and present its ninth studio album. Time will tell, but our money is on a new record emerging sometime mid-year.
Honourable mentions: Blood Orange, Zayn Malik, Haim, Jay Z, Miike Snow, Gwen Stefani, The Strokes, Gorillaz, James Blake, Sigur Rós, MIA, Britney Spears, TLC, Lady Gaga, Andre 3000
