2024 is looking seismic. There’s already plenty to anticipate: several major elections are coming up, Mickey Mouse is now in the public domain, and we finally get another leap year (2020 didn’t count because, well, time was insane). But in particular, we’re looking forward hearing from the newcomers, megastars, and legends releasing some of the year’s most anticipated albums.
There are some long-awaited returns, including new efforts from The Jesus and Mary Chain, MGMT, and Green Day. Some of 2022’s brightest contributors are stepping back into the spotlight, such as The Smile, Yard Act, and Jack White. And artists who teased us with exciting singles last year will deliver their full projects, like IDLES, Katy Kirby, LUCI, and Mannequin Pussy.
While the first few months of 2024 already appear to be stacked, there are plenty of still unconfirmed but expected releases that could grace our ears. Will Dua Lipa’s “Houdini”-led follow up capture the ubiquitous heights of Future Nostalgia? Will Billie Eilish retain the momentum of her lauded Barbie contribution “What Was I Made For?” and offer up her third full-length? Did The Strokes really record their new album on the top of a mountain with Rick Rubin, and will it be good? Will Taylor Swift’s reputation (Taylor’s Version) actually be the “goth punk moment” she suggested it was last year? Is this the year we finally get new albums from Rihanna, Cardi B, or LCD Soundsystem?
We’ll know the answers to these questions as the year goes by, but for now, we’re waiting eagerly. Read below to see our list of the 60 most anticipated albums of 2024.
— Paolo Ragusa
Associate Editor
Editor’s note: Check out our upcoming release calendar to see more albums arriving this year. Also look back at the best music of 2023 with our 50 Best Albums and 200 Best Songs lists, along with the rest of our Annual Report.
January 2024
Kali Uchis — Orquídeas (January 12)
Leave it to a Colombian flower to heat things up in the dead of winter. Less than a year after Red Moon in Venus, Kali Uchis is returning with her second Spanish album, Orquídeas. Launching a “new era” for the multilingual star, the LP features appearances from KAROL G (single “Labios Mordidos”), El Alfa and JT (lead track “Muñekita”), Peso Pluma, and Rauw Alejandro. — Ben Kaye
Green Day — Saviors (January 19)
It’s no secret that Green Day’s last effort, Father of All Motherfuckers, wasn’t exactly a fan-favorite. With their upcoming LP, however, it seems like they might correct their course. Once again taking a political edge, Saviors boasts production from Rob Cavallo, who helmed Dookie and American Idiot. In short, there’s hope for Green Day fans yet. — Jonah Krueger
Sleater-Kinney — Little Rope (January 19)
Nearly three decades into their career, Sleater-Kinney are still chugging along in spite of some challenging odds — namely the sudden, simultaneous deaths of Carrie Brownstein’s mother and stepfather. Those losses seem to imbue Litte Rope with tangible grief, as heard on early singles “Untidy Creatures,” “Hell,” and “Say It Like You Mean It.” — Abby Jones
Future Islands — People Who Aren’t There Anymore (January 26)
Future Islands first teased their seventh studio LP with “Peach” over two years ago. Four more preview tracks later, and People Who Aren’t There Anymore is finally set to arrive in full. There seems to be a new, mellow moodiness under Samuel T. Herring’s ever-impactful lyrics — but we all know that mood will shift to elation when the band inevitably hits the road again. — B. Kaye
Katy Kirby — Blue Raspberry (January 26)
Katy Kirby’s sophomore album documents perhaps the one life experience that’s as affirming as it is devastating: Her first queer relationship and the subsequent breakup. The rising songwriter puts her own spin on the trope of heartbroken classic country, but tracks like “Cubic Zirconia” and “Table” offer a glimmer of tangible hope that a better love is yet to come. — A. Jones
The Smile — Wall of Eyes (January 26)
Less than two years out from their debut album, Radiohead offshoot The Smile are coming back with their sophomore effort. Previewed by the epic “Bending Hectic” and the beautifully complex title track, Wall of Eyes is already shaping up to be another helping of Radiohead-adjacent goodness. I mean, can you really doubt Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, and Tom Skinner? — J. Krueger
February 2024
Brittany Howard — What Now (February 2)
Since bursting onto the scene as the leader of Alabama Shakes nine years ago, Brittany Howard’s sonic journey has been wonderfully unpredictable. Early WHAT NOW singles “Red Flags” and the title track make it clear we can expect more of the unexpected. And that’s a good thing — signing to a major label in Island thankfully hasn’t hampered the artist’s creative drive. — B. Kaye
LUCI — They Say They Love You (February 2)
Thanks to an inimitable flow and eclectic sound blending hip-hop with psych-rock, R&B, and trip-hop, LUCI immediately made a strong impression in 2022 with her brilliant EP, Juvenilia. After going through some big life changes, the North Carolina native is set to make an even bigger impact with her proper debut effort. — Eddie Fu
Chromeo — Adult Contemporary (February 16)
The electro-funk team behind earworms like “Jealous” and “Fancy Footwork” told NME that their sixth album would not just be about getting older and facing more complicated problems, but posists, “How do you stay funky in your 30s and 40s while navigating these real-life situations?” The answer, one hopes, is through aggressively dancey grooves, the kind that make you feel like you’re five or fifteen. — Liz Shannon Miller
IDLES — Tangk (February 16)
IDLES released one of their most acclaimed albums to date, CRAWLER, back in 2021. But they haven’t been on a three-year pause, touring the record across the globe in the interim. They’ve also found themselves nominated for Grammys, playing Coachella, and joining 2023’s inaugural RE:Set Tour. With TANGK, an album with “all love songs,” IDLES aim to cement their place as the most revered rockers in their lane. — P. Ragusa
MGMT — Loss of Life (February 23)
For the first time in six years, a new MGMT album is right around the corner. Loss of Life features a long list of notable collaborators, from Patrick Wimberly (Beyoncé, Lil Yachty) and Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, Spoon) to Daniel “Oneohtrix Point Never” Lopatin and Brian “Danger Mouse” Burton. Hell, even Christine and the Queens got in on the action. What a party! — J. Krueger
Revival Season — Golden Age of Self Snitching (February 23)
Citing influence from the likes of OutKast and Beastie Boys, the producer-rapper duo of Jonah Swilley and Brandon “Bez” Evans make music that simultaneously sounds familiar and breaks new ground. Drawing influences from funk, punk rock, and dance music, Swilley’s production manages to fit Bez’s timely lyrics like a multi-layered glove. — E. Fu
March 2024
Mannequin Pussy — I Got Heaven (March 1)
Philadelphia punk outfit Mannequin Pussy is back and ready to inspire countless mosh pits. Their upcoming record, I Got Heaven, finds the band taking a more collaborative approach. Rather than writing at home, the members crafted tunes with indie rock producer John Congleton. If bangers like “I Don’t Know You” are any indication, the new approach definitely paid off. — J. Krueger
Sheer Mag — Playing Favorites (March 1)
Sheer Mag debuted their ’70s revival brand of rock almost a decade ago as the quintessential DIY band. While that ethos hasn’t changed, their reach certainly has, as they announced a signing to Jack White’s Third Man Records last summer. There’s likely no better home for the Philly outfit’s first album in five years, and they’ve certainly earned whatever career level-up comes with it. — B. Kaye
Tyla — TYLA (March 1)
Tyla already has a Grammy nom for her self-titled debut, with 2023’s viral hit “Water” up for Best African Music Performance at this year’s ceremony. That positions the 21-year-old South African artist for a potentially massive year, especially as she brings her R&B-infused Afropop around the globe with her first world tour in April. — B. Kaye
Yard Act — Where’s My Utopia? (March 1)
Yard Act’s upcoming Where’s My Utopia? finds the British act wading into new sonic waters. “The main reason that ‘post-punk’ was the vehicle for Album One was because it was really affordable to do,” vocalist James Smith explained. “But we always liked so much other music.” Come March, fans will be able to swim alongside them. — J. Krueger
Ariana Grande — eternal sunshine (March 8th)
Update 1/17 — Grande has announced that her new album will be called eternal sunshine and will be released on March 8th. Notably, it will drop just a few days shy of the 20th anniversary of one of her favorite movies, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman’s sci-fi romance starring Jim Carey and Kate Winslet. Check out our original preview below.
Ariana Grande has been consistently teasing new music on social media with plenty of footage and photos of her in the studio. Rumor has it that her seventh studio album could be imminent, but her next single, “yes, and?” is dropping this Friday. Prior to the time she’s devoted to filming her role in the upcoming Wicked adaptation, her most recent album was 2020’s positions; who knows what a new LP could look like. — Mary Siroky
The Jesus and Mary Chain — Glasgow Eyes (March 8)
Nearly 40 years after their debut, The Jesus and Mary Chain return with their eighth studio LP, Glasgow Eyes, on March 8th. “Our creative approach is remarkably the same as it was in 1984, just hit the studio and see what happens,” the brotherly duo of Jim and William Reid said. “There’s a telepathy there — we are those weird not-quite twins that finish each other’s sentences.” Sounds promising! — A. Jones
Sheryl Crow — Evolution (March 29)
Although Sheryl Crow previously said she wouldn’t be releasing any more studio albums, turns out something inside her wasn’t done, as a statement read that this latest “music comes from my soul.” Debut single “Alarm Clock” feels right in line with her particular brand of upbeat pop, as she sings about the high life while living in dreams. — L.S. Miller
Sum 41 — Heaven :x: Hell (March 29)
Twenty-seven years into their career, Sum 41 are wrapping things up. They’re calling their final shot, however, with a massive double-LP featuring one disc of pop punk power (Heaven, teased with “Landmines”) and one of metal thrashing (Hell, home of latest single “Rise Up”). The farewell album also comes with one last world tour, tickets for which are available here. — B. Kaye
What We’re Also Anticipating in 2024
Adrianne Lenker — TBA
Big Thief’s Adrianne Lenker has always been prolific. Whether it’s with her band or on her own, she’s proven herself to be a bonafide songwriting machine. So, it’s not surprising that when she shared her new solo single “Ruined” and a spring tour schedule, she teased a new solo LP “will be coming in 2024.” — J. Krueger
Bartees Strange — TBA
Last year, a tweet seemingly teasing Bartees Strange’s third album landed the artist on our list for the most anticipated albums of 2023. Well, the follow-up to Farm to Table still hasn’t arrived, nor has it technically been officially announced. So, here we are in 2024, once again hoping for the best! — J. Krueger
Billie Eilish — TBA
Billie Eilish, photo by Josh Druding
Considering Billie Eilish’s music career began when she was 13 and skyrocketed at 16, she certainly deserved a break after her acclaimed 2021 sophomore album, Happier Than Ever. Still, her much-TikTok’d Barbie soundtrack contribution “What Was I Made For?” proved that even in an off season, Eilish is capable of serving up evocative hits and dominating the conversation. Whatever comes next, our eyes and ears are open. — P. Ragusa
Boldy James and J Dilla — Drug Dilla
It’s been almost 18 years since Dilla’s death, and with each passing year the producer’s legend grows. If you’ve ever yearned for new beats, good news: In 2022 Boldy announced, “I got the last of the Dilla stash.” With one of today’s great flowmasters behind the mic, that stash is in good hands. — Wren Graves
Cardi B — TBA
Cardi B has to drop a second album sometime, right? This isn’t a Sky Ferreira situation; the rapper has released an EP’s worth of solo singles since her 2018 debut, Invasion of Privacy, including two No. 1 hits in “WAP” and “Up.” She’s still going into the studio, still ripping off bars. Eventually, her sophomore album will arrive. We’ve got a good feeling about 2024. — W. Graves
Charli XCX — TBA
While it sounded like we might be getting fresh music, it looks like the rumored new material from Charli XCX may have actually been written for the one and only Britney Spears. Whichever way we end up receiving new bops from Charli, we’ll be excited about it — “Speed Drive,” her contribution to the Barbie soundtrack, can only hold us over for so long. — M. Siroky
David Gilmour — TBA
In 2023, when he wasn’t warring with his former bandmate Roger Waters, David Gilmour returned to the studio alongside his wife and collaborator, Polly Samson. It’ll be his first album since 2015’s Rattle That Lock, and he’s working with a wide range of talent, from his daughter Romany to Roger Eno (Brian’s brother), plus alt-J producer Charlie Andrew. — W. Graves
Deftones — TBA
Deftones, photo by Alex Kluft
In a September interview with the Gnostic Academy podcast, Deftones guitarist Stephen Carpenter revealed that the band spent 2023 working on new music. More than that, they’re on such a roll that a 2024 release seems more than possible. As we near four years since their last full-length, we’d say it’s about darn time. — J. Krueger
Dua Lipa — TBA
It’s wild to believe that we’re coming up on the fourth (!) anniversary of her earth-shaking Future Nostalgia, but it’s true — and that means the people are beyond ready for a new full-length album from Dua Lipa. Don’t get us wrong, “Dance the Night” may have been a strong contender for 2023 song of the summer, but it’s time to get serious. — M. Siroky
FKA twigs — TBA
FKA twigs has always had a tight grip on her artistic direction. So much so that she willingly scrapped a new album after 85 demos leaked online. The avant-pop artist premiered a new song on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert in 2022 and performed new material during Valentino’s latest fashion show. Twigs’ dedication to preserving her music proves that her third album will be worth the wait. — Sun Noor
Flo Milli — Fine Ho, Stay
Originally slated for November of last year, Fine Ho, Stay is the final installment in Flo Mill’s “Ho” trilogy. Thus far, the Alabama rapper has previewed it with self-assured singles like “B.T.W” and “Chocolate Rain” alongside more vulnerable tracks like “Never Lose Me,” suggesting she’ll avoid a sophomore slump following her excellent debut album, You Still Here, Ho ? — E. Fu
Future and Metro Boomin — TBA
Metro Boomin promised the album will be “classic Future and Metro, but just updated.” Those updates are the exciting part. Young Metro isn’t so young anymore, and all that experience has led him to expand his visions, most recently with the hip-hop epic Heroes and Villains and Metro Boomin Presents Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, both of which featured some of Future’s best rapping of the ’20s. — W. Graves
J. Cole — The Fall Off
Cole’s been thinking about this project since at least 2018, when he reached such a level of success that he realized, “This is where n****s fall off.” He explained a bit more in a November 2023 interview with Lil Yachty, recalling working on new music and thinking, “Man this shit kind of ass.” With The Fall Off, he has vowed to fight this listlessness and venture far out of his comfort zone. — W. Graves
Jack White — TBA
Jack White, photo by George Ortiz
Jack White graced fans with two albums in 2022: the electric, eccentric Fear of the Dawn and the acoustic, playful Entering Heaven Alive. Restless as ever, the rock legend teased even more music via a now-deleted Instagram post on New Years Day. Mistake or a sneak peek at what’s to come? Let’s hope it’s the latter. — J. Krueger
JID — Forever & A Day
Always in the studio, JID has already teased two projects for this year: a joint album with Metro Boomin and his next studio release, Forever & A Day. Coming from one of the sharpest wordsmiths in the game, both will be must-listens; we’re only highlighting his solo effort on this list because it’s expected to arrive first. — E. Fu
Jin of BTS — TBA
ARMY has been patient through BTS’s official army era, as all members of the group are now off completing their required service in the South Korean military. The first to make their return will be Jin, who is set to be discharged in June. In pre-recorded messages staggered through each month of his service, Jin shared his plans to start working on a solo project as soon as possible. — M. Siroky
Joanna Newsom — TBA
It’s been nearly a decade since Joanna Newsom’s last release, the excellent Divers. Luckily, during a surprise opening set for Fleet Foxes last March, the songwriter-harpist-poet debuted several new songs. There’s been no word yet on when fans can expect to hear official versions of these new tunes, but 2024 seems ripe for some new Newsom. — J. Krueger
Justice — TBA
Eight long years after Justice last released an album, the electronic scene has shifted a great deal . Turbo EDM and explosive drops are out; bloghouse, disco, and anything with a meaty, syncopated bass line is back in. So, Justice have mapped out a return at the perfect time, with Ed Banger founder confirming a new Justice LP this spring. — P. Ragusa
