Listed below are over 100 of the most noteworthy albums expected to arrive in 2017. Release dates (when available) are for the U.S. unless otherwise noted.
Officially announced and out in early 2017
Listed in release date order.
The Flaming Lips
Oczy Mlody
January 13 (Warner Bros.) 
Advance reviews are somewhat mixed for the oddball alt-rockers' first proper studio album since 2013's The Terror. Still, new material from the Lips is always welcome, especially with Dave Fridmann returning as producer. Oczy Mlody (Polish for “eyes of the young") features contributions from Reggie Watts and now-frequent Lips collaborator Miley Cyrus. The band heads out on tour next week.
| LISTEN: | "We a Family" (feat. Miley Cyrus) |
| WATCH: | "The Castle" |
| WATCH: | "How??" |
| WATCH: | "Sunrise (Eyes of the Young)" |
The xx
I See You
January 13 (Young Turks)
The British trio's third album (and first since 2012's Coexist) is receiving strong early reviews. Recorded around the world over a two-year period, the 10-song set was produced by the band's own Jamie xx along with Rodaidh McDonald (who has worked with the band since their 2009 debut). A North American tour follows a Coachella appearance in April.
| LISTEN: | "Say Something Loving" |
| WATCH: | "On Hold" |
Foxygen
Hang
January 20 (Jagjaguwar)
Early reviews suggest that the indie rock duo's fourth album is back up to the high standards set by their first two albums and an improvement over their prior release, 2014's ...And Star Power. While the latter record was perhaps overindulgent (thanks to its fictional band concept and its 82-minute runtime), Hang, with its 40-piece symphony orchestra on every track, is merely "indulgent"—but entertainingly theatrical, according to reviewers.
| LISTEN: | "America" |
| WATCH: | "Follow the Leader" |
Cloud Nothings
Life Without Sound
January 27 (Carpark)
The Dylan Baldi-led project has enlisted a new guitarist (Chris Brown) for its fourth album, which follows 2014's Here and Nowhere Else. John Goodmanson produced the "slowed-down" and more vocal-oriented set.
| LISTEN: | "Internal World" |
| WATCH: | "Modern Act" |
Delicate Steve
This Is Steve
January 27 (Anti-)
One-time Luaka Bop signee Steve Marion released a pair of well-received (if hard to pigeonhole) albums in 2011 and 2012, but nothing else until this new album (his first for Anti-), which he recorded in just 11 days. (He also produced the album in addition to playing every instrument on it.) Marion cites a diverse array of influences (including Chuck Berry, Deerhoof, Devo, and Tom Petty) for what will surely be another varied album.
| WATCH: | "Cartoon Rock" |
Japandroids
Near to the Wild Heart of Life
January 27 (Anti-)
It's the first release in five years for the punk- and classic rock-influenced Canadian duo of Brian King and David Prowse, who already have two acclaimed releases under their belts. The band recorded their brief (eight-song) new set in New Orleans, where they more fully embraced the idea of studio experimentation.
| LISTEN: | "Near To The Wild Heart Of Life" |
Kehlani
SweetSexySavage
January 27 (Atlantic)
A year in the making, the official studio debut from Oakland singer-songwriter (and former Poplyfe member) Kehlani Parrish finally arrives later this month. It follows her well-received (and Grammy-nominated) 2015 mixtape You Should Be Here.
| LISTEN: | "Advice" |
| LISTEN: | "Undercover" |
| WATCH: | "CRZY" |
| WATCH: | "Distraction" |
Ty Segall
Ty Segall (2017)
January 27 (Drag City)
The first 2017 release from Ty Segall (one has no choice but to assume there will be others to follow) is his second self-titled LP. It finds him backed by a full band, including regular collaborators Mikal Cronin and Charles Moothart.
| LISTEN: | "Orange Color Queen" |
Big Sean
I Decided.
February 3 (G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam)
The rapper's first solo studio album since 2015's Dark Sky Paradise follows his 2016 collaboration with Jhene Aiko, Twenty88, which could also get a sequel later this year. Sean appears a bit indecisive about the final tracklist (or perhaps his decision was to not share it in advance), so it's not clear if his recent Chance the Rapper collaboration "Living Single" will appear on the album. But he has decided to head out on tour beginning in March.
| WATCH: | "Bounce Back" |
| WATCH: | "Moves" |
Elbow
Little Fictions
February 3 (Concord)
After releasing six very good albums, the English band is ready to release a seventh next month. Produced (like most of their recent albums) by the band's own Craig Potter, the 10-song set includes backing from a symphony and choir. What's missing for the first time is drummer Richard Jupp, who left the band prior to recording.
| LISTEN: | "All Disco" |
| WATCH: | "Magnificent (She Says)" |
Sampha
Process
February 3 (Young Turks)
The London-based singer-songwriter, who has worked with acts including Solange, Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Drake, SBTRKT, and Jessie Ware, will finally release his debut album Process next month after it was first rumored to arrive last year.
| LISTEN: | "Timmy's Prayer" |
| WATCH: | "Blood on Me" |
Lupe Fiasco
DROGAS Light
February 10 (1st and 15th/Thirty Tigers)
It's been an eventful 12 months for Lupe Fiasco, who announced plans to release three albums in 2016, then changed course and said he wouldn't release any, then suggested that he'd release one in 2017, then canceled all releases and retired after getting in a Twitter war with fans, then decided to unretire to release Drogas Light next month. Assuming he doesn't change his mind again, the 14-song set will feature Rick Ross, Ty Dolla $ign, and Big K.R.I.T.
| LISTEN: | "Made in the USA" |
| LISTEN: | "Wild Child" |
| WATCH: | "Pick Up the Phone" |
Ryan Adams
Prisoner
February 17 (Blue Note)
Ryan Adams last gave us his Taylor Swift covers LP 1989 in 2015, but hasn't released an album of new original songs since his self-titled 2014 record. Early tastes of his new album Prisoner suggest a blend between the previous album's full-band rock sound and the more acoustic style of its predecessor, Ashes & Fire. Adams himself suggested that his new songs are influenced by 1980s rock by the likes of ELO and Bruce Springsteen, and feature lyrics dealing with his recent divorce from Mandy Moore.
| LISTEN: | "Do You Still Love Me?" |
| LISTEN: | "To Be Without You" |
Strand of Oaks
Hard Love
February 17 (Dead Oceans)
Timothy Showalter's first commercially released Strand of Oaks album Heal came out to excellent reviews in 2014. Three years later, he will return with a nine-song follow-up produced by Nicolas Vernhes (The War on Drugs) that replaces previously recorded material that Showalter opted to scrap.
| WATCH: | "Radio Kids" |
The Feelies
In Between
February 24 (Bar/None)
New Jersey's second-favorite indie-rock band (we're assuming Yo La Tengo is the first) will continue their late-career comeback that began with 2011's Here Before with a new album next month—just the sixth LP in the band's 41-year history.
| LISTEN: | "Been Replaced" |
Los Campesinos!
Sick Scenes
February 24 (Wichita Recordings)
The (technically) Welsh indie-rock outfit will release their sixth full-length and first since 2013's No Blues next month. John Goodmanson (Sleater-Kinney, Blonde Redhead) produces, as he has done for each of the band's albums following their debut.
| LISTEN: | "I Broke Up In Amarante" |
Pissed Jeans
Why Love Now
February 24 (Sub Pop)
The fifth album and first in four years from the Pennsylvania hardcore band follows 2013's Honeys. No Wave legend Lydia Lunch co-produced the 12-song set, which includes a collaboration with author Lindsay Hunter.
| LISTEN: | "The Bar Is Low" |
Grandaddy
Last Place
March 3 (30th Century)
One of 2017's most welcome reunions comes from Modesto's finest indie rock band, who split up in 2006 after releasing four excellent albums. Frontman Jason Lytle continued to release material under his own name (and others), but little was heard from Grandaddy until they reunited in 2012 for a few live dates. Last fall, unexpectedly, the band released a pair of new songs—their first new material in a decade—and one of those tracks (and 11 others) will be found on a new album, due in March.
| LISTEN: | "Clear Your History" (non-album track) |
| WATCH: | "A Lost Machine" |
| WATCH: | "Way We Won't" |
The Magnetic Fields
50 Song Memoir 5xCD
March 3 (Nonesuch)
A hugely ambitious project in the vein of his landmark 1999 triple album 69 Love Songs, Stephin Merritt's first Magnetic Fields album in five years is exactly what its title suggests: a 50-song memoir. Each track represents a single year in Merritt's life, arranged in order from 1966-2015 across five discs—enough material to enable Merritt to play over 100 different instruments in total. An expanded seven-piece version of Magnetic Fields have already performed the album in its entirety during a two-night concert in New York, and will continue to do so on tour beginning in March.
| LISTEN: | "'74 No" |
| LISTEN: | "'86 How I Failed Ethics" |
| LISTEN: | "'93 Me and Fred and Dave and Ted" |
| LISTEN: | "'02 Be True to Your Bar" |
| LISTEN: | "'13 Big Enough for Both of Us" |
Laura Marling
Semper Femina
March 10 (Kobalt)
Each of the last four albums from the English singer-songwriter has scored above 80. So why expect anything different from Marling's sixth album, which she co-produced with Blake Mills.
| WATCH: | "Soothing" |
The Shins
Heartworms
March 10 (Columbia)
The indie-pop band's first album since 2012's Port of Morrow was reportedly finished last year but delayed to ensure that the band would score a prime Coachella slot. The story may or may not be true (The Shins, after all, are not playing this year's festival), but the album will definitely surface in March. The band did not enlist an outside producer this time, with James Mercer handing production duties solo (save for one Richard Swift-produced cut).
| LISTEN: | "Name for You" |
| WATCH: | "Dead Alive" |
The Jesus and Mary Chain
Damage and Joy
March 24 (Warner Bros.)
The most recent album from Scottish guitar band legends Jesus and Mary Chain? Why that would be Munki, released back in 1998. (Though Sister Vanilla's 2005 album Little Pop Rock could almost pass for a Mary Chain record, albeit one with Linda Reid front and center rather than her better-known brothers Jim and William.) JAMC actually reunited a decade ago, and have toured off and on since, but no new music surfaced until this year. The 14-song album was produced by Youth (working with the band for the first time), and its lead single suggests that nothing much has changed in the past 18 years. (That's a good thing.)
| LISTEN: | "Amputation" |
Pallbearer
Heartless
March 24 (Profound Lore)
The doom metal band's second album, Foundations of Burden, was one of 2014's very best releases. This spring, they return with a seven-song follow-up which their label is billing as the band's "most monumental material to date."
Julia Holter
In the Same Room
March 31 (Domino)
A new album from one of the decade's most acclaimed artists is always welcome, even if it isn't technically new material. Launching Domino's new Domino Documents live series (which is inspired by the BBC's famed Peel Sessions), In the Same Room finds Holter performing new versions of songs from her past four albums, all recorded live in the studio (in this case London's RAK Studios) in a 48-hour period.
| LISTEN: | "So Lillies (Live At RAK)" |
Expected later in 2017
Listed in alphabetical order, and includes some albums that haven't been officially announced (but where there is an indication that the artist has been or will be recording).
The Afghan Whigs
The Greg Dulli-led indie rock outfit will follow their 2014 comeback album Do To the Beast (and a recent string of reissues of their classic 1990s albums) with a new studio album this year.
Lily Allen
The English pop star was working with producer Mark Ronson last summer on new material for her fourth album (possibly titled The Fourth Wall), which will be her follow-up to 2014's disappointing Sheezus.
Alt-J
The Mercury Prize-winning English band have been silent since their 2014 sophomore set This Is All Yours (save for a 2016 solo record from drummer Thom Sonny Green), but recent pictures of the band in the recording studio suggest that a third album could be forthcoming.
Arcade Fire
The "danceable" and "disco-flavored" fifth album (and first since 2013's Reflektor) from the indie rock darlings could arrive as soon as this spring, though no official date has been set. At the very least, Arcade Fire appear to be well into the recording process, as the band performed multiple new songs in concert last fall during a secret show in New Orleans (while sampling the crowd at a second show to use on the new album). The band's Tim Kingsbury will also release a solo album (under the name Sam Patch) titled Yeah You, And I on February 17th.
Arctic Monkeys
The Monkeys reconvened in their hometown of Sheffield, England last month to begin writing their follow-up to 2013's AM.
At The Drive-In
Seventeen years after releasing their final record, the Texas rock band (who dissolved into the groups Sparta and The Mars Volta in 1991) could be on the verge of releasing a new LP. Rumors of a new album have surrounded the band's recent reunion for a 2016 tour, and a brand new song, "Governed by Contagions", surfaced last month.
Dan Auerbach
The second solo album from the Black Keys frontman/guitarist is expected this spring. The still-untitled set will be culled from five dozen songs that Auerbach recently recorded in his Nashville studio with guests including Duane Eddy, John Prine, and Mark Knopfler. A second album from Auerbach's side project The Arcs could also be in the works, though the Black Keys themselves remain on a break.
The Avalanches
The Avalanches don't actually have a new album coming out in 2017. It's just that it feels wrong to post one of these previews without listing them somewhere.
Courtney Barnett
Fans are eager to find out what the Australian singer-songwriter will do for an encore after releasing the best debut album of 2015. Though the demands of touring behind that LP have forced her to postpone recording her second album, Barnett reported in September that the new album was "half-written" and that the new material was darker and sadder than her previous work. Barnett will also appear on an upcoming album (the first in nearly a decade) from The Breeders.
Beck
Beck's upbeat follow-up to 2014's Grammy-winning Morning Phase was originally intended to arrive shortly after that album, only to be delayed multiple times—with its most recent release date, in November 2016, coming and going without any sign of the still-untitled LP. But he reported in December that work on the Strokes-influenced set (which he produced with Greg Kurstin) is finally complete. It is expected to include the recently released tracks "Wow" and "Dreams".
Chrysta Bell
Singer and actress Chrysta Bell may not be a household name, but her biggest fan is. But while that fan—David Lynch—produced and wrote her debut album and a 2016 EP, it is PJ Harvey collaborator John Parish who serves as producer on Bell's upcoming full-length, which also features members of Portishead and Sunn O))). Bell will also appear in Lynch's upcoming Twin Peaks revival this spring.
Belle & Sebastian
Whether it is a series of EPs, an album, or both, the veteran Scottish indie-pop outfit will release new music this year. And some or all of those releases could feature photos of B&S fans on the cover.
Björk
There's no word yet about a 2017 release, but a year ago Björk was already three songs in to recording her follow-up to Vulnicura. The new material once again finds her collaborating with Arca.
Broken Social Scene
The Canadian indie rock collective ended a multi-year hiatus with live dates last year. This year will see them release their first studio album since 2010's Forgiveness Rock Record. The still-untitled LP should arrive this summer, and will feature the return of frequent collaborator Feist.
Chance the Rapper
The young hip-hop star may wear a "3" on his cap to commemorate the number of releases he has put out so far (including 2016's excellent Coloring Book mixtape). So it's easy to forget that Chance has yet to release his studio debut album. That could change in the near future, as Chance revealed last fall that he was at work on “something that you can consider an album” rather than a mixtape.
Charli XCX
The English singer has been at work on her third album since 2015. While a rumored 2016 release turned out to be an EP rather than a full album, we appear to be getting closer to the latter, as its lead single, "After the Afterparty", came out a few months ago. A May release is a possibility, and a related mixtape could arrive even earlier.
Chromatics
Chromatics, one of several synth-pop projects led by Johnny Jewel (and perhaps best known for their contribution to the Drive soundtrack), were originally expected to release Dear Tommy, their follow-up to the excellent 2012 album Kill for Love, in 2015, but it never arrived despite reportedly being complete. Nor did it show up in 2016. Will 2017 be any different? At least you can already hear some of the album, which is expected to include the already leaked tracks "Shadow", "In Films", "I Can Never Be Myself When You're Around", and "Just Like You".
Zack de la Rocha
The former Rage Against the Machine frontman will release his long-awaited solo debut album in 2017. Though De la Rocha has been hinting at recording a solo album for 15 years, the final release will only include new material recorded during 2016, including the El-P-proudced lead single "Digging for Windows". His former Rage bandmates, meanwhile, have joined with members of Public Enemy and Cypress Hill to form the new touring band Prophets of Rage, though an album from them appears unlikely.
Lana Del Rey
Details are still scarce, but the singer has been working on her follow-up to 2015's Honeymoon since early last year, with a 2017 release a strong possibility.
Mac DeMarco
The Canadian artist finalized mixing his full-length follow-up to 2014's Salad Days (and the 2015 mini-album Another One) in late December, though the album still doesn't have a title or official release date.
Depeche Mode
The electronic band's 14th studio set, Spirit, should arrive this spring, and will be followed by a world tour. Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford produced the album.
Dirty Projectors
The New York art rockers haven't released an album since 2012's Swing Lo Magellan. That will change in 2017, as the band has started unveiling new songs (including "Keep Your Name" and "Little Bubble") in advance of an album. The group's Amber Coffman—who may or may not still be a member of Dirty Projectors—will also release her solo debut, City of No Reply, this year; that album includes the new track "All to Myself".
Drake
The artist's long-planned More Life album (or, if you prefer, "playlist project") is expected to arrive early this year, containing new music from Drake as well as his labelmates.
Father John Misty
J. Tillman reportedly told a live audience last month that his third album (following the critically acclaimed I Love You, Honeybear) was finished. (And it's hard not to believe it, given that his set consisted almost entirely of new songs.) It's unclear whether or not the new LP will include any of the songs Tillman released last year, including "Holy Hell".
Sky Ferreira
The artist first announced Masochism as the follow-up her 2013 debut Night Time, My Time back in early 2015. The album still hasn't officially been announced, though Ferreira argues that it hasn't technically been delayed. (At least she has recorded part of it.) Whether or not the album finally shows up in 2017, you will see Ferreira in the upcoming Twin Peaks reboot.
Filthy Friends
Combine Sleater-Kinney's Corin Tucker, R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, Young Fresh Fellows' Scott McCaughey and Kurt Bloch, and drummer-for-everyone Bill Rieflin, and and you have the new band Filthy Friends. After a one-off single released last year, they are expected to return with a full-length debut in 2017.
Fleet Foxes
Possibly titled Ylajali, and possibly released on new label Nonesuch, the critically acclaimed band's third album (and first since 2011's Helplessness Blues) looks likely to get an early 2017 release. But that could be just the start of a flurry of new releases. Frontman Robin Pecknold is also working on a solo album, with a fourth FF album to follow. Somehow, the band will also have time to tour in 2017.
Liam Gallagher
Noel Gallagher
The always feuding brothers and former Oasis members could each release a solo album in 2017. Liam, who spent his post-Oasis years with his (now defunct) band Beady Eye, has signed a record deal with Warner Bros. and has written 10-11 songs for his solo debut. Noel, meanwhile, plans to complete work on his third solo album (like the others, released under the name Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds) before the summer festival season.
Alice Glass
Last year Crystal Castles released their first album with new singer Edith Frances, though critics liked it less than the band's past releases with frontwoman Alice Glass. This year, Glass should release her first full-length release as a solo artist.
Gorillaz
A new album from the Damon Albarn-led project Gorillaz is always a major event, especially because they come so infrequently. (The band's last proper release was arguably 2010's Plastic Beach, though the downloadable album The Fall followed in 2011.) Nothing has been officially confirmed about the band's latest album, due this year, though collaborators are thought to include De La Soul, Snoop Dogg, Vic Mensa, Jean-Michel Jarre, and possibly Massive Attack. Gorillaz recently launched a new website and social media campaign in anticipation of the album.
Ariana Grande
Even though Dangerous Woman, the most recent album from the actress/pop star, came out less than eight months ago, Grande revealed late last year that she was almost done with another album.
Grizzly Bear
Five years after releasing their career-best album Shields, Brooklyn indie rockers Grizzly Bear are on the verge of releasing a follow-up, reporting last fall that work on the album was 90% complete.
Haim
The Los Angeles sister act should finally release their follow-up to their 2013 debut Days Are Gone this summer. Producers Ariel Rechtshaid and Rostam Batmanglij contributed to the sessions, which resulted in "a more organic, live band feel," according to EW.
The Internet
Odd Future affiliated soul/hip-hop band The Internet made a huge leap forward with their Grammy-nominated 2015 album Ego Death. Their fourth album could arrive this spring, followed by solo albums from band members Syd tha Kyd (whose debut LP will be called Dive) and Matt Martians.
Jay Z
While fans are hoping that the rap star will finally release a follow-up to 2013's disappointing Magna Carta Holy Grail this year, there's still no official word on the album. Still, rumors late last year that the album was complete point to a possible 2017 release. Still unclear: whether it will be a solo album or the long-rumored joint album with wife Beyoncé.
Jlin
The Indiana-based footwork artist had one of 2015's best debut albums in Dark Energy. Her second album, likely titled Black Origami, should arrive this spring. Ahead of it comes a two-song EP, Dark Lotus, on February 10th.
The KLF / Justified Ancients of Mu Mu
Part art project, part electronica pioneers, the subversive British duo who literally wrote the book on creating hit singles have been mostly dormant since releasing The White Room back in 1991 and then deleting their entire back catalog in 1992 (though, among other things, they did take time to burn a million pounds sterling in 1994). But the band (who also recorded as the Timelords and the JAMs in the 1980s) appeared to return to life earlier this month with a cryptic YouTube video and a poster in London suggesting the release of new material in August.
LCD Soundsystem
So much for calling it quits. After a 2011 farewell concert chronicled in multiple formats, LCD Soundsystem managed to stay defunct for almost five years. But then the James Murphy-led band released a Christmas single in late 2015, which led to a live reunion in early 2016 and a return to the recording studio in late 2016. A new record deal (with Columbia) only seals the deal: there will be a fourth LCD Soundsystem album in 2017.
Jenny Lewis
The one-time Rilo Kiley frontwoman earned plenty of positive press for her third solo album, 2014's The Voyager. A new project—the all-female trio Nice As Fuck—caused Lewis to delay work on a follow-up, but she recently returned to the studio (once again with Ryan Adams) to begin work on her next solo LP.
Lykke Li
The Swedish artist has been working on a more "pop" follow-up to 2014's I Never Learn, though progress has been delayed by her involvement in the new group LIV (which also features members of Miike Snow and Peter Bjorn and John).
Lizzo
The rising hip-hop/pop star, who has a pair of acclaimed albums to her name, recently signed her first major label contract. Her full-length debut for Atlantic should arrive this year, following an EP (Coconut Oil) released last fall.
London Grammar
The English trio are finally preparing to release a follow-up to their 2013 debut If You Wait. The new album will include the just-released single "Rooting for You".
Lorde
Apparently, it's hard to follow Pure Heroine. The young New Zealand star—who won a pair of Grammys as a teenager—has been at work on her sophomore album since early 2015, finally completing the writing stage last summer and heading to New York for recording in the fall. Some upcoming high-profile live gigs (including at Coachella) suggest that her new songs could finally reach the public soon.
Aimee Mann
Fresh off her collaboration with Ted Leo (as The Both), singer-songwriter Aimee Mann is expected to release a new solo album, Mental Illness, this spring. It'll be her first since 2012's Charmer.
Mastodon
Produced by Brendan O'Brien, the metal band's 12-song seventh album will be out this spring, according to a recent report in Rolling Stone that reveals that the new songs will tell the story of "a desert-like version of the Grim Reaper."
MGMT
Though the indie band was expected to end a multi-year hiatus last year, their comeback was pushed back to 2017.
Nicki Minaj
The singer has been hinting about a follow-up to 2014's The Pinkprint in recent months, though at times she has been intentionally misleading (as when she suggested that she was about to drop a fruit-themed album in October).
My Morning Jacket
The recording sessions for 2015's The Waterfall were so fruitful that Jim James & co. had enough leftover tracks for a second album. That LP didn't show up in 2016, but it could this year.
Nas
The rapper's first album since 2012's Life is Good could arrive this year, though he has been making claims (even in song form) about the album's completion for several years now.
The National
After an atypically long four-year break between albums (their last, Trouble Will Find Me, came in 2013, though a National-curated Grateful Dead tribute album arrived in the interim), the indie rockers will release a new LP this year. Reports last year during the album's recording suggested that the band was going in a "weird, math-y, electronic-y" direction, though conflicting reports earlier in the recording process indicated a more stripped-down approach.
Nine Inch Nails
When it arrived a few weeks ago, the five-song EP Not the Actual Events was the first new Nine Inch Nails material in three years. After its release, Trent Reznor announced that there would be "two new major" NIN releases to follow in 2017.
Katy Perry
The pop star was reportedly working on new music throughout 2016, though only the Olympics anthem "Rise" surfaced during the year. Her fifth album is expected to arrive sometime in 2017.
Phoenix
The French band has been relatively silent since the release of 2013's Bankrupt!, though updates to the band's website and social media accounts in November—coupled with the recent announcement of some festival dates in 2017—seemed to suggest that their period of dormancy is nearing an end.
Queens of the Stone Age
Josh Homme had plans to reconvene his most popular project in late 2016 to begin recording a follow-up to 2013's ...Like Clockwork.
Real Estate
While it's too early to predict whether 2017 will be a good year for real estate, it should be a good year for Real Estate. The New Jersey indie rock band is prepping their first album since 2014's Atlas (and first since the departure of guitarist Matt Mondanile), with the album reportedly being mixed as of last fall.
Ride
In a year filled with comebacks, this is one of the most unexpected as well as most welcome. Shoegaze pioneers Ride will release a new album this summer, their first since breaking up in 1996 following the release of their then-final album, Tarantula.
The Roots
The hip-hop outfit and Tonight Show house band spent the fall working on their 12th studio album, End Game.
ScHoolboy Q
Though the hip hop artist just released an (excellent) album last summer, he's already at work on a follow-up, which he is targeting for a 2017 release.
Sigur Rós
The downsized Icelandic band's follow-up to 2013's Kveikur was expected last year, and while the group did indeed play new music on tour, none of it was released. That could change this year, as the band has once again promised to test out new material during its upcoming tour—though there's still no official word about an album release.
Slowdive
Much like Ride (above), the long-dormant English shoegaze band Slowdive hasn't released an album in over two decades. But the Neil Halstead- and Rachel Goswell-led project reformed in 2014 for a series of live dates, and last August they reportedly completed recording a new LP.
Spiritualized
Jason Pierce first began recording a follow-up to 2012's Sweet Heart Sweet Light with producer Youth (of Killing Joke) back in 2015. It looks like that album will finally arrive in 2017, though Pierce has indicated that it might be Spiritualized's swan song.
Spoon
The indie stars' first album since 2014's They Want My Soul will come out this March via their new/old label Matador (who also released the band's 1996 debut Telephono). There's still no title or exact release date, but we do know that Dave Fridmann returns as producer. Last weekend, the band debuted some of its new material at a secret show in Austin.
Bruce Springsteen
Fresh off the publication of his memoir, the rock legend is expected to return with a new solo album in 2017, which will be his first set of all-new music since 2012's Wrecking Ball. Unlike his past solo (i.e., non-E Street Band) albums, this one won't be a stripped-down affair; instead, it could feature orchestral arrangements and use 1960s pop as an inspiration.
St. Vincent
How will Annie Clark follow her career-best album, released back in 2014? With something completely different, perhaps. In a recent Guitar World interview, Clark warned fans to expect "a real sea change" in the sound of her new album, which could arrive this spring.
The Stone Roses
The legendary Manchester band's recent reunion was limited to live performances, though there were always hints at a return to the recording studio. New music did indeed surface in 2016 (in the form of new songs "All for One" and "Beautiful Thing"), but there's still no sign of a full-length follow-up to 1994's Second Coming. Could one arrive this year?
The Strokes
Progress on the band's follow-up to 2013's Comedown Machine has been slow, with only a 2016 EP to show for their work over the past two years so far. Work was continuing on the new album last fall.
Sun Kil Moon
Mark Kozelek's Sun Kil Moon project is expected to release a new double album, Common as Light and Love Are Red Valleys of Blood, in early 2017, though the previously announced release date of February 28 may not stick. (It will include the recently released track "God Bless Ohio".) A second Sun Kil Moon/Jesu collaboration (following their debut album in 2016), titled 30 Seconds to the Decline of Planet Earth, should also surface in May.
Taylor Swift
Swift is working on a follow-up to 2014's 1989, which may take on a more hip-hop- and R&B-influenced vibe and include contributions from Drake.
System of a Down
Though the once-defunct metal band reunited in 2010, their second incarnation has existed purely as a live concern until late last year, when they returned to the studio. Their first album since 2005's double bill of Mezmerize and Hypnotize is expected this year.
SZA
The young neo-soul singer's full-length debut A has been expected to surface since back in 2014, with recent delays allegedly the fault of label TDE. Will this be the year that fans finally get to hear it? February has been mentioned as a possible release window.
Justin Timberlake
Last year brought "Can’t Stop The Feeling", the pop star's first new song in three years. This year should bring Timberlake's first album since the two-part 20/20 Experience in 2013. He has spent time in the studio over the past year with Pharrell, Max Martin, and Timbaland, among others, though we don't know yet what material will make the final cut.
Tinashe
The R&B singer's second studio album, Joyride, was expected last year, only to get stuck with the dreaded "delayed" label thanks to creative differences with her label, RCA. In its place came the digital release Nightride, and Joyride is now expected to drop sometime in 2017.
Tool
What better way to start the year than feigning optimism that Tool will release a follow-up to 2006's 10,000 Days in the months ahead. It could even be considered a good sign that the band reported to having completed "two albums worth" of material last fall. Of course, it wouldn't be Tool if there weren't obstacles to finally getting the album out in 2017. For one thing, only five of those already recorded songs are actually up to their "Tool standard," and none of them have lyrics yet. Another example: frontman Maynard James Keenan is going to be busy recording a new album with his other band (A Perfect Circle), who are then going to spend the spring months on the road.
U2
Songs of Experience, the companion album to 2014 iPhone clogger Songs of Innocence, could finally arrive in 2017, though the band just revealed that they may want to tinker with some of the material (which was previously considered finished) to address the Trump presidency. Even if that album is delayed yet again, 2017 should actually be a big year for the band, who will headline Bonnaroo this summer as part of a special tour in honor of the 30th anniversary of The Joshua Tree (during which they will be performing the album in full).
Vampire Weekend
How will Vampire Weekend's sound change now that Rostam Batmanglij has left the group to pursue solo projects (including a recent collaboration with The Walkmen's Hamilton Leithauser)? We'll know this year when their fourth album (and major label debut) arrives, likely this summer.
The War on Drugs
The band's major-label debut (and follow-up to 2014's excellent Lost In the Dream) could arrive this year, as the band has been spending time in the studio of late.
Jessie Ware
We still don't know when Ware's follow-up to Tough Love will arrive, though she has been working on new music since 2015. All we have to show for it so far, however, is a series of one-offs, including last year's "Till the End".
Kamasi Washington
The L.A.-based jazz artist made waves with his ambitious 2015 debut The Epic, which was released by Flying Lotus's Brainfeeder label. Washington, who has also performed on recent albums by Kendrick Lamar and Run the Jewels, began plotting his second album early last year, though he has yet to reveal a timeframe for its release.
Roger Waters
The former Pink Floyd member has been working on a new solo album—his first new rock album since 1992's Amused to Death—with Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. He is expected to debut some of his new material during this summer's North American tour.
Kanye West
We're not about to predict what the mercurial star will do during 2017. We'll merely list the possibilities, at least as far as potential releases go: (1) a videogame-inspired album called TurboGrafx 16; (2) a collaborative album with Drake; (3) a Cruel Winter compilation (a follow-up to G.O.O.D. Music's 2012 comp Cruel Summer); and (4) something other than the above.
Wolf Alice
The London indie band made quite an impression on music fans with their 2015 debut My Love Is Cool, which earned a Mercury Prize nomination. The group returned to the studio last summer with the intention of releasing new music in 2017.
Wolf Parade
A 2016 comeback from "indefinite hiatus" for indie rockers Wolf Parade resulted in an EP and some live dates. This year, the comeback continues with a full-length album, the band's first since 2010's Expo 86.
The Wrens
Like Tool and The Avalanches, New Jersey indie rockers The Wrens have a permanent spot in our yearly previews. Unlike their fellow procrastinators, they at least have an excuse, as guitarist Charles Bissell has been undergoing treatment for cancer. With his cancer reportedly in remission, the band's first album since 2003's The Meadowlands could finally appear this year—especially since it was reported as finished at various times in 2014, 2015, and late 2016.
What are you looking forward to?
Which albums are on your most-anticipated list for 2017? Let us know in the comments section below.
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