So, you know what albums will be coming your way in the next few months. Unfortunately, most bands have their lips sealed for what’s to come in the summer and fall. Based on the rumormill and a few reliable artist interviews, today we’re talking about the albums that will more than likely be hitting the shelves this year. I hope you’re excited as I am…Jim is. Jim is really excited. It’s kind of getting weird in here.

Bon Iver

Ever since your mind was blown through your ears when For Emma hit the record stores, you’ve been begging for more. We all have! For Emma, Forever Ago took the indie world by storm and we expect nothing less from Justin Vernon. He teamed up with Kanye and GAYNGS in 2010, but it’s time to go back to his cabin isolation origins.

Fleet Foxes

According to the band, recording has wrapped and Fleet Foxes are set to follow up their self-titled debut. Lets hope it was worth the wait. Jesus! Back in September they hit the social media scene with their album announcement.

“Well, recording is done!” We are flying to New York tomorrow to mix and master the album and will have information about the release date and when you’ll get to hear a song or two soon. Geologically soon but soon.”

It has seriously been forever since their debut full length was released, but doesn’t it still sound great?

My Morning Jacket

It’s supposed to come out in May (not official), but this is one record that I have no idea what to expect. Their last release, “Evil Urges”, was a reinvention that some people loved and some people loathed. Evil urges was exactly was it was – an experimentation in guilty pleasures. The direction they’ll go with their new release could be anywhere. Whatever direction it is, I’m looking forward to it. MMJ, even when their not so good, they are still pretty fucking good. Am I right?

Radiohead

The most mysterious and private band out there may or may not be coming out with something this year. Remember when they self-released that one album? And it blew everyones mind? It definitely blew Chris’s mind. Johnny Greenwood has been quoted as saying that a new album is nearly complete, but with a group of perfectionists who reinvent themselves with every release, there is no telling when their next will be out. No doubt it will be sudden, drastic, and goddamn impressive.

The Shins

You’re all well aware of my love for Broken Bells, and yesterday we featured Danger Mouse’s next release and today we’re hitting up The Shins 2011 release. James Mercer is back with the band (though they’ve changed a couple bandmates, yeesh) and they will pick up right where they left off. Will this be The Shins we know and love or James Mercer and a backing band? We’ll just have to wait and find out.

The Strokes

Absolutely one of the most anticipated albums of the year. Every member of the band has been emersed in other projects since their last release. Julian Casablancas announced in November that they finished recording a new full length album. This will be an album that will be talked about by every music outlet out there. CMT will be all over this shit!

White Stripes

Three years of waiting and there is no guarantee that we’ll see anything this year, but a close friend of Jack White said in an interview that he has been writing and recording a new White Stripes album. His bandmates in The Raconteurs and Dead Weather are all working on side projects at the moment. What better time than now for the White Stripes to hit us with something new?

The Lonely Island

Not the most serious band on the list but I’m damn excited for their follow up album to Incredibad. Don’t even deny that you were shouting Santana DVX Champ on New Years Eve. They’ve released their first single, “I Just Had Sex”, and it picks up right where Incredibad left off.

So there it is. Between today and yesterday’s post, hopefully we whetted your musical appetite for 2011. I’m sure we missed some great albums and great bands and I’m sure that things will fly in under the radar. We can all be sure that it’s going to be another exciting year, so make some space in those milk crates for more records and take the turntable in for a tune up because it’s going to be a good one. Tell us what ya think!

Filed under: Lists