Life on this Planet: Most Anticipated Albums of 2011

Monday, December 19, 2011

The Most Anticipated Albums of 2012

Well, now that the Best Albums Of 2011 have been selected, it's time to look forward to what's to come in 2012. The following is a guide to the releases that I'm excited for the most - along with some artists that I hope will release new recordings sometime in the new year.

If you think I missed something, please let me know in the comments section at the bottom - or interact over at our Facebook Page.

Alex Chilton - Free Again: The 1970 Sessions

After Chilton's teenage band, The Box Tops broke up, and before Big Star began, Chilton went in the studio and recorded this batch of songs in 1969/70. Can't wait for this one.

Release Date: January 10, 2012 - CD / Vinyl
Pre-order here

The Big Pink - Future This

The second record from this British duo. If you haven't checked out their debut, buy it now. Otherwise, if the first two singles are an indicator, this should be a rad LP.

Release Date: January 17th, 2012 - CD / Vinyl
Pre-order here

Lana Del Rey - Born To Die

LDR released THREE killer songs in 2011, so now it's time for her debut full-length.

Release Date: January 31, 2012
Pre-order here

A Place To Bury Strangers - Onwards To The Wall EP

NYC's A Place To Bury Strangers will follow-up 2009's excellent Exploding Head, with a 5-song EP - hopefully followed by a full-length soon after.

Release Date: February 07, 2012 - CD / Vinyl

Pre-order here

of Montreal - Paralytic Stalks

The Athens, Georgia-based group, ready their eleventh record for a February release.

Release Date: February 07, 2012 - CD / Vinyl
Pre-order here

Die Antwoord - Ten$ion

The ultra-bizarre, South African hip-hop group are prepping their second full-length.

Release Date: February 07, 2012

Sinead O'Connor - How About I Be Me (And You Be You)?

Sinead will be releasing her ninth album early this year.

Release Date: February 21, 2012
Pre-order here

The Magnetic Fields - Love At The Bottom Of The Sea

Stephin Merritt and company will be releasing the followup to 2010's Realism, with their 10th LP - Love At The Bottom Of The Sea.

Release Date: March 06, 2012 - CD / Vinyl
Pre-order here

Mazzy Star
It's been 15 years since we've heard from Mazzy Star... that is until they released two new songs in the latter half of 2011 - and an announcement of a new LP in 2012.
[Photo by Laura Levine]
Release Date: TBA

The Cure - Wish (20th Anniversary Edition)
The Cure will be continuing their rad remastered series with the 20th Anniversary Edition of Wish. After the fabulous treatment of 1989's Disintegration last year, I can't wait to see what Robert Smith is going to include on this one.
Release Date: TBA

Dead Can Dance
The last DCD album -Spiritchaser - dropped in 1996. Since then the two have released solo albums, reunited for some touring and now have announced a new album / world tour for '12.
Release Date: Summer 2012

Dalis Car - InGladAloneness EP
Peter Murphy and Japan's Mick Karn reunited to record a follow-up to 1984's The Waking Hour. Sadly, Mick Karn lost his battle to cancer shortly after the two recorded 5 tracks to be released in 2012.
Release Date: TBA

Eric Avery

The former Jane's Addiction bass player just completed work on his second solo LP. 2008's Help Wanted was a fine collection of material that featured Garbage's Shirley Manson on guest vocals on a song.

Release Date: TBA

Smashing Pumpkins - Oceania
I dug a lot of the material on the last Pumpkins LP, Zeitgeist - so I'm interested in what Corgan and Co.'s will be bringing on their upcoming ninth album, Oceania.
Release Date: Spring 2012

Best Coast

LA's Best Coast have been in the studio with producer Jon Brion, recording a follow-up to 2010's rad debut, Crazy For You

Release Date: TBA

Garbage
The recently, re-united Garbage have announced completion of their fifth studio album. Look for the first single to drop in January.
Release Date: Spring 2012

The Killers
It's been over 3 years since Day And Age, but in the meantime we had a KILLER (pun intended) solo album from frontman Brandon Flowers. Recording sessions began in October, so we know it's coming soon.
Release Date: Summer 2012

The Knife
Sweden's brother and sister duo - The Knife - are scheduled to release their first album since 2006's Silent Shout.
Release Date: TBA

Hopefuls

U2 - Last year we had word of 'Songs Of Ascent,' but that didn't happen.
Morrissey - He's been touring with some new material, let's hope it sees daylight in '12.
Placebo - I think it's about time for a new one from these guys.
The Cure - Reflection shows, a live album, reuniting with old members - a new one for '12?
Nick Cave - Now that he put Grinderman to sleep, I'm hoping for a new Bad Seeds LP.
Depeche Mode - Schedule to begin recording their 13th album in March.
Mew - This Danish band is really under-rated. Check them out.
Beady Eye - Liam's already announced that the 2nd record is coming. We'll see.
James - No word yet, just hoping.
The Stone Roses - Yep, they're back. Tour dates and album coming soon.
Lily Allen - She just had a baby, but let's hope she's also been working on new songs!
Psychedelic Furs - You guys reunited 11 years ago! Where's the new album???!!!
David Bowie - I'll never give up hope for a new Bowie album. :)

One thing that I look forward to at the end of the year is to compile a list of what my favorite albums were, and compare them with friends. Well, it's hard to wait that long, so I decided to do a list here at the midpoint of 2011. I enlisted a few of my music-loving friends to contribute their mid-year lists. Please feel free to share your favorite albums of 2011 in the comments section.

If you'd like to purchase any of the albums, click on the titles to be redirected to Amazon or scroll to the bottom of the page for an iTunes widget. Click LIKE to follow the Life On This Planet Blog on Facebook. Please enjoy. Here we go...