The most anticipated albums of 2024 (in our opinion)

Our Spotify Wrapped speaks volumes. 2023 was a significant year for music. We had the pleasure of listening to the new works of Mitski and Sufjans Stevens, Hozier, Caroline Polacheck, Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, boygenius, Lana del Rey, 100 gecs, and SZA, whose SOS was crowned by Pitchfork as the best album of the year. 2024 promises just as much. With eagerly anticipated comebacks and hoped-for confirmations, here's everything we know about the upcoming releases from our favorite artists and who we hope will make a comeback in the next 12 months.

Grand Returns

Indie rock and pop punk fans are eagerly awaiting the new works of The Vaccines (the album is titled Pick-Up Full of Pink Carnations and will be released on January 12), Green Day, who became the focus of another jab at Donald Trump, and attacked by his followers who didn't understand who American Idiot originally referred to (spoiler, it was George W. Bush), MGMT, presenting their Loss of Life to the world at the end of February. 2024 also marks the return of some pop divas. From Jennifer Lopez, who has been announcing and teasing her This is me… Now for weeks, which we might hear in mid-February. Not all artists have a precise date yet. The road to Cardi B's second album, talked about since 2021, is steep and complicated. She releases singles without (it seems) a cohesive system or idea behind them and then confirms that something is coming. We don't know when. The same goes for Ariana Grande, who seems to have left her musical phase to announce on social media that she's working on something new. Perhaps her grand return to the pop world? Still awaiting a date for Dua Lipa and Charli XCX.

Much-Anticipated Confirmations

Speaking of lesser-known international artists, on January 12, the fourth studio album Orquìdeas by Colombian singer-songwriter Kali Uchis will be released. The new album by Allie X, returning after the acclaimed Cape God in 2020, has already been leaked twice. If you've been waiting for the official release date, it's not far away: Girl With No Face will arrive on February 23. Among others, much-anticipated releases include Katy Kirby with Blue Raspberry, Brittany Howard with What Now, Adrianne Lenker, and Sleater-Kinney, the all-female rock band, releasing Little Rope on January 19. In short, the year has just begun, and announcements are already pouring in, promising many confirmations and new discoveries. Who knows how many more will come.

What about Rihanna (and others)?

However, the pillars of pop make us wait. Rihanna, who, since the release of her last studio album (Anti) in the distant 2016, has become a designer, entrepreneur, and twice a mom, continues to procrastinate. Nothing is known, but hypotheses abound. As for the return of Lady Gaga, who currently seems to have set aside music for cinema, rumors suggest her comeback will be rock, in perfect harmony with her role as Harley Quinn in the Joker sequel, alongside Joaquin Phoenix. Is it true? We can only hope. Everything is also quiet on the Lorde, Frank Ocean, and Lil Nas X fronts. Who are you waiting for?