2019 new album wishlist
2018 was pretty spectacular with new Rae Morris, Janelle Monae, CHVRCHES and Florence + the Machine albums, and 2019 looks to be no different with new Rihanna, Sara Bareilles, Grimes and (maybe) more Aurora. But what else might be in store this year?
MUNA: MUNA (above)’s debut album About U was my favourite of 2017, dominating my headphones from the start to the end of the year. It’ll be over two years since its release when 2019 begins, so hopefully the LA band have had plenty of time so it’ll come out this year. I’m really want more of their beautiful dark pop sound while also seeing how it has evolved.
Shura: Similarly, Mancunian singer Shura’s debut album Nothing’s Real was my favourite of 2016, so I’m keen on a follow-up. Part of me expects to wait until 2020 for her sophomore work, but if it does come out this year, that would be lovely.
Foxes: The English singer-songwriter Louisa Rose Allen released her second album All I Need in February 2016, and since then there’s not been a peep, not even a new single. She promised some new music last year, and hopefully we’ll start hearing it soon.
Birdy: Look, another talented young British singer-songwriter who released her last album in 2016! Birdy signed a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell in 2017, so might we see her third original album sometime this year?
Of Monsters and Men: The Icelandic folk band commenced work on their third album in May 2017, so hopefully it’ll finally be ready this year, four years after the release of Beneath the Skin.
Beyonce: There’s been speculation the Queen of R&B will release a new album following rumours she’s going on tour again, which make sense as it’ll have been three years since Lemonade was released. Knowles-Carter could just be capitalising on The Lion King remake (in which she plays Nala) as well, given she’s just composed Everything is Love with her husband. In any case, a new Beyonce album is welcome anytime, if it’s as good as Lemonade (is anything as good as Lemonade though?)
Green Day: Believe it or not, American Idiot turns 15 this year, and since Green Day released Revolution Radio before Trump squelched his way into the White House, this year would be the perfect occasion for a sequel, no? Producing a cover album would be a cool way to mark the anniversary if they needed more time on the next one though.
There’s several others I could talk about but I’m honestly too relaxed to really want, say, Lorde, or Tegan and Sara (who have a memoir coming this year, woot woot), to release another album now: I love my favourite artists too much to poke at them like that.
