Last week we discussed some of our favorite albums of 2014 thus far. Now to flip things around, we'd like to list some albums still to release this year and why we cannot contain our excitement. Our picks below:
•Kanye West- Untitled 7th LP: By far the most polarizing figure in music, Kanye West continues to dominate the music industry due to his impressive albums. While Yeezus proved to be the rapper/producer's most divisive work, his next album may spawn radio-friendly hits once again. West likens this next effort to Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA and said the album should drop in the fall. The first single, "All Day", is slated for release in coming weeks. West has never released a bad album over his impressive decade-spanning career so we're curious to see which new elements he includes next.
•Kendrick Lamar- Untitled 3rd LP: Kendrick Lamar took 2012 and 2013 by storm for his critically acclaimed sophomore album good kid, m.A.A.d city, an epic concept album that cemented Lamar as one of hip-hop's greatest rappers. His label TDE (Top Dawn Entertainment) hints at his next effort coming this year and we wonder how Lamar will follow up his seminal work. Will it continue the storyline of his beloved second album or will it pursue an entirely different direction? We can't wait to find out.
•alt-J-This Is All Yours: alt-J's quirky vocals and eclectic lyricism and instrumentals shot the English band to quick fame. Their first album An Awesome Wave found its way to many Best of 2012 lists and the next album's first two singles indicate similar success on the way. The band is taking a more noticeable direction, with "Hunger of the Pine" sampling Miley Cyrus and "Left Hand Free" finding the band creating a quick track to satisfy their record label's demands.
•Foo Fighters- Untitled 8th LP: Yup, Foo Fighters are still making music. Frontman Dave Grohl seems to be everywhere these days and it will be interesting to see how he ties in his recent experiences into Foo Fighters' music. Whatever the 8th LP sounds like, we assume it will be chock full of anthemic sing-alongs and empowering choruses.
•Porter Robinson- Worlds: Porter Robinson, once an electro house connoisseur, embarks on a new direction for his debut LP. Tracks like "Sad Machine" feature robotic vocals accompanied by ambient yet cheery synths. Robinson clearly leads the pack of post-EDM artists in an attempt to give life to a genre constantly negated by stale copycats. Worlds may alienate those seeking dance stompers but well-rounded listeners will appreciate Robinson's ambition.
