2024 is looking seismic. There’s already plenty to anticipate: several major elections are coming up, Mickey Mouse is now in the public domain, and we finally get another leap year (2020 didn’t count because, well, time was insane). But in particular, we’re looking forward hearing from the newcomers, megastars, and legends releasing some of the year’s most anticipated albums.
There are some long-awaited returns, including new efforts from The Jesus and Mary Chain, MGMT, and Green Day. Some of 2022’s brightest contributors are stepping back into the spotlight, such as The Smile, Yard Act, and Jack White. And artists who teased us with exciting singles last year will deliver their full projects, like IDLES, Katy Kirby, LUCI, and Mannequin Pussy.
While the first few months of 2024 already appear to be stacked, there are plenty of still unconfirmed but expected releases that could grace our ears. Will Dua Lipa’s “Houdini”-led follow up capture the ubiquitous heights of Future Nostalgia? Will Billie Eilish retain the momentum of her lauded Barbie contribution “What Was I Made For?” and offer up her third full-length? Did The Strokes really record their new album on the top of a mountain with Rick Rubin, and will it be good? Will Taylor Swift’s reputation (Taylor’s Version) actually be the “goth punk moment” she suggested it was last year? Is this the year we finally get new albums from Rihanna, Cardi B, or LCD Soundsystem?
We’ll know the answers to these questions as the year goes by, but for now, we’re waiting eagerly. Read below to see our list of the 60 most anticipated albums of 2024.
— Paolo Ragusa
Associate Editor
Editor’s note: Check out our upcoming release calendar to see more albums arriving this year. Also look back at the best music of 2023 with our 50 Best Albums and 200 Best Songs lists, along with the rest of our Annual Report.
