First published on 27 Jan 2012. Updated on 26 Mar 2012.
The Shins: Port of Morrow (March)
It’s been five years since the flawed Wincing the Night Away, and James Mercer has sacked just about everyone else in the band since then, as well as doing his own thing with the Broken Bells side project. Will Port of Morrow be worth the wait, or should we cling to ourcopies of Chutes too Narrow and sigh about how they used to be amazing? Guess we’ll find out…
Grimes: Visions (March)
Her chilly electropop sits in that sweet spot between Ladytron and Austra, so we’re interested to see how a full-length sounds after being seduced by the ‘Genesis’ single.
Norah Jones: Little Broken Hearts (March/April)
Jones’ albums tend to be a bit on the easy listening side, but she’s got an amazing voice on her – and, as the ROME album proved, she and Danger Mouse can be a potent combination. We’re a bit excited about him co-writing and producing this disc.
The Dandy Warhols: This Machine (April)
The last Warhols album was a big improvement on the previous couple, so it'd be nice to think that this would be another step toward a Come Down/Thirteen Tales…-style peak. Interestingly, they're coming out on the very same day as the new album by their rivals/deadly enemies/occasional collaborators…
The Brian Jonestown Massacre: Aufheben (April)
…which can't possibly be an accident, could it? Still, that means there'll be a wealth of chordy, strummy, stonery goodness pouring out of the nation's speakers.
Joelistics: The Shining (April)
The Herd man steps out on another solo hip hop adventure, and given the last one was pretty damn awesome we're expecting much. Much much.
Marina & the Diamonds: Electra Heart (April)
First single 'Primadonna' is due any minute, and the album features collaborations with the likes of Stargate, Dr Luke and Diplo, so we're pretty intrigued as to what the UK popstress has cooked up.
Jonathan Boulet: We Keep the Beat, Found the Sound (April)
The local indie pop lad drops his second solo album. It's been a good long while since the first one, so the expectations are pretty damn high.
Tenacious D: Rize of the Fenix (May)
The D's second proper album (coming in the wake of their big-screen flop The Pick of Destiny) promises more stoner party good times. But can anything match the gentle majesty of 'Fuck Her Gently'?
Beach House: Bloom (May)
We loves the House around these parts, and come May we'll probably need some bleak, autumnal acoustic music. As will you.
Catcall: The Warmest Place (May)
Every record that Catherine Kelleher has made has been exponentially better than the last, and her debut album's got some serious expectations to live up to as far as we're concerned. And we're quietly confident she'll exceed 'em too.
Squarepusher: Ufabulum (May)
We're amazed there's a new Squarepusher disc coming out too. Warp, eh? It's always 1998 somewhere.
Ms Pip Brown was a cover star for us back around the first album and we still find ourselves spinning ‘My Delirium’ and ‘Paris is Burning’ on our playlists all this time later. The new songs she’s been playing during her recent festival appearances sound great.
The Hives: Lex Hives (June)
They were the winners of Splendour in the Grass last year, and if there's the slightest hope of another tour in the wake of this album you would be a massive, massive idiot not to go. And the record will probably be great too: but let's face it, Hives albums are just an excuse for Hives tours, which are sensational.
Hot Chip: In Our Heads (June)
The band have announced the title and tracklisting, including 'Ends of the Earth' which they were trying out on their last couple of tours, and since it's been four years since Made in the Dark, it's about freakin' time.
Liars: TBC (June)
There's no official word about the album aside from an artsy teaser video from the band, but the weird-ass US combo (fronted by ex-Melbourne boy Angus Andrew) always make records that are interesting, if not necessarily pleasant.
Sam Sparro: Return to Paradise (mid-year)
'Happiness' has dropped and suggests that the massive international breakthrough long predicted for the local boy is just around the corner. Could be the pop record of the year.
Future of the Left: TBA
We’re notoriously fond of the Welsh post-hardcore band around here, with five star reviews for their last couple of records, but having seen them unleash new material on their Dec 2011 tour we can’t freakin’ wait to have them on disc. ‘Beneath the Waves an Ocean’ is a thundering masterpiece.
Grizzly Bear: TBA
Ed Droste assured us that work on the fourth GB disc was well underway and that it would appear some time in 2012 – so we’re hoping he wasn’t pulling our legs, since we’re still in love with the gentle alt.folk layers of Veckatimest.
Dappled Cities: TBA
We know they've been recording, we know they've got new songs in their live set, and we know that we damn well want them in our homes. Go listen to 'The Price' again right now: dammit, that's a tune.
Depeche Mode: early 2013
Their last album, 2009's Sounds of the Universe, was freakin' great – so here's hoping their late-career high continues with the album they started working on in March 2012.
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